Aurora borealis from the shields drifted through the windows causing the interior of Schnee's mansion to look like a prison.
"No, no, no. Jacques, help me," followed by thump, thump, thump of a body rolling down the stairs.
Flash from snow slamming against the shield caused a moment of brightness. One moment just a body then a figure standing over the body. Turning, the red hair, white mask, dark horns stared at her.
"Weiss Scheeeeee!" reaching for her.
Blareeee from Ruby's air horn caused Weiss's head against the frame of Ruby's bed.
"Wake up, sleepyhead!" yelled Ruby.
Blareeee!
"Ruby, you are going to be permanently put to sleep!"
"First class. Yes, that's the mission today, Team RWBY! When Weiss finally gets out of bed."
"Correct, team leader Ruby!" said Blake and Ying.
"Is it too late to change teams?" mumbled Weiss.
7:30 am – Breakfast - Dining Hall
Wearing a red plaid skirt, a brown jacket over a tan vest and white shirt with a red ribbon tied at the collar, Ruby really missed her cape. She had to wait until next year to wear it along with Crescent Rose.
Reading her scroll, "Let's see Glynda does a refresher course," said Ruby, "Professor Port for Grimm Studies," controlling her laughter, "Professor Oobleck, teacher of history and does field trips during the third year. Professor Peach teaches plant science. Professor Greene teaches stealth and security. Professor Mulberry teaches weapon crafting and upkeep. Sounds like my favorite class," noticing the cafeteria empty, "Guys? Guys, where are you?" looking at the time, "Cat's in the cradle!"
Getting up, she rushed to her first class.
8 am - Glynda Goodwitch - Refresher Course
Sitting between Blake and Weiss, "You, guys left me," whispered Ruby.
"You were too involved with your scroll," said Weiss, "to notice the time to leave for class."
"Ying wanted to carry you to class," remarked Blake.
"And you stopped him?"
"Attention, first year students," bringing their attention to Glynda standing behind a podium, "I am Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch," she said, "I give refresher lectures to first year students from Winter semester through Spring semester," tapping her scroll, "Today's lecture dust. Dust is the source of energy on Remnant. The physical properties of dust make it incredibly useful for a variety of purposes, particularly used by hunters and huntresses in their weapons. There is a distinctive shimmering sound when in use.
Dust is a reference to the primordial state which mankind was born from. As a natural resource, it has been referred to as "Nature's Wrath" or more prosaically as an energy propellant.
According to the ancient legends, mankind was fighting a losing struggle against creatures of darkness known as the Grimm. Through their resourcefulness and ingenuity, humanity managed to discover and harness dust in order to battle the Grimm.
The advent of dust became the turning point in the struggle with the Grimm. After mankind drove back the Grimm and built civilizations, dust was integrated into everyday life in Remnant.
Despite its widespread use and prevalence in society, humanity has yet to understand the origins or the implications of the involvement with dust. As an energy source, dust can be triggered by the Aura of humans and faunus.
Dust can be found in crystalline and powdered form. Dust is highly explosive in both forms. The powdered form appears to be more volatile since something as innocuous as a sneeze is enough to detonate a cloud of dust," looking at Ruby, "Crystalline dust is safe enough to leave out on display whereas powdered dust is dispensed from tubes on the wall and stored in portable cylindrical canisters.
For unknown reasons, dust does not function outside of the atmosphere of Remnant eliminating the possibility of space flight.
There are the four basic colors are red, blue, yellow, and green. These four types can be combined to form other types of dust, each with its own unique properties.
Red dust can be used to create fire as fireballs and fire waves," noticing Weiss's glee, "Dark orange dust used to create rocks. When used with a weapon, this can fire large stones as projectiles or used defensively.
Bright Orange dust can be turned to a fiery projectile when superheated. When splattered onto the ground when blocked, it makes weaponry out of obsidian and melts ice by generating heat.
Yellow dust can generate electricity in forms such as bolts of lightning and electrical currents. This dust can be used to stun enemies. It also interferes with electronics, including prostheses.
Green dust used to create plants, however you can't eat this. It still tastes like dust.
Blue dust creates water.
Light blue dust create ice in any shape, such as crystals, thin sheets or even large structures like curved ramps or platforms that float in water.
Cyan dust can form light energy into solid objects. It's the rarest type of dust. Should be noted that Atlas is known as the father of Hard-Light dust, other words they are a major users and creators of technology that uses this dust.
Another use for cyan or hard-light dust is creation of shields for Amity Coliseum to protect the crowds from the hunters and huntresses' weapons or like the cities of Argus and Atlas for defense.
Black and purple dust can be used to manipulate gravitational fields like pull objects or create a field that pushes outward. This dust is used in public transport to make vehicles hover like the tracks of Argus Limited allowing the trains to move faster and more efficiently by hovering above the tracks.
Some Hunters and huntresses have incorporated this dust into their weapons for a stronger impact or to recall thrown weapons.
Giant black crystals can cause the pieces of land to levitate thus creating floating islands like the ones above Lake Matsu in Anima and airborne city of Atlas.
White dust creates wind in its various forms, such as gusts and tornadoes.
As Remnant's primary source of functional power, dust has many uses in everyday life. In other classes, you will learn more of its uses in combat. Vehicles run on Combustion dust. There are refueling stations across Remnant. Nearly all screens from Scrolls to computers are made with Hard-light dust.
One example from early in Remnant's history was when Mantle integrated dust into their houses like the use of stoves using Fire dust to heat the burners. Construction workers use a levitating cart to haul bricks. Buildings do not need to be connected to a central power grid in order to power lights.
The Schnee Dust Company is one of the largest producers of dust in Remnant," again that Schnee pride, "Dust is mined from the Schnee Quarry, purified, and transported by railway lines or by sea to distributors then sold to the public by dust shops."
9:45 am - Professor Bartholomew Oobleck - History
Sitting between Weiss and Blake, Ruby noticed they were taking notes.
Unscrewing the cap off his thermos, "I am Professor Oobleck," said the dark green haired man, "and the purpose of history is to learn from the past to prevent the same mistake," sipping from his thermos, "Is faunus a joke on evolution?" noticing a reaction from Weiss and Blake, "History shows us, faunus are capable of emotion like humans despite their animal like traits. Despite their nomadic lifestyle, faunus are territorial like humans. Some learned to be farmers which have been look down by faunus like the Red Claw," releasing fireballs from Antiquity's Roast, "Despite some faunus learning to be farmers, faunus were better warriors while humans proved to be better farmers leading to faunus hiring humans to be caretakers.
The conflict between faunus and humans came from humans taking the faunus's hunting grounds. Atlas took land for the dust deposit."
"Professor Oobleck," asked Weiss, "Why does Altas get hated on?"
"Simple, Miss Schnee during the Island War, Mantle used gravity crystal to steal an island from Vale. This island become Altas," sipping his coffee, "Coinciding Mistral was part of Vale. Sold to the faunus only for Mantle to invade then set up a puppet council in Mistral. One can see why Altas earned that reputation.
"The Great War show faunus can cooperate with humans," noticing Blake's raised hand, "Yes, Miss Belladonna?"
Lowering her hand, "Professor," said Blake, "You seem to know alot about faunus history."
"I had the privilege to talk to a chronicler."
Noticing Blake's eyes widen, "Is that important?" whispered Ruby.
"Yes since the last chronicler died almost twenty years back."
"Oh."
"For context, faunus had an oral history. During the Faunus War, generations of faunus history were wiped out in a single battle. The King of Vale sent his hunters and huntresses into the battlefield to perverse this history."
"Preserving history of a bunch of animals," remarked Cardin, "waste of time."
Sipping more coffee, "Really, Mr. Winchester. Heard of Queen Belit of Askalon?"
"No. Why she's some important faunus queen?"
"No. She was one of the Three Kings that originally ruled Remnant. She castrated her male lovers when they didn't satisfy her."
Cardin's eyes widen.
"Let's not forget what she did to her female lovers. Yes, Queen Belit was an equal opportunity abuser. She would make her female lovers infertile if they get pregnant by a man. It seems giving birth was a form of disloyalty to Belit," refilling his mug, "Since you asked about faunus rulers, King Bran Mak Morn of Caledon was considered a faunus. Yes, another ruler from the Three Kingdoms era. Queen Belit, King Bran Mak Morn, and King Meng Huo are the three rulers from the Three Kingdoms era," sipping more coffee, "Mantle invaded Mistral for the purpose of gaining cheap labor by using faunus as labor. This led to the Faunus Rights Revolution aka Faunus War, a three year war that proved to be a ten year war. The Battle of Tippecanoe was the starting point.
Led by General Byrd Pelosi, hundred and seventy Mantle soldiers' job separated the men, women, and children into groups. They emerged the male children with the men getting them ready to be hauled away for the mines.
General Pelosi was ready to whip a prisoner of war turned personal servant to the General for reporting seeing faunus warriors armed with clubs ready to attack. Full of fire water…"
"Fire water?" asked Ruby.
"Mixing fire dust in water," answered Blake.
"An early form of alcohol," added Weiss.
"Correct," replied Oobleck, "Full of fire water, General Pelosi was going to the servant to the beat of a drum.
Cries of, 'Humals! Humals!' That's a combination of humans and animals in other words an early name for faunus.
Dropping his whip, the General unshealthed his sword. Running to close the gate, he got his brains bashed in with a club. Of the hundred seventy soldiers, five were allowed to live to report the massacre.
Battle of Bendhorse was Mantle's revenge. Faunus built a camp by studying Mantle's forts. It impressed General Jackson Drew. Bendhorse earned its name from the terrain that could bend horses. Tallpoosa River curved like a U. In the middle of the U was the Faunus camp.
Drew's second in command in General Coffee Call placed his troops across the river at the bend. Drew used his artillery to battle down their defense only for the cannonballs to stick into the soft wall which allowed the faunus with rifles to snipe cannoneers.
Successfully stealing canoes, Call slowly transported fifty soldiers before the faunsu focused their attention since they believed the walls were impregnable.
Preparing his soldiers for a frontal attack, Drew had the cannons continue their bombardment on the soft wooden wall. The cannons stopped allowing the soldiers to sprint towards the wall.
Reaching the wall, archers secured the rope ladders to the edge of the walls. Despite getting impaled by the scales planted in the ground and along the walls, the soldiers climbed as snipers took shots at them. Enough got over and fought their way to the gate. Opening the gate allowed rest of Drew's forces in. Forcing the faunus into buildings, Drew had the buildings sent on fire. Warriors, women, children burned to death. No quarter given and was taken. War is hell as a famous general during the Great War once said," refilling his cup, "Stillman's Run was when a faunus leader Blackhawk was looking for peace. His tribe suffered from a bad hunting season. He sent three faunus with the white flag of truce only for two hundred seventy and five drunken, undisciplined soldiers shot the three faunus. Seeking justice Blackhawk led five warriors on a suicide mission. Their surprise attack allowed them to kill thirty soldiers before disappearing into the foliage near Old man River.
Chief Blackhawk was captured and made a noble faunus. Being a proud warrior, a noble faunus is considered an insult. They led through the streets of Mantle like a pet. He died a broken man," refilling his cup, "Greatest victory for the faunus was the Battle of Matterhorn. It started as response when Chief Manic Mare attacked a carven of lumberjacks on Bronzeman Trail, a trail used by miners and lumberjacks. Lumberjacks used the trail to haul limber to build Fort Boothill.
Manic Mare's well-hidden warriors attacked the cavern three miles from the fort. Waiting for a response from the fort which came when fifty soldiers on horseback left the fort heading towards the carven, Manic Mare waited on his horse. Then saw a thirty soldiers on foot emerged from the fort led by Captain Judd Fetterman, a brash captain that was impulsive under fire.
A quick count of eighty headed towards Manic Mare and his nine warriors instead of rescuing the lumberjacks. Outnumbered by eight to one. Soldiers had better weapons, slept in warm beds, and had Mantle's blessing to kill faunus. Manic Mare loved his odds as he ordered his warriors to move forward so the soldiers got a better view of them.
Third time in three weeks that Fetterman's men left the safety of the fort. Captain Fetterman's plan was to cut off the faunus's retreat. His men maneuvered around cottonwoods along the banks of Big Piney then marched across the frozen surface covered by snow.
Leading the horse soldiers was Lieutenant Grummound. Experience taught Fetterman that faunus had a plan. The plan was simple to kill as many humans then burn the fort to the ground. Now Manic Mare played a waiting game with the Captain and Lieutenant.
The horse soldiers went up the steep hill firing only for the bullets sailed over the faunus's head. The faunus falling back caused the horse soldiers to stop. It seemed the Lieutenant did learn his lesson after all.
Manic Mare ordered his warriors to act confused. One dismounted to check if his horse was lame. Another dragged his mount by the bridle like the horse was too exhausted to ride. Manic Mare actually got off his horse to make a fire. He ordered a faunus to ride toward the Mantle soldiers which he did. It worked. It removed any doubts that a trap was waiting for the soldiers.
Fetterman ordered a charge. Horse soldiers galloped while the foot solders double timed it. The trail they followed narrowed into steep slope descending into a valley. Focusing on the ten faunus the Captain didn't notice the trail rising behind then like a wall blocking any chance of rescue or escape. Disbelief hit the soldiers as the ten faunus charged at them.
Manic Mare split his warriors in two rows of five.
"Today is a good day to die," remarked Manic Mare, "Hok-he!"
Both rows headed towards the soldiers. Grummond and his forty nine horse soldiers rushed at the band of ten. Confusion turned to great confidence then to being shunned as faunus warriors appeared from their hiding spots along the slopes of the Bronzeman Trail.
Terrifying screech of battle cries echoed as the faunus rushed at the shocked soldiers. Some of the faunus had firearms. Mostly had clubs, knives, and bows. Winchester repeating rifles," noticing Cardin being proud, "did their job by killing sixty faunus before being overwhelmed.
Fetterman and his men were being killed as justice for massacres carried by Colonel Chivington.
He ordered the execution and mutilation of more than one hundred female faunus and children. Some soldiers recorded how it was difficult to watch so called civilized men be barbaric.
Weaving his hatchet that he used lance to kill a white Grimm that killed his son, Manic Mare split heads and cut off limbs. No survivors as Fettermen and soldiers were hacked to pieces.
Warriors died. More will die until the humans leave faunus land. Winter made bury the dead difficult. While humans waited for more attacks, faunus decided not to continue the war during the quarters of heavy snow allowing them to celebrate take care of their dead and wounded.
Manic Mare's exploits reached both Bull Sitter and General Fonda Tuesday.
Having political ambition, General Tuesday figured avenging the Massacre of Fetterman would solidify his campaign for a council seat.
Bull Sitter earned his name for his wisdom, patience, courage and grit in battle. Some believe it was chosen because it reminded others of the b.s. that those in charge have.
The uniqueness of Manic Mare and Bull Sitter's leadership will go against the political ambition of Tuesday.
General Tuesday's prowess in battle showed itself in a winter battle where he spared no one of a peaceful tribe of faunus indicted by the pots and pans with the Mantle brand. They were gifts given to faunus that agreed to a peace treaty that Manic Mare and Bull Sitter refused to accept. This act made peace difficult and the fate of three leaders on a collision course at Matterhorn.
Summer came. Ready to make history, General Tuesday led thousand soldiers into the meat locker of the faunus, faunus hunting ground. The reason to find dust that was rumored faunus were hiding. Peace wasn't coming because of the Dust War brewing within Mantle. Needing a dust mine, General Tuesday dashed hopes of such mines in an after action report detailing skirmishes led by Manic Mare and Sitting Bull. This led to an economic collapse ruining many influential Mantle families. Tuesday sent a second report about dust being found in Matterhorn, sacred ground to faunus. Now it was Tuesday's job to secure this.
Hearing Tuesday, an enemy of faunus, was on the move. Plans were being formed by the faunus.
Bull Sitter was in a trance dancing naked with bright yellow covering his body. He was spirit walking or simple talking with Artemis, Maiden of Summer. He did this earlier which led him to Manic Mare.
In that vision, he saw a faunus warrior killing a white Grimm. Hearing tales of a white Grimm terrorizing faunus, he discovered Manic Mare being that warrior.
Dancing from the center to the back of crowd, he returned to the center.
"I wish the faunus to fill one pipe," which he took from the individuals in the crowd, "We have them!" raising his clenched fists to the sky, "Artemis has given our enemies into our power. We are to wipe them out!"
Words of victory they needed.
Mantle council tried buying Matterhorn. King of Vale warned them that the faunus won't sale. Bull Sitter refused to agree to the sale. Seeking guidance through a vision quest, alone and naked Manic Mare marched into wildness. He fasted and prayed. In his dreams, he saw his people starving to death without food to hunt. Manic Mare joined Bull Sitter for war.
Tuesday was confident his men matched well with the faunus. Needing to find Bull Sitter and Manic Mare's tribes, he didn't know the number waiting for him. Aggressively chasing the faunus hoping to deal one massive blow, he founded deserted campsites.
Discovering signs of camp, he planned on taking women and children as hostages then go after their horses.
Splitting his army of six hundred three ways, Tuesday led two hundred fifteen. Captain Fred Rich led hundred twenty five. Major Mar Reno one hundred sixty.
Major Reno found a tribe of a hundred faunus. His men rode full speed at the tribe believing they would scatter instead the faunus rode towards the soldiers ready to fight.
Surrounding Reno's men, they forced them into cottonwoods where Manic Mare waited. Manic Mare's emerged from the brush swarming Reno's lines. Orders to flee across the river proved difficult since the bank was a sheer drop into a fast morning current.
Manic Mare's warriors killed with calm cold precision drove Reno from the battlefield onto a high bluff. His remaining soldiers of seventy watched their dead brothers in arms having their skulls crushed by faunus females.
Captain Rich joined Reno's disheartened men without crossing the path of faunus. With a combined force of hundred ninety five and the high ground, Captain Fred Rich choose not to help General Tuesday.
Manic Mare placed his warriors between General Tuesday's soldiers and fleeing female faunus and children. Volley of bullets from the faunus warrior drove back Tuesday's soldiers. Manic Mare's warriors continued pressing the soldiers while Manic Mare led a second group towards the rear line of Tuesday's group. They used a slope to prevent Tuesday's men from seeing their advancement.
Tuesday's unit under siege because his refusal to retreat. Trying to flank the attacking faunus, he headed towards the female faunus and children with goal of capturing them. That goal proved fatal when the faunus female aimed weapons at them stopping their movement.
Mounting his horse, Manic Mare led his group at the confused soldiers. The hand to hand combat proved to be fierce as the faunus tore the soldiers apart.
Tuesday swung his rifle at the swarm of faunus until Manic Mare overwhelmed Tuesday by breaking his back. Tuesday lived long enough for the faunus female to shove tent pegs through his ears so he could hear better in the afterlife.
Tuesday did make history, not the kind he wanted.
Manic Mare and Bull Sitter went their separate ways knowing Mantle would return with vengeance. Year later, Manic Mare was caught after he killed the wife of a rival faunus. He was shot in the back for refusing to enter his jail cell.
Dying with a smile, "Death couldn't face me," were his last words.
Bull Sitter surrendered then killed by a Mantle agent believing Bull Sitter was starting a revolt. A quarter later, that agent was found died from the blood loss by castration. Never stiff a lady of the evening."
More coffee.
"Cochise's attack on Fort Blackriver was infamous because of the kidnapping of human females and children. Frost Parker tried to parley with fruit and vegetable. Cochise and his faunus wanted meat. Cochise drove his lance through Parker. Frost's sister Plummer Parker tried to escape with her infant son only for him to be taken from her and to be dragged back by her hair to the faunus pack killing her family.
Stripped naked, then her wrists tied to the saddle horn with her ankles secured by a rope tied under the horse's stomach. Four days, she rode to their camp in the Valley of Shadows that way. Once she arrived at the camp, she was beaten, whipped, forced to be naked to intimidate her. Reason this story is being told to remain you that humans have a reason to hate like faunus have their hate."
"What happened to her?" asked Ruby.
"She was discovered in the Valley of Shadows as the wife of Cochise's second in command Nocona. Her uncle Hondo Hawke went in with an adventurer who knew the area and the faunus well to bargain for her freedom. She stayed after multiple attempts at leaving her human family to return to her faunus family.
Humans like Waldo Thoreau tried to protect rights of faunus, however when atrocities like Plummer Parker justified the harsh treatment of faunus. Bringing the rise of several groups to protect faunus civil rights like White Fang that use some peaceful ways while others use violent means like Red Claw as the trial of Adam Taurus proves. Faunus in time lost due to the superior weaponry and numbers of Mantle."
"What about the Battle of Fort Castle?" asked Pyrrha.
"Oh yes, the infamous third year battle," said Oobleck, "Class, what was the faunus's advantage during that battle?"
"Hey", brought his attention onto Jaune falling out of his chair.
Watching Jaune get back into his chair, "Mr. Arc, the answer to my question."
"Question? What question?"
"The faunus's advantage during the Battle of Fort Castle."
Noticing Pyrrha pointing towards her eyes, "Green eyes," witnessing her fingers forming a cymndal, "No. Binoculars."
"Ha. Ha," brought Oobleck's attention Cardin.
"Mr. Winchester, care to answer the question."
"Animals are easier to train."
"No, Miss Nikos, care to answer."
"It was because certain faunus have night vision," answered Pyrrha.
"More like General Lagune attempted an ambush on the Faunus army in the middle of the night," answered Blake, "only to be captured after his larger army was defeated."
"Both are correct," remarked Oobleck looking at the time, "Keep learning."
Waiting for the other students to leave, Blake walked towards Oobleck.
"Professor," said Blake, "you don't seem to hate the faunus."
"No, Miss Belladonna, I don't. History shows humans and faunus can get along like during the Great War. There is always a handful of individuals on both sides that want bad blood to stay. There always something to gain. Others it is the only thing they know."
Nodding her head, "So it seems," she said joining her teammates outside in the hallway.
"Where are you from?" asked Ruby.
"Menagerie," answered Blake.
"That's a faunus village," Weiss.
"Faunus are not as bias as humans," replied Blake.
"Yet, there are those that reinforce that stereotype of being violent."
"Like the human," leaning close towards Weiss, "I'm staring at."
With a huff, Weiss headed for Professor Port's Grimm Studies without her teammates.
11:15 am – Professor Peter Port - Grimm Studies
"Monsters, demons, prowlers of the night, but I mainly call them prey."
Silence.
"And you will to when you graduate from prestigious academy. Now as I was saying, Vale and the other three kingdoms are safe havens in another treasonous world filled with creatures that would love to tear you to pieces. That is welcome we came in. Huntsmen and huntresses individuals swore to protect those that can't protect themselves. From what you ask, from the every world," pumping his right fist into the air.
"Yeah!" shouted Jaune then sat down quickly when he realized he was the only one standing.
"That's what you are training to became, but first a story, a tale of a young handsome man…me. When I was young…"
Taking notes on everything that Peter Port talks about proved difficult when, "Round her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the winter and the merry month of May
When I asked her, "Why the yellow ribbon?"
She said, "It's for my lover who is far, far away" entered her ears.
Staring at source of the singing, "Stop singing, Ruby," Weiss said through her teeth.
"Despite my grandfather's habit of being long wind…"
Weiss's eyelids felt heavy. The squeaky movement of Ruby's pencil prevented Weiss from dozing off. That wasn't the movement of someone writing.
Smiling, Ruby held up her drawing of Professor Boring Pork.
"In the end, the Beowolf was no match for my sheer tenacity. I returned to my village with the beast in captivity…"
"Thought that was impossible," remarked Ying.
"And my head held high and celebrated as a hero," bowing, "Moral of the story. A true huntsmen and huntresses must be honorable."
Weiss's anger grew at the sight of a cross eyed Ruby with puckering her lips up balancing a book with an apple resting on top at the tip of a pencil while the pencil balanced on Ruby's index finger.
"A true huntsmen and huntresses must be dependable."
Ruby fell asleep.
"A true huntsmen and huntresses must be strategically sound."
Ruby's index finger picked her left nostril.
"A true huntsmen and huntresses must be well educated."
Now Ruby picked her right nostril.
"A true huntsmen and huntresses must be wise."
Or was Ruby pointing at her brain.
"So who among you believe you are the embodiment of these traits?"
Holding her left hand up, "I do, sir," replied Weiss walking onto the floor.
Walking towards a gold bust of himself near his desk, "Let's find out," lifting the head up, "Face your opponent."
Pushing a red button that was under the head raised a cage from the floor.
"Go, Weiss," said Ying, "If you don't, Ruby will."
"Fight well," said Blake waving a Team RWBY flag.
"Represent Team RWBY!" said Ruby pumping her fists into the air.
"Ruby," said Weiss looking at Ruby, "I'm trying to focus."
"Oh, sorry."
"Alright," said Professor Port standing beside the cage with Blowhard in hand, "Let the match," swinging Blowhard, "begin," slicing through the lock.
The cage door fell down allowing the boarbatusk to rush at Weiss.
Jumping, her rapier struck the bone armor of the boarbatusk. Twirling, she landed positioning herself for the next attack.
"Wasn't expecting that," said Port, "were you?"
"Hang in there Weiss," cheered Ruby.
Rushing with the sabra point aimed the Grimm, Weiss got her sabra wedged bewteen the tusks causing a tug of war bewteen Weiss and the Grimm.
"Come on, Weiss," replied Ruby, "Show it whose boss."
Switching her focus caused the Grimm to toss her weapon from her grip and then knocked to the ground. Looking up, she rolled out its way. Polling her feet, she dashed towards her weapon. Sliding, she gripped the sabra's hilt.
"Weiss," said Ruby, "go for its belly. No armor under…"
"Stop...telling me...want to do!" said Weiss.
Rolling towards her, it slammed into her shield glyph. Landing on its back allowed Weiss to jump then bounce off the glyph she conjectured in midair. Stabbing the belly of the boarbatusk, she slid towards Professor Port.
"Bravo! Bravo! It seems we're in the presence of a true huntress in training. It seems our time is up. Remember to read the assigned text books. Stay vigilant. Class dismissed."
Chasing after Weiss, "Weiss!" said Ruby.
Turning around, "What?"
"Your fight with the Boarbatusk went pretty badly."
"No help from you."
"You know that old saying," putting her arm around Weiss, "When you fall off that horse you get back up and you eat that horse," staring into Weiss's eyes, "Come eat that horse with me, Weiss."
"What the hell are you on about?"
"What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?" tossing her hands up in the air,
Watching Weiss stomped off, "Wonder, what's her problem?" said Ying.
12:30 pm – Lunch - Dining Hall
Sitting with Ying and Blake between her and Weiss, "Half day over," said Ruby, "Half a day of studying left, bonsai."
No response.
"Bonsai? Guys? Guys, bonsai?"
"You made me look like an idiot," said Weiss.
"That's not hard to do," replied Blake.
"Ha. Coming from an Adam Taurus fangirl."
"Fangirl?" remarked Ying.
"Yes. She's been checking the updates on him."
"So I want to stay informed," said Blake, "You must miss being in your ivory tower. Come to think about. One doesn't leave Atlas unless they've been forced out."
"Meaning?"
"What's your reason being here? Let me guess. You're not a real Schnee, are you?"
Clinging her fists, Weiss need to break Blake's jaw was interrupted by, "Hey! Stop!"
Their attention went onto Cardin Winchester pulling on the left rabbit ear of a rabbit faunus while his teammates were slapping her thighs.
Collecting the salt and pepper shakers, Blake saw Ying walking towards Team CRDL's table.
"We need to stop him," said Blake standing up.
Weiss and Ruby followed.
"You shouldn't do that," caused Cardin to turn then stare up at Ying.
"Why not stupid?"
"It is not nice."
"Not nice?" poking Ying's chest, "Listen...stupid. Back...away...or...else."
"Or else what?"
"Ok…stupid," still poking Ying's chest, "Or…else...my…teammates…will…make…you…stupider…then…you're…already…are."
Clasping Cardin's right hand, Ying squeezed it causing Cardin to scream and go to his knees.
"Let him go!"
Despite his teammates' efforts of getting Ying to release Cardin's hand, Ying continued the pressure on Cardin's finger.
"Ying," said Blake, "let him go."
"Not until he apologizes to the bunny girl."
"You need to apologize," remarked Blake to Cardin.
"Up aaaaa!"
"Please let him go," pleaded the bunny girl.
"He pulled your bunny ears."
"I'm ok," placing her hands on his arm, "Please let him go."
Letting him go, the bunny faunus and Blake led Ying away.
"I'm," wincing, "going to ruin his career."
"No, you're not," said Weiss crossing her arms.
"When did a Schnee care about dumb animals?"
Staring in Cardin's eyes, "Your family knows better than to mess with a Schnee."
"Let's go, Cardin," said Sky Lark, "No use arguing with losers."
Walking away, "I'll still get my pound of flesh."
Ying sat between Velvet and Blake.
Holding her hand out towards Blake, "Velvet Scarlatina of Team CFVY."
Shaking Velvet's hand, "I'm Blake Belladonna of Team RWBY and this is Ying."
"I need to get back to my teammates. Will he be alright?"
"He will."
Velvet left. Blake stared at the unresponsive Ying.
"Weiss has a heart," Blake," said Ruby.
"He's too valuable teammate to lose," remarked Weiss.
"See, she cares."
1:30 pm – Class Professor Thumbelina Peach - Plant Science
Sitting in front an empty jar, "First year students must fill a jar of red sap from the trees of Forever Fall," said pink and orange haired Professor Peach, "In this class, you'll learn that certain tree sap attract certain Grimm. It leans towards maybe Grimm may have some animal instincts. Also it was discovered sap does have certain addition abilities proved to be benefiting towards humans," moving to the left of the table, "Red sap attracts Grimm and can sustain them for a limited time in captivity. Yellow sap is an energy boost. Blue sap used for healing. Green sap can be eaten. Purple sap used as bait to catch fish. Black and white sap are poisonous. In my class, you can wear your normal clothes since we will be in the field during your time here. Thank you."
Exiting the room, "Can't believe she uses a hoverchair," said Ruby.
"Technology helped a lot of faunus like her," replied Blake.
"Really?"
"Ruby, a butterfly faunus like her loses their ability to flutter after turning forty."
"Every observant for a human," caused them, "Miss Belladonna, a rare name for a human, however quite common among faunus," staring at Blake, "You must hang out with faunus that like humans around Menagerie."
Staring at the smiling Professor Peach, "That's correct, Professor."
2:15 pm – Class Professor Ann Greene - Stealth and Security
Walking into the room, Weiss and Blake saw Ruby tied and gagged to a chair.
"That's an improvement," remarked Weiss.
"Wasn't she behind us?" replied Blake.
Their eyes widen to the tough of something metal, cold, and sharp. Walking between them was Ruby holding rapiers at Weiss and Blake.
"Yes," pulling off the Ruby mask, "It was I, Professor Ann Greene of Stealth and Security," staring at the gagged and bound Ruby, "Ok, class, who here wants Miss Rose to stay gagged and tied up."
The whole class voted for Ruby to stay tied and gagged to the chair.
4 pm – Professor Harold Mulberry - Weapon Crafting and Upkeep.
"Understand some of you, first year, have custom weapons. In my class, you will be allowed to use your weapons."
"YES!"
Looking at his scroll, he saw Ruby Rose produced that yes. Looking up her parents, he groaned when he saw Summer Rose was her mother Yang Xiao Long. This was going to be a long and painful four years.
"The discovery of Dust was instrumental to Humanity's initial defeat of the Grimm. Dust continues to be used extensively in combat. Dust can be harnessed in a variety of ways. When used in its raw form, its full potential requires both an Aura and the intelligence to use it, meaning humans and faunus although Atlas is working on artificial beings are the only ones who are able to use it for combat in this state. Furthermore, the effective use of raw dust requires a certain level of discipline to keep from losing control of it.
Methods of using raw dust include weaving it into clothing, fusing dust with oneself which is effective and unorthodox, forging a blade imbued with dust and inserting dust crystals or powder into one's weapon.
There is a limit to how much raw Dust an ordinary person is capable of metabolizing at a time unless one has a semblance that makes them impervious to pain.
Dust imbued blades are fixed blades meaning if one uses fire dust then their blade is a fire dust blade," noticing Blake's reaction, "Then there are hilts capable of switching between multiple blades imbued with different types of dust. Although there was a story of a sword that could absorb dust, however that sword was lost to time.
Adding powdered dust to one's weapon, one must insert vials of powdered Dust into a revolving chamber in their weapon," again Weiss showed some pride, "adding a dust crystal to one's weapon either insert it, embed it, or place it the end of their weapon.
Dust bullets are much simpler to use, merely requiring the user to pull the trigger.
Let's talk about combining dust. Combustion Dust, a combination of water dust and electricity. Steam Dust is created by combining Water and Fire dust. Blizzard Dust is created by combining Water, Wind, and Ice dust."
5 pm – Locker Room
Something circular and metal caused Cardin to turn. Staring at the circular barrel of Gianduja, his eyes stared at a teenage girl with fair skin, a black beret with brown rested on her short dark-brown hair, and black wire rimmed aviator sunglasses prevented him from seeing her eyes. She has wavy locks dyed with a gradient of dark brown to caramel on the right side of her face ,.
She wore a long, cocoa-colored shirt with an upturned layered frill collar with a black single strapped waist cincher, black leather trousers with golden lining around the pocket and ribbons attached to the back of a golden zipper seam around her knees. A large cocoa-colored belt decorated with gun cartridges on her left side and a large golden crosshair buckle. A large piece of black fabric is attached to her belt hung down her right side. A pair of dark black, high-heeled leather calf-high boots with golden buckles covered her feet. Staring over frames of her sunglasses revealed her dark brown eyes.
"Cardin, understand you pulled Violet's ears," pressing Gianduja against Cardin's stomach, "also you threatened a friend of Violet's," motioning to Fox Alistair and Yatsuhashi Daichi, "We protect our own including our friends. Unless you want to end up missing, you'll behave until your four years are up."
"Or what?" staring at the three members of Team CFVY, "You're a third year. You can't enforce that."
Smiling, "You really want to find out how we enforce facts," leaving Cardin to think about it.
Slamming his fist against a weapon locker door, his ears caught, "I'm living the dream of gaining a bad, bad girlfriend."
Smiling at the sight of Jaune Arc standing in front of a weapon locker, Cardin pushed Jaune into the weapons locker. Slamming the door, his fingers pressed random buttons. He felt good as it blasted off.
6 pm – Team RWBY's Room
"Ok, Team RWBY," announced Ruby going into her crazy mode, "I've been inspired."
"Should we be worried?" said Weiss.
"We should talk about our dreams," pumping her right fist, "our drive to be hunters and huntresses," pressing her clinched fists against her chest, "In other words, why are we here?" sitting down, "I'll go first. I want to be a hero like in the stories, legends, and my mom," staring at Ying, "How about you, Ying?"
"I'm going to have the lien to buy a house," said Ying, "a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs. Live off the fat of the land. And have cases. A stove when it rains in the winter. Thick cream, one can hardly cut from milk."
"What about you, Weiss?" asked Ruby.
"I want to restore my family's name and honor," replied Weiss.
"Really?" said Blake.
"Yes since my grandfather had a low opinion of women, my father was able to run the company."
"My grandfather would've punched him," said Ruby.
"Strange, someone did," looking at Blake, "About you, Blake?"
"I've got nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, nothing. Although Ying's sounds interesting. Ruby sounds naïve. Weiss, I'm not holding my breath."
"Screw you, Blake."
"You're not my type, Weiss."
Quickly getting up, Weiss stormed at of the room.
Chasing after her down the stairs, "Weiss, what's wrong," asked Ruby, "Why are you…"
Stopping in front of the exit, "What's wrong?" facing Ruby, "What's wrong is you're post to be a leader instead you're a nuisance."
"What did I do?"
"That's it. You did nothing to earn your position. During the intention, you acted like child and you continue to do so!"
"What happened to the talk about working together? You know being a team."
"I'm not going to be on a team with someone who doesn't study and train."
"This is our first day of school."
"I deserve better," opening the door, "Ozpin made a mistake picking you as team leader," walking outside.
Following Weiss outside, Ruby found Ozpin sipping his coco.
"That didn't seem to go every well," he remarked.
"Is she right? Did you make a mistake picking me?"
"That remains to be seen."
"That sounds something my dad would say. Your meaning?"
"It's only been one day, Miss Rose. I've made more mistakes then any adult or child on this planet. At this moment, I don't consider your appointment as one of them," staring at the rock chucks of the new moon of winter, "Being a leader isn't just a title you carry into battle. It's a brand you wear constantly. If you're not always performing at your absolute best then what reason do you expect others to follow you," staring at Ruby, "You've been burden with a daunting responsible," turning away, "I advise you take to think about how you would handle it," walking away.
Reaching the courtyard Weiss saw Professor Port staring at the statue Huntsman and Huntress standing atop a rock with a Beowolf cowering below them.
"Professor Port," brought his attention onto her.
"Miss Schnee and what do I own this fine pleasure?"
"I…adore your lecture."
"Of course, you did. You got the blood of a huntress in your veins."
"You really think so?"
"Most surely. Hmm. Something is troubling you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Dear, girl. Confess your strife."
"I…I think Ozpin made a mistake by not making me the team leader of Team RWBY."
"That's prosperous."
"What do you mean?"
"I been with Professor Ozpin for many years. He never led me astray."
"So you blindly accept his decision after seeing how exceptional I am?"
"With all due respect, your exceptional skills on the battlefield is only matched by your poor attitude."
"How dare you?"
"My point exactly. I see a girl before me who spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted."
"That's not even remotely true," rolling her eyes, "Not entirely true."
"So the outcome didn't fall in your favor, do you really believe acting in such a matter would cause those in power to reconsider their decision? So instead of fretting about what you don't have, savor what you do have. Hone your skills. Perfect every technique. And not be the best leader, instead be the best person you can be."
"Ok," walking away.
9:00 pm – Team RWBY's Room.
It was dark when Weiss entered the room. Standing on a chair, she found Ruby asleep with an empty mug in her left hand and a pencil in her right with her notebook opened. It seems she was taking notes for tomorrow.
Smiling, Weiss placed the mug on the nightstand. Placing the pencil inside the notebook, Weiss made sure to mark Ruby's place in her school books.
"Good night, team leader," whispered Weiss covering sleeping Ruby with the blankets.