The next day was Friday and the last day of the semester before the two-week break between semesters. Summer was in one of the training rooms in her combat gear, which consisted of her N7 armor under her white cloak.
Currently, she was practicing with Iron Thorn while waiting on her daughters. Together, they were going to enter the Emerald forest to find some Grimm to test their new swords on.
Summer was going back through the basics of her sword work. It had been years without her old weapon, she could practically feel the rust chipping off her old skill sets just having the sword on her back. Even though it's not the same Iron Thorn as before. But knowing its spirit is now serving to protect her daughter, brought a measure of comfort.
Reaching under her cloak, Summer grabbed and drew the claymore off her back and watched as the blade extended out as she held it in both hands. She took one last deep breath before shouting the command.
"Begin close combat program: Level 3!"
Two trap doors sprang out from the ground and rose two custom armored AK-130 combat droids armed with short swords. When they got set on stage, they activated and readied their swords for their attack.
Summer got into a mid-stance. Leaning back on her right leg while Her left foot was forward with her toe facing her right, leg slightly bent. She brought the blade back to where the handle and grip were next to her head, and the sword's flat end resting slightly on her biceps. She then waited for the first one to make their move.
The Commander didn't wait long as the one to her left approached with an overhead strike. She kept her sword steady for it as it closed in. Summer quickly parried it to the side before her sword around and slashed at its exposed chest. Her sword rebounded off the armor, but the force she put into it bushed the bot back and creating space between them. Giving the other AK-130 the opening it needed to attack her with thrusting stab. Summer brought the blade back to her with the flat end taking the blow for her, then stepping forward and striking its head with the sword's pommel first into the chin. She took a step back while bringing Thorn up to parry the next strike from the first droid.
Summer kept transitioning attacks and blocks between the two until she got a groove of combat. It was slowly coming back to her as time went on. It was starting to feel a bit easy.
Let's change that. Summer thought. "Begin close combat program: Level 4!"
Red lights on the droid's heads blinked in acceptance of the command. Their reaction times and speed increased, making as they went down on her with their strikes. If level 3 was anything to go by, she felt like she was fighting standard Alliance Marines, N2s, and N3s, in terms of difficulty. Now at level 4 felt like she was fighting fresh N5s.
After stopping another strike that was aiming for her head by the second droid Summer straight up, spartan kicked in the chest. Droid number one then came back with a diagonal slash, Summer pivoted to the side, spinning about on one foot in a move almost like a ballet dancer. Using the momentum of the spin and the opening the robot presented itself allowed her to bring her sword at the robot's neck joint. Thus the fast, sharp sword went through the soft metal joints, severing the head.
Defeating one, she turned back to the other and readied her sword for another strike. As soon as the droid moved to attack, so did she, ducking under a horizontal slash and while striking the robots left kneecap, bringing it down to a knee. Getting back in front of it, Summer did something she thought she tried after watching an old film she attended with her crew on movie night.
Summer repositioned her hands to where she held the blade in them and the handle out. She then brought it up in a swing like she was carrying and an ax to chop wood, bringing it down and driving the sword's guard into where the collar bone would be on a person.
"It's been some time since I've seen a finishing move like that," came a voice from above. Summer looked behind and saw Ozpin at the entrance of the sparring arena.
"Ozpin," she replied in a neutral tone.
"Commander, working hard, I see," said Ozpin calmly, right after taking a sip from his mug. Summer pulled her sword off the robot, making it fall entirely to the ground before turning to the Headmaster.
"My rank in the Alliance means little to nothing here, Ozpin. You don't have to call me that." Summer replied as she rested the flat side on her shoulder. "What're you doing away from your tower?"
"Just was out for a walk is all, stretching my legs. Paperwork for the upcoming Vytal Festival is tedious work but must be done," Ozpin said as entered the arena.
"I bet," Summer shook her head in slight amusement before turning neutral again. "What do you want?"
"Am I, the Headmaster, not allowed to walk among the hulls of his own school? To see students enjoy their studies and see how his fellow staff members are doing." He playfully replied. The deadpan look he got was everything he needed to know. "I thought you should know. The students from Atlas Academy will be arriving later tomorrow in the evening. Would you join Glynda and me to meet with the Atlas representative?"
Summer thought about it for a few moments before nodding in agreement. If she wanted to stay on top of current events, then meeting all party members was a must. Even if she didn't like some of the members.
Plus, Summer was told Atlas were the ones that made that thing that's in Beacons basement. She wanted to know how much has Atlas changed in the last decade. "I'll be there...anything else?"
"No, nothing else at the moment. But if you are heading out into the Emerald Forest, be aware that the Grimm population is notably high in the eastern section of the forest." With that, Ozpin left the arena. Leaving Summer alone with her thoughts.
"I should have known that's what you two were working on with your mother," Weiss said as she and Blake looked at the sisters.
Ruby and Yang had returned late to the dorms last night and quickly passed out from fatigue with smiles on their faces. Much to Weiss's frustration and Blake's amusement. The next day they told them that they were making weapons with their mother. Now they were in the school's locker room with the sisters showing them off to their partners.
Ruby with her 'Red Legacy' in her hands as the tip rested against the ground. Yang had 'Dragons Fang' resting on her shoulder, both with wide happy smiles on their faces.
"Oh, come on, Wiess Cream, you had to see that coming?" Yang teased at her snow-white teammate. The heiress's eye twitches at the brawlers' absurd nickname.
"So, what is the plan now?" Blake asked the two sisters.
"Mom wants to test these babies out! Sent us a message to meet at one of the training rooms," Yang answered. Ruby then cut in.
"And then I thought, why not make this a perfect opportunity to get in on some more training? The class Mom's going to teach is going to be about teamwork and leadership. I'd figure we can get an early start and be ahead of the class."
Weiss could only stare at her team leader before shaking her head.
"So, are we heading out?" The cat Faunas asked.
"As soon as you two are ready." They checkmate pair nodded before they went to their lockers to retrieve.
Team RWBY then went to the sparing room for the meetup. Reaching their destination, Ruby pulled the door back, and the four girls jumped back in surprise when the upper portion of an AK-130 android went flying through the door. Looking inside, the girls were treated with the sight of the sparing ring littered with busted robots. Some were busted, others sliced to pieces or... melted? And at the center of the carnage stood the sisters' mother.
Summer stood in her combat armor and white hood. Iron Thorn in her hands at a low guard position as another. An AK-130 with a short sword charged at her. She sidestepped past a sword swing by doing a perfect one-eighty spin, slicing the robots head in one motion. To the onlookers, it was over within a moment.
The group spectating looked at the carnage and the final move in silence. The silence was broken by Yang, "Whoa."
The Commander took notice of the audience she gathered and smiled at them. "Hey, girls! Sorry if I went ahead, but I needed to let out some steam."
"It's ok, mom," Ruby said as she brought her team closer to the N7. "How's Iron Thorn 2.0 preforming?"
Summer heft the blade up with no problem and let it rest on her shoulder. "She feels great in my hands. The blade feels a bit heavy, but if I control the momentum a bit better, I'll have little difficulty cutting monsters to small bits."
"Been a while since the last time I've used a blade properly. The Alliance made me a sniper exclusively and fought at a distance for years. It wasn't until I got Biotics that I began to draw myself back into CQC." She demonstrated by putting a bit of power into her unoccupied hand.
"So, Mom. Are you ready to head out and fight some Grimm?" Yang asked with a fist pump.
"We can go out into the forest if you want. I was just testing Thorn here in a controlled environment before putting her against any Grimm. I see you brought your partners along," Summer observed as she looked at Weiss and Blake.
"More like dragged," Weiss shot a glare at her partner.
"We wanted to let this be a family thing, but Yang and Ruby insisted that we join you," Blake answered.
"Well, I don't mind. The more the merrier and more eyes to watch each other backs." Summer smiled. "Is everyone good here?" The four teens nodded. "Good, we'll be going out to Beacon Cliffs and see if we can find some Grim to take down in the Emerald Forest."
"The Emerald Forest? I thought we were going to practice sparing in the training rooms?" Weiss said as she looked at the older women.
"No better to test your metal than in combat." Summer looks up and down the Heiress with a raised eyebrow, then looks at the other three girls of team RWBY. "I'll wait over by the cliffs while you get geared up. Meet me there when you're ready."
"What are you talking about? We're good to go now," Yang replied.
The Commander looked at the with an unreadable expression. After a full minute of silent staring, the four started to feel a little awkward.
"Um...something wrong, Mom?" Ruby asked.
The Commander smiled sheepishly as she rubs her the back of her head. "Sorry, girls, it's just...high heels and skirts...do girls really fight in those?" Summer asked her the four. The team looked at each other in confusion.
"Um...yeah, why? What's wrong with them?" Ruby asked.
"I'm sorry, Ruby, but even after seeing your initiation footage. You guys look more ready for a party rather than a fight." Summer put it bluntly. "Also, if I was a bad guy and you were coming after me, I'd be less then amused and think you all like a dumb joke and wouldn't take you seriously."
The team looked at the Huntress in shock, the sisters most of all as it was their mom. Weiss took it a bit worse. "Excuse you, but I'll have you know that this is an authentic Mantel style battle skirt that my older sister had ordered to assist me combat!" The heirs proclaimed.
"And what's her profession? Because I was planning on taking you all to a fruitful hunting trip, not to a dance recital," Summer responded.
Weiss became red in anger. "I'll have you know that my sister graduated from Atlas academy and is Specialist in the Atlas military directly under General Ironwood."
Summer was slightly impressed but didn't show it. "And this is what they wear into battle? I feel sorry for the guys that have to wear heels while fighting giant evil bears." That got Yang and Ruby to openly laugh at her joke. Blake also smiled while Weiss visibly twitched.
"I'll have you know that Winter is a superb fighter and one of Atlas best! She has tutored me to become a strong huntress, and I will not let you disrespect her in any form no matter who you are!" Weiss drew her blade on the older woman. "Insult my family again, and I will gladly show you the power of the Schnee family!"
Ruby, Yang, and Blake looked at their friend and teammate in shock. The heiress had just drawn a weapon at a professional soldier and the mother of the two of them. And was daring her to start a fight!
Summer, on the other hand, was indifferent aside from a small smile on her face. She drew Thorn again and let it rest on her shoulder before stepped back into the ring.
"You talk big, you willing to back your beliefs, Ms. Schnee?" Summer declared.
The SDC heiress realized just who she was up against, but her pride wouldn't let her back down. So she stepped in the right after the rings shields came up.
"I am." She got into a fighting stance with her blade, Myrtenaster, at the ready.
"Then defend it and fight me with everything you have!" Summer said as she charged forward with Iron Thorn in hand.
Weiss as she raises her weapon defensively before using Myrtenaster to draw a pale blue circle in the air, forming a force-field. Cyan shockwaves radiate from the center of the force-field as the Commander sword impact. Weiss then attempts to slash Summer, but the older woman brought the sword back in time for it to scrape off the flat of Iron Thorn. The Commander attempted another overhead swipe. But Weiss points her weapon downwards and lets the claymore simply run down its side, creating sparks but missing Weiss completely. Weiss then spins and slashes Summer again, knocking her back. She flips gracefully over the N7, cutting at her head and landing on the other side of her.
Summer takes a hand and rubs the area where Weiss's last cut was. "Not bad, guess I needed not to underestimate you then."
"You would be wise to do so!" Weiss declared as she readied her reaper.
"Then, I won't!" Summer responded with a flair of her Biotics traveling down Iron Thorn before swiping at her. The dark energy came fast and hit the heiress before she could dodge. Weiss was swept off her feet and flew through the air before her back impacted the arena's barrier. "But you still have much to learn."
Weiss got back up, determination, and pride flashing before her face. She raised her hand and a series of white snowflakes appearing around the arena.
This was the semblance of the Schnee family. The Schnee Glyphs.
Summer narrowed her eyes as she recognized Weiss's semblance. She studied it after watching the initiation footage, it had a few properties that would make things difficult.
'Judging by the way those glyphs are surrounding me, this girl has a plan of action. She'll likely use them as springboards to attack me from different directions while I'm in the arena's center.' The Commander thought as she spots another one of those snowflakes under Weiss too. 'Well, give her props for ingenuity, but now it's time for me to break the rust off these joints. Time to show these kids why you shouldn't engage a veteran N7 in close combat.'
She watched as Weiss sprung forward towards her. Angling her body just right, she ducked under the oncoming attack, dropped Iron Thorn in the process, grabbed Weiss by her wrist that held her weapon, and flipped her over her shoulder.
Weiss felt her whole world tumble as a sense of vertigo kicked in. When her mind cleared, she got back up to realize that she didn't have Myrtenaster anymore.
"Looking for this?"
Weiss looked and saw Summer with her reaper. "Your style of combat serves you well, Ms. Schnee." Summer then tossed the weapon behind her and took up a fist-fighting stance. "Now let us see if you could benefit from a proper hand to hand lesson."
Weiss felt a tinge of some sweat fall from her face before slowly getting in a boxer stance.
In the sidelines outside the arena, the rest of team RWBY watch the fight with much anticipation. They watched as Wiess's weapon hit the floor behind the sister's mother, far away from Weiss.
"Well, this just got a whole lot interesting," Yang said as she watched intently on the unarmed fighting stance her mother get into. Being a hand to hand fighter herself, she was very interested in what Summer style could do. "Is Weiss trying to copy my fighting stance?" Seeing her teammate with her hands up like what a boxer would.
Blake was also paying close attention to the fight. "Possible. Weiss is now at a disadvantage. She fights using her weapon with precision and refinement. We all remember the first day with Ports class when Weiss nearly lost the match with that Bortusk."
Ruby sat silently throughout the match. She wanted to cheer for her mother, but she also wanted to cheer for Weiss too. Seeing her mother disarming her partner, she felt things weren't going to go so well for Weiss.
Back in the arena, Summer motioned Weiss to come at her. Wiess became angry and charged at the woman, throwing a fit of fast fists to Summer.
Each one Summer dodged. Keeping her movements tight and quick. Left. Right. Left. Left. Big right. She was moving before the uppercut was even thrown, but throw it Summer did. The heiress clearly surprised by the elder Rose's rapid-fire movements and ability to predict her attacks. She grunted as Summer's boot collided firmly with her front and sent her sprawling back to the floor.
Before Weiss could get up, a boot was planted right next to her head. Looking up, Summer stood over her with the orange glow of an Omni-Blade pointing down over her face.
"I think that's a match." Summer said as she deactivated the blade and offered the teen a hand.
Weiss looked at the offering appendage and took it, pulling her up with ease. Summer then pulled out her scroll and deactivated the arena's barriers, allowing the rest of the first-year team on the field.
"Whelp, that didn't last long," Yang said.
"Weiss, are you ok?" Ruby said in concern as she went to her partner's side.
"My Aura didn't break, Ruby. I'm fine," Weiss replied with a bit of irritation. She pulled out her scroll to gauge her Aura, she saw that she still had 70% of her Aura remaining with the elder Rose just slightly below full strength.
"Was that wise to try goading her into a fight, Misses Rose?" Blake asked the veteran warrior.
"Please Blake, when it's just us, call me Summer. And to answer your question, I was testing her." Her reply got the girl's attention. "When Weiss got defensive about her clothing and was related to her sister, I was curious to see how she would react when pressed. When you drew your weapon, I got my answer."
Summer walked over and stood in front of the heiress. What she said next surprised them. "You'd make an excellent protector one day, Weiss Schnee. It takes courage to defend one's belief, and I could see from that spark in your eyes that you will be willing to fight to the end for them, is that right?"
Weiss looked into the silver eyes of the woman that easily bested her in combat. "I would," Wiess replied. "Not many know this, but Winter is perhaps the only family I have that I really care for. Despite giving up the title of 'heiress' and forcing it on to me, I still love her. My father, on the other hand, is not a good man. He is trying and succeeding in turning my younger brother into a younger version of himself. Then there's my mother, who has withdrawn and drives herself dink herself every day."
"And lately, I suspect my father is trying to find a reason to remove me as heir and give it to Whitely. Where I believe things would only get worse...to which is my biggest fear."
Weiss was then enveloped in a hug by her partner. The heiress sighed but excepted it without protest. "Thanks, Ruby."
Your welcome, Weiss, just remember that you don't have to do this alone. We're your friends, we support each other." Ruby gestured to Yang an Blake, both were smiling and nodded with their leader.
Weiss smiled back at them. "Thanks, girls." She turned to the elder Rose and bowed. "And thank you for the spar and your assessment, professor."
Summer laughed. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that title," the woman shook her head and gave the girl an earnest smile. "You are still learning about yourself and have more room to grow. Your skills have a foundation and your building off them. It's why you are here to complete your training, not just to be a better fighter, but what kind of person you end up becoming." Summer advised.
'Dear God, I sound like Samara when she recited some of her code of the Justiciars to me,' Summer thought idly.
"Alright then!" Yang catching everyone's attention. "Having seen you two fight has got me pumped." The teen looked directly at the Huntress. "How about it, Mom, ready for round two with me this time, or are you getting old in your age?" Yang lightly teased her step-mother.
The members of team RWBY felt the air suddenly go cold around them. They turn to Summer and felt their skin forming goosebumps.
Summer smiled sweetly at her oldest, a dark aura seemed to manifest around her elder Rose, sending a spike of fear to shoot up the teens' spines.
"Old am I, Yang?" Yang's senses told her that danger approached. "Well then, guess it's time for the kid gloves to come off them."
Silver eyes that once held a motherly warmth now carried a fire that promised pain. "Thank you for volunteering, Yang. With your semblance for absorbing attacks, I'm itching to go all out."
"W-what about going to the forest, Mom?" Ruby shuddered as she tried to find a way to save her sister.
"Don't worry, Ruby. The forest will be there for us another day," Summer replied sweetly to her daughter. Making said daughter shiver on the spot.
Summer refocused back on her eldest, making Yang routed in her spot. Feeling a bit strange as this had never happened to her before. Meanwhile, the RWB of the team proceeded to hightail it out of the ring when Summer presented her scroll.
"Now Yang. Let us begin."
