A.N: Warning, the following chapter has a brief scene of torture. You have been warned.
Chapter 9: A Field Trip With Professor Kobalt (What Could Possibly Go Wrong?)
Professor Ozpin gazed at his apprentice with a look of utter bewilderment on his face. "A field trip?" He repeated.
Hansel Kobalt nodded. "Yeah…that is what you still call it at these schools, right?"
"Well, we actually call them missions." Ozpin replied. "And an entire class? This is…a bit unheard of."
"I don't have to take an entire class." Hansel brushed the matter off. "I just want to take someone in the field to give them some field training."
"Well, if it's field training you might as well take the entire class." Ozpin responded. "But it is a little early to go out on missions again, Hansel. We're still in recovery from what happened during the Vytal Festival."
"Okay fine," Hansel rolled his eyes, "I'll take an entire class out into the field for some training. They could use a little bit more real life experience. There's only so much I can teach them in the classroom."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow. Something was off here. While it was true that Hansel did previously pledge to gradually become a better teacher, Ozpin also knew that this sudden enthusiasm felt very out of character. "Hansel," Ozpin said, "what is this about?"
"I…don't know what you're talking about, Professor." Hansel denied. "I'm serious here, I think I can do better if I take my classes out in the field as often as possible. I'm sure Glynda would be happy covering my other classes the rest of the time."
"Hansel, not all of us have your stamina." Ozpin noted. "Now, why don't I ask you a question?"
"Sure, what?"
"Where is the Don stationed in Vale?" Ozpin inquired, knowing what this was all about.
Without thinking, Hansel responded. "He's hiding out in the Neverland Gorge, according to the information Qrow provided me." He revealed.
Hansel's mouth then dropped open, realizing he had just let it slip the true reason behind his request for a field trip with his students. "Ah shit." He muttered.
"I knew it," Ozpin groaned, "Hansel Kobalt, did you really think you could lie to me?"
"I'm so sorry, sir." Hansel said, wanting to bang his head on Ozpin's desk in frustration. "I promise, I really intended to teach them some things. I just also need to take this opportunity to eliminate Corleone. You and I both know he's a huge threat to Vale. And now he intends to make a move into Vale's criminal underworld and fill the void left by Roman Torchwick."
"Hansel, we've been over this." Ozpin said to him. "You are a teacher now. Your mission cannot be your only focus anymore. You know this, as does Qrow, which is why I'm a bit angry he told you this."
Hansel clenched his fists in anger and frustration. Ozpin then sighed. "However, it's better I give you permission to go than say no and you disobey me and go anyway."
Hansel's eyes widened. "Sir, are you saying you're really going to let me go and get Corleone?"
"Hansel," Ozpin took a deep breath, "going out of the kingdom is one thing. However, Corleone is attempting to move into Vale and take over the underworld. That is quite another thing. This is our chance to strike a blow to Vale's crime rate that it could very well never recover from. Organized crime will be set back for years."
"I'm also well aware of how much of a monster that man is, as are you." Ozpin pointed out. "I refuse to allow such a man to operate in Vale if I can help it. So, I will allow you to, just this once, shirk your duties as a teacher and focus on your mission."
Hansel nodded, looking grateful. "Thank you, sir." Hansel said gratefully. "You are a very kind man."
Ozpin smiled. "Just promise me a few things." He said.
"First, bring your students. Preferably, the class with Ms. Rose and Ms. Nikos, I do want you to try and teach them more and bond with them. Make sure they come back with a better understanding of how Huntsmen operate in the field."
"Second, keep them out of your clash with Corleone. I don't want any of them to get involved. They're just students."
"And third," Ozpin gave him a gentle gaze, "please stay safe. Don't do anything reckless. You're there to take down Corleone and obtain any information on Gray Jackal that you can find, that's it."
Hansel was taken aback by Ozpin's gentleness but calmed down and nodded. "I promise, sir." He said.
Ozpin gave his young apprentice a gentle, fatherly smile. "I know you will, my boy." He said. "I don't want to saddle you with added pressures, but never forget you're a teacher now, first and foremost."
"Your first priority must always be your students."
Hansel nodded. "Of course they'll be fine." He said, clearly not registering that. It just seemed obvious to him. Keep them as far away from Corleone and his men, and everything will be fine. It was not like he needed to do anything special.
Ozpin gave him a simple nod. "I know they will," he said, "Professor Kobalt, you officially have my permission to take your morning combat class out to the Neverland Gorge for field training."
Hansel nodded. "Thank you, sir." He said, dismissing himself from Ozpin's office.
A worried look then appeared on Ozpin's face. "I can't help but wonder," he muttered, "is Corleone only doing this because he is emboldened by Roman Torchwick's absence, or is there more to this?"
"Gray Jackal," Ozpin remembered when Hansel, a year ago, had approached him about tracking this shadowy terrorist organization, "partnering with Corleone and some of our own politicians; all the research you've gathered; gathering military strength on the level of a kingdom and conducting assassinations; just what in the world are you planning with all of this?"
Meanwhile, Ruby Rose suddenly got a message on her scroll, along with the rest of her team while having their free period. "Huh, it's an announcement from Professor Kobalt." Ruby was surprised.
"He's not giving us more homework, is he?" Yang groaned. "Just having to revisit basics in hand-to-hand combat to improve my Semblance is a pain in the ass."
"Yang, Professor Kobalt's advice was pretty reasonable." Blake pointed out, looking up from her book, known as Evolution: Unlocking Your Semblance's Full Potential. "He's absolutely right, too. Your recklessness is your biggest weakness right now. Eventually, we're going to come across enemies just as dangerous as the ones we met in the Vytal Festival."
"Are you finding anything useful in there?" Weiss inquired, changing the subject due to her curiosity about the content of Blake's book.
"He was right," Blake noted, "Semblances are like muscles, the more you use them, the stronger they get. And eventually, they have the chance to evolve into something different. I wonder if I really can create more clones, or even use them to attack, like Sun does."
Weiss then found herself thinking about Hansel's words. So what I need to do, is simulate the emotions that caused me to do a partial summon. She thought to herself. How do I do that without getting myself in the same situation? That is just not practical.
"Guys!" Ruby suddenly cut everyone out of their thoughts. "Professor Kobalt wants to take us out of Beacon for training exercises."
Everyone looked at Ruby in shock. Then, they looked at their own scrolls to confirm. "Not just us," Blake noted, "he wants to take our entire class out."
"That's a surprise," Yang said, "I didn't think we did field trips; just missions."
"It's probably to give us all field training." Weiss pointed out. "He probably thinks it's better than just taking one team out, one by one."
"He can't possibly think he can supervise all sixteen of us." Blake voiced her only issue on the matter.
"He probably expects us to supervise ourselves as well." Weiss noted.
"We're not little kids, so we don't need Teach to supervise us the whole time." Yang noted, a bit put off by Blake's concern on the matter.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Once again, Ruby cut everyone off.
"Ruby, please contain yourself." Weiss sighed.
"I can't though!" Ruby yelled. "We haven't been outside of Beacon since that stuff with Mountain Glenn and the Breach! It'll be nice to just get out of school and do some real training in the field."
Blake could not help but nod at that. "Ruby does have a point." She admitted. "And with the kind of enemies we now have to deal with, any chance at getting stronger from some actual field training is welcome."
We're eventually going to run into Adam again. Blake added inwardly trying to hide the grim expression on her face. I need to be ready…I need to protect them.
"It says Professor Kobalt will explain everything tomorrow, including where we're going." Ruby still could barely contain her excitement. "Oh man, where do you think we're going to go?"
"I…guess we'll find out tomorrow." Weiss pointed out in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"Maybe I should go ask Professor Kobalt?"
"No," Ruby's teammates said flatly.
The Neverland Gorge was a dark and frightening place. Then again, most of Remnant was, but the Neverland Gorge was particularly terrifying. It was a deep chasm with only one way in and only one way out. Once the sun set to a certain point, it was completely dark. Perfect to hide the base of operations for organized crime.
Don Anthonio Corleone, a portly man with a pencil man, greasy black hair, a white bowler hat and a pinstripe suit, took a moment to look around his new base. "Roman Torchwick was a damn fool." He said of his predecessor, the man who once controlled Vale's underworld.
"I'm not surprised that a showboating twit such as him would completely miss the point of shadowy activities. Shadowy activities must be hidden in the shadows. Never out in the open for all to see. He thought he could better control his operations in the cities, where baddies could hide out in the alleyways and seedy parts of town." Corleone chuckled. "Why not just put up a sign for the police that says: 'we're working here'?"
"In order to effectively conduct a business like this, you need to be willing to base your operations in places where the authorities would never come without an army. It's all about location, location, location."
Corleone then addressed one of his subordinates. "Have we driven off the Grimm?" He inquired.
"Yes, Don," the man responded, "we lost some boys in the process, but we were successful. The turrets have also been set up too, so we shouldn't have any more issues."
Corleone sighed. "Damn, make sure they are given proper burials…what's left of 'em anyway."
"Yes, Don," the man responded.
"Operations like these…they also require sacrifice." Corleone mused to himself. "Good fellas who I will never see again. But success requires sacrifice, and those who aren't willing to go the extra mile for their business…don't deserve to run 'em in the first place."
That kind of attitude was exactly why Corleone had been approached by Gray Jackal in the first place.
"Don!" Another subordinate of his ran up to him.
"What is it?" Corleone responded.
"We've found the spy, sir. It looks like he followed us all the way from our operations in Mistral."
Corleone frowned. "How dedicated," he mused, "and how infuriating as well. There are fewer things that upset me more than traitors. Take me to him."
The subordinate nodded and took Corleone to a tent. He was then led to the back, where a man of Mistralian descent was on his knees with his hands tied behind his back and bruises on his face, having already been beaten by some of Corleone's subordinates.
Corleone frowned, visibly disappointed. "Sho," he said, "so you were the traitor?"
Sho glared defiantly at Corleone. Corleone shook his head. "This betrayal wounds me deeply, Sho." He admitted. "You had so much promise. I was honestly considering you for a promotion to my inner circle. And you go and do this instead?"
Corleone leaned down to get in Sho's face. "Why did you do it, Sho?" He asked. "Surely, the council couldn't have possibly paid you more than I did? You could've lived comfortably as one of my top associates."
Sho sneered at Corleone. "You whored out my sister." He said hatefully. "One of your businesses tricked her into debt, used her, drugged her up so she could have the stamina to serve each and every one of your sick clients! And then she died! Her body just couldn't take the abuse anymore! Hell yeah I agreed to spy on you! I wanted to take you down myself!"
Corleone sighed. "I see," he said, "you did it for revenge. I understand, Sho. I forgive you."
Corleone then heated up his cigar with a lighter. "But that doesn't mean you can't be punished for your crimes. Traitors burn the same as murderers."
Then, with an utterly impassive expression on his face, Corleone drove the burning end of his cigar into Sho's eye. The man screamed in pain as his eyeball was burnt by Corleone's cigar. "I forgive you, Sho, I pardon you." Corleone calmly told him, uncaring of the pain he was causing him. "I pardon you from life. Unfortunately, I can't pardon you from pain just yet."
"You need to experience the pain I feel from your betrayal." Corleone told him.
Sho continued to scream in pain. The subordinate behind Corleone winced, visibly unnerved at the sight. He should have been used to this by now. Just a week ago, Corleone had executed an entire group of men who had failed to protect a shipment of drugs from Atlesian police. It had been quick, but brutal; execution by firing squad.
Corleone then removed the cigar from Sho's eye. "Just for the record, you have only yourself to blame for what happened to your sister." Corleone told him. "If you really loved her, you would've never let her out of your sight."
Sho started weeping in his good eye at the mention of his sister. "I'm so sorry, Miki." He muttered to himself.
"Oh? Miki? So, she was your sister?" Corleone then leaned in to whisper something truly cruel into Sho's ear. "You know, she was a damn good lay."
Sho's good eye widened, realizing what Corleone meant. Corleone then reached into his pocket and took out a dagger. He then pressed the blade against Sho's neck. Sho then regained his composure and glared defiantly at Corleone once more, with tears in his eye. "Go to hell, you monster." He spat.
Corleone ignored Sho and dragged his dagger across the man's throat, slashing it open. Sho gasped and gagged as he collapsed onto his back. Corleone watched uncaringly as Sho twitched, gagging out his final throes of life. He then turned to the visibly bothered subordinate right behind him. "Remove his head from his body." Corleone told him. "Make sure it's kept preserved for a trip back to Mistral. I want the council to have it as a present."
"Y-yes, Don."
"And compose yourself, son." Corleone added. "Death is just a part of life."
"Yes, Don."
Corleone left the tent, cleaning his dagger on a handkerchief. He had done this so often, he had honestly become numb to it. The man was an honest-to-God sociopath. No conscience whatsoever, just looking for whatever benefited his business.
He then walked to his personal tent and met with his right hand man, the badly burnt Capone. "Do we have any word from our boys in the field?" Corleone inquired.
"No, Don." Capone replied with a raspy voice. "It is early, we'll have our first score soon enough. There's a shipment of weapons and Dust moving to the border."
"They're so paranoid about Atlas, they fail to account for enemies within." Corleone shook his head. "Fools who can't see the dangers around them deserve to fail, miserably."
"Do we have any messages from the Queen of Hearts?" Corleone inquired, referring to the liaison between him and Gray Jackal.
"She has not contacted us since we shipped out here." Capone replied. "I can imagine she's expecting us to make contact next. She better have our next payment soon. We're taking a huge risk, moving in here while Vale's at the start of a cold war with Atlas."
Corleone patted Capone on the shoulder. "You're rightfully paranoid, after what happened in Mistral." He noted, referring to the attack on one of his hideouts.
"I don't mean to be, Don." Capone admitted.
"But it is good you are, considering what happened to you and all the boys we lost that night." Corleone told him. "We simply cannot allow that to happen again, not when we are this close to scoring another big payment from Gray Jackal."
"Regarding that payment, we have no reason to worry." Corleone assured him. "Our business partners have been good and fair so far. So we'll continue to do jobs for them."
"What do you think they'll do with all of these weapons and Dust, Don?" Capone inquired curiously. "There's been talk around camp. Some of the boys are curious about what we're gathering all these supplies for."
"Capone, you know that doesn't matter to me." Corleone reminded him. "The only thing that matters to me…is the success of my business."
"Of course," Capone nodded, "my apologies, Don. You're right, I am paranoid. I just want to make sure we get this job done and we are properly compensated for our efforts."
"And that is why you're my number one guy, Capone." Corleone reminded him. "You sweat the small things because you worry for the success of the business."
"Go back to what you were doing." Corleone ordered Capone.
Capone nodded and left Corleone to his own devices. "People who know what I'm doing would try to appeal to my better nature. That I'm helping terrorists and plunging Remnant into chaos." Corleone mused to himself. "And I'd tell 'em, it's nothing personal."
"It's just good business."
The next day, Ruby Rose and friends entered Combat Classes once more, meeting with Hansel, who had a surprisingly chill smirk on his face, as though he was getting away with something he really should not.
"Good morning, kiddies," Hansel said, surprisingly at his most pleasant he has ever been this week.
"Umm…good morning, Professor Kobalt," even Ruby was a bit nervous at how disturbingly calm he looked.
"So, I'm sure you all read my message yesterday." Hansel told them. "And yes, it is all true, we're going on a little field trip tomorrow."
"And by field trip, I mean training exercise."
This caused a bit of a stir among Hansel's morning class. "All right, all right, everyone settle down." Hansel ordered them. "Don't be so surprised. Going on missions has always been a part of this school, right?"
"Not an entire class, Professor." Coco Adel pointed out. "That's the unorthodox part."
"Well, maybe, but frankly, I'd rather take an entire class and teach you all there instead of just wasting my time on one team each. I hate repeating myself." Hansel admitted. "So, we're all going."
"Now, granted, this won't be realistic. More often than not, Huntsmen work alone or in small teams, like what the academies place you all in." Hansel admitted. "That being said, you guys are not full-fledged Huntsmen, yet. You're students. And you need to be placed in simulations that actually give you a better understanding of what the life is actually like. This is also why we're going as a class. For everyone to get the same experience. I'm giving you all equal opportunities to learn from this. Don't waste it."
"Professor, if I may," Lie Ren raised his hand, "where are we going?"
"We're heading to the Neverland Gorge. I'm sure any of you whom originated from Vale are familiar with the place."
"Whoa, the Neverland Gorge?" Jaune Arc was surprised. "Sir, not that I don't trust your judgement, but doesn't that place seem a bit…too dangerous. I mean, even some Huntsmen have been known to go in there and never come back out."
"And that is why we will be focusing on the area around it." Hansel assured Jaune. "Believe me, I'm not interested in explaining to Ozpin how any of you died, so we're going to decrease unnecessary risks and shit like that."
"Now that we've got out of the way, let me make something perfectly clear. This is a requirement. I've already made up my mind that this is going to be the class going out on this training exercise. For those of you a bit squeamish about the whole thing…you're just going to have to man up. This is a part of the Huntsmen life. And if you're going to live the life, you need to understand just what it's actually like."
There was that attitude that left no room for argument again. "So, here's what the next few days are going to be like." Hansel informed them. "The first day is going to be devoted entirely to hunting Grimm and clearing an area for us to make camp. Then, we set up a perimeter. This is typically how Huntsmen begin their assignments out in the field. They clear out Grimm and make camp while completing whatever job they have."
"This is crucial, if you can't do this, we might as well go home." Hansel told them. "You've shown me how you fight each other. Now, show me how you fight Grimm."
"Afterwards, we're going to turn the area into our own personal boot camp." Hansel continued. "I've almost got a schedule in mind, but by the time we get there, you'll know just what we're going to do."
"But know this, I want you guys to keep the advice I gave you regarding your Semblances in mind. Because this boot camp will involve pushing your Semblances further. And when we're not pushing your Semblances, we're going to be building up your strength and shoring up your weaknesses."
"For example, Rose," Ruby perked up at hearing her surname, "better get used to not using that scythe of yours during camp, because you're going to be punching and kicking a ton. And when we're pushing your Semblance, expect to move as fast as you can."
"Sounds fun, I can't wait." Ruby smiled before adding sheepishly. "Just…please let me keep my sweetheart when we're hunting Grimm."
"Like I said, I really don't want to explain to the professor how you died, so keep it when we're Grimm hunting."
"So, let me be clear. You're all going. If you're serious about becoming Huntsmen, you need to dedicate yourselves to learning just what the lifestyle actually is."
Once again, that tone that left no room for argument. If Hansel wanted something done, it was done. He was very assertive in that regard. Thankfully, no one saw a reason to disagree with him. And hey, getting out of school and getting into the field was appealing.
"Now, good news," Hansel told them, "I'm going to give you all a gift. I'm offering you all the rest of the day off. The rest of your teachers know what I'm planning. You all have the rest of the day to gather any supplies you need for this trip tomorrow. Plan for four days."
"A day off from school? Awesome!" Yang cheered.
"Yeah, don't get too excited, Xiao Long." Hansel frowned at her. "I'm going to escort every single one of you outside of the academy grounds, where you will go into the city and buy supplies. I expect every single one of you to return before curfew with supplies to last you for the next few days. I'm talking non-perishable foods, stuff you can cook over a campfire, changes of clothes, all that jazz."
"Aww man," Coco pouted, "you're making sure we don't goof off."
So much for our coffee break and my shopping spree. She added inwardly. That bag is never going to have a place in my closet at this rate.
"Damn straight," Hansel replied, "now get going. The sooner you get this done, the better."
Hansel clapped his hands together. "Chop-chop, folks, giddy up." Hansel told them. "Time waits for no one. The fact I'm even giving you time to prepare is me being generous. On most occasions, when Huntsmen go out into the field, they have no time to prep, especially when they're given an urgent mission."
And so, Teams RWBY, JNPR, CRDL, and CFVY went into the city of Vale to buy supplies for their first class trip. Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long were shopping for non-perishables and campfire food.
Yang frowned when she noticed what was currently in Ruby's hands. "Ruby," she said, sighing, "you are not living on an all-cookie diet for the next four days."
Ruby whimpered at this as she gazed at her many bags of cookies. "Ruby, now," Yang insisted in a strict, motherly tone.
"Boo," Ruby stuck her tongue out as she put the bags on the nearest shelf.
"Now, don't be like that." Yang gave her a gentle smile. "Take a look, I'm buying foods that I know for a fact you like. And look on the bright side, vegetables aren't really non-perishable, so you're off the hook for the next four days."
"Score!" Ruby cheered.
"Now, let's see," Yang looked around, "Teach mentioned that we'll be camping too, so we should get some hot dogs to roast."
Ruby frowned slightly at the way Yang referred to him. Sure, it was a far-cry from Professor Jackass a week ago, but something still bothered her. "Hey, Yang?" Ruby spoke up.
"What is it, Sis?" Yang inquired.
"Have you really forgiven Professor Kobalt?" Ruby inquired.
Yang tensed, remembering that disastrous first day of class. "I mean, not that I'm not happy to see everyone forgive him and give him another chance," Ruby admitted, "it's just…well, I was also surprised. You all forgave him so easily."
Yang sighed. "Don't get the wrong idea, Ruby, what he did was wrong. Any sane person knows that. And I think everyone in class knows that too."
"I agree." Ruby said.
"So I think the better question is, why did you forgive him?" Yang asked. "After all, you're the one who suffered for his mistakes."
"He apologized," Ruby replied simply.
"That's it?" Yang raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, yeah, what he did was wrong. But should that mean we brush someone off when they try to apologize for it?" Ruby wondered. "I don't know, that just doesn't seem right to me."
"Why?" Yang asked. "If someone does something they wrong, conventional wisdom says they should be shunned, right?"
"Yeah, but is that right though?" Ruby wondered. "I mean, remember when Weiss said those awful things about me when I first became leader?"
"Yeah, you two look back on that so fondly nowadays, considering that whole experience ended up making you two besties." Yang pointed out.
"Weiss apologized, and she meant it. Now, yeah, it was nowhere near as bad as Professor Kobalt…doing what he did, but I do think the principle still applies." Ruby admitted. "Sure, what Professor Kobalt did was wrong…but, I don't know if that means people shouldn't be forgiven when they apologize. That seems wrong to me too, weird right?"
Yang shrugged. Ruby then smiled, fond of a certain memory. "Remember all those fights we used to have? We said some things that neither of us can ever take back."
"Ruby, you're exaggerating," Yang claimed, "at worst, all the fighting ever amounted to was me calling you 'Cookie Monster' while you called me 'Big Bird'. But I can understand what point you're trying to make."
Yang then laughed at the memories. "Still, thank God, Dad was always there to set us straight, otherwise we'd hate each other now. But you know, like that fight you had with Weiss, I think they ended up making us closer."
"Yeah, you forgave me for all the things I said to you, and I forgave you for all the things you said to me." Ruby remembered fondly.
"And you think this means you can let off Teach for his mistakes too?" Yang inquired.
"Not really let him off, just forgive him." Ruby replied. "I just…I just don't think I could forgive myself if I didn't do that. And hey, he's at least showed he's serious about it so far, so I'm happy I did."
Yang smiled. "Honestly, Rubes, I feel the same way."
"Really?" Ruby was surprised.
"Like I said, I don't think everyone's really forgotten what Teach did, and I don't think we ever will." Yang admitted. "We're most likely always going to be a bit on guard."
"But, what you said back then, when you were in the infirmary, it put a lot of things in perspective. Teach is kind of an asshole, but you're right, he's not a monster. That bitch, Cinder, is a monster. Adam Taurus is a monster. Hell, Teach saved Blake and me from that Adam guy. And he'd probably claim he was just passing through or we were in his way…but he still saved us, and that counts for something."
"What he did was screwed up, but you're right, that doesn't mean we shouldn't forgive him. Hell, the guy deliberately humiliated himself just to try and show how sorry he was. He's got a weird way of doing things, but you can't really argue with something like that."
"But, I do think that knowing who the real monsters in this world are made things a bit easier." Yang admitted. "If the Vytal Festival hadn't happened, I'd probably feel differently about the whole thing."
"So you're right to be shocked we let him smooth things over that easily. But believe me, if he screws up again, he's not going to get off that easy a second time. But, honestly, Rubes, if we're gonna hold a grudge against anyone, it should be against those creeps that ruined the Vytal Festival, not a guy who went to so much trouble to apologize."
"And you know, for what it's worth, you're right, Teach has shown he's serious about being better. So I'm glad I gave him a shot too."
The two continued to shop for non-perishables and campfire food. Yang then decided to bring up another matter regarding what they were discussing. "Hey, Ruby?"
"Yeah, what is it?" Ruby inquired.
Yang put her arm over her little sister's shoulder. "You really do need to give yourself more credit." She told her.
"Huh?"
"You've got a wonderful head on your shoulders," Yang told her with genuine fondness and pride, "and one of the kindest hearts I've ever seen. You're still super awkward—like the 'bees knees' kind of awkward—but you also have an ability to see the best in others and believe in them. And…I think that's why Professor Ozpin made you the leader. He saw that in you as well."
Ruby smiled happily at her sister's assessment. "Thanks, Yang. That means a lot coming from you."
"You know, I learned that from watching you." Ruby admitted.
Yang was taken aback by this. "Seriously?"
"You're amazing at reading people." Ruby noted. "Because you spend so much time around others. It makes you able to see the best in others and empathize with them when they're in trouble, like you do with Blake. A part of me still kinda wants to be like you because…well, I admire that so much."
Yang could not believe what she was hearing. Ruby admired her so much she wanted to be like her. She shook her head, restraining herself from weeping at that statement. Like me, huh? She thought. Ruby, you dope. I always wanted to be like you.
That stuff you think you got from watching me…that's all you. Yang thought, smiling inwardly. You want to be a hero so badly, that you've devoted yourself to emulating the personalities of the heroes in the stories I used to read to you. And it's made you this wonderful person that's only going to become more wonderful as long as you keep going down the path you're on.
Ruby, you'll one day become a great Huntress, it's what you were born to be. And as your big sister, I swear I'm going to protect you and help you reach that point. Yang vowed resolutely.
Meanwhile, in a different store, Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos were shopping together for camping supplies. Jaune, much to his confusion, found himself catching stuff tossed his way by Pyrrha's Semblance. It made no sense to him. Why did Pyrrha just not hand these things to him? Also, why was she standing all the way at the end of the aisle, blushing up a storm. None of it made any sense to him whatsoever.
To take a moment to step away in my role as an unbiased narrator, allow me to just say, Jaune Arc, you fucking dense moron. Now, back to our regular story.
"Camping for four days with Professor Kobalt," Jaune shook his head, "I'm actually a bit intimidated by the whole thing."
"R-really?" Pyrrha said nervously from all the way at the other end of the aisle. "I don't think we have a reason to be. Professor Kobalt has proven he's serious about trying to be a better teacher and person."
"Yeah, I guess that's true, but what worries me is the Neverland Gorge." Jaune explained. "Anyone who's ever lived in Vale knows about that place. It's…well, creepy. People avoid it for a reason. And Professor Kobalt wants to take us there."
"He did say we're not going into the gorge. I can imagine we'll be camping out in an area nearby." Pyrrha noted.
"Well, as long as we stay out of the gorge, we should be fine." Jaune concluded. "I guess I'm just a little on edge, after everything that's happened."
Pyrrha managed to bring herself to approach Jaune upon hearing this. "You know, it's not too late to drop out." She pointed out. "I know it's not like me to tell you to quit. But if you're on edge about what's happened and what will happen, you can always leave."
Jaune shook his head. "Out of the question." He said. "I'm staying in Beacon, no matter what."
"Jaune," Pyrrha remembered the day Ozpin told her teammates about her new status, "I'm happy that you all chose to stick with me…but I'm going down a dangerous path now. I couldn't forgive myself if…any of you got hurt because of me."
"And I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you when I could've been there." Jaune countered. "You're a member of Team JNPR, Pyrrha, we're in this together."
"Jaune…" Pyrrha said, choking up.
Jaune clapped her on the shoulders, making her blush instinctively. "You've devoted so much of your time to training me, making me better than what I was at the start, because you believed in me." He reminded her. "So believe in me now. No, believe in all of us. Because we want to stick together and help you through this."
"Thick or thin, Pyrrha, we're with you, no matter what." Jaune promised her.
"Jaune…" Pyrrha could only say.
"Speechless, huh?" Jaune smiled teasingly. "Yeah, I've been working on my heroic speeches. Thought I could fire people up that way."
Pyrrha giggled. "You dork," she said fondly.
Pyrrha then pulled Jaune into a tight embrace, surprising him. "Jaune, thank you…for everything." She told him.
"Everything?" Jaune was visibly confused by her statement and the embrace. "Err…no problem, Pyrrha."
Unbeknownst to the both of them, outside, Nora and Ren were gazing at them from the window. "Err…maybe we should join up with them another time." Ren suggested.
"They are going to make such adorable children when they finally get together." Nora said giddily.
Ren sighed at that statement. "Nora, please don't say something like that."
"Hey, Ren, what do you think they should be called? Knights in Love? Red Knight? Arkos?" Nora excitedly inquired.
"Nora, please stop trying to come up with a name for their relationship." Ren told her.
As the day ended and the preparations came to a close, Hansel Kobalt trained in Beacon Academy's courtyard, having conducted all of his classes outside to wait for his morning class to return from their shopping trip. Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched from Ozpin's office, by Ozpin himself and Glynda Goodwitch. Glynda could only proudly smile at her adopted son.
"Look at how hard he works." She said giddily. "That's my Hansel."
"Qrow will never let you hear the end of it, if he ever heard you talk like that." Ozpin noted teasingly.
"He's already shown so much improvement in his new job." Glynda ignored the jab to gush about her baby. "I've been listening in, and people have a much better opinion of him now."
"The general consensus," Ozpin corrected, "is that he is harsh and blunt, but honest and helpful. And as long as we don't have a repeat of the first day, that's acceptable."
"…Am I doing the right thing, Glynda?" Ozpin inquired after a brief pause. "Indulging him in his desire to eliminate Gray Jackal?"
Glynda's face fell at this. "I worry about him," she admitted, "I worry that his obsession is starting to consume him. I don't know what to do about that though, Professor."
Ozpin remained silent as Glynda expressed her worries. "I know why he's so obsessed. I know why he wants to…eliminate them. But…I'm worried that he'll reach the point of no return, the point where people like the White Fang become obsessed with nothing but vengeance and hatred. I don't want my Hansel to end up like Adam Taurus."
"We just have to have faith that the both of us imparted the right lessons and wisdom into Hansel." Ozpin assured her. "People really do tend to forget what influences do to a growing young man like Hansel. They can make all the difference."
"You think we did right by him?" Glynda inquired
"Specifically, you," Ozpin told her with a kind smile, "you don't give yourself enough credit, Glynda. You are a wonderful surrogate mother to the boy, to the point where I think he honestly views you as his blood mother."
"You shouldn't sell yourself short either." Said Glynda. "Hansel thinks the world of you."
Ozpin sighed as he gazed at his apprentice. Sometimes, I wish he didn't. I worry that he may grow too dependent on me.
Because one day, Hansel, I will have to leave you…
Outside, at the courtyard, Hansel's attention was drawn to an arriving airship. He let out a small smirk at the arrival of his morning students. One by one, all sixteen of them stepped off the airship with triumphant smiles on their faces. They all felt prepared for the day ahead of them.
Hansel nodded, satisfied with their actions. "Good," he said, "now go right to bed. I expect you all up bright and early as usual."
"Tomorrow, we have a trip to the Neverland Gorge."
And I have a date with a Mafia Don.
