Weiss was fuming internally as she stormed down the hallway. That insufferable dolt! She finally pretends to be a leader in time to undermine me!? As worse still, I ended up using her advice! What does that say about me!?

Ruby managed to catch up to the frustrated heiress. "Weiss?" Ruby called. She ignored. "Weiss!? Argh, Weiss!" Ruby grabbed the girl's shoulder and spun her around to face each other.

Weiss looked to Ruby with shock and disgust. "How Dare you!?"

"Well, you did want me to try a firmer hand." Ruby crossed her arms, "What is your problem with me, Weiss?"

"My problem!?" Weiss scowled, "My problem is you're supposed to be our leader, yet you have so far failed to lead us!"

"What?" Ruby shook her head, "It's only been a few hours into our first day! You haven't given me the chance!"

"The chance? The chance?" Weiss nearly growled. "Let me tell you about chance. I studied for this role. I trained for this role. I came to Beacon knowing everything I needed to know to excel. But by chance, some little girl with no formal combat training and some kind of favoritism from the headmaster took my chance away from me! I should have been team leader, not you!"

Ruby waited a moment to be sure Weiss's rant was over before calmly asking, "How exactly do you think I've failed, Weiss?"

"For starters, where were you this morning? Not with your team!" Weiss pointed out. "And then you let your sister get away with slacking off! We didn't get to class together as a team either, and then you spent the entire class not listening to Professor Port! And then, when you finally spoke up, you distracted me from my fight!"

"So I'm not supposed to trust my team to go through morning routines without me? And who says I haven't done something about Yang slacking off?" The young leader shook her head, "Yesterday I would have agreed that you should be leader. But if this is how you're going to act, then you aren't ready."

Weiss stood right in Ruby's face. "Who are you to decide?" the heiress spoke with a quiet venom and pushed Ruby back to stomp away.

The heiress found her way onto a nearby balcony overlooking the city. The view in front of her was missed as she continued to fume to herself. A clearing throat behind her brought Weiss's attention to the man who had joined her. "Professor Ozpin!" Weiss pushed her negativity aside and smiled at the headmaster.

"Hello, Ms. Schnee," Ozpin greeted.

"This is a pleasant surprise!" Weiss told him. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm well, thank you," Ozpin smiled. "I was hoping to speak with you, actually."

"Really?" Weiss smiled larger. "How can I help you, Professor?"

"It's about your discussion with Ms. Rose I witnessed in the hall a moment ago," Port informed her.

"You saw that?" Weiss crossed her arms. "Does this mean you're going to do something?"

"I already am," Ozpin informed her.

Weiss peeked around to see if Ozpin had dragged Ruby up here with him. Seeing it was only the two of them, she looked back to him, confused. "I don't understand."

"That is the problem," Ozpin spoke bluntly. "You think you know better than others, and refuse to hear any opinion that opposes yours. Especially if it comes from one you deem inferior."

"What are you saying?" Weiss asked.

"Do you deem me inferior?" Ozpin lead.

"Of course not!" Weiss quickly shook her head.

"Good," Ozpin nodded, "Then I know you will listen to me when I say that Ms. Rose is absolutely correct."

Weiss's eyes widened. "Excuse me!? That's ridiculous!"

"And that is exactly what I am talking about," Ozpin continued calmly. "You refuse to accept that you have failed to secure the leadership role. Even now, you believed I had come to your aid, to demote Ms. Rose and place you as leader. Now that I have told you different, you're having difficulty accepting the truth. You indeed displayed skill and heroism in the Emerald Forest. But from what I can infer, you have spent this morning displaying only selfishness and arrogance."

"That's…!" Weiss's face fell. It's not true… is it?"If Ruby really is trying to be a leader, shouldn't she be telling me these things?"

"Would you have listened to her of she tried?" Ozpin pointed out.

Weiss couldn't continue to argue against the headmaster. She was forced to accept his words. She wandered absentmindedly to the railing and leaned on it, looking outward with empty eyes. He's right… of course he's right… Selfish. Arrogant. Exactly how I would describe my father. I left Atlas to get away from all of that…

Ozpin stepped in place next to Weiss, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Fate did not favor you, and you cannot force fate to change its mind. Trying to tends to lead to behaviors such as the ones you succumbed to today. Instead of lamenting what you don't have, cherish what you do. Just because you are not leader doesn't mean you cannot improve. Whether as a leader, or simply as a person, work hard to become the very best version of yourself."

Weiss nodded, "Thank you, Professor. I have some thinking to do."

Weiss walked straight to next class, and soon discovered Ruby did the same. The heiress froze in doorway, wondering what she was going to say when she sat next to her partner. Yang and Blake entered the classroom as well, finally prompting Weiss to unglue herself from the doorway and follow the rest of the team to their seats. Weiss avoided her leader's gaze for now.

"Oh, hey Yang," Ruby smirked as her sister sat next to her, "How was your talk with Professor Port?"

"He just gave me a small talk about time management and stuff, telling me he wouldn't be as easy on me if I were late again, the normal," Yang answered. "It's kinda strange, usually teachers let the first day or two slide."

"And you take advantage of it," Ruby nodded.

"Well, yeah! I need my beauty sleep," Yang smirked. "Come to think of it… how did Port know I slept in? I could have been late for valid reasons..."

Ruby only stared at Yang, waiting for the light bulb to go on in her sister's head. Ding. "Wow..." Yang was stunned. "I gotta admit, I didn't think you'd take this leader stuff seriously, all things considered..."

"I know. That's kinda why I needed Port to do my dirty work," Ruby told Yang, "I am sorry."

"No, I am," Yang shook her head, "I shoulda listened to you this morning."

Ruby nudged Yang with her elbow, "I love ya, sis."

"Love you too, Rubes," Yang smiled, "I'll set an alarm tonight. Promise."

Weiss felt even guiltier. She had assumed Ruby wouldn't do anything about Yang before, when the young leader had a plan to scare her sister straight the entire time. Probably went straight to the Professor while I was still fuming on the floor outside our dorm…

"Hey, Ruby?" Weiss called out.

Ruby's face tensed as she tried to gauge the heiress's tone. Their last conversation didn't end very well. "Yes, Weiss?"

Weiss took a deep breath and asked, "When I suggested trying to force Yang into line this morning… Did you let me try because you believed I might succeed?"

Ruby was still gauging Weiss's intent, and didn't answer right away. "No. I did it because I knew you wouldn't," she finally answered.

Weiss nodded. "I see."

The class began soon after that. Weiss remained silently thinking throughout.

After classes, Ruby redressed into her enchanted gear and wandered the academy's halls. She tried to keep her thoughts on her first day at Beacon. It was easy to stay distracted in class. She already decided to take her studies somewhat seriously before initiation. Even if she didn't need to graduate she wanted to learn more about her home world. The real curveball was being made leader…

Honestly, she was going to ignore the role. But that morning, during her drills, she thought on it and realized it would only hurt Weiss, Blake and Yang if she did. So she decided to give being a leader her all for as long as she was around. And after today, she was glad she did. If Weiss's behavior earlier at all reflected what she would be like as a leader, the heiress had a lot to learn before taking charge.

Which brought her thoughts to her eventual departure. She did need a backup she could name leader as she left, and she thought she knew who that was. Until the confrontation with said individual after the first class. Now she had to consider whether it was worth trying to teach Weiss, or to hand the team off to Blake when she left.

"When did I start worrying about teaching people?" Ruby shook her head. "I'm supposed to still be in training myself. I guess I'm only a year behind Makoto, and she was supposed to take the Mark of Mastery last week… still..."

Ruby's wandering brought her a narrow stairway in an empty corner. Curious, she ascended and found a locked door that said 'roof access'. She summoned her Keyblade and tapped the door. Click. She smiled, dispelled her Keyblade, and opened the now unlocked door to step out onto the rooftop. She approached the edge and sat down, her legs dangling off side. "Now I just need some ice cream…" Her smile fell, "and my friends..."

"There you are."

Ruby looked behind her. "Hey, Weiss."

Weiss walked to the roof's edge and sat down next to Ruby. "I was looking for you. Saw a few red flashes up a stairwell and took a chance."

"What's up?" Ruby asked.

Weiss cast her eyes downward, swallowing her pride. "I wanted to apologize." Ruby turned her body to show Weiss she had her attention, and the heiress continued, "I wanted the leadership role. I expected to get it. When I didn't, I didn't take it well. I spent this morning looking for ways you were failing and willfully ignoring any possibility you deserved the role. And I am sorry."

"Ozpin talked to you, right?" Ruby deduced. "I saw him walk out onto that balcony behind you. I didn't send him, promise, we didn't even speak."

"He did," Weiss nodded, "And whether you sent him or not doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that I have been nothing but rude and disrespectful to you since you were named leader. Since we met in forest, even."

Ruby nodded, and they sat in silence for a few moments. Eventually, the leader spoke up, "so what now?"

"Now..." Weiss looked to Ruby, "Now that changes. I promise to do better. I may not be leader, but I will be the very best partner you could ever ask for."

Ruby nodded again. "If that's the case… there's something you should probably know."

"What is it?" Weiss, true to her promise, listened intently.

"At the risk of undermining what you learned today, you still have a chance to be leader," Ruby told her.

Weiss gave Ruby a confused look. "What do you mean? I thought Ozpin won't let you step down."

"I went to a different school before Beacon," Ruby worded carefully, "I guess you can say classes have been… interrupted for a while. The point is, if… when, my teacher comes for me, I'm leaving."

"Leaving Beacon entirely?" Weiss asked.

"And someone's going to have to lead RWBY once I'm gone," Ruby continued. "Yesterday, I thought that could be you. After today, I'd pick Blake instead. But I still want it to be you."

Weiss paused to process this information.

Ruby laid back, putting her hands under her head and staring at the stars. "As your leader, I probably shouldn't be telling you this. But as your partner, I wouldn't feel right keeping this from you. So don't get a big head about it 'kay? I could still pick Blake."

"I understand," Weiss nodded. Every instinct from her upbringing screamed to win at all costs, even if it took dirty tricks. But that wasn't the person Weiss wanted to be. It's why she chose to go to academy half a world away from the stuffed shirts of Atlas and her so-called 'father'. She shoved those instincts deep down and took a calming breath. "Don't worry. I'm going to focus first on being a good huntress and a good partner. In fact, could you wake me up before your morning drills tomorrow? I would like to join you."

"Sure thing," Ruby smiled. The girls fell into a comfortable silence. Weiss didn't leave, and Ruby dared to reach out. "Do you like ice cream?"