"It's kind of odd that there would be students transferring to Beacon between semesters…" Ruby thought as she slowly traced the halls, heading back to her team's dorm. "I wonder what kind of people they are."
Making her way to her room, Ruby glanced out of the window next to her, taking in the sunrise and mentally preparing herself for the day to come. Upon reaching her room, she overheard what sounded like her team, bustling about within, most likely getting ready for the day as well. Opening her door, she was immediately encountered with the sight of Blake, sliding her leggings up her slender figure, and Weiss lacing her white boots. A moment later, Yang emerged from the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around her chest and hair loosely dangling behind her; the occasional drop of water falling from her golden mane. Opening her drawer and producing a hairdryer, she took a seat on the end of Blake's bed, sliding her fingers through her hair as she dried it.
Ruby, taking into account that she was already up and ready to go simply leaned against the wall, next to her team's door.
"Did you manage to reserve a location for today?" Weiss questioned Ruby without taking her eyes off her laces.
"I did!" exclaimed Ruby. "But there's a bit of a catch"
"Oh? What's that?" Blake asked with a slightly worried smile, while adjusting her bow.
"Well, technically we were far too late to claim a training sector for today, and any time in the near future. Understandable since there isn't really anything else to do around here over summer," Ruby confessed.
"And…?" Weiss sighed, looking up at Ruby.
"I got us the spot yes…" Ruby said, looking at the walls around her to avoid direct eye contact with the impatient heiress. "Potentially…"
Her entire team, now focusing their suspicious gazes upon the younger girl waiting for her to continue, making her feel unnerved.
"Professor Goodwitch told me that the only way we could get a spot would be to share with another team. And only then if they agree to share." Admitted Ruby.
"Well… that's not too bad, I suppose." Yang said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"What team is it?" asked Blake, curiously.
"I'm not sure," replied Ruby. "They are only transferring in from Atlas today."
This earned quizzical looks from her team as they were not totally convinced that this would follow through, since it was up to the discretion of the other team as to whether they would be allowed to share the training sector with them.
"Goodwitch also told me that she would give us a direct answer as to whether we can use it once the transfer team replies to her message asking." Ruby stated as she took a seat at the end of Blake's bed, alongside Yang.
"Well I suppose all we can do is wait for her to get back to us." Weiss replied, standing up and looking out the team's window to investigate the quality of the day outside. "We can't just waste our day cooped up in here waiting for her, though."
"Breakfast?!" exclaimed Yang as she shot up from her place at the edge of Blake's bed.
"Sounds good to me, Yang," Blake replied, sitting up and standing next to Weiss, joining her in looking out the window.
As the quartet made their way out of their dorm and into Beacon's seemingly never-ending halls, their minds were concentrated on whether or not the transfer team would in fact allow them to train with them. Entering the vast cafeteria, the four girls proceeded to claim whatever they wanted to eat for breakfast and made their way to their usual spot. Breakfast was littered with casual small talk, consisting of Yang's usual antics and horrible puns, along with Weiss' disapproval of mostly anything that was said by the blonde. Ruby and Blake simply sat back and listened, without contributing much to any conversations that were had. Upon finishing their meals, the four sat up and made their way to the cafeteria doors. Upon exiting, Ruby's scroll started buzzing in her pocket. Furiously trying to pry it out and nearly dropping it, she noticed it was in fact a call from Professor Goodwitch, most likely involving their previous encounter from earlier this morning.
"Hellooooo?" Ruby answered optimistically.
"Yes, hello again, Ruby. You probably already know why I am calling but I just received team ZRCN's reply, and it is in your favor."
"Team Zircon… Interesting name" Ruby thought to herself.
"Their leader, Zeal Sikes has given her consent as to allow your team to train alongside her team, for as long as you wish might I add. Now don't forget, you are to give them a proper tour of Beacon and show them around Vale at your earliest convenience."
"Of course!" Ruby replied, excitedly.
"With that being said, they also stated that their training will commence at noon this day, they will be expecting you at that time to avoid any interruptions that may be caused by your arrival." Glynda stated firmly.
"No worries professor!"
With that, both Glynda and Ruby ended their call. Ruby turned to her teammates who were walking beside her, bearing a sly grin.
"So, what's the verdict, Ruby?" Blake asked, looking towards the shorter girl.
"It's a go! They start today at noon, and said that we can train with them as long as we like!" cheerfully exclaimed Ruby. "We just have to make sure to show them around Beacon at some point."
"Works for me…" stated Weiss, with a hint of reluctance.
"Well, it's almost eleven now, we should head back to the room and get our equipment!" declared Yang, frantically.
The four hastily made their way back to their dorm with each girl harboring different thoughts and questions regarding the new team they would be training with. Whilst Yang and Blake were more-so concerned with their personalities and such, Ruby was excitedly anticipating what kinds of unique weapons and abilities the team had to offer. Weiss, in her usual indifferent state of mind was rather passive about the whole situation. Having made it to their room, the four girls quickly gathered their weapons, towels, and a dozen or so bottled waters.
"C'mon guys! It's better to be early than late! I wanna make a good first impression!" exclaimed Ruby, swinging their door open and gesturing for everyone to hurry.
"Your sister is awfully chipper this morning, Yang…" mentioned Blake, wrapping her black ribbon around her arm and placing Gambol Shroud on her back.
"She's just excited about meeting new people! After all, we're gonna have to at least be friendly with these people if we're training with them. It is their spot after all." Yang retorted, bent over fixing the laces on her boots.
She was right. As much as they may or may not like it, team RWBY's ability to train properly over the summer relied on a friendly, mutual relationship and understanding of this new transfer team.
As the girls filed themselves out into the hall one-by-one, Ruby was the last to leave, shutting and locking the door behind her. Making their way down the hall, there was an odd lack of conversation between the teammates. The only sounds being produced were their own footsteps and the occasional clinking of metal on metal emanating from parts of Ruby's scythe as she walked. Exiting the building, the mid-day sun invaded their eyes, and a cool summer breeze grazed their bodies.
"Such a gorgeous day!" exclaimed Weiss, slinging her long, white hair over left shoulder.
The team simply nodded in approval. Ruby, who was walking slightly behind the group, skipped her way to Blake's side. The raven-haired girl was strutting across the concrete, with one hand on her forehead, being used as a sun visor.
"Hey Blake…" Ruby said inquisitively. "I know you're not usually the type for much social interaction, so I wanted to know how you feel about having to share this spot with another team…"
Blake directed her amber eyes to Ruby's own silver ones and let her arm down to her side.
"I know it couldn't be helped, having waited so long to even try to reserve a location. I just hope that we get along well with them." Blake replied, with slight hesitance. "I know you're only looking out for our team by doing this, Ruby."
"Glad to hear you're not totally mad with me, Blake." Ruby gleamed with a toothy smile. "Oh! I totally forgot to tell you all the name of the transfer team!"
Trotting to the front of the group, Ruby cleared her throat, in means to get her team's attention.
"The team's name is Z-R-C-N, pronounced Zircon or something… and their leader's name is Zeal…" announced Ruby, the rest of her team looking curiously at her, anticipating her completion of her sentence. "Uhhh… Sikes?" Ruby finally finished.
This earned untrustworthy expressions from her team, as they had no way of telling if Zeal Sikes was the correct name for the girl.
"It's nice to hear you paid soo much attention to what Glynda explained to you." Sighed Weiss, rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm almost one hundred percent sure I'm right!" admitted Ruby, with an ear-to-ear smile.
Her team's untrusting expressions remained as they continued walking the stone pathway leading to Beacon's outdoor training facility. Turning a corner, and entering a vast array of gated training sectors, each one with its own grassy terrain, team RWBY was focused mainly on finding their training partners. Passing other teams, preoccupied with their own practice, the girls were nearing the last few sectors. Their eyes went from left to right, scanning each one in hopes of locating team ZRCN. Approaching the final sector, the four peered inside, to get a look at its inhabitants. Looking inside, the four girls' eyes were focused on the group of two students, currently involved in some sort of training exercise.
"There's only three in here…" Ruby muttered, turning to her teammates. "Glynda said it was a team of four. This can't be it."
"Ahhh! Team RWBY's here!" announced one of the inhabitants, her tall figure bounding over to the group.
The four members of team RWBY, startled by this sudden exclamation turned to see what kind of creature had howled such recognition, but before they could focus in on the approaching figure, she was already on top of them. Her Elbow length garnet hair could be seen flowing behind her.
The girl was now face to face with Ruby, bent over, staring into her silver eyes with her own dark blue ones.
"Hmmmmmmmm.." purred the girl, looking into Ruby's existence with an expression of judgement.
Ruby's eyes darted from her teammates to the opposing girl's, head tilted back, attempting some sort of sensible eye contact. After a few seconds, the girl pulled away and stood at her regular height.
"CUUTE!" shrieked the girl as she pulled Ruby into her arms, strangling the girl into a powerful hug, pressing the shorter girls face into her chest.
"Hrrghhh" was all that could be heard from Ruby as the breath was squeezed from her lungs.
The remaining members of team RWBY simply stood in shock, mouths gaping at the impressively direct greeting Ruby was receiving from a complete stranger. A moment later, the girl released Ruby, who was gasping for air.
"Oh my god! Where are my manners? I'm Zeal." The mystery girl stated, placing a hand on her own chest as if to formally introduce herself. "Maybe I should've said that before, he he…"
"Ummm… I'm Ruby." stated the shorter girl, with a slightly frightened expression.
"Oh I already know that! Glynda gave me a small description of you already. Petite girl with a red hood? Who else could it be!" exclaimed Zeal, frantically.
"Well… uhh, yeah! I'm Ruby! Nice to meet you!" said Ruby, extending her hand with a poorly created smile.
Zeal grabbed her hand in both her own, shaking it up and down viciously. Looking over to the rest of team RWBY, who remained with their shocked and petrified expressions, she released Ruby's throbbing hand, proceeding to enact the same introduction for the others. One by one, Zeal latched onto each of the girl's hands, violently shaking them. She did this so fast, the rest of team RWBY didn't even get a chance to tell her their names before she stepped back, analyzing the girls.
"Uhh, so this is Blake, Weiss and my sister Yang," Ruby stated, pointing to each individual teammate.
"So nice to meet you all!" Zeal declared, with a freakishly large smile, revealing near-perfect pearly white teeth. "Ah! I should introduce you to my team! Come in, come in!"
Zeal proceeded to take Ruby by the hand once again and lead her, and her team into the grassy area in which her and her team were training. Upon stopping, she pointed to a large tree, which appeared to have another girl leaning next to it.
"Over there is Christie Grey! She's been with me, training to be huntresses for years now." Zeal explained.
"Pleasure." The girl said, walking over to the group, waving with a coy smile, her shoulder-length sterling blue hair bobbing up and down, studying the team, specifically Yang with her bright emerald eyes. Zeal then turned around, looking up as if scanning the immediate air around her.
"And up there is Riven." Zeal explained, pointing approximately fifteen meters upwards to a silhouetted figure floating ominously above the teams.
"Wait, how is he just… floating there?" Ruby questioned.
Just as the sentence left her lips, the figure started falling from the sky, landing a few feet away from team RWBY.
"It's my semblance, flying." The boy spoke softly, looking at team RWBY with his baby-blue eyes. Dark brown, wavy hair flowed evenly with the breeze as he approached the girls with a modest handshake. "Riven Sharpe is the name."
"We're team RWBY." Replied Ruby, returning his firm handshake.