A few weeks have passed since that talk at Ozpin's office. Ever since, things have been calm for the most part.

Surprisingly enough, Tanya hasn't been out very often during that time. The times she did come out were brief and Yang was the only one there at the time.

Not to say those moments meant nothing in the long run. Yang took those moments to talk to her 'sister' about her attitude, and while she didn't get far in convincing Tanya to change, she did get Tanya to drop what happened with Weiss and move on.

[Dining hall]

"So... There we were... In the middle of the night..."

"It was day time."

"We were surrounded by Ursai..."

"They were Beowolves."

"DOZENS OF THEM!"

"Two of 'em..."

"However, they were no match. And in the end Ren and I took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa skin rugs!" Nora sat down crossing her arms.

Ren sighed. "She's been having this recurring dream for over a month now."

"So... Who's version is right?" Asked Ruby excitedly.

"Mine!"
"Mine."

Weiss sighed. "Ruby? Are you gonna finish those cookies any time soon? I told you that you didn't need that many."

"Who are you? Tanya? Like I keep telling Yang to tell her, I'm completely fi- ...Oh no."

Ruby began to stuff as many of the cookies she could into her mouth.

Everyone looked at her with varying expressions, disgust in Weiss's case.

After eating about ten of them, Ruby had two left. "Maybe I can eat these before- Before I- I-" Everyone tensed up. "ACHOO!"

"Here we go..." Said Yang as Ruby slumped over. Taking little time, she rose back up, revealing Tanya.

"*Yawn*... Morning..." Nobody said a word. "...What? Is this about the argument I had with our resident Princess? If so, relax, I'm not interested in that anymore... You can mostly thank my sister for that."

Yang chimed in. "She's saying she's moved on guys."

"I don't need you to speak for me, sister."

"Come on, you can just call me Yang."

"...Sister."

"Worth a shot."

Blake breathed a sigh of relief. "Well that's a relief-"

"More importantly. GET THESE COOKIES AWAY FROM ME!" And there she is...

Nora raised her hand. "If you don't want them, I'll have them."

"...Here, eat up. You can probably burn off the calories easily anyway."

"THANKS!" Nora reached into her pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. "You can have this."

Nora threw it at Tanya, who caught it with ease. "... This is a chocolate bar..."

"YEP! One of the good ones, not the cheap ones from a low budget store."

"It's still sugar!"

"Just try it, Tanya." Said Yang.

"...Fine. One bite." Tanya opened up the chocolate bar and took a piece off. If nothing else she could appreciate the design. She placed the piece in her mouth, chewed it up for a bit, swallowed it, and. "!?" Her eyes lit up. "What the...? This is so..." She shook her head. "I mean, it's fine, I guess. I'll just finish it so the food doesn't go to waist." She said as she finished the chocolate bar, trying to hide her delight. The others just smiled and chuckled at this.

"Well it looks like our demon has at least one weakness." Said Pyrrha

"I hate you all..."

After having a good laugh, Pyrrha turned to Jaune. "Hey, Jaune? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, why?"

Yang chimed in. "Well, before our little laugh with Tanya, you seemed a little... not okay..."

Silence came over the group as everyone turned to Jaune. "Eh, guys, I'm fine... Seriously, look!" He lifted his hand slowly to give thumbs up, while putting on a nervous grin... and nervously laughing... Safe to say none of the others bought it.

"Why is he a leader again?"

"Tanya..."

"I'm just saying that it doesn't make any sen-"

Before Tanya could finish her take, she was interrupted by the sound of laughter.

Mocking laughter.

The group turned to see a group of students picking on a girl with rabbit ears. The girl was named Velvet Scarlatina, a member of the schools Team CFVY, and Team RWBY and JNPR's upperclassmen. Her bully's Cardin Winchester and his team, Team CRDL.

Now Pyrrha had an idea as to what was bothering her teammate. "Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school."

Jaune once again laughed nervously "Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah. He just... likes to mess around, you know? Practical jokes!"

"He's a bully!" Said Nora.

"Oh please..." Jaune scoffed. "Name one time he's 'bullied' me."

Weiss sighed. "Let's see. There's the time he knocked your book out of your arm."

"The time he activated your shield and caused you to get stuck between a door." Blake added.

"And the time where he shoved you into his locker and sent you to the middle of the woods..." Ren finished.

"And those were just the major incidents. He's also-"

"Oh come on guys, those weren't as bad as you think. And it's not like the woods are that far from school-"

"Jaune. If you ever need help you can just ask. We're here to help." Said Pyrrha.

"OOH!" Nora stood up "We'll break his legs!"

"..."

"...Well the offer's on the table."

"Guys, really, it's fine! Besides, if there was a problem I can deal with it myself. Tanya would just get mad at me for not dealing with my own problems."

"Forget Tanya, Jaune..." Weiss sighed. "On that note, Tanya hasn't said anything since we... started…" she trailed off as she noticed that their resident demon seemed oddly…distracted.

"Tanya?"

Everyone turned to Tanya, who was still watching Cardin and his friends bully Velvet. Now Cardin was pulling on her ears, ignoring Velvet repeatedly saying that it hurts, while his friends called her a freak.

Pyrrha looked visibly disgusted. "Atrocious. I can't stand people like him."

Everyone, except Tanya, nodded. "He's not the only one..." Blake said sadly.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Said Yang. "It must be hard to be a Faunus... Still, It's not like Tanya to pay much attention to these things. Normally she would've tuned something like this out." Yang turned to Tanya. "You okay, sis?"

Tanya said nothing, but was getting visibly more agitated the more she watched. "... I-I..." She muttered, balling up her fist. "I-I... don't... I'm... n-not..."

Now the group was concerned for Tanya. What's going on with her? "Tanya!?" Yang shouted, concerned for her 'sisters' mantle health. "Sh-Should we leave?! You look like you're about to have a panic attack!"

"Monsters..."

"Huh?"

"Monsters... all of them... She's… not… I'm... not... safe... I… I-"

Before Tanya could continue, Yang firmly placed her hands on Tanya's shoulders to try and get her attention (while praying that her little sister wouldn't attack her out of fight response), "TANYA!"

After calling her one last time, Tanya finally came back to reality. "?! Sister!?"

"Tanya, snap out of it! If you want to leave just tell me. Still, it's not like you to-"

"I'm fine."

Yang looked confused. "b-but-"

"I said I'm fine! Just forget what you saw. Must've just been my brain wanting to sneeze and Ruby trying to come out. Of course, that's assuming something happened, which nothing happened. And even if it did, it has nothing to do with me!"

"I... If you say so..."said Yang, but she was still not convinced. Still, best to leave this topic alone and only bring it up if it happens again, she thought to herself.

"Anyway, we were talking about Jaune and his problems with that asshole, right? I say we get back to that. And where is Velvet?" asked Tanya.

"She already left while you and Yang were talking." Said Blake.

"...Oh." Tanya got up. "In that case, let me do something."

"And where are you going?" Asked Weiss.

Tanya didn't respond and just went straight to Cardin.

Yang's face went pale "Ooooh God..." The rest of the group shared her reaction, but for different reasons.

"She's dead..."
"He's dead..."

"...Huh?"

As that was going on, Tanya got to Cardin's table. "Hey, Assclown!"

Cardin immediately turned around. "Excuse me?"

"What? I'm just addressing you by what you are. Would you prefer chicken shit? Your team is named after a bird, right?"

Cardin was getting pissed, and everyone soon turned to see what was going on. To all of the onlookers, it looked like their youngest student had a death wish.

"Who do you think you are!?"

"I'm Ruby Rose." No she wasn't. "Leader of team RWBY, youngest student in the academy, and your superior in every way outside of raw strength, but even then I can still find a way to be better than you." She said professionally. "That's who I am."

Cardin scoffed. "I didn't mean it like that, smartass. And what do you mean you're MY superior!?"

"Exactly that, but never mind stating the obvious. I'm just here to give you and the bitches you call friends a tip. If you ever get the idea to mess with me, I won't be able to guarantee you that you won't get your bones shattered, or that your eyes won't turn black, or that you'll still have your reputation. I can be... very assertive when it comes to 'self-defense'."

That pissed Cardin off even more. "What are you trying to say!? Don't think that just because you got in a bit early means you own this school! I could easily take you on myself!"

"If I had your intelligence then yeah, you could. That's the difference between us Winchester, I'm actually smart."

"...You'll regret that, little bitch."

"Looking forward to it!" Tanya said in her cutesy (creepy) voice, which Cardin took as her mocking him.

"You little-!"

"Good day Mr. Winchester."

"Hey, don't ignore me!"

"...Fine" Without warning, Tanya used her semblance to go straight to Cardin. "I suggest you put your Aura up"

"Hu-" *POW*

Silence. And then, one painful scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Tanya lowered her foot and sighed. "Tell your children that Aunty Ruby gave them their birth defects"

Even though he was in a lot of pain, Cardin continued to rant, but Tanya decided to pay him no mind, talking to him would just be what he wanted as he'd be getting a reaction out of her.

When Tanya got back to her table, she decided to address the peanut gallery, "You all know it's not polite to stare at someone, right?" Everyone went back to what they were doing before. With her job done, Tanya sat back down with her... 'colleagues', who were still looking at her with varying looks of concern. For Yang, she was concerned about what her sister had planned for Cardin. "Alright, where were we?"

[A few hours later]

It was now evening. Classes should be over, but unfortunately, Jaune ended up getting held back in Professor Bartholomew Oobleck's class after he failed to answer (in Tanya's opinion) and answer so easily that a baby could figure it out. Okay, he's been struggling before this, but that was just bad. Even for him. Cardin got held back too, but she could honestly care less.

Pyrrha decided to stay and wait for her leader to come out, so she told the others to go ahead. Tanya decided to stay for a bit longer.

"Pyrrha, answer me this. What do you see in that weak little man you call your leader?"

Pyrrha looked annoyed, but answered. "For your information, I see the potential Jaune has. He has a lot of Aura you know? I know that if he can just focus on his training, with someone who actually believes in and supports him," she said that part with a bit of venom towards Tanya, "he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. Haven't you ever felt that way towards someone?"

"That would be impractical. The way I see it, there are those made to lead, and those meant to be someone's bitch. And if people aren't willing to try and be leaders then they're better off dead! This world is no place for the weak! Either you're strong and live, or weak and die-!"

"Tanya... You can't seriously mean all of that. That's terrible!"

"It's realistic. Ruby lost our mother at a very young age, I wasn't born yet, but I can tell that Mother just wasn't strong enough. And I get that unexpected things can happen, I'm NOT stupid, but for the most part what happens is based on our actions. As much as I respect her, she made me after all, I won't deny that Mother was WEAK! And Ruby is headed in the same direction, which will lead to MY death as well as hers!"

Pyrrha was speechless. "You... What's wrong with you!?"

"Nothing. Anyway, my time here is up. I don't have time for this."

Before she could leave, Pyrrha called out to her. "Wait."

"What?"

"Let me ask you something. Do you believe in destiny?"

Tanya raised an eyebrow before answering. "Destiny? Gods? Keep that shit to yourself." After that, she left.

Pyrrha sighed. "Tanya really is something else..."

After a few more seconds, Oobleck ran out of the classroom, and Jaune and Cardin followed suit... Until Cardin shoved Jaune to the ground.

"OW!"

"Heh."

Pyrrha rushed over to help Jaune up. "Thanks Pyrrha..."

"You know, I really will break his legs." Jaune was taken aback by Pyrrha's sudden dark tone, but he had nothing to say, so he just sighed. "Jaune... I have an idea! Here, come with me!"

"Hu-" Before Jaune could speak, Pyrrha grabbed his hand and began to drag him off. "AAUHA!"

[a few minutes later at the top of the school]

"...Pyrrha, I know that I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not THAT depressed. I can always be a farmer or something..."

It took Pyrrha a while to realize what Jaune was saying and that he was looking over the edge of the roof. Did he think she was suggesting that he- "N-NO!" Pyrrha panicked and pulled Jaune away from the ledge. "That's not why I brought you up here!"

"O-OH! I-I knew that... So what did you bring me here for?"

"*Sigh* Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class and that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so..." Pyrrha takes a sharp breath. "I want to help you!"

"...W-What?"

"We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!"

"...I appreciate the thought, Pyrrha, but I don't need help."

"N-No! No, that's not what I meant."

"Didn't you suggest that I needed it?"

"You have talent Jaune, this is just to give you that little push you need to realize it. Everyone needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us. You made it to Beacon, that alone speaks volumes of what you're capable of!"

"... I..."

"Jaune?"

Jaune turned his back on Pyrrha. "You're wrong... *sigh* Tanya's right. I-I don't belong here."

"That's a terrible thing to say, of course you do! Ignore what Tanya or Cardin or anyone like that says to you-"

"NO, THEY'RE RIGHT! I DON'T BELONG HERE! I... I wasn't really accepted into Beacon..."

Pyrrha couldn't believe what she just heard. That can't be true, how else would he get in? "Wh-What do you mean-?"

"I mean, I didn't go to Combat School! I didn't pass any tests! I didn't earn my spot at this Academy! I LIED! ...I got my hands on some fake transcripts and I lied."

"What? ...Jaune, why?"

"Because, this is what I've always wanted to be. My Father, My Grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes, and I wanted to be one too... but I was just never good enough..."

"...Then let me help you-!"

"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!" Jaune snapped

"Jaune! I-"

"I am tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand!? If I can't do this on my own... Then what good am I? I'd be worthless, just like Tanya said."

"Again, you don't need to listen to a thing she says-"

"Just... leave me alone for now... I need to think about some things..."

"I..." Pyrrha wanted to protest, but she didn't know what to say. So with one final sigh, she gave up. "If that's what you think is best... I'll leave you be. Just know that I'm here for you, along with Ren, Nora, and team RWBY..."

With that, she left, leaving Jaune to feel guilty. "...Sorry, Pyrrha. ...Maybe I should-"

"Ha. Oh Jaune…," a painfully familiar, smarmy voice filled the rooftop air.

"?! C-CARDIN!?"

"I couldn't help but overhear you two from my dorm room. So, you snuck into Beacon, huh? I've gotta say, I never expected you to be such a rebel."

"I... Please! Cardin, please, don't tell anyone!"

"Jaune! Come on! I'd never rat out a friend like that!"

"Uh, a friend?"

"Of course!" Cardin put his arm over and behind Jaune's head and pulled him down into a "hug-like" gesture. "We're friends now, Jauney boy! And the way I see it, as long as you're there for me when I need you, we'll be friends for a long time." Cardin let Jaune go, leaving him gasping for air. "That being said... I really don't have time to do those extra readings Dr. Oobleck gave us today. Think you could take care of that for me, Buddy?" Realizing that he didn't have a choice, Jaune nodded. "That's what I thought." Cardin began to leave, but not before giving some words of "encouragement" to his new "friend". "Don't worry Jaune; your secret's safe with me." With that, he left.

Jaune sighed and decided to just go to his room. "How could tonight get any worse?" He asked himself as he got into the hallway. "Now what do I do...? CAN SOMEBODY JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO-!?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely," another painfully familiar, childish voice cut into Jaune's skull.

"!? Is someone there? W-Wait, you said you'd help me! Oh thank you so much- TANYA!?"

Out of the darkness, Tanya stepped in front of Jaune. "So... I was right all along. You being here IS a mistake." Jaune didn't have the energy to fight back. "And on top of that, you're getting blackmailed by that Asshole, Cardin. Your life really is shit, isn't it, vomit boy?"

"...If you have something to say then say it. I really can't be bothered to care right now..."

"Okay." Without warning, Tanya punched Jaune in the stomach. "BE A MAN!"

"OW! SORRY!-"

"Don't apologize! Don't you hate me? Don't hate Cardin!? Don't you wish you can show that asshole who's the master and who's the bitch!? You say the men in your family were heroes, warriors, and that you want to be one of them! How the hell will you do that if you act like a bitch yourself!?" Tanya kicked him.

"STOP IT!"

Tanya smirked. "Do you know what they do in the military? They beat you down until you break, making you hate the people in charge! It's a shitty way of living, but in the end they build you back up stronger than ever. I'm having another one of my Jogs tomorrow, and you WILL be there. After that, visit me at the training a few hours after our classes. If you truly want to be a leader then you have to sweat your ass off, get a few injuries, and take a whole lot of beatings. And when that's over, you'll be a changed person. Oh, and don't worry about Cardin. I can make sure you get that work done. However, I can't stop him, that's your job. The moment you conquer your bully, it's all up from there."

Jaune knew that he didn't really have a choice, seeing as Tanya could just blackmail him (and she's worse than Cardin) but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested. "...Fine."

"What?"

"I-I MEAN, YES MA'AM!"

"GOOD! WHAT'S YOUR GOAL, SOLDER!?"

"TO BE A HERO, MA'AM!"

"AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO BE THAT HERO!?"

"WORK HARD, MA'AM!"

"WILL YOU LET THAT MAGGOT CARDIN RUIN YOUR LIFE!? OR WILL YOU FIGHT!?"

"I WANT TO FIGHT, MA'AM!"

"YEAH!?"

"YEAH!"

"GOOD! AT EASE SOLDIER!"

Silence came over them after that. Jaune didn't know why he did that, yet it also made him feel a tiny bit better somehow. "So... what happens now?"

"Now? Hehe." Tanya smirked. "Why don't we head to your dorm, vomit boy?" She said in that voice.

"Oh, okay- HEY! MY NAME IS JAUNE! Why do you even call me by that name anyway? Ruby's the one who came up with it!"

"True, and it's very childish. However, the way I see it is that you have yet to earn any respect from me. Why do you think I call the Princess 'Princess'?"

"Ohhhhh. Ouch..."

"Yeah, well, if you want me to start calling you by your name then you better work for it. Now let's go. The sooner you finish the sooner we can sleep. And the sooner you can talk to Pyrrha." Jaune didn't understand that last part, but decided not to ask. "One more thing." Tanya handed him a pepper shaker. "In case an... unwanted guest shows up during our training. NOW MOVE OUT!"

"Y-YES MA'AM!"