Longest chapter yet! Give me lots of Reviews people!
The morning after his talk with Headmaster Ozpin, Natsu Xiao Long woke up to the feeling of Pyrrha Nikos' head laying on his chest and her arms wrapped tightly enough around him that if he didn't have his Aura active he would be worried about cracked ribs. The memory of just why she was so dead to the world despite being an early riser made Natsu smile, the score was now a solid fifty to thirty three. They both had a LOT of stamina.
Looking over to his nightstand, Natsu saw that it was just after seven in the morning, giving them a little less than two hours to get to class. Gently untangling himself from Pyrrha's vice grip, he headed over to his new closet and saw several copies of the Beacon academy uniform that came with the room, he guessed they stocked them just after initiation sense they were all his size. Taking one of them out along with a towel, Natsu headed over to the connected bathroom, which was stoked like a hotel's with generic shampoo, body wash, and conditioner. Gotta remember to go get some of my own.
After quickly scrubbing off the smell of his and Pyrrha's night time activities, Natsu walked out of the bathroom drying his hair and wondering if he should reapply the makeup he used to cover his Fairy Tail tattoo that he got the year before in honor of his old guild, in the end he decided not to. His dad wasn't there to freak out about him getting a tattoo now so what was the point?
"Pyrrha," he said gently shaking the girl's shoulder, "you should go get ready for class" he told her.
The red haired girl gave a small groan in response as she began to sit up, the blanket previously covering her body falling off as she did. "You know you shouldn't tempt a guy like that. We would be here all day." Natsu told her in a voice that told her he was only half serious.
"Even if that was an option, I don't think I'll be able to take another round for a while." Pyrrha told her friend as she moved to stand, her legs slightly unsteady. Looking at the clock she saw it was almost half past seven, she would have to hurry if she wanted breakfast before going to her first class. "You up for a spar later?" She asked walking around the room to retrieve her clothes from where they had been thrown the night before.
"Sure, it'll give me something to look forward to while listening to the teachers." Natsu said jokingly.
With a role of her eyes, the spartan retied her armored corset and opened the door, "At least pretend to pay attention Natsu, it would be terrible if we had to cancel because you got stuck in detention." With a final wave and a bit of a sway in her step, Pyrrha walked out of the Natsu's dorm and headed to her own, intent on getting a hot shower and some food before class started.
An hour and a half later found Natsu and Pyrrha waiting for team RWBY and the rest of team JNPR in professor Port's class, a class that was about to start. Where are they? Don't tell me they forgot about class altogether…Fortunately for the two teams, they were able to enter the class room just as the bell began to ring. They were on time, barely.
As everyone settled down Professor Port began to speak, "Monsters" he called out, "Deeemons, prowlers of the night. Yes the Creatures of Grim have many names, but I merely refer to them as prey! Haha!" It seemed he was trying to get a reaction out of his students but none seemed willing to give one, Ruby had even fallen asleep halfway through the first sentence only to jerk awake at the professor's fake laugh. "Uhhh, and you shall to upon graduating from this prestigious academy." The grey haired man said in a more subdued tone trying to save his speech. "Now as I was saying, Vale, as well as the other three kingdoms, are safe havens in an otherwise treacherous world" Oh please, plenty of people grow up outside the kingdoms it's not like you have to be a full-fledged huntsman to defend yourself from a couple beowolves. "Our planet is absolutely full of creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces," Okay, THAT part is true. "and that's where we come in. Huntsmen!" he cried, "Huntresses," he said more quietly, pointing at Yang while winking and making a 'cli-click' sound with his tongue. Yang responded by simply rolling her eyes and groaning slightly, Natsu on the other hand had a bit more of a violent reaction. If this guy ever does that again I'm going E.N.D. on his ass! He screamed in his mind, his hand burning a hole into the desk in front of him with the angry fires that had sprung to life. Huh, thought getting a chance to fight some Grim and sleep with Pyrrha the day before would have calmed him down a bit… guess not.
Ignoring the sense of foreboding that suddenly seemed to grip him, Port continued with his speech. "Individuals that have sworn to protect those who could not protect themselves. From what you may ask, why the very world!" He finished by pumping his fist into the air.
Apparently at least one student found his speech motivational as a happy, "Ayyy-YA!" sounded from behind Natsu. The individual in question looked at the other students feeling embarrassed that he was the only one to make a sound, and sat down with his head on the desk.
"That is what you are training to become," Continued professor Port, "But first, a story. A tale of a young, handsome man… Me!" Aaaaand, I'm not listening.
What followed was ten minutes of Port 'recounting' some of his first feats as a young huntsman, though the way he portrayed his acts it was doubtful anyone believed him. I mean come on, capturing an Alpha Beowolf without injury at the age of fourteen? Unlikely.
Throughout the entire speech, it seemed the only ones bothering to pay attention were Pyrrha and Weiss, though Pyrrha could have been acting. Natsu himself spent his time watching the antics of his little sister, who had done everything from draw mocking pictures of Port, balance her course books on her head, take a nap, and pick her nose.
Natsu decided to tune back in to the professor's speech just in time to catch the end, "The moral of the story is: A true huntsman must be Honorable, Dependable, Strategic, Well Educated, and Wise. "So, who among you believes yourself to be the embodiment of these traits?"
Before most were even given time to process the question, Weiss' hand was already in the air, "I do sir!" she called out to the teacher.
"Well then, he responded, "Let's find out." He told her, turning his head to face a large cage with the glowing red eyes of a Grim staring out of its barred front. How the hell did I miss that thing? "Step forward and face your opponent."
Before Weiss could do so however, Natsu spoke up "Professor, all weapons are kept by the active combat classrooms, on the other side of the school. Sense we only have a few minutes of class left wouldn't it be better if an unarmed fighter did the demonstration? Just to make sure we finish in time for the bell." While this was all true, the real reason he brought it up was so he could get a warm up before his spar with Pyrrha.
"Hmm, very well Mr. Xiao Long, seeing as you are the only unarmed fighter in this class, it is up to you. Come, show us your metal."
With a smirk, Natsu got up and began walking down to the front of the room taking off his jacket and shirt as he did so they wouldn't get burned while he was fighting. Ignoring the red faces of his female classmates, Natsu took a ready stance in front of the cage.
"Go little Bro!" Yang cheared.
"Fight well!" Blake told him.
"Yeah, kick butt Natsu!" Ruby cried.
Weiss just 'humphed' and looked away.
Natsu could only roll his eyes at the girls antics and prepared himself for battle. "Alright," Port said, picking up his musket-axe, Wait, aren't you supposed to put your shoulder where those blades are? "Let the match begin!" with that said, the portly professor swung his weapon at the lock that kept the cage closed opening it up and unleashing the Grim that had been trapped inside it.
A boretusk huh? Guess it's a good thing I took over, Weiss' reappear would never get through that things armor. Not at her level at least.
The beast didn't let him muse any farther on the subject as it charged toward him with reckless abandon. Dumbass. Stopping the beast in its tracks by grasping its tusks like he did with the Ursa Major's spikes in the forest, Natsu looked it in the eyes with a smirk, too easy he thought. Bringing his left foot up, he placed it on the boartusk's nose where it had only its thick hide to defend it. A blast of fire like he used to fly erupted out of the sole of his foot, quickly burning the Grim's face into a charcoal like substance. A few seconds more and its whole head had turned to ash and the beast was dead.
"Marvelous!" Professor Port exclaimed, "It seems we are in the presence of a true huntsman in training. Now it seems that's all the time we have for today, make sure to go over the required readings. And remember, stay vigilant! Class dismissed."
Natsu began to put on his shirt as the other students exited the class and Pyrrha approached him, "That was today's only class, so what do you say we go have that spar?" She asked him.
Just as he was about to answer with consent, Natsu picked up on a feeling of anger coming from Weiss, and a feeling of sadness coming from Ruby. Normally he wouldn't be able to sense things like sadness due to the emotion not having a connection to fire, but his sensory magics included emotion sensing- which still didn't pick up Grim seeing as they only had instinct and no emotions. He was still better at sensing fire based emotions though.
"Sorry Pyr, I think I'm gonna need a raincheck on that." He told her grimly.
Taking the look on her friend's face as meaning it was something serious, Pyrrha just nodded and left to catch up with her team.
Walking out of the classroom, Natsu debated which of the two girls he should go to. From what he could sense, Weiss seemed to be heading to an empty terrace, and Ruby appeared to be talking to Ozpin. Weiss it is then.
It took the Dragon Slayer only a minute to catch up with the heiress who was looking out over the academy grounds with an angry expression on her face. "You know scowling like that will give you some nasty wrinkles." Natsu casually said to get the girl's attention.
Spinning around to face the red eyed boy, Weiss lashed out at him, "What do you want?" she said with a tone that could only be described as confrontational and mocking.
"I want to ask why you feel like a beacon of rage and anger, and find out what it has to do with my sister." He told her calmly.
Ignoring what he said about being a beacon, Weiss angrily started yelling at him, "Why am I mad?! What does it have to do with Ruby?! It has everything to do with that childish dolt! Her being made leader is an insult not only to me but to everyone who has ever been given the position. She is brash, childish, disrespectful, and has done absolutely nothing to earn her position." The white haired girl ranted. "What I want to know is why Ozpin thought she was fit to lead when she is clearly not even ready to be in this school."
I so knew this was coming. "Then let me ask you this Ms. Schnee, what have you done to make you feel so entitled to being your team's leader?" He asked her with an even tone.
"I trained for this, I was prepared my whole life to be the best. I studied, I was tested, I had proved myself worthy of coming to this school and SHE didn't even take the entrance exam."
"You think being kept safe behind high walls and being given the best tutors money can buy makes you better than Ruby, who was able to get in two years early by impressing the headmaster himself with her skills, who grew up in a Vale settlement outside the walls and has been in live combat situations for the past two years with her only teachers being our drunken uncle who was gone more often than not and her own sweat?" Natsu asked her.
Weiss seemed taken back by that but was too stubborn to simply back down, "That doesn't change the fact that she doesn't have the mind of a leader, she is little better than a child."
"And you are a prideful, stubborn, self-righteous, bitch who is one of the most racist students in our year. I fail to see how that is any better."
"Just because I accept the fact that Faunus are just a bunch of criminals doesn't mean I would be a bad leader." Weiss tried to defend herself.
Natsu's counter however was far more shocking then she had expected, "If you think Faunus are criminals just because of their race than you are a fool. How often have humans attacked, maimed, raped and killed not only Faunus but other humans as well? Get the stick out of your ass girl, the world isn't made of blacks and whites, there is more than enough red spilled in it everyday to blur those lines."
Weiss was shocked, no one ever spoke to her like that, she was the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company the wealthiest organization in all of Remnant, and it seemed Natsu wasn't even done yet.
"Ruby was chosen not for her brain, but for her heart. She values life and will willingly put herself in harm's way to protect anyone in need, no matter who or what they are. If you truly believe that team RWBY would be greater under your leadership just remember this: A General is only as strong as his army. You seek greatness, to be the best, then go show that you are worthy of it. There is more to life than just being in charge Weiss, you can go prove your worth not by leading others but by following a just path. Or wallow in your petty hatred and let the darkness claim you." With his piece said, Natsu turned and left the terrace, leaving Weiss to think over his words and make her choice.
With Ruby and Ozpin
The headmaster had just finished talking to the red clocked girl about her and her teammate's fight when he was compelled to ask a question of his own, "Before you go Ms. Rose, may I ask you something about your brother?"
"Sure, what is it?" The teen asked.
"Has he ever disappeared for great lengths of time? And has he ever come back with his Semblance seeming different than when he left?" If anyone could help confirm his suspicions, it would be one of the boy's sisters.
"Well he does go off sometimes for a few days, but never for more than like two or three weeks. And his Semblance was always kind of weird, why?"
"I just wanted to confirm something, I don't suppose you could tell me what his Semblance actually is?"
"Oh, he calls it the 'Flams of Emotion' he says that because they feed off of what he's feeling they are stronger than normal flames and can do lots of different stuff. Last month I even saw him use it like a solid rope!"
"I see… Thank you Miss Rose." Two weeks is more than enough time to get from Patch to where Amber Autumn was attacked, and the first time Miss Rose saw her brother use his fire in a strange way was just after it happened. This does not bode well, I will have to tell the other Professors to keep an eye on the boy along with Glinda he could be dangerous.
Alright, another chapter done. For those of you who want to know, this chapter is over 300 words longer than the next longest one. This may not seem like much, but considering how short my chapters are compared to some other writers, it feels like a big deal to me.
Anyway, some more deviance from cannon here and hopefully it didn't come out too clunky- be sure to tell me what you though of it.
Wingd Knight
PS: The most reviews I have ever gotten for one chapter is 13, lets see if we can break that record now that this story has over 150 follows and 120 favorites shall we?