Chapter 5: Red vs. Blue
Yang Xiao Long immediately voiced her displeasure at this sudden turn of events. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" She yelled, glaring at Hansel Kobalt. "What the hell are you thinking, huh? You can't just challenge one of your students to a fight!"
Hansel glared right back at Yang. "Yes, I can," he said, "I don't know how many times I'm going to have to reiterate this. This is my class; I get to run it the way I want."
"Yeah, but this is going too far!" Yang exclaimed. "You can't seriously expect me to be okay with you sparring with my baby sister, you psycho!"
Ruby Rose looked at Yang with a mixture of hurt and confusion. To her, even if Hansel was a bit harsh, there was no reason to call him names. Also, why did she think she could not hold her own in a spar with a teacher? Hansel shrugged. "I don't expect you to, but it's not up to you, Blondie." Hansel reminded her. "It's up to the runt."
Blake Belladonna leaned in and whispered into Weiss Schnee's ear. "He's right, Ruby can easily back out of this, and she should. This guy…he's a terror, she can't beat him."
"Don't worry, Ruby's reckless but she's not stupid enough to-"
"Let's fight, Professor!" Ruby's voice cut off Weiss's whispering.
Weiss and Blake both shot out of their seats, horrified. "WHAT?" They both exclaimed in disbelief.
Looks of horror set in on the faces of everybody present except Cardin Winchester (who was still laid out from his brief spar with Ruby) and Hansel (who was already setting his plan into motion). Hansel smirked triumphantly at Yang. "Well, you heard her, back in your seat, Blondie." He told her.
"I am not going to allow this." Yang told him. "I don't care if you are my teacher, you are not fighting Ruby!"
"Yang, sit down!" Ruby suddenly yelled at Yang, shocking her.
"R-Ruby?" Yang looked heartbroken at her sister yelling at her.
"You really think I can't win? That I'm not even capable of at least holding my own?" Ruby asked.
"Ruby, this isn't about any of that; of course I know you're strong." Yang told her.
"Ruby, forget your pride and back out, now!" Blake yelled at her. "You can't beat him!"
"This isn't about pride, Blake." Ruby shook her head. "This is about so much more than that; so much more."
"You are special Ruby." She remembered her Uncle Qrow's words.
If I'm special, she thought, then I need to be strong, I need to be able to make a difference. I can't let myself be afraid of anything. I need to be strong, this…this is training.
"You dunce!" Weiss screamed. "If it's not about pride, then what is it about?"
Ruby readied Crescent Rose. "Answers." She said.
Hansel raised an eyebrow at this. Not about pride, but answers. He was admittedly confused by her statement. Alright, brat, you want an answer, here's my answer. You are too weak to make a difference in this world, too weak to have the responsibility you've been given, and I'm going to prove it to you.
"Ruby…" Yang tried one more time.
"Yang, I'm sorry," Ruby said, genuine in her apology, "but please, don't try to stop me."
"Sit down, Blondie, I won't tell you again." Hansel was losing his patience with Yang.
Yang gave Ruby one last worried, heartbroken gaze, before giving Hansel an angry glare and returning to her seat with a visibly worried Blake and Weiss. Hansel then took his Wolf Fang and brandished it at Ruby. "So, you're absolutely okay with this?" Hansel wanted her to say it, so that no one else could complain about it.
"I am, Professor." Ruby told him. "This…I need this."
Hansel gave the young girl an impassive gaze. "So do I," he admitted.
Ruby took a moment to take inventory in her head of the kind of bullets she could use. Fire, ice, electricity, and one explosive round too. She thought. If I use them correctly, I can give him a good match.
"Well, come then," Hansel said calmly, "Don't worry, I'll let you make the first move."
Ruby vanished into rose petals, speeding towards Hansel. "She's moving so fast!" Jaune Arc exclaimed, still not used to Ruby's simple but powerful Semblance: Speed.
"Her speed's improved." Lie Ren noted. "Even some veterans might have trouble keeping up with her."
Hansel then surprised everyone by ducking underneath the rose petals and stabbing upwards, just as Ruby came out of the rose petals, trying to strike Hansel with Crescent Rose. However, the Wolf Fang was now between Ruby and Crescent Rose's blade. Ruby's eyes widened, her eager and determined look now replaced by one of fear.
Pyrrha Nikos gasped in shock. He has her trapped! She realized.
He stabbed upwards to keep her from simply pulling back with rifle fire. Now she has to take extra time to swing Crescent Rose to the side to get it out of the trap it's in and leave herself wide open!
Ruby gambled on being fast enough to get away from Hansel and swung Crescent Rose to the side, the only way she could get it out of this trap she was in. However, Hansel was also fast, delivering a high kick to her stomach, knocking her away from him.
Hansel then ignited his left hand and tossed a small black fireball that struck Ruby, pushing her further away from him. Ruby shrieked in pain and surprise as her Aura worked to shield her from the brunt of the attack.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled in concern.
Hansel frowned impassively, uncaring of the fact that he had tossed a fireball at his own student. That was pitifully simple. He noted. She relies way too much on her Semblance. Not only that, but she had no answer after I briefly took her scythe out of the equation. If she were a prodigy, she'd be smart enough to know that there's more to fighting than just her weapon.
The fact is, no matter how impressive Professor Ozpin thinks she is, Hansel nonchalantly blocked bullets from Crescent Rose, she's just a pitiful one-trick pony.
Ruby then leapt at Hansel again, swinging Crescent Rose wildly at him. Hansel calmly blocked each of her swings with incredible ease, moving enough to keep Ruby from effectively training Crescent Rose's on him for a shot. I can't get a clear shot! She thought, frightened.
Hansel's frown deepened, noticing her hand desperately trying to move to the trigger, but stopping every time she realized she did not have a shot. She has no faith in her ability to win without her marksmanship. I can't believe the professor fawns over her so much. No, I can't believe the world fawns over this brat. There really is something wrong with this world if this is considered acceptable among Huntsmen.
Hansel then moved inside of the space between Ruby and Crescent Rose and grabbed the staff of her scythe, keeping himself away from the blade and the gun attachment. He yanked forward, pulling Ruby towards him and letting go of the staff. Ruby shrieked in fear before being grabbed by the throat and then driven to the ground.
Yang screamed in a mixture of horror and rage as she shot out of her seat before being pulled back down by an equally worried Blake and Weiss. Hansel glared down at the frightened girl, pointing Wolf Fang at her face. "That's twice I could've killed you now." He told her. "I'm not impressed, Brat."
"Let me go." Ruby told him. "I…I can still fight."
Hansel glared at Ruby before getting to his feet. "Fine," he said as he let go of Ruby's throat and let her get up.
So she's got some fight left in her, huh? Hansel inwardly rolled his eyes. Not much of a fight, but a fight all the same; I guess if I'm going to make my point, she needs to be thoroughly broken.
Ruby got up and immediately went on the offensive. "Yah!" She yelled, swinging Crescent Rose wildly at Hansel, who was this time simply dodging her attacks.
"Hey, she's got him on the defensive now!" Jaune declared.
"No," Pyrrha shook her head, visibly horrified by how the match was going, "he's just…toying with her now."
The other members of Team RWBY watched in horror as their leader desperately tried to score a hit on their new, unpopular teacher. If I can just get him to move far enough, I can load up a shot that'll leave him vulnerable! Ruby told herself as she reached in and pulled out an electric dust cartridge.
She's creative at least, I'll give her that much. Hansel noted.
Ruby quickly loaded the dust cartridge into Crescent Rose. "Take this!" Ruby yelled, firing electric bullets that actually met their mark, paralyzing her professor.
"She got him!" Yang was briefly given hope at the sight of her little sister actually scoring a hit on the man.
Blake looked at Hansel in confusion. He didn't take that blow on purpose, did he? She wondered.
Ruby grinned and leapt at Hansel, ready to cut him down with Crescent Rose. However, Hansel surprisingly managed to move just enough through his electricity-induced paralysis and aim his left hand downwards.
Shooting fire at the floor, Hansel was propelled above Ruby, who was forced to shield herself from the flames. Hansel then switched sword-hands and aimed his right hand at Ruby's back, shooting her with more dark flames.
"Oh no!" Weiss yelled, horrified by what she just saw.
"Another direct hit." Blake added.
Yatsuhashi Daichi then surprised everyone by speaking up. "He doesn't strike me as the type to use strategy, but he's actually pretty clever." He noted.
"What do you mean, Yatsuhashi?" Coco Adel asked curiously.
"He used that first blast of fire to propel himself above Ruby and dodge her attack, but it also created a sort of smokescreen to blind her to his next move." Yatsuhashi explained.
Everyone looked at Yatsuhashi as he continued to explain. "And after that, he was quick to switch hands and fire another blast straight into Ruby's blind spot. Pulling off a move like that takes a good understanding of not only his own Semblance, but also physics and timing."
Yatsuhashi shook his head in disbelief at the situation. "The man is arguably insane, but he's also a genius in combat. I can at least see why Professor Ozpin would want him as a teacher with combat instincts like that."
"So then, Yatsuhashi," Velvet Scarlatina spoke up, "what are the chances Ruby has of winning this?"
Yatsuhashi gave a grim prediction without hesitation. "Zero," he admitted sadly, "he's definitely a veteran Huntsman. No mere student could hope to best him."
Hansel, having landed on the ground, rushed Ruby while she was still recovering from his last attack. He was quick to hold the Wolf Fang to her throat and placed his free hand on her face as though he were planning to slit her throat. "That's three times I could've killed you now." Hansel pointed out to her. "This is getting pathetic, Brat. Just give up."
"Not yet," Ruby responded without hesitation, "I can still keep going! Please, Professor, let me go so we can keep fighting!"
"This is going too far." Yang growled angrily. "I'm putting a stop to this."
"No, Yang, don't." Blake said.
"Don't try to stop me, Blake, I'm not gonna let this guy hurt my little sister in front of me!" Yang told her.
"Ruby agreed to this, Yang. I don't like it any more than you do, but she agreed to it." Blake reminded her. "Also, in spite of his…brutal methods, I don't think the professor is actively trying to do any lasting damage to Ruby. He's keeps telling her all of the times he could've killed her, asking her if she's ready to stop. It's like he's trying to get her to give up. It's like he has some sort of other goal in mind."
"What goal would that be?" Weiss wondered.
"I don't know," Blake admitted, "but I wish I had caught onto this sooner. The professor has more resentment for Ruby than anyone else right now."
"Why?" Yang wondered, still frantic and worried.
Blake shook her head. "I don't know about that either."
Weiss looked worried for her best friend, but heaved a sigh and came to a simple conclusion. "Ruby told us not to stop her. If the professor really isn't trying to leave any lasting damage, then we shouldn't step in. If we tried to interfere now, Ruby's confidence will be shot. It's not right, but as our leader, she needs to know we believe in her, for better or worse."
"You can't be serious." Yang muttered.
"Yang, I know she's your sister, but she's also your leader. Please, think about Ruby as a Huntress right now, not your sister." Weiss pleaded.
Yang looked at Ruby once more. Ruby… she could still only worry for her.
Hansel glared at Ruby. "I've killed you three times already." He reminded her. "And you still want to continue? What the hell are you trying to prove here, huh?"
"Right now, I want to prove that I can keep going, Professor!" Ruby told him. "I won't quit, not until I'm sure."
"Sure about what?" Hansel demanded. "That you can be some hero?"
"I think it's time for you to grow up!" Hansel yelled as he moved his hand from Ruby's face to her arm, gripping it tightly. He then drove his sword into the ground and held his palm out to the side. "You're weak, you damn brat!"
Hansel then shot fire from his palm and started spinning fast with Ruby still in his grip. "And you always will be! All the resolve in the world means nothing if you're just some weakling with zero potential!"
With those damning words, Hansel took Ruby into the air and slammed her to the ground onto her back. Crescent Rose was wrenched from her grip by the impact, sliding across the ground far away from the two, coming to a stop near a wall.
"He disarmed her!" Pyrrha exclaimed, horrified.
"Ruby's in trouble without Crescent Rose!" Yang added.
"My…my scythe." Ruby said weakly, reaching out for her weapon.
She then gasped as Hansel stamped his foot onto her chest, holding her in place. The combat professor glared spitefully down at her as he delivered one more damning statement. "Professor Ozpin was not rational." He concluded. "Someone like you should've never been allowed into this school."
Everyone gasped. That was too far. "Ruby worked hard to get into this school!" Jaune exclaimed. "You have no right to say that to her!"
"As a teacher in this school, I have every right." Hansel replied coldly. "And now that I have seen her fighting in action, I can conclude without a doubt, that she doesn't belong here."
Hansel glared at Ruby. "I now could've killed you four times." He reminded her. "First, I could've increased the strength of the flames and burned you alive. Second, I could've crushed your windpipe. Third, slit your throat. Finally, I could drive Wolf Fang right into your face if I wanted to."
"Conclusion: You don't belong here. And if you had any respect for the Huntsmen, you would leave this school immediately."
Ruby remained silent. Hansel continued to speak. "Don't get me wrong, it's not like the fact that you're totally below my level is the reason I think you should leave. I'm not that cruel. How this fight would end was obvious from the get-go. No, the reasons you need to leave this school go beyond this fight."
"First, you aren't as confident in your abilities as you let on. If an opponent is clearly beyond your level and your unable to control the pace of the fight, you get frantic. Second, an uncreative use of your Semblance. Were it not so pitifully simple, that wouldn't be a problem. And finally, you're absolutely useless without your scythe."
But most importantly, I will never forgive you for your inability to truly understand the responsibilities of your existence, and for forcing me to step away from the reason for my existence! Hansel added inwardly, clearly restraining himself from saying that as well. Ruby Rose, I swear I'm going to drive you out of this school, no matter what! Even if I have send you home crying!
Ruby fell silent, her confidence beginning to wane due to Hansel's brutally accurate assessment. This sparring match was a disaster on all accounts. "So by all means, explain to me why you belong in this school." Hansel told her. "Especially since it seems we both agree that I am right on all accounts."
"What exactly are you going to do if you graduate and end up in the field, huh?" Hansel inquired. "What happens when these issues become a problem when lives are in your hands and you've got missions to complete? Are you going to rely on whoever you're working with to save your pitiful life? Or even worse, are the people you're supposed to protect going to have to protect you?"
Ruby could not answer Hansel's statements. "Time to give up, Brat." Hansel told her. "We both know you're not cut out for this life."
Meanwhile, Professor Ozpin heaved a grim sigh as he was sipping his cocoa, watching a monitor that had everything on display, silently lamenting his apprentice's behavior. Hansel is the kind of man who has little patience for idealism, instead putting much of his faith in strength. So he has a tendency to harshly judge idealists, like Ms. Rose. Although, I can tell it's not just her idealism that is angering Hansel. It appears I made a mistake in not addressing his anger over being pulled from his assignment.
Damn, Ozpin lamented, I knew how important it was to him, and yet I expected him to just back off and maybe even hand it off to people he doesn't even trust that much like it was nothing. And now Ms. Rose has to pay the price for my mistake.
Ozpin took another look at the fight. Still, he's not trying to kill or maim Ms. Rose. I think he just wants to drive her into dropping out of Beacon by destroying her confidence. The only question now is how will Ms. Rose respond.
"One more," Ruby suddenly told Hansel.
"Excuse me?" Hansel frowned.
"One more," Ruby repeated, "I…I don't want to give up yet."
"Why?" Hansel demanded. "Why not?"
"Because someone told me that I can make a difference in this world." Ruby admitted. "That I am capable of doing such a thing."
"As a child, my mom and my sister…they used to read to me." Ruby told Hansel. "Stories about great heroes who never gave up and eventually saved the world with a strong body and a strong heart."
"I wanted to be like those heroes," Ruby revealed, "because when I see the world around me…I see a world that needs to be saved more than anything."
"And you think you can succeed where everyone else has failed?" Hansel demanded.
"It's not a question of whether I think I can, it's that I have to try." Ruby replied. "So please, just let me try one more time, Professor."
Hansel frowned for a brief moment before nodding. "Fine," he said, "but just so we're clear, this is the last time. And I'm not just going to let you get your scythe."
Hansel got off Ruby and let her get to her feet. Hansel stood between her and her weapon. "Are you sure about this?" Hansel asked. "I won't be held responsible if you really want to keep going."
Ruby nodded without hesitation. Hansel sighed. "You want to be a great hero? A Huntress? Then show me that you can overcome a great obstacle?"
"But just so we're clear, your chances are low." Hansel told her. "You try to move to the sides, I'll catch you. You try the head on approach, I'll smash you into the ground. The fact is, there's only one way this ends. You won't be standing by the time I'm done with you."
Ruby looked at Hansel, then at her Scythe which was still behind him. I know at this point I have no chance at beating him. She admitted. But even so, I don't want to just give up. This isn't about winning anymore, this is about proving a point. Blake, I'm sorry but I lied, this is about pride, but also so much more. If I really am able to make a difference, then I'm going to give my all to prove that I belong!
Easier said than done. Ruby was still useless without Crescent Rose, and she knew it, so she needed a new plan. He can catch me while using my Semblance. If only Blake were here, she could use her shadow clones to distract him and then I could… Ruby trailed off as a memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
"Huh, you want to know how I make copies of myself? Ruby, it's my Semblance."Blake had told her.
"Yeah, but I was thinking of one day trying something like that, so how do you do it?" Ruby had wondered.
"Ruby, it's not that simple, our Semblances are a reflection of who we are as people. For example, your Semblance is a reflection of the fact that you're hyperactive. Mine is…well, that's a story for another time. The point is, you can't split yourself apart like I can with my clones."
"Wait, but if my Semblance is a reflection of who I am, then what if I suddenly had a desire to clone myself or something like that?"
"Again, not that simple, but…Semblances can apparently evolve over time. Maybe there's a part of you that you just haven't tapped into that can grant your Semblance more power."
A part of me, huh? Ruby wondered to herself as that memory came to a close. What part of me haven't I tapped into though?
"I'm losing my patience here, Brat." Hansel told Ruby, cutting her out of her thoughts. "Unless you plan to give up now of course."
I don't want to give up. Ruby told herself again. I want to keep pushing forward, because I want to be a Huntress, like Mom was.
Ruby got into what appeared to be a sprinter stance. "What is she planning?" Yang wondered from her seat. "She's not going to try rushing him again, is she?"
"That may be the best she can hope for." Blake grimly noted.
Hansel narrowed his eyes, realizing what Ruby was planning. A waste of a Semblance. He concluded. Youth is wasted on the young, and power is wasted on the foolish.
Ruby started running towards Hansel, picking up speed as she slowly moved into her Semblance. I know that it's not enough! Do you think I'm not aware of how weak I am? That night during the Vytal Festival revealed that to me! I still do have a long way to go! But it doesn't change the fact that I still want to become a Huntress! And I want to be a Huntress because I want to save as many people as I can! And if my Semblance isn't enough to do all that as it is now, then I'll just go beyond and force it to evolve!
Hansel took aim at Ruby, ready to blast her with one last burst of dark flames. "Don't do it!" Pyrrha yelled. "A direct attack from those flames could really hurt her!"
"Oh she'll be fine as long as she dodges!" Hansel exclaims.
But I know I'm just one person, and I know I still have a long way to go, but that doesn't mean I can't try! Because I want to try! And most importantly, if there's a chance that I can save people from my own pain, I'm going to take it!
I know I'm insignificant! I know I'm weak! I know one person shouldn't be able to make such a difference! But damn it, I'm going to try!
At that moment, Hansel fired a tremendous blast of flames from his hand at Ruby. His eyes widened slightly, realizing she had no intention of dodging. Then, much to his surprise, the rose petals that currently made up Ruby's body suddenly split into three copies. There was a collective gasp amongst everyone. Hansel's eyes widened further. He had not expected this.
Ozpin almost dropped his mug in shock as he stared at the fight from his monitor. His eyes then widened in realization. "Of course, how could we have been so foolish." He said to himself. "Ms. Rose's Semblance isn't a reflection of her hyperactive nature."
"It's a reflection of her desire to save people as quickly as possible, and without fail. It stems from her desire to be a hero! And this sudden evolution in her Semblance is a reflection of her desire to save even more, even though she's just one person."
Ozpin's lips then curled into a happy smile. "You must be so proud of your daughter, Summer."
The three waves of rose petals sped around Hansel, much to his shock and reformed into Ruby next to her Crescent Rose. Ruby quickly scooped up her trusty weapon and loaded a new dust cartridge. Please let him at least feel this! She thought, firing.
Hansel looked at Ruby in sheer disbelief as the blast came towards him. Oh shit! Oh shit! OH SHIT! Hansel screamed inwardly as he braced for the blast.
Then, as soon as the bullet struck, it blew up, enveloping Hansel in an explosion and revealing that Ruby had loaded Crescent Rose with Dust specifically rigged to explode. "A direct hit!" Yang cheered.
"Way to go, leader!" Weiss cheered, proud of her best friend.
Blake's mouth was open in surprise before she gave Ruby a smile and a nod in acknowledgement. She knew that Ruby was thinking of their chat back then. As the smoke cleared, a singed Hansel was guarding himself, glaring at Ruby from behind his arm. "Hey, Professor Kobalt," Ruby smiled triumphantly, "I'm still standing."
Rather than be proud, Hansel was furious. He narrowed his eyes. Why you, he growled before he snapped completely, you're going to pay for that!
The ground cracked beneath Hansel's feet as he leapt at Ruby, who was caught off guard by Hansel's sudden movement. Pyrrha gasped in horror, noticing that Hansel had trained his katana on her. Oh no, he actually does mean to hurt her now!
"Ruby, get out of there!" Pyrrha screamed.
Ruby almost did, but found herself exhausted due to not being used to splitting herself apart while using her Semblance. Hansel appeared in front of Ruby, and swung his katana straight into Ruby's stomach, driving the girl straight into the wall.
"Ruby!" The other members of Team RWBY screamed in worry for their leader.
Ruby slumped to the ground, unconscious. Hansel panted and gazed at his blade. His eyes briefly widened at the fact he lost his temper before sheathing his blade. He took a deep breath and spoke. "Class dismissed," he said, "do what you want before your next class, I don't care."
Everyone sat in stunned silence as Hansel began to exit the arena. Yang snapped and charged down to the arena. "Hey Professor Jackass!" She screamed.
Hansel ignored her and continued walking. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" Yang yelled. "I don't give a damn if you are our teacher, you don't do that to my baby sister!"
Weiss surprisingly joined in with Yang's criticisms. "You know, for someone who has a problem with abusive parents, I'm surprised you turned out to have no problems with being an abusive teacher! You're something else, you know that?"
Hansel glared at them both. "Just shut your damn mouths, both of you." He said, making them both freeze in place. Hansel turned and left the arena completely, destination unknown.
"Guys, forget him." Blake said, breaking Yang and Weiss out of their stunned stupor. "We need to get Ruby to the infirmary."
Blake looked at Ruby's unconscious form for a moment before gasping. There's no indication of a slash wound. She noted. But we all saw him strike Ruby with his sword. Did he…no he didn't…would he?
The question now was, did Professor Kobalt realize what he was doing at the last second and strike Ruby with the blunt end of his katana?
As Hansel walked through the halls of Beacon, he suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket and looked at his Scroll. The notification read: "Hansel, we need to talk. Come to my office as soon as possible."
Perfect timing, thought Hansel, I was already heading that way myself.
Upon exiting the Beacon Tower elevator doors, Hansel set foot in Ozpin's office.
"Please, have a seat," asked Ozpin.
As soon as Hansel did sit (on the guest chair that Ozpin was pointing at), a moment of silence took hold between the two.
Detecting that his fuming-on-the-inside apprentice was currently at a loss for words, Ozpin took the initiative and started the conversation. "I trust you already know why I summoned you here?"
"Are you mad?" replied Hansel.
"Disappointed."
"So am I."
At this point, Ozpin could already anticipate which arguments Hansel was going to put forth, but decided to let him finish talking. "Alright, what are you disappointed in?"
Clenching his fist in frustration, Hansel continued, "When you told me that you had found a silver-eyed guardian, I was under the impression that you had found a professional: someone who understood the world's situation and was ready to do their part. And what do I get instead? A greener-than-green brat who's too damn naive for her own good!"
Ozpin shook his head. "Even if Ruby Rose could be considered green compared to you, that still does not excuse putting one of our most promising students in the infirmary on your first day of teaching. I expected better from you, Hansel."
Hansel narrowed his eyes in response. "So that's what you wanted me to do? Hold back? The enemy isn't going to hold back either you know."
"Come now, Hansel, she may be a student, but she already knows that much."
Suddenly standing up from his chair, Hansel threw his hands up in the air and yelled, "I wish she knew more! I wish they all knew more! How the hell have any of these amateurs survived this long? Do they not realize that their level of skill is not going to cut it anymore?"
Hansel would've ranted longer, if not for the disapproving look on Ozpin's face that he soon noticed. Though somewhat preoccupied with his own angry thoughts, he still had enough admiration for the headmaster to zip his mouth and then sheepishly return to the guest chair.
Ozpin then replied, "Why do you think I brought you back here to Beacon? What do you think is the greatest duty we have at the Academies as teachers?"
"To stay alive long enough to train kids into becoming capable survivors?" dryly inquired Hansel.
"To equip our pupils with all the skills to meaningfully move forward in life, not just combat and survival abilities!" corrected Ozpin, "That is our most important duty!"
"Our pupils? Our duties?" Repeated Hansel in a mixture of anger and disbelief, "I was perfectly fine with my previous duties, right until you dragged me into a job that was completely outside of my comfort zone!"
"And I'm truly sorry for pushing the transition on such short notice," apologized Ozpin, "teaching takes practice and time to perfect, and I did you a disservice by not providing you enough with either. Unfortunately, we are not in any position where we had the time for such."
This time, Hansel didn't reply with any outburst or retort. Despite their differences in opinions and values, Hansel could always count on Ozpin to take his feelings into consideration.
So for the moment, he just continued listening.
"Nonetheless, you made the same mistake in your handling of Ruby Rose. The same mistake that you're about to repeat with the rest of the students," continued Ozpin, who was now frowning, "You cannot plant a seed and expect it to grow into a tree in a single day, Hansel."
"And what about the mistakes made with them, huh? Do you really think the brat was the only one I had an issue with. None of them are capable of becoming Huntsmen. Team CRDL, good gods, don't get me started on the four of them. All muscle, no skill. The rabbit girl has no confidence and her idiot teammates enable that lack of confidence. Hammer Girl is at an 11 and needs to be at a 5 before she gets someone killed, and her boyfriend isn't exactly good at keeping her reigned in."
"They're actually not dating." Ozpin corrected. "Shocking, I know."
Hansel, however, was on a role. "The Arc kid is so far behind, it's not even funny. The redhead you picked to be the Fall Maiden? Sure, she's skilled, but she's scared of the power she chose to receive! That's inexcusable! Blondie? She wields her Semblance with no care whatsoever. The Cat Girl, and yes, I know she's a Faunus, who the hell does she think she's fooling with that bow? Anyway, she's constantly looking around as though she's looking for an escape from the fight should things go wrong! That ain't gonna fly forever! Hell, it shouldn't now! And the Schnee girl's been sheltered for so long, she has no real sense of danger and tension, and her ability to control her power suffers as a result!"
Hansel panted, done with his long rant. "Are you finished?" Ozpin asked.
Hansel nodded. Ozpin gave him a small smile. "First of all, I'm impressed you noticed every single one of those issues with your students. Now, as their teacher, you can work to fix them."
Hansel looked at Ozpin in shock. "You're right," Ozpin said, "those are all very noticeable flaws. But they're still just students. Not everyone can be a prodigy like you were, Hansel."
"That is why men like James and Qrow are doing all they can to make sure Salem's forces don't progress much while the next generation prepares to correct our mistakes." Ozpin told him.
Hansel, to his credit, was beginning to look ashamed from this long dressing-down. "Sir, I…"
"I know how you feel, but I watched the tapes, Hansel, and there is nothing that can excuse how brutal you were to Ms. Rose, both physically and verbally. No teacher should abuse their students. It breaks the bond of trust we're supposed to have with them. You are better than that. You know you were in the wrong."
Taking a deep breath, Hansel then admitted, "Sir, I...no, you're right. Please, Professor, you have to believe me when I say that I never wanted to take things that far. I just...lost my temper when I realized that she still had no idea what we are truly up against. Out of all the students I saw on the arena today, she's the worst of them all!"
Ozpin narrowed his eyes for a moment. "Do you honestly think that, or are you just frustrated with the fact that she's not a finished product?"
Taking another deep breath, Hansel continued, "I cannot teach her, Ozpin. She is not ready for those powers of hers or the responsibilities that come with them. She is too young! Too naive! Too unaware of the hells that are out there." At that moment, Ozpin realized that this was also a result of Hansel's insecurities as a teacher, along with his hatred of Ruby.
Ozpin smiled, as if reminiscing something pleasant. "Funny, I distinctly remember Ironwood and Qrow saying the same about you, back when you were ten and Glynda and I took you in. Once upon a time, you were no different Hansel."
Hansel clenched his fists briefly. "I was nothing like her." He denied.
Ozpin shook his head. "Actually, the two of you are quite alike, but because you both represent two different extremes."
Hansel looked at Ozpin in disbelief, still unable to comprehend any similarities between himself and Ruby. "You see Hansel, you're both young, but you both have experienced the world in a way that gives you both very different views of the world, but, your goals are quite similar."
"First, there's you, the boy who has already experienced Hell."
Hansel looked visibly uncomfortable at being reminded of his past, but decided to let Ozpin go on.
"And then there is Ruby, who is both your opposite and your reflection at the same time. She is innocent, and perhaps just a bit naive. However, that innocence is her greatest strength."
Hansel looked confused. "I'm ... not sure I understand."
"Ruby is a smaller, more honest soul, Hansel," continued Ozpin, "a simple soul. That innocence allows her to see the world as it should be, not as it is. This is where you two are quite similar. The both of you desire to change the world into something better. You constantly strive to help the world survive day to day, while she strives for a permanent solution, a happy ending for everyone. And that leads me to my next topic: the other reason why I wanted you instead of Qrow to be a teacher here."
"Because I'm not a sloppy alcoholic like he is?" dryly remarked Hansel.
"Clearly, your tactfulness still has room for improvement," rebutted Ozpin, who maintained his graceful demeanor, "But you're missing the point. You have seen Hell, in a way that not even Qrow could dream of. Your experiences help you in better preparing our students for the world they will experience. The way this helps Ruby adjust to her role as a guardian is that she will gain a better understanding of the world as it is, giving her greater resolve to change it into what it should be, a world free of the darkness that is the Grimm."
It was at this moment that Hansel began to grasp Ozpin's intentions a bit more clearly. "I… I see..."
"As you can see, Hansel, these students need you. However, whether you like it or not, you need them, especially Ruby. It is her simple soul that will lead us into the light."
And privately, Ozpin thought, "Not only that, but she will also help you see the light as well. I don't wish to see your obsessions destroy you, Hansel. It is time for your burdens to be lightened, if only just a little at a time."
"I...think I understand, Sir." Hansel said in resignation.
"I know you do, my boy. So please, just try to better understand your students and what we're trying to do here in Beacon, alright?"
Hansel then surprised Ozpin by asking a question regarding Ruby. "The runt's mother…was she a Huntress too? One that you knew?"
Ozpin looked at Hansel. "Why do you ask?"
"She said her mother used to read her stories when she was little; stories about great heroes. The only kind of person I can think of that would fill their kid's head with stories and hope like that is someone who was not only a Huntress, but one who went to Beacon."
Ozpin sighed. Sometimes, he forgot that beneath his violent temper and hardheaded personality, Hansel was perceptive when he needed to be. "I did know her." He revealed. "Her name was Summer Rose, one of the finest Huntresses I ever taught at Beacon."
Hansel narrowed his eyes. "What happened to her?" He asked.
Ozpin's face fell. "She's gone, Hansel." He said sadly. "She went out on a mission one day and just…never came back. Ruby was only a baby when it happened."
Hansel, to his credit, looked genuinely saddened upon hearing this. "So," he said, "she lost her mother too."
Ozpin nodded. "Just like you did, yes. All she has got are memories from Ms. Xiao Long, their father, Taiyang and Qrow. Qrow was the one who told her about all the stories Summer used to read her."
Ozpin looked like he was about to weep. "You know, Summer kept in contact with me after she gave birth to Ruby. She was so happy to have a child of her own. It broke my heart when she was lost to us, and that doesn't even begin to cover how the rest of the Xiao Long Family felt."
"Was it…a mission you sent her on, Sir?" Hansel inquired.
Ozpin laughed bitterly. "I guess you could say part of the reason I'm so invested in Ms. Rose, is because of the guilt I feel over what happened to her mother." He admitted.
"How has her mother's loss affected her?" Hansel inquired curiously, sounding surprisingly concerned. "You guys did do a mental checkup on her and the other students before allowing them to attend here, right?"
Ozpin nodded. "Ms. Rose is still clearly bothered by her losses in the past. I do suspect it was somewhat mitigated by the fact she did not have the same opportunity to get to know her as Ms. Xiao Long did."
"It should bother her." Hansel said as his expression softened into something Ozpin had not seen from him in a long time: sympathy. "It was her mother after all. As for me, I got lucky if you believe that's possible. Mom died giving birth to me, and Dad was always reluctant to talk about her. I've…got no attachments to her that bother me as a result."
Ozpin knew that was a lie. Hansel losing his mother still bothered him. He was just not good at expressing it. He then continued the subject of Ruby's mother. "I also think, that loss gives her a bit more insight into her motivations, her goals, her ideals."
"What do you mean?" Hansel asked.
"You got a full dose of her ideals during your…spar, Hansel." Ozpin reminded him. "Ruby has the innocent but admirable goal of becoming a hero who can save anyone. And I think it's mainly because of her mother."
"Her mother is a source of inspiration to her. I can imagine Taiyang and her sister filled her head with plenty of stories of how amazing her mother was, and all of the great things she did as a Huntress. Not only that, but I think her loss has motivated Ruby into becoming a hero who can save anyone and everyone, so that nobody else has to go through the pain she did."
Hansel was back to scowling. "You can't save everyone." He said simply. "That's a fool's dream. We both know that."
"But that won't stop her from trying." Ozpin pointed out to him. "And to some, Hansel, it is better to try and fail, than not try at all."
Hansel fell silent at this. "I know you disagree with her ideals, Hansel, and I understand why." Ozpin told him. "But even so, I think you owe Ruby an apology."
Hansel remained silent. "Because whether you want to admit it or not, the two of you are more alike than you realize. And I truly believe that by recognizing those similarities, and making an effort to better understand her, you can become the kind of teacher she needs in order to become what she wants to be. And that'll help her become the student you want her to be."
Hansel just nodded. "You've given me a lot to think about, Sir." He replied. "May I be excused?"
Ozpin smiled and nodded, knowing he had gotten Hansel thinking. "You are dismissed, my boy." He said.
Hansel nodded again and got to his feet. Before he left, however, Ozpin said one more thing that made him freeze in place. "You have a good heart Hansel. I'm sorry if this is a bit out of line, but I think you should try to show it to your students."
"I am not a kind person." Hansel denied.
Ozpin shook his head. "I know that deep down, you have a kind heart, just like Glynda does. After all, you did strike Ruby with the blunt end of your blade before you could hurt her."
Hansel was stunned by Ozpin's words before just shaking his head, exiting Ozpin's office. Just like that, Ozpin's face contorted into one of concern. The poor boy, he thought grimly, I wish there was more I could do for him.
Still, at least he got my message regarding his students. Ozpin smiled. One step at a time.
And so, Hansel was back, wandering the hallways of Beacon Academy. A kind heart, huh? Who does he think he's kidding? Him constantly insisting that doesn't make it true. Hansel thought bitterly. If I was kind once upon a time…that time has long passed.
Hansel heaved a sigh. Still, he's right…I need to apologize. I owe her that much, at least.
A.N: Ladies and gentleman, Hansel Kobalt. A character I literally wrote to be divisive just because of how complex he is, personality wise. Seriously, no matter how you slice it, outright abusing your students to try and get them to drop out is not cool. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I know a lot of it has seemed like a huge focus on Hansel, and he is a very major character in this series, but this is just so he is given ample time to place him in leagues with the rest of Team RWBY in terms of importance to the story. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Next time, the ending of the Intro Arc.
And yes, I am well aware of Red vs. Blue. Why do you think I made the title the way it was? A shout-out to Rooster Teeth.