Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ I'm back again, just failed my first test of the semester, and am starting to go crazy with a lack of internet at home. We got all moved in, now we're just waiting to set up WIFI, and then we'll be set. Hopefully though, I can improve upon the mess that was last chapter, I really do enjoy writing this story. Anyways, on to the chapter!
As the morning sun rose, Ruby finally stirred. Looking around, Ruby recognized Yang, however, was unsure as to where they were.
"Yang. Yang! Wake up!" Ruby called, hoping to wake her sister. Listening to her sister continue to snore, Ruby tried to sit up. However, her arms gave out as she managed to lift herself up. Flopping back down on the bed, Ruby huffed in annoyance. Feeling around her bed, Ruby realized she wasn't back in her own bed when her hand brushed against a remote. Running her thumb over the buttons, Ruby mentally cheered when she read 'Page' in the familiar braille. Pressing the button, Ruby patiently waited.
"Good morning miss Xiao- Oh, miss Rose, you're awake!" The nurse exclaimed.
"Good morning to you too." Ruby responded.
*Weiss*
Slowly getting dressed for the day, Weiss debated waking Blake. She was clearly exhausted the night before and needed her rest, but Ruby had called for both of them. Deciding to let Blake sleep, she wrote a note saying where she was and apologizing for not waking her. Stepping out the door, Weiss sighed to herself.
'After a public fiasco like that, father is sure to call.' Weiss thought glumly. Making her way to the infirmary, Weiss was surprised to see people out and about still.
'Of course, many of the transfer students are likely not used to Vale yet.' She reasoned, noticing a familiar blonde.
"Arslan!" Weiss called.
"Oh, Weiss, I didn't realize you were out and about. What happened?" Arslan asked as the heiress approached.
"Our mission went sideways, Yang and Ruby are both in the infirmary, and Ruby just woke up, would you like to join me?" Weiss offered.
"Of course, lead the way." Arslan accepted, gesturing for Weiss to take the lead. Talking about their respective kingdoms, Weiss learned more about Mistral and its accompanying school.
"So, Haven focuses more on dealing with bandits than anything else?" Weiss asked.
"Mistral has a greater concentration of bandits than the other kingdoms. While Atlas is effectively a military, or Shade and its focus on survival, Haven primarily teaches about dealing with bandits and the aftereffects. Though I've never understood Beacon. From an outside perspective, you don't seem to focus on anything." Arslan commented.
"That is true. I suppose that's why I enrolled here." Weiss agreed. Approaching the infirmary, Weiss stepped through the door.
"Good morning miss Schnee, here to visit your team?" The receptionist asked.
"I am, I was told Ruby is awake?" Weiss asked.
"She is, and currently deciding which of the two meals she ordered she wants to eat first." The receptionist said with a smile.
"That sounds like her." Weiss said with a sigh. Walking back towards the rooms, Weiss maintained silence.
"No Yang, these are mine, get your own!" Ruby could be heard yelling at her sister.
"But Ruby! I'm hungry!" Yang whined back.
"Too bad, you should've woken up sooner." Ruby stated.
"Why am I not surprised to hear you two already fighting like children." Weiss sighed in annoyance. Sticking her tongue out at the heiress, Yang attempted to reach for one of Ruby's plates of food.
"Yang!" Ruby shouted, pulling both plates away from the blonde's grasp.
"Is this normal for them?" Arslan asked, stepping out from behind the heiress.
"Arslan! Stand between Yang and my food, please!" Ruby ordered. Seeing Ruby's face, Arslan was shocked. A pair of dull silver eyes greeted her, that despite their appearance, seemed to contain her childish excitement.
"Uh, right!" Arslan sputtered, realizing she was staring.
"I'm not wearing my shata, am I?" Ruby asked, realizing why Arslan responded the way she did.
"Nope." Yang responded, popping the P.
"Well, that's a bet that went out the window." Ruby grumbled.
"What was the bet?" Weiss asked.
"Remember the dance? Arslan asked if she could ever see me without it, and the deal was if she could beat me in the tournament, then I would take off my shata. Something that clearly fell through." Ruby explained. None of them seemed to notice the mild glare Yang was giving Arslan.
"Then I guess we'll have to decide on a new bet." Arslan offered. Looking down, Arslan noticed that Ruby was nearly done with her second plate.
"What?" Ruby asked, feeling the stares from the others.
"How have you eaten that much food that quickly and that silently?" Weiss asked.
"I was hungry." Ruby stated simply.
"You ever wonder why she can eat nothing but pure junk food but still keep her figure? She burns calories like I'm sure your father burns one lien cards." Yang joked.
"That does explain a few things." Arslan added. Glancing at the time, Arslan excused herself.
"Stop by after class?" Ruby asked.
"Sure, but my team heads out tomorrow, I don't know that we'll be in range of the tower." Arslan said.
"We have the week off from classes, so if you're in range, I expect updates. What are you guys doing anyways?" Ruby asked.
"A village northeast of here needs help setting up defenses. Apparently a small grimm attack wrecked what little they had built already." Arslan explained.
"Good luck!" Ruby waved as Arslan left the room. Making sure Arslan was out of earshot, Yang spoke up.
"Aw, does little sis have a crush?" Yang teased.
"Shut up Yang!" Ruby shot back, blushing.
"I mean look at you two, talking like you're already a couple. How cute." Yang continued.
"That's not-" Ruby tried to counter.
"I bet you want Arslan to make you all kinds of cookies too." Yang joked.
"Alright Yang, I think you have thoroughly embarrassed your sister." Weiss said flatly.
"You're no fun Weiss." Yang pouted.
"That being said, do you have a crush Ruby?" Weiss asked, no hint of teasing.
"Whose business is it anyways?" Ruby asked defensively.
"Alright, be that way then." Weiss said, putting her hands up.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Ozpin asked, stepping through the door.
"Who do I have to talk to so I can file a complaint?!" Ruby shrieked, nearly jumping out of bed.
"That won't be necessary. How are you feeling?" Ozpin asked.
"I would say hungry, but I just ate." Ruby joked.
"So, I see. I have a few questions for you, regarding your report, if you wouldn't mind." Ozpin asked.
"What do you want to know?" Ruby responded, sitting more upright.
"You said you saw a large grimm, residing within Mountain Glenn. Describe it." Ozpin started.
"It was massive. I've never seen a grimm of that size." Ruby explained.
"Are you sure it was one large grimm, and not, say, a nest?" Ozpin asked.
"I'm certain it was a single grimm. It seemed to move as if it was breathing" Ruby clarified.
"If we were to send you with the Atlas ships, would you be able to guide them so as to destroy it?" Ozpin continued.
"I could, yes." Ruby stated.
"Have your team ready your things. If your final checkup goes well, you'll be in the air before lunch." Ozpin spoke.
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked.
"The council has given us free reign to release the situation to the public, as well as deal with the grimm as we see fit. If Ruby is correct and this is indeed a massive grimm, then the collective firepower of the Atlesian ships will be a necessity, as will the likely destruction of Mountain Glenn itself." Ozpin explained.
"Not to mention we can use it as a show of unity. And a live demonstration of the program." Ironwood chimed in.
"Yes, a good show for all to see. One of the largest grimm ever discovered during a scouting mission, the leader of the team returning to finish the job. Makes for a wonderful headline, wouldn't you agree?" Ozpin asked.
"Of course, sir, I'll be ready!" Ruby agreed with a mock salute.
"Splendid. I'll send a nurse in right away. And don't worry, I've already dealt with the media." Ozpin said, dismissing himself.
"While I don't entirely agree with how quickly he has you going back to the field, it certainly is better to deal with this issue now while we still have the advantage. I will see to it that you are given plenty of time to rest before anymore missions come your way. I will go over the details with you when we are airborne." Ironwood added before turning. With the headmasters gone, the three girls were left alone to acknowledge what had just happened.
"Well, it looks like you'll be making a name for yourself Ruby." Weiss spoke.
"More like turning it into an international name." Yang corrected.
"Ten years in the making. The combat program started ten years ago." Ruby said quietly.
"Mom would be proud of you." Yang offered.
"So, what exactly does this mean for your program as a whole?" Weiss asked.
"The Third Eye program has always been circulating the news. People know who we are and what we do, but it's always been small things. Finding people lost in the woods, finding grimm nests on the outskirts of the kingdoms. I know for a fact two of them are directly employed by your father to find new dust mines." Ruby started explaining.
"Up until now, they haven't been prime time stories is what she's saying." Yang stepped in.
"For me to be the one directly responsible for eliminating such a large threat to a kingdom, that will get us recognition, which means more people will want us." Ruby explained.
"It seems to me like you're already wanted by people." Weiss said.
"That's true, but we're wanted the same way you want a bloodhound. So far, we've been seen as the rich persons search dog. This would mean we have a viable place in the defense of the kingdoms." Ruby explained.
"But everything you've ever told me makes it seem like you love it." Weiss said, confused.
"Don't get me wrong, we wouldn't trade it for the world, but look at me. I'm the first one in the program to experience combat, and not be in the way. There are only two others that fight, and that's because they favor being outside the kingdoms. This would put us in the spotlight." Ruby continued.
"I can understand that." Blake said, appearing beside Weiss.
"Well, be that as it may, we do need to get you ready. Is there anything you need in particular?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah, grab one of my outfits, as well as the black bag in my corner of the closest, please." Ruby asked. Dismissing themselves as a nurse entered the room, Blake paused.
"So, what is going on? I see a note saying Ruby is awake, I drop by to see her, then I overhear that she's almost immediately going on a mission?" Blake asked, confused.
"Apparently Ozpin cleared her for it, but she still has to pass her checkup before she can be released. That being said, she gets to lead Atlas forces, destroy a mountain, and gets the credit for killing one of the largest grimm Vale has ever seen. If what has been said so far is true." Weiss recapped.
"Lucky her. Did Ozpin say anything about?" Blake trailed off.
"No, he didn't. My guess is that he would like to talk to Ruby first about it. Any news about Torchwick?" Weiss asked.
"He's being held in Ironwoods flagship. From what little information I was able to get, he hasn't been cooperating since he woke up." Blake explained.
"Of course he hasn't. Come on, I want to make sure we're caught up in our classes. We might have been excused from class for the week, but that doesn't mean we should fall behind."
*Beacon Landing Pads*
"Are you ready miss Rose?" Ironwood asked as the bullhead slowly lifted off.
"Yes sir. You said you would fill me in?" Ruby asked, resting against her cane.
"I did. Ruby, this is Lisa Lavender, she will be with us to conduct an interview, as well as televise the strike. We understand that the grimm is within Mountain Glenn, however you will need to guide us so as to make this as efficient as possible." Ironwood explained.
"Of course. Anything else?" Ruby asked.
"One more thing. Be on your best behavior, and don't overdo it. You were released far sooner than I would have preferred, the program can't afford to have one of its best down for the count." Ironwood warned. Nodding, Ruby steadied herself as the airship landed in the hanger of Ironwoods ship.
"Alright General, whenever you would like to start, I will be on the bridge." Lisa dismissed herself, her small crew following her. Following behind Ironwood, Ruby felt excitement. While she was a prodigy in the program, large operations were never given to her. Now able to put what training she was given to use, Ruby vowed to make everyone proud.
AN/ And that is done! A bit more cohesive, not put together like a fever dream. I'm personally excited for next chapter, big guns, big explosions and a comfortable, healthy dose of exposition. Hopefully. And with the tournament coming up very soon, I can really start cranking this story out. Anyways, until next time, have a great day!