Hi guys, sorry it's been so long since I updated. School started up for me again and I've been busy getting into a rhythm. But, that's not important, you're here for the story and I am more than happy to provide!

Enjoy!

Therapy and Other Events

I wasn't sure what to expect after the attack on the docks. A major supply of Dust had been assaulted and the bodies of many White Fang members had been spread over the pavement like disgusting jam. Then there was the fact someone not in the know had fought one of the Beasts and who knows how many cameras that had caught the exchange.

It certainly wasn't therapy.

I glanced to my right, Weiss frowning in her seat. We were the only two to have to go to these sessions since Blake had seen worse over the years and the monkey-guy, or Sun as he'd introduced himself, was no stranger to scenes of violence back in Vacuo.

That left me and my partner to sit across from Professor Port and talk about what happened. Well, I say talk, but it was mostly the Professor going on his usual spiel of long winded stories with a few insights sprinkled in.

I admit seeing all that carnage had been more than a little frightening and Yang had been the one to push me towards this. It's what I got for screaming myself awake for the first time in years. Weiss though was still a mystery.

"Can you tell me why you're here again?" I whispered. "Yang wouldn't leave me alone, but I'm sure you're not scarred by it."

Weiss ignored the unintentional pun. "I'm here because I choose to be. It's rather hard to be the greatest partner ever if I don't help you through this."

A cleared throat stalled my answer if not my smile. "Ms. Schnee, while the sentiment is appreciated, please try and remain quiet. We're almost done."

Port tented his fingers. "Now, Ms. Rose, I understand that you've experienced death before, but you must try and face the idea that those around you will either be hurt or die. Whether that be civilians or enemies, or even your teammates, that is the reality you face."

I looked down, absently scratching at the bandage hiding that ugly marking on my arm. "I know that Professor… I guess I just wasn't ready to see that level of…slaughter."

I whispered the last word, Port's mustache drooping sympathetically. "Few are, and those that can see such carnage and not blink are more dangerous than anything. Your fear and disgust show your humanity Ms. Rose, but as with all obstacles in life, you must overcome it."

He gestured to Weiss. "Thankfully you have friends and family willing to help you. The best advice I can give at this juncture is to rely on them. Bottling up your concerns, fears, or thoughts will only make you explode."

Port's moustache puffed back to life. "Well, that's all the time we have for today. Head back to your dorms girls, you have work to do."

I stood and thanked the Professor before leaving with Weiss. The halls were filled with their usual level of chatter, but all anyone was talking about had to do with the White Fang attack. Yet, there wasn't so much as a whisper about the Royal Ludroth that had run off into the sea.

Or slid off, I guess. Still had a hard time getting my head around how it got away.

Weiss spoke when we got away from the hustle and bustle of the main halls. "Are you really ok? I don't need you getting all spooled up when we have tests next week."

"Gee, thanks," I snarked. "It's wonderful to know that you care more about your tests than my wellbeing."

Weiss huffed. "You're well-being has a direct effect on my training here, of course I care. Besides, no one walks away from something like that unchanged."

I knew Weiss spoke from experience. I didn't know how young she'd been when the White Fang first went after her, but now wasn't the time to ask. "I'll be ok… eventually. It'll just take time."

"As all things do," Weiss sighed. "Very well, just know that you can come to me should Yang or Blake prove unavailable."

I nodded. "And I can talk to anyone on JNPR if needed. Say, just to talk about something other than me, what do you think we'll be doing after school now?"

"Couldn't say," Weiss shrugged as we entered the elevator. "For all we know, the training could get a lot worse or stop altogether."

I shook my head, no way that'd happen. "I don't think so. I mean, if anything, we'll probably start experimenting with our jam to better match our fighting styles."

Weiss glared at me. "You're still calling it jam?"

"You have a better idea?" I asked with a cheeky grin. "It's fun to say too, don't deny it."

Weiss huffed and went silent. Taking the petty victory for now, we walked to our dorm and opened the door.

Only to find everyone doing their best to act casual while covering my storage locker.

My eyes narrowed, even as Yang stood to greet us. "Ruby, Weiss! How'd the session go?"

"I got the same advice dad gave me when I told him I wanted to be a Huntress." I answered. "Now why is everyone trying to hide my locker?"

Yang grinned sheepishly as she moved in front of me. It didn't do much good, I could still see Nora and Jaune trying to wrestle wall paper over it. "We just, uh… needed to get some cleaning done and didn't want to get your things dirty!"

My brow went up. When Yang's voice went up a pitch, she was lying. "So, you plan on cleaning the entire room… without covering your lockers or moving the table?"

Yang only smiled wider, her eyes darting around. "Well we just decided to do it a few minutes ago… yeah."

Her voice trailed off as she looked back and found Blake barricaded in the corner of the room, one of the end tables between her and us. Jaune and Nora had commandeered the dining table and huddled behind it in another corner.

Ren and Pyrrha just stood around, looking very confused.

Something clicked in my head. "Yang… what did you do to Crescent Rose?"

Ren's eyes widened and he took off, opening and diving through the window. Pyrrha looked even more confused, though she was obviously unsettled when Weiss immediately made a dome of thick ice.

Yang tried to wave off my question. "No-no sis you got it all wrong! We just… didn't want you to see all the cookies we got for you!"

I barely heard another word after that, the thought of beautiful cookies filling my mind. Looking back on it, that right there probably showed I was doing well, but it sure didn't matter to Yang.

"Crap." She muttered, palm meeting her forehead. "Pyrrha, take cover!"

Pyrrha barely had time to process that before I crackled across the room, tore off the covering on my locker, and ripped it open. Thing is, there was no cookies in there.

In fact, nothing was there.

I felt my power surge, eye shifting and lightning crackling around me. "Yang…!"

I turned and leapt at my sister. Pretty sure I looked like a demon with the red eye and lightning. "What did you do with my sweetheart?!"

-One destroyed room and traumatized teammates later-

"You should have told me!" I pouted as I stomped down the hall. "I wouldn't have gone off like that if you hadn't gotten me excited!"

Weiss growled at me, her hair a mess. "Excited?! You turned the entire living room and kitchen into a warzone before anyone could get a word in edgewise!"

Blake joined the scolding. "While I agree that Yang not just explaining things outright was a poor decision, there was no need to explode."

"Literally!" Nora crowed. "I haven't had that much of a supercharge in years!"

I cringed, though no one saw it. I was miffed that Yang had decided to hide the fact all our weapons had been taken, but letting loose was…stupid.

"We'll live Ruby." Ren sighed, the lone person besides me to go unharmed. "But I fail to see why you're so attached to the scythe. I know you built it yourself and all, but it's nothing to lose your head over."

I tried to keep the bite out of my voice. "Yeah, well, when your weapon is one of your only lifelines don't be surprised if you get attached."

Ren blinked at me and Pyrrha decided to poke at the opening. "Something you need to tell us?"

I scowled and sped up, not wanting to drudge up old wounds. I heard the others jog after me, but all my anger was forgotten when I arrived at a pair of doors that I knew very well.

Giddy, I pressed the button and skipped into the weapon bay, benches and tools scattered across the room along with various metal bits, oil cans, and so on.

Oh, and the corpses of every monster we'd taken down minus the shredded Qurupeco.

I stared at one that looked like a giant purple frog-fish. "…Wow."

"Indeed Ms. Rose." Ozpin stated as he appeared from behind a bench. "That is a beast that even I know nothing about. Our analysis has shown it to be a large and aggressive ambush predator with paralyzing spines hidden in its back."

He gestured in a vague direction. "Professor Goodwitch was responsible for taking this one down. I did not hear about the Royal Ludroth being spotted until shortly after it fled, but I would have sent her had I known earlier."

I stared at the creature for a minute before the passage came to me. "Gobul, terror of all who forge the rivers and shallows of the world. The great leviathan waits for the slightest movement before shooting from its hiding place and swallowing its prey in one bite."

Ozpin hummed, his cane clacking as he walked up to me. "You've been reading the book in your spare time."

"It's the only book that interests me." I laughed, looking away from the unamused stare he gave me. "But that's not important."

The door opened again and the others came through. "You bet that's important Ruby Rose! I knew you weren't studying!"

I gulped but Ozpin saved me from a Weissy death. "Good, you're all here. Professor Oobleck has been…eager, to show off his work."

He turned and strode further into the bay. Weiss gave me a glare as she walked by while the others were too curious to try and prod at me anymore. Yang and Blake gave me fist-bumps as they went by though.

Yang always knew when a pun had been made, no matter if it was out-loud, while Blake had been around Yang enough in both practice and the dorm to pick up on it too. It was honestly a little scary how those two were meshing so well.

Thinking on it, Yang had met Blake's explanation of her old life with all the sympathy and care I expected of her. In fact, when Ozpin had seen Yang hovering around Blake like she did for me on occasion, he'd ruled out therapy immediately.

Yes, I am still bitter about being forced to sit and listen to Port for hours on end. It was only by having Weiss there or one of the Junipers that I stayed sane.

Anyway, Ozpin led us through the stinking corpses and to a long bench with Oobleck standing behind it. When we got there, Oobleck zipped from behind the bench and started lecturing. "Our understanding of the beasts is still in its infancy, but your work has allowed us to gain some insight into how they work and how we can turn their abilities to our advantage!"

He gestured to the bench, ignoring our confusion. "Some of the monsters had limbs or organs that were of particular interest to us, especially when it came to the effects they produced."

He zipped in front of Blake. "For example, the Iodrome. Its esophageal sack secreted a potent toxin that combined the effectiveness of a neurotoxin, the infectious potential of a necrotic, and the danger of an anti-coagulant. Tell me, Ms. Belladonna, what use is this information?"

Blake leaned away from the eager professor. "Uh… it shows how hard it is to treat?"

"Close!" Oobleck shouted, making Blake grimace. "In truth, it is important to know that you should avoid the toxin at all cost while using it to your advantage!"

He gestured to the table where Gambol Shroud lay. "We have, through some trial and error, outfitted your blade with an injection mechanism that uses the poison."

Blake's jaw dropped along with everyone else. "…Why? What could I ever use something so… painful for?"

Ozpin cleared his throat. "As shown in your encounter with the Royal Ludroth, your weapons as they stand are not enough to defeat the more robust enemies you are likely to encounter. As such, we're going to turn the beasts' own weapons against them."

"There are only so many charges in the blade." Oobleck continued. "Professor Port was only able to extract enough poison for three, though none sit in the blade. Unless you kill more of those Iodromes, that's all you have."

Blake frowned, but I couldn't tell if she was uncomfortable at using the poison or just weighing the pros and cons. "…Alright, I'll use it. I don't like the idea of it, but I understand why you added it."

Oobleck nodded. "Good, I'll be instructing you on how to use the mechanism later. Now…"

He zipped in front of Pyrrha. "Ms. Nikos, I've done something similar to your weapon."

Milos appeared in his hand. "I isolated part of the poison's structure and created a powerful sedative. Your mechanism will work only in spear form and activates on impact, injecting the target with enough sedative to at least make a Great Jaggi sluggish. Be aware, it will cause total cardiopulmonary cessation should it hit a human, so please practice dry until you're confident."

Pyrrha gulped. "Um, Professor, is it truly necessary? Milos was effective against every beast I've faced so far."

Ozpin answered again. "Ms. Nikos, much like the more advanced Grimm, the beasts have members among them that are covered in armor. It's the other reason that we're giving our most accurate students the injection mechanisms."

He looked to Ren. "No offense, Mr. Ren."

Ren shrugged and Oobleck vanished again, this time stopping in front of Yang. "Ms. Xiao Long, your gauntlets were actually quite easy to modify. I simply recovered the tips of the Qurupeco's wings, studied them, and created a substitute that lines the knuckles. When you get the chance, I wish to see if the sparks and blasts created can ignite your slime."

Yang grinned and I sighed alongside my friends. A more explosive Yang was just what everyone needed.

Oobleck appeared before Weiss. "Ms. Schnee, I have replaced your rapier's blade with a composite material made from titanium and the Velocidrome's femur. Both are much stronger than the steel you were using while the bone keeps the blade flexible. Also, I took the liberty of crafting a glove from the Velocidrome skin. You'll find it much harder to lose your weapon from here on."

Weiss put on a pleasant smile. "Thank you, Professor. I'm glad a professional was able to do so much."

I didn't like the implied barb, but Oobleck came to me next. "Ms. Rose, your weapon was… interesting. I couldn't do anything with the blade, so I went with something else."

He held out some weird bullets. "These are the spines from that fish, I ground them and placed them into darts. It will paralyze anything short of the beasts in one shot, and three should be enough to stop any of them. I was able to make about three dozen of the darts, but please use them sparingly."

I nodded eagerly, but Oobleck took the darts away. Apparently, he had nothing else as our weapons were swiftly returned. "I apologize to Mr. Arc, Mr. Ren and Ms. Nora, but I had nothing else to add to their armament now. I look forward to seeing you all in practice."

With that, he was gone. Ozpin shooed us from the bay, saying it needed to get cleaned up, so we did the only thing we could.

-Cafeteria-

Food was always a good thing after getting new stuff.

Our little group sat at the usual spot with conversation coming and going. Blake wasn't the most talkative person normally, but she was even quieter than usual. Thinking it strange, I opened my mouth. "Hey, Blake-"

"I can't believe he gave me poison." She muttered, just quiet enough that I barely heard it. "It's as if he's trying to drudge up bad memories."

That shut my gob, at least until Yang decided to be herself. "Say, Blakey, you never did share why you left the WF. Want to tell while we're all young and idyllic?"

Blake glared at her. "That's beyond private. Ask after you've done something to earn it, and I don't mean sneaking me tuna."

Yang gasped in over the top shock, Ren glaring at my sister tiredly before groaning. "That's where all my groceries keep going."

Blake flipped him a coin, which Ren caught, before I cleared my throat. "So, it looks like we'll be doing practice after all. Any ideas on what we'll be doing now?"

"Blake and I will likely be working with the new mechanisms." Pyrrha noted. "Beyond that, I think we'll be working more on actual tactics when it comes to fighting the beasts."

Jaune shrugged as he took a bite out of his burger. "Sounds good to me. Though, uh, how's that going to work?"

"I bet we'll get to fight robots!" Nora cheered. "Then, we'll get chased all around the room by the robots while we have to figure out how to beat them down!"

Her eyes gleamed. "I can't wait to break some legs!"

I laughed nervously, still confused about Nora's eternal desire to snap tibulas. Ren was used to it, which said more about Nora's long standing obsession than anything, but everyone else subtly shifted away from her.

Weiss huffed, playing with freshly cleaned hair because of course it was. "So long as the modifications do nothing to impede us, I see no reason we cannot make short work of such training. I would prefer we work on tapping into our power safely, if only so we don't rely on the beasts."

My hand went to my left arm, feeling the bandages that wrapped it. It was probably best that we added that to the agenda too, but I wasn't all that comfortable trying to access the power quite yet. Getting told you could go into a homicidal craze for using it too much did that to you.

I didn't see it, but Weiss grimaced. Guess she realized saying that wasn't the best idea.

"Look, we'll find out tomorrow." Yang cut in, glaring at Weiss all the while. "No point worrying about it when we don't know what's going on."

Pyrrha put a hand on my shoulder and held out her glass of water. "I can cheer to that. What say you?"

I put on a smile and clinked my glass with hers. The others got into it and we had a big cheer before slamming back our water. We proceeded to choke on it and make fools of ourselves, which a passing Coco made sure to point out.

With any previous tension broken, excited chatter and jokes began to flow again. I did notice Weiss glancing at me from time to time, but I was having too much fun easing Ren about his habit of meditating upside down to give it much thought.

Looking back on it, I really should have paid more attention, that night wouldn't have been so awkward otherwise.

-Night-

"Cookies 'n Crème…"

I was sound asleep, my pillow a giant marshmallow while I snuggled and chewed on a giant cookie. While I was nibbling away, I felt something poke my shoulder.

"Ruby."

Looking to my left, I found a giant vanilla ice cream cone. "Ice cream!"

My hands shot out and grabbed the cone, pulling for a long lick. It struggled mightily, but I could subdue it after some work and rolling off my cake-bed.

"Ruby Rose, wake up this instant! I am not ice cream, no matter what Yang says!"

I didn't believe the giant cone, instead finding the corner where the cone met the cream and licking again.

"Dolt!"

The cone leaned back and smacked me. I was expecting it to splat, as ice cream does, but a solid hit made my little fantasy disappear.

"Ow… what was that for?"

I looked up to see a flustered Weiss in her nightgown, a red spot growing on her forehead. Now that I thought about it, she must have been the ice cream cone that I had been…licking and fondling.

I shot up with a squeak, scrambling back from Weiss. "I'm so sorry! I w-w-was dreaming!"

Weiss scowled at me, voice low. "Yeah, I could tell. You're lucky Yang didn't wake up."

She turned her scowl to Blake's bunk. "Go to sleep Blake, I can hear your snickering over here."

Blake's ears twitched, a clear sign of amusement, but she didn't speak. Weiss growled and stood, dusting herself off before stalking off to the bathroom. "Go to the living room, I need to clean up."

I remained still until she was gone. Then I slinked into the living room and hid my head in my arms. Geez, I think I was licking her neck. Talk about being a creep to one of your friends, it's like if Nora decided Ren was made of pancakes.

I shuddered at that thought. Forget awkwardness, Ren wouldn't keep his sanity or his purity-assuming Nora hadn't already taken it!

I shook my head of that. Nora may have been flighty and a bit nutty, but she wouldn't do that to her best friend. I still must've been half-asleep.

Weiss came through when I finished the thought, eyes finding the back of my head. "What is it this time?"

I looked up and watched her sit before answering. "Just… nothing. Sorry again, I should've realized ice cream can't talk."

"Yes," Weiss huffed, "you should have. Next time, try and wake up before you start fondling me."

I blushed and looked away. Weiss sighed and started tapping the table. "Look Ruby, this incident aside, I wanted to apologize to you for what I said in the cafeteria."

I looked back to her, confused. "What did you say? I don't remember hearing you say anything mean… for once."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Says the one that would complain about her sister and leaky floor over the scroll. You're a vicious thing when you think no one can see it."

I glared at her. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I just know that I can fire back," Weiss laughed. "Anyway, I wanted to apologize for bringing up the powers during practice, specifically drawing on it. I know you're willing to use what we can right now, but I wasn't thinking when I said it."

I sighed. "Weiss, that's not something to apologize for. You were just saying what you thought would happen in practice."

"It's no excuse," Weiss countered. "Ruby, you were at the mercy of a beast and had to lose yourself to get the both of us out of there alive. You haven't pulled on anything more than your most basic abilities since. If nothing else, I don't want you getting down about some thoughtless comment when we need to be focused."

I smiled, energy back where it belonged. "That's sweet of you, Weiss. Are you sure you shouldn't just drop the ice and act like this all the time?"

Weiss scoffed, an amused smirk on her lips. "Please, someone needs to be the voice of reason around here. If Blake weren't so prone to just going with the flow, I wouldn't need to call you a dolt all the time. That and Pyrrha's too nice to scold either her team or her boyfriend."

"So we do agree on that!" I laughed. "Man, they just need to sit down and have that talk already. I hear Ren's been getting all kinds of annoyed with them and Nora's been trying to get Pyrrha to just spill."

Weiss shrugged. "I'm just surprised it would be Jaune of all people. What do you think made Pyrrha give him more than a passing glance?"

I hummed and thought on it, trying to pinpoint the exact thing that may have started our friends' mutual affections. "Maybe… the fact that he didn't know who she was?"

Weiss frowned. "How, exactly, would that make her start crushing on him? Especially when he bumbled his way through the initiation."

I held out my hands helplessly. "It's just a guess, but she doesn't seem to like all the fame from what I've seen. She's very particular about avoiding large groups of people, especially if we go into Vale."

Weiss bit her lip, mind turning over the idea with her usual cold stare. "True… I noticed she didn't enjoy me trying to butter her up in the lockers before initiation. She was polite, but looking back on it, she was really uncomfortable."

I nodded, but felt a yawn push its way out of my throat. "Let's leave our friends alone for tonight. I need to sleep if I'm going to attempt listening to Professor Port."

"You will listen." Weiss shot. "If you don't, I won't help with the assignment."

I groaned but made my way back to my bunk. I paused at the door though. "Weiss… thanks for trying to cheer me up. I really appreciate it."

Weiss smirked and flipped her hair. "What are friends for? …If you say copying homework, I'll never speak to you again."

"I wasn't gonna say that!"

-Cave-

"What is our progress?"

A congregation of beasts laid around a large pool, each bearing the scars of many battles with both each other and the enemy.

"We are making progress, slowly." One of them answered, its hide a shiny blue and orange. "The epioths have yet to make any inroads beyond our former prison, but the ludroths are killing off the enemy."

The one known as Se'to went next. "My concubines have done much work as well. Two more months and the epioths can enter the rivers."

"Not fast enough," another clicked. "Your invasion has already drawn more attention then my dromes would prefer."

The largest of them shifted, blue and white scales rippling. "Speaking of, have your dromes made contact with the land-dwellers?"

Beady eyes met the crocodilian behemoth, teeth bared in a flat head. "Only a few jaggi. None of the surface elders have woken, and they're disorganized after the Qurupeco organizing them was killed several days ago."

The cave thrummed as the pool's occupant considered the information. "We are still unsure as to the extent of the enemy and the humans. Tell the jaggi that the elder Ha'rok has woken and requires their services until the council can be convened."

The flat-head bowed and scurried from the cave.

Steam filled the air as the burning leviathan sunk deeper into the water. "Se'to, your actions warrant punishment. However, the disgrace of being marked by human weapons is enough to fulfill the act. Go and see to it the epioth continue to spread."

Se'to held in a growl before slithering out of the cave.

"You really should refrain from provoking him my lord." The blue leviathan sighed. "None of the other Royals have awoken yet and we require his concubines."

Dark laughter echoed through the cave. "He is young, Ar'dynle. We were sealed shortly after he saw his sixth winter, and is eager to take his place."

Steam hissed again as the Miralis known as Ha'rok pulled himself to the water's edge. "Now, what have you heard about these children that carry the power of our compatriots?

Ar'dynle shook, muscle rippling. "Little if anything. They've learned to move water through small channels and it is impossible for me to travel into the heart of their territory. We will likely be limited in our knowledge until the others awaken."

"So they have advanced." Ha'rok noted. "I suppose freedom from our fury has given them the room to do so. I dislike that we cannot simply charge their docks, but I feel something more stirring."

Hellish fire escaped his jaws, anger burning his words. "The enemy has changed as well, and we need to know how. Letting the Witch have her way is more infuriating than anything the humans could ever do.

Ar'dynle hissed as well. "I will do all I can, milord. I'll make sure Re'ka can mourn as well."

The anger faded from Ha'rok's eyes. "Good… I will return to my own search as well."

"The sooner we find our brethren, the sooner this can end."

Ch. End

I am so very sorry that this took so long to come out. As I said, college started up and I just did not have the time to write.

Also, now that you've seen this, there will be a time-skip next time! While I could spend an entire chapter going over the training and various movements of the Grimm and Beasts, that would be relatively boring compared to the action pieces. As such, we get to more fun things next time!

Oh and I'll be doing review responses from here out!

Dragon-XZero: I noticed that. Won't be fixed as of this post, but I'll get to it.

Daemon of Wrath: Thanks, glad it's easy to follow!

RaptorRapist: Salem is always a big threat, but there's good reason I don't just wake everything up. If all the Elders were out and about, this story would've been a horror/tragedy combo. As I dislike dark stuff when there's too much of it, this happened instead!

Jmccalmont11: Blake is a Nargacuga while Weiss is a Barioth.

Alright, that's all I have. Thanks for reading everyone and again, I'm really sorry it took so long. Hope you enjoy!