Chapter 3: Collective Consciousness
The clap of my hands sounds throughout the room.
"Wake up everyone!" I shout.
Rhys snorts and sits up without opening his eyes. Natsuki tumbles out of her bed, wearing her capris and her tank-top, and holding a knife she snatched from under her pillow.
"Aye Captain!" Rhys says, his eyes still closed.
Natsuki relaxes and rubs her eyes before she puts the knife back and sits down on the edge of her bed.
"What time is it?" she asks.
"Zero-seven hundred," I answer. "Classes start at zero-nine hundred. Get up and get ready you two."
"Aye…" Rhys almost falls over, but he shakes back awake. "Aye Captain!"
"What about Penny?" Natsuki asks.
"She was awake before me," I answer. "And she was ready to go. Right now she's contacting her father. You have half an hour to get dressed and do anything else you need to do. I want both of you to meet me in the dining hall by zero-seven-thirty."
"Enough of the military crap," Natsuki says. "This isn't the army and we're not soldiers."
Natsuki glares at me and I glare right back.
"Zero-seven-thirty," I repeat. "Your uniforms are on the workbench."
Rhys slowly gets out of his bed, wearing nothing but boxers. Shaking her head, Natsuki stands up and grabs her uniform before going into the restroom. Rhys grabs his and goes into the kitchen. I grab my own uniform to get changed by my bed. It's essentially a black pair of dress pants with a matching blazer. It comes with a blue vest, a white button-down shirt, a red tie, and black dress shoes. The uniform for the girls is almost the same thing, but with a few differences. Instead of pants it comes with a red plaid skirt and stockings, flats instead of dress shoes, and a string bow tie rather than a regular tie.
The main door opens as I'm undressing, and Penny walks inside. She's dressed in the girl's uniform, but still wearing her black and green collar.
"Michael we should-" Penny stops as she sees me and her cheeks turn red.
"What's up Penny?" I ask, putting on my pants. Careful not to mess up the bandages on my hand.
"Um…I, um… Hm." Penny closes her eyes and reopens them, her focus renewed. "During breakfast, we should examine our schedules. While it is unlikely for our schedules to differ, we should all be aware of our classes for this semester."
"Good idea." I put my arms through the sleeves of the shirt and start to button it. "Anything else, Tactical Officer Penny?"
"Nothing of importance, Michael." Penny looks off to the side like she's thinking, then looks back as I start putting on the socks and shoes. "I would like Tactical Officer to be my official role."
I smile at Penny and laugh.
"Sounds good," I say, still smiling. "Make sure you live up to the title."
"Yes Captain Michael." Penny salutes.
I stand up just as Rhys comes out of the kitchen and sits on his bed. His broad shoulders straining the uniform. I grab my tie, and repeatedly fumble with it. No, I don't know how to tie a tie. My Dad never taught me, and neither Mom nor James knows how. Uncle Jimmy uses clip on ties. Rhys stands back up and walks over to me.
"Let me get it," he says.
"Thanks," I say.
Rhys finishes doing the tie then straightens it with a tug. He nods and sits back down on his bed, before almost immediately falling over on his bad. Completely asleep again. I shake my head and straighten my blazer.
"I'm going for a walk." I turn to Penny. "Make sure Natsuki and Rhys here aren't late. There's a lot I want to go over."
"Affirmative." Penny nods.
I nod in return and step outside into the hallway. It's quiet. So quiet you could hear a brass casing drop. Either everyone in this hallway is a seriously quiet sleeper, or there's some decent sound proofing. It's unimportant either way. The dining hall is where I need to be.
My walk takes me through the hallways of the still silent school. The cold steel walls give way to glass ones and reveal a garden in the center of the school, on the backside of the atrium beneath the massive tower that can be seen from almost any point of the school grounds. I walk through a set of doors out into the garden.
The air has a subtle chill to it, but it's slowly ebbing away as the sun rises. It's peaceful out here. The flowers, roses and tulips, sway with the light wind. A stone path cuts through the grass, to each flower bed, and around a perfectly carved stone fountain at the center. Flower petals dance on the surface, but there are no coins in the water. Which seems a little odd, no? I guess the groundskeepers would take any out, but it doesn't seem worth the effort to me. Unless they get in the way of the pumps, I guess. I take a look around at the garden and let out a breath. It's pretty, serene, but I have no reason to stay here. There are things I need to look over before my team gets to the dining hall.
The kitchen staff hadn't put any food out yet. I'm guessing not many get up this early, and that theory is supported by the fact that besides myself there are only two others in the dining hall. I don't recognize either. The first is a pale, scrawny guy with jet black hair, a vest with no shirt, black jeans, and… sandals? Weird. The other one is a girl, bright orange hair, and wearing what can best be described as something a lumberjack would wear. Jeans, work boots, a flannel shirt, the whole kit and kaboodle.
About twenty minutes pass, and a few more students have made their way into the hall. I've been using the time I was waiting for my team to look over my schedule for this semester on my scroll. Seems pretty straight forward. Two classes a day with lunch and rest period in between.
Penny, Rhys, and Natsuki step through the same doors I had come through. They look around before Penny spots me and leads the way over. I check my watch as they approach.
"Perfectly on time," I say. "Well done."
"Shove it, Soldier-Boy," Natsuki says before sitting down across from me.
"Penny insisted we be on time," says Rhys. He sits down next to me, but without any of the same grace as Natsuki.
"Punctuality in very important," Penny says.
"Indeed it is," I say. "Have a seat, Tactical Officer Penny."
"Yes Sir!" Penny salutes and sits down next to Natsuki on the opposite side that Rhys is.
"Tactical Officer?" Rhys questions.
"She has a keen, strategic mind," I answer. "And far greater attention to detail than any of us. According to all current evidence, anyway."
"What about me and Nat?"
"I'm not sure yet," I say. "I'm still figuring that one out."
Natsuki scoffs. Because gods forbid she have a mood besides ticked off.
"I'm assuming our schedules are the same," I start. "But we should check to make sure. If the rest of you would bring those up on your scrolls."
Nat and Rhys open up their scrolls, but not Penny. I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Not to worry," she says. "I have already memorized mine."
I nod and look back at my own schedule.
"Today, as in Monday. Zero-nine hundred 'til Eleven-hundred, Grimm Studies with Professor Peter Port. The dining hall is open from Eleven hundred until Thirteen hundred. Then at Thirteen hundred until fifteen hundred is Survival Training with Professor Lawrence Greene. Is that the same for the rest of you?"
"Affirmative," Penny says.
"Aye Captain," says Rhys.
"Yep," Natsuki says.
I nod again and continue.
"Tuesday, Remnant History with Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck in the morning. Followed by Weapon Maintenance and Utilization with Professor Harold Mulberry after lunch. On Wednesday, study hall in the morning and Combat Class with Professor Glynda Goodwitch in the afternoon. Thursday is Stealth and Security Training in the morning with Professor Ann Greene, and in the afternoon is Flora and Fauna Studies with Professor Thumbelina Peach. Lastly, on Friday we have Dust Studies and Applications with Professor Charles Bisque in the morning, and Aura Training in the afternoon with Professor Benezia Topaz. That seem right to you three?"
My team nods in response.
"I figured as much," I say. "With that out of the way, is there anything anyone wants to ask before I start asking the rest of my questions?"
"Yeah, what's all this about?" Rhys asks.
"We're a team now and for the next few years," I answer. "We need to know how to watch each other's backs."
Natsuki is looking at me from the corner of her eye. She shakes her head when her eyes meet mine. I do not understand that girl.
"We can operate as a unit more effectively if we know more about each other," Penny says.
"My point exactly," I say. "Now, if there's nothing else. I've seen all three of you in action, at least partially, so let's move right into weapons and equipment. Rhys we'll start with you."
"Right," Rhys starts. "Do you need to write this down?"
I shake my head. "I'll remember what I need to."
"If you say so boss. My weapon, Righteous Fury, as you saw is a pair of heavy tonfas. They're capable of firing a single thirty-millimeter round from each, and comes with heavy plate shields that can resist small arms fire."
"Anything else?" I ask. "Any specialized ammunition or enhanced clothing? Backup weapons perhaps?"
"Nope," Rhys says. "Nothing extra. My semblance takes care of any protection I might need."
"We'll get to that," I say. "Penny, you're up."
"My Floating Array," Penny begins. "Is a set of six swords composed of Grade Six titanium alloy for minimum weight combined with maximum durability as well as thermal and corrosion resistance. In addition, I am capable of firing precision lasers from each individual blade, or combine the effect of all six to fire a single beam that is approximately three feet in diameter. I control them via my- erm, a remote implant hiccup."
"Anything else we should know about?" I ask.
"Well… I um…" Penny fumbles over her words again. "My clothing is heavily reinforced hiccup, with a graphene composite mesh, among other things that are inconsequential. Resulting in resistance to bladed weapons and most non-explosive projectiles below anti-material classification. It does nothing to mitigate kinetic force, unfortunately."
"That's… quite the set Penny," I say. "Courtesy of the Atlas military?"
"A-affirmative," Penny stammers.
I turn my gaze to Nat. "Your turn Natsuki."
"Peregrine and Red-Tail," she says curtly. "Snub-nosed lever-action rifles chambered in forty-five seventy cartridges with shock baton fittings under the barrels. No, there's nothing special about my clothing. I can't afford specialized ammunition either. Although, I am a faunus."
"Ah," I say. "Night vision and heightened senses then. Good to know."
"You don't look like a faunus," Rhys says. "I mean you don't have an obvious animal characteristic."
Natsuki shoots Rhys a look. Not one of irritation like I was expecting, but instead… sorrow? Regret?
"Don't worry about it," is all Nat says.
The sudden silence seems to go on forever. Rhys shifts uncomfortably and Nat suddenly finds the table very interesting. Penny looks at me with a confused look on her face. I shrug my shoulders to say I don't know either.
"Ahem." I clear my throat. "I'm going to move onto semblances now, if we can bring things back in."
Another long silence follows before Rhys breaks it.
"Go for it, boss," he says. I nod.
"Rhys you said your semblance handles your defenses," I say. "Care to explain that?"
Rather than explain, Rhys touches one of the brass buttons on his jacket. His skin from his finger to his shoulder turn the same color and shine of the button. He flexes his fingers, makes a fist, then holds his fingers out straight and rolls his hand over.
"Ooooo," Penny says. "Molecular augmentation?"
"I don't know that means, Freckles." Rhys chuckles. "But sure. The way it works is I can change my body into any non-living thing I touch. Not every material does the same thing, and I can still get hurt, but most things make it harder to do that. Like… rubber bounces off most things, but not really fireproof. Like at all. And most metals are basically indestructible but heavy as hell."
"The strengths and weaknesses are determined by what material you take on," I say.
"Yeah pretty much," Rhys says. I nod.
"Why did you call me 'Freckles'?" Penny asks.
"What?" Rhys and I both ask.
"Rhys called me 'Freckles'," Penny says. "I have freckles, yes, but that is not my name."
Rhys gives me a look as if to ask, 'is she for real'. I raise a hand to him as though to say, 'I'll explain'.
"It's a nickname, Penny," I explain. "It's when you give someone a name that isn't theirs but applies to that person in some way. You have freckles, so Rhys called you Freckles. Make sense now?"
"Affirmative." Penny nods. "I fully understand now, Michael."
Rhys yawns, clearly still tired, and fiddles with his thumbs. Penny is looking at me waiting for me to speak, but not as eagerly as she was when she sat down. Natsuki on the other hand, appears to intentionally be looking at none of us. That comment from Rhys really fucked with her, didn't it? I rap my knuckles against the table where Nat is staring. She jerks her head in my direction, now glaring at me.
"What," she snaps.
"Your semblance," I say. "It's your turn to share, Natsuki."
She sort of huffs and looks down again. She closes her eyes and softly exhales. So softly that I doubt the others noticed. Natsuki looks back up, her glare softer than it was a moment ago.
"Alright," she says. "I call it 'Blink'. It's a short-range teleportation, useful for dodging attacks. I do have to wait about a second between each blink to make sure my body is where it's supposed to be, and if I use it too much back to back, I'll tire out much quicker."
"Do you need to be able to see where you're teleporting?" I ask. "And is there any risk of ending up inside a solid object?"
"No and no," Nat answers. "I don't need to see the space, but it allows me to be more precise. As for objects, I tested that once when I was younger. If I teleport into an occupied space, whatever was there is pushed out of my way. I haven't tested it with bigger objects though and I'd hate to see what happens if I teleport somewhere stuff can't move out of my way."
Rhys audibly gags.
"That would be most unpleasant," Penny says. "And certainly fatal."
"Very," I say.
"I'd rather not think about death by compression, thank you," Natsuki says.
She looks me again, but not in the eyes. I look back at her.
"You're up, Penny," I say, still looking at Nat.
"I…" Penny starts to speak but then shuts her mouth. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" I repeat her statement.
She looks almost embarrassed. Or maybe ashamed? I sorta get it, I suppose. What kind of Hunter doesn't know her semblance?
"I don't know," She repeats. "I never unlocked it."
"Not everyone does," I say. "And no one can really agree on if they're actually related to who we are or not. Which makes finding out a little difficult, despite the categories most fall into."
"Yeah," Rhys chimes in. "I've met Hunters that didn't unlock theirs till well after they got licensed."
"You'll need to figure it out sooner rather than later," Natsuki adds. "You won't make it far otherwise."
"That seems a bit harsh, doesn't it?" I say to Nat. She shrugs.
"That's just the way it is," Nat responds. "If you can't compete, the race will finish without you."
"She's got a point," says Rhys. "You'll need to unlock it at some point, Penny."
Penny looks down at the table. When she looks up again, she's wearing a more stoic expression.
"I will," Penny says, then she smiles. "I'm going to need it if I am to save the world."
Natsuki scoffs and rolls her eyes.
"Not this again," Nat says. "Your turn, Soldier Boy."
"What?" I ask.
"Is that another example of a nickname?" Penny asks.
"Yes." Nat, Rhys, and I answer Penny.
"Now," I start. "My turn for what?"
"You didn't tell us your equipment or semblance," says Nat.
"Yeah," says Rhys. "And I want to know the deal with that fire breathing."
"Fair enough," I say. "Slipped my mind is all."
I straighten my back and lace my fingers. Three sets of eyes on me, one set orange and inquisitive, one set bright green and attentive, and one set dark green and relaxed. I honestly can't remember the last time I talked about any of this. Mom, Uncle Jimmy, the Ace Ops and other specialists, they all knew what I brought to the table before any missions or training sessions. They never really needed to ask. It's not like I'm unfamiliar, just not used to the question. So unfamiliar I didn't even think to bring it up.
"Firstly, my weapons," I start, "I carry two blades, as you've seen. Sabot Lance is my main one. The hilt is long enough for one or two hands, and her alternate mode is a semi-automatic rifle chambered in three-thirty-eight Lapua magnum rounds. Her sister weapon is Edge Zero. Same as before, the hilt is long enough for both hands, but instead of an alternate mode I can charge her up with dust crystals to give the blade edge different properties. Lightning and fire enhance the cutting ability in different ways. Ice freezes the targets blood, muscle, and nerves around the cut. You get the idea."
"How does fire and lightning make the blade cut better?" Rhys asks.
I open my mouth to respond but Penny answers before I can get a word out.
"Normally fire dust is used for its explosive properties," Penny starts. "However, it can also superheat the edge of a bladed weapon to allow it to melt through most materials. Provided the blade itself is well made; it won't suffer from the effect itself. As for lightning, lightning dust doesn't actually contain lightning itself on its own. The crystals vibrate at such a high frequency that it produces static electricity in the air around it. If a weapon were made or modified in a specific fashion, it could use that vibration to weaken the molecular bonds of anything it connects with. Thus, cutting through substantially easier."
Rhys just stares at her, slack jawed, for a few seconds. I don't think he understands.
"I don't know what most of that mean," Rhys says.
Yeah, like I said. Nat rolls her eyes.
"It cuts good, Rhys," I say.
"Right, Boss," Rhys says. "Got it. Totally understand."
I shake my head. There's a lot more students in here now than there were before, but still less than half occupancy.
"Anyway..." I continue. "I recently inherited a sidearm from my dad. A handgun he used before he died. Specially designed to fire custom tungsten jacketed hollow point variations of four-fifty-four Casull ammunition. It packs a serious wallop."
"What's it called?" Nat asks. I shake my head.
"I haven't thought of a name for it," I say. "Not a good one, anyway."
"I'm sorry about your father," Natsuki says.
"Yeah," says Rhys. "That's rough."
"It's okay," I say. "I've buried my past and moved on."
Rhys nods, but Nat squints at me. She probably doesn't believe me. Not sure if I believe me.
"Now let's quit stalling." Rhys slaps his hand on the table. "I want to hear about this fire breathing."
"Right." I clear my thoughts and focus. "I can take on aspects of dragons, like from the old stories. I can change my arms into claws, cover myself in scales, and breathe fire."
"Can you sprout wings and fly?" Rhys asks.
"No," I say. "But it could happen eventually. When I first unlocked my semblance, I could only do the claw thing. Who knows, maybe I'll unlock more. Wings, fangs, legs…"
"Dick?" says Rhys.
Natsuki goes ridged and Penny just looks confused. I on the other hand, can't decide if I want to punch him or if I hope he's on to something.
"We are not getting into that," I say.
"Oh, so you already have one," Rhys says.
"No," I say. "Now shut up."
Rhys lets out a bellowing laugh as I shake my head. Nat is studying the table again. Penny cocks her head.
"I don't understand," Penny says.
"Oh boy here we go," I groan.
"His dick," Rhys says. "His schlong. Ding dong. Pecker."
Penny shrugs.
"Penis!" Rhys shouts, attracting several glances from other students.
"Oh," Penny says. "What about it?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"Rhys please shut the fuck up," I say.
"I bet Mike here could use his semblance to turn his dick into a dragon dick." Rhys chuckles heavily. "Make it… bigger. Actually, don't do that. I wouldn't be able to sleep if you're laying our entire cla-"
I land a heavy backhand across Rhys' mouth. He just stares at me, wide eyes, hand on his jaw. Natsuki has her head down and Penny's face has gone red.
"Not the best start to our friendship, Rhys," I say. "Knock it the fuck off."
Rhys just keeps looking at me, still holding his jaw. I tense, preparing for him to throw a punch. But he doesn't. Instead, he shakes his head and sits straight again.
"Sorry Captain. I was just joking," is all he says.
I pinch the bridge of my nose again and exhale. At the exact moment I fully breathe out, the kitchen staff file out into the dining hall and put out trays of food. Same broad array of stuff as yesterday. I look at my watch for the time. Zero-eight hundred. An hour till classes start. Time to eat I guess.
"Let's get our food," I say.
The four of us stand up, one at a time. First Natsuki, then Rhys. Penny doesn't move until I get out of my seat. She follows at my side up to the line at the food carts. More and more people entering the dining hall as the line slowly moves. I notice Penny shift uncomfortably at my side. Can't say I blame her.
"You alright?" I ask Penny.
"A-affirmative," she says. Her voice is unsteady.
"I'll have a chat with Rhys later," I say. "We don't need any more of that."
"That's not it," Penny says.
"Then what is it?" I ask.
"I'm not sure how to explain." Penny fiddles with her fingers. "It's difficult to describe."
"I'm sure you'll feel better after some chow." I nudge her arm. "Trust me."
She looks at me and I smile. She smiles back.
"I'm not really hungry," she says. "I'll be fine."
"Suit yourself," I say. "I'm starving."
We all get our food as the line moves painfully slow. Penny doesn't grab a tray. I guess she's really not hungry. I, however, load up on bacon and eggs. Throw some hashbrowns in there, an apple, and a glass of orange juice, and I'm set. Penny and I rejoin our partners at our section of tables, where they're already eating. Natsuki nibbling at some toast, with a very conservative amount of eggs on her plate, and a glass of orange juice. Rhys on the other hand in inhaling a plate of sausage. That's it. No bacon, no eggs, no fruit, just a pile of sausage stacked like a logging site and a glass of water.
"It's not a race," I say as I sit down next to Rhys. "The sausage isn't going anywhere."
"I'm hungry!" Rhys yells through a mouthful of sausage, then goes back to food vacuuming.
I chuckle and start eating. Penny sits down next to Natsuki, across from me, her eyes darting all around. Taking in the environment, I guess. The room is full of overlapping voices and utensils clanging. The four of us are silent. Three of us eating and one of us analyzing. Although I haven't seen-
"Ruby!" Penny shouts, waving and looking behind me. Almost beaming actually. "Yang!"
Look around, I see none other than team Rwby and team Jnpr heading towards our table. Guess that's what Penny was looking for.
"Good morning guys!" Ruby says.
"Mind if we sit?" Jaune asks.
"Not at all." I gesture to the open spaces.
Jaune sits to my left, with that Pyrrha girl on his left. Ruby sits next to Penny, and Yang next to Ruby. Princess Weiss, or whatever her title is, sits next to Pyrrha. The ginger hammer girl Nora sits next to Rhys. Ren, that Mistrali guy, sits across from Nora. And in between Ren and Nat, sits Blake. That book ninja chic. Each person clad in their uniforms, though Ruby still has her cloak on, and each with trays of different food and drinks.
"Good morning," says Pyrrha. "I trust everyone slept well."
"You kidding?" Ruby says. "I barely slept at all, I was so excited! I can't believe I'm officially a student at Beacon Academy!"
"It is pretty cool," Says Jaune.
"It's not going to be easy you know," says the Schnee girl. "We will be tested to our limits, to be the best of the best."
"Don't be such a stick in the mud, Weiss," Yang says.
"Yeah, we can have a little fun at least," says Rhys.
Weiss scoffs.
"Not my fault if you all fail," she says.
"Well that's not very nice," I say. "We can at least enjoy downtime. And be excited about being here."
"The fact that we're all here means we earned the spot," Blake adds. "That we worked for it."
"Y-yeah," Jaune stutters. "We earned our place here."
I raise an eyebrow at Jaune, causing him to look away from me. What are you hiding Jauney boy?
"Weiss is partially right though," I say. "The real work starts now."
Nora lets out a loud groan.
"Uuugh! That sounds like it'll be difficult," she complains. "And not fun."
"Nora," Ren says gently. "Too much."
"Sooorry Ren." Nora crosses her arms and pouts.
"It will be a most educational experience," Penny says with a nod.
Our little group shares a chuckle, then dissolves into several individual conversations. We spend the next several minutes talking about various things. Weapons, fights, jokes and funny stories, you get the idea. Fun all around.
"-Then I smashed him into the ground with Magnhild!" Nora shouts the last part of her story. "And then Ren says-"
"Stop!" A girl yells, her voice smooth but in pain. "That hurts!"
"He didn't say that, silly," Nora says.
"Who did say that?" I ask.
All twelve of us look around, searching for the source of the cry. One row across, and a few seats down, there's that dude Cardin and his team. They're standing in front of a fair skinned, brown haired girl with matching rabbit ears on her head. Cardin is pulling on one of her ears, him and his team laughing.
"I told you they were real," Cardin says.
Some people are watching the scene happen, others are intentionally looking anywhere but there. Natsuki specifically is watching with fire in her eyes. But not a single person is doing anything about it. While Cardin and his team just laugh and torment the girl.
"It must be so hard being a faunus," Yang says.
"Shouldn't we do something?" Penny says.
"There's nothing we can do," Ren says.
"If she's too weak to defend herself then she deserves what she gets," says Weiss.
"But... But Huntsman and Huntresses are supposed to protect people," Ruby says. "Especially people that can't defend themselves."
"This is just the way it is, Ruby," Yang adds. "Besides, I've seen that guy's dad on the news. Cardin is the son of some politician. We'd get in serious trouble."
"What kind of crap is that?" Jaune says. "Pyrrha can't you do something? I bet you could beat his whole team."
"I… No." Pyrrha looks down. "I can't risk my reputation by attacking the son of a political figure unprovoked."
"What the fuck is wrong with you people?" I chime in, barely containing my rage. "Oh no, my reputation. What reputation?"
"Pyrrha is the top ranked fighter in the Mistrali single's combat circuit," Weiss explains. "Have you been living under a rock or something?"
"So your reputation is more important than doing what's right?" I'm getting angrier by the second. "And do the rest of you seriously believe she deserves it? Aren't Hunters supposed to be the best of us? Seriously what the fuck?"
"Michael…" Penny starts. "Please calm down."
"I'm going to stop them." Ruby stands up but Yang grabs her and keeps her still.
"Don't get involved, Ruby," Yang says.
Am I having a stroke right now? They can't be fucking serious. What the actual fuck is wrong with everyone? Why are any of these people here of they're gonna let this type of thing slide? And then to stop anyone else from intervening? Fuck!
"Fine." I stand up. "I'll do something about it. And I dare any one of you to try and stop me."
No one makes a move. Ruby sits back down. Some of the group shake their heads, others look down in what had better be shame. Natsuki though, she's looking up at me, just barely, with an almost pleading expression.
"That's what I thought," I say with a nod.
Step after step, I march towards the scene. My heart is racing and my blood boiling. The guys see me, and Cardin lets go of the girl's ear. They're all shorter than me, but Cardin is a bit stockier than I am.
"Is everything alright over here?" I ask.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Cardin says. His voice is full of a certain unchecked arrogance. "Now how about you mind your own business, Stringbean."
"That's nice, but I wasn't asking you." I step closer, to cut off Cardin and his lackeys if I need to, and turn to the bunny girl. "Are you alright Miss?"
"I… yes," she squeaks out. "Thank you."
"You should get out of here," I say.
"Y-yes. Thank you." The girl picks up a book she had dropped and starts to walk away.
"Now wait a minute, we're still having fun." Cardin reaches out to grab the girl, but I catch his wrist. "What the… Fucking let go of me!"
The girl exits the dining hall while I hold Cardin. I glare at him with every ounce of fury I have in me. Cardin wrenches his arm from my grip and stares back at me.
"Do you have any idea who I am?!" He shouts.
"I honestly could not give less of a damn," I say coldly. "Now kindly fuck off."
I turn and start walking back to my seat.
"Don't walk away from me you little shit!" Cardin shouts.
I flip him the bird over my shoulder and keep walking.
Then I feel an apple explode against the back of my head. There are several cries of 'oh shit' and 'he's fucked' from the people watching. I take a deep breath in my nose, and slowly let it out my mouth. It doesn't help enough, and I feel my skin start to shift into scales. A low growl starts in my throat.
The bell rings.
I exhale in relief, a small burst of flame escaping my mouth. Class will be starting soon. Rather than look for my team, I just start walking to our first class. Keeping focus on each step and each breath.
Professor Port is a very… rotund man. Short, round, and most of his pudgy face covered by his mustache and eyebrows. He's dressed in a maroon blazer with a black shirt, as well as khakis and leather dress-shoes. The classroom itself is almost as round as he is. There are posters depicting the anatomy of various grimm covering most of the walls. Even the chalkboard at the front of the classroom has a detailed diagram of a Boarbatusk, a boar grimm, drawn on it. Off to one side of the chalkboard is the Professor's desk, which has even more diagrams and pictures. On the wall behind his desk is a blunderbuss with an axe blade.
Everyone has found a seat by this point, to include my team sitting on either side of me. Team Jnpr and Rwby are in here as well.
"Good morning children." The Professor speaks with a low and gruff yet still enthusiastic voice. "It's always so lovely to see bright new faces ready and eager to learn. Allow me to formally welcome all of you to Beacon Academy. Now, let's get right into your first lesson, shall we?"
A handful of kids pull out pencils and open notebooks, others simply look at Port intently. Others still already look bored. That sure didn't take long.
"Let's start with something simple," Port says. "A story that will help you no matter what form of grimm you face. Ahem… So there I was…"
Holy. Shit. That man can talk. Forever. His story went on for what felt like the entire class period. There are very few other students actually taking notes at this point. Some are doodling in their books. Some have their heads laying on their arms. But most are simply sitting in their chairs, barely paying attention. Except for Penny, who looks like she's been hanging on to every word. Hell, I barely kept track of the story, it's gone on so long.
"-and laying dead at my feet was the Ursa Major. I stood there, in a clearing deep in Everfall, having just felled the beast I had been tracking for days. I decided to celebrate my victory by cooking a fine meal with the venison I had hunted for myself mere hours ago. I quickly constructed a small fire, removed the meat from the leather I had wrapped it in, and placed the meat in my trusty cast-iron skillet, seasoning the meat with some herbs I had collected. It smelled glorious and my stomach growled in anticipation. But just as I was preparing to eat, a two headed snake grimm launched itself at me from behind the trees. A King Taijitu! Acting quickly, for I'd have surly perished otherwise, I leaped out of the way and grabbed my weapon. One shot to each head, and I had felled yet another creature of grimm. Now, what should you carry from this? What is the most important part of this story? Anyone?"
Jaune slowly raises his hand.
"Yes Mr. Arc?" The Professor says.
"Your weapon?" Jaune says. "I mean that… had you not had your weapon close by then you would have died?"
"Indeed, my weapon was an important part." Port strokes his mustache. "But not the particular detail I'm looking for."
Hmm. Let's see. He spent several days tracking a bear grimm, then when he finally killed it, he stopped for lunch. He was then attacked by a snake grimm. It wouldn't have been drawn by negative emotion if Professor Port was celebrating. Maybe it heard his stomach growl while he was smelling is food… Wait a minute. He was cooking. Fire and cooking meat.
I raise my hand.
"Yes, Mr. Silver?" The Professor looks at me from under his bushy eyebrows.
Silver? Slip of the tongue, I guess.
"You were cooking," I say. "The heat of the fire and the smell of the seared meat attracted the Taijitu."
"Yes excellent!" Port's eyebrows shoot up and he grins wide. "But can anyone tell me why?"
I see another hand go up.
"Go ahead, Miss Belladonna."
"Grimm are animalistic," Blake says. "They share strengths and weaknesses with the animals they resemble."
"Precisely!" Port points at Blake. "All grimm carry with them similarities to animals. Just as Beowolves have an acute sense of smell and hearing, Taijitu have superb short-range heat and scent tracking. Now, what of-"
The bell rings.
"Oh." Port stops his sentence short. "It seems we're out of time. Make sure to review your notes regularly, and I'll see you all next week. Class dismissed."
The entire class is definitely eager to get out of this room. Can't say I blame them. That wasn't the most pleasant of lectures, but hopefully someone got something out of it. Everyone is pushing and shoving to try and get out the door first. I shove my notebook back in my satchel and stand up, taking my sweet time with a stretch. My team shuffles around with their own books and notes.
"That was… an experience," I say.
The four of us make our way into the hallway.
"Experience?" Rhys says. "That was agony."
"Agony is an experience." I chuckle. "Besides, we got some useful information out of it. Maybe not the entire story around it, but still."
"Affirmative," Penny says. "While the story itself was irrelevant to the point, the point itself is indeed a valuable one."
"You guys are weird," Rhys says. "What's it matter so long as we kill them? Back me up on this Nat."
"Anything that helps us kill grimm more effectively is useful," Natsuki says. "Whether it's knowledge or firepower."
Rhys shakes his head, and I chuckle.
"She's got you there, big guy," I say.
I laugh again. But do my eyes deceive me? Natsuki's lips hinting a smile. Maybe she's not so hardboiled after all.
"C'mon guys," I say. "I want to get our lunch before the dining hall gets too crowded."
I start walking and wave my team to follow.
"What were you thinking?!" Yang shouts at me.
We had just finished our second class. Survival. But Yang is still mad at me about this morning. When I was gonna help that girl. So now she's yelling at me in our dorm. Which is stupid. I don't know why she's being so dumb about this.
"I was thinking that a girl needed help!" I yell back.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you could cause by fighting the son of a politician?" Yang says, still loud. "We could get expelled. Or Dad could lose his Hunter license and get fired from Signal."
"I... But..."
I hadn't thought of that. But... what's the point of doing good if you can't help people when it really matters?
"It was very foolish of you," Weiss says from her bed.
Her bed is against the wall and under my bed, which is held up by rope. We wanted bunk beds. Blake and Yang have their beds bunked using books to hold Yang's bed above Blake's. But ours has privacy curtains.
Okay they're sheets we tied to the beds, but they act like curtains.
"It was also courageous," Blake adds, also on her bed. "Not many would stand up for a faunus."
"Her being a faunus has nothing to do with it," I say. "She was someone who needed help."
"And she got help," Yang says. "From Michael. He didn't risk anything to help the girl. You would have."
"I know but..." I plop my butt down in the chair next to our desk. "We should help people no matter what we risk."
"That's a nice ideal, Ruby," Yang says. "But the world doesn't work that way. There are consequences to what we do."
Yang kneels next to me and puts her hand on my shoulder. I shrug her off and stand up.
"No!" I shout. "That's not right!"
I storm out of the room, leaving a trail rose petals behind me.
There's no on in the courtyard. Just me, the wind, and the statue of the Hunters I want to be so bad. I thought we're supposed to help people in need, no matter what. That's what Dad and Uncle Qrow always taught us. Right? Even the stories Yang read to me were all about heroes helping everyone that was in trouble. Whether it's saving a town from a horde of grimm, or helping an old lady reach the cheese on the top shelf. Why's she acting like this all of a sudden? I don't get it...
"Why is everything so dumb..." I mumble.
"I certainly hope you're not referring to me, Miss Rose."
"Wha-"
It's Headmaster Ozpin. I hadn't realized he was standing next to me. Or maybe he just got here. But there he is, barely smiling at me.
"I... No. Sir." You're fumbling, Ruby. "I'm just having trouble adjusting is all. It's... not what I was expecting."
"Dissapointed are we?" Headmaster Ozpin rests his hands on his cane.
"No sir. It's just..." I should probably think about this carefully. "What is expected of Hunters?"
"A great deal," The Headmaster says. "However, if you're referring to what is expected of Huntsman and Huntresses above all else, the answer is simply devotion to the people of Remnant. To place the lives of the many people we protect over our own attachments and desires."
"It sounds so much... colder when you put it like that." I look away from him and twiddle my thumbs.
"The world is a cold place. It's up to us to make it a little warmer for as many people as is possible."
Maybe I was wrong...
"Are you sure I'm ready for this?" I ask. "For being a leader, I mean. I'm not sure I have what it takes..."
The Headmaster squats down in from of me, his knees pop, and he looks me in the eyes.
"Ruby," he says. "I have made more mistakes in my life than any man, woman, or child in all of Remant. Naming you leader of your team is not one of them. You will rise to the occasion, in time. You need only choose to take that initial step."
I guess that's why he's in charge.
"Thank you, Headmaster," I say.
"Of course, Miss Rose," The Headmaster says. "Should you need further advice, my proverbial door is always open."
The Headmaster walks away, leaving me alone again. But I don't feel quite as bummed as I did before he showed up. I'm still super confused, but at least I don't feel like butt.
"There you are."
Speaking of butts.
"Hi Weiss," I say.
Her heels tap on the stone as she walks over to me. She looks mad. I think. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen her look like anything else. Maybe she just looks like that?
"Your sister is worried about you," Weiss says.
"Then... why are you here and not her?" I ask.
"Because," Weiss says. "She's still mad at you. And... it's my job as second in command of team Rwby to make sure our leader is operating at her peak."
"Awe..." I say. "I knew you cared. Ya big softie."
"Don't push your luck, Rose."
"Softie!" I repeat.
"Okay clearly you're fine." Weiss turns and starts walking away. "I'm leaving."
Oops.
"W-wait!" I yell. Weiss turns back around. "Can... you help me study?"
"What?" Weiss says.
"Study," I say. "Like, read textbooks and notes and stuff."
"I know what study means," Weiss snaps. "Not tonight. I want to go over my notes on my own."
"Oh..." Well it was worth a shot. "Okay..."
"I would not be opposed to helping you study tomorrow night, though," Weiss adds.
I smile ear to ear.
"Thanks Weiss," I say. "I promise I'll do my best."
"You better," Weiss says.
Not all is lost! I should probably study on my own tonight too though... boo. That doesn't sound as fun. But I guess I do still need to do it.
That's what being a leader is about right?
End Music: The Heavy - What Makes a Good Man
Author's Note: You thought I was going to have Mike beat up Cardin, didn't you? I figured you would. That's what almost every single person that writes fics for Rwby does, is it not? Well the way I see it, there's potential here to tell a much better story with far less wasted potential than some writers I could name. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading chapter three, chapter four will be out soon enough. See you all real soon.