Chapter 7

Weiss stomped down the hall. She had a grand vision of what Beacon was supposed to be, and thus far, her expectations had failed to be met. After her brief but surprisingly arduous fight with the boarbatusk, she found that Blake, her partner, hadn't even bothered to wait for her before leaving the classroom. In truth, Blake hadn't spoken ten words to Weiss. Though she would never admit to it, Weiss desperately wanted to be friends with the other girl. Friendship is something that Weiss had lacked most of her life. As a Schnee, Weiss's life had been carefully regulated from dusk to dawn. She had the best private tutors, private cooks, maids, butlers, anything money could buy, really. But friends, the closest thing Weiss ever had were future business partners she'd met during one of the many socials her father hosted.

Beacon had been Weiss's escape. A place where she could be away from the influence of her father and flourish. Instead, Weiss found herself on a team that consisted of a mute, a crazy person, and a Ren. Weiss didn't actually have proof that he was crazy, but as a long-time friend of Nora, his sanity could only be considered dubious at best.

Entering her next classroom, Weiss quickly spotted Blake by the ridiculous bow she wore on top of her head. She moved to sit beside the other girl with a loud harrumph. Blake didn't even glance up from the book she was reading, the same book she had during Professor Port's lecture. Weiss cleared her throat, and Blake turned the page. If Weiss developed a tick before the day ended, she knew who to blame.

Weiss decided a more direct approach was needed.

"So, Blake, I realize we haven't had much time to get to know each other, but as our team leader, I believe unity is of the utmost importance. As such, I ask you not to go off on your own to a class we all have together, especially when we could be making stronger interpersonal ties.

Weiss held her head high as she spoke, doing her best to imitate her older sister's demeanor when she disciplined one of her subordinates in the Atlas military.

Blake finally looked up, met Weiss's eyes, and shrugged before dismissing her.

A noise not unlike steam escaping a tea kettle escaped Weiss, and she stood and slammed her hands onto the desk with a bang.

"What is your problem!"

Blake jumped at the unexpected blast of noise and turned to glower at Weiss.

"Woah, might want to take a chill pill there, Ice Queen," Yang said.

Drawn out of her little world, Weiss realized she and Blake were the focus of everyone's attention. Blood filled her cheeks, and she sat down without a word and stewed for the entire class.

Overall, it was a less exciting lecture than Professor Port's. A basic review of dust that Weiss was confident she could have taught in her sleep. When the class ended, Weiss stiffly packed her bag without acknowledging anyone and stormed out of the room.

It was lunchtime, but Weiss couldn't force herself to make her way to the cafeteria. So instead, she went outside, found an empty bench to sit on, and pulled out her scroll. She stared at the device. Weiss wanted to call her sister to tell her she had been named team leader and about how great Beacon was. But her thumb hovered over her contact and ultimately didn't move until the screen turned black.

Winter was probably busy anyway, Weiss rationalized as she put her device away. It wasn't a lie per se. Winter was very busy. As one of Atlas's top Specialists, Winter rarely had any free time, even when she wasn't out in the field. Weiss had been named Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company because of how busy Winter's commitments to Atlas made her.

"Um, Weiss?"

A quiet voice pulled Weiss from her self-pitying thoughts, and she looked up to see Ruby.

"Are you ok?"

Weiss could see in Ruby's eyes that the question hadn't been asked with anything other than kindness. And that fact gnawed at her. Ruby had no idea how lucky she was. First, getting Pyrrha as a partner and then Shirou as a teammate. It was clear that those two would drastically multiply any team's combat potential.

Crossing her arms, Weiss replied curtly.

"I'm fine."

"Good. That's good…"

Ruby stubbed the toe of her boot into the ground and played with the hem of her bright red

cloak. Weiss needed to figure out why none of the faculty had insisted she remove it. It was clearly not part of Beacon's uniform standards.

"Do you want to come and have lunch with us? Ren and Nora are already gonna join."

Weiss' jaw ached from how hard she clenched it, and it took all her willpower not to explode on Ruby.

"I'm not hungry."

"Are you sure? I mean, lunch is like the second most important-

"I said I'm not hungry!"

Ruby's mouth shut with an audible click at Weiss's shout.

"Alright, bye, I guess."

Ruby turned and left Weiss alone. She didn't get why the other girl was crabby all the time. She was only trying to be nice.

Ruby didn't waste time going to the cafeteria, where she quickly rejoined her team, Ren and Nora. Ruby liked her team a lot but had doubts about being named leader. After all, Shirou had probably killed more Grimm during initiation than any other student in history, plus Yang and Pyrrha were both incredible fighters and really good with people. Whereas Ruby was only fifteen and had trouble not stuttering her way through a conversation.

Ruby shook herself and slapped on a smile. She'd fake it until she made it if she had to.

"Ice Queen shoot you down, Rubes?" Yang asked as Ruby sat down.

"She said she wasn't hungry. Did you get my cookies?"

Yang glanced at Shirou, who was sitting across from her, and he pushed a tray toward Ruby.

"Shirou thought it would be best if you got something more nutritious today since we missed breakfast."

Ruby looked at the tray in horror. It was a nightmare that came to life. It was grilled chicken on a bed of green leaves with a side of french fries, not a baked confection in sight.

"But...but." Ruby looked from Yang to Shirou to Pyrrha with wide, shimmering eyes. "I don't like this stuff!"

Yang looked unimpressed.

"Ruby, you always eat chicken, and everybody likes french fries!"

Shirou nodded resolutely, and Ruby could see her pout proved useless against him, so she turned her attention exclusively to Pyrrha.

"Pyrrhaaa, you don't want your partner and new bestie to suffer, do you?"

Pyrrha's shoulders shook as she tried not to laugh at the abject sadness Ruby laced into her tone.

"Now, Ruby, eating cookies for lunch is unhealthy. They have way too much sugar."

Ruby deflated. She took all the nice things she thought about her team back. They were all evil.

After lunch, everyone made their way to the final class of the day, history. Shirou led the way eagerly. History had never been of great interest to him before, but he lacked so much knowledge about Remnant that any chance to learn more about it proved attractive to him.

Blake and Weiss were already in the classroom when team SPYR arrived with Nora and Ren in tow, but they were sitting as far away from each other as the room allowed.

Ren and Nora exchanged awkward glances before moving to sit with Weiss, if only because she was technically their leader.

They didn't have to wait long for the class to start as a white and green blur blasted into the room.

"My name is Dr. Bartholomew Oobleck, and this class will be the most important one you will ever take."

Words spewed from Oobleck's mouth in a tsunami and were just as overwhelming as one.

"I am not to be addressed as Oobleck or professor but as Doctor, and you will give me your utmost attention. We have a lot of information to explore." Doctor Oobleck paused to take a deep inhale through his nose. "Let's begin."

Information flew so quickly that Shirou was surprised his notebook hadn't caught on fire from how furiously he was scribbling. It was only Dr. Oobleck's regular pauses to gulp down coffee that allowed him to keep up at all.

"Now, you are familiar with the battle of Fort Castle, yes?"

A smattering of hands rose, but among them, Shirou noted Weiss's and Blake's.

"No? Disappointing. Very well, you with the white hair, a summary of the events that led to this historical conflict, if you please."

"Yes, the battle of fort castle is considered one of the most incompetently run during the Faunus Rebellion. Fort Castle was an area of strategic importance as it served as a waypoint for trade between Vale and Mantle. The Faunus spent several months attempting to seize it but didn't have the numbers or technology to be successful." Weiss's nose crinkled, and her tone became haughty.

"However, this changed when General Legune was placed in charge of the facility. He, believing the Faunus beneath him, planned a 'surprise' attack on several Faunus encampments stationed around the Fort. Needless to say, he was unsuccessful, and his forces were soundly defeated. Fort Castle fell a day later."

Oobleck nodded along as Weiss spoke and quickly interjected before she could sit down.

"Good, good, excellent summary. But can you tell me why the Legune's forces were defeated?"

Weiss hesitated before reluctantly shaking her head.

"No, no, that doesn't surprise me. Legune was a member of Mantle's, now Atlas's, military force, and they are not quick to share the nature of Legune's failure." Oobleck turned and gave the rest of the class his attention.

"Would any of you like to volunteer their thoughts?"

"Well..." A boy with orange hair and a thuggish face spoke up. Shirou thought he remembered him to be Cardin Winchester. "I know it's easier to train an animal than a soldier."

The comment got a few chuckles from around the room but the Doctor, for this first time class started, became still.

"No, that is not the reason, and you, Mr. Winchester, will see me after class." Dr. Oobleck turned and pointed towards Blake.

"You had your hand up earlier. Please share."

"Nightvision. All Faunus are known to be able to see with near-perfect clarity in the dark. When the General attempted to ambush the Faunus, scouts saw what was happening immediately, and they counterattacked, leading to a humiliating defeat."

"Correct! And this is why it's essential to know your history, why this class is so critical-

The bell ringing cut off Oobleck before he could finish his speech.

"Ah, our time is done for the day. All but Mr. Winchester are dismissed."

Shirou quietly closed the door to his new dorm room that he shared with Ruby, Yang, and Pyrrha. Even after a long day, he couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts jumbled around in his head. In the heat of the moment, during his fights with the Grimm and Roman Torchwick, Shirou hadn't noticed. And he was too distracted by his research and exhaustion the previous nights to give it much thought. The mana of the world felt different. It was a subtle thing. He might have picked up on it sooner if he were a better magus.

Wandering the halls, Shirou eventually found a set of stairs leading upwards and found himself on a rooftop terrace with a few tables and chairs and a clear view of the night sky. He sat down and made himself comfortable. Then, Shirou held out his hand, stared at it, and breathed deeply. With tender care, Shirou began to fill in the gaps in his flesh, bones, and tendons. When satisfied with his reinforcement, Shirou cut the constant flow of prana and observed the feeling of it draining from his hand. It took very little time. Reinforcement of the human body necessitated an almost continuous flow of energy to maintain. As soon as Shirou released the flow, it would dissipate.

Shirou closed his eyes as he felt the last of the Prana fade away, and he traced a sword with the care and attention only he could devote. It was beautiful in its simplicity, the same long sword he had traced to shoot at the nevermore. Shirou held the blade in both hands across his lap and, with the same care he used on his hand, began to feed prana into it. The simple sword took the energy readily, becoming more robust, sharper, tougher, and lighter. Again, Shirou cut the flow of energy and observed.

Shirou waited, unwavering in his focus, until one minute became five and five became ten. Prana wasn't leaking from the sword, and even more surprising, Shirou didn't feel the blade being erased. On Earth, anything that Shirou traced had an inherent lifespan dictated by the amount of prana he used to create the object. Gaia, the will of the world, constantly eroded at prana. As such, a sword he made on Earth would last an hour or two before it was unmade by the planet itself. Interestingly it appeared that Remnant didn't operate under the same rules.

Shirou set the sword to the side, leaned back, and let his mind wander. So much had happened in such a short period it was overwhelming. Shirou sat back, looked up at the broken moon and the shining stars, and tried to make sense of everything. Remnant was so different from Earth, but the people were the same. Some were good and others bad, but Shirou would put money that most just tried to live their lives and find a reason to smile.

Shirou thought about his ideal, his goal, and his promise.

Saber.

Something told Shirou that he was supposed to be here, in this world.

Shirou continued thinking until the door creaked as someone opened it. Shirou's stomach twisted as Blake stepped from the shadowy hall onto the moonlit veranda.

Blake's eyes widened when they landed on Shirou's form, and her hand touched the black bow on her head.

The duo watched each other, waiting for the other to make the first move.

"Would you like to sit down?" Shirou asked awkwardly, waving at the chair next to him, purposely avoiding looking down at the bare expanse that Blake's short nightgown revealed. Blake's expression was torn, but she made her way closer, bare feet soundless on the tiled floor.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while, neither knowing what to say.

"It's a nice night, " Blake said, glancing from the sky to Shirou.

"Yeah, I like to look at the moon on nights like this when I can't sleep. It reminds me of my Dad."

"You stargaze with your Dad? That's nice."

"It was, but he died. It was a night like this, and he passed peacefully, staring at the moon."

Blake looked at Shirou in surprise, not expecting to hear anything so personal.

"I'm sorry." She said, unable to offer anything else.

Shirou accepted her condolences gracefully, having heard the exact words a hundred times.

"Did you argue with Weiss?" Shirou asked, wanting to change the subject to no longer be about him.

Blake nodded and hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure if she should. In the end, though, she couldn't help herself.

"She's such a...Such an entitled brat!"

Shirou scratched at his neck, the skin there slightly inflamed from a bug bite.

"Is she mistreating you because you're a Faunus?"

Blake stiffened and turned to look at Shirou with wide eyes, causing him to lean back slightly in concern.

"You know?"

Of course, Shirou knew. He gathered from her sword that she was part of the White Fang. A quick internet search told Shirou everything else.

Shirou nodded.

"Was it that obvious?" Blake seemed to slump in on herself. "I couldn't even hide it for a full day."

Shirou hesitated for a moment, but only for a moment. Subtlety was never a skill that belonged to Shirou Emiya.

Gamble Shroud appeared suspended in the air right in front of Blake. She glanced at Shirou before scrutinizing the blade.

"My semblance," Shirou said, still finding it difficult to use that word when considering his magecraft. "Isn't just to conjure swords. It's to understand them completely. Through an understanding of their materials, concepts, and history, I can bring them into the world."

Blake watched Shirou hold out his arm and form Kanshou, almost like she was hypnotized.

"This sword, along with its partner Bakuya, was forged when a King came and asked a craftsman to forge him an imperial blade of the highest order, so even the gods themselves would be jealous of it's beauty. The craftsman was skilled, but he failed time after time to fulfill the order." Shirou glanced at Blake and saw that she was still entranced. "The craftsman's wife was a wise and empathetic woman, and she was forced to watch as her husband's failure ate away at him, took from him his smile and his love of the craft he held so dear. Finally, in desperation, she did the one thing she could think of to help him and threw herself into the forge, for the only way to touch the realm of the gods is through the sacrifice of a soul."

Blake gasped, hands tightening.

"The craftsman's grief was beyond imagining, but he wouldn't let his beloved wife's sacrifices be in vain. Over the flames of her burning body, he forged a pair of swords, the most beautiful that the world had ever seen, fulfilling the King's order."

Shirou allowed Kanshou to fade away as he ended his story and meant Blake's wide eyes with his own.

"I know everything about every sword I see." Shirou reached out and grabbed Gamble Shroud by the hilt. "You've done a lot of bad things, Blake, for a sword to be so drenched in regret."

Blake stood abruptly and looked ready to flee down the stairs, but Shirou was faster. With reinforced speed, he seemed to vanish from his chair to reappear in front of Blake.

Blake froze in a half crouch, muscles tense, eyes flicking side to side frantically as she began to panic.

"Listen, Blake, I just want to talk. I don't think you're here to hurt anyone." It took a moment for Blake to comprehend, but after a moment, he could see her breathing slow, and he took that as a good sign. "But I would like to know why you're here."

Shirou suspected he already knew why Blake had chosen to come to Beacon, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Why?" Blake asked, her voice strained, almost like she was holding back tears.

"Because if the reason you're here is the one I suspect, then I'll do everything I can to help you."

The sheer conviction in Shirou's voice took Blake off guard, and she began to shake uncontrollably as the adrenaline in her system began to fade.

"Why would you assume I am here for selfless reasons? I could be here to kill Weiss. It is well known that her family has perpetuated systematic racism against Faunus for decades."

Shirou frowned. He hadn't known that particular fact, and it certainly seemed like a convenient coincidence that a terrorist fighting on behalf of the Faunus people would be partnered with someone who apparently perpetuated the system. Shirou considered it for a moment that Blake was there to kill Weiss before discarding the notion with a shake of his head.

"If that were the case, you would be trying to get close to Weiss or have killed her yesterday. But, instead, you've done nothing but antagonize her. You want nothing to do with her at all."

Blake let out a choked laugh, and her eyes began to sting as all the frustration, fear, and stress of the last few months started to bubble up.

"I thought I was being punished when I first saw her here, of all places. And then, when we met in the forest, I knew it was some kind of twisted karma." Blake reached up and ripped off the black bow she wore on top of her head, revealing a part of triangular cat ears that twitched as the night air caressed them.

"A Faunus, a former member of the white fang, partnered with Wiess Schnee." A tear trickled down Blake's face, sparkling slightly under the moonlight.

"You asked why I'm here? I'm here to make up for my mistakes and try to be a person that people look up to instead of fear."

Shirou could see the truth in Blake's eyes and nodded sharply. Then, cautiously stepping forward, Shirou reversed his grip on the copy of Blake's weapon before presenting it to her.

"I believe you."

Blake let out a choked sob, overwhelmed. She hadn't been expecting to undergo so much during a midnight stroll. Reaching out, Blake took the sword from Shirou.

"Thank you."

Shirou nodded and smiled.

"Can I give you some advice to help you start achieving your goals?"

Blake nodded, wiping at her eyes.

"Don't be so distracted by Weiss's last name. She really isn't a bad person."

Blake started her cat ears twitching as she digested what Shirou told her before glancing at the sword in her hand, then back and Shirou.

"Ok."

I don't know if I nailed Blake's character here, I want to establish her as a more dynamic person than I remember her being in the show, but this may feel too fast. I always had it in my head that she should be under more strain than everybody else and that it needs to manifest itself, so giving her someone to trust (i.e., Shirou) seemed like a way to go about this and allow for personal development. What do you all think?

Next, a question for the people who read the author's note. I've got a few side projects that help me keep the creative juices flowing and avoid writer's block. Most of these are just one-pagers that establish a concept, but I decided to further develop them in my spare time. So what would you all be most interested in from the below list? Let me know in the comments, or PM me with any thoughts.

Harry Potter/RWBY

Fate Stay Night/Konosuba

Harry Potter/Fate Stay Night