A/N: Another fine hello from me to all of you!

Before I go any further, as per usual, I wish to extend my most heartfelt of gratitude for all of those who have followed/favorited this series, and even more for those who wrote Reviews or sent me PMs.

In response to one from 'SatelliteApocrypha', I realize that it was much sooner than I had planned, but as I couldn't send a PM to 'MsInsanity', and they deserved an answer to such a beautiful review, I was ultimately forced to post my answer in the Author's Notes. I do hope no one thought too poorly of me for that. And for the benefit of everyone. All three of Neo's Semblances share a few trends, or similarities. I was simply curious if anyone noticed any of them. I will reveal them in a chapter or two, but I want to see if any clever detectives out there can infer a few or all of them from the descriptions given to date.

Another note, since I got a couple of PMs from people that actually unfavorited this as of the last chapter. PEOPLE, OCs DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY RUIN ANY STORY! Seriously, some of the greatest reads I have had, include OCs to keep the world and plot in place. Now, I do agree with the angst against Gary and Mary Sue OCs, but NONE of the ones that will be mentioned in this tale are one of those. All the OCs I have used (Barring the ones that simply haven't shown in the series proper, such as Qrow, Weiss's family, including Winter, etc.) belong to other accomplished writers who have selflessly allowed me to use their creations as background characters in my story… So that the entire First Year class doesn't consist of RWPY, MDNS, JNPR, and CRML… and a bunch of shadowy silhouettes. None of the OCs I am using will be Gary or Mary Sue tropes. In all actuality, I recommend reading the stories they originally come from, as they are all well developed characters, with their own tales. Only the fact that the world they belong in, is Remnant, stops them from being good original stories, that could be published.

Also, someone complained about Mato being seemingly too OP and bordering on said Mary Sue. … Yeah, she kinda is. She is twice as old as Ozpin, and has fought more life and death battles than he has. Not to mention her near immortality. That being said, I did try to limit her a bit, what with her Aura doing jack squat. That mention of it healing her? Just a clever ploy to avoid suspicions with her own (un)natural healing rate. She has yet to discover her semblance as well. That being said, very few people can TRULY fight at her level from Cannon RWBY. As stated, Ruby and her OP semblance are one of them. Ozpin is another. Glynda as well can keep her pinned completely. Neo is a great match so long as the fight is limited to close-combat, and Pyrrha is a good match all-around. Mato can be killed, and can be beaten… it is just VERY hard to do for most people or Grimm.

With Mato holding herself back though to fit in, she will always find a way to make the match exciting, or rather I will, no matter the opponent.

No such considerations will be given to Grimm.

Well, I have talked too much already here. Enjoy Chapter 11!

Beacon - Cafeteria

April 3nd, 2014 - Early Afternoon

"Soooo. Anyone know why they make us eat lunch before Combat Class?" Mato asked her teammates. Thanks to Neo, they had all already gotten their meals and sat at a table before any other students had begun to enter the cafeteria from their class with Port.

Her three teammates merely shrugged lazily before continuing their meals. A nice selection consisting of a trio of chicken salads for Winter, a hearty meatloaf for Dove, a tub of ice cream for Neo… which had not been part of the lineup available to the students.

"Neo… where did you get the -" Her question was interrupted by Neo's expression, which perfectly described 'What do you think?' "Right, you probably stole it from their stock… Share some for some of my fries?"

Sadly, negotiations broke down as Ruby sat down to Mato's right, "Hey guys! Mind if we sit here?"

This time, Mato copied Neo expression from earlier. "I'll take that as a yes." Ruby stood up and waved the rest of her friends over. Soon Yang, Weiss, and Pyrrha joined their leader.

After a round of greetings from everyone, Yang jumped into the main topic that she was sure everyone was interested in. "Hey cuz, what was all that representative talk that Port was talking about?"

Mato put down her burger reluctantly to answer, she had become somewhat of a gourmet in her short time on Remnant. What with it being so easy for her to make money, usually stealing it from criminals, or turning them in, or killing Grimm, and the fact that she wouldn't get fat no matter how much she ate? Why, it was every girl's dream, regardless of age, all women had that same dream in their hearts. "My team and I were given the position of First Year Representatives due to our combined efforts and performance during yesterday's initiation. I believe that Ozpin and Port both mentioned how this is unusual, and normally the position is determined a few months after the year starts." She grinned at this, "Apparently we were just that awesome."

Yang challenged Mato's grin with her own, "Maybe we can take it off your shoulders later?"

Surprisingly, it was Neo who responded to Yang, and it was such a perfect example of a prissy, snobbish, overconfident, prideful, princess, or Weiss, either could substitute for the other, that everyone burst laughing. Except of course Weiss.

"Okay, okay, jokes aside, I really don't think it is possible, unless we screw up royally. Which none of us have any intention of doing."

"Aww, party pooper." Yang exclaimed while throwing her hands behind her head. "Well, it is probably nothing more than more responsibilities, like Rubes here, having to go to those extra leadership classes."

"Oh, so all team leaders have them, have you chosen your partner yet Ruby?" asked Jaune, as he sat on the other side of RWPY with his own teammates.

"Yeah, I am taking Weiss with me. Although Pyrrha is the most talented fighter amongst us, Weiss would be the best as a leader in case I am not present, with her analytical mind and wealth of knowledge." Turning her head to her aunt-in-law, "What about you auntie?"

"I am taking Winter with me, Neo was banned from going by Ozpin, although I wouldn't have taken her anyway, so it was between Dove and Winter, and Dove turned it down, so Winter it was." Her face turned a bit serious, "Actually, can I ask your teams to join Dove and Neo during the hours we are in said class? I would feel much more secure if Neo had more people around her while I am not present."

Dove actually paled a bit at the thought of being alone with Neo, despite all the assurances that Mato had given them, and the fact that Ozpin clearly allowed her sanctuary here, Neo was genuinely insane. And it would be insane to ever let your guard down around her without her caretaker around. Ruby also briefly showed a serious expression before smiling brightly, "I am sure Yang and Pyrrha would be happy to train or study with your team while we are away." Turning to Jaune, "How about you guys?"

"Sure, the more the merrier my mom always said… and if having seven siblings means anything, I am sure my dad agreed… Anyway, Blake here will be my partner during those lessons, so Ren and Nora will be joining you all."

At that Ren nodded curtly, while Nora jumped up and waved heartily, "WE WILL HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER!" Pyrrha and Mato chuckled at the energetic girl.

"Yeah cuz, you know I like hanging out with Neo, and Pyrrha and you two already became friends even before initiation, so we won't feel too bad that all our leaders and their subs are ditching us for some alone time." Mato would have wondered if Yang meant to imply anything, but thankfully didn't have to. Yang's raising and lowering of her eyebrows in quick repetitions answered Mato's question.

Mato was the older and more mature one though, so she would not rise to the implication. "Why Yang, you make it sound like you are sad that Ruby is leaving you for Weiss. I am sure the two can keep their hands off each other without you there to stop the big bad wolf." ...in her defense, this was purely to help Ruby out, not because she wanted to join in on the fun.

Although the loud shriek that Weiss released was quite amusing. As was the brief, predatory… and sad?, grin that graced our dear red cloaked wolf, which she quickly composed under a cry of "MATOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Mato would have felt a bit guilty at that… if she didn't know the truth.

As it was, the rest of their lunch hour was spent poking fun at Weiss, and getting to know their new friend in JNPR, as Jaune was the only one with a real connection to them, thanks to his friendship with Ruby.

Mato didn't get much out of them from the conversation, what with Blake and Ren barely speaking a full sentence between the two of them, and Nora screaming about sloths, pancakes and castles. Other than the obvious of course. Blake and Ren were quiet people, and Nora was not.

Thankfully, Mato could get full conversations out of a mute who never opened her mouth to speak in over eighty years. It told her that Ren was actually a very serious and caring man, if his minute reactions towards Nora were anything, as well as incredibly attentive. She didn't believe for one second that Ren had failed to capture a single bit of any of the conversations from those at the table.

Nora… was insane. Mato was actually starting to wonder if there was a clear graph that displayed how insanity was related to power, because out of everyone on the table, only Yang was similarly muscled for outright power.

Blake was actually a surprise. Mato hadn't had much interactions with Faunus, but having her bow twitch at a couple of the things mentioned told her that she was most likely one. Blocking everyone out with her book, yet paying attention to the conversations like Ren had. She was scared, withdrawn, hiding. Ren was just stoic by nature or environment if Nora's claim about being together, but not together-together, since childhood was any indication. Blake on the other hand was a child clearly forcing it, oh, she definitely had the ability, she had probably been doing it for years, almost natural for her at this point. However, it really wasn't.

Mato would have to keep a closer eye on Blake, there was still too much she wasn't getting from the young girl.

Of course, the luncheon ended with Yang killing all conversation near the end with such an incredibly bad pun, that even Mato shivered from how cold it was.

Afterwards, everyone rose and disposed of their trays and dishes as they headed towards their next and last class for the day, Combat Class, with Professor Glynda.

Beacon - Combat Class

April 3nd, 2014 - Afternoon

This time, MDNS didn't cheat and take the easy way to Glynda's class, instead they walked alongside RWPY and JNPR, most of them gushing at how the class would play out, and how cool it would be. Or in Ruby's case, making a lot of sound effects and karate moves as she described their imminent evolution into awesomeness.

Mato, for the life of her, could not understand how this girl had done it. She was a stone cold professional one moment, a hungry predator the next, a caring and wise woman another, immediately followed by this apparent naive and cheerful child… She wondered not for the first time if Ruby simply wore masks to hide the truth… and if so, which was the real Ruby? Or if she really had managed to do what millions fail, and come to terms with life in itself?

These morbid thoughts were thankfully interrupted as they all arrived at the building that held the multiple arenas and their class. Heading towards the ring that Glynda stood in, they all started seating themselves together in the stands. It wasn't long before the rest of the class occupied the stands, and Glynda began her lesson.

It began with a description of what Aura did again, and how they would be training all their aspects while at Beacon. Then a show of hands for who had discovered their semblances, a description of how they were usually separate from Aura, and had their own amount of uses, or energy source. Sometimes that being Aura, sometimes their own stamina, sometimes whatever. It truly was random, from a quick check with them, Ruby's was powered by her body's calories, Yang's from her emotional control, it literally made her lose herself to rage and stop thinking the longer it was used. Neo's each had different values, her illusions were based on her Aura, her teleportation ate away at her sugar levels, and her third semblance ate away at her sanity. Literally, it made it easier for her White personality to become the dominant one, showcased by how her hair loses its pigmentation. As it stood, her Brown personality was the most prominent one, with Pink as a secondary… but given enough use, Neo would be a lost case.

There was good reason for Mato absolutely banning it's use.

Aside from how horrifying it was anyway.

The thoughts on everyone else's semblances was cut short when Glynda called Mato down into the arena.

"Now class, for the first month, I am going to be pitting you all in one on one combat. You will all be scored individually, so do try your best, as these scores will be put up to be seen by all your peers and seniors." Glynda turned towards Mato who was standing beside her.

Mato was of course in her combat gear… which as stated in Port's class, really only consisted of her black gloves, boots, and trench coat like jacket. All of them lined with blue and white. She had nonetheless exchanged her school uniform from underneath it, to her regular black shorts with their two stylish crisscrossing white belts and one of her casual black t-shirts, with a white star centered on her chest.

"Miss Kuroi here is the leader of team MDNS as many of you know, as well as being the First Year Representative along with her teammates. They gained this title and privilege thanks to their actions in the initiation." Did Mato imagine it or did Glynda briefly smirk? "One of said 'privileges' is being the face for the First Years. When the rest of the world wonders how all of you are doing, Team MDNS will be the ones who molds that opinion. So for the rest of the class today, I will be asking for volunteers who believe that they could do a better job, to face Miss Kuroi here, or any of her teammates who decide to take the challenge, should miss Kuroi fall to one of you."

If it had been anyone else, they might have done a double take at that. Mato merely nodded her head. 'She definitely smirked. That is now two confirmed trolls or troll hopefuls among this school's staff. ...Never would have thought that my life would take such a turn… Wasn't I supposed to be something like a basketball star? Or maybe a school teacher? Or maybe a counselor like Saya? How did I become a huntress-in-training who is also a police detective-slash-enforcer? Was the decades of lone death fights and the destruction of an alternate world what drove me to this new sense of humor? I swear I wasn't like this when I was younger...'

Mato's thoughts were once again shelved to the side as Yang jumped down into the arena with a whooping yell. Apparently she had been selected, or had volunteered and been accepted. Mato missed the conversation as to how that came out. Although she did catch Ruby's cry of 'Don't hurt her too much.' which Yang responded glibly that she wouldn't…. Mato gave Ruby a quick glance to confirm, yup, that was actually meant for Mato to not wipe the floor with Yang…

Too bad.

Mato had a strange relationship with Yang. Yang was boisterous, and outgoing by nature, and it seemed everything was fine, but Yang had quite the inner darkness. Mato could not tell if Ruby was wearing a bunch of masks to hide herself. Mato was certain Yang wore a mask at all times except when in the heat of combat. As such, Mato didn't know the real Yang, and Yang had never made an attempt to get too close to Mato. Despite her playful comments, and her giving Mato the nickname 'cuz', despite being her aunt-in-law, Yang had never once hugged Mato, and tended to not have much physical contact. Even Melanie had gotten to that stage with Yang already… but not Mato.

This lead Mato to believing that Yang had a problem with her. For the life of her though, Mato could not figure it out, and she was loathe to cause drama with Ruby's sister to attempt to resolve what may not be resolvable from her end. She still kept an eye out for her though, the girl was constantly trying to get to 'spar' with Mato, and she swore that there was something murderous in her eyes and aura at times. Mato had already spent a small fortune thanking Neo for the various excuses and escapes that she had been forced to use, to avoid the blonde bombshell.

'And it seems she will finally get that spar she wanted. Sorry Ruby, but this child needs to learn her place. I am old and tired. Way too old to be dealing with this. I already have Neo to deal with, and loathe as I am to say this, Neo is a simpler case for me than your brother or sister in-law's domestic violence case.'

Oh yeah, Yang had severe anger issues. The bar when they had first crossed paths? Just one of three 'establishments' that had suffered her wrath. Not to mention when she attempted to murder Neo for playing with her hair out of pure instinct.

Mato shook her head as Glynda continued with her speech.

"As you can see, these displays will tell everyone how much Aura each of you has left. The match will be determined by the first to surrender, get under twenty percent Aura, or lose consciousness. I can and will call the match if I see fit as well, and when I say stop, You Stop." That last part was said with a tone of voice that might have belonged to a demon and commanded complete obedience. "That being said, this is nonetheless a series of spars, so no killing blows. Begin."

'Wow, she hadn't even asked if we were ready or anything. Definitely troll hopefu- and I should stop thinking since Yang is flying at m-'

Yang exited her explosive propelled leap with a telegraphed right straight, which Mato avoided by crouch stepping into her personal space, grabbing her right leg, and proceeding to lasso swing-toss her away.

Yang showed her confidence wasn't based on nothing though, as she immediately righted herself and using Ember Celica's blasts, launched herself towards Mato again.

Only Mato wasn't five meters away anymore. Nope, Mato was at best five millimeters away. Or rather her approaching elbow was. Taking a page out of one of the 'other selves' who apparently had been a Chinese martial artist, Mato had her body low to the ground, elbow out towards Yang and parallel to the ground, her closed fist was right above her shoulder.

Yang's own immediate momentum as well as Mato's combined to create a devastating blow to Yang's gut, making her body take the temporary appearance of a horizontal V. That one blow took Yang into the low yellow in the Aura bar. A quick jumping spin into an upwards kick connected Mato's booted foot with Yang's chin. Yang flew up with as much beauty as any of her own victims after a devastating uppercut.

The younger, but taller girl, didn't even have time to finish her aerial recovery, which was impressive after the blow she had received, before she was hit with three rounds from the large handgun in Mato's hand, that had seemingly appeared out of thin air… which it had.

"That's enough!"

Mato raised Seven Shots, now pointing at the ceiling. While Yang landed on her feet, with quite a bit of rage on her face, which quickly vanished before she stood up completely.

Glynda walked into the arena, the profiles of Yang and Mato trailing right behind her. Mato's still had its bar completely full, whereas Yang's was now in the low red.

"As you can see, Miss Xiao Long's Aura is now in the critical area, one must keep track of their Aura's, or you can be left in a potentially dangerous situation without any support." She let that sink in a bit as Yang headed back to her team. "Now who would like to volunteer for the second match?"

Ruby wanted to hang her head. Part of her felt angry that Mato had decided to humiliate her sister, and she knew that she had, because she was currently facing Weiss in an impressive display of full ranged combat, when Yang had been beaten in under half a minute.

Part of her understood that Yang had been asking for it for awhile.

Ruby was not the smartest or most learned person around, far from it. If it was anything but killing Grimm, sniffing out criminals or information about said criminals or Grimm. Or cookies. OH! And weapons. Then Ruby probably didn't know anything about it. Being thrown into the world of hunters headfirst from the age of five would probably do that to a person.

Sadly, information came in various ways, and Qrow had been a VERY good teacher. So Ruby had learned long ago about Yang's obsession with getting closure with her mother. Ruby knew that neither Taiyang nor Yang ever got over it. She also knew that mom's, Summer's, death, only helped push them both further into darkness.

Ruby had almost fallen into that trap, but she choose not too. Following her mother's wishes and actions, Ruby shoved it aside and decided to simply accept it all and move on. Take life as it came, enjoy each day, and deal with things as they came.

Yang had not. Yang was still stuck in the past. She was still that seven year old girl pulling a wheel cart with her five year old half-sister inside it, the same girl who nearly died because of her actions. She was still that that near three year old who was told that mommy wasn't coming back, that Summer would be her new mother.

Yang was trapped, and there was nothing Ruby could do about it. Ruby could wipe the floor with Yang, could kill her without her realizing what had happened or who had done it, just as she had to others. Yang still would believe that Ruby was that same defenseless five year old.

Mato hadn't realized it, but Ruby had. Yang was angry at Mato, furious, because she thought that Mato was stealing her baby sister. Stealing her role as older sister. As guardian. Protector. Not realizing she had no intention of doing so, and that Yang had lost that role years ago, when she failed to move past that dreary night so long ago.

"That's enough. Good job Miss Schnee, that was an admirable performance." Ruby looked up, interrupted from her thoughts. Mato's bar was still completely full, Weiss's was in the red, just like the previous match, but unlike it, Weiss's match had taken the better part of four minutes, and Mato had allowed Weiss to showcase her stuff properly. "Who will volunteer for the third match?"

Ruby couldn't take her eyes of the tired, sweaty, glistening, beautiful, gruff, perfect girl who was leaving the arena, face showing traces of satisfaction, respect, dissatisfaction, eagerness and purpose… When a woman could be so expressive, how was it that no one else fell in love?

'In your lifetime you will find and meet one person who will love you more than anybody you have ever known and will know. They will love you with every bit of energy and soul. They will sacrifice, surrender and give so much that it scares you. Someday you'll know who that is.' Those had been words that Ruby had been told a long time ago. It was from a kindly hunter she and her Uncle Qrow had been working on in a mission to one of the outlier villages. It had stuck with her since.

She had never felt anything resembling what stories claimed love or attraction felt like. She almost felt it with Winter, but it just wasn't complete. Still, as the first thing that had ever felt like that, Ruby did investigate. Ruby blushed a bit at her thoughts. 'A period best forgotten.'

When she accidentally bumped into Weiss that first day at Beacon… The aging hunter's words came back to her. She knew then and there, that she would do anything to help the distraught girl before her. She didn't have Mato's skill in reading people, literally, but Mato had helped her already acceptable ability become much more.

The girl she had bumped into was basically screaming for someone to help her, to hug her, care for her, love her. It was at that moment that Ruby had realized her attraction to Winter, since they were similar in that regard. Weiss though took the cake and ran with it by comparison though.

Ruby sighed as she watched, out of the corner of her eye as Mato handedly picked up the tall member of Melanie's team, like he was nothing more than a ball, and tossed him out of the arena.

Ruby had already started working on the cold girl, but it was going to take a long time before it resulted in anything. Weiss was closed off, it wasn't nearly as bad as it was when they first met. Some great weight seemed to have fallen from her shoulders, and she could only imagine it was Winter's revelation. Nonetheless, she was going to have to work harder at this than anything else in her entire life.

As Ruby looked over to the woman who was blissfully ignorant of the heart she had stolen, she knew she would do it anyway. No matter how hard, or how long.

A/N: Not much today.

I don't know why, but I still don't like how this chapter came out. I rewrote it quite a few times to boot. What do you all think?

I have no beta's, co-authors, editors, etc. I am doing this all alone, and am wondering if anyone is interested in Beta-ing this. Since I want to avoid feeling like I did with today's chapter ever again.

That said, thank you all for reading, and do leave Reviews with your thoughts or send me a PM.

The naming of Neo's personalities, as well as Mato's flames is still ongoing. As is my little competition to see if anyone noticed any of the trends in Neo's semblances.