Chapter 2: Sweet Dreams

Ruby woke up the next morning feeling absolutely fantastic. The dream no longer bothered her. For one, it didn't come back last night, so it was a one off nightmare from the looks of it. Today was going to be a good day it seemed. She climbed out of her bed and stretched, ready to tackle the day with vigor. "Good morning, team RWBY!" she exclaimed happily.

"Nnng," Yang replied. "Five more minutes." She was the last one to stir. Weiss and Blake were already dressed.

"Nope! We got to go to class, sis!" Yang answered back with an unintelligible mumble.

"Well," Weiss interupted. "I'm glad to see you feeling better today, because you have a lot to make up for yesterday's afternoon classes."

"Right," Ruby replied. "I'm really sorry about yesterday, guys. I hope I didn't make you worry too much."

"Nonsense, you dunce. You have nothing to apologize for, and if we're worried then it's because we're concerned for you. We're just happy that you're back to normal."

Ruby nodded. "Thanks." She gave Weiss a quick hug before breaking away. "Alright, team RWBY, let's get ready for class!"

Roman Torchwick sat at a desk in an abandoned warehouse. Junior's flunkies and members of the White Fang scurried about, organizing cases of dust, weapons, and Bullhead fuel. With his legs propped up, he leaned back in his chair as he stared thoughtfully at the partially smoked cigar in his hand. He had went on to finish smoking his last night, but the one Ruby had handed back to him was still here.

"Thank you," she had said. He smiled and even chuckled a little under his breath. It seemed ridiculous that she would thank him for being who he was. His exploits had accidentally helped her, and she felt the need to express her gratitude. "You're still just a child aren't you, Red?"

Sooner or later she'd have to grow up and face the real world. Roman grew up at a much younger age than most. He began thieving to survive when he was just a child himself, and soon after he had enough money and food to live, he realized that it wasn't enough. He wanted more. Always he was after more. For every lien he stole, he wanted five more to go with it. He became so good at stealing that he started taking commissions to steal for others. That's how he had met Cinder. She needed enough dust to start her war, and so she hired Roman. Roman hated it, but he wouldn't let the saying be true; no honor amongst thieves. He may be the lowest of the low, but he took his contracts very seriously, almost as if they were sacred vows. To break a contract was akin to selling one's soul to him.

He still hated working for Cinder. She paid well enough, of course, but she expected him to take part in her war. She almost had him convinced, too. But after last night, he wasn't so sure. In spite of all his threats to kill her, he had no true qualm with Ruby. She just happened to get in the way of his work.

"Do you think it's possible for us to be friends?" she had asked. Why would she ask that? Was it because of her dream? Was it really that traumatic? He chuckled again.

As he sat silently ignoring the work around him, the lights flickered. He glanced up at the flourescent lights above him and watched as the once strong light now danced back and forth between on and off. "What the hell? Hey, what's wrong with the lights?" he asked loudly. No answer. Only now did he notice that the whole warehouse had gone silent. "Hey!" He exclaimed, standing to turn around and glare at the workers. They were staring at one of the skylights. "What the fuck are you idiots doing? We have a schedule to keep! Chop-chop!"

They continued to stare up. Roman growled. "What the hell are you morons staring at?" He walked over and looked up. What he saw made his heart sink. "You're joking," he whispered.

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang were sitting under a tree in the courtyard, having decided to take their lunch outside for the day. "I'm glad you've put it behind you, Ruby. It's not good to think about nightmares like that," Yang said as she bit into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"Well, it's going to be hard for her to forget about it if you keep bringing it up, you idiot!" Weiss yelled.

"No, it's fine, Weiss. I ran into Ozpin yesterday and talked to him about it. I felt better after that, so it's all good," Ruby explained, eating a handful of cookies.

Blake nodded silently, choosing to read her book blissfully. She was finding it harder and harder to read the words due to a shadow making her light disappear. She had night vision, but it still caused a strain on the eyes. She sighed and closed her book to join the conversation, but paused. She thought the shadow was just the tree she was leaning against, but everything around her seemed darker. Her friends were busy talking and appeared to not notice the change. "Girls?" she asked.

"What is it, Blake?" Ruby answered.

"Is it supposed to rain today? It got really dark."

The other three looked around. "Huh. It was supposed to be sunny," Yang said. "Guess weathermen are all liars."

Weiss poked her head out from under the tree. "But there isn't a cloud in the sky. Why is it so dark?"

"Ms. Rose!" They heard Ozpin call to Ruby from across the courtyard. "I believe you and I have something important to discuss."

The four girls stood and ran over to Ozpin. "What's up?" Yang asked.

"See for yourself, Ms. Xiao Long." He gestured to the sky with his chin."

The four girls followed his directed and looked up. Ruby's eyes went wide as she gazed upon an object straight out of her nightmare. "N-no. No! It was just a dream! It was just a dream!" She screamed in terror, tears coming in full force. In sky, moving slow and gentle as a docile cloud, was a comet that radiated with darkness as though it was glowing, casting its shadow on the world below. The howls of Beowolves could be heard from the Emerald Forest.

"Time, Ruby," Ozpin said, breaking her trance. "I do believe time is something we sorely lack."

An hour had passed. Ozpin ordered all students that en emergency was in effect, and that they were to equip their weapons and remain indoors until further notice. Ruby explained as much of the dream that she could to Ozpin, who sat in his office chair quietly listening.

When she finally finished, Ozpin and the others present, including Glynda Goodwitch, sat in silence as they contemplated what they should do. "Um, sir?" Yang spoke up, breaking the silence. "Has anything like this ever happened before?"

Ozpin shook his head. "Not in recorded history. I suppose there is the odd chance that it may have happened in prehistoric times, but that doesn't help us at the moment. It's more likely to be a rogue comet that just so happens to be passing through our system."

"Why does it glow like that? It's so dark, yet its bright."

"It may be some form of aura," Glynda suggested. "Something that gives Grimm strength."

"And if Ruby's dream is true, then the population will begin spiking soon," Ozpin added. "More Grimm, more powerful than ever...if what you saw is true, Ruby, then we have little hope for survival."

"We can't think like that!" Weiss exclaimed. "What if it can be changed? You ever think about that? Maybe she had that dream to help keep it from happening!"

"There's no preventing a celestial body from passing by, I'm afraid. The comet has come and there's not much we can do but wait for it to pass. From there, I suppose we have to prepare for the incoming wave of Grimm that's sure to follow." He turned to Ruby. "Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long." The four girls immediately stood straighter, realizing that they were about to be tasked with a duty. "I, Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon, hereby grant you the title of Huntress, with all the rights and privileges that go with it. If what Ruby saw truly is about to come to pass, then we're going to need to prepare. Glynda, gather the rest of the students in the auditorium."

"Are we to dismiss them, sir?" she asked.

"No. A war has just begun. I'm afraid we're going to have to blood our troops a little early. We're also going to need to call in some old friends."

Ruby's scroll started ringing, breaking everyone's concentration. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Professor!"

"Don't be. Answer it. I'm sure it's important."

"Right," she said as she produced the scroll and hit answer without looking at the number. "Hello?"

"You have my attention, Red. What happens next?" came the voice of Roman Torchwick.

She was shocked, and didn't expect to ever get a call from Roman. "One moment," she said. "Sir, is it alright if we let someone onto Beacon's campus?"

"I don't see why not," he answered. "Why?"

"Because he's one of the most wanted criminals in Vale."

Ozpin smiled. "I see. Tell him to bring his friend with him. I'm sure he'll know who I'm talking about."

Ruby nodded and relayed the message. "Come to Beacon. We'll talk here. And bring you friend with you...whoever that is."

Roman cursed. "You seriously want me to bring her with me?"

"Professor Ozpin said so."

"Fine! I'll bring that crazy bitch with me. But don't blame me if Beacon becomes its namesake in a blaze." CLICK. He hung up again.

"Uh, sis? Who was that?" Yang asked.

Ruby sighed. "You'll see soon, I suppose."

"Now, shall we go to the auditorium?" Ozpin asked.

"I've sent a student wide message to everyone present to assemble, sir," Glynda chimed.

"Good. Let's go. Team RWBY, you'll be on stage with me. Since you were promoted first, you have seniority amongst the students."

The six of them made their way to the auditorium, where all of team RWBY's classmates, friends, and upperclassmen were now standing nervously. A microphone stand was already placed on the stage for Ozpin to speak into. He stepped to the microphone and cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. "I, Professor Ozpin, hereby declare Beacon Academy to be in a state of emergency. You all came here to train to be warriors, monster slayers, and heroes. You came here to protect the weak from Grimm, and to keep the balance that humanity has spent hundreds of years trying to perfect. That balance has tilted. The black comet in the sky is no ordinary stellar occurrence. It emanates with an aura that strengthens Grimm, granting them the power to dominate humanity once more. You were being trained to prevent such dominance."

"How come we've never heard of this comet before?" yelled a voice from the crowd.

"It has never happened in recorded history. There are no records of its existence anywhere that we currently know of. This, my students, is a first for the world of Remnant. We have reason to believe that the population of Grimm will rise dramatically in the coming days, and we no longer have to luxury to teach you at a leisurely pace. And so..." he paused, looking into each and every student's eyes. "It is with a heavy heart that I must cancel your training, and graduate you all today. Anyone who wishes to opt out and return home may do so. But if you stay, and you accept this graduation to become a huntsman or huntress, you will no longer be students; you will be soldiers. And the law demands that you obey the orders of your commander during times of crisis; me."

Everyone looked around nervously. Some were unsure of what to do. Many looked scared. Others were cocky, confident that this would be an easy battle and that it would be over in the blink of an eye. "Those who wish to leave may do so now," Ozpin finished.

Several people started to exit the auditorium. Ruby wanted to stop them, to convince them that they should stay and help fight. In the crowd that was leaving she spotted Velvet, the rabbit faunus, and in Ruby's mind she saw Velvet's mangled corpse being chewed on by Beowolves and Boarbatusks. That memory of the dream caused Ruby to hesitate. Maybe Velvet would live if she left. Maybe the ones who went home would survive.

"Hold on!" cried a voice. Ruby saw Jaune forcing his way through the crowd before he climbed onto the stage. "Pardon me," he whispered as he grabbed the microphone. Ozpin smiled and politely stepped back to give Jaune room. "You guys that are leaving; why did you even come Beacon if you aren't going to risk your lives to save people? You think running home and hiding is going to keep you safe?" Everyone that was leaving froze and turned to listen to Jaune. "If the situation is bad enough to warrant early graduation for all of the students in training, then what does that tell you? Huh? It means that they need every huntsman and huntress they can get!"

"Look at me!" Jaune spread his arms. "I know that most of you are better than me. Some of the people trying to leave could stomp me into the dirt without breaking a sweat. But am I running? Am I trying to hide? No! I'm the leader of team JNPR, and I plan on leading my team into battle for the safety of all those I care about. Are you going to let yourselves be beaten by me? Jaune the loser? Jaune the failure? Or are you going to stand up and fight?"

No, Jaune, Ruby thought. Let them leave if they want. They might survive! They might live!

A lone cheer erupted from the crowd; Cardin Winchester was clapping and praising Jaune. "YEAH!" he screamed. "They're just Grimm! Let's fuck 'em up!" Everyone else joined the cheer, and the ones leaving turned back around and rejoined their respective teams; Velvet stayed as well.

Ozpin placed a hand on Juane's shoulder. "Well said, young man." He turned to the students and spoke into the microphone. "Without further delay; as of this very moment you are no longer students at Beacon Academy. Welcome, fellow Hunters and Huntresses! Your teams shall remain intact, and you will be given dangerous combat missions. Godspeed, and good luck. You are all dismissed for now." A loud cheer erupted from the crowd once more as they dispersed. Ozpin nodded at Jaune and gestured for him to go to his team.

"Come along, team RWBY. We've got some friends to greet soon," he said as he walked off the stage, Glynda and team RWBY trailing behind. They stood at the gate of Beacon, waiting for the guests to arrive.

After twenty minutes of waiting, a lone figure arrived. "I'm here, Red," came Roman's voice.

"Where's your superior?" Ozpin asked.

"She said, and I quote, why would I walk blindly into such an obvious trap. Of course, she doesn't know about Red's dream, so that's to be expected."

"Uh, sis, why does Torchwick know about that?" Yang asked, feeling suspicious.

"I...uh...kind of went looking for him last night," Ruby admitted.

Yang's eyes changed red. "Oh, really. And just what did you do to my sister while she was alone, scum bag?" Yang marched up to him and grabbed his coat, activating Ember Celica.

"Oh please. Is she full of bullet holes?" he asked jokingly. "No? Then there's your answer. I was curious to know why she wanted to see me, so I humored her and I listened." He was tempted to say that he talked her into smoking a cigar, but he decided against it. Probably for the better as well. He smirked, though, while Yang let him go. "So, Red, your black comet showed up. Should I be as worried as I am, or can I go home and sleep peacefully tonight?"

The howls of Beowolves came from the distant Emerald Forest. "I believe that may answer your question, Mr. Torchwick."

Roman cursed. "Wonderful."

Song: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)-Marilyn Manson

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Imagine a cinematic camera slowly panning up to reveal the comet with "Sweet Dreams" beginning to play at that moment. Sends chills down your spine, doesn't it? Here we go. The descent into darkness has begun! Originally I was going to call this chapter "7 Days to the Wolves" because of the lyric "Where will we be when they come?", but Sweet Dreams seemed more fitting. I still don't know how long this is going to be, but I know what the story I want to tell is. I feel like I can really commit to this story! Fingers crossed!

So, the comet's 's freaked out, and I'm pretty sure Ozpin shit his pants when no one was looking. I know Roman did.

And like zat, ze wvar begins! (Oops, did I just accidentally a war?) Till next time!