Glynda Goodwitch was furious at Ozpin for two reasons. The first and foremost was that the illustrious headmaster had lied to her. More than that, he had withheld information vital to the safety and wellbeing of the most important person in her life. Yes, Ruby was and had already gotten a big talking to, but Glynda could understand her daughter's plight. She had gotten the okay from her 'grandfather'. The girl should have known to always okay it with her mother, but she had talked to an elder about it.
The headmaster, however.
Well, he had received a very stern talking to himself.
The second reason for her anger at Ozpin was his request that Ruby be allowed to attend her combat classes. She would have said no, but it was one of his famous 'requests in name only'. Who was he to decide whether or not her daughter was ready for combat practice? Well, he was a headmaster of a combat academy, so there was that, but she didn't have to like it.
Besides, Ruby was, while talented enough at spinning around her practice scythe, or the other weapons she often liked to try out, she was still very much a child when it came to weapons use. The muscles weren't there yet. The tactical eye that a hunter needed to find flaws in their enemy. The muscle memory that came from years of practice and training. Practice and training at a combat school.
A school that Ruby was still legally too young to attend.
At least it gave her a punishment for her daughter. Though, in her eyes, she was sure it would be seen as less of a punishment and more of a reward.
"Ruby, you can sit in on my combat classes."
"Really?!" Ruby squealed into her breakfast of eggs and toast. Her eyes lit up, sparkling silver that rivalled her cutlery. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Glynda rolled her eyes, fixing her glasses back on her nose as she did her best to glare at her overexcited daughter. "You will be quiet and respectful of the students. That means no talking. Or interrupting."
"how about-"
"No giving suggestions to the students unless I call on you. Treat this as if you are a student and I'm your professor. Not your mother."
Glynda realized she had said the wrong thing when Ruby started vibrating with anticipation.
"I'm going to finally be a student at Beacon?!" The high pitched scream that followed may as well have been heard all across campus.
Glynda could still feel the piercing ringing in her ears later that same day when the first year students stepped into her classroom, followed quickly by a still buzzing Ruby Goodwitch. Glynda sigh and mustered up the best impression of a strict teacher she could. She knew that it was going to be hard to maintain some sort of cruel visage when her own daughter was in the room.
At least this first lesson would be easier.
She was still angry at Ruby for Initiation after all. And tremendously angry at the headmaster for ensuring it would feel like she was being rewarded for her behaviour. She'd have to think of a just punishment for her little girl in the future. Not now though. Not with that cheerful face shining brighter than she'd ever have thought possible. It was true. Ruby was a complete huntsmen fangirl and there was nothing that Glynda could say or do which would ruin her excitement.
Her first time sitting in a combat classroom and being treated like a student instead of some watcher or child cheerleader. Okay, Glynda was sure Ruby would eventually realize that not much had changed since then, aside from her seating in the stands with the other students rather than the front of the classroom. But for now, that seemed to be enough for the little girl. All the students were slightly confused to see her sitting in the middle of the rows of seats rather than the front, as was so common in the rest of their classes that first day. But it looked like they were already becoming more and more used to seeing the young face which haunted their Initiation, alongside them.
"This is Combat Training and Discipline 101. I am deputy headmistress Glynda Goodwitch and you will refer to me as Professor Goodwitch or simply, Professor, while in this classroom, as well as throughout your tenure at this school. Is that understood?"
She looked around the room for a second seeing questioning silver eyes and a raised hand, "yes. That rule doesn't apply to you Ruby. Now, for the next four weeks, I will be seeing each of your combat abilities in one on one fights following regular competition rules. Four fights a day, every day until we're through. Your opponent will be someone I believe to be at your level or as close as possible, based off your results in this years Initiation. You will all fight only once during these next four weeks. If you have already fought, that does not mean you are free from attending this class. Is that understood?"
There were some nods and murmurs in the positive, so Glynda took that as enough acceptance. With a whap of her riding crop in her free hand, she silenced the class. Aside from Ruby, who let out a cute little giggle before quieting herself down.
"Now, for our first fight, I would like Nora Valkyrie and Yang Xiao Long to both head to the locker rooms to grab your weapons."
The two huntresses-in-training left the room, chatting about something to do with 'legs breaking'. Glynda turned back to the rest of the class. "Due to these two going first, their grades will reflect the unique test situation I will be putting them into. As you will all know what to expect, your unique test situations will be different, as well as your grades will reflect you knowing that there will be a situation."
Once more, murmurings filled the room. This time, Glynda let it continue. There was still some time until her two students would be returning, and it always did well to have her class a little confused and frightened about what to expect. Not that she blamed them. A unique test situation sounded a lot more worrisome than it actually was. And these fights had such a small effect on everyone's final grades, it would help them to learn to expect the unexpected.
Ms. Xiao Long and Ms. Valkyrie were both lucky in this regard, their unique testing situation would just be her throwing around some debris. Something else for them to monitor. Combat awareness was the most important lesson for all her students to learn.
The only real risk she was facing, was if it would give Ruby some new ideas. But then again, that was always a constant risk just by having people around her.
The two girls finally returned, weapons in hand and followed Glynda's direction to their starting places on the arena floor. At her command, the two students rushed forward to begin their offense heavy onslaught.
Nora's hammer slammed into the ground, just barely missing her opponent. Yang laughed as the massive hammer was spun around the much smaller girl's body, gaining a fair amount of momentum for the next attack. Yang followed the incoming hammer head with a hand, deflecting some of the force, though taking a small hit to her aura. It was worth it however, as the increased momentum gave the blonde control of the fight.
Glynda nodded, watching Yang step in close to the redhead fighter, getting in a few shotgun-assisted jabs which seemed to do more to make Nora excited than nervous for the battle's continuation.
Blows were exchanged, back and forth. Yang got in plenty of small jabs, while tanking a few large hits that Nora managed to successfully land. After a small bout, the two separated. Yang's aura was hovering around 60% with Nora's at 67%.
Glynda considered starting her test now but noticed a glimmer in Yang's smile. A second later, Yang's hair erupted into flames and eyes changed to a glowing red. Her semblance was activated. If what she recalled was correct, that meant that the girl now held an immense amount of power at her disposal. Power she was using well, catching a futile attack by Nora and launching into a right hook, sending the girl flying to the other side of the arena.
Glynda checked the fighters' aura levels. The single hit had knocked out a good 15% of her aura. It would be now or never. Slipping her weapon out from its resting place on her waist, she swirled it around, pulling up debris from the ensuing fight.
Before they had time to react, she launched them haphazardly at the contestants, watching their stunned reactions with a happy smirk.
In the crowd of students, she delighted in Ruby's giggle.
A shame. Truly. Both Yang Xiao Long and Nora Valkyrie were admirable fighters. Based on their fighting abilities during Initiation, they had both done well in fighting multiple opponents. Glynda had assumed that translated well to their special awareness.
She tsked and tutted, shaking her head in disappointment as both their auras fell rapidly, the buzzer sounding Nora's defeat just a moment before a second buzzer announced Yang's aura loss.
Glynda sighed. "Nora loses by aura loss. Both of you however do require a fair amount of training in spatial awareness and defending oneself while simultaneously engaging in a strong opponent. You may both return to the changing rooms and reflect on your fight."
Glynda looked around the room at stunned faces, all having seen her wield her terrific semblance. And Ruby's joyous smile at having been there to see it in action once again.
"Next."
Once more into the fray. This one honestly took me a while to write. I wanted another Glynda chapter, since its been awhile, but no idea what to do for it. Hopefully with this out of the way, new chapters will come at a bit more reasonable pace. No promises though.
Zapper Frost - It's Yang. Always assume it's Yang.
Cyan-Snake - Don't you know? Blake is a special little snowflake! Nobody is better than she is, or knows the Fang as well as her! Ilia is obviously a spy sent to capture her. There is no other possibility!
Kivuntappaja - To answer your Ilia question first: Yes. Take that how you will. As for chapter length, they've varied quite a bit. I like having them mostly over 1.5k, but they jump around from the mid hundreds to ~2k. Shorter chaps are quicker to write after all. And I'm just going to assume Yang asked everyone for toppings.
Therecklessone - Oh darn, now I'm going to need to have a scene with Ruby asking questions to the gang about nicknames her mother has, all the while Glynda's just glaring at them, "if you tell her anything untoward, I will murder you."
Darknight2124 - Ilia knows what she likes. And it seems like Ilia likes being a sub. :P
Psiah - Ilia will hopefully embody the useless lesbian trope in this fic. Unless... welp, time to upgrade this thing to M so Blake and her can have a real, proper 'interrogation'.
merendinoemelliano - Thank you!
Shiun Shigure - Blake would still think it's a totally innocent interrogation method, even while Ilia is being her rated M self.