Team RWVBY
Chapter 3
Author's Notes: Quick note because I forgot to add at the end of last chapter, in context of time frame, this story is after the events of Jaunedice but before the docks incident. Team RWBY does not know Blake is a Faunus yet. There will also be a slight change in events to better fix the narrative I want to write in this chapter that will be noticeable early on.
It was as if a bomb had gone off in the minds of team RWBY. Headmaster Ozpin wanted their team to represent Beacon at the Vytal Festival as Beacon's first ever five person team. Sensing they had a lot of questions Ozpin spoke first.
"I understand you four must have a lot of questions. I will of course answer them all but allow me to explain some things first." The four girls nodded silently in response.
"First, should you accept, you would all be given a new dorm room better suited for a larger team. You would even be given a reprieve from classes tomorrow after lunch to move all of your belonging from this room to your new one. Secondly, as well should you accept, I'd ask that you allow Mr. Cassian to stay with you for the night in your dorm. While I could say it'd be a good way to start introductions, truth of the matter we do not have any available rooms. Lastly, as the Vytal Festival gets closer you will be put through a series of test by Beacon's Staff to prepare you for the event." The girls all listened intently. "Now if you have any questions I shall answer." The headmaster offered.
"So, we have a choice?" Yang asked first.
"Of course, I would not force you to make such a drastic change and even if you accept should you all feel that the arrangement is not working out, you may come to me at any time and we shall make accommodations. I do ask that you give the venture some time though before making any final decision. Blake raised her hand next. "Yes, Ms. Belladonna."
"Would this affect our partner arrangement for our team?"
"A valid question Ms. Belladonna, and no it will have no changing effect. You would remain Ms. Xiao Long's partner and Ms. Rose and Ms. Schnee will remain partners as well. Cassian would simply join as a partner for all of you, an extra support for each of you to rely on." Ozpin explained. Weiss followed up next.
"Why was our team chosen sir?"
"In the short few months of this first semester Team RWBY has risen to be a top of the first year teams in both your grades and your combat scores." All of team RWBY couldn't help but feel proud. They had worked hard and to receive such high prize from the headmaster made all that hard work worth it. "I also believe that you all could learn from Cassian's unique experiences and grow to even higher protentional, while vice versa I also believe that he could learn a lot from the four of you." Ozpin added. Ruby was last to ask a question.
"What would happen to our team's name?"
"Well, there are a few options. There was changing the name to Cranberry (CRWBY)" The girls did not look like they enjoyed that option. "Or with some creative thinking it could b and still be pronounced as team Ruby." The room had gone silent. There was an unspoken rule about Beacon's team naming convention. Simply that it remains unspoken. Team JNPR as Juniper? Makes sense. CRDL as Cardinal? Sure. SNDY as Sunday? Clearly. RWBY as Ruby? Better left unsaid. Now, RWVBY as Ruby? That was just pushing it to the limit.
"Well, it would be easier to just keep pronouncing it as we have," Yang spoke up. Clearly better to let it remain unsaid then to question Beacon's weird spelling.
"Then team Ruby it would remain." Ozpin reaffirmed.
With no other questions the girls of team RWBY had a decision to make. They huddled together and began talking amongst themselves. Cassian who had been standing quietly behind the headmaster, duffle bag in one hand and a Beacon initiation bedroll in the other, watched the girls as they all nodded and left their huddled position. Ruby approached Ozpin.
"Headmaster Ozpin, we would be honored to accept." Ozpin smiled.
"Wonderful! Tomorrow your new door number will be sent to your scrolls. After your lunch break, please report to your dorm and we shall begin the moving process. Before I leave you to your introductions, Young Cassian." He turned to address the young man. "For all intent and purposes, you shall begin your first full school day next Monday. As we've spoken before you shall shadow a few classes but this week will mostly be for getting you accustomed to your new surroundings and up to date on lessons. You shall be sent time and locations on where to meet the staff directly to your scroll." Cassian nodded and Ozpin made for the door. "Congratulations team RWVBY, I predict great things." With that the door was closed and Ozpin was gone leaving the newly formed team to themselves. Cassian was first to speak.
"Do you all mind if plop down? It's been a long day." Cassian had yawned. Seeing no objection Cassian had shook off his boots and put them neatly by the door. Laying both his bedroll and duffle bag down, he did exactly as he said. He plopped right onto the bedroll and stretched.
"It's just Cassian by the way, no last name. Vale was something Ozpin came up with. Something about too much paperwork, legalese, traditional naming, and some other stuff that didn't really make sense."
"I was wondering how you got Vale from Vacuo." Yang laughed. Cassian shrugged clearly not bothered by the last name he was given.
"Well Cassian, Welcome to the RWVBY. I'm Ruby Rose, leader of team RWVBY." Accepting that they would still pronounce their team name as Ruby was the best decision they could make.
"Weiss Schnee." Weiss introduced herself cordially.
"Blake Belladonna."
"And I'm Yang Xiao Long! Me and Rubes are sisters." Yang bolstered.
"A pleasure." Cassian leaned back hand behind on the ground.
"Oh, back in our match you mentioned you designed your arm. Did you design your knife as well?" Ruby ever the weapon enthusiast asked.
"No, actually it was a gift." Cassian answered.
"Your semblance was rather impressive." Weiss spoke up. "Not many semblances have multiple uses like yours."
"I call it Ouroboros. I guess you could call it a construct of a sort. Essentially, I can channel it through my body or around my body in a very short vicinity. I create the chains and snake head you saw or have it shoot out to either pull myself or pull objects towards me. As you all probably saw in the match its got a pretty far reach." He explained his semblance. There was another moment of silence. "Should we talk about rules or something with living together?" Cassian didn't seem like he knew exactly how to frame the question. To his relief Weiss spoke up.
"I was actually thinking of that while Ozpin was still here. Perhaps such talk should wait till tomorrow when we are at our new dorm." She looked at her team to see if they had any thoughts.
"I'm fine with that." Ruby said innocently.
"That works with me as well." Blake agreed.
"Eh he, tries anything I'll just knock his lights out." Yang said unashamedly.
"I assume you will be respectful as a guest in our dorm room for the night?" Weiss asked Cassian.
"I promise, and to be honest I'm glad. I'm exhausted. Been on a bullhead all night and been moving around ever since this morning."
"Maybe we should call it a night then?" The idea came from Ruby. In truth they all had their own questions for Cassian but that could go on for the rest of the night. If he was gonna be a part of their team they'd have plenty time to ask questions. There was also the fact tomorrow's combat class would be first in the morning, and you wanted all the energy you could for Goodwitch's class. They said their goodnights and when the light switch flipped off, team RWVBY went to sleep.
Ruby was first to wake up, or so she thought. As she rubbed her eyes open. She noticed something missing in the room. Cassian, their new teammate, was nowhere to be seen. His bedroll was rolled up and placed in the corner right next to his duffle bag. His boots were also gone. So where could he be? As alarms started going off the other 3 girls of RWVBY slowly and groggily woke up. As they slowly took in the room eyes half open, they all adopted the same confused look Ruby had. Surveying the room, the came to same realization.
"Bathroom?" Blake asked, but as they turned to the door, it was wide open and the light was off.
"Maybe he's just an early riser and went to go get breakfast." Yang suggested.
"He was very silent if he did, we're not that heavy sleepers." Weiss sounded almost impressed. Blake was most surprised though her own team would not know why. How did she not hear him with her ears? Not paying it any more mind the girls got ready for their day. Fully dressed they made their way for cafeteria. Entering they immediately saw their missing teammate, sitting by himself. They went to grab some food and headed over to join him.
"Cassian! We were wondering where you went. Did you come her first thing?" Ruby called out getting his attention. Turning around Cassian smiled and said,
"Morning, Ms. Goodwitch requested I come to class before anyone arrives. Hope I didn't wake any of you, I decided to get something to eat before. I was actually just about to leave."
"You were quiet, none of us heard you." Blake mentioned.
"Oh good, I'm a bit of an early riser didn't want to disturb anyone." The gesture was nice. Cassian stood up as they all set down. "I'm gonna discard my tray, I'll see you all at combat class." He said goodbye to which they returned. As he walked away team JNPR arrived to sit with them food in hand.
"So its TRUE." Nora half shouted. "Your team was picked to have the new guy join."
"How did you know!?" Both Ruby and Weiss spoke up in unison.
"People saw headmaster Ozpin and Cassian walk to your dorm. They saw the headmaster leave but not him." Jaune answered.
"Apparently Ajax was one of those few people, who then went on to tell Sally." Pyrrha chimed in.
"Who then told Nora." Ren added stoically as ever.
"And I told Coco!" Nora exclaimed and before she could say anything else, Yang interrupted.
"Who then told everyone." Yang deadpanned with an eye roll. Damn rumor mill.
"Well, there goes the surprise." She shrugged.
"What's he like?" Jaune asked.
"We didn't really get a chance to talk that long with him, but he seems polite." Ruby answered.
"OW!" Stop it." A shout instantly grabbed their attention. Turning their heads, they and others in the cafeteria saw Velvet surrounded by team CRDL having her ears being pulled by the leader of CRDL Cardin Winchester.
"Ugh, what a jerk." Yang called out. Blake was angry, but she was hiding the extent with her glare. It was people like Cardin which made her decide to hide her ears. There was a scrapping of a chair and turning their heads Jaune had stood up.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha called out, voice full of concern, but their leader didn't answer. He simply walked towards the scene in front of them.
"Hey! That's enough Cardin." Jaune called out confronting the school bully. Cardin turned to Jaune and his face once grinning wildly turned to a scowl.
"None of your business Jauney boy." Cardin was planning on disregarding him but Jaune didn't give up.
"She said stop." Cardin let go of Velvet's ears and walked up to Jaune. Putting his arm around his shoulder, Cardin pulled him in close and whispered into his ear,
"The only reason I don't tell anyone about your transcripts is because of what you did at the Emerald Forest. Don't push your fucking luck Arc." His voice was full of venom. Cardin's whispered threat was cut off as someone had collided with his shoulder shoving him off and walking past. "Hey!" Cardin called out. The shover turned around and to the surprise of the remaining team RWVBY, who had thought he would have been gone by now, was Cassian.
"Hey cripple! Watch where you're going." There was a deadly silence at Cardin's call out. Cassian didn't look offended, matter of fact he looked amused. "Wipe that smile off your face. You got lucky yesterday, no one's gonna fall for your tricks anymore. You'll see how a real huntsman fights." Cardin boasted as he was right up in Cassian's face. Cassian wasn't fazed, his eyes darted across team CRDL.
"See you in combat class." With that he turned around, hands in coat pocket and walked away. With Cassian gone Cardin turned back, Velvet had left in the commotion, only his team and Jaune remained. With everyone looking at him Cardin said,
"Tch… Whatever." Him and his team walked away. Jaune also walked away back to his table to a widely positive reception.
"Well, that was a thing!" But, DAMN Vomit Boy, I didn't know you had it in you." Yang was proud of VB.
"That's our fearless leader for you!" Nora exclaimed.
"That was a good thing of you to stand up for Velvet like that." Blake sounded pleased.
"Back in my hometown, Ansel, there's a small Faunus community. I grew up with a lot of them, I was thinking if any of them were in a situation like that and I just couldn't sit back and do nothing. I'm not gonna let Cardin get to me anymore." Jaune spoke confidently. If only he realizes this was the confidence his dad always talked about. Blake was pleasantly surprised, her opinions of Jaune was raising. Maybe if there were more people like him, openly willing to stand up for Faunus, The White Fang wouldn't have had to take such drastic measures. Her thoughts traveled to the past.
The rest of breakfast was in relative silence. After they finished, the girls of team RWVBY and team JNPR went to combat class together. Entering they saw Cassian and Professor Goodwitch in the arena talking. Whatever they were discussing no one could hear. As teams started filling in and finding their seats, the bell had gone off signaling the start of first period.
"Good morning students, I'd like to start today's class with an announcement. Ozpin has chosen Beacon's first five-person team and starting today Cassian Vale will join team RWBY to form team RWVBY. The was a low applause and some confused glances at the pronunciation of their team's name as the acronym appeared behind the Professor. Better to just keep to the unspoken rule then question it no one decided to speak up. "We shall begin with our first spar, Cassian has requested to choose his opponent this time." Goodwitch turned to the young man.
Team CRDL." He called out.
"Who from team CRDL?" Goodwitch asked.
"All of them." He sounded confident. Professor Goodwitch was about to speak up when,
"We accept!" Cardin shouted out interrupting. "Come on teach, if he wants to challenge himself, let him." Cardin looked all too into this.
"Mr. Vale, sparring is usually held as 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 fights, are you sure you want this?" Cassian nodded without hesitation. Goodwitch fixed her glasses and turned back. "Team CRDL, get changed and report to the arena," Cardin and his team wasted no time getting out of their seats. It only took them a few minutes before they were read and out.
"He looks different today." Blake mentioned. Yesterday Cassian looked bored during his fights, only seeming to get involved in his fight against Ruby. Now, he was looking alive, and energic. He was stretching, smirk wide on his face, and yet his weapon stayed holstered on his side.
"This first spar will be settled by aura loss, ring out, or submission. Start on my call." Cassian had still not drawn his knife.
"Begin!" Team CRDL rushed the lone male of RWVBY. Cassian dodged each coming hit, sliding between his opponents. Getting in between them forced them to collide with each other as they tried to get a hit. To the onlookers watching it was like team CRDL was fighting themselves.
"What's he doing? He's not fighting back," Ruby was by confused what she was watching.
"Whatever he's doing, it's hilarious." Yang laughed as she saw Sky Lark hit Dove Bronzewing.
"Kinda looks like he's… dancing." Jaune called out. His team and the girls of RWVBY tilted their heads.
"You… You're right." Weiss was shocked. She got a closer look as Cassian twirled around Dove's sword. His feet were what gave it away, the positioning, the slightest of movements. She could tell, she had practiced that footwork, since a young age. "How could you tell?" She put a little too much emphasis on you.
"Oh, I got seven sisters, kind of hard not to pick up things like that." He said nonchalantly, scratching the back of his head, as if that was normal. He had gotten quite the surprised reaction about the size of his family. Jaune was full of surprises today. Back in the fight Cassian's footwork made quick work of Cardin's team. He upped their frustration by throwing in a laugh every now and then.
"Idiots, regroup." Cardin barked orders. They retreated back and Cardin started whispering to them. Spreading out, team CRDL tried a new approach. Cassian merely watched as they tried to encircle him, one of them taking his front, his back, and one on each of his sides. "Now!" Cardin yelled out as they charged. Just as they got close, Cassian glowed as he raised his hand. Ouroboros shout upwards, grasped and pulled him up. They clearly weren't prepared for that, with little time to stop, team CRDL clashed into each other and fell down. There was some laughter and as they stood back up, they were embarrassed. Sky was up first and looked up and out for Cassian but couldn't find him anywhere. Cardin was up next, his eyes widened when he saw Sky. Behind you stupid," Cardin called out.
"Too late," Sky heard a voice behind him and next thing he knew he felt a powerful kick to his back sending him forward into Cardin and Dove. The collided and toppled into a pile of limbs. Russel safe from the collision, came in rushing and grabbed Cassian by the shoulders and started to push. Seems like he was going for the ring out. Any forward movement was stopped immediately by a sudden but powerful knee between the legs. The male audience groaned as if by osmosis they felt Russel's pain. It did not end there.
"You." Cassian's knee found his crouch again.
"Left." Again.
"Yourself." Again.
"Wide." Again.
"OPEN." One last heavy knee between the legs. Russel's eyes were rolled back and as he collapsed backwards to the floor.
"Russel Thrush has been eliminated by aura loss." Goodwitch called out.
Cassian kneeled over and undid Russel's belt and pulled it out, grabbing it by the belt buckle to the surprised looks of most of the class. By the time Cardin, Sky, and Dove stood back up Cassian was cracking Russel's belt like a whip. With his free left hand, he motioned the remaining members of CRDL towards him tauntingly. Cardin ran first ready to swing. Cassian whipped the belt hitting his hand causing the mace to fall and Cardin scrambled to grab it, Cassian whipped the mac knocking it away further. As Cardin chased it, Sky Lark ran in with a swing of his halberd. Cassian rolled underneath and whipped backwards, hitting his leg and tripping him. Kneeling, Dove tried to hit him. With a quick side roll Cassian dodged the attack and wrapped the belt around his fist and aimed for below the belt.
"Dove Bronzewing is eliminated by aura loss." Goodwitch announced as Dove fell over.
Cassian stood up, dropping the belt and walked over to Sky as he tried to get up. A quick boot between the legs quickly knocked Sky back down.
"Sky Lark has been eliminated by aura loss." 3 down and only 1 left. Cardin had retrieved his Mace. He could hear the laughs from the stands and he was furious. It was just the two of them now standing face to face.
"So, is it luck still? Or are you gonna show me who the real huntsman is now?" Cassian taunted.
Seeing red like a bull, Cardin charged. With an overhead Cardin slammed down his mace to the ground and activated the dust inside setting off a huge explosion. It was larger than any explosion he had set off in combat class. Smoke enveloped the arena. As it settled Cardin felt confident that he at least got a hit. As vision became clearer, he heard some coughing. The smoke was gone and stood some distance away Cassian stood unharmed, his semblance fading away. "Blew your load a bit too early there." Cassian mocked blowing the smoke away with his hand. That was the final straw, roaring angrily Cardin charged again. Both hands on the mace. Cassian's channeled his aura to his prosthetic arm, but as Cardin swung his mace down again, he didn't move away. Cassian caught the mace with his arm, tanking the hit. His aura took a massive hit but his grip was strong, Cardin could not yank it away. Channeling the chains through his arm, they traveled up his arm and to the mace. It spread to Cardin himself, slowly enveloping him in chains.
The match buzzer had gone off as Professor Goodwitch made an announcement.
"I'm calling the match here. Cassian Vale is the victor." Cassian dropped his semblance releasing Cardin. Professor Goodwitch approached Cassian first. "I can see why Qrow likes you, but we will be having words later." She sounded angry. Turning to Cardin next she said, "Cardin Winchester I hope you and your team learned a very important lesson today. Even with a four to one advantage victory is never so easily secured. Going in with overconfidence often not leads to downfall." They were all embarrassed, as they were leaving Cardin sent Cassian another seething look.
Skipping the locker room Cassian went straight to the stands and found a seat next to his team.
"What'd you think?" Cassian asked as he sat down.
"It was…" Ruby couldn't find the words.
"It was disgraceful." Weiss didn't have that problem. Cassian sent her a quizzical look.
"Yes, Cardin and his team are often times… brutish, but your actions were not indicative of a proper huntsman." Weiss lectured him.
"I had one interaction with the guy and that was more than enough. The guys a racist and an ass, his teammates are no better. People like that only learn one way. Calling themselves real huntsman, pfft." Cassian blew some hair out of his face.
"I'm simply saying we must be better."
"Well, I thought it was awesome! Nora Valkyrie." Nora introduced herself thankfully changing the subject. As the rest of team JNPR introduced themselves, Blake was secretly pleased at the embarrassing beatdown CRDL received. She couldn't help but silently agree with Cassian. As class ended team RWVBY walked out together.
"Where do you have to go to next Cassian?" Ruby asked.
"I have to meet with a." He took out his scroll. "A doctor Oobleck. I'll probably see you all next at our new dorm." They made their separate ways and time seemed to fly by. There was some excitement for their new dorm. With lunch over the girls made their way to the room number that was sent to their scrolls a few minutes earlier. There new dorm was two floors above their old dorm, and standing outside the door was Professor Goodwitch and Cassian.
"Ah good, you've arrived." The professor spoke up and opened the door, motioning them in. Stepping in they entered a room much larger than their previous dorm. Toward the back of the room of the room was a large window surrounded by a line of cabinets and pantries. There were four doors on the left and three on the right. In the center of the room was a large couch love seat, coffee table in the middle and end table on the side of the couch. In the top right corner, there was a bookshelf and the lower right a large circular table and some chairs. "This will be your new living space. There are 5 bed rooms and 2 bathrooms. You will get to choose your individual rooms and then we shall go back to your old room and begin the move in process. I must point out first. This." She motioned the entire room. "Is an incredible benefit to receive as a first years, even senior teams do not receive such leisures. Know that should you act in such a way that is not representative of Beacon's standards, such amenities will be taken away." They all nodded at Goodwitch's instructions. Team RWVBY was astounded at the space given to them. It was huge and to be given their own room was incredible. Cassian walked over to the table and sat down. "You've all been at Beacon longer, I'll take whatever room is left." They weren't about to complain, they started to pick out their rooms. They were small but furnished completely. A full-sized bed, a desk in the corner and a drawer for their clothes. Ruby ended up picking the room in the top left, Weiss got the middle left, Yang picked the top right and Blake got the bottom right. That left Cassian with the bottom right room.
"Alrighty team! Once we're moved in, I'm calling a mandatory team meeting in the common room," Ruby declared. The team made their wat back to their old room and started moving stuff over. Cassian only had his duffle bag so he offered to help carry stuff over. Hours had passed, classes were well over. By time team RWVBY had finished furnishing their rooms it was night out. The girls were sitting on their new couch. Cassian was last to enter into the common room, wearing a baggy t-shirt his prosthetic arm not attached to him. He seemed to noticed when he saw their eyes on him.
"Shit, sorry." He went to go back into his room before Ruby called out to him,
"No, no its okay right everyone." The others nodded. Cassian seemed weary but went over to the love seat.
"Now, I've called this first official team RWVBY meeting because I have a special mission for us." Ruby pulled out a notebook an opened it up. Inside on the page was written, OPERATION DECORATE. "For our first mission, we must make this area feel homey."
"Yea! Let's make this the most happening pad in Beacon!" Yang exclaimed and operation decorate began. Blake started filling the bookshelf with her collection of books, Yang was putting up her achieve men posters, Weiss had decided to put up curtains around the windows, not having the chance to ever do so in their old dorm, and Ruby was putting her plush pillows on the couch. Cassian had gone into his room and when he returned came holding a small picture frame.
"I didn't really bring much with me from Vacuo, but I have this." He placed the picture frame on the end table. Inspecting it the team saw in the frame was a picture of 3 people standing close to each other. They all looked young. In the front was a small boy, a Faunus by the ears, he had his hands at his side with a toothy grin plastered on his face. To his right there was a girl bending forward slightly, sticking her tongue out and throwing up a peace sign. In the back standing much taller than the other two was another boy, buzzed cut hair, arms crossed with a smug smirk on his face.
"Who are they?" Cassian was lost in his stare of the picture he didn't even register Ruby's question at first.
"Oh, uh… they w- they're my friends. The one in the front is Pip, he's a mouse Faunus. To his side is Wendy, she's a seamstress. In the back well, that's me." The girls looks switched back and forth between him and the photo. "Yea the buzzed look wasn't quite for me."
"They must be proud you're at Beacon. Have you talked to them recently?" It was another innocent question from Ruby.
"Oh! You should call them! You can even introduce them to us, your awesome new team," Wink wink nudge nudge, Ruby implied.
"Heh, it's late, how bout over the weekend," Cassian deflected. It seemed to work as the subject changed. They spent the rest of the night talking about ground rules regarding privacy, boundaries, and cleaning for their new living space.
Across Beacon in team CRDL's room, Cardin was having his own meeting with his team.
"Russel, are you positive you saw that?" Cardin asked.
"Yea Cardin, tattoo on his left shoulder by his neck. I caught a glimpse when I tried to push him." Cardin took a minute to think.
"Okay boys, I got an idea. It's gonna require some getting dirty but we're gonna make this douche regret every coming to Beacon. We can't mess this up or it'll be our asses on the line so listen up." His team listened intently to their leader's devious idea.
Author's Notes: I wonder what Cardin has planned! Next chapter might be a little shorter but it'll move some of the story along for this prologue arc. There's a reason there's been little interaction between RWBY and Cassian.
Hope I've done a good job with fight scenes, there a little hard to write out compared to setting them up. As always, feel free to review/comment. Any feedback will be appreciated and I will do my best to answer questions should they arise.