"So," Rouge leaned against the brick wall. "I guess I never thought about this until the Teacher mentioned it….why do you want to become a Huntress?"

"Oh," Iris Archer lobbed a rock across the train tracks. "You'll laugh."

"No I won't," Rouge shook her head.

"Well," Iris grinned suddenly. "Someday I want to meet the Big Bad. Like Salem in those stories. Maybe defeat him or her...maybe join their side. I'll see when I get there. I love the villains. They are so much more complex than heroes. People may forget a hero but no one forgets a villain. Think of all those examples in those boring history classes..the only time I'm interested is when they talk about Salem or Taurus...or Ali the Skewerer. Villains are the best."

Rouge couldn't help her laugh, but she managed to sputter to a stop when she saw Iris was dead serious about this.

"Would you really join the bad guys?" Rouge asked.

"Maybe," Iris shrugged. "I don't know. Why do you want to be a Huntress?"

"I...don't know…" Rouge hesitated.

"Rouge! Iris!" Sun Flores huffed as he ran up the tracks. "You need to get back or Principal Gershon will have your heads for dinner with a sauce of detention!"

"Race you back," Iris smirked.

Rouge nodded, "I'll wait for you there."

"Ha!" Iris snorted.

They took off at a run, flying past Sun on their way back to the school.

"It's great here guys!" Rouge leaned against a tree, holding up her scroll.

"You still should have stuck with us Haven students," Iris winked.

"Or Atlas," Sun commented softly. "I miss you guy's warm personalities. Gee, this place is cold. Both physically and mentally. Maybe I should have tried for Haven or Beacon."

"How's Villains 101?" Rouge grinned.

"Great," Iris beamed. "They don't even know I'm training to be one yet! How's freak killing freak 101?"

Rouge shrugged, "Not bad actually. There is another Snake faunas, Ghara, in my team."

"Cool!" Iris said excitedly. "Is he nice?"

"Yeah, kind of arrogant, but a good guy," Rouge shrugged. "Our leader, Cloud, isn't bad...she's my partner not a bad fighter. Not so strict on the rules, and believes in getting things done. Then there's Rojo. He was pretty quiet when we first met but he talk a lot more now. Seems to still be more comfortable with his dog though."

"His dog?" Iris asked.

"Yeah, his semblance is talking with the canines," Rouge replied. "My team is pretty awesome. I'm glad I'm with them for the four years."

"Are you staying out of trouble?" Sun asked.

"Sun," Rouge gave him a long look. "I'm skipping a Grimm Studies class right now."

"Well, it's the same old you," Sun sighed. "I see Beacon hasn't changed you."

"They don't stand a chance against our good ole Rouge," Iris pipped up.

"Well isn't Grimm Studies important?" Sun asked.

"She is teaching on Beowolfs," Rouge shrugged. "I think I know what I need to know on them."

"Well," Iris made a face. "I hate to do this, but I have to go. Combat class."

"Don't miss that," Rouge grinned. "Have fun."

"You too," Iris smiled. "Take care of yourself."

"I have a class," Sun waved. "Be careful!"

"Never," Rouge rolled her eyes. "Bye!"

"Bye!" Iris and Sun said in unison.

The scroll blinked and their faces were gone. Rouge looked up, and sighed. She wished she could trust people like she used to, like she trusted Iris and Sun. Before...everything happened that killed her innocence. She didn't know what was worse, naivety or knowledge.

Rouge approached Iris at graduation, smiling and hugging her best friend.

"We did it!" Iris squealed.

"Yes," Rouge smiled. "I figured it out, Iris."

"Figured out what?" Iris pulled back, smiling.

"Why I want to be a huntress," Rouge answered.

"Oh?" Iris looked interested.

"I'm a freak to society," Rouge shrugged, flashing her fangs at no one in particular. "So are the Grimm. Guess there is no better job for a freak than to kill freaks."

Iris looked thoughtful then smiled, "Good answer."

"So Haven," Rouge smiled. "Best place to become a villain?"

"Yeah, I think so," Iris nodded. "And Beacon's the best place to learn about fighting freaks?"

Rouge nodded, "I hope you become the greatest villain ever."

"I hope you..." Iris hesitated then hugged Rouge again. "Find peace, get your revenge" she whispered in Rouge's ear.

Pulling back Iris nodded, "Make friends at Beacon, but don't replace me."

"Never," Rouge shook her head. "You're the best friend I've ever had. Sun too…"

Sun grinned from where he was standing beside them, "Group hug?"

"Group hug!"

Rouge hurried, making sure she wasn't late to Tactic's class. It was one of the three that she would never dare to miss. She needed to know everything there was to know from these three if she was ever going to succeed in her personal mission.

She hadn't admitted it to her friends or even really herself. She didn't trust Ghara. It felt awful not to trust someone that would have her back for four years, but she didn't. There was a feeling she had deep in the pit of her stomach. Something that reminded her of herself.

Shaking herself she walked into the Tactics class right on time. She could almost feel Cloud's aura gaze on her as she took her seat next to her partner. Like always Cloud said nothing. That's what Rouge liked about her, she had her own goals and recognized the others did too. She didn't question the way they went about achieving their goals, as long as they didn't endanger themselves.

Rouge glanced over at Team Jasmine. Cloud had told her what had happened last night. Jazpeer was sitting with one hand wrapped around his middle. Sakura still looked slightly unhappy, and kept handing her team leader ice packs. She knew what it felt like, what one thought after being bullied like that. Being called a monster was no joke. It could do strange things to a person.

Oh, that's right. She wasn't a person. She was a freak, born to fight freaks. It was like the old poet said. It takes a monster to kill a monster.

So I had a submitter ask for some more character development. I had planned for more, but I decided maybe a series of chapters where its backstory and character information. I may have chapters where there are two characters (if they don't have particularly exciting backstories) but I'll try to do a chapter for each character!