Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sky was as dark as every other night, except for the broken moon hanging high above—a pale shadow dominating the city of Vale. The streetlights shone like tiny artificial stars, while the cold wind slipped between the buildings, carrying with it the distant murmur of a city that never slept.

Amid the crowd, a young girl in a red hood stood still, her silver eyes fixed on the heavens as if searching for answers among the stars.

A gentle tap on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. Ruby turned quickly and found herself staring at her sister’s warm smile.

“Hey, Ruby. We’re here,” Yang said.

Ruby blinked, trying to process the words. Her gaze wandered around the place as she subtly sniffed the air. The scent was different… heavier, more urban. They were definitely in the city. Right in front of them stood the building Yang needed to visit. The motorcycle was parked nearby, a small cart hitched to it and loaded with boxes.

“Mind giving me a hand? You know… if you want to,” Yang asked as she hopped down with ease.

Ruby nodded eagerly and hurried to get off, stacking several boxes in her arms. It was too many for her. Her hands trembled, and her breathing quickened.

“Ruby!” Yang called out when she saw her trip and drop part of the load.

Ruby looked up, trying to gather them quickly, but Yang was faster, catching everything before it touched the ground.

“Sorry…” Ruby muttered, checking to make sure her hood was still properly in place to hide her head.

“It’s fine… and for the record, your hood’s still in place,” Yang replied with a half-smile, shifting the boxes onto her shoulders.

Ruby stood up, dusting off her skirt and adjusting the hood with utmost care. Yang sighed in resignation, taking almost the entire load and leaving Ruby with only a small box.

They walked toward the building’s entrance, but a man stepped in their way.

“Sorry, miss, but to enter you’ll have to lower your hood.”

Ruby felt her heart speed up, her expression instantly tensing. Yang noticed and tried to intervene.

“Don’t worry, we’re just dropping off some things for Beacon. My little sister’s just helping me.”

“I understand, but for security reasons I can’t make exceptions. If you want to enter, you need to uncover your head,” the guard insisted.

Yang frowned, setting the boxes down and pointing a finger at the man.
“Look, buddy, I’m just here to—”

She stopped when a small hand grasped hers. Looking down, she saw Ruby, her gaze sad but determined.

“I-it’s okay, Yang. I… can wait outside. Just don’t take too long,” Ruby murmured.

Yang hesitated for a moment, hoping her sister would change her mind. But when it became clear she wouldn’t, she let out a sigh.
“Alright… this won’t take long. Why don’t you go to the Dust shop? It’s not far, and I’m sure you’ll get distracted with… those weird magazines you like.”

Ruby swallowed hard. Going alone wasn’t exactly her favorite plan, especially to a place with rules she disliked, but she didn’t want to wait outside indefinitely either.

“O-okay… I’ll be there,” she replied, setting the box next to the others.

Before leaving, she tried to defend herself:
“And they’re not weird magazines… they’re catalogs of weapons used by hunters and—”

“Yes, Sis, have fun,” Yang interrupted as she stepped inside.

Ruby puffed her cheeks into a pout. She hesitated for a second, but eventually started walking toward the shop. After all, according to her father and uncle, this was going to take longer than she’d like.

———

The only thing that ever managed to calm Ruby’s anxiety was always the same subject: weapons. To her, they were a marvel. Reading about them, hearing them in action, or assembling them piece by piece… she could spend endless hours in that world without ever getting bored.

Once inside *From Dust Till Dawn*, the shop’s atmosphere seemed to watch her warily. Luckily, it was fairly crowded, so she was able to slip away unnoticed into the magazine section. There, in a corner, she hid with the latest issue of *Weapons Magazine* in her hands. Every word was pure gold, and she devoured the pages with a bright gleam in her eyes.

She regretted that Yang didn’t share the same interest, but she was glad to be able to come in and read it herself. Usually, it was her sister who had to buy them and bring them home. This wasn’t the first time she had snuck into a store, and it wouldn’t be the first time she was kicked out… if it came to that.

While she read, she adjusted her hood from time to time out of pure habit. She was so focused that she didn’t notice anything else—until something changed: a different smell. Not just one, but several. They mixed with the shop’s scent, and others seemed to fade away, as if people were leaving. Had the shop owner called the authorities?

Before she could curse her bad luck, something yanked her out of her thoughts: a firm hand grabbed her shoulder, startling her.

She turned sharply and found herself facing a man in a suit, his brow furrowed.

“D-do you need something?” Ruby asked, unsure, noticing the tension in his face but relieved he wasn’t an officer.

“Hands up,” he ordered, raising a crimson-bladed sword in a threatening gesture.

Ruby blinked at him in confusion. Her eyes dropped to the sword, then back up to him. The man’s glasses reflected the scene, and after what felt like an eternity, she managed to speak.

“…Are you robbing me?”

Meanwhile, a few meters away, an orange-haired man with an elegant air spoke in a mocking tone.

“I really must thank you, my friend,” he said to the shop owner. “Your shop is far from any hunter outpost.” He wore a gray scarf, black gloves with buttoned cuffs, and a black bowler hat adorned with a red feather. Leaning calmly against the stained-glass window, he watched as the terrified shopkeeper kept his hands up while his men stripped the store of every grain of Dust.

“Many thanks for your cooperation,” he added with a smile.

Before he could say more, a black blur shot across the room at high speed. There was a heavy thud, a grunt, and one of his men went flying into a table.

“Little punk…” another growled, moving toward the impact point with several others, all armed.

The orange-haired man followed their gaze and saw her: a young girl, clad in black and red, her hood hiding her face. Apparently, she was the one who had just taken out his thug.

But he barely got the chance to study her. In an instant, the girl vanished, replaced by a flurry of red petals that swept through his men, knocking down the last of them.

“A Semblance?” the thief muttered. “A student?”

Crashing through the shop’s window, Ruby deactivated her Semblance. She dropped to one knee, panting briefly, and raised her weapon. *Crescent Rose* began to unfold, expanding into an imposing scythe. A determined smile spread across her face as she stood up, resting the weapon on her shoulder. With a swift spin, she sliced the air and slammed the blade into the pavement, ready for battle.

In front of her, five men emerged from the shop, identical to the one she’d knocked out—except for one. He wore a stylish suit, a bowler hat with a red feather, and his eyes carried an edge of irritation.

“Okaaaayyyyyy…” the orange-haired man said with a hint of annoyance, turning to his subordinates. “What are you waiting for? Get her!”

———

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, a long and deep yawn escaped Yang’s lips. She stretched from head to toe as she left the building where she had dropped off her luggage and signed the admission documents for Beacon Academy.

“God… Dad wasn’t kidding when he said this was going to be boring,” she muttered, walking toward her motorcycle.

She was about to start the engine when she heard hurried footsteps and saw several people running, their faces full of panic.

“They’ve robbed the Dust shop downtown!”
“Call the Hunters!”

The words set off an internal alarm in Yang. Her expression hardened, and with a mechanical click, *Ember Celica* deployed around her arms.

She fired up the bike and sped off in the same direction as the fleeing crowd.

“I’m coming for you, Ru—”

**BOOM!**

An explosion thundered in the distance, making Yang’s eyes fly wide open. She twisted the throttle even harder, with only one thought in mind: get there before it was too late.

———

With one final precise slash, Ruby brought down the last of the suited men. The silence that followed was broken only by her ragged breathing. In front of her, the group’s leader still stood, smiling faintly, a cigarette between his lips.

He walked calmly over to one of his fallen men, bending slightly.
“You’re worth every penny… you really are,” he said, removing the cigarette and crushing it under the tip of his cane. “Well, Red, it’s been a long night and, much as I’d love to stay…” —he pointed his cane at her. Ruby frowned in confusion— “…this is the part where we say goodbye.”

The shot was instantaneous. Ruby barely had time to swing *Crescent Rose* in front of her before the projectile struck. A thick cloud of smoke exploded around her, blinding her completely.

“Tsk!” she hissed, stepping back as she tried to get her bearings.

When the smoke cleared, her eyes widened in surprise: the thief was no longer in front of her.

“H-how…?”

She turned her head, searching for any sign of him, and there he was—climbing one of the nearby buildings with a grappling hook that hung from his cane. The engineering of that weapon was fascinating, but even more unsettling was the agility with which he moved.

She glanced back at the shop. The owner was watching her—not with fear, but with a strange expression of awe. Ruby frowned in confusion, until she realized why: her hood had fallen.

A jolt ran through her. She yanked it back into place in one quick motion, not daring to meet his eyes.

“I-I… I’ll go after him.”

Without another thought, she pushed everything else aside. She summoned her Semblance and darted after the thief, leaving behind a trail of red petals that faded into the air.

She landed on the rooftop and raised her scythe, pointing it straight at the thief, who was strolling with a calm, almost mocking air.

“Hey!” Ruby shouted, her voice full of determination.

The thief stopped, turning to look at her with a mix of annoyance and surprise.
“Persistent, aren’t you?”

Ruby didn’t answer. She stood her ground, feet planted firmly, *Crescent Rose* ready for any move. But before she could act, an airship rose up behind the thief, its engines kicking up a powerful gust of wind.

Instinctively, Ruby held her scythe in front of her to shield herself. The blast of air blew her hood back.

The thief boarded the airship and, just before stepping inside, glanced back at her. For a moment, his expression shifted from smug to surprised.

“Well… you’re nothing but a stray mutt, huh?” he said, reaching into his pocket.

Ruby froze. She’d heard that phrase too many times before, but never expected to hear it from him, in this moment. And now she understood why: with her hood down, a pair of black wolf ears stood upright on her head, stiff with tension.

“Hope you enjoy the power your kind works itself to death for,” he said coldly, tossing a red Dust crystal that landed a few feet away from her.

Ruby stared at it in confusion. Why was he giving her Dust? The answer came too late: the thief aimed his cane at the crystal and fired.

Ruby barely had time to open her eyes in horror.

**BOOM!**

The explosion swallowed her whole.

———

Far away, a pair of feline ears twitched at the sound of the blast.

She lifted her gaze from her book just in time to see a column of smoke rising from the heart of Vale. Closing the book calmly, she slipped it into her worn bag.

With a quiet sigh, she rose from the rooftop where she’d been resting near the docks. Her golden eyes narrowed, analyzing the source of the chaos.

“Seems like even in the cities, you’re never safe from this kind of thing…” she murmured.

Unsheathing *Gambol Shroud*, the weapon shifted into a grappling hook with a soft metallic click. She hurled it toward the nearest building and swung forward, moving with an almost feline grace. Her silhouette barely brushed the rooftops as she advanced, leaping from one to the next, heading toward the smoke… and whatever had caused it.

———

A violent wind rushed past her. Ruby curled in on herself, ears flattened tight against her head in fear, bracing for the impact of the explosion. The deafening roar pounded in her ears… but the pain never came.

Cautiously, she opened her eyes. They widened, her ears springing up in surprise, when she realized she was no longer alone.

In front of her stood a blonde woman with an impeccable presence and gleaming glasses, exuding a clean, crisp scent. She held a riding crop-like weapon that projected a violet shield, halting the explosion midair. Without flinching, she made a precise, elegant motion with her weapon; the Dust remnants shifted to match the violet hue and condensed into projectiles. They shot toward the airship, striking with deadly accuracy and making it lurch mid-flight.

“Oh, just what we needed,” the thief snarled at the sight of the newcomer, struggling to keep his balance.

He retreated into the cockpit and barked at the pilot, a woman with hair black as night.
“We’ve got a Huntress! Get us out of here!”

The pilot didn’t even glance at him. Her hands flew over the controls, deploying a cannon beneath the ship. On the targeting screen, she locked onto the Huntress and the young Faunus girl who had interfered with the robbery. Without hesitation, she fired.

The blonde Huntress sensed the threat and conjured another barrier. Then she glanced at the Faunus girl, still frozen in place, almost in a trance. With a decisive gesture and her Semblance, she pulled Ruby toward her, yanking her clear just as a volley of projectiles slammed into the shield.

Ruby barely understood what had happened. She felt an invisible tug, fell to the ground, and heard the dull, heavy thud of bullets smashing against the barrier before her.

When she looked up, the airship was already climbing higher. Its thrusters flared brightly before propelling it into the sky, disappearing into the darkness.

Ruby stared at the empty space where the ship had been, still trying to process what had just happened. The silence was broken by a firm throat-clearing. She looked up: the blonde woman was gazing at her with sharp, unyielding eyes, as if evaluating every inch of her being.

“I hope you didn’t have any plans tonight, young lady,” she said, her voice so sharp it felt like a verdict.

A shiver ran down Ruby’s spine. Her ears instinctively drooped in fear. She opened her mouth, trying to explain:
“I-I…”

A sharp heel strike cracked against the pavement—dry, authoritative—cutting her words short. Ruby swallowed hard.
Yeah… this was going to be a long night.
And the worst part: how on Remnant was she going to explain all this to her sister?

———

Yang finally arrived in front of the shop, braking hard. The screech of tires echoed before she killed the engine. Ahead of her, a line of officers blocked the way, and several patrol cars surrounded the scene.

She jumped off her motorcycle without hesitation, slipping past the yellow tape. An officer was taking the shop owner’s statement, the man gesturing nervously.

“What happened here?” Yang asked bluntly.

“There was a foiled robbery,” the officer explained, pointing to a group of suited men being shoved toward a patrol car.

Yang’s eyes narrowed in surprise and recognition.
“Junior’s guys?!”

The officer frowned.
“Excuse me… you know them?”

Yang sidestepped the question with a sudden change of tone.
“Have you seen a short girl? Black outfit, red hood…”

The officer raised an eyebrow.
“Hmm… sounds like the robbery suspect.”

“What?!” Yang exploded, her lilac eyes flaring into a blazing red.

Before the officer could say more, a firm voice cut through the air:
“Officers, we’re leaving!”

Yang turned her head. Between the vehicles, a tall, well-groomed woman with glasses was firmly guiding someone toward the back seat of a car. Yang took a step forward… and felt her world freeze.

Ruby.
And her ears were showing.

The engine roared, and the vehicle sped away. Yang clenched her fists, a knot tightening in her throat. She ran to her motorcycle, turned the key with force, and shot off in pursuit.

From high atop a nearby rooftop, a female figure with cat ears watched in silence. Once she confirmed the scene was over, she hooked her weapon onto another building and vanished into Vale’s shadows.

———

In the skies above the city, a private airship glided elegantly through the clouds.

Inside, a young woman with white hair gazed out the window, admiring the lights and bustle of what would soon be her new home.

A soldier entered, breaking the moment.
“Miss Schnee, I’m sorry to inform you we’ll have to divert. There’s been a robbery involving an airship, and they want to clear the airspace.”

The young woman turned slowly. The light revealed a scar running vertically over her left eye, a reminder that only hardened her already sharp gaze. The soldier, uneasy at her silence, stepped back and left.

Weiss turned her eyes back to the city and, with a half-smile that didn’t reach them, murmured:
“what a... welcome.”

Chapter Text

She was scared. Terrified.

The interrogation room was an oppressive cube, barely lit by a single hanging lamp that cast harsh shadows across the gray walls. It wasn’t the first time she had ended up there because of some misunderstanding… but this time was different. This time, she felt like everything could spiral out of control.

Her hands were cuffed behind her back, her ankles bound as well, leaving her with almost no ability to move. They had taken her scroll… and worst of all, they had taken Crescent Rose. Ruby rested her forehead on the cold metal table, trying to steady her breathing. What unsettled her the most wasn’t the handcuffs or the confinement… but the fact that her wolf ears were completely exposed, tense and upright on her head. She sniffed the air rapidly, trying to detect any change, even though she knew there was nothing she could do but wait.

The creak of the door opening made her jump. Ruby snapped her head up, her ears flicking back automatically, alert. She expected to see the blonde woman who had promised to return, but instead, two men in suits walked in, their eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. They reeked of stale coffee and cheap smoke.

“Welp…” one of them sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “Getting comfortable, kid?”

“N-no… I…”

A sharp slam against the table cut her words short. Ruby flinched, folding her ears flat against her head.

“Shut it, animal!”

The insult cut through her like a knife. Ruby clenched her jaw, forcing herself not to answer back. A faint tremor ran through her shoulders, betraying her tension.

The man holding the papers looked at her as though he were examining a defective product.

“Can’t say I’m surprised… there’s always a faunus involved when something goes wrong.”

Ruby’s stomach twisted. She wanted to scream that he didn’t know anything, that she hadn’t done anything wrong… but she knew opening her mouth would only make things worse. Her ears twitched forward briefly, as if searching for an invisible way out, before drooping again.

The officer flipped through the file with fake calmness, his voice dripping venom with every word:
“Attempted murder… armed robbery… breaking and entering… property damage… disturbing the peace… and illegal use of a weapon.” He paused dramatically, letting the weight of the words sink in. “With a list like this, you could easily spend the rest of your life in a cell.”

Ruby felt the blood in her veins turn to ice. Her ears fell back, her breathing ragged. A short, nasal whimper escaped her, almost an involuntary sound of a frightened animal.

“That’s not true!” Her voice cracked, trembling. “I didn’t steal anything, I tried to stop the thief and—!”

Another slam on the table made her flinch.

“Shut up!” the officer spat, leaning toward her. “Your kind never know their place.”

Tears blurred her vision, but she couldn’t move to wipe them away. All she could do was bow her head and endure. Her ears slowly shifted to the sides, almost unconsciously, reflecting her fear and confusion.

The second man laughed with disdain.

“What’s wrong, little wolf? Gonna cry? You think that’ll make us forget what you did?”

Ruby lowered her gaze, her ears drooping completely, her heart pounding against her chest. It felt like no matter what she said, she was already condemned.

Before the interrogation could continue, the door burst open with a loud metallic crash.

The officers spun around sharply, startled by the interruption. Ruby, her eyes still wet with tears, lifted her gaze—and saw her. The blonde woman with glasses strode in with firm steps, her glare cutting like a blade. But to Ruby’s surprise, that look wasn’t aimed at her… it was directed at the men who had been intimidating her.

“H-huntress Goodwitch…” one of the officers stammered, visibly uncomfortable. “W-what are you doing here?”

“I believe I could ask you the very same question, officer,” Glynda replied, her voice cold and sharp as steel. “And furthermore… why are you interrogating Miss Rose?”

The officer swallowed hard, faltering.

“W-we were just trying to gather information from the suspect and—”

“Suspect?” she cut in, her tone like a blade. “Are you referring to the young lady who stopped the robbery of one of Vale’s most dangerous criminals?”

A heavy silence filled the room. The men exchanged nervous glances, at a loss for words.

“W-well… I…,” one of them stuttered, completely thrown off.

“If you don’t want me to report you for abuse of authority against a civilian,” Glynda continued, adjusting her glasses with a measured motion, “I suggest you leave immediately and stop spouting nonsense about this investigation. Am I clear?”

The officers didn’t hesitate to leave, slamming the door clumsily behind them. Ruby watched them go, confused. Why would someone like her step in to defend her?

Glynda sighed—tired, but still firm—and turned to Ruby.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she said, approaching with controlled steps.

Then she raised her riding crop. For a moment, Ruby’s heart leapt into her throat—she feared the worst. But instead, a soft purple glow surrounded the cuffs on her wrists and ankles; with a clean click, they fell onto the table, freeing her completely.

Ruby blinked several times before offering a timid smile. She lifted her hands, rubbing her reddened wrists before stretching them out, relishing the sensation of freedom.

“Did they hurt you in any other way?” Glynda asked calmly, though her voice still carried an authoritative edge that compelled honesty.

Ruby shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“N-no… just… I felt overwhelmed, that’s all,” she answered uncertainly, not wanting to go into details.

Glynda narrowed her eyes slightly, studying her carefully, as if trying to read the words she wasn’t saying. After a moment, she gave a subtle nod.
“My name is Glynda Goodwitch,” she finally said.

“I… I’m Ruby Rose,” Ruby stammered, furrowing her brow. “Well… I guess you already knew that.”

Glynda gave a slight nod and cleared her throat.
“Normally, I would give you a warning for attempting to stop a robbery while still a Huntress-in-training.”

Ruby tensed, her stomach twisting. Great… I really am in trouble.

But before she could apologize, Glynda continued:
“However… someone wants to meet you.”

At that moment, the door opened slowly. An older man with white hair and glasses walked in at a calm pace. He leaned on a cane while carrying a silver tray in his other hand. His very presence filled the room with an almost tangible calm, standing in stark contrast to the tension Glynda had just broken.

Ruby’s ears perked instinctively. The man smelled… clean. Not just soap-clean, but a different kind of clean—refined, as if everything about him was deliberately composed.

He stopped in front of her and spoke in a deep, deliberate voice:
“Ruby Rose… you have Silver Eyes.”

Ruby blinked, at a loss for words. No one had ever told her that before.

Glynda opened her scroll and projected the security footage from the shop. Ruby saw herself on the recording—the chaos, the thief, the fight… and finally, her pursuit of the criminal onto the rooftop.

Ozpin watched the video in silence. When it ended, his piercing gaze fixed on Ruby.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?”

Ruby swallowed hard.

“I… at Signal Academy,” she answered hesitantly.

“And at Signal they taught you to wield one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?” Ozpin asked, weighing each word carefully.

Ruby hesitated before replying.

“Well… not exactly. It was a teacher… in particular.”

Ozpin gave a slight nod, understanding more than she was saying.

He lowered the silver tray he had been holding since he entered. On it lay several cookies, perfectly arranged. The aroma reached Ruby like a small miracle: her ears shot up instantly, and her mouth watered as her eyes lit up.

“You may have as many as you like,” Ozpin said with a faint smile. “I know they’re your favorite.”

Ruby didn’t need to be told twice. She grabbed one, then another, then another, devouring them eagerly. Yes… they were her favorites: chocolate chip cookies, with that unmistakable touch of small bits of meat mixed in. But her expression quickly shifted to confusion. How did he know they were her favorites? Only two people in the world still made them this way.

As if reading her thoughts, the white-haired man spoke calmly:
“Taiyang was right… these cookies help you calm down.”

Ruby froze, chewing slowly, her ears standing tall and her eyes wide open.

“You… you know my dad?” she whispered, incredulous.

“Of course,” Ozpin replied. “He was once my student.”

Everything clicked in Ruby’s mind. She knew exactly who was standing before her.

“I was fortunate to arrive in time,” Ozpin continued, leaning lightly on his cane. “Outside, there was a young blonde ready to demolish the station, demanding to see her little sister.”

Ruby’s ears flattened immediately.
“My dad… and Yang are here?” she asked softly.

“That’s right,” he confirmed calmly. “And tell me, Miss Rose… do you know who I am?”

Ruby swallowed.
“You… you’re Ozpin. Headmaster of Beacon.”

Ozpin gave her a faint smile.
“Tell me, Miss Rose… do you wish to become a Huntress?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up with determination.
“Yes! That’s why I’m at Signal.”

Ozpin tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing her with that penetrating gaze.
“And why is that?”

Ruby lowered her eyes for a moment, searching for the right words. After a few seconds, she raised her head and spoke firmly:
“Because I want to help people. Protect others… and put an end to the Grimm.”

Ozpin studied her for a moment longer, then leaned toward her.
“Would you like to come to my academy?”

Ruby straightened, conviction written all over her face.
“More than anything in the world.”

Ozpin glanced sideways at Glynda, who frowned, clearly disapproving of the idea. Ruby, confused, waited silently.

The headmaster looked back at her, his tone deliberate, loaded with meaning:
“Would you like to enter… two years early?”

———

The moment she stepped out of the police station, with her belongings returned and her ears once again hidden beneath her red hood, Ruby finally managed to let out a breath of relief.

“RUBY!”

The shout, charged with worry, made her flinch.

Yang burst in like a whirlwind and wrapped her in a hug so tight it nearly lifted her off the ground. Ruby’s eyes went wide as she gasped.
“Y-Yang! You’re… suffocating me!”

“Oh!” Yang released her immediately, but then grabbed her by the shoulders, scanning her from head to toe as if searching for invisible wounds. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

Ruby averted her gaze, uneasy.
“I’m fine… they didn’t hurt me.”

But Yang didn’t look convinced. She grabbed Ruby’s hands and abruptly pulled up her sleeves, revealing the fresh red marks still imprinted on her wrists. Her expression hardened instantly.
“They cuffed you?!”

Ruby shrank a little, feeling small beneath her sister’s storm of fury.
“Y-yeah… my hands… and my feet too,” she whispered the last part, though Yang caught it clearly.

At once, her temper flared. She activated her gauntlets; the metallic click rang out like a contained threat, her eyes sparking with anger.
“That’s it… I’m tearing this place apart!”

Ruby’s eyes widened in alarm. She knew Yang wasn’t joking—she was perfectly capable of doing exactly what she threatened.
“No, wait! Yang, don’t do it!”

Before things could escalate, a calm and steady voice broke between them:
“Easy, Yang… you know that won’t help.”

Both sisters turned at once. Taiyang approached with measured steps, his serene demeanor contrasting with the tension in the air. When he reached them, he bent down slightly and pulled Ruby into a warm, fatherly embrace. For a moment, she let all her fear melt away in that safe refuge.

“Are you alright, little one?” he asked gently, stroking her back. “No complications, right?”

Ruby looked up at him and nodded slowly.
“Yes… I’m fine. But… I have to tell you something.”

Taiyang let out a short breath, a faint, amused smile tugging at his lips as if he already knew the answer.
“You accepted, didn’t you?”

Excitement bubbled in Ruby’s chest. Her smile burst radiant as she nodded vigorously.
“Yes!”

Yang arched a brow, confused.
“You accepted what?”

Ruby turned toward her, her eyes glowing with anticipation, her smile brighter than ever.
“Well, Yang… looks like we’ll be together a while longer.”

———

The soft hum of the airship’s engines filled the cabin as the students settled into their seats. Ruby stared out the window, fascinated by the clouds stretching out like a white sea beneath them, when suddenly she felt arms wrap tightly around her.

“You have no idea how proud I am of you right now, Rubes!” Yang exclaimed, pulling her close with a grin that radiated excitement.

Ruby flushed instantly, struggling to wriggle free as several curious eyes turned their way.
“Yang, let go! Don’t do this here! It’s not that big of a deal…” she protested, lowering her voice in a futile attempt to sound serious.

Yang released her, but her energy didn’t dim one bit.
“Not that big of a deal? You just got into Beacon *two years early*! You’re going to be the talk of the academy!”

Ruby tugged her red hood further over her head, hiding part of her face with a nervous gesture.
“I don’t want to be the talk of anything… seriously. All I want is to stay as unnoticed as possible.”

Yang’s smile softened slightly at her words. Her gaze drifted, almost instinctively, to the hood that concealed her sister’s ears.
“Even so… are you going to… you know?” she asked in a lower tone, careful that no one else would overhear.

Ruby clenched her fists, eyes falling to the metallic floor of the airship.
“Y-yeah… I know. The academy doesn’t tolerate discrimination and promotes equality… but…”

Before she could continue, Yang slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close with a reassuring warmth.
“Don’t worry, Rubes. I’ve got your back. And if the people at this academy are anything like the ones at Signal…”—she grinned, a defiant spark in her eyes—“then they’ll have to deal with me first.”

Despite her nerves, Ruby couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that…” she whispered as the airship glided steadily through the clouds.

Just then, a holographic screen floated past them. Ruby couldn’t look away: a news report was broadcasting the latest story. The anchor spoke about a recent incident at another Dust shop, one that had been targeted by none other than Roman Torchwick. His image flashed across the screen, his arrogant smirk frozen in the official photo.

Ruby narrowed her eyes at the sight, bitterness bubbling inside her as she remembered failing to stop him that time.

The broadcast went on, mentioning that the attempted heist had been foiled thanks to local Huntsmen. Yang, noticing her sister’s expression, leaned in closer.
“I guess I should thank that woman for helping you out… though it’s a shame she ended up with all the credit,” she teased lightly.

Ruby shifted her foot uneasily against the floor.
“That’s for the best…” she murmured. “Otherwise, I’d be in a lot of trouble.”

Suddenly, the transmission cut away. The news disappeared, replaced by a hologram of Glynda Goodwitch. With her usual professional composure, she greeted the students and gave a welcome speech, congratulating them on boarding the airship to Beacon Academy and urging them to uphold peace as future Huntsmen.

Ruby, however, was no longer listening closely. Her gaze had returned to the window. Far in the distance, she could just make out the faint silhouette of her old academy—the one she had left behind far too soon. She placed her hand against the glass, her reflection staring back at her. In silence, she wondered if she had truly made the right decision.

*Sniff, sniff.*

Why did it smell like… vomit?

Chapter Text

As soon as the airship landed and its doors opened, Ruby rushed outside. She didn’t want to endure another second of the stench that had seeped into the cabin. She inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs, and sighed in relief.

“Ruby,” her sister’s voice pulled her out of that brief moment of peace.

She turned and saw Yang approaching calmly, while around them, other students began making their way onto the academy grounds.

“If you don’t want to draw attention, you shouldn’t go running off like that,” Yang remarked with a half-smile.

Ruby frowned and defended herself:
“It’s not my fault! If it weren’t for that guy puking, I wouldn’t have bolted. Sometimes you don’t know how lucky you are not to smell things the way I do.”

Yang laughed and gave her a playful punch on the shoulder.
“Yeah, real tragedy…” she teased.

Then she gently grabbed Ruby’s arm and turned her forward. Ruby was left speechless, just like her sister.

“Wow…!” they both exclaimed in unison.

Before them stood Beacon Academy in all its splendor, majestic and dazzling under the sunlight.

“There’s no view like this,” Yang said with a proud smile.

Ruby nodded several times, murmuring a couple of distracted “uh-huh, uh-huh.” In reality, she had noticed something else that caught her attention even more: the weapons of the other students walking past. Her eyes sparkled with fascination as she tried to take in every detail of the creations parading before her.

Just as Ruby was about to move closer, she felt a tug on her cape. She turned and saw Yang holding her firmly.

“Don’t rush off, sis. If I lose sight of you, it’ll be a mess,” Yang warned, frowning.

“Come on, Yang! I’ll be fine,” Ruby tried to reassure her, puffing her cheeks in a childish gesture.

Yang didn’t seem convinced, but at that moment someone called her from a nearby group of students. Both sisters turned toward the voice. Doubt flickered across Yang’s face—she didn’t want to leave Ruby alone.

“Go on,” Ruby told her with a nervous smile.

“You sure? I could—” Yang started, but Ruby cut her off.

“I’ll be fine! Nothing’s gonna happen. I’ve got my Scroll charged and besides…” Ruby slowly pulled back her hood with some hesitation, revealing a black headband with crimson edges she’d been hiding.

Yang looked at her in surprise, then smiled.
“So Dad’s gift came right on time.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, running her fingers over the headband.
“Yeah… with this I don’t have to wear my hood all the time. Though… it’s kinda uncomfortable,” she whispered the last part, almost inaudible.

Yang sighed and nodded.
“Alright… see you later, Ruby. And please, don’t get into trouble.”

Ruby raised her hand as if making a promise, though Yang knew it was asking too much.

She watched her sister walk off toward what seemed to be her friends. Ruby inhaled deeply, clapped her hands together with excitement, and cheered to herself:
“Okay, Ruby Rose… your first day at Beacon! And—”

She froze, her silver eyes sparkling.

In front of her, another student walked by carrying a weapon that looked incredible at first sight. Without thinking, Ruby took a couple of steps toward him, drawn by an almost hypnotic curiosity. She was so focused she didn’t notice a cart full of elegant boxes rolling directly across her path.

The collision was inevitable. Ruby tripped, falling onto the pile of boxes with a loud thud. She let out a small groan of pain, squeezing her eyes shut as she thought irritably: Great…

“What do you think you’re doing?!” a sharp female voice barked, dripping with annoyance.

Ruby opened her eyes and found herself staring at a girl with snow-white hair, dressed in an equally white outfit with flawless elegance. Her expression radiated pure irritation, and the strong scent of expensive perfume around her almost made Ruby wrinkle her nose instinctively.

Nervously, Ruby glanced around at the mess she’d caused. She quickly grabbed one of the boxes and stood up, mumbling:
“I’m sorry! I just—”

But the girl snatched the box from her hands with a sharp motion, glaring at Ruby as if she’d committed an unforgivable crime.

“*Sorry*?!” the white-haired girl snapped furiously. “Do you have any idea what damage you could’ve caused?!”

Ruby stammered, desperately searching for a response, but the girl didn’t give her a chance.

“This,” she said, yanking open the box she had taken back, “is Dust, mined and purified straight from the Schnee quarries. Do you understand how valuable this is?”

Ruby lowered her gaze, feeling more and more ashamed under the relentless scolding. She couldn’t even get a word out, the girl’s tone was too familiar—too much like those times she’d been singled out and discriminated against. Her silence only seemed to infuriate the girl further.

“Are you stupid or something?” the heiress sneered as she pulled out a vial of red Dust, cracked from the impact. She shook it in Ruby’s face, her voice rising even higher.
“*Dust*! Fire, water, lightning, energy!” Each word came with a harsh shake of the vial, scattering tiny particles of Dust into the air.

Still cringing with embarrassment, Ruby immediately caught the scent. Her Faunus nose was far too sensitive: the Dust particles slipped into her nostrils, triggering an unbearable tickle.

The white-haired girl was still yelling, her face flushed with rage:
“Are you even listening to me?! How dare you ignore—”

“Ah-choo!!”

Ruby couldn’t hold it back. The sneeze burst out full force right in front of the girl—and at that instant, the volatile Dust reacted. A sudden flare engulfed her in a blast of fire and smoke.

The vial flew out of her hand, tumbling across the ground until it rolled to the feet of another student. That girl, who had been absorbed in a book until then, slowly lowered her reading. With a calm, disinterested air, she picked up the vial, held it for a moment, and then approached the two girls.

Ruby clapped both hands over her mouth, horrified at what she’d just done.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!!” she repeated desperately.

The white-haired girl coughed several times, fanning away the smoke, before snapping at Ruby again:
“See?! This is *exactly* what I was talking about!”

Ruby bowed her head again, practically curling into herself.
“I-I’m sorry, it wasn’t on purpose, I just—”

“Of course you’re sorry!” the other girl cut her off harshly. “But that doesn’t change anything. What are you even doing here?! Aren’t you too young to be at Beacon?”

Ruby fumbled for words, her throat tightening.
“I… n-no… I-I was just—”

“Don’t even bother answering!” the heiress snapped, stepping forward in fury. “Do you even know who I am? Do you have *any idea* who you’re talking to?!”

Ruby shrank down as far as she could, her voice barely audible:
“…no…”

The girl’s eyes went wide in disbelief, ready to explode again—when a calm, firm voice cut through the tension:

“Weiss Schnee.”

Both girls turned toward the one who had picked up the vial. She now watched them calmly, closing her book under one arm.

A girl with black hair, dressed in black and white with a bow on her head, approached while holding the vial with disinterest. Ruby couldn’t even catch her scent properly—her nose was still overwhelmed by the Dust.

“The heiress of the Schnee Dust Company,” the newcomer said evenly, “and one of the largest energy producers in the world.”

She walked up to stand before Ruby and Weiss. The latter straightened, a smug smile tugging at her lips.
“Finally, a little recognition,” she murmured with satisfaction.

Ruby’s stomach twisted. She’d messed with someone important. Hearing that name made her tense immediately; even her ears pressed harder beneath her headband.

But Blake’s voice dropped colder as she added:
“And also the same company involved in countless scandals over the treatment of its workers… and its *questionable* business partners.”

Weiss spun toward her, eyes blazing with offense.
“What? How *dare* you?!” she snapped, stepping right up to Blake.

Ruby was having a miserable time—this didn’t seem like it was going to end anytime soon. Desperate, she watched as Weiss suddenly snatched the vial back from Blake and stormed off toward the academy without another word.

“I swear I’ll make it up to you!” Ruby shouted after her, but there was no reply.

Two men in suits appeared, gathering the boxes and following Weiss with quick steps. Ruby just watched them go, then remembered the other girl and turned to thank her.

“Tha—” she started, but when she looked, the girl was already walking away in the opposite direction.

Ruby sighed and dropped to her knees, groaning:
“Why did I let Yang leave…?”

She flopped down fully, lying flat against the ground as she muttered to herself:
“Right, that’s what *I* said…”

Ruby lingered for a few seconds, staring up at the blue sky, trying to forget the embarrassment of the disaster. Then, a figure stepped into her field of vision: a blond boy, wearing light armor and a slightly nervous smile.

“Need a hand?” he asked, extending his toward her.

Ruby hesitated for a moment, but then smiled and accepted. With a gentle pull, he helped her back to her feet.

“Thanks…” Ruby murmured, brushing some dust off her clothes.

“Oh, right,” the boy said suddenly, as if remembering something important. “I never introduced myself. I’m Jaune Arc.”

“Jaune…” Ruby repeated, then smiled shyly. “I’m Ruby Rose. Nice to meet you.”

As they spoke, Ruby’s sense of smell finally began to return to normal, now that the Dust had fully dissipated. But then she caught a very particular scent from the boy in front of her. She wrinkled her nose and glanced at him sideways.

“Wait a second…” she muttered in surprise. “You’re… Vomit Boy!”

Jaune froze, caught between confusion and utter humiliation.

———

Yang was chatting with several Signal classmates as they made their way to the main hall, where they had been told the introduction would take place. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and playful banter.

“Hey, Yang,” one of the boys asked curiously, “the girl who was next to you on the airship… was that your little sister?”

“Yep,” Yang replied confidently with a grin. “Why?”

“Well… what’s she even doing here? Isn’t she, like, two years younger than us?”

Yang smirked mischievously, ready to brag about her younger sister’s accomplishments. She was just about to start when, suddenly, one of the hall’s many doors slammed open. The group turned in that direction and saw Weiss storming in, muttering furiously while two suited men followed behind, carrying boxes.

“Whoa…” one of the girls in the group commented with amusement. “That’s the one who got Dust blown up in her face.”

Yang arched a brow with a playful smile.
“What do you mean, ‘Dust blown up in her face’?”

“Yeah, I saw it when I was coming in—some tiny girl made a vial of Dust explode right in her face!” the girl replied, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

The group erupted in laughter. Yang tried to hold it back, but she couldn’t help bursting out laughing too.

“Who’d be dumb enough to make Dust explode on their very first day?” Yang said between laughs, making everyone roar even louder.

The boy from earlier pointed in another direction.
“Hey, Yang, isn’t that your sister over there?”

Yang and the group turned. Sure enough, Ruby was entering on the other side of the hall, talking with a blond boy.

“Well, well, Yang,” the same boy teased, nudging her playfully, “your sis doesn’t waste time. Already making moves.”

Yang grinned wickedly, seizing the chance.
“Hey, you know what they say… roses attract knights.”

The group burst into laughter again. But the girl from before pointed once more.
“That’s her! That little one was the one who made the Dust explode.”

Yang’s stomach dropped. A bead of cold sweat trickled down her neck. Her smile froze instantly as she realized they were pointing at a certain red-and-black-clad girl.

“…I’ll be right back,” she muttered dryly, stepping away from the group at a quick pace.

She pushed through the crowd until she finally reached Ruby.

“Ruby!” Yang shouted, raising her hand.

Ruby instantly turned and lit up at the sight of her sister.
“Yang!” she said happily, then turned back to Jaune. “Sorry, Jaune, but I’ve gotta go. See you after the ceremony.”

“Wait, I—” Jaune started, but Ruby had already dashed off into the crowd. He was left alone, staring down at the floor with a resigned sigh.
“And once again… alone.”

Behind him, a red-haired girl in light armor briefly looked up from her Scroll to glance at him, then returned to what she was doing without a word.

Meanwhile, Ruby ran straight into Yang’s arms, hugging her tightly.
“Yang!”

Yang hugged her back with a smile.
“How’d it go? Looks like you made a friend.”

Ruby shrugged, fiddling with her fingers.
“It was… fine.”

Yang arched a brow. She knew her sister far too well to believe that.
“Uh-huh… ‘fine.’ You mean you blew up Dust on your very first day?”

Ruby’s eyes went wide.
“How’d you know?!” she blurted nervously, and before Yang could respond, she launched into a frantic ramble.
“It’s just that when you left, I got distracted by all the weapons, and then I bumped into some luggage, and the girl with the luggage got really, really mad—she was yelling so loud my ears hurt!—then the Dust went up my nose and I sneezed and it exploded and I felt super awful and then she yelled at me again and someone came to help and then I ended up on the floor devastated and and and—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, sis!” Yang interrupted, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Breathe.”

Ruby inhaled deeply, exhaled, and lowered her head, still anxious.

Yang sighed, folding her arms.
“Great… why did I listen to you?”

Ruby glanced sideways at her.
“No idea… all I wanted was for her to stop yelling at me… and—”

“*YOU!*” The same shrill voice from before sliced through the air like a blade.

Ruby jumped, throwing herself into Yang’s arms.
“Not agaaain!” she whimpered, burying her face in her sister’s shoulder.

Yang tilted her head, spotting the white-haired girl marching toward them with a scowl and a piercing glare. Then she looked down at her sister, clinging to her like the world was ending.

“Wow…” Yang muttered. “You weren’t exaggerating.”

Weiss huffed, clearly frustrated.
“You’re lucky my luggage wasn’t damaged, you know that?”

“It was an accident!” Ruby repeated desperately, pulling away from Yang. “I swear, it was an accident!”

Weiss didn’t answer right away. Instead, she lifted a pamphlet and shoved it in Ruby’s face.
“You want to make up for what you did?”

“Absolutely!” Ruby said, almost pleading.

“Then read this… and never speak to me again.”

Seeing her sister flounder, Yang jumped in with a nervous smile.
“Hey, I think you two just got off on the wrong foot… why not try again?”

Ruby nodded eagerly.
“Great idea!”

She introduced herself with cheer, raising her hand to shake Weiss’s, even hinting that maybe they could hang out someday. Weiss stared at her in disbelief. With a single finger, she pushed Ruby’s hand aside with disdain before turning and walking off without another word.

Ruby lowered her gaze, disheartened. Yang tried to lift her spirits:
“Well… it could’ve been worse.”

At that moment, static buzzed from a microphone, drawing everyone’s attention. The sisters looked up to see Headmaster Ozpin standing on the stage, Glynda at his side.

———

After the ceremony ended, they were placed in the same hall to spend the night. Chaos broke out immediately: an endless line just to change into pajamas, the murmur of dozens of voices, the overwhelming mix of so many different scents that left Ruby dizzy, and the struggle to find a free spot to set down a sleeping bag. Ruby couldn’t help but wonder how anyone thought it was a good idea to leave so many teenagers alone, unsupervised.

Finally lying down, her Scroll glowing softly in front of her face, the dim light reflected in her silver eyes. A soft thump on the floor announced Yang’s arrival as she plopped down heavily beside her in her own sleeping bag.

“This really is a sleepover,” Yang commented with a mischievous smile, stretching her arms behind her head.

Ruby rolled her eyes, still not looking away from her Scroll.
“Well… I think Dad would have a heart attack if he knew we were here, surrounded by so many boys.”

Yang let out a low laugh.
“Oh, of course he would.” She turned on her side, resting her head on one hand to peek at her sister’s screen. “So? What are you looking at?”

“Reading…” Ruby answered with a tired sigh.

“Weapons?” Yang raised an eyebrow, as if the answer were obvious.

Ruby lowered her Scroll a bit and gave her a look that mixed weariness and resignation.
“Of course. What else would I be reading?”

Yang chuckled softly, then tried to lighten the mood.
“Hey… are you still hung up on what happened today?”

Ruby pressed her lips together and turned back to the screen. She didn’t deny it.
“I mean… it was the first day, and I ruined it—big time.”

Yang leaned closer and tapped her shoulder.
“Don’t look at it that way. At least you made a friend. Jaune, wasn’t it?”

Ruby lowered the Scroll slowly, thoughtful.
“Well… I guess so.” She made a small grimace, then muttered under her breath, “Though I also earned someone’s hatred.”

“Look at it this way,” Yang said with a playful smile, “in just one day, you made a friend and an enemy. Not everyone manages that so quickly.”

Ruby huffed, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at her.
“That doesn’t help!”

Yang laughed, brushing the pillow aside with ease. But when she saw her sister turn her back, curling up with no desire to keep talking, her expression softened.

Yang smiled gently, crossing her arms as she watched Ruby toss and turn.
“Come on, Rubes… it was only the first day. Don’t stress so much. Tomorrow will be better, and you’ll make more friends. Besides… if it had been a *really* bad day, believe me, the whole ear thing would’ve come out, don’t you think?”

Ruby grew quiet. She sank into her sleeping bag, one hand brushing against the headband that hid her faunus ears. Her gaze drifted toward the window, where she spotted a silhouette she recognized—the bow-wearing girl from earlier. Her lips moved in a whisper:
“That girl…”

Yang raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to look.
“You know her?”

Ruby looked away, embarrassed.
“Well… not exactly. But she helped me this morning… sort of. And I didn’t even get to thank her…”

At that, Yang’s eyes lit up with mischief. She jumped up, literally, as if she’d just found the perfect excuse.
“Then I’ll prove I’m right!”

Ruby blinked in confusion.
“Right about what?”

But it was already too late—Yang grabbed her arm and pulled her forward with a mischievous grin.
“Right that you’re going to make more friends!”

Ruby stumbled, almost tripping, her hidden ears twitching beneath the headband.
“Wait, Yang! I’m not ready!”

But Yang gave her no choice. Like a golden storm, she dragged Ruby all the way to the window, where the bow-wearing girl sat calmly with a book in her hands.

“Hi,” Yang said with a half-smile, calling for her attention.

The girl slowly lifted her gaze from the book, raising a single eyebrow.

“We just wanted to thank you for helping my little sister today,” Yang continued, giving Ruby a gentle push forward.

Ruby froze, stiff at her side, not knowing what to do with her hands or feet. The dark-haired girl studied them calmly, her golden eyes scanning them both before settling on Ruby.

“Aren’t you the one who caused that explosion today?” she asked dryly. Her tone wasn’t mocking—just stating a fact.

Ruby flinched and nodded quickly.
“Y-yeah… I-I’m Ruby,” she stammered, extending her hand with a nervous smile.

The other didn’t bother lowering her book. She simply murmured, calm and quiet:
“Blake.”

Ruby’s hand hovered awkwardly for a moment before she pulled it back, cheeks flushing. Still, her nose twitched involuntarily—catching a scent that made her frown for a second. The strange look on Ruby’s face didn’t escape Blake.

“Something wrong?” Blake asked, tilting her head slightly, book still in hand.

Ruby startled, straightening up at once.
“N-no, nothing at all…”

Meanwhile, her thoughts spun: *Why… does she smell like a stray cat?*
Maybe there were just too many people around, confusing her senses.

Blake simply tilted her book and, with little emotion, said:
“Okay…”

Yang leaned toward Ruby, whispering low.
“What are you doing?”

Ruby whispered back nervously, fiddling with her cloak.
“No idea… help me.”

Yang sighed and turned toward Blake, forcing a smile as she tucked her blonde hair behind her ear.
“Nice night, isn’t it?”

Blake barely looked up from her book.
“Very nice, yes… just like this book I’m reading.” She pointed delicately at it.

The sisters glanced at each other. Either they missed the hint, or they were just waiting for Blake to say more.

Blake clicked her tongue softly and added, with a sharper but still calm tone:
“Which I’ll continue once you leave.”

Yang rolled her eyes, throwing her arms back in defeat.
“Forget it, Ruby’s a lost cause…”

But before she could step back, Ruby tilted her head timidly.
“What are you reading?”

Yang widened her eyes, surprised at her sister’s sudden initiative. Blake, on the other hand, faltered for a moment, losing her usual composure.

“It’s a… uh…” she fumbled through the pages awkwardly. “A family drama… about a dispute over a…” She skimmed quickly. “…a weapon.”

A faint blush rose to her cheeks.

Ruby, completely oblivious, smiled innocently.
“Sounds interesting. I like reading… especially about weapons.”

Blake closed the book slightly, holding it to her chest as she lowered her gaze.
“I see… that’s good.”

Yang couldn’t hold back. She lunged forward, dramatically hugging Ruby and lifting her just off the ground.
“Oh, my baby sister! She made a second friend—I’m so proud!”

Ruby flailed in embarrassment.
“Yang, stop, please!”

“Hey!” The shrill voice that had terrified Ruby twice already that day pierced the air again.

Ruby jumped straight into Yang’s arms.
“Nooo, not again!” she whimpered, hiding her face in her sister’s shoulder.

Weiss approached with firm steps, arms crossed and brows furrowed.

“Don’t you understand there are rules? That some people are trying to sleep?”

Ruby reacted instinctively, stepping back until she was hidden behind Yang’s silhouette, clutching her cloak tightly.

Weiss fixed her gaze on Ruby, while Yang turned toward her. Both exclaimed at once, in frustration and surprise:
“You again?!”

Ruby, voice trembling, rushed to ease the tension.
“Y-Yang’s right… people are trying to sleep…”

Weiss arched an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly.
“Oh, and now you’re on my side?”

“I-I always was… I’m sorry, again,” Ruby blurted quickly, stepping forward but still clinging to her sister’s sleeve.

Yang stepped ahead, standing between them, her eyes flashing with irritation.
“Hey, what’s your problem with my sister? She’s just trying to be nice!”

Weiss scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.
“Nice? She’s a potential hazard!”

The atmosphere grew tense, the friction between them like a spark ready to ignite. Ruby swallowed hard, lowering her gaze, wishing she could disappear.

Meanwhile, Blake—who had been reading silently—let out a weary sigh. She snapped her book shut and, without a word, picked up the candle beside her. With a gentle breath, she blew out the flame.

Darkness engulfed the room in an instant, cutting the argument short like an invisible blade.

Weiss stepped back with an irritated click of her tongue, crossing her arms.
“I hope I never see you again,” she said coldly, spinning on her heels and walking off with practiced elegance.

Ruby, who had been holding her breath, let out a long sigh of relief and slumped against the wall.
“Finally…”

Yang, however, smiled with satisfaction.
“Perfect…” she murmured, looking around. But as she noticed the darkness and lack of bearings, she frowned. “Rubes, mind leading the way?”

Ruby blinked, a little tired, then nodded with a faint smile.
“Sure… I need some sleep.”

They were about to move when a loud thud echoed from the hallway, followed by a sharp, decidedly ungraceful yelp from Weiss.

Yang couldn’t hold back. She turned to Ruby with a mischievous grin, crossing her arms.
“Ha… karma,” she said with obvious delight, while Ruby tried to stifle a nervous laugh behind her hand.

Chapter Text

“Alright, Ruby… yesterday was a fateful day, but today is a new day with new opportunities. Today you’ll meet your partner and team for the next few years, so let’s review…”

Ruby walked down the hallway, her boots echoing against the floor as she murmured to herself, words barely slipping past her lips, as if trying to convince herself with every step.

“One: while setting an alarm seemed like a good idea… listening to literally everyone else’s alarms at the same time was definitely not good for my two pairs of ears.
Two: getting up and waiting in that endless line again just to shower and change took way too long.
Three: managing to dodge the obvious questions about why I wore a headband even while showering and changing. I don’t know if I was convincing… or if I just acted weird enough for them to drop it.”

She let out a loud sigh, pulling her hood tighter over her head. Her fingers pressed against the edge for a moment, making sure her ears were completely hidden. Crescent Rose rested on her back, and while its weight reminded her of everything she carried, it also gave her a spark of confidence.

“Today I’ll prove that I deserve to be here…” she thought with determination, walking toward the cafeteria.

—“OUTTA THE WAY, COMIN’ THROUGH!”—a sharp cry jolted her.

Ruby barely managed to turn her head before a white-and-pink blur came at her like a bullet.

“Eh? Wait—!” she raised her arms instinctively.

*BAM!*

The impact sent her straight to the floor. Ruby let out a muffled groan, her cloak spread out beneath her like a scarlet blotch. Air burst from her lungs, and she blinked several times until her vision focused: an orange-haired girl sat on top of her, smiling as if the whole thing had been a game. She smelled sweet… like honey.

Still sitting, Ruby pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to process what just happened.
“Great… and here I was saying I was ready for anything.”

The redhead leaned over her, stretching out a hand with an overly friendly gesture.
“Let me help you!”

Ruby, a bit wary, accepted. The grip was firm—too firm—and the pull nearly toppled her again.

“W-wahhh!” she yelped, stumbling forward.

But before she could hit the ground again, a steady arm caught her by the back. Ruby’s eyes shot upward. A black-haired boy with a pink streak falling over his forehead looked down at her calmly. His scent was fresh—damp grass and flowers, as if he carried a piece of a garden with him.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice calm, almost stoic.

Ruby’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Y-yeah… I’m fine…” she muttered, lowering her gaze.

He helped her up gently before turning to the other girl with patient but clear reproach.
“Nora… what did I say about running around?”

The girl puffed out her cheeks, planting her hands on her hips like a scolded child refusing to admit fault.
“Don’t look at me like that! She got in my way.”

Ruby blinked, pointing at herself in disbelief.
“Me!? But—!”

Nora burst into laughter, waving her hands in front of her.
“Hahaha, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I just didn’t see you… well, I did see you, but I couldn’t stop!”

Ruby opened her mouth, but only air came out.

“Nora…” the boy, Lie Ren, repeated with resigned patience.

The redhead huffed playfully, raising both hands in mock surrender.
“Alright, alright, I’m really sorry… headband girl who showers with her headband on, I like your headband!”

Ruby froze, as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her. Her heart skipped a beat. Had she noticed? Did she suspect? Was she going to press the issue?

“Sorry, I don’t know your name and that’s just the first thing that popped into my head,” Nora added, shrugging it off like nothing. Then, with a theatrical, dramatic gesture, she introduced herself:
“I’m Nora Valkyrie!”—she raised her arms as if expecting applause—“And this handsome guy here is Lie Ren.”

Ren lowered his gaze slightly, sighing with a faint blush on his cheeks.
“Nora…”

Ruby barely managed to stammer:
“I-I’m Ruby… Ruby Rose.”

“Boring intro, but pretty name!” Nora sang, pointing at her with a wide grin.

Ren inclined his head in a small bow.
“Forgive her behavior. She’s very… spirited.” Without another word, he gently took Nora by the arm and calmly began to drag her forward.

“Hey, wait! I still wanted to talk to herrrr\~!” Nora protested, wriggling as Ren pulled her along with the patience of someone who had gone through this scene countless times.

Ruby stood still, blinking several times as the scene drifted away in front of her. Her cloak stirred faintly in the hallway’s breeze.

“And here I thought breakfast was going to be peaceful…” she sighed in resignation.

———

Leaving aside the abrupt start to her morning, everything else went… fine. Breakfast wasn’t anything extraordinary, but at least there was some warm bread and fruit—no meat, to her bad luck. Yang kept joking as Ruby told her about the collision with the orange-haired girl; her laughter was contagious, and for a moment Ruby felt less nervous.

After that, she helped Jaune make it to the start of the initiation. The poor guy had suffered an “attack” from a redhead for flirting with Weiss… At least the girl apologized, and Weiss hadn’t yelled at Ruby today. That was already something positive.

Now they stood at the edge of a cliff. The fresh air gave Ruby a momentary sense of relief, filling her lungs like a gulp of calm before the tension to come. Other students were arriving too, chatting and adjusting their gear.

Ruby’s father had explained what the trial would be about, but even so, she silently prayed it wouldn’t turn out the way it had been described. Ozpin and Glynda were present, giving instructions and reminding them of the safety rules, though Ruby couldn’t help her heart from racing faster.

When Ozpin started talking about the part most important to her, her stomach sank a little: the partner with whom she made eye contact at the start of the trial would be her partner for the next four years.

“If it were Yang… that would be perfect…” she thought, trying to convince herself.

It wasn’t because Yang was the only one who knew her secret, or because she always helped Ruby more than she asked for… it wasn’t because Yang was reliable in every social situation either. No, of course not. Absolutely not. It had nothing to do with needing her to be her partner…

Ruby inhaled deeply, clenching her fists with determination.

“Top priority: find my big sister.”

Ozpin adjusted his glasses with his usual calm.
“If there are no questions… then let us begin. Glynda, would you do the honors?”

“We’ll see you soon, students,” Glynda replied firmly.

With that, she pressed her Scroll.

A metallic *click* echoed through the platform. The very next second, the launch pads under the students’ feet activated with a mechanical roar, hurling them into the sky like projectiles.

“WAAAAHOOOO!” Ruby shouted with joy, feeling the wind rip her hood back.

Her body shot upward at full speed, the air slashing across her cheeks and making her silver eyes gleam with pure thrill. For an instant, the whole world seemed to open up before her: the endless blue sky, the emerald forest stretching far below, and among it all… she spotted Yang. Her sister soared even higher, charging forward with power, enjoying it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ruby laughed into the roar of the wind, but her laughter turned into a gasp as the inevitable fall began. Her stomach dropped as she started losing altitude.

“Time to work!” she muttered through her teeth, unfolding Crescent Rose with a metallic snap.

The weapon roared, powerful blasts exploding in bursts that slowed her descent. Each recoil shook her, but it also gave her control. Ruby grit her teeth, adjusting her movements, using the force of the scythe-rifle to steer her fall through the treetops.

The branches rushed closer at frightening speed. Ruby spun in midair, extended Crescent Rose toward a trunk and—*CLANG!*—the blade bit deep into the wood.

The tug jolted her from head to toe, but Ruby swung with the momentum, pushing herself until she landed on a thick branch. Her boots gripped the trunk, and her crimson cape billowed dramatically behind her.

She took a deep breath, and an excited smile lit up her face.
“Landing… successful.”

Ruby wasted no time. She sniffed the air like a hound, trying to pick up a trail.
“Come on… Yang has to be around here somewhere…” she thought, wrinkling her nose. Among the scents of the forest—damp earth, sap, flowers—she managed to catch a faint whiff of gunpowder. Smoke. The unmistakable trace of her sister’s shots.

“Ah-ha!” she exclaimed, and with an agile leap, she dropped from the branch, landing on the grassy floor.
Immediately she took off running, Crescent Rose in cannon mode and ready.

“This forest is full of Grimm… I need to find Yang, Yang, Yang, Yang…” she repeated mentally, like a mantra driving her faster.

But just as she turned into a clearing, she heard nearby:
“…Thanks.”

The voice made her instinctively turn her head, and when she looked forward again… her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

“Eh?!”

There, standing right in her path, was Weiss.

Ruby reacted instantly, digging her boots into the ground and skidding hard. Dirt sprayed in a small arc of dust until she stopped in front of the Schnee heiress. Her silver eyes locked with Weiss’s icy blues, and for a second, time stood still.

Ruby swallowed nervously, hugging Crescent Rose close to her chest.
“H-hey…”

Weiss gave her an almost indifferent look. Without a word, she simply turned around and began walking the other way.

“W-wait!” Ruby extended a hand, taking a step forward. “We’re supposed to be… partners…”

But Weiss didn’t stop. Ruby was left behind, her echoing footsteps vanishing into the leaves.

Inside, her mind was a mess.
“Of all people… it had to be her?! I would’ve preferred Vomit Boy… even Blake! No… no, no, no… ugh, just the thought makes my skin crawl. My partner is Weiss Schnee… And if she ever finds out about my ears… she’ll hate me even more. Even more than she already does!”

Before she could keep tormenting herself, the nearby brush rustled. Ruby’s head snapped up, only to see Weiss reappear, brushing aside branches with perfect composure.

“I still have a chance with Pyrrha,” Weiss murmured to herself, though loud enough for Ruby to hear.

“What? W-wait!” Ruby barely managed to react before Weiss grabbed her by the arm without hesitation and began dragging her along.

Ruby stumbled, struggling to keep up, stunned by the girl’s unexpected strength. In her mind, only one thought formed, tinged with resignation and nervous humor:
“Well… at least she accepted me… right???”

———

Blake moved lightly among the treetops, her silhouette almost blending with the shadows. The chain of her weapon, Gambol Shroud, whistled through the air each time she hurled it toward a branch, propelling her forward with feline grace.

“I’m not sure what exactly I expected from this trial… but at least this feels familiar.”
She hadn’t run into anyone yet, which she welcomed. She preferred silence. She preferred working alone. And while she understood that sooner or later she’d have to form a team, the idea didn’t thrill her in the slightest.

“A partner… and then a team…”

She pressed her lips together, focusing on moving forward. She was lucky to have made it this far. There were two ways to get into Beacon: either by going through an academy like Signal… or by passing a mental and physical test for those who hadn’t. That second path had been hers. It had been enough to get her admitted, but for Blake, it was also a bitter reminder: she had made it… but it hadn’t felt like a victory.

Her train of thought was cut short.
A deafening roar shook the forest, followed by the loudest battle cry she had heard all morning. Blake tensed, the ears beneath her bow twitching ever so slightly.

“Tch… inevitable,” she muttered.

Tightening her grip on her weapon, she shifted direction toward the source of the noise.

Within seconds she stopped on a branch, crouching low to observe. Her amber eyes widened slightly.

There, in the middle of the clearing, a blonde girl blazed with raw energy. Yang—yes, she remembered the name.

The scene before her was as brutal as it was mesmerizing. Yang moved with a fierce grin, her gauntlets bursting with explosions at every strike. An Ursa, huge and covered in bony plates, charged straight at her.

Yang met it head-on.

“HAAAH!” she roared, her fist detonating with a blast that cracked the Grimm’s jaw sideways. The monster staggered, but Yang gave it no chance: she spun on her heel, drove another punch into its gut, and when the beast swung its claws, Yang jumped, landing atop its back to finish it off with one final explosive strike to the nape.

The Grimm let out one last roar before dissolving into black motes.

Blake arched a brow, impressed despite herself.
“She’s strong…”

Yesterday they’d had a… peculiar interaction. Yang was far too energetic, her little red sister was calmer and actually liked literature—that she appreciated… though there was something about her she couldn’t quite place, something that unsettled her for reasons she didn’t understand. Her thoughts broke off at the sound of cracking branches.

The fight wasn’t over. Another Ursa lumbered out from between the trees, red eyes fixed on the blonde.

Blake didn’t hesitate. *Click.*
Gambol Shroud’s blade shot forward like a grappling hook, the chain humming as the edge sank cleanly into the Grimm’s nape. With a swift tug, the beast collapsed heavily to the ground, already beginning to disintegrate.

Blake descended in a smooth leap, landing silently on the grass. She lifted her gaze toward Yang, quietly assessing her.

The blonde returned her look… and grinned as if she’d just won a bet.
“For the record, I could’ve handled it.” she said with a confident wink.

Blake blinked once, expressionless, and thought with a touch of resignation:
“Maybe… not my best choice.”

———

The smell of smoke still lingered in her nose. Ruby wrinkled it as she ran through the blackened trees. It wasn’t her fault, she swore: she could’ve handled those Grimm on her own, but the perfect princess had decided to set half the forest on fire in the process.

And now… the fire was spreading.
The Emerald Forest was really burning.

“Great… if we get expelled over this, how am I supposed to explain it? ‘Hi, I’m Ruby, the girl who graduated two years early just to get kicked out on her first day because her partner wanted to make fireworks with Grimm.’”

“Are you just going to stand there staring at your mistake all day or what?” Weiss snapped, her voice as sharp as her rapier.

Ruby spun on her heels, incredulous.
“My mistake!? I didn’t even use Dust!”

Weiss raised a brow with an air of superiority.
“You got in the way of my attack. Maybe it would’ve been better if I had hit you along with the Grimm.”

Ruby’s jaw dropped, scandalized. And honestly… she could picture Weiss doing it. The girl had that “everything will be fine if I just remove the incompetent ones” look in her eyes.

Ruby clenched her fists. She inhaled deeply. Exhaled slowly.
“No fire with fire, Ruby Rose… be kind. Be mature. Be… a partner.”

“O-okay, look…” she began with a nervous smile. “It’s the second day, and we’re still not used to each other’s fighting styles. So… why don’t we calm down and head straight to the temple, sound good, partner?”

Weiss clicked her tongue, crossing her arms.
“Are you done with your little motivational speech? Or can I continue now?”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked off, steps firm and proud as if she were strutting down a red carpet.

Ruby was left behind, trembling with frustration. Anger burned in her chest like fire, and before she could stop herself, she swung Crescent Rose with a cry of pure venting. The scythe sliced clean through a nearby tree, which cracked and toppled to the ground with a crash.

The echo of the impact rang through the forest, scattering a few birds. Ruby stood still for a moment, chest heaving, eyes burning, her knuckles white around her weapon’s handle.

With a huff, she ran after Weiss.

They walked.
…They walked.
…And they walked some more.

Until Ruby, patience gone, simply plopped down on a rock. Her boots tapped against the dirt as she crossed her arms with a huff. Bored, tired, and growing more annoyed by the second.

Weiss, meanwhile, stood turning on her heel, muttering possible directions based on a mental map she clearly didn’t have.
“Hm… if we go this way we’ll reach the… no, no, that was before… although if we take the northern path… or was it south?”

Ruby arched a brow, sighing heavily.
“…Weiss, I think we already tried those paths.”

The heiress spun around indignantly.
“Are you going to help or just sit there like the little girl you are?”

Ruby felt a vein twitch, springing to her feet.
“No, but I’d rather rest than wander around aimlessly.”

“Aimlessly? It’s not… look, there! ” Weiss pointed dramatically at a path that, ironically, was exactly where they had come from.

Ruby stared at her without even blinking.
“Uh-huh. We already went that way.”

“At least I’m trying something! Unlike you!” Weiss shot back, chin high.

Ruby gripped Crescent Rose tight and snorted.
“You want me to do something? Fine. I’ll do something.”

In a flash, her figure burst into a swirl of red petals and, in the blink of an eye, she propelled herself to the top of a massive tree. Weiss stared, lips parted in shock—shock that quickly turned to irritation.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” she shouted, hands on her hips.

No reply came.

Weiss gritted her teeth and started venting out loud as she stomped aimlessly forward.
“This is unbelievable… first, yesterday was an unacceptable disaster… and now I’m stuck with a clueless partner, lost in a burning forest! I don’t deserve any of this!”

So caught up in her own rant, she nearly walked straight into Ruby… who was dangling upside down from a branch, swinging casually.

“Done venting yet?” Ruby asked with an innocent smile.

“AH!” Weiss jumped, pure instinct making her smack Ruby right in the face.

“Ow!” Ruby yelped, falling from the branch and hitting the ground on her back with a thud.

Weiss, panting, shouted immediately:
“What on Remnant are you doing sneaking off like that?! And why scare me like that?!”

Ruby sat up, rubbing her nose with a whimper. She doesn’t even apologize… great. She swallowed, breathed deep, and instead of saying what she really thought, she spoke calmly.
“I climbed up to check the terrain. And I found a way for us to move… and get there.”

Weiss raised a brow, still annoyed but now curious.
“A way to move? What…?”

Ruby only grinned ear to ear, her gaze gleaming with mischief.
“Just watch.”

———

The wind blew softly atop the cliff, barely stirring the clouds above the Emerald Forest. With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, Ozpin stood still, his gaze fixed on the screen of his Scroll. Each moving point represented a student, and some had already formed pairs. Yet his eyes lingered on one in particular: the young faunus named Ruby Rose.

Firm footsteps echoed behind him. Without fully turning, Ozpin took another sip and asked calmly:
“How bad was it?”

Glynda stopped at his side, her brow slightly furrowed.
“A good section of the forest was incinerated… but nothing out of control. We’ll handle it.”

Ozpin nodded, almost relieved, as he drew his eyes away from the Scroll.
“I’m glad to hear that. After all, the students are the priority.”

A brief silence settled between them, broken when Glynda glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
“Are you certain about this, Ozpin?”

He tilted his head slightly.
“About what exactly, Glynda?”

“About Miss Rose.” Her tone was firm, though not without concern.

Ozpin raised his brows with an almost amused gesture.
“And what is the problem with her?”

Glynda exhaled in frustration, adjusting her glasses before answering.
“You know why you advanced her. But even so… I believe it was premature. It’s too drastic a change for someone like her. Not only is she the youngest in the entire academy… but you’re demanding more from her than from anyone else, just so she can attend.”

Ozpin took another sip, slipped the Scroll into his coat, and closed his eyes for a moment, as if in thought.
“Perhaps. But we still don’t know. And for now… all we can do is watch.”

Glynda uncrossed her arms, though her expression hardened further.
“Even she doesn’t have much confidence in herself. And she knows it. She works hard to hide who she is…”

For an instant, the air grew heavy with something unspoken. Ozpin’s silence was more telling than any response. Then, with a calm motion, he rested his cane against the ground and began walking away, fading into the shadows of the trees.

———

Yang and Blake walked at a steady pace among the trees. Yang tried to strike up conversation with her new partner, but it wasn’t going too well: Blake wasn’t exactly someone of many words.

They finally reached some ruins, where several chess pieces of different colors were arranged as if they were trophies.

“Looks like we’re not the first ones here,” Yang commented, stepping forward eagerly.

“Seems so… pieces are missing,” Blake confirmed calmly, scanning the area.

“Well, I guess we just have to pick one then…” Yang said, about to grab one, but stopped when Blake interrupted.

“Uh… Yang.”

“Yes, partner?” Yang asked, hopeful that Blake was finally going to talk to her.

Blake tilted her head, her eyes fixed above.
“Just out of curiosity… is that your sister?”

Yang’s head snapped around immediately, nervous the moment Ruby was mentioned.
“Where, where? I don’t see her!”

Blake pointed toward the sky.
“Up there.”

Yang raised her gaze, and her eyes went wide at the sight looming above them: a massive Nevermore circling the ruins.

Yang squinted, focusing between the wings… until she caught sight of two figures clinging for dear life to its wing—one white, one red. Her jaw dropped.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

———

High above, battling against the wind and the razor–sharp black feathers, Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee were clinging desperately to one of the massive bird’s wings.

“HOW IN THE WORLD COULD YOU THINK OF SUCH A CRAZY IDEA, RUBY ROSE?!” Weiss screamed, her hair undone, her face red with both fury and fear.

Ruby tried to smile, squinting against the wind.
“It was the best option we had!”

“Best option?!” Weiss’s knuckles went white as she gripped tighter. “AND HOW EXACTLY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET DOWN FROM HERE?!”

Ruby glanced down, swallowed hard, and answered with a casual tone that made Weiss’s blood run cold:
“Well… by letting go.”

“ARE YOU INSANE?! DO YOU KNOW HOW HIGH WE ARE?!”

Ruby snorted, lifting a brow.
“They literally launched us off a cliff… what difference does this make?”

Weiss’s eyes widened in outrage.
“RUBY ROSE, I SWEAR IF WE DIE I’LL KILL YOU!”

Ruby gave a nervous smile, her red cape whipping behind her like a flag.
“Relax. Just follow my lead.”

And with that, she released the wing.

“Follow you in wha—?!” Weiss turned only to find Ruby gone. “INSUFFERABLE LITTLE RED!”

Ruby plummeted at full speed, activating her Semblance to steady her fall, spinning midair to build momentum. In the distance she spotted the ruins, her smile widening when she recognized Yang waiting below.

“Ruby!” Yang shouted.
“Yang!” Ruby answered joyfully, the wind blasting against her face.

She readied Crescent Rose, preparing to fire and slow her descent, when a sudden scream nearby made her turn. Jaune was falling, flailing helplessly right into her path. Ruby tried to react, but too late— BAM!

The collision sent Ruby spinning off course, and both of them crashed into the branches by the ruins. Ruby landed dazed across a thick branch, while Jaune dangled upside down like a ragdoll.

Reaching for her head, Ruby froze. Her ears—exposed. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked around frantically and spotted her headband lying just ahead.

“Someone… help me!” Jaune cried, oblivious to her panic.

Ruby held her breath. The headband… Jaune was behind it. Terror clenched her chest: Did he see?! She turned quickly—luckily, his back was still turned. Relief spread through her as she pulled her hood tighter and carefully descended to snatch up the headband.

Clutching it, she slipped it back on, making sure her ears were hidden once again, even if it still felt uncomfortable.

Barely catching her breath, Ruby looked up to help Jaune, but before she could move, strong arms swept her into a crushing hug.

“Ruby, are you okay?!” Yang’s voice burst with panic.

“I-I’m fine, Yang…” Ruby wheezed, struggling to breathe as her sister squeezed tighter.

Yang finally set her down but kept her hands firmly on Ruby’s shoulders, shaking her in classic big-sister fury.
“What were you thinking?! Do you have any idea how stupid and dangerous it was to hitch a ride on a Nevermore?!”

Ruby’s eyes spun from the shaking, barely managing a groan:
“Eh… d-desperate… times… desperate… measures…”

Yang glared, torn between anger and worry, then sighed and pulled her into a gentler embrace.
“Don’t you ever do something that reckless again, you hear me?”

“O-okay, Yang… I’ll try.”

“Why are we hugging?” Nora suddenly chimed in with a huge grin, wrapping both sisters in her arms without hesitation.

Ruby and Yang stiffened, startled, and Yang arched a brow like what the heck?
“How did you even—?”

“Oh, sorry!” Nora raised her hands as if caught stealing candy, still looking amused. “It’s just… you two looked so cute hugging I had to join in.”

Before either could reply, Nora’s eyes lit up as she leaned toward Ruby.
“Hey! It’s you! Ruby, right? How’re you doing after this morning?”

Ruby, still overwhelmed by Nora’s energy, could barely stammer a response.

A calm voice interrupted from behind:
“Nora. What did I say about hugging people?”

Ren had arrived, looking tired. Nora immediately pointed at Ruby with excitement.
“Look, Ren! She’s the girl I ran over this morning!”

Yang’s expression snapped to fury, eyes blazing.
“You what?!”

“That’s exaggerating!” Ruby flailed her hands nervously.

Nora clicked her tongue, shaking her head like a teacher correcting a student.
“Exaggerating is this blonde here—” she pointed right at Yang “—giving you such a loving hug on the first day. Not that I blame her. Nice physique, by the way!”

Ruby’s face ignited, stepping back with a defensive shout:
“She’s my sister!”

Nora blinked, looking from Yang to Ruby and back again several times before tilting her head.
“You don’t look alike.”

Ruby opened her mouth to retort, cheeks still burning, when a shrill scream from above cut through the air.

All three girls looked up just in time to see Weiss plummeting.

Ruby clutched her head in panic.
“Crap, I forgot about Weiss!”

Yang shot her a stern but amused look.
“Language, Rubes.”

Nora squealed with excitement, bouncing.
“Why didn’t I think of that before?! Way more fun than riding an Ursa!”

Both sisters slowly turned toward her with identical frowns, a mix of worry and disbelief.

Ren calmly placed a hand on Nora’s shoulder and sighed.
“Don’t worry… that’s normal.”

Yang tilted her head, unconvinced.
“Sure it is…” she muttered.

“I’ve got you!” Jaune suddenly yelled from above.

Everyone looked up as he caught Weiss mid-fall. The landing was rough, but safe.

Ruby exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping.
“Nice catch, Jaune!”

Ren looked skyward again, calm as ever.
“They’re still falling.”

Yang adjusted her gauntlets, grimacing.
“And fast…”

The four instinctively stepped back, as if sharing the same thought: better not be underneath that.

Jaune was the first to crash down, face-first into the dirt with a muffled groan. He barely had time to lift his head before Weiss landed right on top of him, straddling his back none too gently. She looked down at him coldly and exhaled a dry:

“…My hero.”

Jaune let out a strangled wheeze, arms and legs sprawled out in the dirt.

Yang grinned brightly.
“Great, nobody’s dead!”

The words had barely left her mouth when another loud thud made them all turn. Blake had landed flat on her back a short distance away, rolling once before recovering into a crouch. She rose quickly, frowning at the stares aimed her way.

“Are you done chatting?” she asked sharply, pointing toward the treeline. “Or do you plan on helping with the Death Stalker?”

Yang blinked, brow furrowing.
“The what? A Death—?”

Her question was cut short by another crash—this one much heavier. Blake jumped aside as the ground trembled under the impact. Pyrrha had landed in a low stance, one heel digging into the dirt to balance. In a fluid, elegant motion, she rose, her spear Milo extending smoothly into her hands.

“We need to move!” she warned, eyes on the forest.

Everyone turned—and froze. From between the trees, a massive Death Stalker lumbered forward, pincers snapping, multiple glowing eyes fixed on them with murderous intent.

Ruby snapped Crescent Rose open, voice firm:
“Don’t worry, I can handle this.”

She prepared to fire herself toward the Grimm, but a sharp tug on her hood yanked her back. Yang held her firmly, scolding in her commanding big-sister tone:
“Ruby! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I have to do this!” Ruby shot back, struggling.

Before Yang could respond, Weiss stormed closer, furious.
“Do what, exactly?! Show off? Is that what you want?”

“No! I just want to—”

“Look out!” Pyrrha’s shout rang out.

From above, the Nevermore unleashed a storm of razor-sharp feathers. The team scattered instinctively: Yang shoved Ruby aside before rolling to avoid a blade that nearly took her arm, Blake darted lithely to one side, Weiss summoned a wall of ice to block several projectiles, Jaune stumbled clumsily until Pyrrha yanked him out of harm’s way. Nora laughed gleefully, skipping through the deadly rain as though it were a game, while Ren weaved between the strikes with ninja-like grace.

“You can fight later—right now we have to move!” Blake barked, serious.

The Death Stalker advanced, each heavy step shaking the ground. Everyone nodded, realizing just how dire the situation was.

Ruby wasted no time: she activated her Semblance and sped toward the temple in a blur of rose petals. In a heartbeat she snatched up the last relics and zipped back to the group, who had already broken into a run with both Grimm chasing them.

Dropping out of her Semblance, she sprinted alongside them and shouted:
“Jaune!”

She tossed him one of the relics. The blonde nearly fumbled it but managed to catch it with both hands, sighing in shaky relief.

Behind them, the Grimm roared. The ground shook with every stride of the Death Stalker. Weiss fired shards of ice back at it, Ruby blasted shots from Crescent Rose, but each attack only slowed the creatures for a moment.

Weiss, panting and tense, yelled without turning:
“This is your fault, Ruby! If you hadn’t acted so impulsively, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

Ruby clenched her teeth, leaping over a root jutting from the ground.
“Maybe you’re right…” she admitted quietly.

Weiss glanced at her, startled by the reply. Ruby swallowed hard, hands trembling slightly as she tightened her grip on her scythe, then raised her voice with conviction:
“But I’m not giving up! I want to prove to you that I can do this, Weiss—that I’m not the child you think I am!”

For a moment, amidst the roars and chaos, silence settled between them. Weiss lowered her guard just a fraction, her breath slowing.

“Perhaps… I’ve been too harsh with you,” she murmured, sighing. Her blue eyes flicked toward Ruby. “Truce?”

Ruby’s silver eyes widened with hope. A nervous but radiant smile broke across her face as she raised a hand.
“Truce.”

They leaned closer, the moment hanging fragile between danger and trust. Their fingers were just about to meet—

—when a black feather slammed into the ground between them. Ruby flinched, pulling her hand back, a shiver running down her spine.

“Friends?” she asked in a small, hesitant voice, gripping Crescent Rose again.

Weiss, still running, seemed to consider it. Her tone, while not icy, was blunt:
“…No.”

Chapter Text

The ceremony for the formation of the new first-year teams was incredible. The tour of the facilities was just as I had always dreamed it would be… though there was one small disappointment: they didn’t let me into the armory. I was *so* looking forward to it!

Everything had gone perfectly, with just one exception.

I’m the leader.

How did that happen? The newly formed Team RWBY would be led by me. I froze when Professor Ozpin announced it. If Yang hadn’t given me a little shove, I probably would’ve stayed standing there like a statue. I’ve never led anything in my life; in battles, it was always Yang who took the initiative. So… why me?

With those doubts swirling in my head, we walked toward the dorm room we’d been assigned, on one of the highest floors of the student tower.

Of course, Yang and Weiss were already arguing.

“You don’t have to complain so much,” Yang said casually, waving a hand like it was obvious. “Ruby’s gonna do fine. Ozpin must’ve seen something in her.”

“*Something?*” Weiss practically scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. “This is Beacon, Yang. Leadership is supposed to go to someone with discipline and experience! Not to someone who acts like a child!”

Yang raised an eyebrow, still smiling.
“Don’t underestimate my little sis. She may be young, but she’s got heart, and that’s worth more than any rule.”

“Heart doesn’t win battles,” Weiss shot back, turning her head away with disdain.

Meanwhile, Blake walked silently at my side, as if none of this surprised her in the slightest. I, on the other hand, could only feel the knot in my stomach tightening.

Suddenly, a firm female voice made us all stop in our tracks:

“Team RWBY.”

The four of us turned at once. Professor Glynda Goodwitch was approaching, her elegant heels clicking against the floor.

Weiss was the first to react, greeting her with a slight bow.
“Professor Goodwitch.”

Yang tilted her head and asked,
“Something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Glynda replied in her usual serious, imposing tone. “I just need a moment with your leader.”

I instinctively pointed at myself.
“M-me?”

“Yes, Miss Rose. Have you already forgotten?” she said, raising an eyebrow.

My cheeks burned instantly.
“Oh… right. Of course. See you later, team.”

Glynda turned and began walking away. I hurried after her, still in disbelief.

Weiss watched us leave, visibly annoyed, arms crossed and brow furrowed. Blake, though intrigued, sighed wearily; all she wanted was to get to the room.

Yang, on the other hand, smirked and turned on her heel.
“Alright, team, let’s head to our room.”

“And *who* said you’re co-leader?” Weiss glared daggers at her.

“My sis is the leader. What’d you expect?” Yang replied nonchalantly.

Weiss let out a long sigh, half-defeated, and followed Blake down the hall. Still, Yang’s words kept echoing in her mind.

*Sisters?*
She looked at herself, then tried to recall Ruby’s face. They didn’t look alike at all. Not in personality, not in appearance, not in attitude. Something about it just didn’t add up…

———

Glynda opened the door to an empty, silent classroom, moving with the same elegance she always carried. Inside, there was only a desk, a few chairs, and a chalkboard at the far end. The professor walked straight to the desk, took a seat, and adjusted her glasses.

Ruby stepped inside hesitantly, her short, uncertain steps echoing in the quiet room. She froze for a moment, unsure what to do, then finally sat down across from Glynda, her restless hands fidgeting in her lap.

“Well then, Miss Rose,” Glynda began, her piercing gaze fixed on her. “We’ll start as soon as you remove the headband.”

Ruby froze. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

“T-take off… my headband?” she stammered, instinctively reaching up to touch it.

“That’s correct,” Glynda said calmly, though her gaze remained firm. “I understand it’s difficult for you… but that’s exactly why we’re here — to help you. So I ask that, at least in this space, you be yourself.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, biting her lip. Her heart pounded wildly, and a childish fear mixed with the weight of her shame. What if this was a trap? What if she regretted trusting her?

But then she remembered something: Glynda already knew. She had been there, back at the precinct. She had defended Ruby when others had pointed fingers.

There was nothing to fear.

Or at least… that’s what she tried to tell herself as she took a deep breath. Slowly, reluctantly, she raised her hands and slid the headband upward.

Her wolf-like ears popped free, twitching slightly as they adjusted to the open air, stretching faintly after being pressed down for so long.

Ruby shut her eyes, embarrassed.

Glynda, however, showed no surprise at all. She simply nodded with composure, resting her elbows on the desk.
“Much better.”

With a small wave of her hand, a set of books and documents behind her began to float, glowing softly with the faint light of her Semblance. With almost surgical precision, she placed them neatly on the desk in front of Ruby. The *thud* of the last tome made Ruby jump slightly in her seat.

“As you’ll recall,” Glynda said, adjusting her glasses, “you skipped two full years of Signal Academy. And while I don’t entirely approve of that decision, the fact remains: you are now my student. That means I will help you… but it also means you will have to work twice as hard. Which is why I’ve prepared all of this.”

Ruby blinked, leaning forward as if doing so would make the mountain of books look any smaller.

“A-all of this?”

Her gaze darted from manual to manual, trying to read the titles at lightning speed. She recognized a few: *Intermediate Grimm History*, *Advanced Modular Weapons*, *Squad Combat Tactics*, *Semblance Theory*… but many others were completely new to her.

“You need to make up for those lost two years,” Glynda continued, seemingly ignoring Ruby’s horrified expression. “It’ll be a heavy load, Miss Rose. Not only will I expect weekly progress reports on what you read, but you’ll also need to make good use of your weekends. As we agreed, you’ll have your first Saturday morning lessons with me.”

Ruby swallowed hard, slumping slightly against the backrest before timidly raising her hand.
“Isn’t… isn’t that a bit *much*?”

“You chose this path,” Glynda replied firmly. “And there’s no turning back.”

Ruby dropped her arms with a muffled groan, her ears drooping low as if they were protesting right along with her.

Glynda rose from her seat, her cape flowing elegantly behind her.
“You may take these with you, Miss Rose. I’ll see you in class.”

The professor left without so much as a backward glance.

Ruby sat in silence for a few seconds, staring at the mountain of paper and leather in front of her. Then she slumped forward onto the desk with a long sigh, pressing her cheek against an open tome.

“I’m… gonna die,” she muttered, poking one of the books weakly with her finger as if she could push it away.

After a moment, she sat bolt upright, shaking her head and slapping her cheeks with both hands.
“No, no, no, Ruby! You can do this! You’re the leader now!”

She fumbled clumsily with the headband, trapping her ears once more as she adjusted it into place, then walked around the desk. With a determined grunt, she scooped up the stack of books against her chest.

She took two shaky steps forward… and nearly tripped.
“Ouch! Okay, yeah, they’re way heavier than I thought!”

Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the pile under her chin and smiled, her silver eyes shining with determination.
“But I can do this. Yeah… I can do this.”

Wobbling slightly from side to side, she left the classroom and headed toward her dorm.

———

The next day started off more relaxed — even a little exciting. Ruby was the first to wake up. She silently thanked the fact that everyone else was still asleep; it gave her the chance to take a shower without anyone around. The hot water, the steam, and the quiet were the perfect way to start her morning — a rare, peaceful moment where she didn’t have to worry about hiding from curious stares.

When she came out, already dressed in her school uniform, she’d made a few small adjustments to feel more comfortable: long socks, her beloved cape and hood she refused to part with, and of course, the headband firmly secured in place.

Not long after, Yang and Blake began to stir, stretching and yawning, while Weiss was still deeply asleep in her bed. Ruby thought it might be a good time to propose her first activity as team leader — something to help bond the group…

But Yang had other plans.

“Rise and shine, princess!” she said cheerfully, shoving Weiss out of bed without an ounce of hesitation.

The scream that followed was loud enough to make Ruby flinch on the spot.

“WHAT do you think you’re doing, you barbarian?!” Weiss shot up, glaring daggers first at Yang, then at Ruby.

Ruby immediately covered her ears and turned her gaze away. She hated it when people yelled… she really, really hated it.

After a few minutes of bickering and scolding, the four of them finally focused on something more productive: organizing their room. The debate on *how* to do it was almost worse than Weiss’s awakening, but in the end, thanks to what Yang dubbed a “fair democracy” — though Weiss clearly disagreed — they improvised a pair of bunk beds with the room’s existing beds.

Yang and Ruby celebrated the extra space gained, while Weiss frowned deeply, arms crossed in defeat. To everyone’s surprise, Blake actually chuckled softly at the whole thing, which only made Yang grin wider.

The room was finally starting to take shape… until a loud, sharp sound broke the moment.

*Beep-beep-beep!*

Ruby immediately grabbed her Scroll.
“Ah! We’ve got five minutes until the first class starts!”

The four girls froze, staring at each other in silence… and then bolted out of the room in unison, rushing down the hallway while dodging students and nearly crashing into each other.

Coincidentally, Team JNPR was in the exact same situation.

And just like that, Team RWBY’s real morning had begun. And, as expected… it also came with their very first scolding.

———

Luckily for them, when they finally rushed into the classroom, Professor Port was so absorbed in one of his endless stories that he didn’t even notice Team RWBY’s late arrival. Ruby let out a quiet sigh of relief as she and the others quickly found seats.

Class began… or rather, Port began *another* one of his long, theatrical tales from his days as a full-time Huntsman. With exaggerated gestures and dramatic pauses, he described battles against Grimm as though he were performing on stage.

Ruby rested her cheek on her hand and sighed. Out of all the things she disliked, boring classes were at the very top of the list. Her dad and Yang used to joke that, being a “pup,” she could never sit still for long. And honestly… they weren’t wrong.

The subject itself sounded interesting — learning about Grimm always was — but with *this* professor, it was nearly impossible to stay focused.

So, while Port continued to ramble on, Ruby quietly pulled out one of the many books Glynda had given her the night before. *If I don’t take advantage of this time now, when will I?* she thought as she opened it carefully.

Before long, she was completely immersed in the pages, so much so that she didn’t even notice Yang glancing at her with a faintly amused smile.

A sudden elbow to her side jolted her out of her concentration. Ruby let out a small, startled “Ah!” and almost dropped the book. Yang subtly pointed toward the front of the room.

Ruby blinked, confused, and looked up… only to find Professor Port staring directly at her.

“Miss Rose,” he said in his deep, booming voice, though his smile carried a hint of paternal amusement. “I’m glad to see you’re finally paying attention. Since we have such a distinguished audience today, your teammate, Weiss Schnee, will have the honor of conducting a combat demonstration.”

Ruby froze, blinking rapidly.
“W-wait, huh?”

“And as team leader,” Port added proudly, puffing out his chest, “you’ll be directing her.”

Ruby’s entire body went rigid in her seat, her mind struggling to process what he’d just said. Beside her, Weiss rose gracefully, though the furrow in her brow and the icy glare she shot Ruby said everything: *this is your fault.*

Moments later, Weiss stood at the center of the training arena, now dressed in her pristine combat attire, Myrtenaster gleaming under the lights.

Ruby swallowed hard. Directing Weiss? *Me?!*

———

The roar of the juvenile Boarbatusk echoed through the training hall as the creature charged straight toward Weiss. Ruby sat in the stands with the rest of the team, leaning forward nervously, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. As team leader, she *knew* she was supposed to give instructions… but every time she tried, her voice came out shaky and unsure.

“Weiss! Its weak spot is on the belly!” she shouted reflexively.

Weiss shot her an annoyed glance, her concentration faltering.

“I *know* that! Stop distracting me!”

Ruby winced, unsure whether to stay silent or keep trying. But every sudden move the Grimm made had her on edge, her body practically twitching as though she wanted to jump into the fight herself.

“Wait — if you attack from the left, you’ll—”

“Don’t interrupt, Ruby!” Weiss’s sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

Ruby shrank back slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her cape as her silver eyes followed every move in tense silence.

Yang and Blake, sitting beside her, clapped and cheered confidently, certain that Weiss would pull it off. Ruby, though, couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that every word she spoke only made things worse.

The Boarbatusk roared again and charged, kicking up a cloud of dust as it barreled forward. With flawless precision, Weiss sidestepped, her movements elegant and calculated. Myrtenaster flashed under the light as she drove the blade straight into the Grimm’s exposed belly.

The creature let out a shrill screech before dissolving into a cloud of dark smoke.

The classroom erupted in applause. Professor Port laughed heartily, clapping his hands.

“Excellent work, Miss Schnee! A demonstration truly worthy of praise!”

Ruby tried to smile, but couldn’t bring herself to. Weiss, breathing heavily, turned her head toward the stands. Her icy blue eyes locked on Ruby’s, filled with silent reproach. Without saying a single word, she collected her weapon and strode out of the training hall.

Ruby remained frozen in her seat, her hands clasped tightly together, her gaze fixed on the floor. The applause still echoed around her, but her thoughts drowned it out entirely:

*What did I do wrong…?*

———

Class eventually came to an end, and students began leaving the training hall, chatting excitedly about Weiss’s flawless performance.

Ruby, however, stayed in her seat, her head lowered slightly as she stared at her clasped hands. The murmurs around her blurred into background noise; all she could think about was every word she’d spoken during the fight — every attempt to lead Weiss that had backfired completely.

“Don’t sweat it, Rubes,” Yang said softly, placing a comforting hand on her little sister’s shoulder. “You tried to help. It’s not your fault the princess didn’t wanna listen.”

Ruby lowered her gaze even more, sighing quietly.
“I know… but I still feel like I did something wrong.”

Blake stood from her seat and walked over, her calm amber eyes meeting Ruby’s with a mix of seriousness and understanding.

“Weiss doesn’t approve of you as leader,” Blake said flatly, though her tone carried a faint edge of irritation… maybe even a hint of disdain. “That bothers her more than she admits.” She paused briefly, her voice softening ever so slightly. “You shouldn’t let what she says get to you.”

Ruby nodded slowly. She *knew* Blake was right — Weiss didn’t trust her as a leader. And for now, there wasn’t much she could do to change that.

“Forget her, Rubes,” Yang chimed in with a light, almost teasing smile. “The ice queen can keep pouting all she wants.”

Ruby inhaled deeply, trying to let their words soothe her. But instead of calming down, a spark of determination began to grow in her chest. She clenched her fists tightly, her silver eyes firm with resolve.

“No… I have to talk to her. I *have* to make things better… She’s my teammate.”

Without waiting for a reply, without even glancing back, Ruby stood abruptly and rushed out of the classroom. Her cape swirled behind her, the headband holding her ears in place as her boots clattered against the polished floor.

———

Ruby dashed through the hallways, weaving between students and muttering hurried apologies whenever she bumped into someone. Her cape fluttered wildly with each step, and her heart pounded faster with every stride until she finally spotted Weiss walking ahead, her posture stiff and regal as ever.

“Weiss!” Ruby called out, her voice breathless.

The white-haired girl seemed to hear her but didn’t slow down. Instead, she picked up her pace.

“Weiss, wait!”

Ruby ran up and gently grabbed Weiss by the shoulder to stop her. She wasn’t ready for what came next.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?!” Weiss spun around sharply, jerking her shoulder free, her icy blue eyes blazing with fury.

Ruby froze on the spot, startled into silence, her lips parting but no words coming out.

“Not going to speak?” Weiss snapped, her voice cutting like glass. “Then why follow me in the first place?”

“I-I just… I thought we’d made up,” Ruby stammered, her voice small, her silver eyes lifting hesitantly toward Weiss’s. “I thought we were okay now…”

Weiss scoffed harshly, crossing her arms.
“As *teammates*, maybe,” she said, jabbing a finger into Ruby’s chest. “But not as a *leader!*”

Ruby blinked, confused and hurt.
“W-what? Why not?”

“*Why not?!*” Weiss practically shouted, taking a step forward that forced Ruby to instinctively step back.

“A leader needs to be someone reliable!” she snapped, her finger stabbing toward Ruby again.

“A leader needs to be able to guide others!” Another step closer.

“A leader needs proper training — preparation, *experience!*”

Ruby’s back hit the cold wall behind her, the icy surface making her shiver. Weiss loomed closer with every word, her presence as sharp and suffocating as a blade. Ruby’s lips trembled, but no sound came out.

Weiss stopped just inches away, her voice lowering to a venomous whisper.
“But you…” she hissed. “You’re nothing but a naïve little girl who got handed exactly what she wanted.”

Ruby bit her lip hard, tears beginning to well up despite her efforts to hold them back. She *wanted* to respond, to shout that it wasn’t true, that she’d worked just as hard as anyone else — but the words refused to leave her throat.

Memories flashed in her mind of Signal, of all the times she’d been underestimated, dismissed, belittled. This felt just like that… Except now it was a... different topic..

Weiss clenched her fists tightly, her voice still heavy with anger.
“I trained, I studied, I bled for this. I worked for every bit of progress I’ve made! And now someone with *no* discipline, *no* experience, gets the role I’ve been striving for?!”

Ruby felt smaller and smaller with every word, her silver eyes shimmering behind unshed tears.

“Anyone would be a better leader than you,” Weiss spat, her tone dropping slightly but no less cruel. “Your sister. Even Blake, for all her emotionless silence. Ozpin made a mistake choosing you.”

Ruby finally managed a faint, broken whisper.
“Weiss… I…”

But Weiss stepped closer still, cutting off her words completely. She loomed over Ruby, her icy gaze sharp enough to pierce through her.

“Even an *awful faunus* would make a better leader than you.”

Silence.

Weiss waited for Ruby to snap back, to protest, to act like the childish girl she thought she was. But instead, she was met with something unexpected.

A quiet sniffle.

Ruby’s head hung low, her body trembling.
“S-sniff…” The sound was barely audible, followed by another, sharper sob.

Weiss froze, wide-eyed, watching as Ruby slowly raised her face. Tear after tear streamed down her cheeks, her silver eyes glistening with pain.

“Sniff…”

For once, Weiss was speechless. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. And before she could react, Ruby gave her a gentle shove, slipping past her and sprinting down the hallway.

Her red cloak vanished around the corner, leaving Weiss standing there, stunned and… strangely unsettled by the knot tightening in her chest.

“Hm… that went worse than I expected,” came a calm, measured voice from behind Weiss.

She spun around instantly, startled, only to find Headmaster Ozpin standing there, leaning casually on his cane with his usual composed expression.

“P-Professor Ozpin!” Weiss stammered, her surprise breaking through her icy demeanor.

“Good morning, Miss Schnee.” Ozpin took a few unhurried steps toward her, his tone relaxed yet carrying a quiet weight. “I see you’ve been… experiencing certain difficulties with your team’s leader.”

Weiss’s brows furrowed, frustration flashing across her features.
“I’m only speaking the truth. And you *know* I’m right.”

Ozpin stopped just beside her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye as he softly asked:
“And what truth is that, exactly?”

“That Ruby shouldn’t be the leader,” Weiss replied firmly, her chin lifting slightly with pride.

Ozpin hummed thoughtfully, adjusting his grip on his cane.
“She *shouldn’t* be the leader… or *you* believe *you* should be?”

Weiss blinked, her confidence faltering just for a moment.
“Well… yes,” she admitted reluctantly, still trying to keep her composure.

Ozpin’s faint hum deepened, contemplative yet tinged with curiosity.
“Tell me, Miss Schnee… is this the first time you’ve ever *not* gotten what you wanted?”

Weiss froze, her eyes widening in indignation.
“How dare you?” she hissed, crossing her arms tightly.

Ozpin, utterly unfazed, continued in his calm, even tone.
“Have you ever led a team before?”

Weiss hesitated, her proud posture weakening.
“No…” she admitted quietly.

“Have you ever followed the orders of a leader in battle?”

“…No,” she replied again, her voice lower this time.

Ozpin finally turned fully toward her, his green eyes sharper now, his voice carrying just a trace of authority.
“And tell me, Miss Schnee… have you given Miss Rose even a *single* chance to *be* your leader?”

Weiss opened her mouth to fire back… but stopped.

Ruby’s tear-streaked face flashed vividly in her mind — her trembling voice, her quiet sobs, the way she’d run away without a word. The memory silenced Weiss instantly.

Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.
“…No,” she whispered.

Ozpin’s gaze softened, his voice gentler now, layered with understanding.
“Miss Ruby Rose, like every student here at Beacon, has proven that she deserves her place. It’s true she skipped two full years — an unprecedented feat — and because of that, she’ll need support. The support of her teammates. And most importantly, yours.”

Weiss bit her lip, discomfort flickering in her expression. After a moment, she asked quietly, almost reluctantly:
“Then… why give her this responsibility so soon?”

Ozpin smiled faintly, his voice steady and resolute.
“Because at Signal, she showed herself to be far above her peers. A true prodigy.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. “The best of the academy… without even being in the final year.”

Weiss stood in silence, processing his words. Ruby’s tears still lingered in her thoughts, stirring something unfamiliar in her chest — something she didn’t quite understand. Had she… gone too far?

“I’m not asking you to change overnight,” Ozpin continued, stepping past her with a slow, deliberate pace. “After all, I *could* be wrong about her… or I could be right. Believe me, Miss Schnee, I’ve made more mistakes than anyone else in this world.”

He stopped a few paces ahead, glancing back at her with a small, knowing smile.
“But choosing Ruby Rose as Team RWBY’s leader… is *not* one of them.”

“I…” Weiss started softly, her voice barely audible, but no more words followed.

Ozpin turned away once more, his tone polite yet firm as he offered a final remark:
“I hope this conversation has given you something to think about, Miss Schnee. Oh, and one last thing.”

He stopped, his expression becoming more serious as his eyes locked with hers.
“At this academy, anti-faunus remarks are grounds for disciplinary action. I’ll overlook it this time… but only this time.”

With that, he walked away, leaving Weiss alone in the hallway, surrounded by silence.

She stood there motionless, her thoughts tangled and heavy. The echo of Ruby’s quiet sobs still rang in her ears, mixing with Ozpin’s words in a way she couldn’t quite untangle… or ignore.

———

Yang and Blake walked down the halls, searching for Ruby and Weiss.

“I’m telling you, Blake… Weiss is grumpy with a capital *G*,” Yang said, arms crossed with an amused huff.

“That’s to be expected from a Schnee,” Blake replied flatly.

Yang raised an eyebrow.
“A Schnee?”

Blake stared at her in disbelief.
“You *seriously* don’t know who Weiss is? You literally called her ‘princess’ as a joke.”

“Well… she *does* look like a princess,” Yang said with a shrug, a sly grin tugging at her lips.

Blake sighed softly and looked away. Before she could respond, a faint murmur nearby caught her attention. Her ears twitched slightly, honing in on the sound.

“Wait,” she whispered, cutting Yang off.

“Huh? Where are you going? We still have time before the next class,” Yang asked as Blake walked ahead.

“Shh. Listen,” Blake ordered in a low, serious tone.

Yang tilted her head, curious now. Together, they leaned closer, overhearing a pair of students talking just around the corner.

“Did you see what happened in the open hallway?” one whispered.

“Oh, you mean when the heiress totally humiliated that girl?” the other replied.
“Yeah… man, I felt bad, but I’m *not* about to mess with a Schnee.”

“Too bad nobody heard what the headmaster said afterward… everyone scattered the moment he showed up.”

They didn’t get to say more.

In a blur, a strong hand grabbed the first student by the front of his shirt and *lifted* him clean off the ground. Yang held him effortlessly in the air, her lilac eyes glowing an angry, fiery red that instantly froze the atmosphere around them.

“What… did you just say?” Yang growled, leaning in close, her voice low and dangerous.

“W-what are you—” the boy stammered, terrified by the sheer strength in her grip.

Yang yanked him closer, her knuckles whitening as she tightened her fist.
“What you said just now. Explain it. *Now.*”

The other student tried to step in, his voice shaky.
“Y-you can’t just—”

Yang turned her burning gaze on him. Her glare was so sharp, so full of unspoken threat, that he froze on the spot… then bolted, abandoning his friend without another word.

Blake, who had been watching the scene unfold in silence, finally stepped forward and placed a hand firmly on Yang’s arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting information,” Yang said simply, still holding the boy in the air.

“By *threatening* them?” Blake shot back, her tone icy.

Yang’s lips curled into a half-smirk.
“Hey… it’s faster this way.”

“W-wait, wait! I’ll tell you!” the dangling boy cried out, panicked. “Just— just don’t hit me, please!”

Yang dropped him without warning. The boy hit the ground with a soft thud, gasping for breath as she loomed over him. Her fiery red eyes slowly faded back to violet, but the edge in her expression remained.

“Good,” Yang said, folding her arms across her chest with a dangerous smile. “Now… tell me exactly what you saw about the little princess.”

The student swallowed hard, trembling under the weight of her glare, realizing he had *no* choice but to talk.

Chapter Text

Both girls were panting, their eyes locked on one another. On the screens above, their aura bars were teetering on the edge of red. The battle had reached its peak.

“I have to admit, you’ve put up a good fight…” Weiss said, rotating the dust chamber of her rapier, loading the next round. Her lips curved ever so slightly. “But this ends here.”

A white glyph bloomed beneath her feet, launching her forward with lethal speed.

Ruby didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled Crescent Rose’s lever. With a sharp metallic click, the mechanism spun and fired a gravity round behind her, propelling her straight toward Weiss with incredible speed.

The two girls screamed in unison, weapons raised, charging headlong at one another. The impact was deafening.

—A few hours earlier—

“She’s so dead,” Yang said, her voice thick with fury, her lilac eyes flashing into a burning crimson. The boy who had brought the news backed away in fear and bolted down the hall.

“Yang?” Blake called cautiously, sensing the heavy tension in the air.

Yang didn’t answer. Her steps echoed sharply against the floor, each one accompanied by a subtle wave of heat Blake couldn’t ignore.

“Yang… what are you planning to do?” Blake pressed, quickening her pace to keep up.

“Oh, nothing special,” Yang replied mockingly, though her voice burned with anger. “I’m just going to put a hole in Weiss’s stomach.”

Blake’s eyes widened in disbelief. It took her a few seconds to recover, but when Yang tried to walk past, Blake stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

Yang stopped abruptly, fists clenched. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Stopping you from doing something stupid,” Blake shot back firmly, even as a chill ran down her spine.

Yang gritted her teeth. “Stupid? What’s stupid is what Weiss did! She made my sister cry in front of everyone. I’m not letting that slide.”

She shoved Blake aside and continued walking. But Blake knew Yang was serious—this wasn’t a passing tantrum. Swiftly, she ran ahead again and cut her off.

“Listen,” Blake said firmly. “I know I don’t know you or your sister that well… but this won’t help.”

Yang’s crimson eyes blazed hotter. “What won’t help? Ruby ran off crying! And Weiss just walks away like nothing happened!”

Blake took a deep breath, holding her ground. “If you go after Weiss now, it’s not just about her being a Schnee and risking expulsion—it’ll make her *right*.”

Yang’s fists tightened, veins bulging as waves of heat radiated from her. “I don’t care if she’s from some big-name family,” she growled, her voice trembling with rage. “Nobody… *nobody* messes with my sister.”

Yang tried to push forward again, but Blake stood firmer than before.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Blake said seriously. “If you go after her, you’ll only prove Ruby *can’t* handle her own problems. Weiss will think Ruby hides behind you like the little kid she assumes she is. That’ll only make her believe it more.”

Yang froze, glaring daggers at Blake. The hallway was silent except for the faint hum of Yang’s burning aura. Blake seized the moment.

“I’m not justifying what Weiss said,” Blake continued softly. “Believe me, I wanted to hit her myself after what she said. But this isn’t about her right now.” Her voice gentled even further. “Ruby needs her big sister right now.”

Yang lowered her gaze. The heat around her began to fade, her eyes slowly shifting back to violet. Closing her eyes, she let out a long, weary sigh.

“…Fine,” she muttered finally.

Blake eased her shoulders but knew the tension was only buried, ready to ignite again.

Just then, Yang’s scroll chimed softly. With a sharp motion, she pulled it out, still frowning.

“Who’s texting me now…?” she muttered, swiping at the screen.

Her expression softened a little when she saw the sender. “…It’s from Ruby,” she whispered, reading silently.

*“Where are you? Class is about to start.”*

Blake leaned slightly to peek at the message and smiled faintly in relief. “Looks like she’s okay.”

Yang slowly put her scroll away, her expression still dark and wary. She didn’t reply at first, and for a moment Blake thought she’d stay frozen there. But finally, Yang spoke, low and guarded:

“Yeah…”

—Meanwhile—

Ruby ran.

Her footsteps echoed through Beacon’s halls, uneven, desperate, stumbling as tears blurred her vision. Everything ahead of her melted into shapeless streaks of color. She tripped once, then again, but forced herself to keep running.

Students’ eyes followed her—curious, confused, some even mocking. Ruby tried to ignore them, but the ache in her chest burned hotter with every step.

*“Even an awful faunus would make a better leader than you.”*

Weiss’s words crashed through her mind, relentless and cruel. Each echo stung worse than the last.

Ruby gritted her teeth, lowered her gaze, and sped up without watching where she stepped. The ground seemed to shift beneath her boots until her foot snagged on an uneven edge of the hallway floor. Balance slipped from her, and she pitched forward.

She was going to fall.

Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the painful impact—

…but it never came.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, startled to find herself suspended, a strange pressure tugging at the metal cross-pins fastening her cloak, holding her steady.

“W-what…?” she whispered shakily.

“Sorry—hold on,” a soft female voice said behind her. With an odd, gentle pull, Ruby was upright again, her body guided smoothly back to balance as though pushed by invisible hands.

Ruby turned her head just as she heard the voice continue, nervous and apologetic:
“I know we’re not supposed to use our Semblances inside the school, but you were about to fall and I…”

Ruby’s eyes widened at the first thing she saw—a carefully tied auburn ponytail, a golden circlet gleaming against red hair. Her heart skipped a beat. Pyrrha Nikos.

Pyrrha, noticing Ruby’s expression, blinked awkwardly before lowering her voice. “Oh… are you okay? Sorry if I pushed you too hard.”

Ruby shook her head quickly, flustered. “N-no, it’s… not your fault… I… thanks…”

Still overwhelmed, Ruby turned and started walking again, shoulders hunched. She didn’t have the strength to talk—not now, not about this.

But Pyrrha followed with soft, even steps. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked gently.

“…Yeah,” Ruby replied automatically, her voice faint.

Pyrrha frowned, concern softening her features. “I don’t think you are,” she said, though without judgment. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but… maybe you should sit down. You don’t want to fall again, do you?”

Ruby hesitated, biting her lip. She could brush Pyrrha off and keep wandering aimlessly… or she could sit down and try to breathe, even just for a moment. Neither sounded appealing, but she knew staying like this would only make things worse.

Reading her silence as consent, Pyrrha touched her shoulder lightly. “Come on,” she said warmly, leading Ruby toward a nearby bench.

Ruby didn’t resist. Exhaustion dulled her body and mind as they sat side by side. The faint scent of metal drifted in the air, oddly comforting—it reminded her of the garage where she’d forged Crescent Rose.

Ruby didn’t understand why Pyrrha was helping her. What surprised her most was that she hadn’t run away herself. Maybe she was just… too tired to fight it. Too tired to keep pretending she was okay.

A tiny sob escaped her lips before she could stop it. Ruby curled into her cloak, trying to hide her vulnerability.

“Are you alright?” Pyrrha asked softly, with the kind of patience that expected no honest answer.

Ruby glanced up for only a moment, meeting Pyrrha’s calm green eyes, then quickly looked away. “…I said I’m fine,” she mumbled.

Pyrrha tilted her head gently. “Is this about what happened in class this morning?”

Ruby stiffened at the mention. Of course Pyrrha knew—everyone had seen it.

“Did you talk to Weiss?” Pyrrha asked, voice careful.

Ruby nodded slightly. “…Yeah, but…” Her voice cracked before she could finish, another sob breaking free.

Pyrrha remained silent, watching with genuine empathy, though she didn’t fully understand everything Ruby was carrying inside. Ruby, meanwhile, couldn’t help but wonder… why was Pyrrha being so kind? She and Weiss seemed close. Ruby even remembered how Pyrrha had punched Jaune when he tried flirting with Weiss—and again after he was named leader. Ruby had assumed Pyrrha would side with Weiss.

But she hadn’t.

An insecure thought surfaced, uninvited.

“Do you… approve of Jaune being your leader?”

The question caught Pyrrha completely off guard. “…S-sorry, what?”

Ruby repeated it, her voice faint and uncertain. “Do you… accept Jaune as your leader?”

Pyrrha hesitated, a little flustered. “Oh… well, yes. I do.”

Ruby blinked, surprised, though Pyrrha’s calm expression left no room for doubt. Jaune wasn’t… remarkable. Not compared to her. Not compared to Pyrrha. And yet, Pyrrha smiled softly and continued:

“I won’t deny it surprised me at first,” she admitted. “But after thinking about it… yes, I accept him.”

Ruby stared, wide-eyed. Pyrrha Nikos—the undefeated champion, renowned warrior, the one everyone admired—was perfectly fine with following someone objectively weaker?

“…Doesn’t that bother you?” Ruby whispered.

Pyrrha thought for a moment, tilting her head. “Hm… it didn’t bother me. But it bothered a lot of others.”

Ruby frowned slightly. “Others?”

Pyrrha gave a small, ironic laugh. “Everyone expected I’d lead my team at Beacon. When I wasn’t chosen, people started questioning Professor Ozpin’s decision. Some even argued with him openly.” She smiled faintly at the memory. “I had to tell them I was fine with it. That I accepted it.”

Ruby stayed silent, impressed. Of course Pyrrha would think like that. That’s why she was Pyrrha Nikos.

“And Jaune didn’t want to be leader, either,” Pyrrha added softly. “In fact, he asked me to take his place. But I refused.”

Ruby brushed the tears from her cheeks, the knot in her chest loosening ever so slightly.

“It’s too early to judge anything,” Pyrrha said gently. “It’s our first day here. If your problem with Weiss is about leadership… maybe patience is the key. You’ll get your chance to prove yourself—not just to Weiss, but to everyone. After all, you’re the youngest here. That’s an achievement she should acknowledge.”

Ruby didn’t respond right away, lost in her thoughts. Pyrrha… knew about her early admission? Ruby kept her gaze down, thinking over everything Pyrrha had said. It was true—it was just the first day, and yet she already felt like she was failing. Weiss’s words still cut deep, especially the last ones.

But then she glanced sideways and caught Pyrrha’s warm, genuine smile. Ruby couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh.

“You know… I don’t think we’ve ever officially introduced ourselves. Though, of course, I already know who you are,” Ruby said shyly.

Pyrrha blinked before laughing softly. “Oh, you’re right. I’m sorry.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Pyrrha Nikos.”

Ruby smiled faintly. “Ruby Rose.”

For a brief, quiet moment, they shared a small sense of peace—until Ruby’s scroll buzzed with a notification for their next class. Pyrrha noticed it too.

“I guess we should get going,” Pyrrha said.

“Yeah… I guess so,” Ruby replied, standing slowly. Then, with a sheepish smile, she added, “Thanks… I really needed that.”

Pyrrha rose beside her, offering another warm smile. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”

———

The rest of Ruby’s morning went better—she’d even call it fun. Pyrrha brought her along to hang out with Team JNPR, who welcomed her warmly. Nora, unsurprisingly, bombarded her with rapid-fire questions and boundless energy, while Ren smiled calmly and kept quiet. Jaune, being her first real friend at Beacon, made her feel at ease.

Not long after, Yang and Blake joined them. Yang immediately wore the look Ruby knew too well—the one that meant trouble.

“Well, little sis… care to tell me what happened with Ice Princess?” Yang asked, her tone caught between curiosity and restrained fury.

Ruby sighed, knowing she couldn’t dodge it forever. She explained what had happened, how Weiss had been harsh, and how Pyrrha had helped. Yang’s jaw tightened, but Ruby quickly pleaded:

“Please, Yang, promise me you won’t break Weiss’s legs.”

“Did someone say *breaking legs*?!” Nora shot her hand up enthusiastically. “Because I wanna help too!”

Ruby nearly choked on a nervous laugh. “No, no, no! If you do that, you’ll get expelled! And besides…” Ruby straightened, uncharacteristically serious. “I want to handle this with Weiss myself. If I’m gonna be a leader, I need to learn how to deal with things like this.”

Blake, who had been quiet, let out a soft chuckle, which confused Ruby entirely. “What are you laughing at?” Ruby asked, pouting.

“Nothing,” Blake replied smoothly, though her amused gaze said otherwise.

Yang raised her hands in surrender, though her tone carried a silent warning. “Alright, alright… but if this happens again, Ruby, don’t expect me to stay out of it.”

Ruby could only sigh in defeat.

Just then, the classroom doors opened, and Weiss stepped inside. For an instant, their gazes met. Ruby tried to smile, but Weiss turned away and took a seat on the opposite side of the room, far from her team. The quiet sting of distance hurt more than Ruby expected.

“Good afternoon, students.” Glynda’s firm voice echoed across the wide training hall as she stepped onto the platform, instantly commanding everyone’s attention. “Welcome to my combat class. Here, you won’t just perfect your skills—you’ll prepare your minds for any enemy that dares cross your path.”

The students listened intently, some nervous, others excited. Glynda, with her usual poised elegance, swept her gaze across the room, evaluating everyone until her eyes landed deliberately on one side of the hall.

“As is tradition at the start of every semester,” she continued, adjusting her glasses, “we’ll open with an exhibition match.”

A ripple of whispers spread through the room, a mix of tension and anticipation.

“Now *that’s* what I’m talking about,” Yang murmured, grinning eagerly.

“Right?!” Nora chimed in, practically bouncing in her seat.

Ruby tried to focus on Glynda’s words, but her eyes kept drifting to Weiss, who sat perfectly composed, attention fixed on the instructor.

At that moment, the back doors opened quietly, and Professor Ozpin entered. With calm, deliberate steps, he took a seat at the far end of the room, hands resting atop his cane, silently observing.

“I see a lot of excitement in your faces,” Glynda said after a pause. “However, that energy alone will get you nowhere.”

She tapped her heel sharply against the floor, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Instantly, the scattered murmurs ceased, and the room grew tense.

“To start,” she said firmly, “one student will be chosen at random… and they will select their opponent.”

Nervous whispers erupted again as Glynda’s gaze slowly swept over the class before stopping with deliberate precision.

“Miss Ruby Rose will take the first match.”

“*Eh?!*” Ruby yelped.

Yang burst into laughter and clapped Ruby on the shoulder. “Heh, lucky you, sis. First up. Oh, hey—why don’t we show ‘em how it’s done?”

“Ruby, *please* don’t pick me…” Jaune muttered nervously, raising a hand like he was volunteering as tribute.

Blake, without looking up from where she sat, murmured softly but with faint amusement, “Feels like this was planned on purpose.”

She finally glanced at Ruby, her tone neutral but supportive. “Good luck, Ruby.”

Glynda struck the floor lightly with her riding crop to regain focus. “Miss Rose,” she said clearly, “who will you face?”

Ruby, still shaky, took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Her pulse raced, but a spark of determination flared in her eyes. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and scanned the room until her eyes locked with Weiss’s.

Weiss’s expression stiffened instantly, her widened eyes betraying that she understood Ruby’s decision.

“I want…” Ruby clenched her fists, swallowed hard, and said firmly, “…to fight my teammate, Weiss Schnee.”

———

Ruby climbed the stairs on the far right of the platform, her cloak swaying with each steady step. She was already wearing her combat outfit, Crescent Rose resting snugly across her back—ready to be unleashed.

From the opposite side, Weiss ascended with pristine poise. Her rapier, Myrtenaster, glimmered under the training room lights, and her icy gaze never wavered.

They stopped several meters apart, neither breaking eye contact. The tension between them was palpable.

Glynda stepped between them, scroll in hand. “Before we begin, I’ll explain the rules for your matches this semester.” With a button press, a large holographic display lit up behind her, showing portraits of Ruby and Weiss, each with an aura bar beneath.

“These gauges represent each student’s aura levels,” Glynda explained. “Once one drops into the red zone, the match is over, and that student loses immediately.”

As Glynda spoke, Ruby and Weiss stared one another down, the rest of the room fading from their awareness.

“Kick her butt, Ruby!” Yang yelled from the stands.

“Wow…” Jaune whispered nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “You’ve got a lot of faith in your sister, but honestly… I think Weiss has this.”

Blake arched a brow and turned toward him. “…And why do you think that, blondie?” Her tone carried a quiet threat.

Jaune froze, feeling both her piercing stare and Yang’s glare boring into him. “I-I-I didn’t mean Ruby’s *bad* or anything! Just that… you know… Weiss is… um… good. Really good…”

Pyrrha, calm and composed, added softly, “It’ll be a close match.” Her serene tone drew everyone’s attention. “I saw them both fight in the Emerald Forest. I wouldn’t bet on either one.”

“Break her legs, Red!” Nora bellowed, raising both arms like a cheerleader.

“Nora…” Ren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with the patience of a saint.

Glynda raised her riding crop, her voice sharp. “Combatants—ready yourselves.”

Ruby and Weiss drew their weapons at once. Crescent Rose spun fluidly into its full scythe form, Ruby holding it low and poised.

Weiss, graceful as ever, lifted Myrtenaster with precision, her off-hand folding neatly behind her back. Her posture radiated discipline and elegance, a stark contrast to Ruby’s raw, kinetic energy.

Neither girl blinked. Neither girl flinched.

Glynda stepped back. “Begin!”

Ruby wasted no time, firing Crescent Rose behind her to propel herself forward at blinding speed.

Weiss reacted instantly, summoning a crimson glyph before her. A wave of fire erupted outward, roaring toward Ruby.

Ruby fired her weapon again, vaulting upward and over the flames. Suspended in midair, she aimed upward and pulled the trigger, launching herself downward in a devastating descending strike.

“Tch!” Weiss barely managed to raise her rapier, blocking the scythe with a shower of sparks. Ruby’s weight forced her back, but Weiss sidestepped at the last possible moment to avoid being crushed.

Ruby landed hard but didn’t stop, launching herself forward once again. Their weapons clashed in rapid succession, the metallic ring echoing through the arena.

Weiss leapt backward, summoning a white glyph beneath her feet to launch herself high into the air. Briefly suspended above, she conjured a dark glyph to hold herself aloft, then summoned two more glyphs that fired icy shards downward in rapid succession.

Ruby dashed and spun, dodging as many as she could while deflecting others with her scythe. But there were too many—several shards struck her, forcing a grunt from her lips.

“Not yet!” Ruby shouted, activating her Semblance in a burst of rose petals, reappearing behind Weiss in an instant. With another recoil blast, she dove downward, Crescent Rose swinging in a heavy arc.

Weiss barely turned in time, meeting the strike with Myrtenaster. The clash shook the air, their weapons screeching as steel ground against steel. Ruby twisted her scythe mid-lock, slamming the blunt end into Weiss’s side, sending her stumbling backward.

“Ah!” Weiss gasped but retaliated immediately, summoning a fire glyph behind Ruby.

Ruby fired her weapon just after striking, the recoil propelling her into Weiss. The blast sent Weiss rolling across the floor. With a sharp cry, Weiss stabbed her rapier into the ground to stop herself, her aura flaring wildly around her.

Ruby, airborne, didn’t notice the glyph behind her until it detonated. The fiery blast sent her spinning violently before she landed hard, barely catching herself on her knees. Her aura flickered dangerously.

Both girls stood panting, sweat beading down their faces, aura levels on the brink of red. The entire class held its breath.

Pyrrha watched with a soft smile, eyes following every movement without missing a beat.

“Oh my gods…” Jaune whispered, slack-jawed, unable to look away.

“That’s my sister,” Yang said proudly, folding her arms, a wide grin plastered on her face.

Blake, meanwhile, couldn’t hide her surprise at Ruby’s skill—clearly exceeding her expectations… and, judging by her scowl, Weiss’s too.

“I call dibs on the next fight!” Nora shouted, nearly leaping over the railing.

“That’s… not up to you,” Ren replied calmly, though even he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the duel. “At this rate, we won’t have to wait long. The next strike decides everything.”

The two combatants steadied themselves, determination radiating from both. Weiss broke the silence first.

“I must admit, you’ve fought well…” she said, rotating Myrtenaster’s dust chamber with a soft click. Her lips curled faintly. “But this ends now.”

A white glyph formed beneath her feet, launching her forward like lightning.

Ruby didn’t speak, simply pulled Crescent Rose’s lever. With a metallic snap, the chamber spun and fired a gravity round, propelling her straight at Weiss.

Both girls roared as they charged. Weapons raised. Aura blazing.

Their strikes collided.

In a blink, they passed one another, landing back-to-back on opposite sides of the arena. Silence blanketed the room.

One of the girls staggered, their weapon slipping from trembling hands. Their aura flickered faintly… and then shattered. A ragged gasp escaped as they dropped to their knees, struggling for breath.

“The winner of the first match of the year…” Glynda announced solemnly, “…is Miss Weiss Schnee.”

The hall erupted with cheers and applause, the spectacle leaving everyone awestruck.

“Though this *is* a training match,” Glynda added, already repairing the damaged arena with her Semblance, “I expect you both to avoid such recklessness in the future.”

Yang and Blake rushed down to Ruby without hesitation while Nora slammed her hands against the railing in frustration.

“Noooo! I wanted Little Red to win!” she wailed.

Ren rested a calming hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Nora. It was a great fight. Perfectly even.”

Jaune clapped enthusiastically, even letting out a whistle. “That was amazing, Weiss!”

Nora and Ren turned to stare at him blankly.

“…What? Did I say something wrong?” Jaune asked awkwardly.

“Forget it,” Nora sighed, slumping against the desk.

Pyrrha smiled softly, correcting him gently. “No, Jaune. You’re right. It was a match worth respecting. We should be grateful we got to witness it.”

———

On the stage, Weiss lifted her gaze toward the screen displaying her victory. But her pride didn’t shine as usual. Her rapier fell from her hands, and she herself dropped to her knees, exhausted, her aura fading just like Ruby’s.

She heard footsteps approaching, and when she looked again, she noticed Ruby lying on her back on the floor, her hood still covering her face. Shortly after, Yang knelt beside her, lifting her carefully to rest her in her lap, preventing her from remaining sprawled on the ground. Blake joined them in silence, bowing slightly with a gentle gesture.

Weiss, though sore and exhausted, couldn’t help but notice Ruby. She expected to see her defeated, perhaps frustrated or even crying after everything that had just happened. But, to her surprise, what she found was the opposite: Ruby was smiling. She laughed as she spoke with Yang, exchanging light words also with Blake.

Weiss’s expression darkened. Of all the feelings passing through her mind, only one prevailed:

Envy.

She had won, standing as the “victorious” one. She should have been the one wearing a radiant smile, bidding farewell with elegance, as she had so many times in other stages, surrounded by an audience and congratulations. But now she didn’t feel the same; she felt empty. Her triumph was cold, barely highlighted by the screen behind her announcing her victory.

Gathering her strength, Weiss forced herself to stand. Her steps were firm but heavy as she began to walk toward the trio.

Yang smiled softly, adjusting Ruby in her arms. “You put up a hell of a fight, Rubes. Just like I knew you would.”

Ruby chuckled faintly. “I’m fine… I just lost a match, that’s all. You know I’m not exactly great against *people*.”

Blake corrected her gently, voice calm. “Maybe your weapon’s better suited for Grimm, but you held your ground. That was impressive.”

Ruby’s tired smile widened. “Thanks, you guys…”

“Ruby Rose.”

The cold, clipped voice made them look up. Weiss stood before them, expression calm but strained.

Yang narrowed her eyes. “…What do you want? The fight’s over.”

But Ruby surprised her sister by standing immediately, facing Weiss head-on. “Yes, Weiss?”

Weiss glanced briefly at Yang and Blake, who seemed ready to step in, then cleared her throat softly. “…I’m sorry.”

Ruby blinked. “Huh… what?”

“I said I’m sorry,” Weiss repeated, firmer this time.

Ruby stared blankly, as though she hadn’t processed it. “…Sorry, I think I misheard you—”

Weiss let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m *apologizing*.”

Ruby’s silver eyes widened. “…Y-you’re apologizing?”

“Do I need to repeat myself again?” Weiss shot back, raising a brow.

Ruby waved her hands frantically. “No, no! It’s just… I wasn’t expecting that.”

Weiss crossed her arms awkwardly, forcing her composure. “Look… I may have been too harsh before. Maybe I took out frustrations on you that had nothing to do with you. After thinking it over, I realized… I haven’t given you a real chance.”

Ruby’s eyes shimmered, tears threatening to spill. “Weiss, I—”

“But,” Weiss interrupted firmly, “if you fail, don’t expect me to stand by quietly when it comes to leadership.”

Ruby’s tears turned into a grin, and before Weiss could stop her, Ruby threw her arms around her. “Thank you! I promise I won’t let you down!”

Weiss stiffened, face flushing, trying to pry Ruby off. “H-hey! Stop that before I regret this!”

Ruby laughed softly as she stepped back. Weiss exhaled sharply, adding dryly, “…Considering what I said earlier—even suggesting a faunus would make a better leader than you—I suppose I’ll… let that go.”

Before Blake could comment, she felt a strange sensation—eyes watching her from afar. She turned toward the upper stands just in time to see a pair of doors closing quietly.

She didn’t have time to process it.

“YANG, WAIT!” Ruby’s sudden panicked shout snapped Blake back around.

Blake barely had time to shudder before a deafening impact shook the training room. The force was so intense that it felt like a shockwave rippled through everyone present.

Chapter Text

A couple of slow blinks. Blurry shadows. A white blur moving in front of her vision.

“…W-what… happened?” she murmured, her voice shaky and hoarse.

A sharp pain stabbed through her left eye, forcing out a muffled groan. The simple act of trying to open it wider only made the burning sensation worse. Slowly, her pupils adjusted to the blinding light until the scene before her came into focus: a white room — *too* white. The walls, the ceiling, even the faint smell of disinfectant… unmistakable.

“…The infirmary,” she whispered, realizing she was lying on a cot.

Carefully, she pushed herself up, using her other hand for support, still trying to understand.

“But… why am I…?”

The words froze on her lips. Like a crashing wave, the memories came flooding back: the duel against Ruby. She had won. She even apologized to the girl with the headband and red hood. To her surprise, Ruby hugged her; Weiss pushed her away instantly, and then Yang showed up… the last thing she remembered was the blonde’s fist flying straight at her face.

“Tch… that savage…” she muttered between clenched teeth, rubbing her temple as the throbbing pain returned.

Why did that brute punch her? Sure, she’d hurt her little sister, but she *apologized* to her — and Ruby had *accepted* it! Was it because she said that even a faunus could be better than her? Hmph, honestly… she’d have reacted the same if someone dared to imply that about her own… sister.

Those two really care about each other…

The doors suddenly slammed open, crashing against the walls. Weiss flinched, but despite the pain, her proud and elegant posture returned instantly. Her icy blue eyes locked onto the entrance.

A nurse walked in, startled to see her awake.
“Miss Schnee! I’m glad to see you’ve regained consciousness.”

Weiss frowned, still trying to sort through her thoughts.
“What… happened?” she asked coldly, though the pain in her eye stole some of her usual composure.

The nurse approached, clipboard and pen in hand.
“After your encounter with your teammate Ruby Rose, Miss Xiao Long struck you in the face. Since your Aura was depleted at the time, the impact was enough to knock you out instantly.”

Weiss pressed her lips together, processing the information with visible discomfort.
“I… see. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Miss Schnee. Tell me, how are you feeling now?”

“…Better,” Weiss replied stiffly. “I can feel my Aura again, though… my left eye still hurts.”

The nurse calmly jotted down a few notes.
“Don’t worry, your Aura will heal it completely. The pain will pass. The bruise on your left eye will also fade in time.”

Weiss blinked, frozen for a moment.
“My eye *what*?!” she exclaimed, nearly shouting.

Unfazed, the nurse pulled out a small mirror and handed it over. Weiss snatched it and, upon seeing her reflection, gasped sharply. Her left eye was surrounded by a perfect purplish bruise, forming a grotesque ring on her otherwise flawless face.

“Dear *gods*!” she cried in horror.

“As I said, there’s no need to worry. In a few days, both the swelling and the pain will disappear,” the nurse reassured her calmly.

Weiss gripped the mirror tightly, her face burning with both shame and anger.
“If I had known apologizing would *cost me a black eye*… I wouldn’t have done it! I’ll *report* that… *beast*!”

“I doubt you can,” the nurse interrupted neutrally.

Weiss turned to her as if she’d just insulted her entire family.
“What’s *that* supposed to mean?!”

The nurse held her gaze, completely unbothered.
“You can’t, because you and your entire team have been punished… or rather, in Academy terms: you’ve all been assigned detention.”

“WHAT?!” Weiss’s scream echoed through the infirmary, her disbelief exploding into near hysteria.

———

Weiss was… *exhausted*. That was the most polite word she could come up with at the moment.

They’d discharged her shortly after her outburst — though to her, it was still outrageous: *she*, the victim, had been sent to detention. The nurse, however, had coldly reminded her that if she didn’t want sanctions, she shouldn’t have caused a scene in the hallways or verbally attacked her teammate. Weiss had no counterargument and, reluctantly, accepted it.

Now she walked back toward her room… and, consequently, toward her team.
Honestly, she didn’t want to face them right now.

It was already night; she’d been unconscious all afternoon. With any luck, her teammates would be asleep, sparing her from any awkward confrontation — at least until morning. Clinging to that hope, she finally reached the door. Closed.

She took a deep breath, straightened her uniform, and turned the knob. Quietly, she slipped inside, her icy blue eyes scanning the room.

To the right, she quickly spotted Blake — asleep, ribbon still neatly tied — and Yang, sprawled across her messy bed like she’d been hit by a truck. Both were sound asleep, their breathing slow and steady.

She shifted her gaze to the other side — where *she* should be. Ruby Rose.

Stopping in front of the upper bunk, Weiss blinked in surprise. A makeshift curtain was draped over the bed, completely blocking the view. Stranger still, a faint light shone from within the improvised little fort, softly glowing in the dark room.

Weiss arched an eyebrow, her lips tightening into a curious frown.

Whether out of suspicion or simple curiosity, she stepped closer. Carefully, she pulled aside the blanket — clearly set up by Ruby herself — and froze at the sight inside.

The bed looked like a miniature fortress of paper. Books and notes were scattered everywhere, almost like a tiny library had exploded within the bunk. Weiss couldn’t help but compare it to Blake, who hoarded entire pieces of furniture with her book stacks.

Ruby lay amidst the chaos, head resting on an open book, completely asleep. Her Scroll — still glowing — was the source of the faint light. Her breathing was soft, broken occasionally by a tiny whimper… and Weiss thought she spotted faint dried tear marks on Ruby’s cheeks, which made her hesitate for a moment.

“…What *is* all this…?” she whispered under her breath.

Scanning the titles, she recognized several basic manuals used at Signal. That made sense… until she noticed others — advanced material, part of *this* year’s curriculum. But most surprising of all were a few books Weiss herself had studied with private tutors — material far beyond first-year level.

How was this even possible? Today had been their *first day* of class.
Weiss frowned deeply. Even if I had skipped two lectures, there was no way they’d been assigned something of this magnitude already.

Ruby shifted slightly in her sleep, murmuring something incomprehensible, which revealed a folded sheet of paper beneath her hand. Unlike the rest, it wasn’t a book or loose notes.

Carefully, Weiss picked it up for a quick glance — and froze the instant she recognized the seal. Her heart skipped a beat.

It was an official document, signed by Headmaster Ozpin himself.

The letter authorized Ruby Rose’s early admission into Beacon, but under strict conditions: remain within the top five students of the year, maintain a minimum GPA of 90, uphold exemplary conduct, attend additional remedial classes imposed by the academy… and, should she fail to meet *any* of these conditions, she would be expelled immediately for not living up to expectations.

Weiss slowly lowered the document, still in shock, and turned back to the young team leader. Ruby slept peacefully, her face relaxed — completely unaware of the weight she carried on her shoulders.

A knot formed in Weiss’s stomach as understanding sank in — why Ruby had that chaotic mess around her, and why her words earlier had hurt her so deeply.

“…Gods… I was such an *idiot*,” she whispered, incredulous.

Her voice was slightly louder than intended, enough for Ruby to stir and let out a soft groan. Weiss froze, holding her breath, but Ruby only rolled over to a more comfortable position. Her face was now perfectly visible beneath the faint glow of the Scroll’s light.

Weiss stared in silence, her stern expression softening little by little.

“I’ll make it up to you…” she murmured, almost like a promise spoken only to the sleeping girl.

That’s when she noticed Ruby was still wearing her headband. She must’ve fallen asleep mid-study, Weiss thought, a hint of fondness crossing her features.

With a quiet sigh, she carefully reached out, intending to remove it so Ruby could rest more comfortably.

“…Weiss?”

The sleepy voice made her freeze instantly.

Ruby’s silver eyes cracked open, blinking groggily in confusion. She rubbed one eye with her fist, blinking again to confirm she wasn’t imagining it. Weiss Schnee was *actually* standing right in front of her bed.

“W-Weiss!” she whispered, startled, pushing herself upright.

Before Ruby could say another word, Weiss gently pressed a finger to her lips. Her expression was calm but firm as she gestured subtly toward the bunks of the other two, still fast asleep.

Ruby immediately understood. Her eyes widened slightly, and she nodded in silence. Only then did Weiss lower her hand, still wearing her usual composed mask — though inside, she felt something entirely different.

The two of them just… stared at each other, unsure of what to say after everything that had happened. Weiss was the one to break the silence, glancing at the chaos surrounding Ruby:

“…I see you have… a lot of books.”

Ruby flinched, her gaze darting to the mess before her.
“Eh? Ah, y-yeah… let me clean this up.”

She quickly began stacking books and papers, trying to distract herself from the tension. With an awkward little laugh, she added:
“Sorry if the light bothered you, I—”

“It didn’t,” Weiss interrupted softly — no harshness this time, though her tone remained firm. “Besides… I just got back. From the infirmary.”

Ruby stiffened immediately, her whole body tensing as she avoided eye contact.
“Oh…” was all she managed to mumble.

Weiss hesitated, then stepped closer.
“About what happened, I…”

Ruby cut her off suddenly, clasping her hands together as if begging, words spilling out fast and clumsy:
“I’m so sorry! Really, I’m sorry… Yang’s not a bad person, I swear! She’s just… super overprotective of me. Please don’t be mad at her. I promise I’ll make her apologize, but please don’t hate her—!”

Weiss blinked, momentarily stunned by Ruby’s frantic rambling.
“Ruby,” she said firmly.

But Ruby kept mumbling apologies under her breath. Weiss pursed her lips, stepped closer, and repeated, louder this time:
“Ruby.”

Finally, she placed a gentle hand on Ruby’s shoulder. The touch was enough to make the girl fall silent instantly, her silver eyes locking on Weiss’s face.

“I *am* annoyed about what your sister did… and about this black eye,” Weiss began.

Ruby’s mouth opened, ready to apologize yet again, but Weiss raised her hand sharply to stop her.
“Let me finish,” she said in her typical clipped tone, forcing Ruby into silence. “We’ve already been punished, so I have no problem with your sister right now. And frankly… she’s the one who owes *me* an apology, not you. Besides…” she sighed softly, “…I admit the things I said weren’t exactly kind. To some extent… I deserved it.”

Ruby blinked, uncertain.
“R-really?”

“Yes,” Weiss replied with a faint, resigned nod.

Ruby couldn’t help but smile, relief washing over her.
“Thanks… really, Weiss.”

“Y-yes, yes, don’t get sentimental,” Weiss muttered, looking away slightly.

Ruby giggled quietly, her usual playfulness seeping back.
“Y’know… I gotta say, the black eye kinda gives you this… tough-girl vibe.”

Weiss glared at her flatly, completely unamused. Ruby shrank under the stare, smiling nervously.
“Too soon?”

Weiss said nothing. The silence itself was punishment enough.

“…Sorry,” Ruby mumbled, averting her gaze.

Weiss sighed tiredly and chose to ignore the remark entirely.
“We should sleep. It’s already late.”

Ruby nodded quickly.
“Oh, yeah, right. And… sorry again. For everything.”

“I told you it doesn’t bother me,” Weiss replied curtly, turning to head toward her lower bunk. But halfway there, she paused, hesitated for just a moment, and then, without turning back, whispered softly:

“…Good night... leader.”

Ruby froze, silver eyes widening at the unexpected words. Slowly, a warm smile formed on her lips as Weiss vanished from view. She lay back down, the warmth still blooming in her chest — until her head hit the stack of books, triggering a cascade of papers and covers crashing onto her.

“Ughhh…” she groaned in defeat, buried under her improvised fortress of chaos.

———

Silence was a luxury Blake had learned to treasure. Few things brought her more peace than losing herself in a good book, and here at Beacon, she finally had more time for it than in her chaotic past life.

However, on their *second day of classes*, sitting in detention late at night, she would’ve killed for a good cup of coffee. Her precious quiet was constantly interrupted by the relentless bickering of two sisters.

“Please…” Ruby begged softly.

“No.” Yang’s response was firm.

“Pleeease?”

“I said no, Ruby. I’m *not* apologizing.”

Blake sighed quietly, flipping a page.

Ruby, undeterred, leaned closer with her best puppy-dog eyes.
“What if I ask you *super* nicely?”

Yang leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
“Oh no. Don’t even *think* about using that trick.”

Blake, despite herself, had to admit Ruby’s comparison wasn’t wrong. Those big silver eyes really did look like a puppy begging for treats.

“I’ll clean and maintain Ember Celica for an entire month!” Ruby blurted, desperation creeping into her voice.

Yang raised an eyebrow, incredulous.
“You’re seriously defending Weiss after everything she said to you?”

Ruby’s gaze lowered slightly, but her reply was honest:
“It… hurt. But she apologized. She’s not *that* bad. We just… started off on the wrong foot, like you said. But we’re okay now.”

Yang stared at her, frowning.
“‘Okay,’ huh? Then where *is* she?”

Ruby opened her mouth to answer, only to freeze. The detention room was completely empty except for the three of them. Weiss was nowhere to be found.

Yang clicked her tongue.
“See? She doesn’t care, Ruby. I bet they excused her just ‘cause she’s a Schnee. Even Blake’s stuck here, and she didn’t do *anything*.”

Without looking up from her book, Blake muttered dryly:
“Oh no, please don’t drag me into your sister drama.”

Ruby frowned, turning to Blake for support anyway.
“But… Blake, why *are* you here if you didn’t do anything?”

The faunus finally glanced up, arching a brow.
“I could ask you the same question.”

Ruby shrugged, scratching the back of her neck.
“Well… they said since I’m team leader, if I can’t control my team, I get punished too.”

Yang scoffed, throwing her arms up.
“Ridiculous.”

Ruby sighed and tilted her head toward Blake.
“And you?”

Blake calmly closed her book.
“Besides laughing a *little* when you punched Weiss? Professor Goodwitch thought this would make a good… ‘team-building exercise.’”

“Oh…” Ruby’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Blake replied with a tiny shrug. “This is Weiss’s fault… and Yang’s.”

“*Mine?!*” Yang snapped, pointing at herself.

Before anyone could argue further, the detention room door creaked open with a loud metallic groan. The sound echoed through the empty classroom, silencing everyone instantly.

Professor Glynda Goodwitch stood in the doorway, her sharp gaze sweeping over the three students like a blade.

Ruby jumped up instinctively to greet her, but Glynda raised a stern hand, silently ordering her to sit back down.

“You have a punishment to serve,” she stated flatly.

Ruby obeyed without protest, sinking back into her chair. Glynda strode toward them, her heels clicking against the floor, and spoke in her usual clipped, authoritative tone:
“It’s… impressive that it’s only the *second day* of class, and we already have students in detention.”

With a flick of her hand, three sheets of paper floated across the room using her Semblance, landing neatly in front of each girl.

“You will write down why you’re here and how you plan to improve so this does not happen again.”

The three responded in unison with a subdued “Understood,” though each carried a different tone — Ruby sounded guilty, Blake bored, and Yang entirely defiant.

Then, Glynda waved her hand again. The Scrolls in their pockets shot out like projectiles, landing on the teacher’s desk.

“Hey! What the—?!” Yang protested loudly.

“You’ll get them back when detention ends,” Glynda said coldly, “so you won’t have any distractions.”

Blake, who had been trying to sneakily keep reading, suddenly widened her eyes in horror as her book was yanked from her hands as well, flying straight into Glynda’s grasp.

The cover slipped off mid-flight, revealing the true title beneath: **Ninjas of Love**.

Glynda held the book silently for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she glanced toward Blake, who now wore a tiny, painfully awkward smile, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. The professor simply rolled her eyes and exhaled through her nose in silent judgment.

“You have one hour,” Glynda said curtly before returning to her desk — book in hand.

“…Professor Goodwitch,” Yang called suddenly, breaking the silence.

Ruby immediately looked up, curious about what her sister was planning.

Still sorting papers on her desk, Glynda turned her gaze back to Yang.
“Do you have a question regarding your punishment, Miss Xiao Long?”

Yang leaned forward slightly, adopting a surprisingly serious tone.
“Yeah. Where’s the *other* person who’s supposed to be in here?”

A tense murmur hung in the air. Ruby blinked in surprise, while Blake raised an eyebrow but kept writing.

Goodwitch straightened her posture.
“Your teammate has yet to arrive. Don’t worry, Miss Xiao Long. I’ll make sure she receives proper reprimand.”

Yang clenched her jaw and nodded slowly.
“Sure…” she muttered, though inwardly she didn’t believe her for a second. In her mind, Weiss had gotten away with everything because she was a Schnee.

Before Yang could dwell on the thought, a calm, elegant voice came from the doorway:

“My apologies for the delay.”

All three girls turned their heads in unison. There stood Weiss Schnee. She’d tried to hide the black eye under makeup, but the bruise still peeked through faintly. What stood out even more, however, was the silver tray she carried in both hands — four steaming cups of coffee sat atop it, their rich aroma filling the room.

“Miss Schnee,” Glynda said, raising an eyebrow. “I’m glad you’ve finally decided to join your punishment.”

“It won’t happen again,” Weiss replied solemnly, dipping her head slightly.

Glynda glanced briefly at the tray but showed no surprise.
“Good. Take a seat with your teammate. She’ll explain the assignment to you.”

With a small wave of her Semblance, an extra sheet of paper floated gently down onto Ruby’s desk.

“Thank you,” Weiss said politely before walking toward them.

The click of her heels echoed in the quiet classroom as she approached. Yang glared at her openly, suspicion written all over her face. Blake, meanwhile, remained focused on her writing, seemingly indifferent. Ruby, however, greeted her with a warm — though slightly subdued — smile.

Weiss stopped gracefully at Ruby’s side.
“Here,” she said, handing her one of the cups.

Ruby blinked, confused.
“Huh? Is… is this coffee?”

“Exactly,” Weiss replied casually.

Ruby hesitated for a moment before carefully taking the cup in both hands.
“Oh… um… thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Weiss said with poise, watching closely as Ruby took a tentative sip.

Ruby wasn’t a big coffee drinker, but she didn’t want to seem ungrateful. Bracing herself, she took a small sip… and froze instantly. Her silver eyes widened in shock — it was *delicious*. Perfectly sweetened, exactly the way she liked it.

“Wait—how did you—?!” she stammered, unable to hide her surprise.

Weiss allowed herself the faintest, most subtle smirk of victory.
“Cream. Five sugars.”

Ruby gawked at her.
“H-how did you *know* that?!”

Weiss gave a tiny shrug, her tone perfectly calm.
“With your… childish tendencies, it wasn’t hard to guess.”

With the tray back in hand, Weiss walked toward the rest of the team. First stop: Yang.

The two locked eyes immediately, a silent battle of wills sparking between them. Weiss maintained her flawless composure, while Yang’s lilac gaze burned with suspicion and thinly veiled hostility. Finally, Weiss set one of the cups on Yang’s desk.

“It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Weiss said coolly, her tone sharp but calm.

Yang arched an eyebrow but said nothing, leaning back in her chair without taking the cup. Weiss didn’t press her and moved on.

Next, she approached Blake, who was still scribbling quickly on her sheet, seemingly uninterested in the chaos around her.

“Blake,” Weiss called, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.

Blake hesitated before turning to face her, clearly reluctant. Weiss carefully placed the last cup on Blake’s desk, holding it out with her usual elegance.

Blake glanced at the drink, then back at Weiss, muttering softly:
“…Thanks… I guess.”

“Consider it an apology,” Weiss replied matter-of-factly. “For dragging you into this mess.”

With that, she turned to leave — but Yang’s hand shot out, grabbing her by the arm.

Weiss froze, her icy blue eyes locking on Yang’s fiery lilac ones. It was Yang who spoke first, her tone low but cutting:

“…What’s the catch?”

“There is none,” Weiss replied evenly, attempting to pull her arm free.

But Yang tightened her grip, her eyes flashing red for just a moment as she stood, looming over Weiss.
“You really think a little coffee makes up for what you said to Ruby?”

Weiss didn’t flinch, her voice remaining calm and steady.
“I’ve already apologized to your sister. I’m not doing this to ‘make up’ for anything. I’m doing this because I want to *compensate* Ruby for what happened.”

Yang didn’t let go, her gaze unrelenting. Ruby, who had been sipping her coffee, finally stepped in, her tone soft and almost pleading:
“Yang…”

“Not now, Ruby” Yang cut her off sharply, her voice firm but not unkind. Ruby bit her lip and fell silent.

For a few seconds, the entire room was silent except for the faint scratching of Blake’s pen. She was watching closely now, though, her amber eyes flicking between the two.

Finally, Weiss spoke again, this time softer, though her tone was still composed:
“I know I said awful things to your sister. I hurt her — and I *apologized*. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Yang. I don’t need it. But at the very least…” she glanced briefly at Ruby, “…I don’t want her burdened with a team that’s constantly at each other’s throats.”

Yang’s glare wavered, her jaw tightening. Slowly, she turned to look at Ruby, who sat there holding her coffee with both hands, her silver eyes wide and glimmering with quiet worry.

Yang sighed heavily, shoulders loosening. After a moment, she released Weiss’s arm.

“…Don’t ever talk to Ruby like that again,” she said firmly.

“That’s… something I can promise,” Weiss replied, just as firmly.

Before either could say more, a loud *thud* echoed from the front of the room. All four girls whipped their heads around to see Professor Goodwitch standing there, arms folded and brows drawn tight.

“If you’re *quite* finished,” Glynda said sharply, “I suggest you get back to your punishment… before I decide to assign *extra*.”

Neither Weiss nor Yang argued. They both returned to their seats immediately, each quietly determined not to provoke Glynda further.

Yang sat down with a huff, glaring down at the blank paper in front of her. She picked up her pen, but no words came. Her frustration simmered quietly — until the rich aroma of fresh coffee drifted up from the cup Weiss had left on her desk.

She hesitated for a moment, scowling at it like it had personally offended her. But finally, with a reluctant sigh, she took a sip.

Her eyes widened slightly. It was… really good.

“Atlas beans,” Blake commented offhandedly without looking up from her writing.

Yang glanced over, surprised.
“…How do you know that?”

“Tried them once,” Blake said casually. “They’re expensive.”

Yang frowned, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Figures…”

Blake set her pen down for a moment, her expression turning thoughtful.
“…Maybe we should accept this… peace offering.”

Yang immediately opened her mouth to argue, but Blake cut her off smoothly:
“I don’t mean for Weiss’s sake,” she clarified, tilting her head toward Ruby. “I mean for hers.”

Yang followed Blake’s gaze. Ruby sat quietly at her desk, sipping her coffee with an unguarded, soft smile on her face. She looked… at peace. Almost happy. For the first time since arriving at Beacon, Ruby wasn’t caught between them — she was just Ruby.

Yang exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair. After a long pause, she lowered her pen and began to write, whispering softly under her breath:

“…All for my world.”

Chapter Text

The constant hum of the airship’s engine wasn’t exactly Velvet’s favorite sound.
For most passengers, it was just background noise — even a lullaby.
But for Velvet, with those long, sensitive ears, it was like having the noise drilled directly into her skull.
Sleeping during trips like these was nearly impossible.

She yawned for what felt like the hundredth time, rubbing her eyes as she leaned back against the seat.
She was exhausted — more than she cared to admit.
They had just returned from a mission a few hours ago, and while she was grateful to be heading back to Beacon, it stung that she had missed the initiation.
Her team had talked about wanting to meet the new faces… and deep down, she was hoping to reunite with some old friends too.

Velvet lazily pulled out her scroll, turning on the screen.
The soft light reflected on her tired eyes as an old chat opened up.
The contact name read: *Red Pup*.

—Chat: Red Pup—

Vel: I hope you're feeling better after that nightmare. Tomorrow I'll arrive at Beacon.

Red Pup: You’re sure you’ll be there tomorrow?

Red Pup: I'll make you cookies, I bet you miss them :3

Red Pup: Yang says hi!

Red Pup: We’re waiting for you.jpg

—

The third message came with a photo of two girls in Beacon uniforms, hugging and smiling brightly.

Velvet let out a small, tired giggle as a smile curved her lips.
The picture touched her more than she wanted to admit.

“Ruby…” she murmured softly, brushing her thumb across the screen before locking it.

“Still can’t sleep, Velvet?” a warm voice asked beside her.

She looked up.
Coco was walking over calmly — no sunglasses this time — flawless as ever despite the late hour.
Velvet quickly turned off her scroll, almost guilty, and shrugged.

“It’s… complicated, with all this noise,” she replied, flicking an ear to emphasize her point.

Coco arched an amused brow and dropped into the seat next to her.

“Really?” she said with mock surprise.

“And you? You’re not sleeping either?” Velvet tilted her head.

“Nope. Had way too much coffee, you know how I get.”
Coco leaned comfortably against Velvet’s shoulder.
“So until the caffeine wears off… you’re stuck with me.”

Velvet smiled faintly, relaxing a little under the familiar weight of her leader.
Coco’s gaze drifted toward the scroll Velvet had tried to hide.

“And what were you looking at with that cute little face of yours?”

Velvet averted her gaze, cheeks warming slightly as she snuggled closer into Coco, searching for an excuse.

“Nothing… just… looking forward to seeing some old friends.”

Coco smirked faintly as they both settled into a comfortable silence.
But deep down, she thought to herself:

That smile says you’re about to meet some very important people.

———

The sweet smell of chocolate was one of Ruby’s favorite scents in the world.
Focused and determined, she stirred a creamy mixture with energy, stealing a few chocolate chips with her fingers and popping them into her mouth with a mischievous grin.
A streak of flour stuck to her cheek, though she didn’t seem to notice.

“Perfect… just about done,” she murmured, leaning over the tray and carefully sprinkling a few more chips on top as if they were the most important part of the entire process.

Just as she was about to put the tray into the oven, her sister’s voice echoed from behind:

“How’s it going with the cookies, Rubes?” Yang asked, shaking the wooden spoon she was using to stir a big steaming pot.

Ruby spun around so suddenly she nearly dropped the ladle in her hand, splattering some dough on the floor.

“Perfectly!” she announced proudly, raising the ladle as though it were a trophy.
“And yes, yes… they’re normal! Mine and Vel’s are still over there!”

One tray on the far table held cookies that were different from the others — two kinds, actually: one with meat in them and one without.

Yang raised a curious brow, leaning back over her pot, which bubbled with a warm, homely smell.

“Good. I don’t wanna deal with people asking why there’s meat in cookies.”

“Why would there be meat in cookies?” Blake asked flatly from across the table, slowly squeezing the juice out of a lemon.

Ruby froze in place, stiff as a statue, still holding the ladle midair.
Yang, spotting her sister’s panic, waved her hand dismissively with a quick grin.

“No reason! And you, Blake… how’s it going with the drinks?”

Blake calmly lifted a pitcher filled to the brim. Behind her, a whole army of identical pitchers lined the table like little yellow soldiers.

“All done… though I think I may have made too much lemonade.”

“Perfect!” Yang laughed, giving her stew another stir.

In the corner, Weiss sat on a chair with her arms crossed and an irritated expression, like she was on some sort of self-imposed “time-out.”
Yang couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight.

“What’s wrong, princess? Comfortable in the naughty corner?”

Weiss shot her a sharp glare, offended.
“Oh, do shut up!”

Yang shrugged, smirking smugly.
“Not my fault you don’t even know how to work a kitchen, Weissy.”

Weiss clicked her tongue and turned her head away with a huff, while Ruby quietly used the distraction to steal another chocolate chip and pop it into her mouth.

It had been a week since classes at Beacon had started.
Today, though, was special — lunch duty belonged to Team RWBY.

As future Huntresses, Beacon wanted everyone prepared not just to fight Grimm, but to survive in any situation.
Cooking was as essential as wielding a weapon — sometimes, it could mean the difference between making it through a mission… or feeding a group of civilians at a shelter.

That’s why the academy rotated kitchen shifts between teams.
Today, it was RWBY’s turn to cook lunch for the entire first-year class.

After a chaotic start, the team had begun to find their rhythm.
They weren’t just four strangers constantly bumping heads anymore.
Sure, there were still clashes, but there was laughter now, too.
Yang even joked around with Weiss, Blake kept the balance between extremes, and Ruby… as always, tried her hardest to keep them all together.

They weren’t perfect, but they were starting to feel like a real team.

“I’m just saying I don’t see why we have to cook for everyone,” Weiss grumbled, glaring at the steam rising from Yang’s pot.

Yang laughed, planting a hand on her hip and resting the wooden spoon against it like a weapon.

“Well, maybe if you cooked, *then* you could complain.”

Weiss arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“And you think you’re qualified to judge?”

“Nope!” Ruby cut in, appearing suddenly with a tray of freshly baked cookies.
Steam rose from them like a sweet perfume.
“Yang’s actually a really good cook!”

Blake discreetly sniffed the air, eyes half-lidded in approval.
“I have to admit… it does smell pretty good. Surprisingly.”

Yang clutched her chest dramatically, feigning deep offense.
“What, did you really think I’d make something bad?”

Blake gave her a slow up-and-down glance — wild hair, carefree grin, party-girl posture, and her usual casual clothes instead of the school uniform.
Weiss, without hesitation, finished the thought aloud:

“No offense, but you don’t exactly look like someone who can cook.”

Ruby froze, setting the tray down with a sharp thunk.
Blake’s ears twitched slightly, intrigued.
Yang, instead of boasting back, lowered her voice.

“…I had to learn when I was little.”

Silence fell over the kitchen, broken only by the bubbling stew.
Ruby bit her lip.
Weiss looked away.
Blake tilted her head ever so slightly.

And then — the door creaked open.

“Ladies\~… how’s lunch coming along?” Jaune peeked his head in, his attempt at sounding smooth failing miserably.

The four girls glanced at him for all of two seconds before returning to what they were doing.

“Oh, come on! I didn’t even say anything bad!” he protested, stepping fully inside.

“We’re busy, Jaune,” Ruby said kindly, still arranging cookies on the tray.
“And lunch will be ready soon.”

“Can I at least know what we’re eating?” he insisted, as though it were a matter of life and death.

Yang twirled her spoon with a grin.
“Stew, lemonade… and cookies.”

“Cookies?” Jaune blinked. “That… doesn’t sound like a good combo.”

“Even Jaune knows they don’t go together,” Weiss muttered, giving Ruby a disapproving look.

“They go with everything!” Ruby puffed up her cheeks.

“Yeeaaah… no,” Blake added softly, unable to hide the tiny smirk tugging at her lips.

Jaune wandered closer, spotting two different trays of cookies — one seemed normal, the other had an orange-ish tint.
He reached for one curiously.

“And these are special? What’s in them?”

Ruby smacked his hand with the wooden spoon.

“Not for students!”

“Ow!” he exaggerated, rubbing his fingers.
“Then who’re they for?”

Ruby lowered her gaze.
“They’re… for me. And a friend who’s coming back to Beacon today.”

Just then, the lunch bell rang, announcing the arrival of more students.

“Right on time!” Yang tasted the stew and smiled.
“Delicious.”

Ruby grabbed the special tray, her face lighting up like a kid about to go on a treasure hunt.

“Alright, Team RWBY — let’s get ready!”

———

The girls were lucky — and Weiss especially — that all they had to do was lay everything out on the tables, like the cafeteria had turned into a giant buffet.
That meant they could finally sit down and rest near Team JNPR, where Nora was in the middle of an overly dramatic retelling of one of her and Ren’s “adventures.”
Ren, as always, calmly corrected every exaggeration that came out of her mouth.

Ruby, ever the curious one, watched them with innocent fascination, quietly wondering if Nora and Ren were siblings or just very close friends, given how inseparable they seemed.
Her gaze, however, soon drifted to the plate of special cookies she had prepared. Her mood dimmed slightly.

Yang nudged her with an elbow, lowering her voice:
“Still nothing from Bunny Ears?”

Ruby straightened up, sniffing the air like she was testing for Velvet’s scent, then shook her head.
“No… and I told you she doesn’t like it when you call her that.”

Yang chuckled softly.
“Please, she loves it — and you know it.”

Ruby pouted.
“Uh-huh…” she muttered, unconvinced.

Yang, determined to lighten the mood, leaned closer with a mischievous grin:
“Well, she said we’d see her today, right? So, while we wait… how about we talk about how Jaune keeps getting bullied?”

The chatter around them stopped instantly.
Even Blake lifted her gaze from her book, and Weiss — who had been inspecting her nails — turned to look their way.
The only one blissfully unaware was Jaune himself, still munching away at his lunch.

“Jaune?” Pyrrha asked sweetly.

“Eh? What?” Jaune looked up, startled to find everyone staring at him.
“Hey, I didn’t do anything! I swear!”

“We weren’t accusing you of anything,” Ren said calmly, trying to explain, “we were just asking if—”

“Wait… you’re getting bullied?” Nora interrupted, shoving Ren back, her eyes wide.

“Bullied? Me?” Jaune waved his hand dismissively.
“No way.”

Yang crossed her arms, smirking.
“Don’t know… maybe because Cardin launched you halfway across campus the other day?”

“Oh, come on!” Jaune protested. “That was just one time!”

Blake chimed in casually, though her tone carried weight:
“He’s also the one who locked you in the armory all night.”

“That… that was an accident,” Jaune stammered, shifting uncomfortably.

Ruby’s ears twitched slightly under her headband.
“We seriously… have a bully?” she asked nervously.

Pyrrha turned toward her leader with visible concern.
“Jaune, if you are being bullied, you can tell us. We can help.”

“I’m fine, really,” he insisted, trying to sound convincing.
“He’s just messing around. Besides… if he was picking on me, it’s not like I’m the only one.”

Nobody at the table looked convinced.
Jaune, uneasy, finally pointed toward the far end of the cafeteria.

“See for yourselves.”

Everyone turned to look — and sure enough, Team CDRL was harassing a long-eared bunny Faunus with soft brown hair.

Her pained whimper was obvious.
“Ah! Stop pulling!” she protested sharply.

Cardin laughed cruelly.
“See? I told you they were real!”

Another one of his teammates mocked her:
“Think she can hop like a little circus bunny?”

Jaune spoke again, trying to make his point clear:
“See? He goes after—” But he didn’t finish.

A sudden whirlwind of rose petals cut through the cafeteria at high speed, darting across tables.

“What the—?” Jaune barely managed to say.

Yang shot up immediately.
“Ruby!" she yelled, chasing after her sister.

“You know I can report you, right?” the bunny Faunus said in pain as Cardin continued yanking on her ears, drawing another cry out of her.

“Oh yeah?” Cardin sneered, pulling harder.
“Go ahead. Like anyone’s gonna care.”

“You shouldn’t even be here,” one of his teammates added mockingly.
“This isn’t a zoo.”

The girl struggled to break free, grimacing as she tried to push him away.
“Let me go or—”

“Shut up,” Cardin snapped, yanking on her ears again, making her cry out louder.
“You people shouldn’t even be here. Be grateful we’re just curious about your animal freakshow features…”

Before he could pull again, a small hand smacked his grip away with surprising force.
Ruby stood between him and Velvet, petals still floating gently around her.

“Leave her alone!” she shouted, arms outstretched to shield the Faunus, glaring up at Cardin with burning determination.

Cardin and his team blinked in surprise at Ruby’s sudden appearance.
The bunny Faunus, newly freed, looked at the back of the girl defending her… that red cloak—
“…Ruby?” she whispered softly.

Cardin quickly recovered from his shock, his expression hardening as he stepped forward, towering over Ruby.
His shadow fell across her like a threat.

“This isn’t your business, kid. Walk away if you know what’s good for you,” he said coldly.

Ruby swallowed hard.
Her hands trembled for just an instant, her heart pounding.
I don’t have Crescent Rose…
She took a step back, memories of past scars flashing violently in her mind.

“What’s wrong? Scared?” Cardin taunted, stepping closer with each word, while Ruby instinctively stepped back.

“Why defend an animal? She’s not worth it.”

“Got a problem, Cardin?” Yang’s voice cut through like steel.
She stepped in front of Ruby, eyes blazing, standing firm between him and her sister.
“Touch my sister, and I’ll make you regret it.”

“Oh, you want in too, bitch?” Cardin spat venomously, squaring up to Yang.

“Bitch? That’s the best insult you’ve got?” Yang cracked her knuckles, smiling dangerously.

The two locked eyes in an unspoken battle of wills.
Cardin clenched his jaw but, glancing past Yang and catching Ruby’s fierce glare, scoffed.

“Watch your back, Rose…” he muttered before turning away and leaving with his team.

Once Team CDRL finally left the cafeteria, Ruby let out a shaky sigh of relief… only to notice Yang’s annoyed stare, which immediately made her nervous.

“Ruby,” Yang said firmly, arms crossed, “you can’t just rush in like that.”

Ruby stammered, trying to defend herself:
“B-but that’s what you do! And you know it!”

Yang narrowed her eyes but kept her tone serious:
“Yeah, but I’m older. I can handle myself — even without weapons.”

Ruby was about to argue back when a soft giggle caught both their attention.
They turned to see the bunny Faunus laughing quietly behind them.

“You two haven’t changed a bit,” she said, amused by their sisterly squabble.

Before Yang could respond, Ruby launched herself forward, wrapping the girl in a sudden, tight hug.

“Vel!” she cried, clinging to her with all her strength.

“Ruby…” Velvet laughed, hugging her back and even lifting her slightly off the floor.
“How’s my favorite little pup?”

For Ruby, this moment was everything — one she’d been waiting for ever since she got the letter allowing her to attend Beacon.
She was hugging someone who was more than just a friend; Velvet had been like family.
They hadn’t seen each other in over a year — and more than that, Velvet was one of the few Faunus she’d ever been close to.
She smelled faintly of coffee, maybe that's why she couldn't smell it before

Yang folded her arms, smiling playfully.
“Well, looks like you’ve been doing alright, Bunny Ears.”

The girls slowly broke apart from the hug, and Velvet smiled softly.
“Yeah… the life of a Huntress is… interesting.”

“Interesting enough that you let a bunch of idiots push you around?” Yang asked, her tone sharp.

Velvet sighed, ears drooping slightly.
“Old habits die hard… reacting would’ve just made it worse.”

“Old habits…” Yang muttered, still frustrated.

Not wanting the mood to sour, Ruby suddenly remembered something and brightened up.
“Oh! I have something for you!”

Velvet’s eyes widened with hope.
“Wait… are those…?”

Ruby grinned and held up what she’d been hiding in her hand.
“Yep. They are.”

Velvet immediately grabbed a cookie and took a big bite.
“Ohhh, I missed your carrot cookies so much!”

Ruby giggled softly.
“I’m glad you still like them, Vel.”

After finishing the cookie, Velvet thanked her, but when she looked more closely at Ruby, something caught her eye.

“…Is that a headband?”

Ruby’s gaze darted away, cheeks warming as she avoided Velvet’s eyes.

Before Velvet could say anything more, a cold, stern voice cut in:
“And just what do you two think you’re doing?”

Weiss was marching toward them, arms crossed, chin lifted high, her posture radiating authority.
Behind her, Blake followed at a slower pace, a faint smile playing on her lips — surprising both sisters.

Weiss’s icy gaze locked onto Ruby.
“You do realize other people’s problems are not our concern, right?”
Her voice was sharp and commanding.
“We’ve already had one strike for ‘lack of focus.’ Getting another one for helping… *her*… won’t do us any favors.”

Ruby hesitated but took a small step forward, hands clasped in front of her.
“We were just trying to help…”

“That wasn’t you problem to solve!” Weiss snapped, her voice rising slightly.

Yang, who had been silent until now, frowned deeply and stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with Ruby.
Her amber eyes burned as she glared at Weiss.

“Yes, it was,” she said firmly, her voice low and edged with warning.
“Because that so-called ‘problem’ was someone bullying our friend.”

Weiss blinked, caught off guard by the word, momentarily losing her composure.
“F… friend?” she repeated, incredulous.

Ruby couldn’t hold back her excitement, smiling brightly like she’d been waiting for this moment all day.
“Exactly! Let me introduce you!”

“Ruby, wait!” Yang tried to stop her, already knowing where this was headed, but it was too late.

Ruby ran over to Velvet and grabbed her hand, tugging her gently but insistently into the middle of the group.
Velvet looked like she wanted to shrink into herself under all the sudden attention, her ears twitching nervously.

“Velvet, this is Weiss and Blake — my teammates!” Ruby said proudly.
“And girls, this is Velvet, a friend of mine and Yang’s since we were kids.”

Velvet offered a polite smile, folding her hands neatly in front of her.
Weiss’s gaze trailed over her from head to toe, lingering pointedly on her long ears.
Her expression stayed cold, unreadable.

Blake, on the other hand, stepped forward slightly, offering a warm, genuine smile.
“It’s nice to meet you, Velvet. I’m Blake.”

Velvet’s shoulders eased just a little as she returned the smile.
“The pleasure’s mine,” she said softly.

Silence settled over the group for a few awkward seconds.
Yang shifted uncomfortably. Blake fidgeted with her book. Velvet’s ears twitched uneasily.
Ruby glanced at Weiss expectantly, hoping for… something.

Weiss finally broke the silence, her tone clipped:
“Just… don’t drag us into trouble, Ruby.”

Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and walked away briskly, leaving behind an icy tension.

You’d expect Weiss to act worse toward Faunus, honestly — not just because her family’s company was openly racist, but also because of things she’d said in the past.
Still, one thing she couldn’t avoid was the reality that Faunus also attended Beacon.
She’d been forced to acknowledge them — sometimes even speak to them — though both sides usually preferred to avoid each other entirely.
That didn’t stop Weiss’s stares and quiet remarks from being obvious, though.

The girls stood there silently for a moment, processing what had just happened.
Yang was the first to break the tension, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly.

“Sorry about that… she’s just—”

“Racist toward Faunus,” Blake interrupted bluntly, closing the book she still held.

Yang sighed, rubbing at her temple.
“Yeah… that.”

Velvet waved a hand dismissively, though her ears drooped slightly.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it. Not everyone accepts us.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, gripping the edge of her cloak tightly between her fingers.
“I’m sorry, Vel…”

Velvet smiled gently, tilting her head.
“It’s alright, really. Don’t stress over it. Honestly, it must be tough having her on your team.”

Yang let out a bitter laugh.
“You have no idea. Rubes, did I ever tell you what our first few days were like?”

“Yang, no!” Ruby protested immediately, flailing her arms to stop her.

Velvet tilted her head curiously.
“Huh? So Ruby’s made a friend other than me, huh?”

Yang smirked mischievously, nudging Ruby with her elbow.
“Oh, we have a lot to catch up on, Bunny Ears.”

Blake frowned, crossing her arms tightly.
“Did you just call her… *Bunny Ears*?”

Yang shrugged casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Yeah, so?”

“Don’t you think that’s… a little rude?” Blake’s tone carried quiet disapproval.

Velvet chuckled softly, her long ears flicking forward playfully.
“Oh, it’s fine. She’s been calling me that since we were kids. It’s more of a nickname than anything.”

“Ah… I see…” Blake murmured, looking slightly embarrassed.

Trying to change the subject, she added:
“I’m surprised you’ve stayed so close. Not many people keep friendships with Faunus.”

Yang leaned back against the table, smirking faintly.
“Guess we’re not most people. We had the same dream — becoming Huntresses.”

Ruby nodded quickly, her silver eyes sparkling.
“Exactly!”

Velvet laughed lightly, scooping Ruby up into her arms with ease.
“What I still can’t believe is that you skipped two years, Ruby… if I wasn’t seeing you here myself, I’d doubt it.”

Yang puffed out her chest proudly.
“My little sister’s gonna be the youngest Huntress ever.”

Ruby flailed her arms, her face bright red.
“Yaaang! Veeel! Stop iiiit!”

Blake, watching the three of them, softened slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“It’s nice,” she said quietly, “seeing friendships this strong. I wish there were more like yours.”

At that moment, the school bell rang loudly, signaling the end of lunch.

Yang groaned, standing up and stretching her arms over her head.
“Well… guess that’s our cue.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Velvet said, gently setting Ruby back down on the ground.

Ruby immediately bounced toward her, words tumbling out faster than her brain could keep up:
“But you still haven’t told me about your mission! Where’d you go? What kind of weapons do your teammates use? Did you finish your project? Can I still help?!”

Yang chuckled softly and tugged gently on her sister’s cloak.
“Relax, Rubes. You two have plenty of time to catch up later. You’re not leaving anytime soon, right?”

Velvet laughed, shaking her head.
“Not for now. If you want, we can meet after classes, Ruby.”

Ruby’s silver eyes lit up with excitement.
“Yay!” she cheered, pulling out a small bag from under her cloak.
“These are for you and your team. I hope you introduce us to them soon!”

Velvet took the bag with a warm smile.
“For my team… or for their weapons?”

Ruby puffed her cheeks out, stomping her foot lightly.
“You knooow what I mean!”

Velvet laughed again, tucking the cookies away carefully.

———

The last class of the day was one Ruby would hardly forget — not because of a fight or anything exciting, but because of the teacher.
Doctor Oobleck, with his green hair and round glasses, didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word “pause.”
He zipped back and forth across the classroom with endless energy, talking at such incredible speed that it was nearly impossible to keep up.
Ruby felt like an avalanche of information was crashing down on her nonstop.
Every time she tried to grasp one idea, he was already on to the next.
Her head started to throb, the pressure building as though her brain were overheating.

It was a history class, about a topic Ruby had only vaguely heard of before — one Faunus often mentioned to mock humans: the failed ambush of General Argoon.
But for Ruby, this wasn’t some joke or bitter tale repeated with sarcasm; it was just another part of history she needed to learn.
She’d never used it to ridicule anyone. To her, it was simply a fact.

Ruby also remembered something else Oobleck had mentioned before: many Faunus were born with unique gifts that set them apart from humans.
She had them too — her sense of smell was much sharper than normal, allowing her to pick up scents and trails easily.
And darkness? It wasn’t a problem for her. She could see in it almost as clearly as in daylight.
Those traits were part of who she was, but… they were also constant reminders of how different she felt from everyone else.

“Mr. Winchester,” Oobleck suddenly asked, pausing only long enough to take a sip from his ever-present thermos, “do you know why General Argoon’s ambush failed?”

Cardin leaned back in his seat, his indifference bordering on arrogance.
“All I know is… it’s easier to train an animal than a soldier.”

An uncomfortable murmur rippled through the class.
Ruby’s stomach knotted instantly, that familiar sting of venom in his words hitting too close to home.
Before she could even react, Pyrrha spoke up calmly, her voice carrying authority without a hint of hostility.

“I see you’re not exactly the most open-minded, Cardin.”

He turned his head sharply, clearly offended.
“Yeah? Got a problem with that?”

“No,” Pyrrha replied smoothly, keeping her gaze fixed forward.
“Just stating facts. Night vision is a skill many Faunus possess, and the general failed to account for that during the ambush.”

Blake remained silent, her expression composed and stoic. But deep down, she was smiling faintly.
She would have loved to be the one to shut Cardin up — and maybe she still could — but Pyrrha had beaten her to it.

Yang leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk, a dangerous smirk playing at her lips.
“Exactly. Not only did the Faunus turn the tables on him, but his entire battalion got captured along with him.
Now he’s remembered as an idiot because of his ignorance.”
She narrowed her amber eyes, locking them directly on Cardin.
“Maybe if you paid attention and learned about people who aren’t like you, you wouldn’t end up a failure yourself.”

Cardin’s fist clenched tightly, his knuckles whitening as he shot up from his seat, fury written all over his face.

“Mr. Winchester, please, take your seat,” Oobleck said firmly, though the exhaustion in his voice was obvious.

The tension slowly ebbed, though the air remained heavy.
As if nothing had happened, Oobleck continued pacing, sipping from his thermos between words.

“Students, remember — we live in a time of relative peace.
Division only invites danger, and danger draws Grimm.
It’s hard to believe humans and Faunus once wanted each other dead, one side seeking to oppress the other. Horrible. Simply horrible.”

Ruby smiled bitterly at his words.
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard that speech — at Signal, several of her teachers used to repeat it, too.
She’d always wanted to believe it, but in the end… words were just that.
She knew far too well that many people never truly listened.
Especially the ones who had never experienced that kind of hatred firsthand.

“Tell me, Faunus students,” Oobleck asked suddenly, adjusting his glasses, “has anyone here ever faced discrimination? Be honest.”

Ruby’s heart skipped a beat.
Yes… so many times.
She remembered the insults, the shoves, the disgusted looks, the laughter at her expense.
The false accusations.
Being hit.
Being called an animal.
Being treated like she didn’t belong.
The memories came crashing back all at once, dark and heavy.

Before she knew it, her hand began to rise.

A sharp nudge snapped her out of it.
Ruby blinked rapidly, startled, and glanced to her side where Yang was gently pulling her arm back down.

“Yang… what is it?” Ruby whispered, confused.

Yang looked around quickly, lowering her voice.
“You were raising your hand.”

Ruby froze.
She’d acted purely on instinct, letting her emotions take over.
If not for Yang, she would’ve exposed herself to the entire class.
Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed.

———

The class dragged on, suffocating and relentless, but eventually, it ended.
To Ruby’s shock, they’d somehow covered nearly a hundred pages of the textbook in a single session.
She couldn’t decide whether to be impressed or terrified.

At least the day was finally over.
And with that came the thing she’d been looking forward to most — meeting up with Velvet.

Blake, however, tried to linger with them after class, clearly curious about Ruby’s Faunus friend.
Ruby and Yang apologized, explaining they’d already made plans with Velvet.
Blake didn’t argue, but her quiet disappointment was obvious.
She nodded silently, accepting that she’d meet Velvet another time.

Weiss, meanwhile, stayed distant for the rest of the afternoon.
For once, she didn’t even argue with Ruby.
By the time classes ended, she’d retreated straight to their dorm without a word.

After a quick message from Velvet, they had a meeting place.
And what a place she chose — the rooftops.
Velvet claimed it had the best view in the entire academy.
Technically, they weren’t supposed to be up there, but according to her, she’d never been caught.
So they went.

Ruby remembered Velvet mentioning her headband earlier.
She’d felt embarrassed… worried Velvet would be disappointed in her for hiding.
She hoped she wouldn’t be.

When they finally reached the rooftop, Velvet was right — the view was breathtaking.
From up there, the entire Beacon campus spread out beneath them, glowing softly under the moonlight.
Towers, gardens, and walkways shimmered in the pale glow.
Velvet explained that she sometimes came here with her team to relax and escape the noise.

They caught up, trading stories.
Velvet didn’t waste the chance to scold Ruby for confronting bullies without a weapon, which made Ruby laugh nervously.
But Velvet also admitted that same fiery determination was what got Ruby into Beacon in the first place — something she admired deeply.

She told them about her last mission, too — heading to the frontier, where they faced a surge of Grimm.
Ruby listened with shining eyes, and Yang smiled proudly beside her.
Neither of them could hide how happy they were to see Velvet living the dream they’d shared since childhood.

Eventually, they all lay back on the roof, gazing at the starry night sky in silence.
It felt almost like déjà vu.

Velvet broke the quiet with a soft smile.
“Doesn’t this… bring back memories?”

Yang was the first to answer.
“Yeah. The three of us, lying in your yard, imagining what being Huntresses would be like.”

Ruby’s voice was softer, but full of conviction.
“It’s not a dream anymore… it’s real.”

The three of them smiled beneath the endless stars.
Yang groaned as she pushed herself upright, stretching her arms high above her head.

“It’s getting late… we should head back.”

Ruby puffed her cheeks, pouting like a child.
“But I don’t wanna. I wanna stay here.”

Yang smirked, pointing teasingly at her.
“Come on, Ruby. Unless you want the Ice Queen to get mad at us.”

Velvet giggled softly and nodded.
“She’s right. I don’t want you two getting into trouble.”

Ruby turned to her, determination shining in her eyes.
“That’ll never happen, Vel!”

Velvet tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled gently.
“Tell you what — why don’t you go ahead, Yang? I’ll bring Ruby back in a bit.”

Yang hesitated for a moment, then understood Velvet’s intent.
She smiled faintly and pointed a finger at her sister in mock warning.
“Alright. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you. Don’t take too long.”

With that, she leapt gracefully onto a nearby balcony and vanished into the shadows, leaving the two Faunus alone under the stars.

Silence fell between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
The gentle night breeze whispered softly as they both stared out over the campus.
Velvet was the first to speak, her voice calm and warm.

“So… how’ve you been?”

Ruby blinked, hesitating slightly, thinking Velvet meant something deeper.
A small knot tightened in her stomach, and she decided to be honest.

“Vel… I… I’m sorry.
It’s not that I’m not comfortable with who I am. I don’t want to hide, it’s just…”
Her voice trembled as her hand instinctively reached up, touching the headband hiding her ears.

Before she could continue, Velvet gently pulled her closer, wrapping her arms around Ruby and resting the younger girl’s head in her lap.
Ruby froze for a moment, then slowly relaxed into the comforting warmth of her friend.

“Don’t worry about it,” Velvet whispered softly.
“I know why you do it. And believe me… if I’d had the chance, I probably would’ve done the same.”

Ruby’s silver eyes widened as she looked up at her.
“Really? You’re… you’re not disappointed in me?”

Velvet smiled tenderly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from Ruby’s face.
“Never. You and I… we’ve both been through the same things. I understand why you’d want to hide.”

Ruby felt her chest warm at Velvet’s words, her shoulders finally relaxing.
“Thanks, Vel…”

Velvet tilted her head slightly, her voice softening even more as she reached out her hand.
“Can I…?” she asked sweetly.
“Can I pet my little pup?”

Ruby’s cheeks flushed instantly, her ears twitching faintly beneath the headband.
“A-a-alright…” she stammered shyly.

Velvet carefully removed Ruby’s headband, setting it aside.
Ruby let out a soft sigh of relief as her wolf-like ears sprang free, twitching gently in the cool night air.
Velvet ran her fingers slowly through Ruby’s short hair, brushing around her ears before finally caressing them directly with tender care.

Ruby closed her eyes, a peaceful smile spreading across her face.
She’d missed this more than she’d ever admit — the comfort, the affection, the quiet acceptance.

The rhythmic strokes of Velvet’s hand made Ruby feel so relaxed she nearly drifted off to sleep right there in her lap.
But then Velvet suddenly froze, pulling her hand back and sitting upright in alarm.

Ruby stirred, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
“Mm… Vel? What’s wrong?”

Velvet didn’t answer right away.
Instead, she quickly placed the headband back over Ruby’s ears and fixed her gaze on a nearby terrace.

“I… don’t think we’re alone up here,” she whispered cautiously.

Ruby blinked, following her line of sight — and spotted Jaune and Pyrrha standing in the distance.
They seemed to be arguing quietly.

“…Huh. I think I’ve seen them before,” Velvet murmured softly.

“You probably recognize Pyrrha,” Ruby said, sitting up.
“She’s, like, super famous.”

“Oh, right! The Invincible Girl,” Velvet nodded as realization hit her.
“She was at your table today, wasn’t she? Are you two friends?”

Ruby smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yeah. She helped me out on the first day.”

“She must be as good as everyone says,” Velvet replied with a small smile.
“I actually saw her in the cafeteria earlier when I went looking for you, but, uh…”
Her ears twitched slightly in irritation.
“…someone yanked me away by the ear.”

Ruby’s smile faltered, concern flashing across her face.
“Wait… does it still hurt?”

Velvet shook her head lightly.
“No, it’s fine. Just… surprising, I guess.
Surprising that a first-year team can be so… openly racist.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, her hands curling into fists on her lap.
“Yeah… that team’s awful. I don’t even know how they’re still allowed at Beacon.”

Velvet stood up slowly, stretching her arms before glancing back at Ruby.
“You’re right… but we should get going. I promised Yang I wouldn’t keep you too long.”

Ruby giggled softly, standing up beside her.
“Good luck with that. Yang and I are kinda… inseparable.”

Velvet smiled at that, shaking her head as she jumped gracefully down to a nearby balcony.
Ruby followed right after her.

When they landed, Velvet paused suddenly, glancing up at the night sky as if lost in thought.
Then she turned to Ruby, her tone careful.

“Ruby… if you ever meet a really fashionable girl named Coco… I’m sorry in advance.”

Ruby tilted her head, puzzled.
“Huh? Why?”

Velvet just sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.
“She’s… a unique person, let’s say.”

Ruby grinned brightly, unbothered.
“Oh! She’s your team leader, right? Then I’m sure I’ll like her!”

Velvet’s ears twitched nervously as she avoided Ruby’s gaze.
Inside, one thought echoed clearly:
*I really, really hope Coco never finds Ruby alone…*

———

If someone had told Jaune that “messing up” would become part of his daily routine, he probably would’ve laughed it off.
But now… he couldn’t deny it anymore.

Being here at Beacon was already bad enough.
He didn’t know how to fight properly.
He hadn’t trained for years like the others.
Hell, he wasn’t even supposed to **be** here.

He’d lied.
He’d forged everything about himself just to get in.
It wasn’t something he’d ever wanted to do, but desperation and pressure had gotten the better of him.
And now, he was paying the price.

He was a team leader.
Why? How?
He had no talent, no preparation, no right to be leading anyone.
And earlier, after arguing with Pyrrha, he felt lower than ever.
He’d admitted to her how he got into Beacon… and still rejected her offer to train him, despite her genuine kindness.

But if that wasn’t bad enough, now there was someone else who knew his secret.

The demon himself had heard everything.

Cardin Winchester stood there, leaning casually against the railing of the rooftop, that infuriating grin plastered on his face like a scar.

“So, Jaune… my friend,” Cardin drawled, his voice mockingly warm.
“Do we have an understanding?”

Jaune swallowed hard, his throat dry.
“U-understanding about… what, exactly?”

Cardin stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on Jaune’s shoulder, his fake camaraderie sending chills down Jaune’s spine.

“You’re gonna help me out with a few things,” he said smoothly.
“And in return… my mouth stays shut. Got it?”

Jaune trembled under his grip, his blue eyes darting anywhere but Cardin’s.
“O-okay, yeah… I just…”

“I know, I know,” Cardin cut him off, his tone dripping with condescension.
“Don’t worry, buddy. I **promise** I won’t say a word.”

Jaune’s chest tightened as fear clawed at him.
Still, he forced himself to ask, even though he already dreaded the answer.

“…So… what do you want?”

Cardin’s grin widened, cruel and triumphant, his voice lowering to a whisper meant only for Jaune:

“I want you to tell me everything you know… about Team RWBY.

Or, more specifically…”
He leaned in closer, his words sharp as a knife.

“…about the two sisters.”

Chapter Text

Ruby woke up with a start, her entire body trembling as a dry gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes shot open, searching for air as if she had nearly drowned. Cold sweat ran down her forehead, gluing a few strands of hair to her skin. Her hands clutched at the sheets, shaking as if holding on to them would anchor her to reality.

Her breathing was ragged, quick, far too loud in the silence of the room. The sound alone was enough to shatter the night’s calm.

“Ruby…” Yang’s voice came softly, tired but filled with affection.

The lights flicked on, blinding Ruby for a moment before her eyes focused on her sister standing by the bunk bed, one hand reaching out toward her. Yang’s lilac eyes were full of concern, her brow furrowed, but her voice remained gentle and steady.

“I’m right here, Rubes… breathe with me, okay?” she whispered.

Ruby swallowed hard and tried to follow. She inhaled shakily, exhaled halfway. Little by little, matching Yang’s rhythm, her lungs began to calm, though the weight in her chest remained.

Looking past her sister’s silhouette, she noticed Blake sitting on the top bunk. Her amber eyes were fixed on Ruby with a mixture of uncertainty and exhaustion, as if she wanted to come down but wasn’t sure if she should.

At the side, Weiss sat upright on Blake’s lower bunk. Her perfect posture clashed with the clear fatigue on her face. It was obvious that her sleep had been interrupted abruptly, yet she observed the scene in silence, her pale blue eyes locked on Ruby. There was no reproach there, only mild tiredness and a faint trace of concerned curiosity.

Ruby’s trembling voice barely managed to escape her lips:

“S-sorry…”

Yang immediately shook her head, leaning closer to make sure Ruby could hear her.

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for, Rubes. Just breathe… you’re safe.”

Finally, Ruby’s breathing began to even out. Yang whispered softly:

“That’s it… it’s over now.”

Ruby nodded faintly, as if trying to convince herself of the same.

“You okay?” Blake asked from above, her tone gentle but worried.

Weiss, arms crossed and brow slightly furrowed, added:

“If this is normal, I hope it doesn’t happen often… this is the second time this week.” Her voice sounded tired but not cold—just genuinely concerned.

Ruby lowered her gaze, unable to respond. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instinctively, she sought out Yang’s eyes, silently asking for help.

Yang understood instantly. She sighed softly before answering for her:

“Ruby has night terrors.”

The silence in the room grew heavier. Blake blinked in surprise, almost unable to believe it; she couldn’t picture Ruby, always so cheerful and energetic, suffering from night terrors. Weiss, on the other hand, looked at her with a strange mix of disbelief and compassion.

“You… have night terrors?” Weiss asked incredulously, not taking her eyes off her.

Ruby could only nod, embarrassed, clutching the sheets tightly in her hands.

Yang, trying to break the tension, cleared her throat.

“Anyway… it’s still night. Want to go back to sleep?”

“Gladly,” Blake replied immediately, turning over in her bed and closing her eyes. It wasn’t indifference—she simply understood Ruby wasn’t ready to talk about it.

“Fine…” Weiss murmured, settling back onto her bunk, though the thought lingered in her mind.

Ruby lowered her head, guilt twisting in her chest.

“…Sorry,” she whispered softly.

Weiss cracked an eye open and said dryly, though not unkindly:

“Make it up to us by sleeping properly… and letting us do the same.”

Yang smirked faintly, grateful for Weiss’s indirect attempt to lighten the mood. She turned back to Ruby and whispered:

“Can you sleep alone? Or… do you want to stay in my bed?”

Ruby hesitated. Deep down, she wanted to say no, to insist she could handle it… but the fear still lingered in her chest. Finally, she nodded slightly.

The two of them moved quietly to Yang’s lower bunk. The space was cramped, but it didn’t matter. Ruby curled up against her sister, feeling Yang’s warm embrace wrap around her with firmness and tenderness.

“Sleep tight, Rubes,” Yang whispered, closing her eyes.

Being in her sister’s arms always felt better. Ruby allowed herself a small smile. Slowly, her eyelids grew heavier until they shut, and the warmth of Yang’s presence carried her back into a calmer sleep.

———

Ruby walked slowly through Beacon’s courtyard, the cool morning breeze brushing against her face. She had asked for some time alone after what happened last night. Her footsteps were soft against the pavement, dragging slightly.

The same nightmare again. Her, with her mother—the little she remembered of her—smiling warmly, and then… her mother simply turning away, leaving her behind as Ruby tried desperately to follow… but she never reached her.

The nightmares… they had always been part of her. Since she was a child, they woke her with screams and tears, enough to make her father and Yang rush into her room in the middle of the night. And even now, at Beacon, nothing had changed. She was still the same little girl, afraid of the darkness in her dreams.

Her walk led her to a small wooden bridge, beneath which a clear brook flowed. Ruby leaned over the railing, staring at her reflection in the water. She looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes and sadness etched into her features. And in her mind, the nightmares replayed themselves: they always began happy, with a glimpse of her mother’s warm smile she could barely recall… until she saw her fading away.

The reflection in the water almost mimicked that moment—her face blurred, dissolving as if it too were slipping away.

Ruby closed her eyes and sighed, pulling her hood tighter around her face. When she looked again, she froze.

In the water, her reflection had changed. It showed a version of herself smiling brightly, without the headband she always wore to hide her wolf ears. In that image, her ears stood tall and proud, free, radiating happiness. So different from what she really felt, so impossible… it almost looked like a dream.

Ruby let out a nervous little laugh.

“Why should I be sad?” she whispered. “It was just a dumb dream… I’ll be fine.”

But just as she straightened up, a sudden hard shove on her back tore her from her thoughts.

“Ah!” Ruby yelped, falling into the brook with a loud splash.

The freezing water engulfed her instantly, knocking the air from her lungs. Ruby surfaced coughing, spitting out the water she had swallowed. The icy wind bit at her skin as her soaked cloak and clothes clung heavily to her body.

A chorus of laughter erupted from above the bridge. Ruby glanced up, yanking off her dripping hood, only to find the CRDL team leaning over, laughing shamelessly.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Ruby yelled angrily, water dripping down her bangs.

Cardin, still laughing, crossed his arms.

“Us? Nothing. We’re just laughing at how you fell off the bridge. It was hilarious.”

Ruby gritted her teeth, pointing at him furiously.

“You pushed me!”

“Me?” Cardin raised an eyebrow with exaggerated surprise. “Really? Prove it.”

“It’s obvious!” Ruby shot back, her voice shaking with anger.

Cardin smirked, turning to his teammates.

“‘Obvious,’ she says… Did any of you see me push this little girl?”

Sky, Dove, and Russel all shook their heads, their mocking grins never leaving their faces. Ruby stared at them, wide-eyed and furious, unable to believe it.

“See you later, Red,” Cardin said arrogantly. “And don’t bother telling anyone about this. Without proof, no one’s gonna believe you.”

Before they could leave, one of Cardin’s teammates pulled out two small Dust crystals—one of water, one of wind. He grinned maliciously, holding them up.

“Here’s a little gift… just to make it clear.”

Ruby’s eyes widened as she recognized the combination.

“No! Wait—!”

The boy smashed both crystals and dropped them into the brook.

The moment they touched the water, a burst of energy rippled out, freezing the surface instantly. The ice spread rapidly, reaching Ruby in seconds. The frost climbed up her legs, locking her in place from her feet to her knees.

Ruby gasped, struggling as the CRDL team walked away, laughing even louder.

“Hey! Come back here!” she shouted, pulling desperately. She clawed at the ice, pounding it with her fists, trying everything to break free—but she barely scratched the surface. The cold bit deep into her skin, her muscles tensing and exhausting her strength.

“Agh!” she grunted, leaning forward in a desperate attempt to pull herself loose, but the ice wouldn’t budge.

Ruby looked around. She was alone, soaked, freezing, and humiliated. A sharp ache tightened in her chest.

First the nightmare… and now this.

She lowered her head, biting her lip, feeling the weight of frustration settle on her.

“Great…” she muttered bitterly. “…and to top it all off, I left my scroll in the room.”

Closing her eyes for a moment, she swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus. She had to get out of this on her own, even as the cold gnawed at her body and the anger burned in her chest.

———

Sitting at the desk she technically shared with Ruby—though, in reality, she was the only one who ever used it—Weiss straightened her posture. In front of her, her scroll rested atop a neat stack of books, ready to place a call.

Her hand hovered over the connection button for a moment, hesitating. She glanced cautiously over her shoulder to make sure she was alone.

She was… but the room was an absolute disaster. Papers, clothes, and Ruby’s belongings were scattered everywhere.

A sigh of annoyance escaped her lips; she knew exactly what she would think if she saw this mess. With quick, practiced movements, Weiss gathered up everything that wasn’t hers and tossed it unceremoniously onto Yang’s bed. A final critical glance around the room, a few small adjustments, and she returned to her seat.

With a deep breath, she exhaled elegantly and pressed the call button.

The tone rang once… twice… three times. Silence stretched, and Weiss lowered her gaze, disappointed, thinking her sister might be too busy to answer.

Then, the screen lit up, revealing Winter’s composed, serious face.

“Weiss.”

The younger Schnee straightened instantly, spine rigid, replying a bit nervously:

“Winter!”

“To what do I owe this call, Weiss?” Winter asked, her voice as firm as always.

Weiss blinked, slightly thrown off by her sister’s tone but kept her composure.

“You… you told me to call you,” Weiss reminded her.

Winter hesitated for a brief moment, as if she had forgotten giving that instruction, but then nodded gravely.

“That’s right.”

“So… how are you?” Weiss asked, her voice holding a trace of nervousness.

Winter’s expression remained perfectly neutral.

“I should be the one asking that,” she replied calmly. “After all, you’re the one on a completely different continent.”

The words hit Weiss harder than she expected, making her lower her gaze slightly. Still, she gathered her resolve and answered firmly:

“I’m… fine. Beacon is certainly not like Atlas.”

“Already regretting your choice?” Winter asked, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly.

“No. I made my decision, and I stand by it,” Weiss declared, sitting straighter.

Winter’s expression softened—barely noticeable, but it was there.

“I’m glad to hear you’re still committed to your goals. Tell me… how’s your team?”

Weiss’s eyes lit up faintly, pleased that her sister was interested.

“They’re… certainly unique,” she admitted with a small pause, acknowledging inwardly that much of their early trouble had been her fault. “We struggled at first, but things are better now. Especially thanks to my partner… she’s unique. A bit childish, yes, but she’s proven to be a capable leader.”

“You’re not the leader?” Winter raised an eyebrow.

Weiss stiffened slightly, feeling a twinge of discomfort.

“Oh… well… no.”

Winter studied her sister’s face for a moment, scrutinizing every tiny detail.

“And you’re fine with that?”

“Yes,” Weiss replied without hesitation, though there was a faint tightness in her throat.

“I see,” Winter said softly, releasing a quiet sigh. “Tell me, how have they been treating you? our surname… doesn’t exactly inspire fondness.”

Weiss nearly bit her lip but stopped herself; Winter would notice any hesitation.

“I won’t lie. Some people look at me and speak the same way they do about Father.”

“Any problems? With students… or otherwise?” Winter’s tone shifted slightly—subtle caution, reserved for delicate matters.

“No, Winter. There are faunus students here, yes, but they ignore me, and I do the same. There’s been no issue.”

Winter nodded slowly, weighing her sister’s words.

“Good. Remember, if anything comes up, you can always reach out to me. I’ll be busy, but I’ll try to make myself available.”

Weiss was just about to thank her, feeling oddly lighter after the conversation, when a loud knock rattled the dorm door—followed immediately by another, heavier one, like someone desperate to get in.

Weiss turned sharply, irritated by the interruption, but her expression shifted instantly to surprise when Ruby burst in—soaked from head to toe, looking exhausted, her drenched hair clinging to her face.

“Ruby?!” Weiss exclaimed in shock.

Ruby looked up at her with a weak, apologetic smile.

“Sorry…” she muttered breathlessly before hurrying straight into the bathroom.

Winter, still on the screen, observed silently as Ruby rushed past. Weiss, stunned, watched her go, then called out:

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing, I… I’ll explain later,” Ruby mumbled, motioning to her soaked clothes. “I just need a hot shower before I freeze.”

With that, she closed the bathroom door carefully. Weiss stood staring at the door, concern flickering in her eyes, until a soft clearing of the throat drew her attention back to the scroll.

“Weiss,” Winter said evenly, “I can see you have something to deal with. Go on—I have matters of my own to attend to.”

“Thank you, Winter,” Weiss replied, regaining her composure.

“Stay safe,” her sister said with the faintest of smiles before ending the call.

Weiss ended the connection and immediately stood up, walking to the bathroom door to knock gently.

“Ruby, are you okay?”

“Yes…” came Ruby’s muffled reply from the other side—but her voice didn’t sound convincing at all.

Weiss frowned. It was obvious she was lying. Ruby wasn’t acting like herself—no cheerful energy, no playful teasing. For a moment, Weiss wondered if it was related to last night’s night terrors… but no. Something else had happened, and Ruby didn’t want to talk about it.

“Can I help you with anything?” Weiss offered, her tone noticeably softer than usual.

“No, I just… I need to shower or I’ll get sick,” Ruby said, right before letting out a sneeze that betrayed her completely. She coughed a little, adding sheepishly, “…See?”

Weiss sighed, resting her forehead briefly against the door.

“Fine. But you will explain later.”

She turned to wait by her bed, but Ruby’s voice called out again from the bathroom:

“Actually… Weiss? Could you grab me a change of clothes from the closet?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks!” Ruby’s reply sounded brighter this time, pulling a faint smile from Weiss despite herself.

Walking to the closet they shared, Weiss scanned Ruby’s section. She disliked this arrangement—the younger girl only occupied a small quarter of the space, leaving Weiss’s own belongings immaculately organized across the rest. Ruby’s clothes were nearly all black with red accents, save for her pajamas. To Weiss, her “emo” style lacked variety.

Still, she carefully selected a casual outfit, neatly folding it and setting it atop the upper bunk. Then she returned to her chair, crossing one leg over the other, waiting patiently.

Moments later, the bathroom door opened, and Ruby stepped out wrapped in a white towel, her damp hair sticking to her cheeks. Her headband was already in place, hiding her ears.

“Ahhh… I needed that,” Ruby sighed with relief.

Weiss, still seated, regarded her coldly but firmly.

“Now… are you going to tell me why you came back to the dorm soaked?”

Ruby tensed, clutching the towel tighter.

“I… I can wait.”

“I’ve already waited, as you asked,” Weiss replied sharply.

“Oh no! I mean—I meant until… after I change!” Ruby corrected quickly, cheeks burning.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, then waved a dismissive hand.

“Ruby, we’re both girls. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”

Ruby’s blush deepened, and she froze in place, silently pleading for mercy with wide silver eyes. Weiss sighed, turning her chair away to give her privacy.

“And then you complain I treat you like a child…” she muttered.

“Th-thanks, Weiss,” Ruby mumbled, starting to change, her face still crimson.

The silence lasted only a few seconds before Weiss asked her first question.

“So… did you fall into a fountain or something?”

“Uh… something like that…” Ruby answered nervously.

Weiss frowned. Knowing Ruby, clumsiness was believable—but her tone wasn’t convincing.

“Ruby… did someone push you?”

Ruby let out a squeak so small and guilty it might as well have been a confession.

Weiss spun her chair around sharply, outraged.

“Someone pushed you?!”

Ruby, still fumbling with the towel, blushed even harder.

“Weiss! Don’t look!”

“Explain, Rose! Now!” Weiss demanded, standing with arms crossed, icy fury radiating from her.

Ruby stammered incoherently, failing to form an excuse. Weiss clicked her tongue, turning on her heel and marching to the door.

“Fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll tell Yang.”

“Wait!” Ruby rushed forward, grabbing Weiss’s arm desperately. Her wide silver eyes pleaded with her.

“Please don’t tell Yang!”

“I’m sorry, what?” Weiss turned slowly, voice low and dangerous. “Ruby, someone messed with you, and you want me to ignore it?”

Ruby lowered her gaze, lips parting—but no words came out.

Weiss pulled her arm free firmly.

“You’re my partner, Ruby Rose. If someone’s messing with you, they’re messing with me. Got it?”

Ruby swallowed hard before finally nodding.

“Fine… I’ll tell you. But… let’s go to Yang first, okay?”

Weiss studied her closely, searching her face for deception. But Ruby was sincere. She wanted to face this together—with her sister.

Weiss sighed softly.

“Alright…” she said, reaching for Ruby’s arm and turning the doorknob—

“Wait!” Ruby interrupted again, panicking.

Weiss stopped, irritated.

“What now?”

Ruby flushed crimson, clutching the towel tighter.

“I… still haven’t changed.”

Weiss blinked, realizing, then turned away at once.

“…Oh. My apologies.”

Ruby let out an awkward giggle, embarrassed but relieved, while Weiss huffed and faced the other way.

———

The Beacon library was as quiet as ever… though not quiet enough for Blake to lose herself completely in her reading. Each exaggerated sigh and the constant tapping of a pencil against the desk disrupted the silence like drops of water on stone.

“Blake… help me with this?” Yang’s voice dragged lazily, dripping with boredom and mock desperation.

Without lifting her eyes from her book, Blake tilted an ear slightly and replied calmly:

“That depends. What is it?”

“Professor Port’s essay.” Yang lifted the paper like it was poison.

“Then no.”

Yang groaned and dropped her forehead onto the table with a thud, arms dangling uselessly at her sides.

“Oh, come on. It’s so boring I can’t even start it.”

Blake flipped a page without looking at her.

“Then maybe you shouldn’t leave everything for the last minute.”

Yang raised a finger with a playful grin.

“Hey! I work better under pressure.”

Blake finally glanced up, amber eyes narrowing slightly.

“Uh-huh. I can see how well that’s working out for you.”

Yang gasped theatrically, hand to her chest.

“Hey! Don’t use my own words against me!”

“Then focus on your essay,” Blake said flatly, returning to her book.

Yang groaned again, this time draping herself dramatically across the table, reaching out toward Blake.

“Blake Belladonna, I curse you for abandoning your suffering teammate.”

“Oh no… how tragic,” Blake replied dryly, flipping another page without even glancing up.

The library’s calm shattered when a firm, icy voice cut through the air:

“Finally, I’ve found you.”

Both Blake and Yang looked up. Weiss stood before them, her expression sharp and commanding, dragging Ruby gently but insistently by the wrist.

“Of all the places you could be…” Weiss’s pale blue eyes locked on Yang, irritation clear. “…you had to be in the one place I’d check last.”

Yang raised an eyebrow, folding her arms with a mix of surprise and amusement.

“You were looking for me, Ice Queen? Wow, guess the world’s ending.”

“This is not the time for jokes,” Weiss snapped, releasing Ruby with a small shove forward. “Something happened to Ruby. And she won’t tell me what.”

“Weiss!” Ruby flailed slightly, taking a step back. “It’s not a big deal! Really, it’s nothing!”

Yang’s casual demeanor vanished instantly. She straightened in her chair, her playful grin fading into a rare, serious expression.

“Ruby?”

Ruby swallowed hard, avoiding her gaze.

“It was… just a small thing. Nothing important.”

Yang studied her closely, her lilac eyes sharp and unyielding. That was when she noticed it.

“…Where’s your hood?”

Ruby froze. Her heartbeat kicked up, her lips pressing tightly shut. Her cloak—her symbol—wasn’t with her.

When Ruby finally looked up, Yang’s gaze wasn’t playful anymore. Concern softened her features, worry replacing teasing. Blake had already set her book down, watching silently, her golden eyes scanning Ruby with unsettling precision.

Weiss, meanwhile, tapped a heel against the floor impatiently, waiting for answers.

Ruby lowered her shoulders, defeated. She knew she couldn’t dodge this any longer.

“…Can we… go to our room first?” she asked quietly, glancing around the library uncomfortably.

Yang stood up immediately, no hesitation in her movements.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Blake sighed softly, gathering Yang’s papers and books, knowing full well the blonde would forget them otherwise. Weiss muttered under her breath as she fell into step with them:

“I walked halfway across the campus just to go back to the dorm…”

Ruby, head low, whispered softly:

“Sorry…”

“Apologies later,” Weiss said firmly. “First, you’re going to explain what happened.”

The four of them left through one of the library’s side doors, Ruby leading with damp palms as she turned the handle. She pushed the door open and—

SPLASH!

A full bucket of water came crashing down on her, drenching her completely for the second time that day. The metal bucket bounced off her shoulder and clattered to the floor as Ruby fell backward onto the ground.

“RUBY!!” her teammates shouted in unison.

Blake reacted first, kneeling beside her and carefully holding her by the arms to help her sit up.

Yang and Weiss, however, were already sprinting into the hallway, scanning their surroundings with sharp, dangerous eyes. Yang’s pupils burned red, her jaw clenched tight, her golden hair practically vibrating with contained fury.

“Where are you, you little bastard?!” Yang roared, fists tightening until her knuckles cracked audibly.

Ruby sat shivering on the floor, her voice trembling as she whispered:

“N-no… not again…”

Blake’s ears twitched slightly, catching it immediately.

“…Again?” she echoed, surprised.

Yang’s head whipped around, her voice a storm of anger.

“What do you mean, again, Ruby?!”

Weiss crossed her arms, frowning deeply.

“When I found her earlier, she was already soaking wet when she got back to the room.”

Yang’s jaw tightened further, a low growl rumbling from her throat. She cracked her knuckles again, her red irises glowing brighter.

“Whoever did this… is dead.”

“Yang, wait!” Ruby scrambled upright, water dripping down her bangs as she reached for her sister.

“No, Ruby!” Yang’s voice thundered, raw with fury. “This isn’t Signal. Nobody gets away with messing with you. Nobody.”

Weiss’s pale blue eyes sharpened, a chill in her tone as she spoke:

“…This has happened before, Ruby?”

Yang snapped immediately, refusing to take her eyes off the hallway.

“That doesn’t matter right now! What matters is finding the creep who’s been pulling this crap.”

For once, Weiss nodded in complete agreement.

“…For once, I’m with you.”

Blake, still supporting Ruby, spoke calmly but with a quiet edge of focus, her ears flicking slightly.

“If you both want revenge so badly… I think I might have a lead.”

All three turned toward her instantly.

“A lead?” Weiss asked sharply, impatient.

Blake pointed to the ground, her slender fingers indicating a faint trail.

“There’s a water trail… right there. It leads from here to that door.”

Sure enough, droplets glittered faintly in the hallway’s dim light, forming a path that stopped right at the doorway where Ruby had been ambushed.

Yang’s lips curved into a dangerous grin, her crimson eyes blazing as she tightened her fists.

“Perfect.”

Without another word, she stormed forward, boots thudding against the floor like war drums.

“Yang, wait!” Ruby tried to run after her, but the moment her foot hit a puddle, she slipped and nearly fell again.

Blake caught her just in time, steadying her by the shoulders.

Weiss clicked her tongue sharply.

“Blake, take Ruby back to change her clothes. She’ll catch a cold at this rate. Yang and I will follow the trail.”

Blake hesitated, amber eyes meeting Weiss’s cold gaze, then nodded slightly.

“…Alright.”

Ruby, however, yanked herself free, stepping forward unsteadily.

“No! I can’t let Yang go off like this if she finds them—!”

“Ruby!” Weiss’s commanding voice echoed sharply down the hall, but Ruby was already running after her sister, ignoring everything.

Weiss groaned in frustration, heels clicking loudly as she stormed after her. Blake sighed deeply, ears twitching before following close behind.

Ruby rounded the corner at full speed, her heart pounding wildly. She didn’t even notice the figure emerging from the side hallway until she slammed right into them. The impact sent her stumbling backward—but she didn’t hit the ground.

A pair of strong arms caught her just in time.

“I’ll… have to change clothes again,” Weiss muttered in irritation, glancing down at the soaking wet Ruby clinging to her.

Ruby, cheeks blazing red with embarrassment, stammered softly:

“S-sorry…”

Weiss let out a sharp sigh, whispering under her breath:

“You really need to stop apologizing…”

Blake arrived moments later, hair falling over her shoulders, scanning the hallway alertly.

“Yang? What happened?”

Yang stood just a few meters ahead, shoulders tense, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles trembled. Without looking back, she nodded toward a nearby door.

“Two water trails,” Yang said in a low growl. “One heads back to the library… the other leads here. The guys’ bathroom. The coward’s hiding inside.”

Ruby’s eyes widened in panic.

“Yang, no! If you storm in there, you’ll just get in trouble—!”

Yang turned her head slightly, her crimson pupils glowing fiercely beneath her golden bangs. Her voice was low but steady, every word edged with steel:

“I don’t care about trouble. Nobody touches my sister.”

She leaned toward Ruby slightly, her tone softening only for her:

“And you need to get changed before you catch pneumonia.”

Weiss exhaled sharply, crossing her arms with aristocratic precision.

“For once, I actually agree with her,” she said coolly. “Besides, this gives me the perfect chance to face whoever’s responsible.”

Blake stepped forward too, her shadow falling alongside Yang’s, golden eyes glinting in the dim hallway light.

“I’m in.”

Ruby bit her lip, shoulders trembling, chest tight. Her gaze darted from Weiss, to Yang, to Blake—all of them ready to confront whoever was inside. All of them willing to put themselves at risk…

For her.

…Why?

Why would they go this far for something so petty… just to protect her?

Before she could voice the thought, the metallic creak of a doorknob turning cut through the silence.

The four of them tensed instantly, each one reacting differently:

Yang clenched her fists, fury burning in her crimson gaze, ready to land a devastating punch.
Weiss rested a hand on her hip, icy composure radiating off her like a queen about to pass judgment.
Blake crossed her arms, silent but vigilant, every muscle prepared for a fight.
Ruby swallowed nervously, unsure what to expect.

The door opened with a slow creak. Yang lunged forward, arm cocked back for a punch that could shatter a jaw—

“Waaaah!!” a startled, very unmanly scream came from inside.

Yang froze mid-swing, stopping just short of the poor soul’s face.

Jaune Arc stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet and falling flat on his back, wide-eyed and pale.

“G-geez! You nearly killed me!” he gasped, clutching his chest.

Yang blinked, lowering her fist slightly, her crimson eyes flickering back to lilac.

“…Jaune?”

Weiss’s icy composure cracked slightly, confusion replacing frustration.

“Jaune… did you do this?”

Blake, arms still crossed, shook her head slightly.

“Highly doubtful,” she said calmly, eyes fixed on him.

“Do what?” Jaune asked nervously, glancing between them with raised hands.

Yang grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and hauled him upright effortlessly.

“Was there anyone else in the bathroom?” she demanded, her tone low and dangerous.

“W-what? Whoa, wait, what’s going on?!” Jaune stammered, eyes darting between them.

Yang tightened her grip slightly, glaring into his eyes.

“I’ll ask one more time. Was there anyone else in there?”

Ruby rushed forward, grabbing her sister’s arm.

“Yang, stop! You’re going to hurt him!”

Yang hesitated, jaw clenched, then finally released Jaune with a frustrated sigh.

“…Sorry, Jaune. But seriously—was there anyone else?”

Jaune straightened his jacket, coughing lightly before shaking his head.

“No. Just me. Seriously, what’s going on?”

He glanced at Ruby and blinked, finally noticing her drenched clothes.

“Wait… why are you soaking wet?”

Ruby crossed her arms and turned her head away, cheeks pink.

“…Long story.”

Weiss exhaled sharply, shaking her head.

“Then whoever it was has slipped away.”

“Looks like it,” Blake agreed softly, placing a gentle hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “Come on, Ruby. Let’s get you back to the dorm before you get sick.”

Yang scowled, cracking her knuckles one last time but conceding reluctantly.

“Fine…”

The four of them began walking back, Weiss and Blake flanking Ruby protectively while Yang trailed behind, shoulders still tense, her jaw tight with suppressed anger. Ruby shivered from the cold, but her teammates moved closer, shielding her from the hallway’s draft.

Jaune, still standing frozen near the bathroom, watched them disappear around the corner, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Then… a slow, mocking sound filled the now-empty hallway.

Clap.
Clap.
Clap.

Jaune turned to see Cardin Winchester emerging casually from the boys’ bathroom, his smirk wide and dripping with arrogance.

“Incredible… just incredible, man,” Cardin drawled sarcastically.

“…Don’t call me that,” Jaune muttered bitterly, shoulders slumping.

“Oh, right,” Cardin said with exaggerated mock surprise. “Because friends don’t pull pranks on each other, huh?”

Jaune didn’t respond, not even looking at him, but Cardin kept talking, his tone smug.

“Gotta hand it to you, though… either you’re one hell of an actor, or they really do think you’re too much of an idiot to pull something like this off.” He laughed cruelly.

Jaune clenched his fists slightly. “…Is it over?”

“Is what over?” Cardin tilted his head, mock innocence in his tone.

“This. I’m done. I helped you with your stupid ‘pranks.’ I even told you Ruby went out alone today. And the bucket—” Jaune’s voice rose slightly “—it wasn’t even meant for her! It was supposed to hit Yang, but Ruby walked into it instead!”

Cardin burst into laughter, clearly amused by the “accident.”

“That was the best part,” he said, voice low and threatening now. “But remember…” He stepped closer, his tone dropping into a dangerous whisper. “…If you ever decide to turn against me, all I have to do is have a little chat with the professors.”

Jaune lowered his head in silent defeat as Cardin turned away confidently.

“Oh, and don’t forget my homework,” Cardin added casually over his shoulder. “That essay or whatever for Port’s class. I need it done by tomorrow.”

With that, he walked off, leaving Jaune standing there, fists clenched and shoulders tight.

Chapter Text

The murmur of students filled the History of Huntsman Academies classroom, a constant buzz mingling with the clinking of coffee mugs on desks and the soft rustle of pages turning. In the middle row, with his head buried in his arms, Jaune Arc looked like a fallen soldier before even entering the battlefield. His tired face, half-lidded eyes, and slouched back made it obvious he hadn’t slept enough. The still-wet ink on several sheets on his desk was proof of it: his essay… or rather, essays.

A pair of soft giggles pulled him out of his drowsiness. Blinking, he lifted his head to find part of team RWBY standing nearby — though incomplete. Yang, Weiss, and Blake were watching him from the side of his desk.

“Wow, Jaune… trying to merge with the desk, huh?” Yang teased, leaning an elbow on the back of her seat and giving him a playful grin.

Jaune let out a low groan, brushing his bangs aside. “Just… making sure the wood’s comfortable,” he muttered, trying to sound witty but barely managing a tired murmur.

It took Jaune a few seconds to notice the absence of the group’s noisiest member. Tilting his head, he asked:
“Hey… where’s Ruby? Weird that she isn’t here before everyone else.”

Yang let out a brief but relaxed sigh. “Ah, yeah… my little sis caught a cold. Poor thing’s curled up in bed right now.”

Jaune’s shoulders sank immediately. “I see… I hope she gets better soon.” A pang of guilt settled in his chest as the image of Ruby soaked to the bone flashed through his mind.

Yang, noticing his silence, reassured him with a wave of her hand. “Don’t worry so much, blondie. It’s just a cold. Besides, someone’s looking after her.”

“Someone?” Jaune repeated, tilting his head.

“Velvet,” Yang said casually, as if it were no big deal.

Weiss’s expression stiffened for an instant. Her gaze drifted aside, lips pressed tightly together, though she said nothing. Blake, as usual, seemed to read between the lines but chose to stay silent.

Jaune scratched the back of his neck, trying to collect himself. “Oh, the faunus girl.”

Blake seized the moment to pin her amber eyes on him. “And why aren’t you with your team?” she asked calmly, glancing at the rest of team JNPR across the classroom.

Jaune hesitated, uneasy under the faunus’s gaze. Lowering his voice as if the answer could turn into a rumor if spoken too loudly, he muttered:
“Let’s just say… there are certain tensions. And… I need some time.”

Yang clicked her tongue, leaning back. “Problems, huh? We’d help you out, but we’ve still gotta find the guy who messed with Ruby.” She said it with such certainty it almost sounded like a personal confession.

“Right… good luck with that, Yang,” Jaune said nervously, imagining what she’d do to whoever was responsible.

“Poor Pyrrha, having to deal with all this,” Weiss muttered without looking at him, making Jaune feel even worse.

The bell signaling the start of class cut through the moment. Jaune adjusted himself in his seat, sighing, just as Professor Port entered with heavy steps and a booming voice.

The day had only just begun, and it already felt endless.

The buzzing of his scroll made him groan in misery. Knowing exactly who was messaging him, he didn’t even bother checking it until he got up and left the classroom. The girls watched him in surprise at his sudden exit, but before they could ask anything, the professor began the lecture. Closing the door behind him, Jaune finally pulled out his scroll and stared at it with annoyance.

———

Team RWBY’s leader lay under her sheets, her forehead damp with sweat and her cheeks flushed from fever. A mountain of crumpled tissues crowded her nightstand like trophies from a battle Ruby was losing badly. Her silver eyes, heavy and tired, could barely stay open, and without her headband, she looked even more fragile. Her wolf ears twitched faintly at every sound in the room, too weary to stand upright.

How she hated being sick. For Ruby, illness meant uselessness — being trapped in bed while the world kept moving without her. It wasn’t unusual, though; her immune system had always been weak. Countless childhood days had been spent like this, remembering her dad and Yang awkwardly but lovingly caring for her.

If only she could say this was the first time she’d fallen ill like this. At Signal, it had been worse: sick or not, some people never changed the way they treated her. At Beacon, they didn’t confront her outright, but the feeling was the same… and it hurt just as much. Maybe she’d been too hopeful thinking things would be different here.

Velvet sat next to her bed, a notebook resting forgotten on her lap. She pretended to flip through it now and then, but the way her ears tilted gave her away — her full attention was on Ruby.

“You should try to sleep a little more,” she said softly, leaning closer when Ruby tried to sit up. Her gentle smile was like a soothing balm.

“Mmph… can’t,” Ruby muttered, sinking back into her pillow, her voice nasal and weak. “I shouldn’t be like this…”

“Everybody gets sick sometimes,” Velvet replied sweetly. “Besides, now you’ve got the perfect excuse to skip Port’s class.”

Ruby let out a brief laugh, but a coughing fit quickly stole her breath, forcing her to curl up. Velvet reacted immediately, offering her a glass of water. Ruby took it with trembling hands, sipping slowly before setting it aside. She tucked herself back under the blanket, only the tip of her nose and her ears peeking out.

“Hey, Vel… can I ask you something?” Ruby murmured, shifting uncomfortably.

Velvet placed the glass back on the nightstand and returned to her seat. “Of course.”

“How was your team… with you at first?” Ruby tilted her head slightly, uncertain.

Velvet raised a brow, as if she already knew where this was going. “You mean how they treated me for being a faunus?”

Ruby coughed lightly, squeezing her eyes shut. “I know your team treats you like anyone else and they love you… but…”

Velvet didn’t hesitate. She reached out, gently intertwining her fingers with Ruby’s. “I was lucky. None of them were racist or had anything against our kind. But, to be honest… I was the one who had an issue.”

Ruby blinked, surprised. “You? How?”

“The day teams were formed, there were other faunus, and I wanted to be with them. I thought they’d understand me better. But I ended up in CVFY, and at first, I felt like I didn’t belong. I kept pushing them away, thinking they were only nice to look good in front of others…” Velvet explained, smiling faintly at how naïve she’d been.

Ruby listened closely. She knew Velvet’s team was popular; Velvet herself had mentioned it several times, and Yang often joked about how admired they were. Ruby wished her own team had started off with that kind of harmony… but now, with the secret she carried, she feared the day everything fell apart.

Velvet leaned closer, her gaze resting on Ruby’s drooping ears. “I get it… it’s Miss Schnee you’re worried about, isn’t it?”

Ruby turned her head toward her and gave a weak nod.

“You told me you see her as your… best friend,” Velvet added.

Ruby lowered her gaze, silently confirming it.

“Well… I can’t tell you how she’ll react. We both know what her family’s company stands for and what happened your first day here. It won’t be easy… but it’s not impossible,” Velvet reflected aloud.

Ruby clutched the blanket tightly to her chest. “I’m scared of that…” she confessed.

Velvet could feel it — Ruby wore that fear like a second skin. It was the same battle Velvet herself had fought since childhood. She gently stroked Ruby’s head, running her fingers through the damp strands of sweat-soaked hair.

“Ruby… are you going to tell them about Cardin?” she finally asked.

Ruby’s wolf ears drooped completely. She turned her face away, unable to meet Velvet’s gaze.

“I don’t know…” she whispered.

The image from yesterday surged back: soaked for the second time, clothes clinging to her body, crawling to bed before the cold finally overwhelmed her. She hadn’t even had the strength to speak.

Velvet’s gaze remained steady. “You told me, and that’s already a first step.”

“But if my teammates find out, they’ll want to confront him… and Yang could get into trouble, and you know it.” Ruby clenched her fists, trembling beneath the blanket. “It’s never been important to anyone else…”

The lump in her throat silenced her. Even thinking about it made her shiver.

Velvet slid her hand to caress Ruby’s hair with tenderness. “Then it won’t be any different from what we’ve already faced. But Beacon isn’t Signal. Here, the professors are willing to step in, trust me. You’re not alone.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, trapped between fear and the desire to believe her. “I’m… not so sure…”

Velvet gently brushed a sticky strand from her forehead. “You’ll find out for yourself, little wolf.”

Ruby wanted to reply, but the fever was winning. Her eyelids grew heavy, her wolf ears relaxed, and her breathing deepened.

Velvet carefully tucked her in, adjusting the blankets so she wouldn’t be exposed. She lingered for a few seconds, gazing at her with a mix of fondness and worry, before sitting back down, relieved that Ruby was finally resting.

“O-oh… you’re so sweet, bun,” Coco’s playful voice echoed in her mind.

Velvet nearly screamed but managed to clap both hands over her mouth just in time, her ears standing on end.

“C-Coco…!” she thought instantly, but the response came fast.

“Hey, don’t scream, wanna wake the kid up?” Coco teased, clearly amused by Velvet’s reaction.

Velvet pressed her lips together, trying to ignore her, glancing back at Ruby, who was peacefully asleep, hugging her sheet. Irritated, she thought instead:

“Fox, what did I say about warning me when you open a channel?”

The boy sighed in her mind, sounding sheepish.
“Sorry, Vel. I owed Coco a favor.”

Their team leader chimed in, feigning offense.
"What? Is it so wrong that I want to know how my Bunn is doing?"

Velvet put a hand to her forehead, already knowing where this was headed.
“Please, don’t start, you two…” she muttered mentally, resigned, as Coco smiled silently and Fox braced himself for the inevitable bickering.

———

The locker hallway buzzed with the usual noise before combat class: the clang of metal, the scrape of armor, and hurried students rushing past. Yang, Blake, and Weiss stood in front of their lockers, preparing for class. Each one adjusted straps, reviewed notes, or inspected their weapon.

“What do you think we’ll be doing today?” Blake asked as she carefully secured her weapon on her back.

“Probably sparring against each other, as usual,” Yang replied, lifting her locker door and sighing. “I really hope I get to fight Pyrrha.”

Just as Yang fully opened her locker, an avalanche of trash and old papers came crashing down onto the floor. The wrappers crunched under the weight, making Yang jump back while Blake and Weiss instinctively stepped away — Weiss especially, looking disgusted.

“What the hell is this?!” Yang shouted, leaping aside as her expression shifted from shock to pure fury.

Low, mocking laughter echoed from across the hallway. The three girls turned their heads sharply and spotted Cardin and his group at the far end, barely containing their laughter. Cardin pointed at the mess with a smug smirk.

Yang’s eyes narrowed, and she stormed toward them with heavy, deliberate steps.
“What’s so funny?” she demanded, her voice dripping with warning.

“Nothing…” Cardin replied, feigning innocence. “Just… your face when you saw all that garbage.”

Yang’s fists clenched, her fury flashing like a spark ready to ignite.
“You’re dead,” she growled under her breath, preparing to lunge at him.

Cardin raised his hands in mock surrender, smirking arrogantly.
“Whoa, hey! What’s your problem? I didn’t do this!”

Yang rolled her eyes, her knuckles tightening until they cracked.
“Yeah… real convincing.”

“Come on, Xiao Long,” Cardin drawled smugly. “I came and left with you guys. How could I possibly have set this up?”

Yang’s anger flared to its peak — until Cardin delivered the final jab, that infuriating grin never leaving his face:

“But if you want to hit me, go ahead. I’ll report you after. I’m sure your little sister will love knowing her big sis is a violent bully.”

That stopped Yang cold. Her jaw tightened, her body trembling as she fought the urge to break his smug face. Before she could explode, Weiss stepped up beside her. Her icy glare locked on Cardin, sharp enough to freeze him where he stood.

Under Weiss’s silent command, Yang took a step back, sucking in a deep breath to rein herself in, while Blake calmly moved forward to intervene.

“It’s obvious they did it,” Yang muttered, scowling.

“It’s possible,” Blake said evenly. “But they couldn’t have pulled this off alone… and if you attack them, we’re the ones who’ll get punished, not them.”

Yang growled in frustration, crossing her arms tightly as the three girls walked away, leaving Cardin’s team snickering behind them. Her eyes, however, stayed locked on him.

“They’ll pay for this…” Yang whispered under her breath, barely audible.

Once Yang, Blake, and Weiss disappeared down the hall, leaving Cardin’s group behind, an awkward silence filled the locker area. Among the scattered papers and garbage, Cardin leaned back against the lockers with a satisfied smirk.

“Good work, man,” he said, turning to Jaune, who was returning from the bathrooms carrying a broom and a trash bag. “Now clean this up. Might need it again later.”

Jaune stared at him for a moment, his jaw tight and eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He didn’t reply. He simply nodded, lowering his gaze as he began sweeping, carefully collecting every piece of trash. His shoulders sagged under the quiet weight of frustration and humiliation.

As he worked, his eyes followed Cardin’s group as they strolled down the hallway, laughing and talking like nothing had happened. His breaths came slow and steady, but every movement spoke of resignation.

Jaune finally let out a long, quiet sigh as he set the last bag beside the growing pile of trash. The helplessness of the situation pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating, but there was no choice. All he could do was obey… and hope that someday, somehow, things would change.

With nothing more to say or do, he leaned back against the wall, resting the broom beside him, closing his eyes for a few seconds as the quiet of the now-empty hallway settled around him.

———

The bell marking the end of classes rang through Beacon’s halls. Soon after, the echo of voices, laughter, and footsteps filled the building as students poured out of classrooms.

Velvet, who had stayed by Ruby’s side for most of the day, stood from her chair with a soft sigh. She stepped out of the room, knowing someone else would be arriving soon to take over. Even though she was technically supposed to be in class, she’d only just returned from a mission, and students got three days off afterward to recover.

It wasn’t the first time she’d postponed her own rest to help someone else, but this was different — the moment she heard Ruby was sick, she hadn’t hesitated. Yang had insisted on staying to take care of her, but Velvet convinced her to attend class instead, promising Ruby would be in good hands.

This wasn’t just courtesy. The thought of Ruby being harassed again churned her stomach. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen something like this, and she knew exactly how it felt to be the target. The only difference this time was that Ruby wasn’t being singled out for being a faunus… but the injustice still stung just the same.

The sound of hurried footsteps down the hallway signaled team RWBY’s arrival.

“How is she?” Yang asked without hesitation, her lilac eyes glowing with worry.

Velvet offered a soft smile, trying to soothe her. “She’s okay. She took her medicine not too long ago, so she should rest and start feeling better soon.”

Yang let out a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of her neck. “Thanks, Velvet… seriously. Sorry to trouble you with this.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Velvet replied immediately, shaking her head. “Ruby is… special to us.”

Blake nodded kindly. “I appreciate you taking care of her, too.”

Velvet returned the smile warmly. “I’d do it every time, if I had to.”

Weiss, however, stood a little apart, arms crossed and brow faintly furrowed. Her gaze lingered on Velvet for a moment before she muttered a clipped:

“Thanks.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked straight past them, slipping into the room and closing the door behind her to check on Ruby herself.

The silence her coldness left behind was impossible to miss. Yang sighed, shrugging as if to excuse her.

“You know how Weiss is,” she muttered, half-apologetic, half-resigned.

Velvet tilted her head slightly. She’d learned not to take such things personally, though the tension was impossible to ignore.

“Any luck finding out who’s been bothering Ruby?” Velvet asked gently.

Yang’s expression darkened instantly, which Velvet took as her answer.

“No idea. All we know is… now they’re after me.”

Velvet’s eyes widened, her ears standing straight up. “After you?!”

“Yang’s locker was stuffed full of garbage,” Blake explained flatly.

“Seems like they’ve got something against me and Ruby,” Yang added with irritation.

Velvet’s thoughts raced. This wasn’t normal anymore. She knew Cardin had been targeting Ruby… but Yang too?

“Well, I hope this ends soon,” Velvet said softly. “For now, you should rest. First-year classes are boring enough as it is.”

“Ugh, so boring,” Yang groaned in agreement, rolling her eyes.

It was then Blake stepped forward.
“Velvet… do you have a moment? I wanted to talk to you… about some things.”

The rabbit faunus blinked, surprised, but smiled warmly and nodded. “Sure.”

“Perfect.” Blake dipped her head respectfully, then turned to Yang. “We won’t be long.”

Yang waved dismissively, though her focus stayed fixed on the door behind which Ruby was resting.

———

The room was silent, broken only by Ruby’s uneven breathing as she lay buried under her blankets. Weiss carefully closed the door behind her, her steps soft and deliberate as she approached the bed where their leader rested. Multiple layers of covers cocooned Ruby, her breaths shallow and quick, her headband still resting loosely on her messy hair.

Weiss leaned down slowly, delicate as though afraid to disturb a fragile dream. Placing her gloved hand gently on Ruby’s forehead, she felt the lingering heat, though it was lower than that morning. She exhaled softly in relief.

“You still have a fever… but at least it’s going down,” she whispered.

Her gaze shifted toward the small nightstand the four of them shared. Nestled between a little mountain of used tissues sat several medicine bottles. Weiss inspected them with her usual meticulous eye: the dosage schedule had been followed perfectly.

“So the faunus… did make sure you got your medicine,” she murmured under her breath, as if uttering something forbidden.

A cold memory crept uninvited into her mind:

“Faunus are not like us, Weiss. They’re beasts. Monsters that hurt our family.”

Her father’s voice. So sharp, so vivid, she almost thought he was standing right behind her. Weiss shut her eyes tightly and shook her head as if she could physically cast the thought away. When she opened them again, her gaze softened as it returned to Ruby.

Her eyes wandered until they caught sight of an open notebook on the nightstand. She didn’t recognize it: its pages were full of sketches, designs, and even a photograph of an unfamiliar weapon. Curious, Weiss picked it up and closed it to read the name on the cover.

The moment her eyes landed on it, she froze.

Velvet.

The realization made her hands tremble slightly. Startled, she fumbled, and the notebook slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a soft thud.

The sound jolted Weiss, snapping her out of her thoughts just as the door opened.

Yang entered lightly, her usual vibrant energy dimmed by the worry in her expression.
“Is she awake?” she whispered.

Weiss reacted instantly, scooping up the notebook and placing it back on the nightstand as if nothing had happened. Straightening her posture, she turned back to Ruby.

“No,” she said calmly. “She’s still resting.”

Yang stepped closer to the bed, mimicking Weiss’s earlier gesture by placing her hand gently on Ruby’s forehead. A soft smile tugged at her lips.

“She feels cooler. She’s getting better.”

“She should be fine by tomorrow,” Weiss replied firmly. “But even then, she shouldn’t attend class. Better to recover fully.”

Yang let out a small chuckle.
“How thoughtful of you, princess.”

Weiss shot her a glare but didn’t look away from Ruby.
“She’s my teammate. Our leader. Of course I’ll look after her.”

Yang smirked playfully, her eyes glinting.
“Let’s see how long it takes before you really start melting.”

Weiss sighed heavily, turning toward the desk with a flick of her hair.
“I’ll work on our assignments. You stay with her.”

Yang plopped into the chair beside Ruby’s bed, settling comfortably as Weiss gathered her papers. Before sitting down, Weiss hesitated briefly, unable to stop herself from adding one last comment:

“Your… friend left her notebook on the nightstand.”

Yang raised an eyebrow, glancing at where Weiss gestured before smiling knowingly.
“Still got that habit, huh?” she chuckled softly. “Thanks for telling me, Weiss.”

Weiss gave a curt nod and sat down at the desk, pretending to focus immediately on her notes. But while Yang whispered softly to her sleeping sister, Weiss couldn’t silence her own thoughts.

Velvet had taken care of Ruby. Selflessly. Devotedly. Without hesitation, she’d done the right thing.

“What if… Father’s wrong?”

The idea cut deep, like a thorn lodged in her mind. And for the first time in a long while… Weiss didn’t know what to feel.

———

The halls of Beacon were quieter at this hour. Most students had drifted off to their clubs, the library, or the training rooms. Blake and Velvet walked side by side, their steps unhurried, the silence between them almost companionable.

“How was Ruby during the day?” Blake finally asked softly, as if thinking aloud. “Her fever was pretty bad this morning.”

“Better,” Velvet answered with a small smile. “The medicine’s helping. If she rests well, she’ll probably be bouncing around the halls again tomorrow like nothing happened.”

Blake’s lips curved slightly, the hint of a smile fading as quickly as it came. Silence lingered a little longer, as though she were wrestling with something inside. Velvet noticed — the calmness was too controlled, too rehearsed.

“Blake…” Velvet glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, one ear twitching curiously. “Why did you want to talk to me specifically?”

The trainee huntress didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stopped in front of one of the empty practice rooms, resting her hand on the doorknob.

“Here,” she said simply.

Velvet blinked, a little confused, but nodded. She followed Blake inside without hesitation, though her instincts kept her slightly guarded. Blake closed the door behind them, locking it with a quiet metallic click.

Velvet crossed her arms, tilting her head with one brow arched, her tone a mix of curiosity and caution.
“Normally, this would be the perfect setup for me to get defensive…” she said calmly. “But Ruby trusts you. And if she trusts you, I do too.”

Blake swallowed, her golden eyes glimmering with a mix of uncertainty and resolve as she finally met Velvet’s gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “This is… private. Very personal.”

Velvet tilted her head, her ears twitching slightly.
“And why me? Shouldn’t you be talking about this with your team?”

Blake pressed her lips together, hesitating.
“I… I’m not sure how they’d react.” For the first time, her voice was steady, serious. “But you… you’d understand.”

A faint realization brushed Velvet’s mind like a passing breeze. She started piecing together small hints, but she wasn’t certain — not until Blake, in one slow, deliberate motion, reached up to the ribbon holding her bow.

With a soft tug, the ribbon fell.

And so did the illusion.

Two sleek, black feline ears rose above Blake’s head, twitching ever so slightly as they freed themselves.

The air shifted instantly, heavier, more intimate.

Velvet’s eyes widened, her own long ears standing tall in surprise.
“Oh…” she whispered at first, her mind racing to connect every subtle comment, every unexplained hesitation.

Then, a little softer:
“Oh…”

And finally, a bright, genuine smile spread across her face, her amber eyes lighting up.
“Oh!”

Blake arched a brow, amused despite herself.
“I recognize the first two. Not sure about the last one.”

Velvet waved her hands nervously, laughing softly as warmth crept into her cheeks.
“N-nothing. I just… I’m glad,” she admitted, her voice lighter now, like a weight had been lifted. “And, well… it’s always nice to meet another faunus. There aren’t many of us in this year’s class.”

Blake relaxed, her shoulders easing as a faint, sincere smile graced her lips.
“Exactly. And that’s why I wanted to talk to you.” She paused, her voice softer, warmer now. “After all… faunus should stick together.”

Velvet smiled back, her ears twitching slightly with quiet excitement.
“Then let’s talk, Blake.”

The two sat down on the floor of the empty training room, cross-legged, facing each other. Their voices blended into a soft, calm murmur, as if they’d been friends for years instead of minutes.

Chapter Text

The day had been long for everyone, but for Jaune it had become a suffocating routine. Team CRDL’s room was a complete disaster: clothes thrown everywhere, food wrappers scattered all around, and even the smell was unbearable. Cardin and his cronies, wearing their usual mocking grins, had forced him to “make it shine.”

Jaune sighed. With a broom in hand, picking up dirty dishes and folding other people’s clothes, he looked more like a resigned housewife than a would-be huntsman. And yet, he did it in silence, with a mix of frustration and shame. When he was done, the place looked unrecognizable: clean, tidy, almost spotless.

The door slammed open. Cardin walked in with his team, bursting into laughter.

“Well, Arc… I never thought you were that helpful,” Cardin said mockingly, looking around the room as if he were a king inspecting his palace.

The others chimed in with cruel remarks:

“Are you sure you don’t want to live with us, housemaid?”

“Being a servant suits you.”

Jaune didn’t answer. He just lowered his gaze, enduring it. Cardin leaned closer, smiling with a coldness that cut to the bone.

“Buddy, I’ve got a task for you soon. Keep an eye on your Scroll.”

They shoved him out and slammed the door in his face.

Jaune, disheartened, walked back to his own dorm. Each step felt heavy, as if the effort and humiliation of the afternoon had embedded themselves into his muscles. He reached his team’s door, his hand on the knob, ready to go in… but he stopped.

Inside, he heard voices.

Ren was speaking in his calm tone, though with a hint of doubt.
“Don’t you think Jaune has been too busy lately? He barely spends time with us.”

Nora, her energy tempered by an unusual concern, added:
“Yeah! And every time he comes back, he looks tired… he doesn’t even play with me anymore!”

Jaune’s grip slipped.

Then he heard Pyrrha. Her voice, usually sweet and patient, carried a strange venom, a resentment she couldn’t hide.
“He’s the leader. He knows what he’s doing.” The pause was long, uncomfortable, as if she were forcing herself to believe her own words.

Each syllable struck Jaune in the chest. He knew he was failing, that the truth was he wasn’t leading anything. He was hurting, only surviving thanks to lies and blackmail. But what could he do? How could he tell them it was all a façade, that Cardin had him in his grasp?

The cold knob remained under his hand. He didn’t go in. He couldn’t face those looks, those questions.

His body slid down against the hallway wall, his forehead resting against the plaster, eyes shut. Exhaustion enveloped him, but more than physical, it was emotional, a weight that was breaking him from within. For the first time, Jaune wondered if he really had what it took to be there… or if, sooner or later, the castle of lies would collapse on him.

———

Team RWBY’s room was in a strange balance: on one side, the calm of Weiss working at her desk with her neatly arranged notes; on the other, Yang’s constant vigilance over her younger sister.

Ruby finally stretched out on her bed. Her nose was still red, her eyes a little teary, and that restless air of “I want to do something” clung to her. As soon as she sat up on the mattress, a sneeze shook the room.

“Achooo!”

Yang immediately appeared, as if she had been waiting for the moment, slipping a cloth mask onto Ruby’s face.
“Hey! No rushing things. You may feel better, but you’re still not at one hundred percent.” She tapped Ruby’s forehead gently.

Ruby pouted, puffing out her cheeks.
“But I feel so much better…”

Weiss, without lifting her eyes from her notes, spoke in a tone that sounded more like a command than a suggestion:
“Rest, Ruby. You’ve already been in bed for three days, and although we need our leader, it’s pointless if you relapse.”

Ruby sighed, half-defeated.
“Tomorrow I’ll go to class, I promise.”

Three days was a long time for Ruby, though fortunately her recovery had been quicker than usual compared to other times she caught a cold. Her sister knew this, which was why Yang had been so attentive. In those three days Ruby hardly left her bed at all. In the end, she didn’t feel like mentioning what had happened with Cardin; in her experience, it would only add fuel to the fire, and the last thing she wanted was Yang doing something that could get her expelled. She excused herself by saying she didn’t see who did it. After all, after what had happened to her and Yang’s trash prank, nothing more had happened. Better to forget it, right? Even though it was clear none of her teammates liked how it had ended, the subject was no longer mentioned.

Yang nodded, still on guard.
“That’s how it’ll be, but now rest.”

Ruby, however, didn’t stay still.
“I’ve been lying down for too long… can I at least go for a little walk?”

“No!” Yang and Weiss said in unison, almost like a rehearsed duet.

The awkward silence lasted only a few seconds until Blake, lying on her bed with her scroll in hand, looked up. Her fingers kept typing, the screen lighting her face as she calmly said:
“Maybe it’s not a bad idea. A little fresh air could help.”

Yang narrowed her eyes at her.
“Why are you so on my sister’s side, Blayke?”

“For no reason. And don’t call me that,” Blake replied naturally, lowering her gaze back to the device. Though in her mind, a certain long-eared bunny kept appearing with every message she received.

Ruby, excited, didn’t wait any longer.
“Great! I’ll just grab something from the vending machine!” she said, standing up still in her pajamas. She grabbed her red hood and threw it over her head as if it made her ready for a mission.

Before Yang could stop her, Ruby had already opened the door and stepped into the hallway, her soft footsteps echoing in the nighttime calm of the academy.

Weiss set down her pen and rubbed her forehead.
“That girl is going to be our downfall.”

Yang huffed, though a smile crept onto her face.
“Yeah… even if you don’t admit it, you care about her as much as I do.”

Blake didn’t lift her eyes from her scroll.
“Much more than she shows.” She went back to typing.

Weiss ignored them, returning to her work… not that they were right… well, maybe a little.

———

Ruby hurried down the hallway with her mask on, excited to feel some fresh air. Her red hood fluttered behind her, but her excitement didn’t last long: she stumbled clumsily and fell to her knees.

“Great…” she muttered, rubbing her leg as she tried to get up.

She turned, thinking she had tripped on a misplaced box or piece of furniture. Instead, her eyes met a figure slumped against the wall. It was Jaune, sitting on the floor, head tilted, breathing heavily. He looked like he had fallen asleep right there.

Ruby coughed softly, her hand against the mask, before approaching.
“Jaune…” She nudged his shoulder gently. He didn’t respond. She tried again, a bit firmer. “Jaune, wake up.”

After a few tries, Jaune suddenly opened his eyes, startled, almost pushing her away instinctively. He stopped just in time and lowered his hand, nervous.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean—”

Ruby shook her head.
“It’s fine. Did you forget your scroll inside again?”

Jaune let out a tired laugh, lifting the device from his pocket.
“No, not this time.”

Ruby tilted her head, curious.
“Then… what are you doing sleeping out here?”

He tried to smile, but it twisted into a weak grimace.
“I could ask you the same. Shouldn’t you be in bed? I mean, you’re still wearing the mask.”

Ruby puffed her cheeks under the fabric.
“I’m better, really. They just made me wear it.” She plopped down beside him, leaning against the wall. “So tell me, what’s going on?”

The air grew heavy. Jaune sighed deeply, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
“It’s complicated…”

Ruby glanced at him.
“Lots of things are. But that’s what friends are for, right? To support each other.” She gave a gentle smile.

Jaune stayed silent. His lips moved only slightly as he rasped:
“I’m glad to be your friend. It’s just… I’m too much of a fool in my own mess. And I don’t want to drag you down with me.”

Ruby frowned.
“It can’t be that bad… is it about Cardin?”

Jaune lowered his gaze.
“For the first time, I thought I was where I belonged… but now I think it was a mistake. Maybe my worst mistake.” His voice cracked. “I did something wrong and now I have to carry it. Ruby, if you had a secret that could turn your life upside down… what would you do?”

The question froze her. Ruby looked down at the floor, shrinking under her hood. Her breathing turned unsteady. She too had a secret, one that could shatter everything she had built at Beacon if it came to light. Being a faunus wasn’t something everyone would accept. She couldn’t answer.

Jaune interpreted her silence.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t want to drag you into my problems.”

Ruby forced herself to look up, her voice trembling.
“Yes, you do.” She said it so softly it was almost a whisper. “I have a secret too… and I carry it every day. I know one day it’ll be found out, but I hope by then I’ll have connected enough with others that nothing changes.”

Jaune looked at her uncertainly.
“If you can say that… then mine seems smaller.”

Ruby bit her lip, regretful.
“Sorry, I was trying to help, not turn it around.”

Jaune gave a short laugh.
“Right now I don’t think I can… but thanks.”

Ruby smiled softly.
“Then talk to your team.”

Jaune tilted his head.
“That’s the problem. Especially with Pyrrha…”

Ruby raised her eyebrows, surprised.
“You fought with Pyrrha?”

He nodded, heavy-hearted.
“I said something stupid and I think I hurt her. And that… isn’t even my biggest problem.”

Ruby stood, frowning. She stretched out her hand to him.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Jaune, but you’re the leader of a team like I am. They depend on us. We can’t fail them.”

He looked at her hand, not taking it.
“I’ve already failed as a leader.”

Ruby tightened hers, firm.
“Did anyone on your team say that?”

Jaune stared at her for a few more seconds. Ruby was right. Finally, he took her hand. Ruby helped him up.

“I guess we have that in common—leading, among other things.”

Ruby, eyes tired now from her fever, nodded. “That’s right, so let’s do our best. For them.”

“Thanks… I needed that.” Jaune smiled, though still weary.

Ruby let out a soft laugh, interrupted by a cough.
“Like I said, that’s what friends are for.”

“And now we need to rest,” Jaune added.

“Yeah, looks like it. Good night, Jaune.”

“Good night, Ruby… and sorry for everything.” He murmured that last part.

She walked back to her room, dragging her feet but wearing a calm smile. Jaune, for his part, headed toward his own, with a strange relief in his chest. But then his scroll vibrated. He pulled it out, reading the notification.

A message from Cardin.

His face darkened. His hand trembled, and that brief moment of peace collapsed with a simple text. He lowered his arm, letting the device hang limply, and continued down the dark halls.

———

Morning dawned clear, though the air carried that typical tension before a new activity. In Beacon’s courtyards, the first-year teams gathered in combat uniforms, checking weapons and equipment while Professor Glynda Goodwitch prepared to give instructions.

Ruby, still recovering from her cold, had managed to convince Yang to let her join the others. Weiss supported her, insisting her presence would be necessary, and Blake—unusually for lately—also sided with her. With two votes in favor, Ruby won against her older sister’s reluctance. She wasn’t at one hundred percent, but enough not to miss the expedition.

Yang’s worry came from experience—when Ruby got sick, she usually took longer than normal to recover. It was almost law that Yang would keep her in bed for a week. Luckily, Ruby had bounced back quicker than expected.

When Glynda finished her instructions and the students began to regroup, Ruby didn’t waste time. Still with a faint feverish blush on her cheeks and a slightly hoarse voice, she walked straight to Team JNPR.

“Nora!” she greeted enthusiastically, raising her hand.

“Ruby!” Nora practically jumped at her to hug her, though she held back seeing how fragile Ruby still looked. “I’m so glad you’re on your feet again!”

Ren bowed his head with a serene smile. “It’s good to see you better… at least a little.”

Ruby laughed softly, rubbing her nose. “Hehe… yeah, I’m still a little sick, but I wasn’t going to stay in bed.”

While she spoke, her eyes fell on Pyrrha, who barely lifted her gaze, offering only a minimal, distant greeting.

Ruby hesitated a moment before blurting out the question burning on her tongue:
“Hey… where’s Jaune?”

The air seemed to tighten. Nora lowered her gaze, Ren stayed quiet, and Pyrrha, after an uncomfortable silence, pointed with her chin toward Cardin’s group. There, Jaune lingered in the background, his expression dim.

Ruby felt a knot in her throat. “Ah… I see.”

Nora shrugged, murmuring: “He hasn’t been doing too well.”

Ren added calmly: “He tries to put up a front, but… he’s fooling no one.”

Ruby breathed deep, trying to cheer herself. “I talked to him last night. He didn’t say much, just that he’s… going through something complicated, something eating at him.”

Pyrrha, frowning, cut in quickly: “It’s nothing.”

The coldness of the comment left Ruby silent. Just then Weiss, who had come closer listening, intervened firmly.

“Of course it is. Pretending otherwise is foolish, Nikos.”

Nora nodded at once. “Yeah! Jaune’s our leader! We need to help him!”

Before Ruby could answer, two familiar voices joined.

“He’s still hanging around that idiot Cardin, isn’t he?” Yang asked, arms crossed, a mix of disbelief and annoyance on her face.

Blake, beside her, silently watched Winchester’s group. “Yes, Jaune’s been with them these past few days.”

Ruby cleared her throat with a little cough. “He… said he was in some kind of trouble. Maybe that’s why…”

Yang frowned. “Trouble or not, sticking with those jerks isn’t exactly the best idea.”

Blake added, calmer but concerned: “It’s like he’s isolating himself in the worst place possible.”

Weiss stared at Jaune, narrowing her eyes. “Look at that, even I’m worried about him.”

“What, do you miss him coming in with a guitar and serenading you every morning?” Yang teased with a grin.

Weiss simply rolled her eyes, choosing not to reply—she didn’t want to argue with the blonde and her jokes.

Ruby clenched her fists, her voice weak but full of energy. “We can’t just leave him like that, maybe…”

A brief silence followed. Pyrrha looked down, struggling with discomfort. Weiss sighed, less harsh this time.

Before they could say more, Glynda’s cane struck the ground, ending any conversation. With a firm voice, the professor ordered everyone into formation and announced immediate departure.

Teams regrouped. Ruby, walking to her spot, couldn’t help glancing sideways at Jaune. He still stood by Cardin, trapped in a situation he clearly didn’t want. His stiff posture, his lowered gaze, gave him away. Ruby pressed her lips together, determined to help him someday. But not now. The expedition had just begun.

———

The Forever Fall forest was beautiful in the best sense of the word. Instead of the usual green tones of other forests, here red and even pink hues dominated, with a honey-sweet aroma so thick Ruby almost felt overwhelmed by it. It was definitely a sight anyone would want to stop and admire. But they had a task, so they could only appreciate it briefly.

The assignment was simple: each student had to collect sap from the old trees, one jar per person. Shortly after arriving, Glynda announced she would remain at the forest entrance, since the mission was meant for students only. For that reason, they joined JNPR—except Jaune, who left with Cardin’s team, to Ruby’s dismay and frustration.

Ruby decided she’d confront Jaune later. For now, the important thing was to finish quickly before any Grimm showed up.

Team RWBY and JNPR ventured into the forest with jars ready to collect sap from the trees Oobleck had indicated. At one point they split up to search on their own. Ruby walked ahead, excited, while Weiss followed with her elegant stride, careful not to stain herself with mud. Blake and Yang closed the formation.

Ruby walked among the trees with her jar in hand, frowning as she looked around. She approached one, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose. Another further ahead didn’t convince her either.

Finally, she stopped before a taller, sturdier trunk. She leaned in, breathing deeply. The aroma was different, sweeter and fresher than the others. Her eyes sparkled and a smile escaped her. This… this was the one.

“Oh, look! This tree seems perfect,” Ruby said, pointing excitedly.

Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Ruby, can’t you be more careful? We can’t just collect from any tree. We need to make sure of the sap’s quality, its purity and—”

Ruby hesitated, knowing she couldn’t tell the truth—that she had chosen it only because it smelled better than the others. So she lifted the jar firmly and exclaimed:
“But this one looks good!”

“That ‘looks good’ is not a valid criterion, Ruby,” Weiss replied coldly.

Yang crossed her arms, smirking. “What? Do we have a new ‘sap expert’ now?”

“If someone has to keep a standard here, it clearly has to be me,” Weiss said, haughty.

Ruby huffed, puffing out her cheeks. “Well, I can keep standards too!”

Blake, who had been silently observing, approached the tree Ruby pointed at. She touched the bark and saw the amber shine seeping through. “Ruby’s right,” she finally said, glancing at Weiss. “This tree is pure enough. There’s nothing wrong with collecting from here.”

Weiss turned her head toward her, surprised. “Are you suggesting I’m wrong?”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “I’m not suggesting it, Weiss.”

The air grew a little tense. Ruby, both nervous and satisfied, began to collect sap while thinking to herself: I knew it smelled better… Weiss clicked her tongue while Blake held her steady gaze. Yang, meanwhile, tried not to laugh.

“Well, well, girls… it’s just a tree. No need to argue about it.”

Ruby raised her jar like a trophy. “First jar filled!”

Weiss huffed, Blake only shook her head, and Yang burst out laughing as the team continued their collection.

Team RWBY managed to fill their jars without too much trouble, and on their way back, they reunited with Team JNPR. The mood was lighter; everyone moved calmly toward the meeting point with Glynda.

“That was boring,” Yang complained, twirling her weapon in the air with a yawn.

Weiss rolled her eyes. “Were you expecting a fight against Grimm?”

“Of course!” Yang replied with a confident grin, flexing her gauntlets as if itching for battle. “Why else would we bring our weapons?”

“To be prepared, not to play with them like an impatient child,” Weiss sighed, exasperated. She shot Ruby a look, making Ruby feel offended enough to stick her tongue out—before a cough interrupted her.

Blake spoke in her calm voice, though with a hidden edge. “It’s better there’s no danger. That way we avoid problems… besides, do you really want to risk Ruby fighting in her condition?”

Yang opened her mouth to agree, but Ruby was quicker, jumping ahead with energy.
“Hey! I’m fine, really! I can fight if I have to!”

And at that exact moment, she sneezed loudly, wobbling a little.

Ruby raised a finger. “That doesn’t mean anything!”

Blake walked past her with a small, triumphant smile. “Sure, Ruby.”

Yang gave her sister a playful nudge, while Weiss just sighed and kept walking.

A little further ahead, Nora looked at her jars brimming with sap, holding them as if they were treasures. “So… we can’t drink them?”

Ren glanced at her calmly. “No.”

“Not even a little?” Nora insisted, tilting her head like a puppy.

“No,” Ren repeated firmly.

“But it looks delicious!” Nora pouted, hugging the jars against her chest.

Pyrrha watched them with a mix of fondness and exhaustion, letting out a small sigh. Then she heard a voice beside her.

“Pyrrha?” Ruby had walked up, holding her jar of sap with both hands. “Are you okay?”

Pyrrha hesitated for a moment before answering. “More or less.”

Ruby tilted her head, walking alongside her. “Is it about Jaune?”

Pyrrha’s eyes hardened for an instant. She lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together. “I can’t say.”

Ruby looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Is it that bad?”

Pyrrha’s silence was answer enough, until she finally let out a breath. “Very… but I still have hope that he—”

Suddenly, her words cut off. Her warrior’s instinct screamed a warning, and without thinking, Pyrrha leapt onto Ruby.

“Look out!”

Ruby barely had time to gasp before being shoved hard, falling on her back against the ground. Her jar slipped from her hands, shattering with a loud crack of glass.

The sound of breaking echoed in the air. A second jar also hit the ground—one that had been thrown right where Ruby had been standing.

Still on the ground, Ruby felt a chill run through her. And it wasn’t just from the scare. As she sat up slightly, she realized something had slid off her head: her headband. She felt her ears stretch and twitch at the breeze they hadn’t felt before. In a single instant of terror, she knew what that meant.

Her ears were exposed.

Chapter Text

Jaune trudged wearily through the trees, carrying the jars filled with sap he had collected. He kept himself apart from the other groups until he finally reached the spot where Cardin’s team lounged comfortably, sitting around without lifting a finger.

“Well, finally,” Cardin said, standing with a mocking grin as he saw him. “Good job, Arc.”

Jaune didn’t reply. He simply set the six jars down on the ground before them, his head lowered.

Cardin picked one up, held it to the light, and said, “With this, we can begin.”

Jaune looked at him, confused. “Begin? Begin what?”

Cardin turned his head toward him, amused. “Did you really think I asked for six jars just because? There are five of us, Jaune. Do the math.”

The blond blinked, trying to piece it together, but couldn’t quite follow. Cardin wasted no time; he grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to walk with the rest of his team until they reached a high clearing overlooking the other students.

Jaune peered through the branches and saw, down below, his team alongside team RWBY moving forward as usual. Pyrrha walked near Ruby, chatting.

“What… what are you going to do?” Jaune asked, a bad feeling growing inside him.

Cardin let out a dry laugh. “No, Arc… the real question is: what are you going to do?”

Jaune stared at him, bewildered. Cardin held out the extra jar and pointed down with his finger—straight at Pyrrha.

A knot twisted in Jaune’s stomach. “You want me to…? No. I’m not doing that.”

Cardin shoved the jar against his chest, insisting. “Do it, or you know what happens afterward.”

Jaune lowered his gaze, pressing his lips together. His face was hidden under the shadow of his bangs as his hands trembled. Finally, he took the jar, but he didn’t throw it. He only held it, staring at Pyrrha from above.

“Come on, do it,” Cardin pressed impatiently.

Jaune drew in a deep breath, then suddenly spun on his heels, turning his back on them. “No.”

Cardin scowled. “What do you mean, no? You know I can ruin your life, Arc.”

Jaune faced him for the first time, jar in hand. “Then do it. But I’m not doing this.”

The leader of team CRDL glared at him with hatred, then smiled maliciously. “Very well, suit yourself. Then you’ll be the culprit.”

“What?” Jaune barely had time to react before he saw Cardin raise another jar, ready to hurl it downward.

“No!” Jaune lunged at him.

They collided hard, but it was too late. The jar slipped from Cardin’s hand, spinning in the air as it plummeted toward their teammates.

———

“Look out!”

Ruby barely had time to let out a startled cry before she was shoved hard, landing on her back against the ground. The jar she had been carrying slipped from her hands and shattered against the rocks.

Another jar smashed into the spot where she had been just a second earlier.

Pyrrha reacted instantly. Miló was already in rifle form, her eyes scanning the thicket with total focus. “Who’s there?” she demanded firmly, her sight never leaving the trees.

On the ground, Ruby felt a chill deeper than the scare of the attack. She brought a hand to her head and noticed the absence: her headband had fallen. The cold air brushed her exposed ears, and panic seized her.

With a clumsy, almost desperate motion, she yanked up her hood, pulling it tightly over her face to cover as much as possible. Only then did she let a trembling sigh escape her lips.

But the feeling didn’t fade. Had she been seen? Had someone noticed her ears? Ruby glanced upward nervously, searching for Pyrrha. Her heart froze for an instant… until she realized the redhead was still focused on the forest, not sparing her a glance.

Then… she didn’t see me? Or did she? Ruby clutched her hood tighter, unable to convince herself. Maybe it was only paranoia… but fear outweighed reason.

“W-what happened?” she asked, struggling to her feet, trying to sound confused.

Without taking her eyes off their surroundings, Pyrrha answered firmly, “Someone threw a jar of sap at us.” She pointed with Miló’s tip at the shattered remains on the ground.

Ruby swallowed hard. The broken jar wasn’t just the one thrown: among the pieces lay her own.

“No! My jar…” Ruby exclaimed, running toward the shards. She pretended to be desperate over the lost task, but in truth she was frantically scanning the ground for her headband. It wasn’t in sight. Panic grew in her chest.

The approaching footsteps of the other teams cut her search short. Yang was the first to appear.

“What happened here?” she asked, her voice tense.

Pyrrha responded quickly, without hesitation. “Someone threw a sap jar at us. Ruby almost got hit.”

Weiss narrowed her eyes. “Seems like Cardin decided it was a good time for one of his ‘pranks.’”

“Who?” Nora asked, genuinely confused.

Blake was the one who answered, her voice cold. “Jaune’s bully. And apparently, Ruby’s would-be attacker now.”

“Oh…” Nora muttered as she remembered, her tone subdued. “So, can I break his legs now?”

Ruby was still kneeling, pretending while desperately searching for her lost headband. Weiss’s voice froze her in place.

“Ruby. Your jar.”

Ruby stood abruptly, too stiff, turning toward her team with a nervous smile. “Y-yes! I… well… I dropped it…”

“It broke, didn’t it?” Weiss looked at her with that characteristic inquisitive gaze.

“Yes…” Ruby admitted, lowering her eyes.

Pyrrha stepped forward. “It was my fault. I pushed Ruby to keep her from being hit by the jar.”

Yang took the chance to move closer to her sister, noticing she kept her hood up. Her voice dropped to a whisper barely audible to the others. “What happened, are you okay?”

Ruby’s eyes widened. She immediately understood what she meant. She whispered back, her voice trembling: “The headband… it fell when Pyrrha pushed me.”

Yang nodded slowly, realizing she had to help Ruby now, trying not to let her worry show.

“And what are you two talking about?” Weiss interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

Ruby blinked rapidly, stammering nonsense. Yang jumped in, waving her hand casually. “Nothing, just sister stuff.”

Before Weiss could press further, a new noise broke the tension. The sound of multiple jars smashing against the ground echoed from above, among the treetops.

Then came the worst: branches cracking and heavy footsteps pounding the earth, drawing closer.

Several shouts rang out from above, and in seconds the three members of CRDL—except Cardin—leapt down, warning the others of Grimm nearby.

But before they could decide what to do, another roar thundered: more creatures were approaching from the same path Ruby and the others had come. This time, several Ursa.

At once, everyone readied their weapons.

“The smell of the sap drew them,” Pyrrha noted, eyeing the shattered jars as she readied her spear and shield.

Ruby unfolded Crescent Rose into cannon mode; using it as a scythe would require too much movement, and she feared her hood would slip during the fight.

“What’s the plan, Ruby?” Blake asked, tense and ready.

Ruby assessed quickly: they had Grimm both above and in front, and she knew Jaune and Cardin were still up top. She didn’t hesitate to give the order:

“JNPR, go up for Jaune and Cardin! We’ll handle things here!”

The team nodded in unison. Immediately, JNPR dashed upward while RWBY remained before the six advancing Ursa, their heavy steps and claws ready.

The four shared a brief, silent glance… enough to confirm they were ready for what was coming.

“Just what I wanted!” Yang shouted in excitement, slamming her fists together.

Yang was the first to charge, her fist igniting with a metallic roar. A single punch was enough to lift a Grimm off the ground and, with a second blow straight to its belly, she hurled it into another Ursa nearby. Both crashed heavily, rolling amid snarls and flying dirt.

A roar forced her to turn: another Grimm lunged straight at her. Yang crossed her arms in defense, grunting as she absorbed the impact. But another attacker came from her flank, and she knew she couldn’t block in time.

“Yang!” Blake’s voice cut through the air as Gambol Shroud snapped into whip mode. The blade coiled around the Grimm’s leg, and with a sharp tug, Blake dragged it face-first into the ground. Ruby, panting, her voice feverish, aimed from behind and fired several shots—missing more than she would’ve liked—before finally finishing the creature before it could rise.

Weiss flashed into the fray like steel and frost. Her rapier carved precise slashes across the Grimm holding Yang, forcing it back with a screech as icy marks spread over its hide.

There was no time to breathe. The two Ursa Yang had knocked down rose again in fury, charging once more at the group. The four girls exchanged glances and nodded together, falling back into formation.

Ruby’s breathing was shaky—the earlier scare still lingered. She wasn’t at her best, and her clumsy shots proved it. Still, she gripped Crescent Rose tightly. Even as she fought, her eyes darted, searching desperately for her lost headband.

———

Meanwhile, Jaune and Cardin struggled against two Ursa that gave them no respite. Their movements were sloppy, their coordination nonexistent, and instead of working together, they tangled themselves in arguments.

“If you hadn’t tried to play the hero, none of this would be happening!” Cardin spat, panting as he tried to hold off a Grimm’s claws.

Jaune blocked with his shield, glaring back at him.
“I wasn’t playing hero—I just did what was right!”

Both had sticky sap smeared across their armor, which only made the Ursa focus even harder on them.

“Right!” Cardin sneered, dodging a swipe that shredded his shoulder guard. “You’ve never been right, Arc. You shouldn’t even be here!”

Before he could say more, a brutal blow slammed him to the ground. The Ursa raised its claws, ready to strike. Cardin barely managed to lift his arms when a figure stepped in front of him.

Jaune, shield raised, caught the attack with all his strength. His boots dug into the dirt, the Grimm’s weight making him tremble, but he refused to give ground.
“You’re right, I shouldn’t be here…!” he growled through clenched teeth. “But I am!”

The second Ursa circled them, ready to strike, when a red flash rammed it from the side. Pyrrha, shield up, had intercepted it, deflecting the beast with an impact that thundered through the air.

Nora seized the chance: her hammer came down like a comet, smashing the Ursa so hard it flew upward. Ren met it in the air with his pistols, his anchors digging into its hide as he propelled himself forward, landing a solid kick that sent it crashing lifeless to the ground.

Pyrrha spun with perfect precision and hurled her spear, skewering the Grimm she had pushed aside, ending it instantly.

Finally, a breath of relief. Jaune turned toward Cardin, offering him a hand. For a moment, time seemed to freeze: Cardin hesitated, pride burning in his eyes… but at last, he took it. Jaune pulled him up, their gazes locking in silent acknowledgment. Pyrrha, a few steps away, watched closely, her expression unreadable.

The truce was brief. From deep within the forest, a heavy crash heralded something worse. The ground shook as a new Grimm emerged from the trees: an armored Ursa, its bony plates sharpened like spears. It roared furiously and charged straight at them.

Pyrrha reacted instantly, stepping between Jaune and the beast—but the impact was overwhelming. The armored Ursa barreled into her like nothing, hurling her across the ground.

“Pyrrha!” Ren and Nora shouted, trying to reach her.

But there was no time. The monster was already upon Jaune and Cardin. Without thinking, Jaune shoved Cardin aside. Shield up, he planted his feet just as the Ursa unleashed all its strength on him.

The impact was devastating. Jaune was sent flying, dragged by the beast’s power, and crashed violently down into the clearing where team RWBY was still battling their Grimm.

———

Ruby blurred through the trees in bursts of rose petals, firing Crescent Rose in rifle mode at the Ursa chasing her. Each shot drove it back, but not enough to bring it down.

On the other side of the clearing, Yang fought three at once. Her fists blazed with sparks as she landed brutal blows, launching one Grimm into another with wild laughter. Blake moved like a shadow at her side, slashing and dodging, covering her partner’s blind spots.

Weiss, meanwhile, danced with cold precision. Her glyphs glowed beneath her feet, sliding her gracefully between enemy claws. A thrust, a spin, and an Ursa collapsed with a final roar.

“Weiss, help them!” Ruby ordered as she vanished again in a burst of petals.

Ruby soared across the battlefield, her silhouette streaking above the fight. From the air, she aimed down at an Ursa and shot it in the head, using the recoil to propel herself higher. She was ready for another move when a scream—too familiar—froze her blood.

“Aaaahhh!”

Ruby twisted midair. A body plummeted toward her. Before she could react, Jaune slammed into her, and both of them tumbled across the ground, dirt and leaves scattering. Crescent Rose flew from her hands, out of reach.

Ruby pushed herself up first, coughing.
“Jaune! What are you—?”

“Are you okay?” he asked, panting.

She looked at him for a moment, relieved.
“Yes… though if you’re going to crash into me every time Grimm show up, we’re going to have a problem.” She tried to joke, but her smile faded as a looming shadow fell over them.

An Ursa lunged with a roar, claws raised. Ruby spun, searching for her weapon, but it was gone. Desperation seized her as she stumbled back.
“No, no, no…!”

Jaune reacted at once, raising his shield. The impact rocked him, knocking him off balance and to the ground. Ruby fell backward, helpless.

“Ruby!” Yang’s shout thundered across the clearing.

An instant later, her golden fists smashed through the Grimm’s skull with an explosive blow. The beast collapsed heavily, lifeless.

Ruby blinked, still in shock, until she saw Weiss and Blake dispatch the last of the Ursa. Silence returned, broken only by ragged breathing.

Yang knelt by Ruby, holding out her hand.
“You okay?”

Ruby inhaled sharply, then nodded.
“Yes, but… I lost my—”

“This?” Blake’s calm voice came from behind her. In her hands was Crescent Rose. She handed it back gently, and Ruby clutched it tightly as if reclaiming a treasure.
“Thank you…” she whispered, before being wracked by a cough that forced her to cover her mouth.

“Watch out!” Nora’s voice boomed like thunder.

Everyone looked up. Cardin, Ren, and Nora emerged from the woods, sprinting toward them. Pyrrha followed close behind. But they weren’t alone.

The ground trembled. Trees cracked and splintered.

From behind the forest, the earth shook again. A colossal Ursa advanced, each step making the ground quake. Its body was covered in dark bone plates like natural armor, and its claws were like giant blades. Behind it, smaller Ursa prowled, snarling, forming a pack.

“Why is that one so big?” Jaune asked, gripping his sword nervously.

Weiss barely glanced at him.
“It’s old… look at its bones.”

Yang rolled her shoulders, a reckless grin spreading across her face.
“Perfect. I needed a rematch with these things.”

“Yang, this isn’t the time. We need—” Ruby tried to speak, but a fit of coughing cut her off. Her voice broke, and everyone turned toward her, worried.

“Ruby!” Blake exclaimed, stepping closer, but Ruby raised her hand to stop her.

It was Jaune who stepped forward, his expression serious.
“Ruby… stay back and wait for an opening.” He turned to the others, raising his voice. “Yang, Pyrrha… keep it busy. The big one is yours.”

Yang blinked, surprised. Pyrrha also gave him a doubtful look. Neither had expected Jaune to take command.

“Nora, Ren…” Jaune continued, “you and Blake handle the smaller ones. Don’t let them surround us.”

The named teammates exchanged glances and nodded almost in unison.

“Weiss, support everyone however you can with your… uh… circles.”

“Glyphs,” Weiss corrected automatically.

Finally, Jaune turned to Cardin.
“You and I will back up Pyrrha and Yang.”

Cardin scowled, clearly itching to protest, but the massive Ursa’s roar forced him to swallow his pride. With a grunt, he readied his weapon.

The plan was set.

All eyes, however, turned to Ruby—as if waiting for her confirmation, for her to give the final push as leader.

Ruby discreetly clutched her hood, hiding her weakness beneath the fabric. Her lips curved into a small smile as her voice, soft but firm despite the cough, came through:
“What are you waiting for? He already gave the order.”

The colossal Ursa roared, raising its claws. The smaller ones began to charge toward them.

Just before the teams could strike, several purple beams streaked across the air. They shot past the group, so fast they barely had time to react, slamming into the Grimm. The smaller ones disintegrated instantly under the blasts, while the colossal Ursa collapsed to the ground with a strangled roar.

A brief silence took over the clearing, broken only by the echo of firm footsteps. Heels striking the earth in a steady, unmistakable rhythm. Glynda Goodwitch emerged from the trees, her brow furrowed, walking without sparing a glance at anyone until she stopped before Jaune and Cardin.

“You two…” her voice was as cold as a whip, “have much to explain when we return to the academy.”

There was no time to answer. The armored Ursa rose again with a roar, lunging at them. Glynda didn’t even flinch: with a slight motion of her weapon, the Grimm was seized in telekinesis, lifted as if weightless, and hurled into a stone wall. It disintegrated into black dust before hitting the ground.

The professor calmly adjusted her glasses.
“Today’s assignment is over, students. We’re leaving.” It wasn’t a suggestion—it was an order.

The group could only nod. In silence, they began regrouping.

Ruby, however, wasn’t paying attention. As they prepared to march, she searched desperately among the leaves and churned earth. Her breathing grew more frantic.

“Ruby.” Jaune’s voice stopped her.

“Not now, Jaune…” she replied in frustration, still crouching, brushing aside branches.

“It’s important.”

Ruby turned toward him with a mix of anger and fatigue.
“What is it—”

Her words died. In Jaune’s hands was her headband.

“I found it when… I crash with you,” he said simply, almost shyly.

Ruby snatched it at once, turning away. With quick motions, she slipped her hands under her hood to adjust it, ensuring her ears were hidden again. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.

“You really care about it…” Jaune murmured with a faint smile.

Ruby, flustered, stammered some excuse, but a coughing fit cut her off. Jaune handed her a water bottle to drink.

He lowered his gaze slightly, still smiling, though his next words were serious.
“I’m sorry.”

Ruby blinked, confused.
“Why are you saying that? Because we crashed midair? That was coincidence…”

He shook his head.
“Not that. It’s… what you went through these days. What you and your sister went through.”

Ruby’s eyes widened, her heart racing. Her lips trembled before she could form words.
“W-what? But… that was Cardin.”

“It was. But I was part of it too—the sap, the reason you got sick. I was the one who let it happen. That’s why… I’m sorry.”

Before Ruby could reply, Jaune was already turning away to catch up with his team, blending into the other students following Glynda.

Ruby remained behind, frozen. She didn’t know what to say, or what to do. If it hadn’t been for Yang’s voice calling her from ahead, she might have stayed there, motionless, with Jaune’s words echoing in her head.

———

The ticking of the wall clock was the only sound breaking the silence in the office. Each tick-tock grew louder than the last, as if measuring the time left before the weight of truth came crashing down on them.

Cardin Winchester and Jaune Arc sat in front of Glynda Goodwitch’s desk, each in stiff, high-backed chairs seemingly designed to make their occupants even more uncomfortable. Cardin had his arms crossed, his brow furrowed, his jaw clenched, while Jaune fidgeted nervously, shifting again and again without finding a comfortable position.

Glynda, with her customary stern expression, hadn’t spoken a word yet. She reviewed documents on the floating screen at her desk, her fingers moving with precise motions, the light reflecting in her glasses. Finally, with a firm gesture, she closed the screen.

Both young men tensed at once.

“You know why you’re here,” Glynda said, her voice sharp and firm.

Cardin stayed silent, crossing his arms tighter across his chest. Jaune, however, swallowed before replying:

“Because of the forest?”

Glynda gave the faintest nod, her eyes sharp as daggers.

“That… among other things.”

Cardin lifted his gaze with a defiant expression.
“What other things?” he asked, trying to sound confident.

Glynda didn’t hesitate. With a flick of her riding crop, she reactivated the screen and began projecting images. The footage showed scenes from the cafeteria, hallways, and lockers: Cardin bullying several students—shoves, taunts, comments that made his team laugh—and Jaune, at his side, sometimes carrying things, sometimes silently complicit, even occasionally giving a nervous laugh.

“The fact that both of you bullied your classmates,” Glynda said coldly, without looking away from them.

Jaune’s blood ran cold.

“H-how…?” Cardin stammered, shocked that someone had gathered such direct proof.

Glynda silenced him with a single look.

“We received a reliable source about what was really happening,” she explained calmly, though her tone carried authority like a weight. “With that information, all we had to do was check the academy’s cameras. Everything was confirmed.”

Cardin clenched his fists on his knees. His reddened face wasn’t from shame, but from suppressed fury. To him, this was a low blow. Jaune, on the other hand, sank deeper into his chair, feeling the pressure in his chest make it hard to breathe.

“Now,” Glynda continued, folding her hands over the desk, “I want you to explain yourselves. Depending on what you say, we’ll decide what measures to take.”

The air grew heavier still.

Cardin knew he had to think fast. He could try blaming Jaune, shifting attention onto him—even reveal what he knew about his forged transcripts. But that card was dangerous. If he played it wrong, he’d end up in even deeper trouble than he could handle.

Glynda’s eyes remained fixed on them both.

Jaune drew in a shaky breath and, with a trembling voice, dared to speak:
“I… of course. I can explain…”

Cardin barely turned his head, glaring at him with pure venom.

—

Night had fallen over Beacon, so quiet that the isolated song of a bird echoed through the windows of the hallway. Ruby had been sitting there for hours, on the bench outside Glynda’s office. Despite her team’s protests for her to rest, she had decided to wait, her back against the cold wall, her knees drawn together. She wanted to wait for Jaune to get answers, but the exhaustion of the day, combined with the fever burning on her forehead, finally overwhelmed her.

She drifted off, breathing unevenly, until she felt arms lifting her gently. Ruby blinked several times, groggy, until she recognized her sister’s face.

“Yang…” she murmured faintly.

“Oh, she’s awake,” said a familiar soft voice. Yang gave a tired smile and added, “Dang, I thought you’d pulled your usual trick.”

“W-what happened?” Ruby stammered, settling into her sister’s arms. “Did I fall asleep?”

“Yes, you did,” another gentle voice replied. Ruby turned her head and saw Velvet standing beside them.

“Vel? What are you doing here?” Ruby asked, before coughing.

Yang raised an eyebrow.
“That cough doesn’t sound good, sis.”

“I’m fine…” Ruby said, though her hoarse voice betrayed her.

Velvet stepped closer and pressed a hand softly to Ruby’s forehead, her expression tightening.
“Her fever’s back. She should sleep in her room.”

Ruby frowned and wriggled free from Yang’s arms, forcing herself to stand though her legs trembled.
“No. I need to talk to Jaune.”

Velvet sighed, understanding more than Ruby was willing to admit. She leaned in and helped her sit back down on the nearby bench with Yang.

“Is this about Cardin?” Velvet asked.

Ruby reacted immediately, annoyed.
“Velvet!”

“I didn’t break any promise,” Velvet defended, raising her hands. “I just told the school authorities that something was wrong… and they handled it, informing the proper people.”

Ruby turned her eyes from Velvet to Yang, looking for a different answer.

Yang, frowning, placed a hand on her little sister’s shoulder.
“Even if I didn’t like that you kept it secret, you should’ve seen this coming. That’s how you acted back in Signal when something like this happened.”

Ruby lowered her gaze and sighed, defeated by the logic of her words.
“You and your loopholes…” she muttered, glaring sideways at Velvet.

The faunus let out a small laugh.
“Next time, specify better.”

“Now let’s go to bed,” Yang added, taking the lead again.

“No…” Ruby replied stubbornly.

Yang crossed her arms.
“Do you really want to make Weiss mad and spend all day tomorrow stuck in bed, unable to move?”

Ruby hung her head, torn between her need for answers and the weight of her exhaustion. She was about to respond when the dry creak of hinges interrupted the moment.

The office door slowly opened.

It opened fully, and out stepped Jaune first, then Cardin. Both wore the same expression: drained, as if every minute inside had sapped their strength. But when they saw Ruby, Yang, and Velvet waiting for them in the hall, they froze.

The atmosphere thickened, heavy with discomfort. Velvet reacted first, straightening and standing firm as a statue, her glare fixed on Cardin. Ruby rose shakily, swaying but determined. Yang, on the other hand, let her rage show: her brow furrowed, her eyes locked on Cardin with the promise of a punch.

Cardin snorted, turned without a word, and started walking the other way.

“So?” Jaune called after him, raising his voice to stop him.

Cardin paused for just a moment, not turning around.
“Yeah, yeah… I’ll take it to the grave. We’re even, so don’t bother me,” he growled before vanishing down the corridor.

Yang clenched her teeth.
“Can I?” she asked, stepping forward, fist already curled.

“No,” Ruby cut in immediately, her tone firm.

Yang puffed out her cheeks, frustrated.
“Aww…”

Velvet still hadn’t moved, her arms crossed, her glare now piercing Jaune as if she could see straight through him. The blond swallowed hard before daring to ask:
“What are you doing here?”

Ruby spoke first, her voice weak from fever but filled with determination:
“I want to know what really happened.”

Velvet raised her voice before he could respond:
“Don’t bother, Ruby. He was the one doing those stupid things with Cardin.”

“I know,” Ruby replied, locking her eyes on him.

Velvet blinked, surprised.
“What? Ruby, you already knew?”

Ruby looked at Velvet, her eyes shining with that mixture of disappointment and hope.
“He confessed it to me earlier, but… I think there’s more to it.”

Velvet wasn’t convinced at all. She had seen the footage: Jaune helping Cardin with his pranks, and how badly it had hurt Ruby.

“Ruby, maybe I should handle this with Yang. You need—”

“I can handle it, please!” Ruby exclaimed, almost pleading.

Velvet studied her in silence. For an instant, she didn’t see the leader of team RWBY, or the huntress-in-training… but the same stubborn girl from Signal, the one who always hid something for the sake of others. In the end, Velvet sighed in defeat.

“Fine, all right. I have to head back anyway before Coco comes looking for me,” she said, rolling her shoulders with resignation.

Yang managed a small smile.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got it under control.”

“I know,” Velvet replied, turning away.

Ruby waved weakly.
“I’ll tell you later…”

When the faunus walked off, Ruby and Yang turned toward Jaune in unison. Yang was the first to move, hooking an arm around him in a gesture that was equal parts friendly and restraining, pulling him close enough to keep him from escaping.

“So then, boy… what really happened?” she asked with a smile that didn’t hide its edge.

Jaune laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.
“O-of course, I… I can explain.”

Ruby watched him silently, her lips pressed tight, her eyes heavy with anxiety. Deep down, she feared the worst. She feared discovering that Jaune wasn’t who she thought he was—that the image she had built of him would collapse in a single instant.

And yet… she needed to hear it.

The hallway was nearly empty at that hour, lit only by the soft lamps guiding the way toward the dorms. The footsteps of Jaune, Ruby, and Yang echoed calmly as they walked, each processing what had happened in the office.

“So…” Yang said, breaking the silence. “Cardin’s on thin ice. One more screw-up and he’s expelled.”

“Yeah,” Jaune answered with a tired sigh.

“And you?” Yang continued. “You just got a warning for being forced into it by Cardin.”

“Uh-huh…” he muttered, shrugging.

Yang nodded, but suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ruby and Jaune stopped as well.

“Seriously… you forged your transcripts to get into Beacon?” Yang asked bluntly.

Ruby coughed hard at those words, startled. Jaune lowered his head, defeated.
“Yes.”

Yang let out a low whistle.
“Wow. Of all the things I expected, that wasn’t one… but now that I think about it, it makes sense.”

“Makes sense?” Jaune asked, puzzled.

Yang gave him a once-over.
“No offense, but it’s obvious you had no training before Beacon.”

Jaune let out a bitter laugh.
“Well… now you know why.”

Ruby, still pale, lifted her eyes and suddenly asked:
“Then… Cardin blackmailed you with that, didn’t he?”

Both blondes stared at her, surprised. Jaune hesitated a moment before nodding.
“Yeah, he heard about it… and that’s how all this happened.”

“And you let him?” Ruby pressed.

“Yes…” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ruby nodded several times, thoughtful, her mind racing.

“You okay, Rubes?” Yang asked, touching her sister’s shoulder.

Ruby didn’t answer. She just stared at Jaune, who squirmed even more under the weight of her silence.

“I’m sorry…” he said at last. “If I disappointed you, Ruby, I’ll understand if you don’t want to talk to me anymore.”

Ruby reacted immediately, trying to speak, but a coughing fit cut her off. Yang hurried to hold her steady.

“Okay, Ruby. That’s enough. Time for bed,” the older sister ordered.

Ruby clumsily pulled away, shaking her head.
“Wait!” She stumbled forward until she stood in front of Jaune. “You’re my friend. And that’s not going to change.”

“Really?” Jaune asked in disbelief. “Even knowing I’m a fraud?”

Ruby gave him a weak smile.
“Even if you’re a fraud… or an idiot… you’re you. And I forgive you.”

Jaune felt a weight lift from his chest.
“Really? I thought you’d use that to punish me.”

“I’d never do that.”

Yang clicked her tongue.
“Well, if you put it that way…”

Ruby gave her a light tap on the arm, utterly lacking strength.
“Don’t even think about it.”

Yang chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah. I won’t.”

Jaune let out a yawn.
“I… thanks. Saying it feels amazing. Thanks, girls.”

Ruby watched him closely, sensing something strange in his words. It was relief… it was peace. And for a second she wondered: would he understand me, the way I understood him?

As they walked, Jaune suddenly stopped, making the sisters pause too. He was staring out a window. Ruby followed his gaze and spotted Pyrrha sitting alone on the edge of the dormitory rooftop.

Yang broke the silence with a grin.
“Your turn, Jaune. I’ve got to get Ruby to bed before her fever hits harder.”

“Right. Good night.”

“Jaune, wait…” Ruby called again.

He turned, confused.
“Yes, Ruby?”

She swallowed, her hands trembling.
“Do you remember what I told you? That I have a secret too, like yours…”

Yang’s eyes widened, surprised, her concern clear as she looked at her sister.

“Oh… yeah, I remember. Why?” Jaune replied, still puzzled.

Ruby hesitated, her breathing quickening.
“I… well… it doesn’t change the way I see you… I… I’m glad everything’s okay, and… I want to tell you mine.”

The words stuck in her throat. Her breaths grew rapid, shallow. She was hyperventilating. Yang held her, trying to calm her down.

“Don’t,” Jaune said suddenly, his tone firm.

Both sisters were startled by his outburst.

“Don’t tell me just because I told you mine,” Jaune explained, calmer and gentler. “Do it when you’re ready, when you’re comfortable with it.”

Ruby coughed harder, bending forward slightly. She tried to speak, but Jaune was right—just the thought terrified her, and her fever was burning her up.

“I-I… I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Jaune said with a soft smile. “I promise, whatever it is… it wouldn’t change anything.”

With those final words, he said goodnight and walked off toward his dorm.

Ruby was left gasping, leaning on Yang. Soon after, the two sisters headed back to their own room in silence.

“Ruby, do you… want to talk about it?” Yang asked.

Ruby walked on, her thoughts heavy—on how she’d chickened out at the end. Jaune had confessed something so sensitive, something that changed how everyone would see him, and he’d trusted her with it. Meanwhile, she lied every day, hiding her true self from everyone…

“I-I… no, I’m sorry.”

Yang hugged her gently, murmuring reassuringly:
“Take your time, sis. You’ll be ready when you want to be, and I’ll be here.”

Ruby sobbed, feeling comforted. She hoped that one day, just as she understood Jaune, the others would understand her too.

Chapter Text

The echo of footsteps resonated across the combat arena. Ruby and Jaune looked at each other nervously.

It was a unique fight: two leaders facing one another—the ones who were supposed to be the strongest of their respective teams. A duel that many wanted to see. And indeed, everyone was paying close attention. Yet there was something different about this match.

The fight was without weapons.

Only fists and kicks. Glynda had given a clear order: a hand-to-hand duel.

The silence barely lasted a couple of seconds before Ruby threw herself at Jaune again. She jumped forward, swinging a punch that went nowhere near his face. Startled, Jaune tried to counter with a kick, but his leg barely rose to knee level.

The clash was ridiculous: Ruby ended up losing her balance while Jaune staggered backward, flailing his arms like he was drowning.

“…This is… pathetic,” Weiss muttered, hand on her forehead. “Ruby! What on Remnant are you even trying to do?”

Ruby shook herself off, trying to go on the offensive again. She sprinted toward Jaune with a shout—only to trip on her own boots and roll across the floor, landing on her knees in front of him.

Jaune blinked in confusion. Trying to seize the opportunity, he threw a sluggish punch, so slow that Ruby had time to lift her head and see it coming, sidestepping with minimal effort. The strike missed, and Jaune lost his balance, collapsing face-first right in front of her.

Yang facepalmed, laughing nervously at her little sister.
“Uh… well… at least it’s entertaining.”

Blake, on the other hand, watched with obvious frustration.
“They’re not even trying to use body weight. Ruby’s just throwing random punches, and Jaune… he simply has no idea what he’s doing.”

Nora suddenly jumped to her feet, waving her arms.
“Come on, Jaune, you can do it! You can beat a little unarmed Red Riding Hood!”

Ren sighed, serious as ever.
“…Nora, don’t distract them.”

On stage, Ruby charged with a shoulder push, but it was so weak that it only made Jaune wobble a little. He tried to spin around to grab her, but overdid the turn and ended up dizzy.

“Hey!” Ruby protested, shoving him again with both hands.

Jaune stumbled clumsily, raised his fist… and accidentally punched his own shoulder. Ruby stared at him, jaw dropped.

Pyrrha clapped softly, trying to encourage them.
“Good job, both of you! That… effort counts!”

Weiss huffed in frustration.
“‘Effort’? This is disgraceful.”

Ruby, exhausted, tried to kick with all her strength but got tangled in her own cape and landed flat on her backside. Jaune attempted to seize the chance to grab her, but as he bent down, his forehead slammed against hers. Both groaned in pain.

The entire audience burst out laughing and murmuring.

Finally, Ruby pushed herself halfway up, panting.
“Okay—now I’m serious!” She charged at Jaune and hit him square in the chest with a surprisingly firm punch. Jaune staggered back, shocked, nearly falling.

Ruby grinned in satisfaction—until Jaune, on reflex, swung his arm forward. The blow caught her in the face, sending Ruby crashing onto her back with a pained groan.

The gym went silent until Glynda’s serious, commanding voice cut through the air.
“End of match! Jaune Arc is the winner!”

Nora leapt from her seat.
“You won, Jaune!! Your first victory!”

Jaune raised his arms, panting but smiling wide.
“Yes! I did it! I finally won a fight!”

Ruby, still on the floor, whimpered while rubbing her nose. Jaune rushed to help her up, clumsy but sincere.
“Sorry, Ruby, are you okay?”

She gave a tired little laugh, taking his hand.
“Congrats, Jaune. You did it!”

Glynda adjusted her glasses, glaring at both.
“Step down from the stage. There are still more matches to go.”

Obediently, they walked off the platform, Ruby still rubbing her nose with a nervous smile.

Ruby rejoined her team, still rubbing her nose with a nervous smile.

“Well, girls… I think that was a great match, right?” she said, trying to sound convincing.

The illusion didn’t last long. Weiss immediately crossed her arms, glaring at her.
“A ‘great match’!? Ruby, that was an absolute disaster. You have no knowledge whatsoever of hand-to-hand combat. You’re the leader! You’re expected to be better than us. With that performance…”—she sighed in frustration—“they’ll see us as a clumsy team.”

Ruby laughed nervously, stepping back.
“Uh… if only I’d had Crescent Rose…”

Yang huffed, hands on her hips.
“The same excuse as always, Ruby. You can’t just rely on your scythe.”

Ruby puffed her cheeks, pouting.
“But Crescent Rose is my baby!” She spun on her heel and lunged toward Blake with open arms. “You’ll support me, right, Blake?!”

Blake calmly extended one arm, stopping her effortlessly and keeping her at a distance.
“Sorry, Ruby… but this time I agree with them. Your fighting relies entirely on your weapon, and that’s not good.”

Ruby froze for a moment, then dropped her arms dramatically, defeated.
“Why are you all so mean…?” she whimpered, collapsing to her knees as if she had lost all purpose.

Yang rolled her eyes and hauled her up by the armpits.
“Hey, come on, don’t be like that. We can practice like before, right?”

Ruby sighed heavily.
“It’d be the same… I’m no good at it.”

“Don’t say that, Ruby.”

Blake watched her quietly for a moment before suggesting:
“What if… we just skip training?”

Weiss arched a brow, surprised.
“Huh? What do you mean?”

Before she could finish, Yang cut her off with a mischievous grin.
“You know what? Blake just gave me an idea.”

She suddenly let go of Ruby, dropping her onto her back with a groan of pain.
“Ow!!”

Yang laughed nervously, while Weiss sighed and Blake covered her face with a hand.

Then Yang snapped her fingers, smirking.
“I know! How about we go out to Vale?”

Blake raised an eyebrow.
“Not what I had in mind… but it sounds like a good idea.”

Weiss immediately frowned.
“Go out? I don’t know the city at all, and it’s—”

“…not for rich people,” Blake finished without even looking at her.

Weiss nearly choked on her own words, losing her composure for a moment.
“That’s not what I was going to say!”

“Uh-huh,” Yang and Blake replied in unison.

Ruby, still on the floor, suddenly jumped up with sparkling eyes.
“If tomorrow’s a free day, a team outing would be amazing!” She instantly turned to Weiss, grabbing her hands. “I’ll show you all the best spots in Vale! There’s the weapon shop, the ice cream parlor, the bookstore, the bakery, the movie theater, and—”

Weiss stepped back again and again, overwhelmed by Ruby’s enthusiasm, until she was completely cornered.

Yang couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.
“Poor Ice Queen, she’s gonna melt.”

Ruby kept bouncing with excitement until Blake calmly shattered the illusion.
“Ruby… you have extra classes tomorrow.”

Ruby’s smile froze instantly. She hung in the air for a second before collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.

“Great, Blake, you just killed my sister,” Yang said flatly.

Weiss took the chance to slip away gracefully, sighing in relief as Ruby let go of her hands.

At that moment, Glynda’s firm voice thundered through the gym:
“Miss Rose! I need to inform you of something.”

Ruby shot upright like a spring, standing at attention.
“Yes, Professor Goodwitch!”

Glynda looked at her sternly over her glasses.
“Your extra classes tomorrow have been canceled. I have matters to attend to.”

Ruby’s eyes lit up, and she began celebrating, waving her arms—only to freeze when she noticed Glynda’s raised brow.
“I mean… yes, Professor! Thank you!”

Glynda narrowed her eyes.
“I suggest you use your time wisely. Perhaps… to practice your hand-to-hand combat.”

Ruby felt like a stone slab had just crushed her.
“Y-yes… Professor…”

Glynda nodded and walked away, continuing the class.

Ruby stood stiff, face frozen in tragedy, while Yang and Blake tried to hold back their laughter.

Yang clapped her hands twice to gather attention.
“All right, Team RWBY, we’ve got an outing tomorrow!”

Ruby raised her arms in excitement, completely forgetting Glynda’s warning from a minute ago.
“Yesss!”

Weiss, however, huffed elegantly, crossing her arms.
“Hmph… with the festival preparations, I suppose it wouldn’t be too bad. I might need to familiarize myself with parts of the city anyway.”

Blake rose without another word, walking calmly to her seat. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
“Let’s hope the city meets your standards, Weiss.”

“Hey!” Weiss protested, chasing after her indignantly. “That’s not what I meant!”

Yang burst out laughing at the scene, elbowing Ruby.
“Come on, Rubes, before Weiss explodes.”

Ruby nodded quickly, following her team.

Team RWBY gathered back together with a clear idea: tomorrow, they’d have their first outing to Vale as a team.

———

The sun had barely risen when Team RWBY boarded the first transport heading to Vale. Ruby stood at the edge, letting the wind brush her face with excitement—it had been a while since she felt this. Meanwhile, Yang kept everyone organized, making sure none of them got lost along the way.

“Come on, girls!” Ruby exclaimed, eyes wide as the city came into view from the window. “I can’t wait to show you everything!”

Yang rolled her eyes with a smile, though deep down she enjoyed seeing her sister’s excitement.
“Yeah, yeah… let’s see how long you last playing tour guide.”

Once the girls stepped off the airship and onto Vale’s streets, Ruby’s enthusiasm exploded. She tugged gently at Weiss’s arm—though Weiss tried to maintain her composure, there was no stopping her partner. Blake and Yang trailed behind, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and resignation.

“You two grew up here?” Blake asked, glancing at Yang and Ruby while they dodged passersby.

“Not exactly,” Yang replied with a grin. “Ruby and I grew up on Patch, an island a little ways from the city. But we spent a lot of time here when we were kids.”

Ruby wasted no time. She jumped onto Yang’s back, hugging her waist with a laugh.
“And that’s why we know all the best places in Vale!” she announced, nearly dragging Yang into a side street packed with shops and cafés.

Yang laughed and fist-bumped Ruby, a small pact between sisters. Weiss, still struggling to regain her composure, frowned slightly.
“So… where do you suggest we start?”

Ruby and Yang shared a quick glance and a mischievous smile before Yang answered confidently:
“We’ll show you the best of Vale—one street at a time.”

Thus began Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna’s first tour of Vale. The girls wandered through cobblestone streets lined with colorful stores, cafés filled with the scent of fresh bread, and small street stalls. Ruby and Yang guided the way, pointing out every corner, sharing childhood memories with laughter and jokes that made Weiss and Blake watch them with curiosity.

But something didn’t go unnoticed. Each time they entered a store, Ruby pulled up her hood, partly hiding her face. Blake raised a brow at the subtle gesture, and Weiss frowned slightly, intrigued.

Yang, however, didn’t seem to notice and went on with her stories, so both Weiss and Blake decided not to ask—at least for now.

“And here’s the central park, where we used to play with Vel when we were little,” Ruby explained with a sparkle in her eyes, pointing at fountains decorated with stone statues of mythical Grimm.

Weiss paused, admiring them.
“I must admit, the craftsmanship is impressive.”

Yang arched a brow, amused.
“You care more about the sculpture than the park?”

“Oh, come on, at least let me appreciate the art without your bad jokes,” Weiss retorted, crossing her arms.

Blake turned to Ruby instead, appreciating the park’s calm atmosphere.
“It’s a lovely place, Ruby. What else are we seeing today?”

Ruby grinned and pulled a large, crumpled map out of her backpack. It was covered in colorful scribbles. She spread it out like it was a treasure.
“After this, we’ll go to the plaza mall for lunch and some shopping. Then—ice cream! Yang and I used to go there a lot together! And finally, I have three possible places for you to choose from this afternoon!”

Weiss frowned, recognizing the paper.
“That’s not my printed map… why is it covered in doodles?”

Ruby looked away with a nervous smile, fumbling to fold the map.
“N-no reason…”

Weiss huffed, deciding not to scold her for the fifth time that day.
“We’ll talk about that later.”

That’s when Blake asked casually:
“What about Signal?”

The sisters froze. Ruby nearly dropped the map, and Yang blinked before forcing a strained smile.

“S-Signal? You… want to go see Signal?” Ruby stammered.

Blake nodded calmly.
“I understand you both trained there. Wouldn’t it be a good place to learn more about you?”

“I have to admit I agree,” Weiss added, curious. “Signal is your combat academy. I’d like to see how classes and training work here in Vale.”

Ruby swallowed hard, flipping the map around like she was searching for a magical escape route among the streets. She muttered nonsense under her breath to hide her discomfort.

Yang leaned closer to her, concerned.
“You okay, Rubes?”

“Y-yeah, totally fine… just… checking the route. Gimme a sec.” Ruby walked a few steps away, pacing in circles and whispering to herself.

Blake used the chance to look at Yang.
“Was Signal really that bad for her?”

Yang exhaled heavily, crossing her arms.
“Sorry… I can’t say anything without Ruby’s okay. But yeah… it was bad.”

Weiss frowned, confused.
“I don’t understand. Why would they target Ruby? She’s a prodigy. She skipped two years—she should’ve been celebrated at Signal.”

Yang smiled bitterly, shaking her head.
“I wish it were that simple, Weiss… I really do.”

Hearing Yang call her by her real name, instead of a nickname, made Weiss fall silent. This was more serious than she thought.

Blake tilted her head.
“We can drop Signal and go somewhere else.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Yang admitted, tension easing slightly.

“Good. Let’s tell her before she does something ridiculous with my map,” Weiss added, heading toward Ruby, who was still mumbling while flipping the paper around like it held a secret code.

Once they convinced her to change the plan, Ruby bounced back almost instantly, suggesting an arcade. Yang, of course, wanted to propose a club but was immediately shut down—Ruby wasn’t old enough. Weiss suggested the library, which Blake supported, but the sisters groaned in unison at the idea.

The debate went on longer than needed, and by noon, the four of them finally decided to head to the plaza mall for lunch.

———

The central mall of Vale was one of the city’s most famous places. A massive four-story complex that had everything: luxury boutiques, small shops, restaurants from all over Remnant, arcades, movie theaters, even an aquarium on the top floor. It was a tourist magnet, full of families, students, and trainee Huntsmen looking for a break between missions.

But for Team RWBY, the priority wasn’t shopping—it was food. Ruby led them to the huge food court, a wide circular space surrounded by dozens of restaurants, with tables filling the center. The noise was overwhelming: chatter, laughter, clattering dishes, and the clash of countless smells.

“This feels more like a giant cafeteria than a proper restaurant…” Weiss muttered, unimpressed.

“But it’s full of variety,” Blake added calmly. “It’s not that bad.”

Ruby barely listened. She felt eyes on her from somewhere. She turned her head, but with so many people, it was impossible to pinpoint anything strange. Shaking off the unease, she forced herself to smile.

In the end, thanks to Weiss’s generosity—she insisted on paying for everyone as a token of thanks—the group lightened up. The Xiao Long–Rose sisters took the chance to order more than usual, making Weiss sigh at the mountain of food. Blake settled for a simple fish dish, though everyone suspected she was just being considerate of Weiss’s money. Weiss herself chose a modest chicken-and-rice meal, surprisingly simple for her.

After eating, Ruby was excited to show them the four levels of the mall. She had a whole improvised itinerary in her head: ice cream, arcades, a weapon shop she wanted to check out, and even a couple of bookstores for Blake. But as soon as she stood up from the table, she realized the food weighed heavier than expected. With a pout, she excused herself to go to the bathroom quickly.

She didn’t know… but several eyes followed her the moment she left.

———

“Ugh… yeah, I definitely overdid it with the food…” Ruby muttered as she left the bathroom, holding her stomach while walking down the quieter hall. Then—she felt her foot caught, or rather, tripped. Ruby crashed face-first to the ground. The sensation was all too familiar…

“Well, well…” a male voice drawled. The mocking tone, too familiar, sent a chill down her spine. “Look who it is.”

Ruby slowly pushed herself up and turned her head. Her worst fear came true—she recognized not one, but several faces. Four older boys stared down at her with nasty grins. She knew them all too well. Former classmates from Signal.

Her silver eyes narrowed instantly.
“….”

“Is that how you greet old friends, pup?” the leader pressed—a tall young man with dark hair and a scar on his cheek.

Ruby swallowed hard, forcing an annoyed tone out of her throat.
“What do you want, Brandom?”

“Oh, nothing in particular.” He stepped forward confidently, and Ruby instinctively stepped back. “Just saw our good friend Ruby Rose and thought we’d say hello.”

The three shadows behind him moved closer too, circling her slowly in the narrow hallway. The crowd was too far away; here, between bathrooms and vending machines, nobody seemed to notice.

“You know…” Brandom smiled falsely. “It’s hard to find a replacement for you. Did you know that?”

Ruby frowned.
“For what? To make someone else’s life miserable?”

The smile vanished. His face twisted with disdain.
“So you’ve grown mouthy… and here I thought Beacon would’ve finally drilled you into what you are: an animal who should know her place.”

Ruby clenched her jaw, a burning knot forming in her chest.
“You don’t know anything.”

Her voice came out low, laced with restrained anger.

Brandom narrowed his eyes, displeased at her response. He stepped closer, too close now.
“What did you just say?”

Ruby balled her fists. She didn’t want to fight—especially not here, where things could escalate and end with her in even more trouble if any authority showed up.

Brandom studied her, smirking again at her silence.
“Skipping two years must’ve made you arrogant. So tell me… how did you do it?”

“Do what?” Ruby shot back, frowning.

“Don’t play dumb. How’d you get in early?” Brandom’s voice dripped with suspicion.

“Why would I tell—”

She couldn’t finish. Brandom grabbed her by the collar, yanking her off the floor with ease.
“Answer me like that again, and I swear you’ll regret it.”

Ruby glared, trying to look firm despite the tremor in her body. Hostility burned in her eyes, but her voice was trapped in her throat.

Brandom chuckled darkly, lowering his hand dangerously close to her head.
“And to think you still hide…” he sneered, fingers brushing the headband covering her ears. “What happened to that speech of yours about proving your kind are the same as us?”

Ruby opened her mouth to retort, but she didn’t get the chance. Brandom shoved her hard against the vending machines. The metal crash shook her entire body, knocking the air from her lungs and leaving her on the floor. The cans inside rattled mockingly.

“Well, since you won’t talk… why don’t we have some fun? Just like old times, little wolf?” Brandom’s voice dripped with venom, words that Ruby understood all too well. Her muscles tightened, her lungs froze.

The other three laughed, approving, as they closed in around her. Ruby turned her head, searching for an escape—but only found their shadows creeping closer.

Her mind raced for options. None were good: let them “have fun” and endure the pain, or escape using her semblance—which would draw authorities and land her in bigger trouble.

She clenched her teeth. To her, there was only one option that wouldn’t expose her secret or bring worse consequences. She shut her eyes tight, bracing herself for the pain, for the first blow.

“How is it taking you this long, Ru… by?” a sharp voice cut through the hallway.

Ruby’s eyes flew open. Her body twisted weakly toward the sound. Weiss stood frozen in place, staring at the scene—her teammate on the floor, surrounded by four hostile figures.

Ruby’s blood turned cold.
No… not her…

Her heart hammered in her chest. The last thing she wanted was for Weiss to see her like this.

But before Ruby could sink further into despair, the air shifted. A heavy pressure filled the hall, dropping the temperature like ice.

That change could only come from one person.

Weiss.

Her blue eyes, wide with surprise seconds ago, narrowed into icy fury. Her face hardened into a mask of severity. Nobody laughed. Nobody breathed right. Even the metallic hum of the vending machines was drowned in oppressive silence.

Ruby swallowed hard. That look… she had only seen it once before—on the first day of classes. A look she never wanted to awaken again.

And yet, here it was.

Weiss didn’t need to raise her voice. With a single step forward, the tension shattered like brittle glass.

The bullies didn’t move. Silence suffocated them.

Brandom was the first to break it, clicking his tongue.
“And what do you want? Don’t you see we’re busy?”

Weiss didn’t answer. Her footsteps echoed coldly, relentless.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Brandom pressed mockingly. “We’re busy, and if you don’t want that fancy little dress of yours—”

The rest of his threat died in a brutal gasp. Weiss’s fist slammed into his stomach with unexpected force, knocking the wind out of him. The sharp thud echoed through the hallway.

Brandom collapsed to his knees, choking for breath, as one of his friends cried out:
“Brandom!”

Weiss’s icy gaze snapped to him.
“Ruby. We’re leaving,” she ordered, eyes never leaving the others.

Ruby scrambled to her feet, staggering, and ran toward her partner.

The heiress slowly turned her face to the remaining three, who stood frozen.
“Follow us, and you’ll regret it.”

It wasn’t a scream. It wasn’t even a threat. It was a cold sentence. And that was far more terrifying.

The three instinctively stepped back, silent.

Weiss turned sharply, posture regal. Noticing Ruby hesitating at her side, she didn’t hesitate—she seized her wrist and dragged her firmly out of the hallway.

Weiss pulled Ruby by the wrist with hurried steps, practically dragging her out of the hallway. She never looked back—she refused to give those thugs the satisfaction of seeing her doubt. But her mind churned with questions.

Ruby wasn’t someone who let herself be cornered. Naïve, yes, but never a coward. If she couldn’t win a fight, she always found a way out—slippery, fast as the wind. Her semblance made her nearly impossible to catch. So… why had Ruby Rose been on the floor, surrounded, powerless against a bunch of idiots?

Weiss frowned deeply. Ruby’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“W-Weiss…”

She stopped, turning slightly. Ruby smiled nervously, as if that flimsy expression could erase what had just happened.

Weiss had so much to say, so much to ask—but the chance slipped away as hurried footsteps approached.

Yang appeared first, with Blake right behind.
“Well, she’s not lost,” Yang said with a mocking grin—though her brow arched almost immediately. “Shame.”

Blake, however, sensed the heavy air between them. Her golden eyes locked on Ruby.
“Ruby, are you okay?”

Ruby blinked rapidly, caught off guard.
“O-okay? Of course! I mean… I’m fine, Blake. Why wouldn’t I be?”

The nervous smile convinced no one. Weiss stared at her, instantly recognizing the poor lie. Yang noticed it too; her expression turned serious.

“Okay… what happened, Ruby?” she asked, low and direct.

“Nothing.” Ruby flailed her hands awkwardly, as if that alone would erase the doubt. “I just took a little longer, right, Weiss?”

Her eyes begged Weiss silently for backup, pleading for her to cover the lie. Weiss studied her, wondering: Does she really want to hide this… from us?

Yang narrowed her eyes, suspicious.
“Weiss, did something happen? Did you say something to her again?”

The heiress tilted her head toward Yang, caught between the truth and Ruby’s unspoken plea. She squeezed Ruby’s wrist tightly, still not letting go.
“Ruby… why?” she asked sharply.

“W-what do you mean?” Ruby cut in nervously. “Weiss, I just… tripped, you found me, and we came back, right?”

Weiss frowned. Did she really want to bury it?

Yang stepped closer, both hands gripping her sister’s shoulders. Her voice was stripped of jokes, leaving only concern.
“Ruby… tell me what happened. Please. I promise I won’t… do anything.”

Blake and Weiss exchanged a brief look—silent understanding. This wasn’t the first time. This wasn’t an isolated incident.

Ruby averted her eyes, unable to meet theirs. The knot in her throat was painfully clear.

Weiss, fed up with dodging, spat it out bluntly:
“A boy named Brandom and his group were messing with—”

She didn’t finish. Ruby, desperate, clapped both hands over Weiss’s mouth. The sudden move stunned Weiss more than the force itself.

The group froze. The air turned heavy, tense. No one moved.

Blake broke the silence, her voice low but firm:
“Were they messing with Ruby?”

Ruby slowly lowered her hands from Weiss’s mouth, as if the weight of the truth forced her to. Weiss, brows furrowed, gave a sharp nod.

Without a word, Ruby pulled up her hood to hide her face and walked ahead, not looking back.

Yang let out a long, frustrated sigh.
“Had to be Brandom…”

Weiss glanced at her.
“You know him?”

Yang clicked her tongue.
“Yeah… unfortunately.”

“He’s from Signal?” Blake asked carefully.

Yang didn’t answer. Weiss remained just as thoughtful.

Yang made a face. “…Yeah. But…”

Weiss didn’t look away.
“You said ‘yeah, but.’ What does that but mean?”

Yang crossed her arms, turning aside to avoid her teammate’s piercing stare.
“It’s not that simple…”

“Of course it is,” Weiss snapped coldly.

Blake, calmer but equally firm, pressed on.
“Yang, who is this Brandom? Why did Ruby react like that when we mentioned him?”

Yang clenched her jaw, swallowing hard.
“I… don’t think Ruby wants you to know.”

Silence fell again, broken only by the sound of boots on the floor as they walked. Weiss narrowed her eyes, patience thinning.
“What aren’t you telling us?”

Yang opened her mouth, then shut it instantly. Her expression was a storm of anger and worry.

Blake lowered her voice, though the question hit harder:
“…Is that boy…?”

Weiss spun sharply toward Yang, demanding an answer. Yang froze, trapped between protecting her sister and her teammates’ pressure. Her silence, more than words, began shaping the truth.

That’s when Ruby suddenly stopped. With a sharp turn, she faced them, voice trembling:
“He was one of the ones who bullied me at Signal, okay!?”

Yang stepped forward quickly, holding her shoulders to steady her. Blake and Weiss’s eyes widened—not just at the confession, but at Ruby’s rare outburst.

“Then we report him,” Weiss declared firmly, already striding forward as if it were decided.

The other three immediately stared at her as though she’d just cursed.
“What?” Weiss asked, indignant at their reactions.

Yang caught up to her, leaving Ruby behind for the moment.
“It’s not necessary,” she said quietly, forcing calm. “Let’s just… enjoy the afternoon.”

“What…?” Weiss stopped dead, whirling on her with outrage. “Yang Xiao Long, are you telling me you’re going to let someone who harassed your sister walk free?”

Yang lowered her gaze slightly, sighing.
“I promised her I wouldn’t do anything…” she murmured, eyes flicking to Ruby, who stayed hooded, avoiding them.

Blake gently draped an arm over Ruby’s shoulders in silent support.

Weiss pressed her lips tight.
“Remember who you’re talking to,” she warned sharply.

Yang crossed her arms, defiance sparking in her eyes.
“I’m not using your influence, Weiss.”

“Idiots like him should pay for what they do!” Weiss shot back, raising her voice.

Before anyone could reply, a shout cut through the air:
“There they are!”

All four turned at once. The voice was far too familiar. Ruby and Yang recognized it instantly; Weiss too, though less certain. Blake alone was left confused, scanning for the threat.

Brandom and his group appeared at the end of the corridor, walking alongside two officers. He pointed at them with a loud, accusing voice, making sure the whole mall could hear.
“It’s them! They’re the ones who hit me!”

Yang sighed angrily, arms crossed, her gaze hardening with a mix of annoyance and suppressed rage. Ruby, meanwhile, hid behind her, clutching the edge of Yang’s jacket tightly.

Blake stepped up without hesitation, placing herself beside Yang as a silent wall. Weiss, regal as ever, took position on the other side.

The officers stopped in front of them. One checked a digital pad before raising his voice:
“Xiao Long–Rose… not surprised.”

Yang arched a brow, tone neutral.
“Problem, officer?”

The man glared seriously.
“We received a report of someone assaulting others inside these premises. Care to explain?”

Yang tapped her chin, pretending to think, then pointed boldly at Brandom.
“Hmm… let me see… I think that guy over there might know.”

Brandom glared, lips pressed tight with fury.

The officer sighed impatiently.
“Miss Xiao Long, let’s not drag this out. You and your… sister, come with us, and we’ll get this over with.”

Ruby gripped Yang’s arm tighter, her fingers trembling. Yang glanced down at her, then back at the officer, frowning.
“We didn’t do anything.”

The second officer snorted, tired.
“It’s always the same. If you don’t want this to end badly, cooperate.”

A voice like a blade cut in from the side:
“Unacceptable.”

Everyone turned to Weiss. Her expression was sharp, blue eyes burning with righteous fury.

“Excuse me?” the officer asked incredulously.

Weiss stepped forward, voice ringing clear.
“I’ve never seen officers as degrading as you two.”

The men exchanged uneasy glances. One growled, raising a hand in warning.
“Miss, I suggest you stay out of this… unless you want trouble.”

Weiss stomped the ground, her voice cold and commanding.
“Do you know who you’re speaking to?”

Blake’s eyes widened slightly. This was the Weiss she’d always expected to see—but not today, and not like this.

One officer raised a mocking brow.
“What, daughter of some rich company head or something?”

Weiss didn’t hesitate. She pulled out a pristine identification and held it up.
“I am Weiss Schnee, heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. My father is Jacques Schnee. And as far as I know, those cowardly boys were harassing my friend. I responded accordingly. So I suggest you leave before this escalates further.”

The officers stared, stunned. One frowned.
“You just admitted it was you. That means I have no choice but to—”

His partner grabbed his arm, pulling him back and whispering in his ear. The man froze, eyes flicking between Weiss and his colleague. Weiss’s icy glare bore down on them like daggers.

Finally, the older officer swallowed hard, his voice shaky.
“Apologies for the inconvenience. We’ll be on our way.”

Without another word, both officers turned and left in a rush.

The three girls stared at Weiss, stunned. The heiress, still composed, turned her gaze on Brandom and his gang.
“I believe I made myself clear earlier.”

Brandom stepped back, lips pressed tight. Yang stepped forward, drawing a line across her throat with her finger in a sharp, threatening gesture.

That was enough. Brandom and his cronies bolted without looking back.

———

Silence fell over the group once more. Only then did Weiss exhale deeply, letting the authoritarian mask slip. When she turned, she found Ruby still hooded. Her gray, glassy eyes reflected confusion and pain she could no longer hide.

It didn’t take long before the girls decided to leave the mall. The atmosphere had grown far too heavy. Neither Weiss nor Blake dared to break it. Yang took the lead instead, guiding them back toward the transport station.

None of them wanted to talk about what had happened. Of course Weiss and Blake wanted answers—why had Ruby been bullied like that? Who exactly was that arrogant brat, Brandom? And why had the officers treated them as though it was routine? The questions hung in the air like knives ready to fall. But seeing Ruby, small and sunken under her hood, they decided this wasn’t the time to press.

By sunset, the streets of Vale glowed with orange light reflecting off storefront windows and their tired steps. Weiss, with a graceful but slightly awkward gesture, handed each of them an ice cream. She didn’t say anything—just hoped that something sweet might ease the weight in Ruby’s chest.

And, somehow, it worked. Ruby finally lowered her hood. Her eyes were still distant, trapped in memories her friends couldn’t reach, but at least she didn’t look so broken anymore. A tiny spark of relief lit in the other three as Ruby licked the ice cream, a trace of normalcy returning.

Slowly, the girls began talking again, laughter tentative but enough to chase away the suffocating silence as they strolled through Vale with ice cream in hand.

“So… are we going to talk about what happened?” Blake asked softly, uncertain.

The fragile mood cracked instantly—not because of anger, but because of the concern carried in her words.

Yang knew it was inevitable, though she wished they didn’t have to face it today.
“We can—”

“If you’re about to say ‘we can wait,’ I suggest you don’t,” Weiss cut her off firmly.

Yang sighed in defeat, glancing at Ruby. Her sister walked ahead without looking back, clearly avoiding the subject. Yang tried to soften it.
“We’ve got a bit of a… reputation with Vale’s officers.”

“Reputation?” Blake repeated, confused. “With the officers?”

“Yeeah… Look, I swear we’ve never done anything bad. It’s just…” Yang trailed off, struggling for words.

Weiss arched a brow, exasperated.
“So you’re telling me Ruby isn’t just bullied, but even the police look down on her?”

Yang shrugged.
“Never said it was simple.”

Ruby’s voice, low but clear, cut through.
“I had trouble at Signal.” The three of them turned away immediately, though Ruby kept her gaze straight ahead. “Since I joined… I was already an advanced person. Yang had already made a name for herself there, and I… they chose me. They looked at me with envy. And… jealousy.”

None of them interrupted. Each reacted differently: Blake with empathy, Weiss with skepticism, Yang with a knot in her chest.

“I’m sorry you went through that, Ruby,” Blake said softly.

“That still doesn’t explain the police…” Weiss muttered, earning a sharp glare from Blake. “I’m just saying.”

Yang opened her mouth, hesitating.
“That’s… complicated.”

Blake stepped closer to Ruby, voice warm.
“Ruby, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. Don’t pressure yourself.”

Ruby turned slightly toward her, offering a weak smile.
“Thanks, Blake. It’s just… complicated.” Then she looked straight at Weiss—because she knew Weiss needed the explanation most.

Weiss sighed, relenting slightly.
“Fine. We’ll leave it for now. But I expect you to tell us soon. A team isn’t supposed to have secrets.”

Ruby lowered her head.
“Sorry, Weiss.”

“How many times have I told you not to apologize?” Weiss muttered, turning her face aside. “And don’t expect me to always rescue you, Ruby Rose.”

Ruby chuckled softly, a faint echo of relief.
“It won’t be like that.”

The mood lightened again as they walked—at least until Ruby suddenly stopped. A sound caught her attention: a reporter’s voice from a storefront screen.

“In other news,” the anchor said, “yesterday another Dust store was robbed in Vale. Fortunately, no one was injured. Authorities have already identified the culprit: Roman Torchwick, the infamous criminal, responsible for all the recent incidents.”

Ruby froze, eyes narrowing at Torchwick’s arrogant smirk on the screen.

“Ruby!” Yang called, noticing her sister had fallen behind.

Ruby glanced at her teammates, already nearing the end of the street. She hesitated, shook her head, then ran to catch up.

The broadcast continued, unheard by anyone else:

“He’s not only acting the same as in past incidents… reports suggest the White Fang and this criminal have begun working together.”

Suddenly, the screen went black. In the reflection of the glass, a figure appeared as if he had always been there: Roman Torchwick, lounging with his usual air of superiority.

“Well… subtlety was never their strong suit,” he muttered, lighting his cigar. “Though really, what can you expect from animals?”

An apartment, dim and lit only by the orange glow of sunset filtering through the window.

Roman Torchwick stretched lazily across a couch with a theatrical yawn.
“At least they used a better picture of me this time…” he scoffed, still eyeing the now-blank screen that had broadcast his face across Vale.

The creak of the door drew a grin from him.
“Great, thought you’d gotten distracted, Neo.”

From the shadows emerged the young girl with half-brown, half-pink hair, her heterochromatic eyes reflecting the same mix of colors. She carried a couple of bags, rolling her eyes lightly at Roman’s smirk.

“Did you get the spice?” he asked, sitting up with mock eagerness.

Neo nodded cheerfully, lifting one of the bags as proof.

“Perfect. I need a good dinner… we’ve got a lot of work ahead.” Roman’s tone darkened at the end, a shadow of tension slipping into his carefree act.

Neo’s smile vanished instantly. She set the bags down with a silent sigh. She didn’t like what his words implied, but work was work… even if it wasn’t to her liking.

Chapter Text

The port of Vale was bustling with activity. The docks were adorned with colorful ribbons, glowing posters, and pennants fluttering in the sea breeze. The sound of hammers striking and wood creaking filled the air as workers put the finishing touches on stages and stalls that would soon bring this year’s Vytal Festival to life. The atmosphere carried a mix of salt, freshly unloaded spices, and the promise of celebration.

The sun was still high, painting the horizon in gold when Team RWBY descended from the airship. Ruby walked wide-eyed, marveling at every detail with childlike enthusiasm. Yang smiled beside her. Blake remained calm, though her eyes shifted curiously to the decorations hanging everywhere. But the most surprising of all was Weiss: she walked with a light step, head held high, and an unusually bright expression.

Ruby blinked, baffled. She had never seen Weiss so… happy.

“Uh… are you okay?” the leader asked, tilting her head.

Weiss took a deep breath, as if all the air in the port belonged to her.

“Of course I am. This festival is an event of international importance. It’s the place where academies from all over the world converge, not only to showcase their abilities but also as a symbol of cultural and diplomatic unity. Vale becomes the epicenter of modern civilization.”

Ruby tilted her head again, blinking.

“…huh?”

Yang couldn’t hold back a laugh, nudging Ruby lightly.

“What my dear Weissy meant to say is that there’ll be awesome fights, free food, and loads of tourists.” She shot Weiss a teasing grin. “But of course, Schneepone, you have to make it sound like some boring ambassador conference.”

Weiss whipped around, frowning with irritation glimmering in her eyes.

“I am not being boring! I’m emphasizing the importance of an event that makes history with every generation.”

Yang raised her hands in mock surrender.

“Sure, sure, princess. But… have you ever tried explaining it without sounding like a five-page essay?”

Ruby timidly raised her hand.

“I… still don’t get it.”

Blake, who had remained silent until then, let out a faint smile behind her book.

“Translation: it’s important, Weiss is happy, and we should appreciate it without complaining too much.”

Weiss huffed, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks when she saw Blake summarize it all in one sentence.

As they continued walking through the crowd, the port’s bustle grew louder. Finally, they reached the main dock, where merchant ships were unloading crates and nets brimming with fresh fish. Ruby suddenly froze, clutching her nose desperately with both hands.

“Ugh…” she muttered, lips pressed tight. “Did it have to smell this strong?”

Her scrunched-up nose said it all. With her faunus senses, the stench of fish was practically torture.

Yang arched a brow, amused.

“So… this is what we came for? To waste our Friday afternoon watching them hang little flags and unload fish?”

Still pinching her nose, Ruby shot her an offended look.

“Speak for yourself… I’d rather not be smelling this.”

Weiss crossed her arms with elegant poise, ignoring the comment.

“I heard Vacuo’s teams will arrive soon. As a representative of Beacon, it’s my duty to formally welcome them to Vale.”

Yang burst into laughter.

“Representative? Since when?”

Ruby blinked, lowering one hand slightly from her nose.

“Besides… you’re not even from Vale.”

Blake, calmly watching crates being loaded and unloaded, spoke in her dry but precise tone.

“What Weiss means is that she’s eager to observe the competition… and maybe spy on them.”

Weiss immediately spun toward her, frowning with an accusing finger.

“Of course not! I don’t just do that. I’m fulfilling what must be done, nothing more, nothing less.”

Yang and Blake exchanged a knowing look, and almost in unison, replied:

“Uh-huh…”

Weiss’s cheeks flushed instantly, though she tried to cover it up with an elegant cough. Ruby, still covering her nose, couldn’t help but chuckle quietly behind her hand.

As they waited at the dock, a metallic noise and blaring sirens cut through the port’s bustle. A couple of patrol cars pulled up at a nearby street, and several officers immediately stepped out, surrounding a shop cordoned off with yellow warning tape. The crowd began to murmur, some curious onlookers trying to peek inside.

Ruby, seeing the scene, instantly shrank and hid behind Yang, peeking only her head over her sister’s shoulder.

“What’s happening?” she asked in a nervous whisper.

Yang sighed, as if already used to that kind of reaction from her sister.

“Relax, Rubes. They’re not here for you.”

Weiss and Blake, however, remained observant. Weiss frowned and turned to her teammates.

“Are we going to talk about this once and for all?”

Blake averted her gaze, her voice low and firm.

“It doesn’t have to be now.”

Ruby, still half-hidden behind Yang, bit her lip.

“It’s complicated…”

Weiss arched a brow, exasperated.

“I’m starting to think you have a criminal record.”

Ruby pouted, offended.

“No! Nothing like that!”

Yang let out a laugh and shrugged.

“Yeah, if anyone here almost has a record, it’s me… but sure, let’s drop it.”

Blake discreetly pointed toward the cordoned shop.

“The important thing is that. Looks like there was a recent robbery.”

Weiss nodded firmly, as if confirming her own suspicions.

“Indeed. And according to this week’s reports, the White Fang was behind a Dust robbery in this area.”

Blake’s eyes widened, her body going stiff for a second. Instantly, Yang and Ruby turned to her, noticing her reaction.

Weiss, confused, looked at all of them with a hint of irritation.

“What? Am I the only one who reads the news?”

Ruby quickly raised her hands.

“No, no! It’s not that, you just… surprised us, that’s all.”

Weiss, with her usual air of superiority, lifted her chin and tapped her chest lightly.

“Of course, as the Schnee heiress, I must stay informed of my surroundings. One must be aware of everything that happens.”

Yang rolled her eyes, smirking.

“Yeah, yeah, princess, we got it.”

Meanwhile, Blake kept staring at the cordoned street, her mind clearly elsewhere. Ruby noticed and softly called to her.

“Blake.”

The faunus blinked and turned her face, snapping out of her trance.

“Yes, Ruby? Is something wrong?”

Ruby shook her head, though her voice carried a note of concern.

“No… just that you looked a little lost.”

Blake lowered her gaze, uncomfortable.

“It’s just… I heard about the White Fang and…”

Weiss scoffed with disdain, cutting her off.

“Right? Just hearing about that band of ruthless criminals is enough to put anyone in a bad mood.”

Blake narrowed her eyes at Weiss, annoyance flaring.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Weiss looked puzzled, raising a brow.

“Excuse me?”

Before the tension could thicken, Yang spoke up, pointing toward the port.

“Uh, girls… you’re gonna want to see this. Especially you, Weiss.”

The four turned just in time to see chaos breaking out on the deck of a recently docked ship. Amid the shouts of officers, a blonde boy sprinted nimbly, dodging guards trying to stop him. His clothes were simple, but what stood out most was the golden tail swishing behind him.

Ruby’s eyes widened, astonished.

“He’s a… faunus!”

The boy grinned cheekily as he ran, leaping off the deck onto the pier in an acrobatic jump.

“Thanks for the ride!” he shouted with mocking enthusiasm, waving goodbye to the officers chasing him before bolting again.

Yang crossed her arms, arching a brow.

“Think he’s a student?”

Weiss replied coldly, without hesitation:

“I highly doubt it.”

The boy kept running at full speed, but two guards blocked his path. Without slowing, he jumped high, launching himself toward a set of light posts.

“Damn!” he shouted as he climbed deftly. “And here I thought the student welcome would be warmer!”

Ruby squinted, surprised.

“Student?”

Weiss shook her head firmly, almost indignant.

“Impossible!”

The boy landed gracefully on the pavement—right where Team RWBY was standing. Ruby barely had time to step back before he whirled past her like a storm. In that instant, Ruby felt something strange: she could’ve sworn the boy looked directly at her… and even winked.

“Huh?” Ruby murmured, frozen.

But before she could process it, the boy was already gone, chased by shouting officers calling his name through the crowd.

Yang chuckled as she ran after Weiss.

“Well, Weiss, your competition’s getting away.”

Weiss turned her head with irritation, but barely had time to respond as she picked up the pace.

“Quickly, follow him!”

Without another word, she dashed after the faunus boy, Yang close on her heels. Ruby and Blake, however, froze for a moment, still processing the scene.

“Hey, hurry up!” Yang shouted, snapping them from their trance.

The two exchanged a glance and bolted after their teammates. The shouts of officers chasing the boy filled the street, the pursuit gaining momentum… until Weiss, too focused on not losing sight of the fugitive, turned a corner without looking and collided head-on with someone.

The impact was hard, both falling to the ground.

“Ugh!” Weiss groaned irritably, pushing herself up with her hands.

Yang arrived instantly, followed by Ruby and Blake, all skidding to a stop.

“Weiss, are you okay?” Ruby asked worriedly.

Weiss looked up with frustration, searching for the faunus boy… only to see him already scaling the side of a nearby building.

“H-he got away…” she muttered, clicking her tongue.

“Uh, Weiss…” Yang said, pointing right in front of her.

Confused, Weiss looked down at the person she had crashed into. A red-haired girl lay on her back, gazing up at her calmly as if nothing had happened.

“Salutations!,” she greeted with perfectly cheerful tone.

Team RWBY exchanged baffled glances. Ruby was the first to stammer something.

“Uh… hi.”

Yang tilted her head, raising a brow.

“You okay?”

The girl answered with a wide smile, as if enjoying the situation.

“I’m wonderful. Thanks for asking.”

Ruby, Yang, and Weiss traded incredulous looks. Blake, still focused on the redhead, spoke cautiously.

“Can you… get up?”

The girl blinked, as if just now considering the option.

“Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically.

In one fluid, surprising motion, she sprang off the ground, landing perfectly on her feet. The gesture was so unexpected that Team RWBY instinctively stepped back, eyes wide.

The girl straightened fully, her copper hair falling softly over her shoulders, and smiled with a peculiar sparkle in her eyes.

“Hello! My name is Penny. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ruby stepped forward almost instinctively, her sincere smile shining through.

“Hi, Penny. I’m Ruby.”

Weiss frowned, arms crossed, scanning her up and down as if searching for hidden flaws in a machine.

“I’m Weiss.”

Blake gave a slight nod.

“Blake.”

Yang raised a brow, tilting her head playfully.

“You sure you’re okay? Didn’t hit your head or anything…?”

Blake reacted instantly, giving her a discreet elbow. Yang coughed to cover it.

“Oh, right, yeah… I’m Yang.”

“Delighted to meet you!” Penny replied with sparkling enthusiasm.

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose with two fingers and sighed.

“You already said that.”

Penny opened her mouth, paused for a second as if processing, then nodded vigorously.

“Yes… yes, I did.”

Ruby watched her in amusement, but Weiss had enough.

“Anyway, I apologize for the incident.” She turned elegantly, her cape swishing, and motioned for the others to follow.

Ruby, unable to help herself, looked back once more.

“Take care, friend.”

The word slipped out naturally, but its effect was immediate: Penny’s eyes widened, shining as if she had just received the greatest gift of her life. Ruby could barely hold her gaze before Yang nudged her forward to keep up with Weiss.

As they walked away, Yang muttered in disbelief.

“That was… weird. The girl was weird.”

Ruby smacked her arm, indignant.

“Yang! Don’t be rude.”

Yang shrugged, smirking mischievously.

“Come on, you thought it too.”

“Forget about that,” Weiss interrupted, walking briskly. “The truly strange thing is that faunus. We need to find him.”

Yang caught up in a couple strides, smirking sideways.

“So you want to stalk monkey boy?”

“That’s not stalking!” Weiss snapped, cheeks red. “It’s… studying the competition. If he even is a studen—”

“What did you just call me?” a clear voice said right in front of the group.

The four stopped dead. Penny was there, blocking their path, as if she had appeared out of nowhere. Weiss blinked in disbelief, glancing back at where they had left her just seconds ago.

“How…?” she murmured, confused.

Yang raised her hands in peace.

“I-I’m sorry, I really didn’t know you were listening.”

But Penny shook her head softly and stepped forward, gently moving Yang and Weiss aside until she was right in front of Ruby. Her green eyes gleamed with intensity.

“No, not you… You.”

Ruby froze, blushing to her ears.

“I-I didn’t sa—”

“Did you really call me friend?” Penny interrupted, leaning closer and closer, so much that Ruby could count the freckles on her nose. “Am I really your friend?”

Ruby’s heart skipped. She swallowed hard, her body reacting strangely: she sniffed, instinctively trying to catch the girl’s scent… but nothing. Penny didn’t smell like anything. That absence unsettled her, though it also brought a strange sense of calm.

She glanced desperately at her teammates. Weiss, Yang, and Blake all shook their heads in unison, faces saying “don’t do it.”

Ruby turned back to Penny, who looked at her with the eager eyes of a puppy.

“Y-yeah… why not?”

The cry of joy nearly knocked them over. Penny straightened instantly, arms raised, bouncing in place.

“Sen-sational! I finally have a friend here in Vale! How incredible!”

Team RWBY instinctively stepped back, overwhelmed by her bursting energy.

“You’re not from Vale?” Blake asked, breaking the silence.

Penny stopped jumping, though her smile remained.

“No. I’m here to participate in the tournament.”

The revelation hit Weiss like a hammer. She grabbed Penny by the shoulders, shaking her slightly.

“You’re here to fight in the tournament!?”

Penny raised a hand in a crisp salute.

“I'm combat ready!”

Yang snorted, tilting her head.

“Doesn’t look like it…”

Weiss released her, narrowing her eyes.

“Then… you’re a teammate of that annoying monkey tail?”

Ruby frowned at the phrasing, but Penny tilted her head.

“Who?”

“The faunus we saw running,” Weiss replied with disdain.

Blake’s patience was at its limit, tension visible in her shoulders. But before she could explode, Yang stepped in, placing a firm hand on Weiss’s shoulder.

“Okay, princess, calm down.”

“This isn’t the time, Yang! That boy’s a criminal!” Weiss insisted.

“Criminal why? Just because he’s a faunus?” Yang shot back.

“Didn’t you see the officers chasing him? He broke the law.”

Yang clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“You’d be surprised how often the law is wrong.”

Ruby averted her gaze, uncomfortable with the argument.

Penny spoke again, her voice emotionless.

“She’s not wrong.”

Weiss looked at her expectantly.

“So… he’s not on your team?”

Penny seemed to pause, considering Weiss’s words carefully.

“No, no, he’s not on my team.”

Weiss sighed, frustrated.

“And we’ve been wasting time… Ruby.”

Ruby flinched.

“Y-yes?”

“Let’s go. We need to move.” And she strode off decisively.

Penny raised her hand, excited.

“Oh! I can help! I’m very good at searching.”

Yang laughed.

“No worries. It’s just the Ice Queen with her delusions.”

Penny blinked curiously.

“She has delusions?”

Yang smirked ironically.

“If only.”

“Girls! Weiss is leaving,” Ruby warned, watching her teammate disappear into the crowd.

Blake sighed in resignation.

“Let’s go.” She quickened her pace.

Ruby turned once more toward Penny, offering a kind smile.

“It was nice meeting you, Penny. But we have to go.”

“Nice to meet you too, friend Ruby!” Penny beamed, waving exaggeratedly.

Once they were out of sight, she stood still for a moment. Then, with an excited hop, she spun on her heels, bursting with unstoppable energy.

“Amazing!” she exclaimed loudly. “I can’t wait to tell Father I made a faunus friend!”

And so, practically bouncing with every step, she vanished into the crowd, humming happily.

———

Team RWBY stopped in a small plaza, where a crystal-clear fountain sat at the center. Water fell softly, and strangely enough, the place was silent: no one else was around, as if the corner had been forgotten by the city.

Yang dropped onto the fountain’s edge, arms crossed.

“So, are we gonna keep chasing the boy?”

“The faunus? Of course,” Weiss replied immediately, with her usual firm tone.

Standing beside her, Ruby already found Weiss’s insistence annoying, but tried to respond calmly.

“Don’t you think that’s overdoing it?”

“Of course not. We must find him…”

Blake narrowed her eyes, stepping closer.

“Why chase him?”

Weiss turned as if the answer was obvious.

“Because he’s a criminal.”

“And why? Just because he’s a faunus?” Blake’s voice lowered a notch, but the intensity in her words was unmistakable.

The atmosphere tensed instantly. Ruby swallowed hard and lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously brushing the headband hiding her wolf ears.

“No, because the officers were chasing him. And because that… organization made up only of faunus has proven time and again what they’re capable of,” Weiss replied.

Blake clenched her fists.

“The White Fang doesn’t represent all faunus.”

“They’re criminals,” Weiss shot back coldly, her words like a hammer.

Yang wasn’t unfamiliar with this kind of argument. Blake and Weiss had clashed over it before—even she herself had argued with Weiss about it, without much success. She raised her hands, stepping between them.

“Hey, hey, calm down. Now’s not the time to start this.”

But neither Weiss nor Blake seemed to hear her.

“You talk like you know everything, but you understand nothing. You only see what you want to see,” Blake snapped.

“And what should I see? The explosions? The Dust robberies? The bloody deaths?” Weiss’s voice rose.

“They fight because no one else listens to them!” Blake shot back, her throat tight with fury. “People like you—racists—know nothing!”

Each of Weiss’s words felt like a stab to Ruby. The hatred in her voice overwhelmed her. Ruby stepped forward, hands trembling, trying to stop them.

“Girls… please… let’s not do this…”

But her voice was drowned out by Weiss’s shout:

“I am not racist! I’m just stating the obvious!”

Blake couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Yes, you are, Weiss. Do you think no one notices how you act around other faunus at Beacon?”

Ruby felt a stab in her chest. Her hidden ears twitched nervously beneath her headband.

“That’s not true!” Weiss shouted.

Blake turned toward Ruby.

“How many times did you have to apologize to Velvet because of Weiss’s attitude?”

Ruby’s eyes flew wide. The air caught in her throat. She wanted to answer, but couldn’t. She froze, trapped between Blake’s accusing gaze and Weiss’s indignation.

“I didn’t do anything!” Weiss exclaimed, her voice cracking for the first time.

“Then tell me, why are you like this?” Blake demanded, fury barely restrained.

Silence lasted only a heartbeat. Weiss clenched her fists, breathing heavily.

“Because… because it’s what I know. What I’ve seen. My family has been at war with the White Fang for years. Since I was a child, I had to witness them executing workers, making employees disappear, my father raging every time those… beasts attacked.”

“Weiss!” Yang’s voice boomed, fed up. But Weiss ignored her.

“I am a victim! Like so many others, because of the White Fang! And do you know why? Because they’re liars. Thieves. Murderers!”

The word murderers was like a dagger in Ruby’s chest. Her breath hitched. Her hands rose unconsciously to her headband, terrified it would fall at that very moment.

Blake’s eyes burned with suppressed rage.

“Did you ever think this all happens because we’re tired of it?!” her voice shook, every word heavy with pain. “We’re tired of being mistreated, of being treated like animals!”

Blake’s shout thundered through the plaza, and then everything stopped.

The four froze in silence. The fountain’s water suddenly seemed louder than ever.

Yang’s eyes widened, fixed on Blake.

Ruby clapped her hands over her mouth, stunned.

Weiss stood speechless, her expression bewildered, unable to form words.

Blake looked at them, confused by their reactions, until she realized what she had said. “We.” The color drained from her face.

“We…” Weiss barely managed to whisper.

Panic surged in Blake. Her breathing quickened, and she looked at each of them: Ruby, trying to step closer; Yang, still stunned; and finally Weiss, staring at her with disbelief.

“B-Blake…” Ruby managed to utter, trembling.

That simple call was the trigger.

Blake used her natural agility, leaping with feline grace, and sprinted at full speed down the streets.

“Blake!” Ruby shouted, instantly chasing after her.

Yang took two steps after her sister, ready to follow, but froze. Something was wrong. Someone was missing.

She turned and found Weiss, still frozen, her gaze lost in the empty space where Blake had been. Her breathing was ragged, as if processing the revelation was impossible.

Yang clenched her jaw, torn between chasing Ruby and staying with Weiss. Closing her eyes briefly, she sighed tiredly and looked in the direction Ruby and Blake had gone.

“Damn it…” she muttered, before turning back to Weiss, more lost than ever.

———

Ruby ran without stopping, her eyes burning with tears she refused to shed.

“Blake! Blake!” her voice echoed through the streets, growing hollower with each unanswered call.

She had long lost her trail, but she didn’t care. She had to find her.

How was this possible? Blake… was she really with the White Fang? No. No way. But… Blake was a faunus!?

The thought hit her like a hammer. They had shared so much, slept in the same room for months, laughed, trained, fought together. How had she not noticed? How had she overlooked something so obvious?

“If I find her… if I find her, maybe I can…” she muttered between gasps.

But her train of thought ended abruptly when she turned a corner and collided head-on with something.

“Ugh!” She hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of her lungs. She rubbed her head with one hand, but a shiver ran down her spine when the other didn’t find her familiar headband.

Instead, her fingers brushed against fur.

Her breathing stopped. Slowly, she turned her gaze—and there they were: her wolf ears, exposed, standing tall and trembling.

“No… no, no, no…” she muttered, scrambling for her fallen headband lying in front of her. She reached for it quickly.

But before she could grab it, a heavy boot stomped down on it. A metallic crunch filled the air.

Ruby froze, horrified.

“You…” a gruff voice growled.

She looked up to see several men surrounding her. One of them, sitting on the ground, had a barrel tipped over beside him, dark red liquid spilling out. The strong, unmistakable scent of wine filled the air.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” one snarled, stepping toward her.

Ruby raised her hands awkwardly. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—!”

“She’s a faunus!” another shouted, pointing at her with disgust.

“Don’t let her escape, boss, she probably did it on purpose,” spat a third.

The supposed leader stepped forward, eyeing her up and down with a bitter grin.

“You people never learn, do you? Time to teach you your place.”

Ruby swallowed hard, her heart pounding like a drum. For a moment, she considered using her semblance to get away… but that would only bring more trouble, too much, and the shock had left her trembling.

Run.

The voice in her head was clear. And she obeyed.

She bolted, sprinting back the way she had come, the sound of footsteps chasing her echoing through the alley walls.

“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”

———

Ruby didn’t look back. She couldn’t. Her ears twitched in the open air as she ran blindly, her boots striking the cobblestones. Her lungs burned, but she didn’t stop. Behind her, the mob’s shouts pounded in her skull.

“There she goes! Don’t let her get away!”

No, no, no… Ruby thought, heart racing. The streets twisted into a labyrinth, every turn emptier and more threatening. Finally, the path led her to a wide stone bridge, silent, with a narrow canal running beneath.

And then she heard it:

“Hands up.”

Ruby froze. She obeyed without thinking, panic taking hold. As soon as she passed under the bridge’s shadow, strong arms grabbed her suddenly.

“Wha—?!”

She didn’t finish the exclamation: with a single pull, she was yanked upward, her feet leaving the ground in a dizzying motion. Ruby nearly screamed, but the air caught in her throat as she landed hard on top of the bridge.

Blinking, disoriented, she saw him. The blonde boy from before, standing calmly, as if hanging from bridges was routine.

Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but his hand quickly pressed over her lips.

“Shh.” His other hand made the universal sign for silence.

Ruby’s wide eyes blinked, and she nodded rapidly. The boy gently released her, and both crouched at the bridge’s edge. Ruby followed his gaze downward: the men were there, panting, searching furiously.

“She got away!” one shouted.

“Split up! Search everywhere!”

Their footsteps echoed away down another street.

Ruby let out a shaky sigh, hand over her chest to calm her racing heart. Silence returned, and then his voice came, relaxed and almost teasing:

“Nice escape, girl.”

Ruby looked at him in surprise. He was already standing, offering her his hand with a confident smile. For the first time, she got a good look at him: carefree, with a radiant attitude that contrasted sharply with the tension from moments before.

Ruby hesitated, but took his hand and stood.

“Th-thanks, I…”

The boy tilted his head, his smile widening.

“You know,” he said casually, though his eyes lingered on Ruby’s ears, “you look better without your headband.”

Chapter Text

“You know,” he said casually, though his eyes lingered on Ruby’s ears, “you look better without your headband.”

Ruby barely registered the words before her ears twitched and flattened. Pure instinct made her turn around, pull up her hood, and wish she could disappear.

The boy blinked, surprised. “Whoa, you okay?”

“N-no… you shouldn’t see me like this…” Ruby stammered, a knot tightening in her throat.

He let out a light laugh. “Hey, I’m not gonna hurt you, I swear.”

Ruby glanced at him shyly. “Sorry… it’s just… habit…”

Before she could finish, he placed a confident hand on her shoulder and smiled. “Relax, kid. I’m a good guy.”

Ruby let out a nervous giggle. “Sure… that’s why the cops were chasing you earlier, right?”

The Faunus puffed his chest with pride. “And it was fantastic, wasn’t it?”

Ruby had to suppress her laughter, remembering how she used to do that with Yang.

She ended up smiling, lifting her head slightly. For the first time since everything had happened, she felt a little more comfortable.

“Oh, right… I didn’t even thank you for saving me. I’m Ruby Rose.” She extended her hand.

He shook it firmly. “Sun Wukong.” Then he arched a brow playfully. “Out of curiosity, are you a Beacon student?”

Ruby was taken aback. “How did you know?”

“Intuition,” he replied with a confident grin, folding his arms.

“Intuition?” Ruby repeated, suspicious yet curious. “Well… yeah, I’m from Beacon.”

“Great. Could you guide me there?” Sun asked, like it was nothing.

“Guide you? Why?”

“Because…” Sun scratched the back of his neck. “I’m gonna get scolded.”

“Scolded?” Ruby tilted her head.

“Yeah. Let’s just say I wasn’t supposed to be here yet. I got ahead of my team… and, among other things, I need to… report in…”

Ruby nodded slowly. “Oh… you’re from… sure, I can take you—”

But then she froze, her eyes widening. “Oh God! I forgot about Blake!”

“Blake?” Sun raised a brow, smiling brightly. “The Faunus girl that was with you?”

Ruby stared at him, incredulous. “H-how do you know that?”

Sun grinned from ear to ear. “Intuition.”

Ruby sighed, half amused, half annoyed. “You’ve got some serious intuition.”

“Thanks,” Sun said proudly.

At that moment, Ruby’s scroll vibrated. She quickly pulled it out and answered the second she saw her sister’s name.

“Yang?”

“Ruby! Are you okay? Where are you? Did you find Blake?” Yang’s voice sounded alarmed.

Ruby froze. She had completely forgotten about Blake and mentally scolded herself for it.

“Ruby?” Yang’s voice pressed from the scroll.

She hesitated. Swallowing hard, she glanced at Sun, who just shrugged.

“E-everything’s fine, I… think I’m in the east side of the city, and I still haven’t…”

Yang’s shout nearly burst her eardrum.

“The east side of the city?! Ruby, do you know what time it is?!”

Ruby looked down and her heart sank. The sky was painted orange; night was approaching fast.

“The last transport is about to leave! Run!” Yang demanded.

“I-I’ll… I’ll make it, don’t worry,” Ruby replied hastily, then hung up.

Sun whistled, unfazed. “Looks like we’ll have to run.”

Ruby didn’t answer. She placed a hand on her chest, muttering under her breath:

“What do I do about Blake? I didn’t find her… she didn’t come back… what do I do?”

The Faunus watched her for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

“Hey, how about this?”

Ruby looked up, puzzled.

“You go back to your team, and I’ll look for the girl.”

“What?! No, I can’t let you do that…” Ruby’s eyes widened in shock.

Sun smiled carelessly and hopped onto the edge of the bridge.

“Don’t worry. Actually, it helps me… I’ll delay my scolding a bit.”

“But… you don’t have to—”

He raised a hand, cutting her off.

“Hey, from one Faunus to another: we help each other out, right?”

Ruby bit her lip but eventually nodded.

“Are you sure? This isn’t a great place for us, and you’re already on their radar.”

“Then I’m perfect for the job. Besides, this way I get to know the place and make friends like you.”

Ruby stared at him, dumbfounded by those last words. “Y-you consider me a friend?”

“Of course, wolfie.”

Ruby blushed. Only a few people had ever called her that in a friendly way, not as an insult.

“See you, Ruby.” Sun winked at her cheekily.

And without another word, Sun jumped. Ruby ran to the edge and watched him move with ease: leaping between posts, railings, and rooftops, vanishing like an agile shadow in the sunset.

Ruby followed him with her eyes, amazed by his movements. Then she shook her head firmly.

“Focus, Ruby…”

She dashed toward the transport, her red cloak billowing behind her.

She had met another Faunus… and even talked with him! He seemed like a good person. He even offered to look for Blake.

Still, she couldn’t help it: he was the first Faunus boy she had ever spoken to.

Ruby quickened her pace, and with a crimson flash, she activated her semblance, vanishing into the streets and lights toward the transports.

———

The return was an uncomfortable trip, filled with silence worthy of a funeral. Ruby couldn’t stop feeling the absence of her headband, forced to keep her hood up so Weiss wouldn’t see. Every step echoed with unease that wouldn’t fade, and the worst part was Weiss herself: frowning, lips pressed tight, walking the entire way without saying a single word. Not on the streets, not on the transport, not even once they returned to Beacon. The moment they crossed the gates, Weiss veered off without looking back and disappeared toward her room.

That left Ruby and Yang alone. The emptiness felt fitting, as if fate itself had given them the space to talk about what had happened. Still, neither of them headed to their dorm right away; their steps carried them instinctively upward, to the rooftop where, not long ago, Velvet had joined them. The place felt the same as then: calm, high, with the wind blowing freely, a corner apart from the bustle of the academy. A place where Ruby finally lowered her hood.

Ruby recounted what had happened after they split up, nerves still raw in her voice. Yang listened silently; though she had plenty to say about the monkey boy, she kept it to herself. Instead, she talked about Weiss, describing how the girl had stayed quiet and distant, as if something inside her had shut down.

Ruby, exhausted, leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder, while Yang stayed still, letting the light weight rest on her. Both of them looked up at the sky, where the first stars began to shine.

Ruby sighed wearily, murmuring:
“What do we do, Yang?”

Yang wrapped her arms around her, trying to give all the support she could.
“We’ll figure it out, Rubes… I promise.”

Ruby clung to her sister too, her words shaky but firm.
“Blake isn’t bad… I know it.”

Yang nodded softly.
“I know it too…”

After a moment of silence, she added with cautious care:
“We should call Dad about the headband.”

Ruby’s ears immediately lowered, uncomfortable with the idea. It had been so long since she felt them so exposed, so free.
“Y-yeah…” she answered hesitantly.

Yang smiled tenderly, and almost without thinking, raised her hand to stroke Ruby’s head, her fingers sliding gently through her hair until brushing her ears. Ruby shivered, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, and let out a tiny murmur. Her ears reacted instantly, twitching nervously, until they settled under the soothing touch.

Yang noticed and softened the gesture even more, caressing with care.
“I’ll call him first thing in the morning,” she assured softly.

Ruby closed her eyes, surrendering to the contact. At first her ears twitched restlessly, as if unsure how to accept the attention, but slowly they relaxed, occasionally flicking in an involuntary reflex of how much she enjoyed it. She snuggled closer, hiding her face against her sister’s lap with a quiet murmur of satisfaction, hugging Yang’s arm as if never wanting to let go.

“I missed doing this…” Yang murmured with a deep smile.

———

“Then you guys search the west side and we’ll take the city center?” Jaune’s voice came through Yang’s scroll.

“That’s right, vomit boy. Call me if anything comes up,” Yang answered, sounding a little tired.

“N-no problem. I owe a lot to you and Ruby.” There was a pause before he added, “Oh, and Pyrrha will be waiting for Ruby, like you asked.”

“Thanks, Jaune.” With those last words, Yang hung up and put away the scroll. She turned her gaze toward Weiss, who was walking in silence, her eyes lost in the streets.

“Why are we even doing this?” Weiss asked seriously.

“We’re looking for my partner… and your teammate, Weiss,” Yang shot back, a twitch of frustration in her eye.

It was another sunny morning in Vale, and for the second day in a row, Team RWBY was caught up in this situation. Ruby was stuck in extra classes she couldn’t skip because of her “scholarship” to attend Beacon two years early, so she would join later if they hadn’t found Blake yet. Concerned, Ruby had asked Jaune for help, and as compensation Team JNPR had joined the search as well… not that Weiss had helped much by explaining that Blake was not only apparently a Faunus but also part of the White Fang. Fortunately, all of JNPR decided to listen to Blake first when they found her—much to Weiss’s displeasure.

“We’re looking for a criminal, Yang,” Weiss said, spitting out the word with venom.

Yang sighed. At that moment she swore it would be more useful to go on her own, without Weiss’s comments—comments that only increased her urge to knock some sense into her. But the last thing she needed was Weiss reporting Blake in a fit and spiraling the situation out of control. The surprising part was that Weiss hadn’t already done it.

“And why is she a criminal?” Yang shot back, turning to face her.

“Am I the only one who heard her yesterday?” Weiss exclaimed indignantly. “She said herself she was part of a terrorist group!”

“I heard her, Weiss. But still, I doubt she’s a bad person, and I’d rather listen before acting.”

“Bad? That’s all you think!?” Weiss cut her off, raising her voice. “She’s not only a Faunus, she’s part of the White Fang! I shared a room with a criminal! Do you realize what could’ve happened to us all this time?”

Yang stood in front of her, using her height as intimidation, her red eyes glowing with anger.
“Does it matter that she’s a Faunus? Are you so racist that it’s the only thing you think about?”

“I am not racist!”

“You are, Weiss, whether you admit it or not!” Yang roared, sick of her attitude.

“Then why do you even defend her?” Weiss retorted, hurt and furious. “She lied to us, hid who she was!”

“And why do you think she did, princess?” Yang didn’t give her time to answer, raising her voice even more. “What did you expect? For her to tell you straight to your face she was a Faunus, when her team had not only someone who despises her species, but also the heiress of one of the companies that’s oppressed Faunus the most in all of Remnant?”

“That’s not—”

“Yes, it is, Weiss! Has anything bad ever happened to us just by being in the same room with her?!”

Weiss, anger burning in her chest, opened her mouth to argue… but no words came out. She just stood there, trembling with frustration, unable to find a counterargument to what Yang had just said.

Yang, breathing hard, turned her gaze away. She couldn’t keep looking at the heiress’s face.
“If you don’t want to help, then leave… it’s obvious you don’t care,” she said coldly, then corrected herself with a voice heavy with pain. “But I have to find our… my friend.”

Without waiting for a response, Yang turned and walked away firmly, leaving her behind.

Weiss stayed rooted in place, watching Yang’s figure fade into the crowd. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t know what to feel.

———

Ruby was seated at a desk in Glynda’s office, the table in front of her filled with sheets of notes and diagrams that Glynda had carefully drawn on the board. Goodwitch explained everything with flawless clarity, pointing out each detail… but the words bounced around in Ruby’s mind without leaving a trace.

Every number, every formula, every example faded into a distant echo. The only thing she could see was Blake’s face as she ran away. The only thing she could feel was the urgency to get up and go after her.

When Glynda turned to look at her student, she noticed immediately. Ruby’s eyes were vacant, her ears drooping and twitching restlessly. She was an open book.

“Miss Rose.” Glynda’s firm voice snapped her out of her trance.

Ruby blinked, startled. “W-what? What was the question?”

Glynda sighed, crossing her arms in that signature posture of hers. “You’ve been completely distracted today. Has something happened?”

Ruby sat up nervously, shaking her head. “N-no… I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

Glynda’s eyes studied her calmly, as if trying to pierce through the excuse. “Are you sure?”

“Y-yeah… of course.” Ruby smiled nervously, though her ears betrayed her, pressing flat against her head.

Glynda raised a brow with contained sternness. “Then why do your ears say otherwise?”

Ruby felt the heat rising to her face. She lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together, muttering curses under her breath for not having her headband. Of course… in these extra classes, Glynda always asked her to remove it. “So you can learn to feel comfortable with what you are,” she said. But now… now Ruby felt exposed.

“We can’t make progress if you continue like this,” Glynda finally declared with a quiet exhale. “We’ll stop for today.”

Ruby jumped at the unexpected reprieve, her ears perking up, but the spark quickly died. They lowered again, guilt weighing her down for not having paid attention even for a second.

Glynda approached slowly, placing a hand on the desk and leaning just enough for Ruby to look at her.
“Miss Rose… if you’re having problems, you know you can ask the faculty for help.”

Ruby looked up briefly.
“I know… but it’s nothing serious.”

Goodwitch studied her for a few seconds more before nodding. “Very well. Then I suggest you get some rest.”

Ruby could only murmur timidly:
“Thank you… professor.”

———

Once she left Glynda and pulled her hood back up, Ruby exited the classroom with dragging steps. She closed the door gently behind her, letting out a sigh she’d been holding in her chest.

But then she froze.

At the end of the hall, near a window, stood someone. A girl, at first glance ordinary, with reddish hair tucked under a black cap and wearing simple civilian clothes. The odd part was in the details: a dark mask covering half her face, and green eyes glowing with intensity as she checked her scroll.

Ruby stared at her longer than she intended, long enough for the stranger to lift her gaze and meet Ruby’s eyes. There was a flash of surprise there… and then the girl lifted her free hand in greeting.

“Ruby.”

The addressed girl jumped, shoulders hunching under her hood. “W-what? Y-you know me?”

The girl paused, as if Ruby’s reaction surprised her more than expected. Then she let out a small laugh.
“Oh… right. With all this…” She touched her mask with a finger and tapped the cap. “It’s normal you don’t recognize me.”

Ruby blinked in confusion. Something in that voice—something too familiar—made her skin prickle before her brain caught up.

The girl pulled down her mask, revealing a warm smile. Then she removed the cap, letting fiery red hair fall freely over her shoulders.

“You got out earlier than Yang told me,” Pyrrha said simply.

Ruby’s eyes widened, a gasp escaping her lips.
“Pyrrha!”

The redhead smiled for real this time, radiating her usual sweetness.
“Hello, Ruby.”

Still a bit nervous, Ruby took a step closer.
“W-why were you here? And… why dressed like that?”

Pyrrha smiled calmly, as if nothing about the question was odd.
“Because I was waiting for you. Yang asked me to, she wanted me to go with you to look for Blake.”

Ruby’s eyes widened in embarrassment at the thought of her sister sending someone to babysit her.
“Yang… told you that?”

“That’s right,” Pyrrha confirmed gently.

Ruby made a mental note to talk to Yang later, especially now that without her headband she had to constantly make sure her hood didn’t slip. This day is going to be tough, she thought.

Noticing her tension, Pyrrha raised her hands with a calm smile.
“Oh, and the outfit? Just to go unnoticed.” She shrugged.

Ruby tilted her head, confused.
“Go… unnoticed?”

“Exactly.” Pyrrha shook her head lightly. “Let’s just say I have a little fame as the ‘Invincible Girl.’ Once, my team and I went to Vale and… well, we ended up running because someone recognized me. Within minutes there was a crowd.”

Ruby simply nodded, not all that surprised. Of course Pyrrha Nikos was famous… and that was without Ruby even having social media to know half of it.

“I-I see… although…”

“An awful outfit at the very least, but it does the job.”

The dry, assured comment came from behind. Ruby jumped at the unfamiliar voice.

“Come on, Coco! You can’t say that as a way to start a conversation,” answered another voice, sweeter and apologetic.

Ruby instantly recognized that last voice and turned quickly to find Velvet, walking nervously. At her side, the one who’d spoken first stood confidently: Coco Adel, Velvet’s team leader.

Coco was the complete opposite of Velvet’s shyness. Tall, with an elegant and assured presence, her dark brown hair perfectly straight, topped with a stylish tilted beret. Her large sunglasses covered her eyes, though the smirk on her lips made it clear she was serious. She wore a trendy, striking outfit: a fitted top under a short leather jacket, slim pants, and tall boots. Her attitude radiated confidence… and a little cheek.

Ruby blinked, a bit intimidated by her presence, while the smell of coffee drifted around her.

Pyrrha’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Coco Adel?!”

Ruby turned to her at once.
“You know her?”

“She’s the most famous student here at Beacon.”

Coco chuckled softly and confidently, adjusting her beret.
“Look at that, Bunbun… seems my fame reached even the ‘Invincible Girl’ herself.”

“Coco!” Velvet scolded, blushing deeply.

“What? I’m just talking.” Coco arched a playful brow. “After all, you wanted me to meet your pup—”

She didn’t finish. Velvet elbowed her quickly, forcing her to correct herself.
“I mean… to meet your Ruby, right?”

“M-meet me?” Ruby pointed awkwardly at herself. “Me?”

Velvet stepped forward with a nervous but kind smile.
“We came to see Professor Goodwitch, and since you were in extra lessons, I thought you could meet my leader, like I promised.”

“Oh… yeah… I remember…” Ruby looked down for a second, then turned to Coco, extending her hand timidly. “I’m Ruby Rose.”

Coco smirked, shaking her hand firmly.
“Coco Adel, kid.”

“I-I’m not a kid!” Ruby pouted.

Coco burst out laughing.
“Tough and cute, huh? I like it.”

Another elbow from Velvet made her lips twist slightly.
“Aw, Vel… don’t get jealous if I compliment others,” Coco teased softly, before turning to Pyrrha with a playful air. “And of course, it’s a pleasure to meet the Invincible Girl in person.”

Pyrrha, keeping her composure, gave a small polite bow.
“Nice to meet you, Coco Adel. I’m Pyrrha Nikos.”

Coco eyed her with amusement, waving off the formality.
“Oh, come on, Pyrrha. No need for that with me, alright? Relax, we’re not in a tournament here.”

While they chatted, Velvet stepped closer to Ruby.
“Ruby… do you know anything about Blake?”

The mention instantly tensed the wolf girl. Her ears twitched beneath her hood, something Velvet caught at once.

“Did something happen to her?” Velvet asked, worried.

“N-no…” Ruby averted her gaze. “She’s… in bed. Yeah, with… a fever.”

Velvet stared at her, sighing.
“Besides being a terrible liar… Blake hasn’t answered my messages for two days.”

“M-messages? You… text with Blake?” Ruby asked, surprised.

Velvet smiled with a hint of tenderness.
“Yes. I got to know her better when you were sick… and we became friends.”

“Oh…” Ruby blinked, then slowly smiled. “That’s… great. Not many people want to be friends with—”

She cut herself off mid-sentence, remembering. Both Blake and Velvet were Faunus.

“So… you know about Blake?”

“Sorry, but I can’t tell you…” Ruby admitted, avoiding her gaze. Velvet, however, understood.

“It’s okay. I’ll look for her myself. Will you let her know too?” Velvet said. Ruby just hoped she could find Blake before Velvet did.

“Anyway,” Coco called the Faunus girls’ attention, “what’s the plan then? Oh, right, Ruby… are you free this afternoon?”

Ruby was about to say yes, but her gaze fell to the ground and she apologized in a small voice.
“No, sorry… I already have plans.”

“Plans?” Coco repeated mischievously, casting a quick look at Pyrrha before back at Ruby. “Is it a date?”

Instantly, both of them blushed furiously.

“No!” they shouted in unison, awkwardly.

Ruby waved her hands nervously.
“Just… just going out. Our friends are waiting for us.”

Coco grinned with a playful smirk.
“Too bad… well, I’ll save it for another time. We’ll meet again, Ruby. I promise you’ll go out with me and my team, just like my Bun promised.”

“Coco!” Velvet exclaimed, her face red.

Coco simply laughed and walked away confidently, raising her hand in farewell. Velvet, meanwhile, turned back to Ruby with a sweet smile.
“See you, Ruby.”

Ruby raised her hand timidly, watching them leave. That left her and Pyrrha a little uncomfortable after that last comment, but soon enough, they too departed.

——

Sun Wukong was a (im)patient man… and an optimist. But he was starting to wonder if both qualities could run out. Since separating from Ruby the night before and, by sheer luck, finding her teammate, nearly twenty-four hours had passed. Twenty-four hours in which Blake had done everything possible to avoid talking to him.

He couldn’t imagine how someone spent time with her. How did that wolf girl deal with her daily? Sure, he was a stranger, but still—couldn’t she see he came in peace? That he was only trying to help her return to her team? Every attempt to start a conversation ended in silence or with Blake walking away, forcing him to follow her again and again.

Finally, maybe because of his persistence—or because she decided to give him a chance—they ended up on the rooftop of a small café. Luckily for Sun, it was a place where Faunus were welcome. There, after much silence, Blake finally chose to talk about her past.

And what a past it was.

She had belonged to the White Fang practically since birth. She believed in its ideals… until the movement lost its way. In the last five years, what had once been a resistance front had become a terrorist group. And she couldn’t follow it anymore.

“So…” Sun summarized, leaning on the table with his elbows and looking at her straight. “You’re a former White Fang member. You left once you saw it wasn’t the path you wanted. And now… technically, you’re a criminal hiding as a student, training to be a Huntress.”

Blake didn’t interrupt. She simply finished the last sip of her coffee and set the cup down.

“That’s right. An ex-terrorist hiding behind a bow… or so I thought.” She threw him an accusing look.

Sun raised his hands defensively.
“Hey, just saying—it’s not the best disguise in the world.”

She glared at him, sighing as if just talking drained her.

“So have you told your team all this?” Sun asked more seriously.

“Of course not.”

“Not even the wolf girl?” he added, taking a sip from his own cup.

Blake turned toward him, confused, blinking.
“Wolf… girl?”

Sun calmly lowered his cup.
“Yeah, you know… Ruby. The one in red and black, your leader.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“She… is human,” Blake said, her eyes narrowing in annoyance at his words.

Sun froze. She didn’t know. He swallowed hard.
“Really? …Uh… you know what, forget I said anything.”

The nervousness in his voice was far too genuine. Blake stared at him, unsettled. Was it possible…? Ruby…?

No, she had more important things to do. She stood abruptly.
“Thanks for worrying about me, Sun. But I have to figure some things out.”

“The White Fang?” he asked quickly.

Blake froze in place. Maybe he wasn’t as clueless as he looked.

Sun stood up too, wearing a confident grin.
“If that’s the case, I’ll help. I promised your leader I’d bring you back. And if we settle this quickly, you can return, right?”

Blake stared at him silently. Going back was the last thing on her mind. She didn’t even understand why they were looking for her so desperately… honestly, she expected Weiss to have plastered her face on the news by now. But… an extra hand to uncover the truth… maybe wasn’t such a bad idea.

———

Ruby and Pyrrha arrived in Vale with a clear goal. Ruby kept her eyes forward, determined, every step driven by the thought of finding Blake. She had spoken with Yang earlier: unfortunately, they had no sign of Blake all morning. Ruby had also scolded her for sending Pyrrha to “babysit,” but Yang played innocent—though it was obvious that had been her reason.

“Jaune’s downtown,” Pyrrha said, checking her scroll. “We could meet up with them.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ruby answered firmly. But right then her stomach growled loudly, betraying the fact that she hadn’t eaten a thing all day because of her anxiety.

A blush spread across her cheeks as she shrank a little. Pyrrha let out a warm, light laugh.
“How about we eat first?”

Ruby opened her mouth to protest but ended up nodding, still embarrassed.
“I-I guess… yeah.”

After walking a bit under Pyrrha’s guidance, they stopped in front of an elegant-looking restaurant.

“Last time I came to Vale I wanted to try this place, but… well, you remember what happened with the mob. I think today I can finally go in.”

Ruby tried to smile, forcing enthusiasm.
“If you say so, it must be good.”

But as soon as she looked up at the entrance, her excitement died instantly. Right beside the door, perfectly visible, a sign showed the silhouette of a Faunus crossed out in red: No Faunus allowed.

Ruby glared at it. Her hood felt heavier than ever, as if it weren’t enough to hide her anymore. Her throat dried, and her ears pressed tightly against her head beneath the fabric.

“This is it,” Pyrrha said, smiling, unaware of the sign. She took a few steps forward, then turned back. “Come on, Ruby. And don’t worry—order whatever you like. My treat.”

Ruby stayed frozen in place, struggling to answer. Her instinct was to say no, that she could pay for herself, anything to dodge the moment. But the only thing she could feel was the knot in her stomach, a mix of hunger and fear, at the thought of entering a place that wouldn’t accept her if they found out what she was.

She followed Pyrrha into the small reception. The smell of freshly cooked food barely distracted her from the weight in her chest. Pyrrha, her kind smile hidden behind her mask, leaned toward the receptionist.

“A table for two, please.”

“Of course,” the woman answered mechanically. “And who’s with you?”

“The girl in the red hood,” Pyrrha said, pointing to Ruby.

The woman nodded, but when her eyes landed on Ruby, the air changed. Ruby felt it instantly: the rigid look, the slight curl of the lips, the poorly disguised discomfort. The receptionist wasn’t seeing Ruby, she was seeing what Ruby was trying to hide.

“That’s fine,” the woman finally said. “But before you come in, both of you need to remove your hats and hood.”

Ruby had known this would happen. She knew it, had lived it many times before… and still, it hurt.

“Why?” Pyrrha asked, frowning.

“For security reasons,” the receptionist replied flatly.

“I don’t think this has anything to do with security,” Pyrrha shot back, her voice hardening.

“It’s the rules. If you don’t comply, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

The words hit Ruby like a punch to the chest. She was used to it, but in front of Pyrrha… she didn’t want her to see, didn’t want her to hear this argument. She forced a shaky smile.

“It’s fine, Pyrrha…” she interrupted softly. “You eat, I forgot something and… I’ll be back.”

She didn’t give her time to respond. Ruby spun around and left the restaurant almost running, pulling her hood tighter over her head, swallowing the lump burning her throat.

“Ruby!” Pyrrha shouted, reaching for her—but it was too late.

She didn’t hesitate. Turning on her heels, she bolted after her, ignoring the receptionist’s protest. The fresh Vale air hit her face, and she scanned the street desperately.

Ruby was gone. No shadow, no figure in red. It was as if she had vanished.

Pyrrha paled for a moment… until she saw something on the ground. A rose petal, then another, and another, scattered along the pavement like a trail. Pyrrha knew instantly what it meant: Ruby had used her Semblance.

“Ruby…” she whispered, both relieved and worried.

Without wasting time, she began following the improvised trail. Her boots clattered against stone as the wind toyed with the petals, forcing her to focus to keep from losing them. Every turn, every corner, made her quicken her pace, afraid the trail would suddenly end.

The city’s bustle contrasted with her inner tension: people laughing, merchants shouting deals, carriages moving along. And amid it all, Pyrrha ran.

The petals seemed to lead her to a side alley, more secluded, where the crowd thinned out. Pyrrha swallowed hard, quickening her steps.

She ran until she emerged from the alley, her chest burning from the speed and anxiety. Raising her eyes, she froze: before her stood a great stone statue, imposing and silent. At its base, sitting with her knees hugged to her chest, was Ruby.

Pyrrha let out a deep sigh, both relieved and weary. She walked slowly toward her, afraid any sudden move might make Ruby run again.

“Ruby…” she called softly.

The girl in the red cloak lifted her head, startled. Her eyes still showed nerves, but recognition soon turned them into surprise.
“Pyrrha? Why are you…?”

“Did you really think I’d stay after you ran off like that?” Pyrrha asked, her voice firm yet warm.

Ruby lowered her gaze, curling even more beneath the statue’s shadow.
“Yeah… sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Pyrrha sat beside her with a gentle smile. “That restaurant was too good to be true anyway.”

The comment drew a small, nervous laugh from Ruby, as if the sound surprised her. She looked away, fidgeting with the edge of her cloak.

“You okay?” Pyrrha asked simply.

Ruby wanted to say yes, but the words wouldn’t come. She wasn’t okay. She had run away so… pathetically. She just hoped Pyrrha didn’t think—

“Sorry… dumb question. It’s just… this is hard.”

Pyrrha studied her for a moment before letting seriousness return to her face.
“Ruby…” she said softly.

Ruby’s internal alarms blared immediately. Her body tensed, her fingers clenched her cloak. That way of starting a sentence… she knew it.

Pyrrha continued, choosing each word carefully:
“I know this might be delicate. And if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. I just want you to know that I… will always see you as Ruby Rose. An important friend to me.”

Ruby felt a lump in her throat. She had heard those words before, many times, in many voices. Always the same, with different faces, repeating like a cruel echo.

“Maybe… I know why you ran… and maybe I saw something back when we were in Forever Fall… Ruby, you…”

Pyrrha hesitated for a moment, less confident than before, but finally let out the question that had been hanging in the air since she saw Ruby that day without her headband:
“You’re a Faunus… aren’t you?”

Ruby felt all the strength drain from her body, as if her soul had left in an instant. Pyrrha’s words echoed in her head, bouncing like a cruel refrain. She’d been found out.

She couldn’t look at her. Her hands trembled in her lap, fingers clutching her cloak as if that were the only thing keeping her from breaking. What could she say? To admit it… would open the door to the usual: mockery, rejection, disdain. To deny it… would mean lying to a friend, someone who had been nothing but kind to her. But Pyrrha already knew, somehow. She knew.

And just as Ruby tried to form a word, a cheerful voice—oddly out of place—broke the tense air:

“Exactly! Ruby’s a wolf Faunus. Her trait would be her ears.”

Pyrrha, startled, turned at once toward the source of the voice.

Sitting right beside them, as if she had always been there, was Penny. Smiling with her usual carefree nature, she swung her legs in the air as if she didn’t understand the gravity of the moment.

“W-who…?” Pyrrha murmured, her breath faltering.

The redhead tilted her head, her smile unwavering.
“Hello, friend Ruby! And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Pyrrha Nikos.”

Pyrrha was too shocked to respond right away. Inside, she wrestled between confusion at the sudden appearance and trying to process what she had just heard.

“Did I say something wrong?” Penny asked, tilting her head in confusion as the two girls stared at her.

Chapter Text

Weiss had been wandering aimlessly ever since she separated from Yang. The argument still burned in her chest; all of it was unbelievable, unbearable… and the worst part was the feeling that she was the only one with any common sense.

Why was no one else seeing Blake for what she really was? Ruby hadn’t spoken to her in a day, Yang had chosen to side against her… and now, the image of that faunus child thrown out of the shop haunted her like a ghost.

How could everyone be so blind?

———

“Get out of here, trash!” a man’s voice bellowed from the entrance of a store.

Weiss lifted her gaze and saw a grown man shoving a child roughly into the street. The little boy stumbled, crashing onto the pavement. Indignant, Weiss rushed over, placing herself between them and extending her hand to help him up.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Her voice was as cold as it was sharp.

The man shot her a hard glare.
“Stay out of it, miss. I’m just kicking out a filthy faunus.”

The word struck her. She turned toward the boy and, in that instant, noticed the small claws on his hands. He looked at her with frightened eyes before bolting off without a word.

“Damn freak!” the man spat before slamming the door of his store, leaving Weiss alone in the middle of the street.

Weiss remained frozen, the image of the child etched in her mind. That boy had been terrified…

———

She eventually found herself sitting on a bench in the middle of the city. The streets of Vale were as lively as always, yet to her everything felt dim, gray. She dropped onto the seat with a sigh, resting her elbows on her knees and massaging the bridge of her nose.

“Oh, Weiss.” Jaune’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see him approaching with Ren and Nora.

Weiss lifted her chin with her usual elegance, though inside she had no strength left to deal with them.
“You… I suppose you’re still searching.”

“Yeah,” Jaune replied, tired but still optimistic. “And we ran into you along the way. How are you? Any luck with Blake? Where’s Yang?”

The questions came in a rush. Weiss drew in a breath and answered with the coldest calm she could muster:
“…I separated from Yang. We still haven’t found Blake.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Jaune said, convinced.

Weiss almost let out a bitter laugh. Jaune Arc, as if he could possibly…

“Of course we will!” Nora cut in, her unstoppable energy bubbling over. “Once we find her, we’ll all sit down, she’ll explain what’s going on and everything will go back to normal!”

Weiss raised an eyebrow, incredulous.
“Do you really believe that?”

“Of course!” Nora puffed out her chest. “Especially since Blake still owes me a game of tag. I haven’t beaten her yet!”

Against all odds, Weiss let out a tiny laugh. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but enough to surprise her.

Ren noticed, though he didn’t comment. Instead, he spoke calmly:
“If you want to talk about what happened with Blake…”

“I believe I’ve made myself clear already,” Weiss cut him off quickly.

“That was before,” Ren replied evenly. “I just want to know if your view of her has changed.”

Weiss pressed her lips together, thinking of the faunus boy she had seen running away.
“I’m not discussing this for a third time. I’ll just end up being the villain again…”

“If it’s already the third time,” Ren continued with composure, “don’t you think there might be a reason for that?”

She shot to her feet, her skirt swishing.
“None of you understand…”

“Are you worried?” Ren asked bluntly.

Weiss stared at him in disbelief. That word—that possibility—disarmed her more than any reproach.

“I understand your distrust, even your anger about what Blake hid,” he went on firmly. “But we’ve spent enough time together to see who she is. To us, she’s a friend. Just like everyone else is. And that includes you.”

Weiss felt a strike to her chest.
“How… how can you believe that?”

“The fact that you could have reported her and didn’t makes me believe it.”

Silence fell over them. Weiss lowered her gaze, her voice trembling:
“Am I really… racist?”

“No, of course not,” Jaune jumped in quickly—though his tone sounded forced.

It was obvious he thought otherwise. Jaune wouldn’t give her a… good answer if he even had one.

“Yes,” Nora said without filter.

That… hurt. She hadn’t even hesitated; she had just said it outright, as if it were obvious. Weiss froze. She turned to Ren, seeking the definitive answer.

“I’m not sure,” he said calmly.

Those words weighed heavier than either yes or no.

“What… do you mean?” she asked, barely audible.

“It’s true you have a problem with faunus,” Ren admitted. “But you’re not like Cardin. I don’t know if it’s because of something that happened to you… or something that was instilled in you.”

Instilled. That word echoed in her mind, carrying the voice of her father.

“What I do know,” Ren added, “is that you’re here, not ignoring it. And that you care about Blake. I can see that.”

Nora crossed her arms.
“Look, girl, if you’ve got problems with being… racist, well, it’s still a problem. But problems can be solved.”

Weiss blinked. Solved? Could it really be that simple?

Jaune spoke up:
“Maybe… talking to Blake directly could clear things up.”

Talking… it sounded so simple. And the truth was, Blake had never done anything wrong. Maybe… she had always been the one at fault. The image of the faunus boy returned to her mind. He didn’t deserve that treatment. And neither did Blake.

Weiss let out a long sigh and, against all odds, looked at Jaune.
“For the first time… I’ll take your advice, Jaune.”

———

It felt like all her senses abandoned her after Penny’s words.

That’s right… Ruby is a wolf faunus.

A shiver like lightning shot through her mind. Her whole world collapsed like a crumbling castle.

Her first instinct was to run, to flee, to vanish… but her legs wouldn’t move. Air burned her lungs, each breath cold and painful. Her vision blurred; shapes dissolved, colors melted into indistinct stains.

She could see Penny’s mouth moving—a smile, words full of excitement—but she heard nothing. The world was just a dull ringing.

Suddenly, she wasn’t standing anymore. Her knees hit the ground before she even noticed, hands trembling against the pavement, a cold sweat running down her forehead. Her mind echoed in suffocating repetition:

This can’t be… this can’t be… this can’t be…

“Ruby! What’s wrong?” Pyrrha’s voice cracked in panic as she saw Ruby collapse to her knees.

But Penny answered instead, calm and precise:
“She’s having a panic attack.”

“A-a panic attack?” Pyrrha repeated, bewildered and growing more alarmed.

Penny knelt beside Ruby, steady as ever.
“Don’t worry. I have information for cases like this. It’s my first time applying it… but trust me.”

Pyrrha hesitated, but seeing Ruby’s condition, she could only nod.

With careful movements, Penny took Ruby’s hands.
“Ruby, you’re safe. Breathe with me… one… two…”

Ruby barely heard her, trapped in the fog of fear. But little by little, that voice broke through the storm. Her breathing, though shaky, began to steady. The blurry face before her sharpened into Penny.

The world stopped spinning. Ruby was coming back.

She blinked several times, regaining some clarity. Her breathing no longer sounded like broken gasps.

“I’ve managed to calm the panic attack,” Penny announced with clinical calm. “It is recommended that she sit and rest.”

Ruby mumbled in confusion:
“W-what happened…?”

“You had a panic attack… but you’re okay now,” Pyrrha said, gently helping her sit up.

“Y-yeah… I think so… Penny, I…”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, friend Ruby,” Penny smiled.

“Do you need anything?” Pyrrha asked.

“N-no… I’m fine,” Ruby whispered, instinctively reaching for her hood to adjust it. It was a reflex. But she didn’t find it.

A fresh breeze brushed across her head, making her ears stand on end. Ruby’s eyes widened in shock. Her hood had fallen. Her wolf ears were exposed.

“So… I did see correctly,” Pyrrha murmured.

Ruby’s eyes filled with tears, her ears drooping in defeat.
“P-Pyrrha… I-I…”

“Alert,” Penny cut in. “Heart rate accelerating. Possible second attack. Taking measures.”

Before Ruby could react, Penny hugged her firmly.
“I read that hugs help during moments of anxiety.”

Ruby tensed, startled. The embrace was… stiff, not soft, yet a growing warmth rose from the contact—so much like Yang’s protective embrace—that it melted her rigidity. She closed her eyes, letting herself sink into it.

Pyrrha watched silently, hesitant. Until an unexpected sound broke the tension:

Grrrrrr…

Ruby’s stomach growled.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, as if things couldn’t get any worse. Penny tilted her head, analyzing the new variable, while Pyrrha hid a smile behind her hand.

“S-sorry…” Ruby murmured.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. The solution is simple: you should eat somewhere nearby,” Penny replied.

Ruby lowered her gaze, her ears twitching nervously.
“N-no… I don’t… think I can go inside…”

“Why?” Penny asked, genuinely innocent.

Ruby didn’t answer. Pyrrha spoke for her:
“It’s because Ruby… she’s… They wouldn’t let her in.”

“Oh… that’s unfortunate. But… I have an idea!” Penny exclaimed.

And without waiting, she ran off.

“Penny!” Ruby reached out toward her, uselessly. The redhead vanished into the crowd.

Silence weighed again. Ruby lowered her head, clutching the fabric of her cape. Pyrrha’s gaze never left her.

When Ruby dared to glance at her for a moment, she felt trapped in that understanding gaze and immediately looked away.

“Ruby… I—” Pyrrha began.

“I’m sorry,” Ruby whispered.

Pyrrha blinked. “What?”

Ruby swallowed hard and repeated, tears brimming.
“I’m sorry!”

“Why…?”

Ruby’s trembling voice dropped as she tried to string together words she had never spoken aloud:
“I… it’s just… I didn’t want you to see me… like this… I didn’t want you to think… that I was different, that… that you couldn’t… trust me, or… or that you wouldn’t…”

The phrases tangled in her throat. Each attempt at explanation made her feel smaller. Ruby opened her mouth again, but the knot in her chest choked her; she couldn’t continue.

Instead of pressing her, Pyrrha simply held Ruby’s hands with gentle firmness.
“Ruby,” she said with disarming calm. “Nothing has changed. To me, you’re still you. I don’t care if you’re faunus or human. You’re my friend… and you always have been.”

The tears Ruby had held back finally broke free. With a sob, terrified of rejection but finding warmth and acceptance instead, she collapsed into Pyrrha’s arms. Pyrrha held her tightly, softly stroking her back, whispering soothing words as Ruby cried against her shoulder.

For the first time, Ruby wasn’t met with awkward silence or distance in response to her truth. For the first time, someone accepted her exactly as she was.

———

Yang kept walking through the streets of Vale, her voice hoarse from shouting.

“Blake! Blake!” she called again, hearing nothing but the echo among passersby.

She sighed, exhausted, running a hand through her hair. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but frustration was gnawing at her—not just from the argument with Weiss, but from the fact that her partner was still missing. It was driving her to the edge. Just when she was about to give up, her scroll buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the name on the screen, hesitated for a second, and answered.

“Hi, Dad.”

Taiyang’s image appeared, smiling from what looked like the living room back home.
“Yang! Caught you at the right time. Look what I got.”

He held something up to the camera: a new headband, simple, with silver tips.

Yang recognized it instantly. “That fast?”

“Yup. A replacement for what happened to the last one… did she tell you about it?”

Yang tilted her head, crossing her arms.
“You know Ruby doesn’t talk about that stuff, right? She didn’t say a word.”

Taiyang sighed. “Yeah… I know. That’s why I thought at least she would’ve told you. She’s not with you right now?”

Yang leaned against the wall of a closed shop, glancing at the empty street.
“Nope. She should be getting out of her extra classes right about now. Poor thing.”

“Well, that’s what she gets for skipping two years ahead, our little pup,” Taiyang said playfully.

“If she hears you call her that, she’ll bite you,” Yang laughed.

“I think she’s bitten me enough times that I’m immune by now. But seriously, she didn’t tell you about it?”

“You know how she is, Dad. She won’t say anything unless we push her a little… and even then she keeps it all in, like she doesn’t want to worry anyone.”

“Sounds like someone else I know.” Taiyang gave her a small smile, but Yang looked away.

There was a short silence before he spoke again.
“So, how’s everything at the academy? Has Ruby settled in?”

Yang let out a short, bitter laugh.
“She’s trying… too hard, if you ask me. But it wears her down. She’s a good leader, yeah, but she’s still hiding. Not just behind that hood, but… you know.”

Taiyang nodded slowly.
“About being a faunus…”

“Yeah.” Yang gripped the scroll tightly. “Ruby pretends it doesn’t bother her, but I know it weighs on her—always worrying about people noticing. She’s had to suppress a lot of her… instincts, you know?”

Taiyang’s voice was calm, though tinged with sadness.
“I figured. Your mother was the same in that regard. But once it passes, Ruby will realize she never had anything to fear.”

Yang lowered her gaze at his words, but quickly forced herself to recover, murmuring softly:
“I hope so, Dad… I really do.”

———

Ruby and Pyrrha sat on a nearby bench, each holding a hamburger. Penny had brought them minutes earlier, appearing out of nowhere as always.

They were grateful Penny had gotten them lunch, though it was… awkward having to explain Ruby’s situation and how Penny had technically done something wrong without meaning to. The thought seemed to discourage her a little, but at least she didn’t appear to have anything against faunus.

“I’m truly sorry, friend Ruby.”

“I-it’s fine… you just surprised me, that’s all,” Ruby said nervously.

After a few discreet bites, Pyrrha glanced at Ruby, then at Penny.
“Are you sure you didn’t want one, Penny?” she asked politely.

Ruby, still chewing, jumped in first:
“Yeah, really, thanks a lot… but didn’t you get one for yourself?”

Penny smiled with a trace of nervousness.
“I already ate before… Hic!”

A small hiccup slipped out just as she finished speaking.

Ruby gave her a side glance, raising an eyebrow before taking another big bite of her burger.
“If you say so…” she muttered between chews. “Still, you picked my favorite. Thanks.”

“And mine… well, more or less,” Pyrrha added with a small laugh, eyeing the much smaller burger compared to Ruby’s.

Penny nodded matter-of-factly.
“That’s how I calculated it. You see, wolf faunus usually have a special taste for meat… and they also tend to eat in larger quantities.”

Ruby stiffened at the words, nearly choking on her food, but managed to control herself. She’d have to get used to people knowing about her… especially with Penny, who was so direct.

“That’s why I ordered the triple-meat one for you. And Pyrrha, I understood that with your training regimen you can’t consume so much fat, so I chose the lightest option available.”

The two girls glanced at each other, and Ruby couldn’t help a short, nervous laugh. Pyrrha, on the other hand, smiled with genuine curiosity.
“That’s fascinating, Penny…”

A little over a minute passed in expectant silence. Ruby had already gotten over the initial panic, but she was still shaken. She hadn’t expected two people to discover her secret today… let alone confront her about it.

Damn it, how was she going to tell Yang? She still remembered the last time something “similar” had happened, and she didn’t want to repeat that. Maybe, if Pyrrha and Penny were with her, it would be easier.

“So, Ruby…” the red-haired warrior said cautiously, leaning forward a bit.

Ruby, mid-sip of her drink, nearly choked again. She coughed softly, setting the cup down with trembling hands.
“Y-yeah,” the wolf stammered nervously, rubbing her arm in unease.

“We could talk about… you know,” Pyrrha gestured subtly toward Ruby’s ears, then quickly corrected herself with an apologetic look. “Sorry, if that was offensive.”

Ruby pressed her lips together and waved her hand awkwardly.
“N-no, not at all… or well… Yang says that… never mind…” she mumbled, lowering her eyes to the table.

“Would you like to know more about the traits of wolf faunus?” Penny asked suddenly, leaning forward, eyes gleaming with interest.

With enthusiasm, she added:
“I have extensive knowledge on them, you see…”

“Penny…” Ruby said softly, just enough to stop her.

The redhead straightened immediately, blinking.
“Yes, friend Ruby,” she answered with an innocent smile, tilting her head.

Ruby fidgeted with the rim of her cup before confessing:
“What I really want… is to talk about why I was hiding my ears.”

Penny’s brightness dimmed slightly. She placed a hand on her chest, awkward.
“Oh… I’m sorry for assuming that’s what you wanted to talk about, Nikos.”

“It’s alright,” Pyrrha replied calmly, raising her hand gently to brush it off.

Silence fell over the table again. The murmur of the crowd, footsteps, even clinking glasses seemed louder than ever. Ruby inhaled deeply and, with a resigned sigh, muttered:
“I guess… you have questions.”

“Yes,” Pyrrha answered softly, leaning toward her, “but only if you’re comfortable. I don’t want to force you.”

Ruby nodded, cheeks burning, eyes glued to the table.
“Thanks…”

Pyrrha also sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how to start…” she admitted with some frustration.

Ruby mirrored her, letting out a small sigh with a weary smile.
“Me neither… I could never… do this. Yang was always the one who spoke for me…” she confessed, scratching her neck awkwardly.

“I guess that’s the good thing about older sisters…” Pyrrha murmured, lowering her gaze with a hint of sadness. “I’m an only child.”

At that moment, Penny raised her hand as if she were in class.
“Then may I ask the questions?” she said as naturally as ever.

Ruby and Pyrrha exchanged glances; the Spartan arched an eyebrow and gestured toward Ruby, making it clear it was her decision.

Ruby took a deep breath and, with a nervous smile, replied:
“Sure, Penny.”

Penny nodded eagerly, almost bouncing with excitement.
“Pyrrha mentioned that Yang is your sister, right?”

Ruby hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
“Yes…”

“Then how are you sisters? She’s completely human, and you’re a faunus…” Penny asked with pure curiosity, unaware of the weight of her words.

Discomfort instantly washed over Ruby. Her ears drooped slightly, her hands gripping the cup tightly as she lowered her gaze to the ground.

“That… that’s…” Pyrrha tried to intervene, noticing Ruby’s tension, leaning toward her cautiously.

Ruby swallowed hard, the knot in her throat growing heavier. Her fingers twisted together, and in a thread of voice, she murmured:
“Oh… that’s… personal… Yang is my…”

A thunderous explosion cut her off. The air shook, and turning their heads, the three of them saw a column of black smoke rising quickly into the sky from the direction of the docks. Ruby and Pyrrha exchanged a quick nod of agreement, while Penny simply tilted her head, watching them.

———

The rooftops of the docks creaked softly under the weight of Blake and Sun, hidden in the shadows as they kept watch. The air smelled of salt and rusted iron, mixed with the tension hanging between them.

“Is this the right place?” Sun asked, scratching the back of his neck with an awkward gesture.

Blake shot him a sharp look.
“You’re the one who heard there’d be a Dust robbery at the docks.”

“Exactly…” he replied with a nervous grin. “But the docks are huge—we’re only in one part.”

Blake huffed, crossing her arms. She didn’t have time to reply before a metallic rumble echoed from above. Not one, but three airships descended, their engines roaring over the waves.

Sun tilted his head back, surprised.
“Well… looks like we won’t have to move.”

Blake clenched her jaw.
“They’re transports. They’re here for the shipment… they’ll take it.”

“Then we have to—” Sun began.

“Yes,” Blake cut him off, already tensing her muscles like a huntress ready to strike.

One of the airships landed heavily on the pier. The metal door opened with a screech, and men began to pour out, clad in the black uniforms and unmistakable masks of the White Fang.

Sun narrowed his eyes, muttering under his breath:
“Sorry…”

Blake glanced at him, surprised by the apology, but there was no time to ask.

“We’re leaving.”

“What? You want to let them go?” Sun looked at her like she’d lost her mind.

“If we interfere, we’ll have problems with the authorities,” Blake replied curtly.

But then her eyes locked on another figure stepping off the transport. He wore no uniform, no mask. Blake’s heart skipped a beat. She recognized that white suit, that hat, and most of all, that mocking grin.

Roman Torchwick.

Vale’s most notorious thief. And here he was, standing among the White Fang, giving orders as if he had always been their commander.

“I-impossible…” Blake whispered, stunned.

“That must be the boss… I feel like I’ve seen him before,” Sun said, frowning.

Blake shook her head in a low voice.
“He’s human… a famous thief… how can he be leading the White Fang?”

Sun looked at her in surprise.
“Wow. A human leading the White Fang? Now that’s weird.”

Blake’s fists clenched, anger and fear twisting inside her.
“This is wrong… so wrong.”

“So, what do we do?” Sun asked, leaning closer.

Blake took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with fierce resolve.
“We’re going in.”

Sun’s grin spread ear to ear, his tail swishing with excitement.
“Good. Let’s finish this.”

———

Roman barked orders with theatrical flair, his voice echoing between the crates and the metal of the docks.
“Faster, faster! That transport’s not gonna wait all day!” he joked, leaning casually on his cane as if it were a toy.

The White Fang members obeyed like automatons. They moved crates, secured containers, kept watch around the perimeter. Roman eyed them with thinly veiled contempt, muttering under his breath, almost to himself:
“God, how hard can it be to manage a damn zoo?”

He didn’t get to finish the thought. A boot slammed into his back, knocking him to his knees on the metal deck. Before he could rise, a cold blade grazed his neck: Blake’s sword, steady in her grip, its gleam catching the dock lights.

Roman, with his trademark cynical smile, lifted his head and sneered:
“Seriously, what’s with kids these days?”

“Silence!” Blake’s voice thundered, her blade scraping the air by his skin to underline the command.

The White Fang froze instantly. They surrounded Blake, masks and uniforms radiating threat. She looked at them one by one, muscles taut, and pressed her sword harder against Roman, forcing him to tilt his head.

“Nobody move,” she said, her voice like steel.

One by one, some of them began to loosen their grips; doubt crept into their stances. Blake seized the silence, stepping forward with the authority of armor itself. Then, with a sharp tug, she ripped off her bow, revealing her cat ears. With as much authority as she could muster, she raised her voice:

“Brothers and sisters of the White Fang, listen to me. Why are you working for this trash?”

A few lowered their weapons. Uncertainty spread like a murmur. It was enough for Roman to bark out a dry laugh.

“What? Didn’t you get the memo?” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets, oozing false calm. “Kitty, the White Fang and I are in business together.”

Blake’s eyes blazed with fury. Her blade trembled for an instant as she pressed it tighter to his throat.
“Tell me what you know,” she whispered, “or I’ll end your little operation right here and now.”

Roman tilted his head, amused. Then, as if sensing a greater arrival, he stopped speaking. A low hum rumbled in the sky: more airships, heavier, approaching fast. The tension on the docks thickened into something oppressive.

“I’m afraid, my feline friend,” Roman murmured, no longer bothering to mask his tone, “that your little shower of justice is running late.”

Before anyone saw it coming, Roman let his cane fall with the smallest flick. Blake moved to intercept, but it was too late: with a subtle press of his thumb, a click sounded from its base. Hidden among crates and nets, a small charge detonated with a sharp, concentrated blast.

The shockwave hit them both. Dust and fire erupted upward. Blake felt the air ripped from her lungs, the impact hurling her backward, tumbling across the ground as her aura flickered purple. Roman was flung across the deck, rolling with theatrical flair, yet quick enough to rise among smoke and sparks, smiling as if it had all been part of the plan.

Blake forced herself up, still dazed from the blast. She barely regained her footing when Roman’s voice cut through the haze:

“Fire!”

A storm of gunfire erupted at once. Sparks and streaks of Dust lit the dock in chaos. Blake reacted instantly: her semblance flared, leaving behind shadowy afterimages that absorbed the bullets while she slid swiftly behind a metal container. The hail of fire ceased for only a moment.

“Damn…” she muttered, breathing hard, adrenaline urging her muscles to keep moving.

No respite. Another barrage shrieked close, forcing her to flatten against the rusted steel. She peeked carefully, just enough to see the new chaos: Sun had leapt into the fray.

His staff, Ruyi Bang, spun like a whirlwind of metal. With each strike it split into two pistols, Jingu Bang, firing precise shots at the White Fang soldiers. Sun moved with fluid grace, tail swaying in every acrobatic leap as he dropped enemies one after another.

Blake saw the opening just as Roman lifted his cane and fired directly at Sun. The shot sliced through the air, but Sun deflected it with a twirl of his weapon, the impact repelled in a flash.

Blake gritted her teeth, fury burning inside her.
“He’s mine!” she roared, sprinting past Sun.

She unsheathed Gambol Shroud, its blade glinting under the dock lights. The weapon’s ribbon and blade lashed out in an arc, aiming to ensnare Roman’s cane. The criminal laughed, stepping back as he raised his weapon to parry.

The first clashes were lightning fast, almost impossible to follow. Gambol Shroud carved lethal arcs through the air, while Roman’s cane, heavy yet nimble, countered each attempt with mocking spins.

Blake moved like a shadow, duplicating herself with her semblance, leaving behind copies that burst in smoke whenever Roman struck them. Each false target drew curses from him, though his reflexes never faltered: shooting, striking, and dodging as if the whole fight were a staged performance.

“Not bad, kitty,” Roman laughed, pivoting on one foot to shove her blade aside. “But you’ll need more than carnival tricks.”

Blake rolled across the ground, sprang up again, and cracked her weapon’s ribbon like a whip. Roman caught it mid-air with his cane, yanked hard, and threw her off balance, sending her crashing into a pile of crates that toppled with a crash.

Roman aimed immediately, but a shot from Ruyi Bang knocked his cane aside. Sun landed in front of him with a fierce glare.
“Your problem’s with me now,” he said firmly, spinning his weapon skillfully.

Roman stepped back, surprised at the faunus’s pressure. Sun chained staff strikes with bursts of gunfire, forcing the thief to defend instead of attack.

Blake recovered quickly, wasting no time. She darted from the side in a flash of her semblance. Her clones swarmed Roman, surrounding him for a split second. Before he could guess the real one, Blake was already on him.

A precise slash disarmed him, sending the cane clattering to the ground. Roman staggered, breath ripped from him in a grunt as he fell to his knees.

Blake pressed her blade to his throat, chest heaving with ragged breaths. Sun stood ready nearby, keeping the remaining White Fang soldiers at bay.

Smoke, metal, and the echo of battle still hung heavy when Roman, cornered, raised his hands with feigned calm.

Still on his knees, Blake’s sword brushing his neck, Roman let out a mocking laugh.
“Don’t you think this is unfair? Two against one, don’t you?”

Neither Blake nor Sun replied. Blake pressed the blade harder, ready to end the game.

“Then… let’s make it fair,” Roman smirked wider.

Blake barely had time to frown when a colorful parasol appeared from the side, blocking her sword from Roman’s throat. The metallic impact forced her back a step. The surprise left her reeling.

A heartbeat later, the same parasol snapped shut against her face, sending her flying. The air rushed from her lungs as a swift, precise kick slammed into her stomach, hurling her against a container with a thunderous clang. Her aura shattered into fragments of light that fizzled out.

“Blake!” Sun shouted, eyes wide.

Before him, a short girl with two-toned hair and a mischievous expression stepped down from a stack of crates as if she were floating. Without giving him time to react, she lunged at him with blistering speed. Her parasol spun gracefully, an extension of her body.

Sun blocked the first strike with Ruyi Bang, but the next came from below, then another from the side. He could barely keep up, every attack sharper and more elegant than the last.

“Tch! Who the hell—?” he started, but his words choked as a spiraling strike disarmed him and a knee smashed into his gut, sending him flying.

His body crashed beside Blake, his golden aura flickering as both of them lay gasping on the cold dock.

Neo twirled her parasol open over her shoulder, tilted her head toward Roman with a silent, mocking smile, as if the whole fight had been just a fun performance.

Roman adjusted his hat, regaining composure with exaggerated calm.
“See? Much more fair.”

Roman strolled forward at an easy pace, his silhouette framed by smoke and firelight. Trapped among wreckage and the tightening ring of the White Fang, Blake barely managed to raise her head; her ears twitched, her eyes burned with hatred, but her body refused to obey. Beside her, Sun’s aura flickered on the verge of breaking. He forced a grin, stubbornly lifting Ruyi Bang again.

Masked soldiers closed in with weapons ready, shrinking the circle around them. The air grew suffocating.

“Well, well…” Roman drawled, spinning his cane theatrically. “Kitty and monkey boy, looks like the road ends here.”

The cane’s barrel glowed as he leveled it at the two faunus. Blake swallowed hard, powerless, while Sun planted his feet, bracing to take the shot and counter if he could.

Roman’s finger squeezed the trigger. A greenish flare ran through the weapon—but before the blast could fire, a dark shimmer wrapped around it. The cane jerked violently sideways, the shot flying off harmlessly, grazing Sun’s shoulder before disappearing into a container.

“What the hell…?” Roman growled, stepping back.

Suddenly, every weapon in the White Fang soldiers’ hands began to rattle. A metallic vibration filled the air, as if an unseen magnet pulled them. Within seconds, rifles, swords, and pistols tore free, clattering across the dock toward a single point.

Only Neo’s parasol and Roman’s cane resisted.

All eyes turned toward the pile of fallen weapons—at the newcomers standing over them. Pyrrha, eyes glowing, one hand still outstretched, her Semblance shimmering like an iron cloak. Ruby stood at her side, Crescent Rose unfolded, her silver eyes gleaming in the firelight. And Penny lingered just behind them.

The atmosphere thickened, the echoes of battle drowned in expectant silence. Roman was the first to break it.

“Well, well…” he said with a crooked grin, adjusting his hat as his gaze fixed on Ruby. “If it isn’t the little red wolf.”

Ruby’s lips tightened at once, the nickname striking her like an unwanted reminder. Her grip on Crescent Rose clenched tighter.

Penny tilted her head in confusion. “Do you know them, Ruby?”

Ruby inhaled deeply, forcing herself to speak firmly despite the shine of insecurity in her eyes.
“Penny… stay back.”

Roman seized the moment of distraction, spinning his cane and firing without warning. A roar of Dust erupted from the barrel, but Pyrrha reacted first: her shield Akoúo̱ snapped into place, absorbing the blast in a flare of fire that barely forced her a step back.

“Penny, stay behind us!” Pyrrha commanded, her voice ringing with steel as she lowered her shield. “Ruby, let’s go.”

Ruby nodded sharply, fear turning to resolve. Crescent Rose’s mechanism roared, shifting into its full scythe form.

“Tsk, damn it…” Roman spat, clicking his tongue.

Ruby planted Crescent Rose behind her and fired, using the recoil to launch herself forward. Pyrrha followed, leaping long and landing nearly beside her.

The moment Ruby closed in on Roman and Neo, she swung a direct slash at the thief. But Neo intercepted, blocking with the shaft of her parasol. Ruby tried to break free, but Neo locked her in place, smiling as she leaned closer.

Then Pyrrha’s shout split the air as she dove down, forcing both Roman and Neo to retreat.

The four fighters measured each other for only seconds, until Ruby repeated her earlier maneuver, firing herself forward.
“You’re not escaping this time!” she yelled, scythe cutting as she reached them.

Neo caught the strike, locking Ruby in a deadlock. Pyrrha moved beside her, thrusting her spear; it nearly grazed Neo’s cheek, forcing the girl to drop backward. For a moment they thought she had fallen—but Neo had calculated the move, evading by a hair’s breadth.

“Sorry, Red, but business never stops,” Roman sneered, then barked to his men: “Neo, finish it! The rest of you, load the Dust! We’re leaving!”

Neo nodded with a playful smile. Pushing off the ground, she flipped, legs whipping out: one kick knocked Pyrrha’s spear away, the other slammed into the Spartan herself, sending her staggering. Using the momentum, Neo landed gracefully, dodging another of Ruby’s strikes.

Ruby pressed on, Crescent Rose whirling in swift arcs. Neo dodged each one with taunting elegance, smirking and making faces at every miss. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pyrrha recalling her weapon with her Semblance, rejoining the fight.

Ruby fired at the ground, propelling herself upward for a diving strike. Neo countered in a flash, catching her midair with the parasol’s shaft, yanking her sideways, and hurling her against a container. Ruby crashed in a metallic roar.

“Ruby!” Blake cried, rushing toward her leader, who lay motionless after the impact. Sun followed close behind.

Despite the pain running through her body, Blake managed to lift Ruby enough to sit her up. But what she saw froze her in place. Ruby’s hood had slipped back… revealing a pair of black, furry ears perched atop her head.

“B-Blake… it’s you…” Ruby whispered, forcing a weak smile when she recognized her friend. But that expression faltered when she noticed Blake wasn’t meeting her eyes—she was staring at her ears.

The silence between them grew heavy. They looked at each other, waiting for the other to speak—until Sun’s shout shattered the moment:

“Move!”

Both faunus girls turned toward him just as their ears pricked at the same time: a metallic roar filled the air. The enemy airships were opening fire in their direction, the thunder of projectiles tearing closer with every second.

With no other choice, Blake helped Ruby to her feet. The two of them ran alongside Sun, dodging the blasts that tore the dock apart behind them.

Neo feigned surprise with a mocking pout, then suddenly dropped low into a split to dodge Pyrrha’s strike. Spinning on the ground, she swept Pyrrha’s legs out from under her, slamming her to the floor. Neo bounced back up gracefully, smirking at the redhead sprawled on the metal.

When Pyrrha didn’t rise immediately, Neo pouted again, dragging the sharp tip of her umbrella along the steel floor as sparks danced. She raised it high, ready to end the fight—only to blink in confusion when her body suddenly lifted off the ground.

“…Not yet,” a voice whispered.

Neo gasped, realizing she was hovering above the deck on a floating steel panel. She quickly opened her umbrella like a parachute and leapt away, only to look back in shock.

Pyrrha was on her feet again, her hands glowing darkly as several steel plates floated and spun around her like weapons.

Her expression hardened. With a sweeping motion, Pyrrha sent the slabs hurtling toward Neo. For the first time in the fight, Neo’s eyes widened—though the surprise twisted into a daring smile. She danced through the barrage, using the same plates as makeshift platforms, bouncing between them with impossible flexibility before landing gracefully.

Pyrrha didn’t falter. She raised her arms, encircling Neo with a ring of steel, ready for the final strike. But Neo bowed mockingly just as floodlights from an enemy airship flared, blinding Pyrrha.

By the time her vision cleared, it was too late. A side turret unleashed a rain of bullets. Pyrrha barely managed to raise her shield, blocking most of the shots, but several struck her legs and sides. Her Aura flared red, absorbing the damage until it nearly shattered.

When the gunfire stopped, she lowered her shield—only to find Neo gone. A kick slammed into her chin, launching her upward. From below, Neo pressed the assault, sending Pyrrha flying.

Still dazed, Pyrrha hurled both shield and spear at her foe. Neo deflected the shield with her umbrella but couldn’t avoid the spear’s direct hit, stumbling back. Pyrrha rolled on the floor, gasping, but summoned her weapons back with her Semblance, landing on her feet again, smiling despite the weight of exhaustion settling into her every move.

Meanwhile, Ruby, Blake, and Sun ran with bullets snapping at their heels. Ruby, seeing they wouldn’t make it, activated her Semblance, dissolving into petals and reappearing behind them to shove them into cover. But as she rematerialized, two bullets hit her arm. Her Aura flickered and broke.

Another volley crashed against the container shielding them.

“We’re in big trouble—lots of it!” Sun growled through clenched teeth.

Before Ruby could reply, a figure appeared beside her.

“Friend Ruby, are you all right?” Penny asked, leaning down with unsettling calm.

“Y-yeah… I’m fine,” Ruby muttered, swaying as she tried to lift Crescent Rose.

But Penny held her firmly. “No. You rest. I’ll handle this.”

The three—Ruby, Blake, and Sun—stared at her in confusion. Penny stepped forward, out of cover, just as another hail of bullets rained down from the airships.

“Penny, no!” Ruby cried out in panic.

But the android merely narrowed her eyes, her voice steady:

“Don’t worry, Ruby. I’m combat ready.”

A metallic snap rang out. From her back, several blades unfurled, tethered by glowing wires of light. The blades spun in a whirring circle that intercepted the incoming fire, deflecting bullets into a shower of sparks.

Then, with a swift gesture, Penny shifted their formation. Energy surged, crackling emerald in the air. With a decisive thrust, she unleashed a beam of green light into the sky.

The blast struck one of the airships dead-on. It convulsed in flames and smoke before plunging into the sea with a thunderous explosion that shook the entire port.

Ruby, Blake, and Sun stared in stunned silence. Even Neo and Pyrrha froze, shocked. Roman, cane in hand, narrowed his eyes with an incredulous laugh.

“These kids just get stranger and stranger…” he muttered.

Then, flashing red and blue lights spread across the containers. Sirens wailed through the port. Roman clicked his tongue and shouted:

“Neo, time to go.”

The girl pouted, clearly reluctant to stop playing. Pyrrha seized the chance, hurling her spear with all her strength. It pierced Neo straight through—only for the girl’s body to shatter into colored glass that vanished upon hitting the ground.

Pyrrha froze, stunned. Roman’s mocking voice pulled her back:

“Love that trick of yours,” he laughed as Neo appeared unharmed by his side, already boarding the airship.

She waved playfully before hopping inside. Roman, however, hardened his gaze.

“Kids… you’ve caused me enough trouble tonight. I hope we never meet again.”

The engines roared, and within seconds the craft vanished into the night, leaving only smoke and tension behind.

Pyrrha, shield raised and breath ragged, watched helplessly as they retreated. She only turned when she heard a groan:

“God… that was close…” Sun collapsed heavily, his aura flickering out.

“Ruby! Blake!” Pyrrha called, rushing toward them.

Ruby, supporting Blake alongside Penny, lifted her head.
“We’re okay,” she assured, though her voice wavered with exhaustion.

Penny calmly retracted her blades, closing her mechanism. Blake, however, couldn’t tear her eyes from Ruby, the image of her exposed wolf ears still vivid in her mind.

“Ruby, you…” she whispered, full of questions.

Ruby swallowed hard, forcing a faint smile.
“Yeah… we need to talk, don’t we?”

Despite everything, Blake managed a small, gentle smile.
“Some things, yes…”

The flashing patrol lights broke the fragile moment, bathing the dock in red and blue. Ruby stiffened.
“Oh, uh…”

Seeing that only she and Penny were in any condition to speak, Pyrrha stepped forward. She didn’t want Penny questioned—her honesty could be dangerous here.

“Rest. I’ll explain,” Pyrrha said firmly, stowing her spear and shield.

She walked toward the officers, raising one hand.
“We need medical assistance, my friends—”

But she never finished. The agents ignored her, marching past until sirens and shouts merged into a single harsh command:

“Hands up!”

Pyrrha spun around, eyes wide. Several officers now aimed their rifles directly at the group.

“Wait! You don’t under—!” Sun tried to protest, forcing himself upright.

“Silence!” another officer barked, cutting him off.

Ruby looked around, realizing they were surrounded. One of the officers spoke into his radio with triumphant certainty:
“We’ve got three White Fang operatives, repeat, three confirmed faunus.”

Blake froze, disbelief painted across her face.
“What…?”

But there was no time. The officers rushed them, shoving Ruby—who was still holding Blake—down onto the ground along with Sun, restraining them harshly.

Ruby’s cheek pressed against the cold pavement, the weight of a man pinning her down. She barely caught sight of Blake and Sun being cuffed beside her. Her breath quickened as she noticed another detail: Penny, separated from them, being escorted away by a different officer in a lighter uniform.

“Penny…” Ruby whispered, panic flooding her chest—before she was shoved harder against the ground.

The click of metal cuffs bit into her wrists. Her breathing grew frantic, uneven.
“No, no, wait! We’re not—!” her voice cracked.

The pounding in her ears drowned out the shouts. She tried to call out—to Penny, to Blake, to Yang—but the words stuck in her throat. Fear swallowed her whole.

Please…

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she tried to turn her head, searching for Blake, for her sister in that impossible moment. But she saw nothing more.

A black object—the butt of a rifle? A baton?—slammed against her face.

The world went dark in an instant.

Chapter Text

There were plenty of reasons to expect a day like this. Of course Blake never thought it would come—especially not like this.

She looked up to see where she was. Three walls, a tiny window with steel bars, and instead of a door, another row of the same bars.

A cell.

She let out a tired sigh as she tried to settle on the cold metal bench she was sitting on. The sound of chains accompanied her movement.

Right… she was handcuffed at her wrists and ankles, both joined by a noisy chain that, to make matters worse, connected to a third: a collar fastened around her neck.

It was degrading. Humiliating. And, above all, painful.

Being chained like an animal was horrible, and technically illegal… unless you were a Faunus, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. She simply… stopped resisting.

*Sniff*

A sob broke the silence of the cell. Blake immediately turned toward the sound. In front of her was Ruby. The little leader was chained the same way as she was, though with a painful difference: Ruby had a black eye and, as far as Blake could remember, had been unconscious.

It was ridiculous to think that she had come out of this more unscathed. Her—someone who had belonged to the White Fang. Not Ruby, nor Sun. They had simply followed her… and she had dragged them into this fate.

*Sniff sniff*

Again. Blake watched her more closely and could see the tears on Ruby’s cheeks. She trembled, leaning against the bench across from them.

Ruby was having nightmares.

“Ruby…” Blake called softly, hoping for a response. But Ruby didn’t react. She stayed lost in her torment.

Blake bit her lip. She already knew Ruby had these nightmares. Ruby shouldn’t be here. She should be at Beacon, in her bed, with Yang to take care of her. Not in a cell, chained… and all because of her. And worst of all: she couldn’t comfort her.

With effort, Blake stood. The chains around her ankles made each step slow and clumsy, but she eventually reached her. Carefully she sat beside her and, despite the limits on her movement, managed to lift her enough to move her off the cold metal. She settled Ruby against her chest, wrapping her arms around her and doing her best to imitate the hug she’d seen Yang give so many times.

Having Ruby like that made her notice the wolf ears crowning her head. It had been a surprise to discover them that night at the docks. It had never occurred to her that Ruby was a Faunus. Of course… that explained the headband she always wore, in the same way Blake had hidden her ears with her ribbon.

*Sniff*

Another sob. Blake looked down to find her still caught in her nightmares. The warmth of the embrace wasn’t enough to calm her, and the helplessness weighed on Blake.

Finally she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and rested her forehead against Ruby’s head, right between her ears. Then she let out a soft purr that filled the silent cell in a desperate attempt to bring calm.

After a minute, Ruby stopped trembling and her sobs died away. Unconsciously she settled closer against Blake. A deep relief ran through the Faunus to see she had managed to help her… though of course, that wouldn’t make up for what she had done.

———

Pyrrha’s attempts to reason with the officers had been useless. She stepped in, spoke of her credentials as a Beacon student, of what had really happened at the docks, even offered to vouch for her teammates. Nothing worked. The response was always the same: “Shut up, miss. Don’t defend those terrorists.”

Finally, one of the officers grabbed her by the arm and, though they didn’t cuff her, they led her to another patrol car. Pyrrha protested, struggled just a little—she didn’t want to make things worse—and ended up giving in, watching helplessly as Ruby and the others were dragged off like common criminals.

The ride was silent, except for the pounding of guilt in her own head. She remembered perfectly the look on Ruby’s face before being knocked down, the confusion, the fear in those silver eyes… and she hated herself for not being able to stop it.

When they arrived at the station, they didn’t take her to the cells. Instead, they pushed her into a cold room, lit by a white lamp hanging above a metal table. The air smelled of damp paper and old coffee.

“Wait here,” one officer growled, closing the door with a metallic click.

Pyrrha was left alone.

She sat stiffly in the chair, back straight and hands on her knees. No chains on her wrists. Every second that passed in that room, not knowing what they were doing to her friends, weighed on her like lead.

I lost… she thought, clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white.

The clock on the wall seemed to mock her with its endless ticking. Pyrrha didn’t know if they had separated her because they thought she was “less dangerous” or if they simply wanted to make her feel isolated. The only thing she knew for sure was that Ruby, Blake, and the other Faunus were here too—but where…? Were they in interrogation rooms like her, or…?

When the door creaked open again, Pyrrha lifted her head with a flicker of hope, expecting an explanation, maybe a chance to intervene. But it was only another officer walking in with a file in hand and a dry expression on his face.

The Champion of Mistral, the “Invincible” Pyrrha Nikos, felt a lump form in her throat. She had never felt so useless.

The officer sat across from her, dropping a thick file onto the metal table. The thud echoed like a hammer strike inside Pyrrha’s head.

He said nothing at first; he simply opened the file and flipped through a few pages, enjoying the tension in the air.

“Pyrrha Nikos, right?” he finally asked, his voice dripping with false courtesy.

“Yes,” she answered firmly, keeping her back straight.

“Champion of Mistral. People’s favorite. Cover girl in sports magazines… and on a cereal box…” he listed with a crooked smile, tapping a photo of her at a tournament with his finger. “And yet, we found you at the docks, in the company of…” He turned the page and slid some blurry photos toward her—taken during the raid—“…three members of the White Fang.”

Pyrrha clenched her teeth.
“They’re not with the White Fang. They’re my friends, my Beacon teammates. You’ve made a mistake.”

The officer let out a dry laugh.
“A mistake? Of course…”

She didn’t answer. She just stared back, her jaw tight.

“Then explain to me,” he went on, “what you were doing at the docks, why you were defending these so-called ‘companions’ of yours, and why the hell we found unloaded Dust weapons lying around your bodies. Coincidence?”

“We were stopping a robbery. The criminal was there, along with the White Fang. What you saw was a group of Beacon students fighting real criminals.” Her voice hardened as she said it, though she knew she was probably talking to a brick wall.

The officer clicked his tongue, slamming the file shut.
“So you admit you were involved in a robbery with criminals.”

Pyrrha could swear she saw the man smirk for a second at her slip. If I speak without thinking, it’ll be worse. Breathe. Do what you know. Get out of this. Exhale.

“Where are my friends?” she asked seriously, leaning forward.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Of course it is!” Her voice thundered with a force that surprised even the officer. “You’re holding Beacon students under false charges!”

The man narrowed his eyes, irritated.
“Listen, Miss Nikos. You’re here because your fame keeps us from throwing you in a cell with the others—” Liar “—but don’t think that makes you special.”

Pyrrha felt the heat of anger rise in her face, but she took a deep breath. She had to keep calm… she had to think.

“I have the right to a phone call.” Her voice was sharp, leaving no room for debate.

The officer leaned back in his chair, studying her with annoyance. For a moment, Pyrrha feared he’d just laugh in her face. But finally, with a resigned snort, he stood and opened the door.

“One call. One. And then you come back here and wait.”

Pyrrha followed him, silent. She didn’t know if she’d manage to get anyone to help them, but at least she had a sliver of hope: she could contact someone… but who?

Normally I’d call my family to vouch for me… but they wouldn’t vouch for the others. I don’t have the professors’ numbers, and I don’t know many people here in Vale who could help… From Ruby’s team, the only contact I have is Ruby herself.

After a heavy sigh, Pyrrha came to a conclusion. She only hoped he could handle this mess along with the rest of his team.

———

Night was already sliding over Vale, painting the horizon in shades of violet and orange that slowly faded away. The city lights began to shine like artificial stars, though for a certain group of teenagers, there was little charm in it.

Sitting on a bench near the transport station, Jaune held his scroll with a weary expression, checking the screen for what felt like the hundredth time.

“She’s not answering…” he muttered, frowning.

“Did you try Ruby?” Ren asked calmly, though the concern was clear in his eyes.

Weiss, standing nearby, let out an exasperated sigh.
“I already tried with that idiot, all right? It doesn’t even ring. Her scroll must be dead… as always.” She crossed her arms, annoyed.

“Maybe… they’re already back,” Nora added, trying to sound optimistic, though she clearly doubted it herself.

Jaune pressed his lips together and nodded.
“I’ll try Pyrrha one more time. If she doesn’t answer… we’ll figure it out from there. Besides, Yang should show up soon.”

He was just about to dial when suddenly the scroll vibrated with an incoming call. Unknown number. Jaune frowned.

“Seriously?” he muttered, hanging up immediately.

The device rang again, the same persistent number.

“Oh, come on…” Jaune hit “decline” again, rolling his eyes.

Not even five seconds passed before the screen lit up once more. Jaune raised his hand, already ready to hang up again.

“Answer it,” Ren said calmly, though there was an edge of seriousness in his tone.

Jaune looked at him, baffled.
“Answer? What if it’s spam, or some weird scam?”

“It might be important,” Ren insisted, his eyes never leaving Jaune’s.

The air between them grew tense, even Nora stopped fidgeting and stared in silence. Jaune sighed, resigned.

“Fine, fine… but if they’re trying to sell me vacuum cleaners, I’m giving them to Nora.” He slid his finger to answer, holding the scroll to his ear with a hesitant, “Hello?”

A scream burst from the speaker, so loud and sudden that Jaune jerked the scroll away from his ear.

“Jaune, don’t hang up!”

The boy blinked, still stunned by the shriek.
“P–Pyrrha? Is that you?”

The name alone caught everyone’s attention. Weiss spun around immediately, Ren stiffened, and Nora practically threw herself over Jaune to see the screen.

Noticing how everyone crowded around him, Jaune decided to put it on speaker.
“Okay… this is weird,” he muttered, more to himself than to the others, holding the device in both hands.

A second of heavy silence was broken by Pyrrha’s trembling, urgent voice:
“Yes… it’s me. Listen carefully, I don’t have much time. I’m at a police station, they arrested us and—”

“What?!” Jaune nearly fell forward from the shock.

“They arrested you?!” Nora shrieked like it was the worst thing she had ever heard.

“How is that even possible?” Weiss pressed a hand to her forehead, incredulous. “What on Remnant did you do…?”

“Pyrrha, are you hurt?” Ren asked, serious, his worry barely contained.

“No, no, listen to me now,” Pyrrha rushed, tripping over her own words. “They arrested Ruby, Blake, and… someone else. I’m in an interrogation room and the others are in cells, I need you to—”

“Ruby in a cell?! Blake too?!” Jaune almost shouted.

“That’s completely illegal!” Weiss exploded, furious. She remembered Ruby had had “trouble” with the police before, but this? A minor locked up in a cell?

“I’m going to go kick some cop butt!” Nora roared, raising a fist as if she were already about to run straight to the station.

“Nora, calm down…” Ren murmured, though even he sounded more tense than usual.

“I need you to contact the academy. Talk to a professor, Glynda, anyone. They can confirm we’re students… and that we’re not part of the White Fang,” Pyrrha pleaded desperately.

Her words fell like thunder.

“The White Fang?!” Weiss nearly screamed, beside herself. “Why would they even connect Ruby to that!?”

“That makes no sense!” Nora stomped the ground, furious. “Our friends aren’t criminals!”

“Listen, we’re not with the White Fang, but they won’t let us go easily. Do it quickly. Ruby was… she was…” Pyrrha’s voice cracked. She tried to steady herself. “Sh-she… no, wait, I’m not done yet, I said—”

A sharp click cut the line. The call ended abruptly.

Silence fell like lead.

Jaune swallowed hard, clutching the scroll as he looked at his friends one by one.
“Then… we have to move, now.”

“We don’t even… have any idea what to do,” Weiss said, her arms hanging at her sides. “We don’t even have the professors’ numbers…”

“We’ll have to go to Beacon,” Ren added, calm but with unease beneath his voice.

“That’ll take too long,” Nora scowled.

Jaune raised his hand, hesitant.
“Uh… I… actually have Professor Goodwitch’s contact.”

Every stare landed on him in surprise.

“What do you mean you have it?!” Nora almost shook him by the shoulders, her eyes wide.

Jaune raised his hands defensively.
“They gave the professors’ numbers to team leaders! For emergencies or important notices!”

Weiss didn’t hesitate, stepping forward.
“Then let’s not waste any more time. Call her. Now. We need to know what’s happening.”

“Got it,” Jaune nodded, unlocking his scroll with trembling hands.

The group watched anxiously, but just before he pressed the call button, Jaune hesitated. He lowered his gaze slightly.

“And… what do we do about Yang? Do we tell her?”

The question dropped like a stone. No one answered right away. They all knew what it meant—especially if Ruby was involved.

Silence was the clearest response. Weiss looked away, Ren stayed quiet, and even Nora bit her lip instead of speaking.

Jaune sighed, feeling the weight on his shoulders.
“Fine… we don’t tell Yang until we fix this.” He moved his thumb toward the screen.

“What don’t you tell me?”

Everyone turned in unison.

Yang was walking toward them, her brow furrowed, exhaustion written across her face as she looked at the group. And they all noticed the worry in her eyes when she saw a certain red-hooded girl was missing.

“Where’s Ruby?”

———

The first thing she felt was a sting in her right eye. It was annoying and painful. Then came a tightness… not just in one place, but in five: her wrists, ankles, and, to her horror, her neck.

Along with a stench that invaded her nostrils, forcing her awake.

She opened her eyes. She immediately knew she wasn’t in her room. It was dark, but thanks to her night vision she could tell it was nighttime. She also realized she was sitting… and that someone was holding her.

For a second she thought it was Yang. But when she looked up, she found Blake, who, with her eyes closed, was holding her tightly in her arms.

“B-Bla—”

She froze at the sound of chains. She stiffened. Slowly, she looked down, and the reality hit her harshly: she was handcuffed, chained, and collared. Her breathing grew uneven. Her head spun from side to side—just for a moment, she wasn’t there anymore, she thought she was back in the forest that night… After forcing herself to breathe, she finally realized she was in a cell.

Why? What had happened? Had she been arrested? Blake too? Where were the others? Yang?

Then the memories struck her all at once. The docks. She had arrived with Pyrrha and Penny, just as the White Fang prepared to attack Blake and Sun. Thanks to Penny, the enemies retreated… Torchwick escaped… and then the police arrived. Pyrrha tried to talk to them, but they ignored her. They arrested them. All of them. And then… nothing. Darkness.

“Ruby!”

She blinked, breaking out of her trance. Blake’s voice pulled her back to reality. When she turned, she saw clear worry on her face. Ruby had been too lost in her thoughts.

“Ruby? Are you okay?”

She couldn’t answer. She was trembling, her eyes filling with tears. Blake pulled her in immediately, as if afraid of losing her again. Ruby let herself be held, unable to return the hug because of the cuffs.

“I’m sorry…” Blake whispered.

Ruby only accepted the gesture, hiccupping, trying to form words that wouldn’t come. Minutes passed like that until she calmed down a little.

“Blake… what happened?” she finally asked, searching for answers about what had happened after she blacked out.

“R-Ruby, I’m so sorry… this is my fault,” Blake said, her voice heavy with guilt.

“No,” Ruby answered with as much firmness as she could muster.

“No?” Blake looked at her in disbelief. “Ruby, I dragged you into this. I dragged all of you.”

“And I, as leader, failed,” Ruby said, lowering her head, which only puzzled Blake more. “I wasn’t good enough to earn your trust. I know it sounds hypocritical because I kept secrets too… but if I had been a good leader, you would’ve felt safe enough to tell us you were a Faunus. If I had managed that, none of this would’ve happened.”

Blake’s eyes widened. Her ears perked up for an instant before flattening down against her head.

“None of this is your fault, Ruby. I’m the one who didn’t trust. You’re a good leader. I just… didn’t want anyone to know about my past.”

The silence that followed was dense, heavy. Neither knew what else to say—until Ruby dared to break it.

“You’re a cat…” she murmured, trying to ease the tension.

Blake blinked, confused by the comment. But when she saw the faint smile on her leader’s face, she understood the intent. So, with a small breath, she played along.

“And you… a wolf.”

“And I’m a monkey.”

The unexpected voice startled both girls, who pulled apart at once and searched for the source. At first, they saw nothing, but then the voice came again.

“Hey, girls… you two chained up too?”

Blake recognized that annoying voice immediately.

“Sun… is that you?”

“Who else would it be?” he replied casually. “Can you see my tail?”

“Your… tail?” Ruby asked, confused.

The two Faunus looked around until they finally noticed a tail sticking out from the bottom of the adjacent wall.

“Y-yeah, we see it, Sun,” Ruby said cautiously.

“Perfect. Then I’m in the cell next door. Got any plans?”

“Plans?” Ruby tilted her head, not understanding.

“My aura’s still low, and I’m not sure how we’ll get out of here…” Blake admitted seriously.

“Well, we can wait for a guard to show up and then I’ll snag the keys to escape,” Sun proposed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“What?! Escape?!” Ruby exclaimed, raising her voice too much.

In a quick reflex, Blake covered her mouth with her hand, trying to silence her before the guards heard. Ruby glared at her with narrowed eyes, both annoyed and surprised.

“Don’t shout, Ruby,” Blake asked calmly as she pulled her hand back.

“Everything all right over there?” Sun asked curiously.

“No…” Ruby answered firmly, turning back to Blake. “What do you mean, escape?”

“Well, they’re not going to let us go and—” Blake began, but stopped when she saw the disapproval on Ruby’s face.

“We’re not going to escape, Blake.” Ruby’s voice was serious, even a little sharp.

Blake frowned, incredulous.
“What are you talking about? Ruby, we’re chained up like animals. Do you think they’re just going to release us? We have to do something!”

“And doing that is wrong!” Ruby interrupted, raising her voice just enough to sound firm, though restrained. “Do you want them to treat us like fugitives on top of everything else? Like we’re actually guilty?”

The silence that followed was thick. Blake clenched her teeth, as if ready to argue, but Ruby didn’t give her the chance.

“Blake… are you going to keep running from everything?” Ruby asked, her voice harsh but also tinged with sadness.

The Faunus froze. Her ears twitched, then slowly flattened against her head. She had no answer.

Ruby, her breathing unsteady, kept her gaze fixed on her.
“Blake, I’m asking you to trust me right now.”

Blake gripped the chains around her wrists, lowering her gaze. The weight of those words sank deeper than the cold metal.

The tense silence shattered abruptly.

“Shut it in there!” a rough voice bellowed from the hall.

The metallic sound of boots striking the floor drew closer. A guard appeared in front of the cell, banging the bars with his baton. Ruby flinched at once, curling up on herself. The confidence she had shown seconds ago vanished, replaced by pure fear.

“Well, well…” the man sneered, scanning them. “Look what we’ve got here: the animal circus.”

Ruby lowered her head and ears, unable to meet his gaze. Blake, on the other hand, frowned, her ears pressing against her hair at the disdain in his voice.

The guard’s eyes roamed the cells until they landed on Ruby. He grinned cruelly.

“Well, if it isn’t the little pup… Finally screwed up, huh? Tell me, were you expecting that big blonde sister of yours to come save you again?”

Ruby shuddered. The mere reminder of Yang cut like a knife. Her eyes filled with tears instantly, her chest tightening into a painful knot. She wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead of anger, all she felt was crushing shame.

Blake clenched her teeth and stepped forward, but before she could speak, another voice cut through the tension.

“Hey, buddy!” Sun called from the next cell with a cocky grin. “If you’re gonna insult us, at least be creative. ‘Animals’ is way too worn out.”

The guard turned toward him with a scowl.

“And what are you, huh? A circus monkey?”

“Circus, huh?” Sun shrugged, letting himself be heard with fake amusement. “Well, at least I make people laugh. You’re not even fit to be a cheap clown.”

“Shut it!” the officer snarled, slamming Sun’s bars so hard they rattled. The boy only laughed, clearly enjoying his irritation.

Meanwhile, Blake turned back to Ruby. The young leader was curled up, eyes wet, biting her lip to hold back sobs. Without thinking, Blake drew close again, wrapping her arms around her and pressing her forehead against Ruby’s.

“Shh… don’t listen to him,” she whispered softly, her voice a warm contrast to the guard’s cruelty. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying, Ruby. Don’t let it get to you.”

Ruby buried her face against Blake’s chest, trembling. She didn’t answer, but let herself be held, clinging to that small refuge in the middle of all the hostility.

———

—

“So then, any questions?” Glynda asked, adjusting her glasses as she looked at the four students seated in front of her desk.

Team CVFY watched her attentively, though the most enthusiastic was, without a doubt, their leader.

“None, professor. This party will be unique in every sense under our direction,” Coco declared, standing with a confident smile.

Glynda raised an eyebrow at the girl’s exaggerated certainty.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t do… anything inappropriate,” Velvet intervened, gently placing a hand on Coco’s shoulder and making her sit back down, surprisingly easily.

“Well, I don’t know much about parties, but at least I can take care of moving the heavy things,” Yatsuhashi added in a calm, practical tone.

“You can always share your thoughts, Yatsu,” Velvet replied with a smile toward her friend.

“Pfft, meanwhile I need to visit some shops. The place has to look gorgeous and festive. That’s on me,” Coco said, already imagining the decoration details.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see it,” Fox commented calmly.

The office fell silent. Even Glynda stared at him, frowning behind her lenses. The sigh she let out was deep.

“Mr. Alistar, I ask that you please avoid comments of that nature in the presence of a teacher.”

Fox shrugged with a tilted smile and leaned back in his chair as if nothing had happened.

“Ahem… setting aside my partner’s bad joke,” Coco said, crossing her arms.

But before she could continue, the sound of a call interrupted the conversation. Glynda’s scroll vibrated on the desk, and she picked it up immediately.

“One moment,” she said, bringing it to her ear without checking who was calling.

Team CVFY exchanged awkward glances; none of them were happy with the interruption, least of all Coco, who already had a thousand plans in mind.

While Glynda spoke, Coco leaned toward Fox and muttered under her breath:

“Did you really have to make your blind joke in front of a teacher?”

“Didn’t you like it?” Fox replied with a calm, almost mischievous smile.

“That’s not the point and you know it!”

“Sure, sure…” he said, shrugging again.

Coco rolled her eyes and sighed.
“You’re impossible. Vel, help me teach this—”

Her words were cut off when she noticed Velvet’s expression. The rabbit faunus, usually serene, now wore a face marked by clear horror. Not only Coco noticed it: Yatsu frowned at the sight, while Fox, sensing the silence of his teammate, asked quietly:

“Did something happen?”

Coco was about to answer, but then she followed Velvet’s line of sight. Then she understood. Her eyes landed on Glynda.

And what she saw left her stunned.

In all her years at Beacon, she had never seen Professor Goodwitch with such an expression. It was surprise, yes, but tinged with a worry that made her look like a completely different person. Her lips were slightly parted, as if she doubted what she had just heard over the scroll.

“I’ll be there at once, Mr. Arc. And return to the academy as soon as possible,” Glynda said firmly before ending the call.

Coco raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. Arc…? Like Pyrrha’s leader? But she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

A loud thump interrupted her: Velvet had shot to her feet so suddenly her chair toppled to the floor.

“Professor?” she exclaimed, her voice charged with urgency.

Glynda, in contrast, rose with the same calm and elegance that always characterized her.

“Miss Scarlatina,” she said in a serene but stern tone, “I ask that you not do anything reckless. I will handle this personally.”

“B-but…” Velvet tried to protest, her breath quick and uneven.

Glynda was already moving toward the door.

“This meeting will have to end here. I have a matter to attend to,” she stated, adding without looking back: “Miss Scarlatina, I ask that you wait here.”

Velvet’s next words rang with a sharpness none of her teammates expected:

“How can you expect me to stay here… if they just arrested Ruby!?”

The office froze.

“Ruby?” Coco repeated, incredulous, turning to her friend. “Your faunus friend? The little one?”

“The leader of team RWBY?” Fox asked.

Glynda paused only for a moment. A slight arch of her brow was the only sign she had heard, but she said nothing.

Velvet, her voice breaking, insisted:

“Professor… let me go with you. I need to know she’s alright.”

Glynda glanced at her sideways, serious, almost unyielding.

“If you heard the call, then you know that showing up at the station would only complicate things further, don’t you?”

Velvet swallowed hard. The helplessness weighed in her chest. Finally, she lowered her gaze. Her ears drooped, reflecting her dejection.

Coco stood immediately, placed a firm hand on her shoulder, and helped her sit down again.

“Easy, Vel,” she murmured kindly to calm her.

The professor, now at the door, turned one last time.

“I will inform you when I can,” she said with a seriousness that left no room for argument, before leaving the office.

The silence that followed was suffocating. The tension could be cut with a knife.

Velvet kept her eyes down, hands clasped, biting her lower lip nonstop. Her ears remained lowered, drained of energy.

“Hey, relax,” Fox tried, shifting in his seat. “If even Professor Goodwitch is taking care of it… Ruby’s going to be fine.”

“Exactly,” Yatsu added in his deep but kind voice. “They wouldn’t let anything bad happen to a student.”

“Yeah, and we’re talking about your Ruby,” Coco said with a half-smile, trying to sound confident. “According to your stories, she’s been through worse already, hasn’t she?”

Velvet looked up at her teammate, her expression hollow.

“Vel…” Coco whispered, leaning toward her.

Then Velvet shot to her feet, gripping her leader’s arms with uncommon strength. Her brown eyes now shone with a mix of fear and determination.

“Coco Adel,” she said with a trembling but clear voice.

The use of her full name made Coco drop her usual act.

“V-Vel…?”

Velvet tightened her grip slightly, leaning closer.

“I need a favor.”

———

It didn’t take long for Sun’s argument with the guard to end in shouts and a loud slam against the bars. That irritated the two faunus girls in the adjoining cell, both exhaling in frustration, ears lowered. Finally, once the noise faded and the officers left, silence returned—broken only by the faint buzzing of the hallway lamp.

It wasn’t long before Sun spoke again, and soon the three of them were talking, trying to endure the situation.

“So… they advanced you two years?!” Sun asked in disbelief.

“Y-yeah…” Ruby replied, still curled up against Blake, her voice trembling. Anxiety was written all over her.

“She stopped a robbery at a store—the same thief from today,” Blake explained, with a hint of pride that sought to lift her leader’s spirits.

Sun’s eyes lit up.
“Wow! That must be amazing, being the first fifteen-year-old to enter an academy,” he said with genuine admiration.

Ruby lowered her gaze even further.
“A-actually… I’m fourteen. Well… in a few months I’ll turn fifteen.”

The silence that followed was broken almost in unison:

“Fourteen?!” Blake and Sun exclaimed in disbelief.

Ruby shrank even more into herself, fidgeting with the sleeves of her jacket, until Blake tilted her head toward her with tenderness.

“Hey, it’s fine… really, it’s incredible, Ruby.” Her voice was firm, reassuring.

“Of course it’s incredible!” Sun added with renewed enthusiasm. “God, you must be the envy of so many people.”

Ruby lifted her gaze just slightly, a weak smile tugging at her lips.
“T-thank you… both of you.”

A small pause fell over them, leaving the place silent again—until Sun broke it with a less cheerful question.

“Can I ask you something, Ruby?”

“S-sure… what is it?” she said, a little nervous.

“The officers here… they know you, don’t they? You’ve had this kind of… ‘misunderstanding’ before, haven’t you?”

Ruby froze at the question, her lips parting but no words coming out. The silence stretched on long enough to become uncomfortable, and soon it was clear her unease wasn’t from mere shyness. Her eyes wandered, lost, as if sinking into a memory she’d rather bury.

“Ruby?” Sun called, tilting his head.

“Ruby…” Blake echoed, her tone soft, concerned.

The young girl blinked a couple of times and then looked up abruptly, as if waking from a trance.
“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, pressing her lips together. “Y-yes… I’ve had several of these… ‘misunderstandings.’”

Her voice cracked a little on the last word. As she said it, she lowered her gaze to her cuffed hands, turning them slowly and feeling the cold metal against her skin. Then, nervously, she tilted her head toward the collar around her neck.

“A-although… this is the first time it’s gone this far… and… th-the collar…”

Blake leaned toward Ruby, gently caressing her cuffed arm.
“I’m sorry, Ruby,” she whispered firmly.

“Yeah… sorry, Ruby,” Sun added with a regretful look, scratching the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”

Ruby blinked, trying to force a small smile. She was about to say it’s okay—

But the words died on her lips when the door of the hall opened again. All three tensed at once. The echo of footsteps rang in the corridor, and the faint shadow moving closer was enough to make Ruby shrink further, hiding behind Blake’s back by sheer reflex.

The officer who appeared wasn’t the same as before. His posture was straighter, his gaze less hostile. Even so, Blake immediately stepped in front of Ruby, eyes sharp, ready for any venomous word. Sun, from his cell, gripped the bars with a wary look.

The man cleared his throat before speaking.
“Miss Ruby Rose.”

The tone wasn’t aggressive, but Blake didn’t like the sudden formality. Ruby, trembling a little, barely peeked over her friend’s shoulder, her breath uneven.

The officer continued without faltering:
“I come on behalf of Miss Adel. You are to be transferred from this cell to one of the station’s rooms.”

The three of them went silent, surprised by the words.

“For what reason?” Blake demanded, frowning as she shielded Ruby even more.

“I cannot disclose that,” the man replied firmly, his voice devoid of emotion.

“Then she’s not going anywhere!” Sun burst out from the next cell, shaking the bars with force. “You can’t just take her like that!”

The officer remained unfazed by the shout, only turning his gaze back to the small figure hiding behind Blake.

“Miss Ruby Rose, please come with me.”

Ruby clutched the fabric of Blake’s jacket, her legs trembling. Blake stepped forward, her voice icy.

“She’s not going anywhere until you tell us what you intend to do with her.”

The officer’s face hardened.
“This is not a request, Miss Belladonna. It is an order. If she does not cooperate, Miss Rose will be charged with refusing to collaborate with the authorities, in addition to the charges that may already apply from tonight.”

If Ruby’s ears could sink any lower, they would have. Ever since she woke, her ears had been down, but the threat of being blamed for what happened at the docks made her feel small, on the verge of breaking.

“That’s absurd!” Blake snapped, glaring daggers at the officer. “You have no right—”

“Blake!” Ruby cut her off suddenly. Her voice came out stronger than expected, though still broken. She stepped forward just slightly from behind her friend, her shackles clinking. “I-I’ll do it…”

Blake turned to her in horror.
“Ruby, no—”

Ruby quickly shook her head, pressing her lips together to keep her voice from trembling further.
“If… if I don’t, they’ll blame me… I don’t want to get anyone else in trouble…”

Sun slammed his fists against the bars, the echo resounding down the corridor.
“This has to be a joke! They won’t even say where they’re taking her!”

The officer didn’t answer him. Instead, he opened the cell door with a metallic screech that made Ruby’s skin crawl.

“Miss Rose,” he repeated, this time in a harsher tone. “Follow me.”

Ruby swallowed hard. Her steps were small, unsteady, as she moved forward. Blake grabbed her arm in a desperate attempt to stop her, but Ruby gave her a tearful, pleading look.

“Please, Blake… don’t make this worse.”

Blake felt her chest tighten as she slowly released her.

Ruby lowered her gaze and let herself be led out of the cell.

“The handcuffs will have to stay, unfortunately,” the guard said. Ruby only nodded.

The two walked away, Ruby in front, the officer following close behind. Blake lost sight of them until she heard the door shut, leaving her and Sun behind.

Sun clenched his fists, frustrated.
“This doesn’t feel right at all…” he muttered, more to himself than to Blake.

She remained silent, unable to tear her eyes from where Ruby had just been taken, an icy dread settling in her chest—the sense that letting her go alone had been a mistake.

Ruby’s footsteps echoed nervously through the police station’s hallways. The officer walked firmly ahead of her, while her shackles jingled with every small movement of her hands.

Every now and then, she felt eyes on her. Some agents watched with curiosity, others with clear disdain. Murmurs cut into her like knives:

“Isn’t that the faunus kid they arrested?”
“Yeah, the blonde’s little wolf.”
“Finally.”
“They say she was with Torchwick… and the White Fang.”
“The White Fang?”
“Yeah. They caught three of them, but haven’t let us interrogate them yet.”

Ruby froze, her eyes widening in fear. They think we’re White Fang? They want to interrogate us?

The officer barely turned his head.
“Come along, Miss Rose.”

“S-sorry…” Ruby muttered, forcing herself to move again, though anxiety coiled tight in her stomach.

They continued until stopping in front of a door different from the others—metal, heavier. The officer calmly pulled out a ring of keys and searched until he found the right one. The click of the lock thundered in Ruby’s ears.

She recognized immediately where they were. Her whole body tensed.
“A… an interrogation room?”

Expressionless, the officer held the door open for her.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be out of here soon.”

Ruby blinked in surprise, unsure.
“H-how soon? But I—”

“Inside,” he ordered flatly, leaving no room for argument.

Ruby lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to push her luck or risk another accusation. Swallowing hard, she stepped inside. The air was heavy, oppressively silent.

And then she saw her.

“Ruby!?” Pyrrha exclaimed, jumping to her feet at once.

Ruby blinked, stunned, her ears perking up.
“P-Pyrrha?”

The officer shut the door behind her, leaving them alone.

Pyrrha didn’t hesitate. The moment she saw Ruby, she rushed forward and wrapped her in a hug overflowing with relief and pent-up despair.

Ruby tried to return it, but her cuffed wrists knocked awkwardly against Pyrrha’s uniform. The metallic clink broke the moment.

“Your eye—!?” Pyrrha gasped, pulling back just enough to take Ruby’s hands carefully. Her expression shifted from shock to outrage as she noticed the cuffs on her wrists and, worse still, the collar around her neck—along with the black eye. “I can’t believe they did this to you!”

Ruby lowered her head, uneasy.
“I-it’s not that bad… really…”

“Not that bad?” Pyrrha repeated incredulously, her green eyes blazing with restrained fury. “Ruby, this is abuse. They shouldn’t be treating you like this.”

Ruby tried to smile at her, to calm her down, but managed only a nervous grimace.
“R-really, I’ve been through worse… and… I’m kind of used to it.”

The comment only seemed to hurt Pyrrha more. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. This wasn’t the time to lose control.

“Listen,” she said, meeting Ruby’s eyes. “They arrested all of us here after Torchwick escaped. It was absurd… but I managed to contact Jaune. He’s trying to reach the academy. If Glynda or the headmaster find out, they’ll get us out of here.”

Ruby nodded, a flicker of hope in her voice.
“I hope so… because Sun and Blake are still in the cells where I was. They weren’t released. I don’t even know why they took me out. Do you?”

“No… or at least they didn’t tell me,” Pyrrha replied, wondering herself why Ruby had been singled out. But Ruby just lowered her head again, her ears drooping. Pyrrha helped her sit down in the chair nearby.

Pyrrha pressed her lips together, furious at the injustice.
“Don’t worry, Ruby. This won’t end like this. I promise we’ll all get out together.”

Ruby swallowed and nodded, letting Pyrrha’s determination lend her a bit of strength.

———

Jaune had stepped away from the group, walking a few steps toward the edge of the sidewalk so he could finish the call without interruptions. His low, urgent voice was lost among the murmur of the city until he finally hung up, letting out a sigh heavy with exhaustion.

When he turned, he saw his teammates gathered around Yang. Ren was the one speaking at that moment, his tone calm but firm, explaining what they knew about what had happened at the police station. Nora and Weiss stood with him, each wearing tense expressions but in different ways: Nora fidgeting, hands clenched tight, and Weiss with her brow furrowed, rigid as always whenever things slipped out of her control.

Yang, however, remained silent. Her gaze fixed on the ground, her fists relaxed at her sides. A calm far too strange for anyone who truly knew her.

Jaune rejoined the group just as Ren finished his explanation.

“Everything okay, Yang?” he asked cautiously.

Everyone braced for the roar. The stomp on the ground, the explosion of anger so characteristic of her. But it didn’t come.

Yang lifted her head and nodded slowly, once, twice.

“Fine… fine,” she said in a steady, almost calm voice.

The answer left the group unsettled. Weiss arched a brow. Nora opened her mouth to say something, but held back. Ren simply observed her closely, perceiving what hid beneath that calm.

Yang then slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her scroll.

Yang slid her finger across the scroll’s screen, contacts flashing past her eyes without her really reading them. The firmness of her thumb contrasted with the faint tremor in her breathing.

“Everything okay, Yang?” Nora asked again, tilting her head cautiously.

“Yes,” Yang replied flatly, without looking up from the device.

Jaune frowned, taking a step toward her.
“You sure?”

The silence stretched for a second longer. Then Yang’s head shot up, her eyes blazing red with fury, her golden hair flaring like embers.

“I said I’m fine!” she roared, her voice cutting through the street like a whip.

The group froze. Even Nora, who rarely flinched, took a step back. Weiss pressed her lips together, holding back a retort, and Ren remained steady, his expression unreadable but alert.

Yang swept her gaze across all of them, making sure no one dared say another word. Then, with a furious huff, she looked back at her scroll and lifted it to her ear.

Yang paced back and forth like a caged beast, the ringing tone repeating, her frustration growing with each passing second.

“Damn it, old drunk, answer!” she snarled, teeth clenched.

The group exchanged tense glances. No one dared interrupt.

Finally, a click came through the device: someone had answered.

But before the voice could say anything, Yang exploded:

“They arrested Ruby!”

A heavy silence fell immediately. The group could only hear Yang’s ragged breathing.

“I don’t know!” Yang clenched her fists. “A friend contacted us. She said there was an incident with the White Fang and… they mistook her for a member.”

Another pause. Weiss lowered her gaze, uneasy. Nora shifted from side to side, and Ren stood silent, feeling Yang’s tension spreading through all of them.

“No, she’s not answering her scroll!” Yang barked, raising her voice again.

She listened in silence for a few more seconds, before interrupting once more:

“Don’t expect me to calm down right now.” Her tone wavered between fury and desperation.

A final huff, then she lowered her head with a hint of guilt.
“Fine… I’m going there right now. And… sorry for yelling. Thanks.”

With a sharp movement, she ended the call, leaving the group in even heavier silence.

Without waiting for anyone’s response, Yang turned and started walking with firm steps. The sound of her boots against the ground echoed in the quiet street.

Yang didn’t even glance back at them when she snapped:

“I’m going to the station. If you want, go back to Beacon.”

The group stopped in their tracks. No one said anything immediately, until Weiss stepped forward, arms crossed.

“Not a chance, Xiao Long. Our teammates are locked up in there, and I intend to set things right.”

Yang froze at Weiss’s words, and the bitter laugh she let out echoed in the street.

“"You? You want to help?" He turned sharply, his eyes blood red. "Don't fuck with me, Schnee. All you've done since this started is complain and make things worse. Don't pretend you care."

Weiss didn’t flinch, though her fists clenched tightly.
“I do care. Blake is—”

“Shut up!” Yang roared, stepping forward. The ground trembled under her stomp. “Don’t say her name like you’re suddenly her friend. You’re nothing but a stuck-up hypocrite!”

Nora and Jaune stiffened, but didn’t dare step in. Ren stood steady, watching in silence.

Weiss drew a deep breath, lifting her chin with dignity.
“I may have been wrong, but I’m not turning my back on them now. Not on Blake. Not on Ruby.”

Her sister’s name only fueled Yang’s rage.

“Ruby? Do you really care about her?” Yang pointed at her, her finger trembling with fury. “You always treat her badly and complain about her! If you only knew the crap she’s been through! If you only knew what she’s lived through, how people like you treated her like trash just because she wasn’t human!”

Yang’s voice broke on that last shout, and everyone froze. Weiss blinked, confused.

“…because she wasn’t…?”

Yang clenched her teeth—too late. The silence that followed was heavier than any scream.

Weiss stared at her, slowly piecing together what Yang had let slip, and why Ruby had been arrested in the first place.

“Ruby is…”

Yang growled, turning away abruptly.
“Shit! Forget it. It’s none of your business.”

The group stood in shock, but Weiss, steadier than before, stepped forward.
“Of course it is. Because if Ruby is my teammate, then it’s my duty to be there for her.” Her voice didn’t waver. “And I will be, whether you believe me or not, Yang.”

Yang didn’t answer. She just clenched her fists so hard her knuckles went white, and kept walking toward the station with contained fury. Weiss, seeing she wouldn’t stop, followed her. The others, after a quick exchange of glances, trailed silently behind.

———

The interrogation room was heavy with silence, broken only by the faint hum of the lamp above them. Ruby and Pyrrha sat waiting, uncertainty weighing on every second that passed.

They braced for anything—a news update, an accusation, or simply someone walking in to decide their fate.

Finally, the door creaked open. The same officer who had escorted Ruby appeared at the threshold.

Both girls rose at the same time. Ruby, clumsy with the chains still on her ankles, stumbled against the table leg, but Pyrrha caught her before she could fall.

The man cleared his throat, drawing their attention immediately. Ruby swallowed hard, while Pyrrha stepped forward firmly.

“What is it?” Pyrrha asked, her voice steady.

The officer paused, as if deliberately, then said:

“You’re being released.”

Pyrrha’s eyes widened. Ruby blinked in disbelief.

“R-released?” Ruby echoed.

The man nodded seriously.

“That’s right. Your friends as well.”

He straightened his stance before adding:

“It was thanks to Huntress Goodwitch contacting us. We regret the inconvenience.”

Relief rushed through them like air after being underwater too long. Pyrrha let out a nervous laugh, bowing her head.

“Thank goodness…” she murmured.

The officer approached Ruby then, pulling out a ring of keys that jingled in his hand.

“Allow me,” he said, his tone much softer than before. He knelt slightly and, with quick turns of the key, unlocked the shackles on her ankles, then her wrists, and finally the collar.

Ruby rubbed her wrists gently, wincing at the red marks left behind by the cuffs. She didn’t complain—only breathed in deeply, stretching slightly, savoring the freedom.

“I apologize for the… unfortunate behavior of some of my officers,” the man added, tucking the keys back at his belt.

“It’s… it’s okay,” Ruby answered with a nervous smile—though it was more out of politeness than genuine belief.

The officer nodded once more.

“Your belongings will be returned to you shortly.”

Then, with a step back, he declared:

“You may leave.”

Relief surged again, and Pyrrha leaned toward Ruby.

“Come on, Ruby. Let’s go meet the others and get out of here,” she said, her voice almost trembling with relief.

But the man raised his hand to stop them.

“Not exactly,” he said, his tone suddenly heavier. Both girls stiffened immediately. Ruby froze, and Pyrrha stepped forward, irritation sharpening her voice.

“Excuse me? Why not?”

The officer sighed, glancing directly at Ruby.

“Because you, Miss Rose, cannot leave.”

The words struck like ice. Ruby’s eyes widened, Pyrrha bristled.

“And why not?” Pyrrha demanded.

“We still need full statements regarding the incident,” he explained, “but that will happen tomorrow, after you’ve received medical attention and rest.”

Ruby tilted her head, nervous and confused.

“A-and what does that have to do with me not leaving?”

The man looked down briefly before answering in a tired tone:

“Because you are still a minor, Miss Rose. You can only be released into the custody of your legal guardian.”

Ruby’s mouth fell open. Pyrrha’s fists clenched, ready to argue again—but the officer cut her off:

“Your father, Mr. Xiao Long, has already been notified.”

Ruby lowered her gaze, resignation softening her features. She simply nodded.

Ruby and Pyrrha walked out of the interrogation room. Ruby moved cautiously, still sore from the cuffs’ marks, while Pyrrha stayed close, ready to steady her at any moment.

It didn’t take long before they reached the waiting area. Blake and Sun were already there.

The faunus girl immediately stood, relief in her eyes, while Sun lifted a hand casually in greeting.

“Blake!” Ruby cried, her wolf ears perking up instinctively with joy. She rushed forward, stumbling into Blake’s arms.

“Hello, Ruby,” Blake murmured, hugging her tightly, though the tension of everything that had happened still lingered in her voice.

Meanwhile, Pyrrha stopped in front of Sun, studying him curiously.

“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced, have we?”

Sun tilted his head, smiling easily.

“Doesn’t look like it. Name’s Sun. You?”

Pyrrha arched a brow, surprised.

“You don’t recognize me?”

“…Should I?” he asked, looking between Pyrrha and the others, clearly puzzled.

Pyrrha chuckled softly, extending her hand with polite elegance.

“It’s fine. I’m Pyrrha Nikos. Pleasure to meet you.”

“No need for the formality,” Sun laughed, shaking her hand without hesitation. “After all we just went through, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Pyrrha nodded, accepting his attitude with a small smile before glancing at the others warmly.

“I’m just glad you’re all safe. I can’t imagine how hard this was for you.”

Ruby looked down, biting her lip.

“It was… scary. But at least… we’re okay.”

“Yeah,” Blake added firmly, arms crossed. “Though the guards made sure it was far more difficult than it needed to be.”

Sun threw his head back with a dramatic sigh.

“Lesson learned: never trust the first officer who smiles at you.”

Pyrrha gave him a patient smile.

“What matters is that we’re together again. That makes things a little easier.”

Ruby nodded faintly, still a bit curled in on herself, but her ears and tail betrayed her relief.

“Well then,” Pyrrha continued with renewed resolve, “now that we’re out of those cells, we need to figure out our next step.”

“Yeah… first we rest a bit. Then… call someone from Beacon,” Ruby suggested.

“Sounds like a plan,” Sun grinned. “Though, uh… I don’t know anyone from Beacon.”

“Don’t worry, Sun,” Pyrrha reassured him. “The important thing is we’re not alone anymore. We can work this out together.”

The four of them found a quieter corner of the waiting area, sitting down as the tension slowly eased.

After explaining the little they knew, they agreed to stay until Ruby’s father came for her. Time dragged on. Officers passed by; some ignored them, others shot disdainful looks before walking away quickly. One, however, approached with a first aid kit and a cold compress. It was a small gesture—but it stood out, especially since several of his colleagues glared at him for it.

Blake was the first to take it, gently pressing it against Ruby’s bruised eye.

That brief moment of calm shattered.

The station doors slammed open violently, nearly ripped off their hinges by a powerful kick. Officers turned, startled, as a furious voice thundered through the air:

“WHERE IS SHE?!”

Yang stormed inside, her crimson eyes blazing, each step echoing like a drumbeat.

The teens froze, stunned by the sight. But before anyone could react, a rush of rose petals swirled past them.

“Yang!” Ruby cried, flinging herself into her sister’s arms.

Yang caught her effortlessly, squeezing her close, her anger melting away the instant she felt Ruby safe in her hold.

“Ruby!” Yang’s voice trembled with relief. “Thank goodness… thank goodness you’re okay.”

Ruby’s hood had fallen back, her wolf ears fully exposed. Yang didn’t care. She held her tighter, relief overcoming every other thought.

The others watched, some smiling faintly, others simply relieved. Blake, however, lowered her gaze, guilt tightening in her chest. She knew she’d have to face Yang sooner or later.

Ruby clung to her sister, but Yang gently pulled back just enough to see her face. The bruise around Ruby’s eye hardened her expression instantly.

“Those bastards…” Yang growled, fury igniting again as she set Ruby down, clearly intent on marching toward the officers.

“Yang!” Ruby called quickly, knowing exactly what her sister was about to do.

But Yang didn’t hear. Rage clouded her judgment. She took a step forward—then froze, her body locked in place, glowing with a faint purple aura. She didn’t need to look to know who was behind it.

Heels clicked against the floor. A calm throat cleared.

“Miss Xiao Long,” Glynda Goodwitch’s cold voice cut through the air as she entered the station. “I strongly suggest you calm yourself before provoking an unnecessary incident.”

“P-professor Goodwitch…” Ruby gasped, her eyes wide in surprise.

The woman inclined her head slightly toward her.

“I’m glad to see you unharmed, Miss Rose. Please, take a seat while we wait for your father.”

Ruby nodded quickly.

“And you, Miss Xiao Long,” Glynda continued, turning her stern gaze back to Yang, “if I release you, I expect you to stay at your sister’s side. Nothing more. Understood?”

Yang ground her teeth but knew her vengeance was impossible now.

“…Understood, professor,” she muttered.

With a wave of her hand, Glynda released her Semblance. Yang staggered slightly as control returned, but managed to stay upright.

Goodwitch turned, scanning the rest of the room. Only Ruby showed visible injuries, and one boy she didn’t recognize, but she put off judgment for later. For now, she needed order.

“Mr. Arc,” she called firmly.

Ruby tensed. Her heart clenched as she slowly turned her head toward the entrance.

And there they were.

Team JNPR, with Weiss at their side, stood in the doorway.

Jaune stared, wide-eyed, his mouth slightly open.
Nora blinked again and again, as if waiting for the sight to vanish.
Ren, usually unshaken, had his brows arched in rare surprise, though his stance remained rigid.

And Weiss… Weiss was marble—white, stiff, her eyes frozen wide, her silence colder than any scream.

Ruby froze too. Her breath stopped. There she was, exposed. Her black wolf ears—her secret—out in the open. Every lie, every concealment she had lived with until now, all laid bare before the people she cared about most.

“G-guys… I-I…” Her ears drooped flat against her hair, weighed down by shame.

“I believe I told you to return to the academy with your team, Mr. Arc,” Glynda repeated sharply.

Jaune blinked out of his daze, stumbling over his words before bowing his head toward the professor.

“S-sorry, professor. But… we had to know if our… friends were okay.”

Ruby caught the hesitation in his voice. That pause. That doubt. Was it already happening?

“If that’s the case,” Glynda replied, implacable, “then take your team back to Beacon at once. Curfew ended hours ago, and the last thing I need is to report you for breaking rules.”

“Y-yes, o-of course…” Jaune stammered, turning away.

Ren took Nora’s arm, pulling her along gently when she seemed unable to move.

Ruby reached out with a trembling hand, her voice a whisper.

“Jaune…”

She watched him walk away. And with him, she felt something greater slipping from her grasp.

Had she already lost it?

“Miss Xiao Long. Miss Schnee. The same goes for you,” Glynda declared.

The two girls reacted instantly, staring at her as if she had said the unthinkable. Yang spoke first.

“I’m not leaving without my sister,” she snapped, her fury thinly veiled.

“I understand your anger, believe me,” Glynda said, her tone softening slightly, “but unfortunately, neither of you were directly involved in the altercation at the docks. That only applies to your teammates and Miss Nikos.”

Her words drew immediate tension from Yang and Weiss. Both turned their eyes almost simultaneously toward the last missing member of their team.

Blake.

She lowered her head, shame pulling her ears down, trying to hide them from their gaze.

Weiss, silent until now, finally found her voice—or so she thought.

“Professor… as her teammates, we—”

She couldn’t finish. The words died in her throat. All her years of training to stay composed in difficult moments felt useless now. The helplessness burned inside her.

Glynda let out a sigh that sounded equal parts weary and stern.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be informed of the situation when possible. For now, I need you to return.”

Yang started, “You can’t—”

“Yang!” Ruby cut her off, stepping forward and holding her gaze. “I’m fine, I swear. Dad will be here soon… please.”

Yang heard the plea in her sister’s voice. She always gave in for Ruby. She couldn’t make her feel worse.

“Call me the moment you can, okay?”

After a tight embrace, the sisters parted. Yang headed for the exit. She glanced briefly at Blake—her eyes sharp—but Blake turned away quickly.

Passing Weiss, Yang said nothing. But Ruby noticed her partner still standing, staring at the floor.

Ruby approached carefully.

“W-Weiss… are you okay?”

The heiress raised her eyes just slightly.

“I-I… need to think…”

She turned to leave—but stopped when she felt a hand grab her arm.

Weiss looked back, meeting Ruby’s tearful eyes.

“Weiss, wait, I… I can explain. Please, let me explain…”

Ruby’s words were cut short when Weiss yanked her arm free, nearly knocking Ruby to the ground. Ruby looked up at her, stunned—and saw disgust flash across Weiss’s face before it quickly twisted into shock.

Weiss stared at the arm Ruby had touched, as if searching for something invisible. Her expression shifted, unreadable.

Ruby’s voice broke.

“Weiss… I swear I can explain. Please… just let me explain…”

Weiss kept staring at her arm for a few more seconds. Then, finally, she lifted her eyes back to Ruby, her face uncertain.

“I… promise I’ll listen. But…”

“RUBY!”

The voice of a man cut through the scene from behind. Ruby barely had time to react before the man pulled her into a sudden embrace, wrapping her completely.

“D-dad,” Ruby exclaimed, returning the hug with all her strength.

Taiyang pulled back a little, placing a hand on his daughter’s cheek to look at her better.

“Are you alright, my little petal?”

Ruby was about to answer with relief, but out of the corner of her eye she noticed Weiss was no longer there. She had left.

“Ruby?” her father asked, worried, seeing his daughter’s tear-filled eyes.

“Y-yeah… I’m fine… I’m fine…”

Taiyang accepted the answer with a gentle smile and asked her to wait there, that they’d be leaving soon. Ruby stayed standing as she watched her father and her teacher walk off with an officer holding a notepad.

She looked toward the still-open entrance, feeling the cold night air brush her skin. That was where her sister had been, her friends, her partner… she had lost them, as always, and sadly a thought forced its way in as tears ran down her cheeks—one she had sworn never to feel again:

*I wish I hadn’t been born with these ears.*

Chapter Text

The silence of the forest was broken only by the crunch of dry leaves under three pairs of shoes. The full moon, peeking through the treetops of Patch, poured its silvery light over the path. Two little girls and a boy walked together along it: a young human with black hair and fair skin, a young faunus with a pair of black wolf ears on her head —Ruby Rose— and, at her side, a girl with pink hair dressed in a pink-and-white dress.

"And then, the officers slid in the mud" the boy said between laughs. "I swear every fall was worth watching!"

Ruby let out a nervous giggle, bringing her hands to her mouth.

"That’s not funny, Brandom!" she retorted, though her ears twitched with suppressed laughter. "Well… maybe just a little."

The pink-haired girl lowered her gaze a bit, trying to contain her own laugh while playing with a yo-yo, but a small sound escaped her.

"E-erm… yes… it was… it was kind of funny," she murmured, cheeks slightly flushed.

Brandom glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, smiling in satisfaction.

"See? Even Lily admitted it."

"Yeah, yeah, stop teasing" Ruby pouted at her friend.

"And your sister isn’t stalking us today?" Brandom asked, looking around.

"Nope, she’s at a party with some friends" Ruby replied.

"Ah… "Lily whispered, softly clutching the folds of her dress "S-so… today… we’re alone…"

Brandom nodded at the response. There was a moment of silence, which he himself decided to break.

"Hard to believe we still have more than a decade left before becoming hunters."

"Bah… "Ruby puffed her cheeks, quickly changing the subject. "The important thing is that in a few years we’ll finish Signal! And then… then the academy, and then we’ll be real hunters!"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said it, almost as if she could already see the future ahead of her.

"I’m already thinking about my weapon. Something incredible, that combines a scythe and… and… I don’t know what else yet, but I’ll figure it out!"

Brandom raised an eyebrow, amused.

"You’ve already got everything planned, huh? Is your life that organized?"

Ruby huffed and, with a playful push, gave him a light tap on the shoulder.

"It’s not the same for you!"

"Of course it is, wolfie," he replied, shrugging and feigning seriousness—. "It’s just that I plan to be the best hunter of them all. You’ll have to keep up with me."

Lily lagged a step behind, hesitating a few seconds before speaking in a low voice.

"A-and I… we’ll all… be hunters… someday" she said timidly, fingers intertwined in front of her.

Ruby turned to her with a bright smile.

"Of course, Lily! The three of us will make it!"

The three of them laughed softly —or in Lily’s case, let out a nervous giggle. The echo of their little joy was lost among the trees. The path stretched forward, surrounded by shadows, but in that moment, only the three of them existed: three inseparable friends with a bright future.

Ruby’s laughter suddenly died out. She blinked in confusion, and when she opened her eyes, the forest was no longer the same. The night was still present, but now everything was covered by a mantle of snow. The trees looked like frozen skeletons, and the wind howled with a blizzard so fierce it forced her to squint. She could barely make out the path.

"B-Brandom?" she called, her voice trembling.

No answer. Only the hooting of the wind returned her call. Ruby clenched her fists and took a few shaky steps forward, as the snow clung to her boots.

"Lily! —she cried again, desperate". Brandom, answer me!

Nothing. The silence was absolute, except for the storm’s roar. The girl wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, her ears pressed flat against her hair from the cold and fear.

Finally, her knees gave out, and she fell onto the frozen snow, breathing in short, trembling gasps.

"Lily…" she whispered, and then, with a broken sob". Yang…!"

That’s when she heard it: footsteps, slow but firm, crushing the snow beneath them. Ruby lifted her gaze abruptly. There was Brandom, standing tall in front of her. His face was expressionless, carved in stone, and his eyes watched her without emotion.

Ruby clumsily got to her feet and ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms.

"Brandom! I knew you’d find me!"

But the embrace never came. The boy remained stiff, unmoving. Ruby stepped back just enough to look at his face… and then she saw it: a deep, twisted scar ran down his cheek, giving him a cruel, unfamiliar look.

"B… Brandom…" Ruby murmured, her voice cracking as her ears trembled.

Suddenly, the boy shoved her violently. Ruby hit the ground, the icy snow burning her hands. When she opened her eyes, she saw a pair of scissors stuck in the snow before her. The red handle gleamed under the moonlight, and the blade, stained red, dyed the white ground beneath it.

Ruby’s heart froze. She lifted her gaze in terror—Brandom was no longer alone. Around him, black figures emerged: human silhouettes without features, but with glowing red eyes that pierced through her like blades.

Brandom looked down at her, his voice dripping with venom.

"If only you didn’t have those ears…"

The world collapsed around her. The shadows lunged toward her, and before she could scream, her vision went black.

———

"Agh!" the air escaped her lungs with a groan as she woke, doubling over from the sudden pain.

She blinked in confusion, and when she looked down, she found the culprit: a small corgi with a dangling tongue and a mischievous gaze, staring up at her as if nothing had happened.

"Zwei?" Ruby was surprised to see her loyal pet, holding him in her hands as she lifted him. "What are you doing here!?"

The dog barked cheerfully and wagged his tail, as if the answer were as simple as “just because.” Ruby hugged him against her chest, but as she did, she froze, realizing that her beloved corgi was somehow in Beacon.

"How did you get here? You should be with Dad in… Patch…" she whispered, her words fading little by little.

That’s when she realized it. She wasn’t in her team’s dorm room. There were no bunk beds, no Yang’s tossed uniform, no scattered books. Ruby looked up and glanced around. The walls were painted a soft, familiar color; the wooden furniture bore the marks of years; and on the desk rested her hood, her scroll, and her baby Crescent Rose.

"This… this is my room… in Patch… how…" she said almost in a murmur, as if she couldn’t quite believe it.

Before she could question why she was in her room in Patch, a familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"I’m glad to see you awake, Ruby."

In the doorway stood Taiyang. His figure filled the frame; his clear eyes softened at the sight of her awake, and without another word, he crossed the room to wrap her in a strong, warm embrace.

Ruby blinked in surprise, still clutching Zwei in her arms.

"Dad?"

Ruby was lost; she didn’t remember coming back to Patch. It didn’t bother her—but that blank space in her mind unsettled her.

Taiyang pulled back a little to look at her, his hands firm on his daughter’s shoulders.

"How are you feeling, Ruby"

Ruby nodded quickly, though she suddenly noticed an odd tugging sensation on her face. She brought a trembling hand to her right eye.

"I’m… fine… it’s just…" her voice cracked slightly. "Something feels weird with my eye…"

Taiyang let out a patient sigh, though worry still marked his features.

"The black eye will take a while to heal, Ruby. Let your aura do its work; it’ll pass soon enough."

"B-black eye?" she repeated in a whisper, as if the idea itself were strange. But then, memory struck her like a wave: the time at the station…

To distract her, Taiyang lifted a hand and gently ruffled her dark brown hair.

Ruby frowned, her wolf ears twitching.

"Careful with the ears, Dad!" she said with a small pout.

He smiled crookedly, lowering his hand a bit but still giving her a fond gesture.

"Relax, I know what I’m doing. And speaking of what matters… are you hungry? Breakfast is almost ready."

Ruby, still hugging Zwei, felt her stomach growl treacherously. She blushed a little and nodded.

"Actually… yeah. I’d like that."

The corgi barked as if to confirm the answer, wagging his tail and bouncing on the bed, making both of them laugh.

It was strange, no doubt. After months at Beacon, Ruby had almost forgotten what it felt like to live at home again.

Still feeling that odd tightness in her chest, she got out of bed and noticed she was still wearing her combat uniform. With a quick motion, she went into the bathroom and let the warm water wash away the dust and grime from the cell where she had spent the previous night. The steam eased her tension, but her mind remained restless—the events of yesterday weren’t something she could just ignore.

Already dressed in a clean copy of her combat outfit, she fixed her hair as best she could, the emblem of her mother glinting faintly. Now only her greatest treasure was missing—her baby Crescent Rose, which had been confiscated yesterday but was now free again…

She raised her right hand to take it, but when she saw her hand, she froze halfway, unable to avoid seeing a white figure in front of her for a brief second. She started trembling, grabbing her own arm with her free hand to calm herself.

And it worked. She was left confused, even disturbed. Ignoring it, she quickly decided to grab her weapon along with her Scroll and hurried down the stairs, entering the dining room where she sat down right away.

Ruby rested her elbow on the table, staring into space, trying to piece together what had happened last night. How had she ended up in Patch after all that? Her memory was hazy, full of gaps.

Then, a familiar sound buzzed in her pocket: pip-pip.

The Scroll.

She took it out immediately, and the screen expanded before her eyes, showing an endless list of messages and missed calls. Ruby felt several emotions at once—guilt being the strongest. The first name on the list was also the one with the most messages.

She opened the chat.

—Chat: BigSis/Yang 🔥—

Yesterday

Sis/Yang 🔥: Ruby, how was class?
Sis/Yang 🔥: Any sign of Blake?
Sis/Yang 🔥: Geez, sis, are you having such a great time with the invincible girl that you can’t even text me back?
Sis/Yang 🔥: Should I be jealous?
Sis/Yang 🔥: Ruby
Sis/Yang 🔥: This is a bad joke.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Right?
Sis/Yang 🔥: Please answer.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Please, answer me.
Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call
Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call
Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call
Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call

Today

Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call
Sis/Yang 🔥: missed call
Sis/Yang 🔥: Hey, Rubes, call me when you wake up, okay?
Sis/Yang 🔥: I know you’re fine and you’ll tell me.
Sis/Yang 🔥: But I worry, and I’d like to hear it from you.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Dad told me he brought you home.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Say hi to Zwei for me.
Sis/Yang 🔥: That corgi probably won’t leave your side.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Anyway, call me when you can, Ruby.
Sis/Yang 🔥: Love you.

—

Ruby felt a lump in her throat as she read it all. She bit her lip, gripping the Scroll tightly between her fingers. She had made Yang go through hell worrying about her. She never wanted that—but still…

For a moment, she thought about calling her back right away, but then she heard her father moving in the kitchen and the smell of breakfast filling the house. She didn’t want to sound nervous or teary in front of him. With a sigh, she closed the chat.

The next name on the list nearly rivaled Yang’s in messages and missed calls. Ruby blinked in confusion.

—How… how did she even know something happened to me? —she murmured, slowly opening the next thread.

—Chat: Vel 🤎—

Yesterday

Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: Hi Ruby, I’m Coco Adel, Velvet’s friend.
Vel 🤎: Velvet’s been really worried about you and has been calling for hours. She didn’t want to leave her scroll without hearing from you, so we had to… make her rest for her own good.
Vel 🤎: I hope you’re okay.
Vel 🤎: And I hope you can call her soon, so she knows you are.

Today

Vel 🤎: missed call
Vel 🤎: Hi Ruby. I hope that when you read this, you’re already doing better. Yang came to my room early to tell me what happened and that you’re… fine.
Vel 🤎: Really dumb of me not to think of contacting Yang first…
Vel 🤎: I’m so sorry for what happened to you, truly. I hope you’re feeling better and that you can call me when you can.
Vel 🤎: You know we can always talk about anything, whether trivial or personal.
Vel 🤎: Take care, okay? Love you, my little pup.

—

Ruby smiled at those last words. Velvet always managed to make her smile… though that smile soon turned into a grimace. Even Velvet knew. Don’t get her wrong—she was glad someone cared—but she hated being the center of attention again.

And Coco… Coco Adel. That last name rang a bell, and recently, though she couldn’t place where. She’d think about it later. For now, she’d just have to call Velvet soon to ease her mind.

Leaving Velvet’s chat, there were still a few more to check. Fewer messages than before, but still… Ruby took a deep breath and opened Pyrrha’s chat.

—Chat: Pyr Pyr—

Today

Pyr Pyr: Good morning, Ruby. I hope you’re feeling better than yesterday.
Pyr Pyr: I’m really sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to you.
Pyr Pyr: In the end, you didn’t have to testify, and since you’d been waiting so long… you fell asleep in the chairs.
Pyr Pyr: Professor Goodwitch said it would be best for you to go home with your father, so you could start the next day as calmly as possible.
Pyr Pyr: I hope that’s the case. We’re all worried about you, message us when you can, Ruby.

—

Pretty concise, Ruby thought as she read Pyrrha’s few messages. No calls, no floods of notifications. Just simple messages, wishing her well and asking her to let them know when she could. At least now she understood why she was home. If I fell asleep… that explains why I don’t remember getting to Patch.

Though that only answered where she was, not everything else.

She left the chat and moved on to the next one. She paused a few seconds before tapping the screen: an unknown number, no profile picture. Weird—really weird. But curiosity was always a strong motivator for Ruby. With a small sigh, she opened it.

—???—

???: message deleted

—

Ruby raised an eyebrow, disappointed.

—Well… that was anticlimactic.

She checked the number, but it didn’t ring a bell. Maybe someone texted the wrong person, she thought. Not worth worrying about, so she exited the chat.

The next one, however, made her stop cold. It wasn’t a stranger. Quite the opposite. The name on the screen froze her in place. Seeing it didn’t bring joy—it brought sadness and a crushing emptiness.

Her hand trembled before she pressed the icon. Just remembering that face from last night sent chills down her spine. She was scared of what she might find there.

Finally, with a knot in her throat, she pressed it. She closed her eyes as soon as she did, wishing that when she opened them, things would be different. A flicker of hope clung inside her: maybe Weiss had given her another chance—maybe she had forgiven her.

With effort, Ruby opened her eyes.

—Chat: Weiss/Princess/BFF❄️—

Yesterday

Weiss/Princess/BFF❄️: missed call
Weiss/Princess/BFF❄️: missed call
Weiss/Princess/BFF❄️: missed call

Today

Weiss/Princess/BFF❄️: message deleted

—

Ruby stared at the Scroll’s screen—or rather, at the empty space where a message used to be. The deleted message.

If she’d had even the tiniest thread of hope left, now there was only sadness.

Weiss had written to her… but regretted it. She deleted it.

The Scroll trembled in her hands—though it wasn’t the device; it was Ruby, her fingers barely holding it, her breath knotted tight in her chest. She felt the world closing in around her.

She lowered her gaze, her ears flattening against her hair.

"I guess… I deserve that" she whispered to herself, barely audible.

The screen remained lit, white and cold, illuminating her face. That silence weighed more than any words Weiss could have written.

Ruby swallowed hard, her hands still shaking. She wanted to cry, but before she could, the door opened softly.

"Ready for breakfast?" asked her father’s warm voice. Taiyang entered with a makeshift tray, a couple of toasts, eggs, and orange juice. Zwei followed behind, tail wagging, happy to be part of the routine.

Ruby jumped slightly, quickly turning her Scroll face-down. She forced herself to breathe deeply, to smile—even if just faintly.

"Y-yeah… of course" she replied, trying to hide how broken her voice had been just seconds ago.

Taiyang sat, setting the tray in front of her.

"That’s what I thought. You need to eat, Rubesyou’re still growing" he said, ruffling her hair gently, careful not to touch her ears.

Ruby tilted her head to the side, pretending to be annoyed but grateful for the distraction.

"Dad… I told you to watch the ears."

"I know, I know." he smiled, winking at her. "Trust me, I’ve got practice."

Ruby looked down at the plate, gripping the fork a little stiffly. She forced herself to take the first bite. The taste was simple, homey—but more than anything, it grounded her amid the storm in her mind.

———

The wind on her face was a feeling she had always loved since she was little. Running and feeling it against her used to seem like the most fun thing in the world—but today, the wind was so strong that she didn’t even need to move to feel it. She lifted her gaze to the sky, distracted, until a crack made her turn sharply.

A broken branch… and then, a squirrel darted quickly through the grass. Ruby let out a small laugh and shook her head.

"Oops, got distracted… sorry" she murmured, tilting her head as if to get back to her train of thought. "Just like my friends and I walking out of the station…"

She adjusted her stance, taking a deep breath before continuing:

"You know… being in a cell again reminded me how bad they smelled" she said with a half-ironic smile. "And how uncomfortable the cuffs were… especially the collar."

She shook her head, wanting to push that image away.

"But at least the misunderstanding was cleared up. Even my friends came out better than I did. Since I’m underage, they just let me go. And out of boredom… I ended up falling asleep in the waiting room. —She let out a small, almost childish laugh. "Professor Goodwitch said a day with Dad would do me good, and… she was right. I’m glad to be home, to be with him and with Zwei."

Her tone cracked a little, though her smile remained.

"But I don’t want to delay the inevitable anymore. Dad told me that when you did it, they accepted you… and that nothing changed between you. Just Dad… with even worse puns."

Ruby sighed, lifting her gaze toward the open sky as if searching for something hidden among the clouds. Finally, she stood up, taking the large box her father had given her, brushing the dust from her skirt.

"Thanks for listening to me, Mom" she said softly, almost in a whisper that blended with the wind. "I’m sorry I don’t visit as often as before… but I promise I’ll come back with good news."

She took a step back, bowed her head respectfully, and turned to leave. The sunlight filtering through the trees bathed the white gravestone in a warm glow. To Ruby, it felt like a silent reply from her mother. With that thought in mind, she smiled as she walked away.

The walk to Patch’s transport station was short, but with that large box she carried—half her size—each step felt heavier. Ruby didn’t seem bothered, though; on the contrary, she walked calmly, her hood pushed back and her loose hair gently lifted by the breeze.

Along the way, several people recognized her. Some neighbors, others old acquaintances of her family, greeted her warmly with a wave or even a knowing smile. Ruby, though a little shy, returned each greeting just as kindly, and even with a couple of nervous giggles when people said things like “you’ve grown up so fast” or “you’re just like your mother.”

Finally, she arrived at the public airship that connected Patch with Vale. She set the box down on the ground for a moment and brushed her bangs aside before approaching the ticket counter.

"One ticket, please."

The woman behind the counter raised an eyebrow, then laughed softly.

"Not even a hello, Ruby?" she said playfully.

Ruby blushed immediately and lowered her head a bit.

"Ah… sorry, good morning…" she answered with a nervous smile.

The clerk let out another, warmer laugh.

"No problem, sweetheart."

Ruby reached into her pocket and took out the exact fare for the trip, handing it to her with both hands as if it were a respectful gesture. Then she bent down to pick the box back up, pressing it against her side.

"Thank you."

"I’m glad to see you being yourself, Ruby" the woman commented suddenly.

Ruby looked at her in confusion for a moment, until she realized: her wolf ears were visible, uncovered by her hood or anything else. The blush returned to her cheeks—but this time, her smile was genuine and calm toward the woman. After all, she’d grown up here, and everyone knew her since she was little.

She adjusted her grip on the box and walked toward the boarding platform, with Zwei following her cheerfully at a short pace, as if confirming the woman’s words.

Wait a second.

"Zwei!?" Ruby crouched down abruptly, startled. "No, no, no, you’re supposed to be at home with Dad!"

The corgi barked happily, wagging his tail so fast it almost looked like he might take off from the ground. Ruby tried to keep a serious face, but the cuteness beat her in seconds.

*You little cheater…" she murmured with a smile, setting the box down and wrapping him in a huge hug. "But an adorable cheater."

She squeezed him against her chest, burying her face in his soft fur. Zwei, far from resisting, took the chance to lick her cheek, making her laugh.

"Ah! Hey, stop, that tickles!" Ruby laughed, trying to push him away gently while he insisted with more licks.

Finally, she lowered him carefully to the ground, pointing back toward the path home.

"Come on, go back to Dad. I promise I’ll be back before you know it."

Zwei tilted his head as if he didn’t understand, but finally turned around and trotted off, though not without looking back several times. Ruby waved until she lost sight of him.

She sighed, picking up the box again.

"That dog…"

With a renewed smile, she headed toward the airship, ready to return to Vale.

———

The morning sun streamed through the circular windows of Beacon Tower, painting Ozpin’s office in shades of gold. The headmaster sat calmly behind his desk, both hands resting on his cane as he watched the woman in front of him with his usual unshakable composure.

"That would be all, Glynda?" he asked in his calm, measured tone.

Glynda, standing upright before him with her tablet in hand, nodded with a stern expression.

"That’s right. The damages caused during the incident were directly the responsibility of Roman Torchwick and the White Fang. The Vale Council will handle the repair costs."

"Good… things happened because people were in the wrong place at the wrong time" Ozpin said, leaning forward slightly. "And the press?"

"I’ve managed to prevent the names of those involved from being published" Glynda replied without hesitation. "But they made it clear that it was students who thwarted the theft of several Dust containers. It’s impossible to completely silence an event like that."

Ozpin interlaced his fingers over his cane, thoughtful.

"And the students?"

Glynda raised an eyebrow, as if reading his intentions.

"Most of them are fine. But I know what you really want to ask about—the condition of Miss Rose."

The headmaster didn’t react outwardly, keeping his calm façade. She continued, moving to the next section of her report.

"Miss Nikos suffered no physical harm. Though she is quite disappointed with the authorities right now… we were lucky she accepted the deal."

Ozpin gave a silent nod.

"Sun Wukong, from Haven Academy" Glynda continued, scrolling through her notes "apparently arrived before his team and infiltrated on his own. He is currently under temporary confinement in his dorm for a few days due to his actions."

She turned the page and went on:

"Blake Belladonna sustained no serious injuries, though she did have several bruised ribs that have already been treated at the infirmary, where she’s currently recovering. As we suspected and can now confirm, she’s the daughter of Ghira Belladonna."

Ozpin narrowed his eyes slightly, murmuring:

"I suppose that gives us something to work with."

"Indeed" Glynda agreed, lowering her tone. "And lastly… Miss Rose…"

Ozpin raised an eyebrow slightly as he noticed Glynda’s voice falter when mentioning Ruby’s name. However, she quickly regained her composure, resuming her usual professional tone.

"Of everyone involved, she suffered the most damage—both physical and emotional" she stated firmly. "We were fortunate that Taiyang didn’t file an official complaint against the officers who detained his daughter. That would have dragged the process out unnecessarily."

Ozpin said nothing, though the faint adjustment of his hands betrayed that the detail wasn’t lost on him.

"As I suggested" Glynda continued, "she’s currently in Patch. We considered that a safe and familiar environment would be best for her to rest and recover properly."

"I understand… thank you, Glynda" Ozpin said, nodding, a faint weariness in his voice.

Glynda nodded in return before asking:

"What will we do about Miss Rose?"

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced before him.

"This was an unforeseen situation we couldn’t have predicted. And as you mentioned before, Team RWBY is going through a delicate moment. The best thing we can do for now… is wait and observe."

At that moment, a metallic sound began to echo: the elevator was rising. Glynda turned her head toward the door with a hint of surprise.

"Visitors?" she asked cautiously.

"Not the kind we were expecting" Ozpin replied calmly.

The elevator stopped with a soft ding, and the doors opened slowly—revealing not one figure, but two. Weiss Schnee advanced with a determined stride, her elegant posture only slightly marred by the serious look on her face; beside her, Yang Xiao Long walked silently, her gaze dimmed. Both had dark circles under their eyes and looked visibly disheveled—a reflection of the long night they had endured.

"I have an appointment with a student who requested to see me" Ozpin said, straightening slightly in his seat as he observed the two girls carefully.

" In plural, apparently" Glynda muttered under her breath, raising an eyebrow.

When Weiss and Yang stopped before the desk, Glynda assessed them—more out of concern than judgment—before asking in her professional tone:

"How was your session with Professor Port?"

Weiss was the first to answer, maintaining her composure though her voice carried a hint of tension.

"It was… enlightening" she said precisely, as if measuring each word.

Yang, meanwhile, didn’t add much. She simply nodded lightly, arms crossed, not looking eager to talk.

Glynda nodded slowly at their response, and Ozpin, with his usual calm, interlaced his fingers over his cane, waiting for the students to take the next step.

———

Back with Ruby, the young girl descended from the airship toward Beacon. As she walked with that large box in her arms, she noticed the unusual silence of the campus. It was Sunday, so most students were either in their dorms resting… or had gone out to Vale.

With that in mind, Ruby began making her way across the courtyard, slowly entering deeper into the academy. She didn’t really have a clear plan on what to do. Logically, she should have gone straight to her team’s dorm… but the truth was she was trying to avoid it. She didn’t feel ready to face everything yet, though she knew she’d have to eventually.

She let out a tired sigh as she reached the common area. Some students were there, just relaxing or chatting in small groups. A few glanced at her as she passed, but that was all. Thanks to the new headband her father had given her—identical, or at least very similar, to the old one he’d gotten her—no one seemed to look at her strangely.

Even so, Ruby couldn’t help but feel different. There was a restlessness in her chest… as if someone were watching her, even though they weren’t. That feeling made her quicken her pace, hoping to leave it behind.

Ruby finally reached the dorm area. Her steps grew cautious, almost silent, as if she feared running into someone familiar at any moment. Each stretch of hallway she crossed slowly, holding her breath at every turn, expecting—or dreading—to find one of her… friends.

She climbed up to the third floor, where her team stayed. The hallway was deserted, which brought her a small wave of relief. She walked briskly, passing Team JNPR’s room without stopping, until she finally stood before her own dorm’s door.

She stayed there, motionless, staring at the door as if it were an impossible wall to cross. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing there. A minute… two… maybe more. Reality came rushing back when she heard distant footsteps approaching down the hall.

With little choice, Ruby took a deep breath, gripping the box tighter, and quickly opened the door. She slipped inside and shut it with her foot before anyone could see her.

The first thing she noticed was that everything was exactly as it had been when she’d left on Saturday… or almost. The walls and floor now had cracks. The dorm was empty without her teammates.

Before she could think any further, a series of voices echoed from the hallway. Ruby immediately tensed.

The footsteps drew closer and closer until a familiar voice broke the silence:

"God, Nora… how can you work out so early in the morning?" Jaune sounded half out of breath, as if barely keeping up.

"Because how else do you think I get these muscles and my amazing strength?!" Nora replied at full energy.

"Nora has always had an unusual routine…" Ren commented in his calm tone.

"Yeah… no doubt…" Pyrrha added, though her weary tone caught Ruby’s attention right away.

The steps stopped in front of the room next door. Ruby held her breath.

"Everything okay, Pyrrha?" Jaune asked with concern.

"Yes… just…" the champion hesitated, her tone revealing her mood.

*Still worried about Ruby?" Ren added bluntly.

Ruby shivered at hearing her name so clearly.

"Yes…" Pyrrha answered after a brief silence. "I mean, she replied saying she’s fine… but…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean" Nora said, lowering her voice for once. "We’ll all remember last night’s disaster."

Ruby frowned.

Disaster?

"Disaster? I’d call it a catastrophe…" Jaune said with a nervous laugh. "Not just what happened in Vale. Everyone in the dorms heard Yang and Weiss last night… especially when the shouting started."

Ruby’s eyes widened.

Yang… fought with Weiss?

"I don’t think we should be talking about this" Ren intervened, ever the voice of reason.

"You’re right —Pyrrha agreed with a sigh. "I just… hope she comes back soon. So we can all talk things through."

The footsteps resumed, fading down the hallway. The last thing Ruby heard was Nora’s enthusiastic voice:

"You and me, girl!"

Ruby remained motionless by the door, holding her breath until she finally heard another door click shut in the distance. Only then did she let out a long sigh, feeling the tension slowly drain from her body. Her legs trembled slightly, and without the strength to stay standing, she let herself slide down to the floor, her back pressed against the cold wood of the door.

The words she’d heard kept spinning in her mind: disaster, catastrophe, Yang and Weiss fighting… Everything sounded surreal. She wasn’t ready to face any of that yet.

But before she could gather her thoughts, another sound broke the silence—

Click.

The window flew open. Ruby’s head snapped toward it—and found herself staring into a pair of bright amber eyes, equally wide in surprise.

A black mane of soft, loose hair framed the calm face of Blake. The ribbon shaped like a bow atop her head fluttered in the breeze flowing in through the window. She stood on the desk, freshly arrived from outside… of a third-floor window.

Both girls froze, staring at each other. It wasn’t exactly a standoff, but it felt like one. Neither of them had expected to meet so soon after everything that had happened the night before—and neither had any idea how to start talking.

“Ruby… you’re here…” Blake said slowly, as if she couldn’t quite believe it.

Ruby blinked, snapping out of her trance. She picked up the large box and walked over to her bunk.

“Well… yeah,” she replied simply.

Blake said nothing. Seeing Ruby move, she mirrored her and went to her side of the room. She pretended to rummage through a stack of books—but Ruby knew perfectly well she’d already read them all. It was just a distraction.

Ruby sighed softly. She knew Blake had come for a reason, and it was best to start with her before dealing with the others. If they could clear the air between them, maybe facing the rest of the team would be easier. With that thought, she climbed onto her bed and sat on the edge, her legs gently swinging back and forth.

“So…” Ruby broke the silence just as Blake set her books aside and straightened to look at her.

“About last night…”

“You… want to talk about it?” Blake asked, sitting on her own top bunk—directly across from Ruby, mirroring her posture.

Ruby winced. “Well… we kind of have to. And… with the others, too, right?”

Blake lowered her gaze, uncertain.
“…I have no idea how to handle this, Ruby…” she admitted honestly.

“Neither do I,” Ruby answered without hesitation.

Blake blinked, expecting one of Ruby’s usual optimistic reassurances—but she wasn’t joking.

“But we have to, Blake. For the team’s sake.”

Blake turned her head slightly, a hint of bitterness in her tone.
“Sure… for the team.”

Ruby knew exactly what she meant. She took a deep breath and decided to go straight to the real issue.

“I know Weiss will listen to us… she promised.”

“I wouldn’t trust her word, Ruby,” Blake said sharply. “Not after how she reacted yesterday when you touched her.”

Ruby looked down. That expression on Weiss’s face—the mix of disgust and shock—was still burned into her memory. She shook her head lightly, forcing herself to focus.
“…I know it’s hard, but that’s why I came up with a plan… or, well, sort of.”

Blake gave a tired half-smile.
“Your optimism works miracles… so, what’s your idea?”

“Tell the truth.”

Blake blinked, puzzled.
“…The truth?”

“Yes. No more lies,” Ruby said firmly, gripping the edge of her bed. “Lies and secrets are what got us here in the first place… so that’s my solution.”

“Ruby… I… don’t think I can—” Blake’s voice cracked.

The dorm door swung open.

“—!”

Ruby froze.

Standing in the doorway were Yang and Weiss. The blonde stopped dead upon seeing her sister and teammate, her lilac eyes wide and fixed on both of them. Weiss, beside her, looked equally stunned.

The air in the room turned cold.

Four pairs of eyes met in silence. No one moved. No one spoke.

Until Blake did.

Without a word, she turned toward the window, clearly ready to escape—again.

“Blake!” Yang’s voice thundered through the hall and room.

Weiss barely managed to gasp; she hadn’t expected Blake to bolt again.

Ruby reacted purely on instinct. She activated her Semblance in a flash of red petals to intercept Blake before she could jump.

The result… was far less graceful than planned.

“Waaah!”
“Ruby!”

The two collided midair, lost balance, and went flying out the window.

A heartbeat later, both were plummeting down the dorm’s outer wall.

Blake didn’t hesitate. With perfect precision, she fired Gambol Shroud’s blade upward, hooking it into the wall just above their window. The cable went taut, stopping their fall abruptly and leaving them dangling several meters above the ground. Blake held Ruby tightly, her breathing fast.

“You okay?” Blake panted.

“Y-Yeah! Mostly!” Ruby yelled back, clinging to her like a backpack.

“RUBY?! BLAKE?!” Yang’s voice shouted from above. “Are you two okay?!”

“YES!” Ruby called up. “CAN YOU PULL US UP?!”

Blake turned her head, about to protest—but Ruby met her gaze with a firm look.

“Blake… we talked about this yesterday. Running away doesn’t help.” Her voice was gentle but resolute. “Trust me… like you did yesterday.”

Blake stared at her, torn. Every instinct screamed at her to flee… but Ruby’s eyes didn’t waver.

“Please…” Ruby whispered.

A brief silence passed, broken only by the wind. Finally, Blake exhaled and closed her eyes.

“…All right. I trust you, Ruby.”

Slowly, they felt themselves being pulled back up—thanks to the combined strength of Yang and Weiss hauling the rope from above. With one last heave, Ruby and Blake tumbled back into the dorm, landing awkwardly on the floor.

Both stood side by side. Blake, eyes lowered, hugged her own arm in shame. Ruby, on the other hand, stood tall, trying to project courage—though the nervousness in her face betrayed her.

Across from them, Yang and Weiss stood together. No one spoke. Only silent gazes met in the thick, heavy air, as if everyone was waiting for someone else to take the first step.

Ruby let out a nervous little laugh.
“Heh… well, this isn’t exactly how I planned our ‘team meeting’ to go…”

The three others stared blankly. Ruby’s face flushed red.

“…Sorry.”

Yang was the first to react, waving her hands quickly.
“No, no, it’s fine, Rubes! You just—uh, surprised us, that’s all.”

Ruby nodded shyly, and the silence crept back in, even heavier.

“We need to talk.”
“We need to talk.”

Blake and Weiss spoke in unison. They blinked at each other, then quickly looked away, embarrassed.

Yang stepped forward, determined.
“Yeah, we really do. There’s a lot we need to clear up. Right, Weiss?”

Weiss didn’t answer at first, so Yang nudged her elbow.

“O-of course!” the heiress stammered, trying to regain her composure.

Without realizing it, the four girls settled into two sides: Weiss and Yang sat together on Weiss’s bed, while Ruby and Blake did the same on Yang’s, facing each other like two sides about to negotiate a truce.

Yang sighed deeply, aware that no one wanted to break the ice.
“So… how do we start this?”

Everyone looked at her. No one had an answer. The silence thickened again—until, finally, someone couldn’t take it anymore.

“…I’m sorry.”

All eyes turned to Blake. Her head was bowed, her ears drooping beneath her bow, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Bla—”

“Ruby!” Blake cut her off, raising her voice slightly—a rare thing for her. “Let me talk… please.”

Ruby closed her mouth and nodded, letting her friend speak.

Blake took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage left in her, and looked up. To her surprise, both Yang and Weiss were watching in silence—not with hostility, but with patience. Somehow, that gave her strength.

“I… I want to apologize. For everything.” Her voice trembled. “For lying… for running away… for getting Ruby in trouble. I’m… really sorry.”

“Enough.”

Weiss’s voice cut through the air like a blade—firm and cold.

“Weiss, remember what we—”

“I know, Yang!” Weiss snapped, raising her voice slightly.

Blake tensed.
“Weiss, I—”

“No, Belladonna.” Weiss clasped her hands neatly in her lap, gaze sharp. “I don’t want your apology.”

She turned slightly toward Yang. “Those—” she gestured toward Blake “—are for her. For dragging Ruby into this.”

Then back to Blake.
“And I’ll accept them… once you explain everything.”

Her tone was clear: not anger for anger’s sake, but a refined ultimatum.

Blake stared at Weiss. She wanted to be angry at that coldness—but no, Weiss was right. All of this had started because of her. She couldn’t keep running.

“I-I… don’t know where to start…” she admitted quietly.

Weiss nodded, glancing briefly at Yang, who gave her a small approving nod.

“Then I’ll ask questions, and you’ll answer. All right?”

Blake swallowed but met her gaze.
“O-Okay.”

“Are you part of the White Fang?” Yang asked suddenly, catching everyone off guard.

“Yang, she’s not—!” Ruby shot up, horrified.

“Not now, Ruby,” Yang said firmly—more firmly than she ever used with her sister. Ruby froze. It was one of the few times Yang had ever raised her voice at her. Quietly, Ruby sat back down meekly.

“Blake,” Yang said, more softly now.

Blake mumbled something inaudible.

“Did you say something, Blake?” Weiss pressed.

Blake closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.
“I… I was part of the White Fang,” she confessed, her gaze dropping. Ruby looked stunned, clearly disturbed.

“So… it’s true,” Yang said—not harshly, but with the weight of confirmation.

Weiss, however, didn’t stop there.
“You said was. Why did you leave?”

“I left shortly before coming to Beacon,” Blake replied, avoiding one specific memory. “I left because… I no longer agreed with what they were doing. I didn’t believe in their path anymore.”

Yang smiled softly.
“Thank you for telling us, Blake. Really, I appreciate it.”

“You… you’re not angry?” Blake asked, surprised.

“Well… let’s say that’s not what I’m most upset about right now,” Yang said, glancing meaningfully at Ruby. Blake got the message and looked down.

“And you, Weiss?” Ruby asked, turning toward the heiress.

Weiss looked at Ruby, then Blake, then at Yang, who gave her a small encouraging nod. Weiss sighed.

“Nothing.”

“N-Nothing?” Blake echoed.

“If you say you left, that’s what matters,” Weiss declared firmly. “Don’t get me wrong, it still bothers me that you hid something like that from us… but…”

“But…” Weiss continued, her voice softening, “we can work past that.”

Yang clapped her hands lightly. “Great. That’s one thing sorted out—one out of three.” She smiled faintly. “Now for the second.”

Ruby blinked, pointing to herself in confusion. “Me?”

Yang smiled gently but shook her head. “Sorry for shouting earlier, Rubes… but no. It’s Weiss’s turn.”

Weiss frowned. “Do I really have to—?”

“Do you remember what Professors Port, Goodwitch, and Ozpin told us?” Yang said, crossing her arms.

Weiss sighed. “‘Be honest and explain your emotions so others can understand.’”

“That’s the one,” Yang said, smirking.

Blake and Ruby exchanged puzzled glances. “What does Weiss have to explain?” Blake asked.

Even Ruby tilted her head. “Yeah… what kind of ‘emotions’?”

Weiss, who hadn’t been looking directly at anyone, cleared her throat and straightened up, regaining her poised demeanor. Her icy blue eyes shifted to the two faunus sitting opposite her.

“I’d like to apologize… for how I’ve behaved all this time.”

Ruby and Blake both stared in disbelief. It was Blake who broke the silence.

“You… you’re apologizing?”

“Yes, Blake. I can apologize,” Weiss replied firmly, returning to her refined tone. “And I mean it. I want to apologize for my behavior—and for the things I’ve said all this time.”

Ruby frowned softly. “Why are you apologizing?”

Weiss hesitated only for a moment before answering. “I’m apologizing for being so… discriminatory toward you two. No—let me rephrase that. I’m sorry for being discriminatory. I regret every comment that might have hurt you, or made you feel like you had to hide who you are because of me.”

Ruby’s lips curved into a faint, gentle smile. “I forgive you, Weiss. Thank you.”

Blake followed after a moment, still visibly surprised. “I… accept your apology.”

For a moment, the air in the room lightened. Hope flickered quietly inside Ruby’s chest—maybe, just maybe, things could go back to normal.

But Weiss wasn’t finished.

“Thank you… but, Ruby—” she said, locking eyes with her team leader. “I also regret how I acted toward you yesterday. You didn’t deserve that.”

Ruby remembered that moment vividly—the look on Weiss’s face, that same mixture of disgust and shock she’d seen in so many others before. “I-it’s fine, Weiss… really,” she said nervously.

“No, Ruby. It’s not fine,” Weiss replied firmly, drawing Blake’s attention as well. “I… Dust… I don’t feel comfortable around faunus.”

It hit like a blow to the chest. Both Ruby and Blake felt it immediately—especially Ruby, who looked like she might cry.

“I’m sorry—that sounded awful,” Weiss said quickly. “It’s not that I hate you, I just… can’t help it. But that’s exactly why I want to change. You’ve both shown me how wrong I’ve been, and I want to do better.”

“Weiss… that really did sound bad. Like, really bad,” Blake said, trying to hold back her frustration.

“I know,” Weiss admitted honestly, no excuses in her tone. “But I can change. I wasn’t always like this. In fact… I once had a faunus friend.”

Blake blinked. Of all the things she expected Weiss to say, that wasn’t one of them.
“You… had a faunus friend?”

“Is that really so impressive?” Weiss asked with a touch of dry irony.

“Well… yes,” Blake replied truthfully.

“I suppose you’re right…” Weiss’s gaze drifted toward the window. The clear blue sky reflected in her eyes as her voice grew distant—gentler, but heavier. “You know… coming to Beacon was the first time in almost five years that I’d been surrounded by people my age.”

The other girls stayed quiet, instinctively knowing not to interrupt.

“About four—no, almost five years ago, I attended an elite school in Atlas. Back then, I had… ‘friends,’ I suppose. Or, as close as one could get to that in those circles. But within that group, there was someone different.” Weiss paused, her eyes lost in memory. “One day, something happened—and I discovered she was a faunus. Despite everything my father had told me about them, she seemed just like anyone else. That day was the first time I ever hid something from my father.”

Weiss closed her eyes for a moment, taking a slow breath before continuing.
“But one day… the last day I saw her… everything started out normal. Classes were about to begin, and I was just arriving when I heard shouting down the hall. I went to see what was happening… and I found a scene I’ll never forget.”

Her voice trembled faintly, but she pushed on.

“She… the girl I considered my friend… was on top of another student, her hands covered in blood.”

“Weiss… you…” Ruby started, worried.

“Let me finish,” Weiss said quietly—and no one interrupted again.

“It wasn’t long before the authorities arrived. She was cornered… and I was frozen in shock. She grabbed me—used me as a hostage to escape.” Her tone went flat, distant, as if she were reliving every second. “She pressed a shard of lightning Dust to my throat and forced me to walk with her down the corridor. We moved for several minutes toward the exit, surrounded by officers. When we finally reached it… she pushed me aside and threw the shard.”

Weiss clenched her hands tightly in her lap.

“If I hadn’t already had my aura unlocked… I would have died that day.”

The dorm went completely silent. Ruby, Blake, and Yang stared at her, their faces a mix of shock and sympathy.

Weiss lowered her head slightly, more vulnerable than any of them had ever seen her.

“I… never heard of such an incident,” Blake said quietly, hesitant. “Something like that would have made headlines.”

“My father covered it all up,” Weiss replied, her voice cold but steady. “The school was evacuated—no witnesses, only the officers. And they were all paid to stay silent. After that, I was homeschooled inside the mansion.”

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have doubted you,” Blake murmured, guilt in her tone. “And I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

"Don't worry. Although yes... I know it sounds unbelievable," Weiss admitted with a slight, tired shrug. "But it's true. That's why I've felt so uncomfortable around faunus. That day I thought my father was right about faunus, and ever since then, being around them brings back memories of the day my life was in their hands."

A warm hand rested on her shoulder. Weiss turned to find Yang giving her a soft, genuine smile.

“I’m sorry you went through that,” Yang said gently.

“Please, don’t pity me… when I’m the villain here,” Weiss muttered bitterly.

Yang let out a small laugh. “I don’t think there are any villains in this room right now, Weiss.”

Weiss sighed, resigned. Her gaze returned to Ruby and Blake, who still watched her quietly.

“Well… now you know why I’ve been such an idiot,” Weiss said frankly.

Ruby, who had been silent until now, stood and approached Weiss slowly. The heiress instinctively raised her arms, startled. Ruby stopped midstep, equally surprised by the reflex. They both blinked, then spoke in unison.

“Sorry.”

Ruby gave a tired but sincere smile. “Weiss… I’m really sorry you had to live through that. And… I’m glad you’re here now. As my teammate.”

For the first time in that conversation, Weiss allowed a small, real smile to form on her lips. “Thank you, Ruby… I’m glad you’re my teammate, too.”

Yang, who had been quietly observing, exhaled and crossed her arms. Her expression turned serious again, the calm tension returning to her features.
“All right… I think it’s time we talk about the last thing,” she said, looking directly at her sister.

Ruby blinked, confused at first—until she saw the firm look in Yang’s eyes.
“Me?” she asked, pointing to herself.

“Yes, you.” Yang nodded, then motioned toward the couch. “Sit down, Rubes. It’s… our turn.”

Ruby swallowed hard. She knew this moment would come. She felt like she shouldn’t, but still—she nodded quietly and sat down next to Blake, as if drawing strength from her presence. For several seconds, the only sounds were the faint creak of the bed and the whisper of wind through the open window.

Ruby took a deep breath, filling her lungs before letting it out in a slow, shaky sigh that seemed to carry all the weight from yesterday. Her hands trembled slightly as she raised them to her head. With a careful motion, she removed the headband she always wore.

At that instant, two wolf-like ears, soft and dark, popped free, twitching slightly as they felt the open air.

Weiss went perfectly still. She tried to keep her usual composed expression—but the tension in her lips and the faint widening of her eyes betrayed her. There was no disgust, not anymore… just raw surprise and uncertainty she didn’t know how to mask.

Ruby lowered her head a little, her ears folding back nervously.
“So…” she said quietly but firmly, “I’m a faunus.”

It wasn’t a shock anymore—they had all seen her ears the previous night. Still, Ruby couldn’t help feeling the weight of Weiss’s gaze… or at least, what she thought was judgment. But this time, she knew she couldn’t hide. She had to be brave—not just for herself, but for her team. For her friends.

“So, yeah… I don’t really know what to say now,” Ruby admitted, eyes downcast.

Yang spoke up with steady authority.
“Same deal as Blake,” she said, glancing at her sister and then at the others. Weiss nodded in agreement.

“Right,” Yang continued. “Ask whatever you want—we’ll answer as best we can.”

Blake was the first to speak, voicing a question that had been bothering her since yesterday.
“Yang… you—”

“No, Blake,” Yang interrupted softly but firmly. “I’m human.”

Blake frowned. Weiss voiced the confusion for both of them.
“How’s that possible?”

Yang looked at Ruby. The wolf girl’s ears drooped slightly as their silver eyes met the lilac ones of her sister. Ruby gave her a small, silent nod. Yang inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

“Ruby and I… aren’t exactly sisters,” she revealed. “We’re half-sisters. Same dad, different moms.”

Weiss and Blake exchanged startled looks.

“Oh… I’m sorry,” Blake murmured, feeling guilty for prying. Even Weiss looked away, uncomfortable.

“It’s okay,” Yang said, relaxing her shoulders. “We needed to talk about it anyway. Ruby, you want to explain?”

“I think… I’d rather say it myself,” Ruby said quietly. Yang gave her an encouraging smile and nodded. Now all eyes were on her.

“As Yang said… we have different moms. My mom was a faunus—like me. A wolf faunus.”

“W-was?” Weiss asked carefully.

Ruby bit her lip, uncertain how to continue. Yang, noticing her hesitation, stepped in.
“Mom died when we were little.”

“I’m sorry…” Weiss and Blake said almost at the same time.

“I-it’s okay,” Ruby said softly, forcing a small smile. “It’s been a long time.”

A respectful silence filled the room. There was nothing more to say about that.

Weiss was the one to speak next, her tone tentative.
“Ruby, can I ask… why you hid it? I know I was part of the reason, but even before that—you always wore that headband.”

Ruby looked down, her eyes narrowing slightly as old memories surfaced.

“I’ve wondered that too,” Blake admitted. “I hid my past because I didn’t want people to know about it… but you?”

Ruby felt her heart pound. Blake had opened up about the White Fang. Weiss had confessed a painful part of her past. And she… she was the only one still holding back. They’d trusted her—she had to do the same.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” Yang interjected, protective as always. “It’s personal, and—”

“It’s fine,” Ruby interrupted, her tone unexpectedly firm.

“Blake and Weiss shared their secrets… I can’t stay silent about mine.”

Blake placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Ruby, if it’s too personal, you don’t have to—”

“The same goes for me,” Weiss added with a small, genuine smile. “Of all people, you don’t need to say more than you want.”

Ruby looked up and drew a deep breath.
“Thanks, girls,” she said sincerely. “But if I want to really feel comfortable around you… I need to say it.”

She laced her fingers together, staring at them as her thoughts drifted to a time when she’d once believed she was accepted—or so she thought.

“I guess I should start by saying… I don’t feel comfortable being a faunus.”

The statement struck like lightning. Weiss’s eyes widened; Blake’s mouth opened but no words came out. Even Yang, who knew more than the others, looked taken aback.

Seeing no response, Ruby went on in a quiet voice.

“Before Beacon… back when I was in Signal, I didn’t hide it. In fact… I was proud of it,” she said, letting out a weak, bitter laugh. “I had friends back then—two bests Friend. Actually, you’ve met one of them.”

Both Weiss and Blake blinked, confused.
“When?” Blake asked. “Someone from Beacon?”

Ruby shook her head slowly.
“No… not from Beacon. You met him when we went to the mall last week.”

“The weekend trip…” Weiss murmured, frowning until the memory clicked. Her eyes went wide. “No.”

Ruby nodded, not meeting her gaze. Blake, still lost, looked between them.
“Who?”

“That boy!? Seriously!?” Weiss nearly shouted.

Blake looked to Yang for clarification. The blonde sighed.
“Remember the guy who accused us at the police station of attacking him?” she said flatly.

“The one with the scar on his face?” Blake asked.

“The very same,” Yang confirmed, her tone simmering with restrained anger.

Weiss frowned. “How could you have ever been friends with that creep—your attacker?”

“He wasn’t always a creep…” Ruby murmured. “He was once my best friend. Someone I trusted. Someone I thought accepted me.”

“What… what happened?” Blake asked softly.

Ruby’s fists clenched, her breathing unsteady.

“Like I said, I didn’t hide who I was. I felt proud being me. I’d been bullied before, sure, but… it wasn’t that bad. Until… one night.” Her voice cracked. “That day in Patch, Bran took Lily—my other friend—and me down a different trail. He said he had a surprise for us. I didn’t doubt him; he’d always been kind, someone I could trust. But when we got there, others appeared—older kids—and… and then… th-they…”

Her voice broke completely. Before she could say another word, rapid footsteps sounded, and suddenly Ruby was wrapped in a tight, protective embrace. Yang held her close, fiercely, the kind of hug only a sister could give. Ruby clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Blake and Weiss stayed frozen, horrified. Even without hearing the rest, the weight of what had happened was clear—and both dreaded knowing more.

When Ruby finally began to calm down, she pulled away slowly. Yang held her hands gently.
“You don’t have to keep going if you don’t want to,” she whispered. “You don’t need to.”

Ruby, tears still streaking her cheeks, shook her head.
“I-I know… but they deserve to understand.”

Yang, seeing the stubborn resolve in her sister’s eyes, sighed deeply.
“Then… I’ll tell it. If that’s okay with you.”

Ruby nodded weakly, too choked up to speak. Blake and Weiss straightened in their seats, the seriousness in Yang’s tone pulling their full attention.

Yang sat again, her face grim. She stared at her hands for a long second—almost as if she could see blood there. Closing her eyes, she drew in a breath, then opened them again, voice steady.

“Ruby and Lily managed to escape those guys… but only because a Grimm showed up,” she began.

Blake and Weiss looked at each other, horrified—but stayed silent.

“Ruby was in bad shape,” Yang continued heavily. “Lily had to drag her back home. Unfortunately… the Grimm followed them.” She paused, swallowing hard. “They made it to a hiding spot we used to have. I got there with Dad not long after. The Grimm was gone. When we couldn’t find Ruby anywhere, we panicked—searched everywhere. It was Lily who appeared and led us to her and… well…”

Her voice trailed off bitterly. She didn’t need to finish. Blake and Weiss understood enough—the weight of that night hung in the silence.

“Ruby, you…” Blake murmured.

“I’m okay,” Ruby said softly, steadier now. “After that, I became everyone’s target. The bullying got worse… so I started hiding. Showing what I was only brought more pain.”

Blake reached out and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Ruby,” she whispered.

“Yeah… we shouldn’t have asked about something so awful,” Weiss added, clearly shaken. “And… what happened to them? The ones who—”

Ruby understood what she meant and looked toward Yang, who rolled her eyes and said flatly,
“We never found out who the others were. Just that idiot… and let’s say I made things worse. Remember when I told you I almost got a criminal record?”

“Yes…” Blake said cautiously.

Yang gave a lopsided smirk. “Let’s just say I’m the reason for that scar on his face.”

“You hit him?” Weiss asked, surprised.

“That’s putting it mildly,” Yang said, her lilac eyes flashing red for a second. “I wrecked him.”

Blake and Weiss exchanged a look—they fully understood what she meant.

Ruby looked down again, her fingers nervously fiddling with the edge of her cloak. The room was silent but for the faint rustle of the wind through the window. After a long pause, Ruby spoke in a trembling voice:

“Girls… I’m sorry.” Her silver eyes shimmered, not with fear but with vulnerability. “I’ve been a bad leader. I lied to you both… and only caused trouble.”

Yang frowned gently, crossing her arms.
"Hey, don’t say that, Rubes. You’re not a bad leader."

"Exactly," Weiss chimed in, standing tall again, though her voice sounded much softer than usual. "This conversation didn’t show weakness; it showed trust, and that you’re much stronger than any of us imagined."

Blake nodded seriously.
"You’ve been through so much… and yet you’re still here, leading us, worrying about everyone. That’s not something a weak person would do."

Ruby slowly lifted her gaze, surprised by the firmness in their voices. A soft warmth filled her chest. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel the need to hide.

"I…" a small, shaky laugh escaped her lips "thank you."

Blake, with a small smile, stepped a little closer.
"I promise this won’t happen again. You won’t feel alone in something like this ever again."

"And I… "Weiss took a deep breath, her cheeks tinged a light pink. "I promised to be the best partner I could be, and that includes striving to be better. Not just as a huntress… but as a person. For you… and for all of us."

Ruby felt tears returning, but this time they didn’t hurt. She nodded firmly, throwing her arms around the three of them in an unexpected, messy… but heartfelt hug.

"Thank you… truly," she whispered.

A warm impulse surged in Ruby’s chest and, without thinking too much, she lunged forward, wrapping all three of them in her arms. Yang, with her radiant smile, quickly returned the gesture, pulling them all into a firm, protective group hug.

"Team RWBY… back together again?" Yang said, that familiar spark in her voice.

Blake relaxed into the hug, closing her eyes for a moment as if wanting to engrave the feeling into her memory. Ruby couldn’t stop smiling through her tears… but Weiss, after a few seconds, began to tense up. The physical closeness, the emotional intensity… it was overwhelming.

Carefully, Weiss stepped out of the hug, taking a small step back. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes held a mix of guilt and embarrassment.

"S-sorry…" she said quietly, avoiding Ruby’s gaze.

Yang turned to her, scratching the back of her neck with an awkward smile.
"Right… I forgot. Sorry, Weiss."

Weiss, with her calm but firm tone, intervened.
"It’s fine… we all have a lot to work on."

Ruby looked at each of them: Blake with her calm understanding, Weiss with her emotional awkwardness, Yang with her overflowing warmth. And instead of pain or shame, she smiled… a genuine, peaceful smile.

"Yeah…" she said softly" but we’ll do it together."

The girls’ talk finally came to an end, each of them content with the others. But there was still one small matter to settle —and it involved the Xiao-Long girl.

"Great, now that that’s settled," Yang’s tone was relaxed, though her eyes were red "I’m gonna take my dear partner for a talk. Be right back."

Yang grabbed Blake and started walking away, and Blake could feel her grip like a painful pinch.

"Yang, please don’t be too harsh," Ruby pleaded as she saw her sister.

"Don’t worry, Rubes, I already vented on the wall and the floor," Yang said, dragging Blake, who barely resisted.

"That explains the cracks…" Ruby muttered, looking at the floor and wall as Yang disappeared with Blake, who could’ve sworn she heard a faint “save me.”

"Yes, your sister and I had a heated argument yesterday," Weiss said, then added—. Goodwitch had to step in to stop us, and today we had a therapy session with Professor Port.

Ruby blinked at the revelation.
"That… explains why Yang… was so calm."

"Yeah, she literally exploded on me yesterday…"

"I’m sorry for any trouble my sister"

Weiss cut her off.
"Apapapapa, what did I tell you about apologizing?"

"Sor— I mean, yes, yes, I remember."

The dorm fell silent again, but this time the atmosphere was peaceful. The sunlight streamed gently through the window, painting the walls with a warm golden glow. Weiss stood beside her bed, meticulously organizing her belongings, while Ruby sat on Yang’s bed, holding her headband in her hands.

"Weiss…" Ruby called softly.

The heiress turned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes?"

Ruby pressed the headband against her chest, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"Thank you… for listening."

Weiss blinked, surprised at first. Then she softened her expression, letting go of her usual stiffness.

"Ruby… you don’t have to thank me for that," Weiss replied calmly. "You’re my partner, and…" she hesitated for a second, but continued "you’re also my friend."

Ruby smiled brightly that pure, sincere smile that could warm even the coldest heart.

"Even so, I want to. Thank you for listening, for staying… and for trying to understand," Ruby said, her voice shaky but full of emotion.

Weiss let out a small sigh, almost resigned, and crossed her arms, feigning annoyance.
"Hmph… I suppose I couldn’t get rid of you even if I wanted to."

Ruby let out a soft giggle.
"Nope, you’re stuck with me."

They shared a knowing look; there were no masks anymore, no headbands hiding who Ruby was. For the first time in a long while, she felt completely accepted.

Weiss felt something she hadn’t in a long time —the sense that she could truly have a friend again. She whispered softly to herself:
"I wish… it had been like this with her…"

———

The rain fell lightly over the metallic rooftops of the old warehouse, hidden deep within one of Vale’s industrial districts. The streetlights flickered intermittently, as if even the light itself didn’t want to linger there for too long.

A girl wearing a Grimm mask moved stealthily through the shadows. Raindrops slid down the white mask she wore, while the whip at her hip swayed with each step. It wasn’t common for her to be called to “high-level” meetings—especially not ones involving figures like Roman Torchwick and his leader. That alone was unheard of.

When she reached the side entrance, two White Fang members opened it for her without a word. Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit by yellowish bulbs. An old television, perched on a stack of crates, showed a late-night news broadcast.

“...The infamous criminal Roman Torchwick made another appearance last night, this time alongside the White Fang, in an attempted robbery at the harbor warehouses. Although details remain scarce, police sources suggest the attack was thwarted by trainee Huntsmen—possibly students from Beacon Acade—”

The broadcast was abruptly cut off as someone switched off the TV.

"Well, Roman…" a smooth yet dangerous female voice said. "Who would’ve thought a few simple students could give you that much trouble?"

Cinder Fall emerged from the shadows with a serene smile. Roman, sitting casually at a table with Neo elegantly leaning at his side, shrugged.

"Well… if you count that they were trainee Huntsmen and that we had the 'invincible kid' leading them… I’d say we did better than expected."

"A pathetic excuse, if you ask me," Cinder replied, crossing her arms.

"You’re right," Roman sighed theatrically. "Maybe the real problem was the dumb animals they lent me… not exactly top quality."

"How dare you call us that, human!?" the masked girl roared, stepping forward.

Roman laughed, eyeing her with mocking amusement.

"Oh, come on… they gave me “people” who were second-rate. And, sweetheart, you really shouldn’t interrupt when the adults are talking."

The teenager clenched her fists, but before she could speak again, a deep voice rumbled from the back:

"Enough, Ilia."

Adam Taurus strode out of the shadows, his very presence commanding silence. His red and black mask reflected the faint light as his hand rested on the hilt of his weapon.

"And you… Torchwick," Adam continued, his tone laced with restrained menace. "Watch your mouth. If you know what’s good for you."

Neo twirled her parasol elegantly, snapping it open in front of Roman as a silent warning, ready to act. The tension rose like a string stretched to its limit… until Cinder raised a calm hand.

"Enough, "she said firmly. Her mere presence was enough to silence everyone. "If you have problems with the effectiveness of your allies, Roman… then take better men from Adam."

Roman arched an eyebrow, amused.

"In that case… I’ll take the sub-lieutenant, or whatever she is," he said, pointing his cigarette toward Ilia.

Ilia opened her mouth in outrage, but Adam silenced her with a single gesture.

"Accepted," he said coldly. "Ilia will be under your command for the next heist. Don’t mess it up. Human."

The young Faunus swallowed hard, unable to believe what she’d just heard. Roman grinned like a cat that had just gotten its favorite toy, while Neo snapped her parasol shut with a click.

Cinder watched the scene unfold with satisfaction.
Everything was going exactly as she had planned.

Chapter Text

"—So… everything’s okay?"

Only a day had passed since Team RWBY had that “talk.”
A talk that revealed secrets, wounds, and truths… but also brought understanding. Ruby was starting to see her team, despite their differences, as more united than ever.
Or at least, that’s what she wanted to believe.

"Ruby?"

Ruby blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and turned her head toward Velvet, her friend.
The two had just left class and were now sitting on the dormitory rooftop, watching the sunset while eating popsicles.

"Y-yeah, I told you already… Team RWBY’s fine," Ruby replied.

Velvet raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, one of her long ears flopping to the side with amused disbelief.

"Ruby… your popsicle melted in your hand."

"Huh?" Ruby looked down and saw her hand covered in sticky, melted ice cream. "Ugh, darn it!"

She tried to shake it off as if it were nothing, while Velvet, finishing her own popsicle with a final bite, stood up and shook her head slowly.

"So… what’s got you so deep in thought?"

"N-nothing…"

"Come on, Ruby, it’s obvious," Velvet pressed gently. "Did Weiss mess up again?"

"No!" Ruby denied it so fast she startled Velvet.

"Did Glynda tell you something? I saw you talking to her after class."

"N-no, she was just… asking me something… yeah, that’s all," Ruby said awkwardly.

"Then what? Did Team JNPR take it badly?"

"Nope, Vel. Team JNPR was… actually great," Ruby said, recalling the scene from the previous night.

———

The JNPR dorm room was wrapped in a heavy silence, broken only by the faint hum of the ceiling light. Ruby sat on the edge of Pyrrha’s bed, holding her headband in her hands… now removed, exposing her wolf ears, which were pressed flat against her head in sheer embarrassment. Her fingers nervously fidgeted with the ribbon as she finished explaining what had happened, her eyes fixed on the floor.

“…And that’s why… I hid it,” she finally whispered, her voice almost breaking. “I’m sorry… for lying to you…” she added, lowering her head even more.

Weiss stood behind her, posture firm but her eyes filled with concern. She said nothing; she was simply there to support her.

Jaune, sitting across from Ruby with a slightly furrowed brow, was the first to cautiously break the silence.
“So…,” he began, “Blake was part of the White Fang…”

“That’s right,” Weiss replied firmly, without hesitation.

Ren, who had been listening attentively until then, narrowed his eyes with curiosity.
“Does Blake know you’re telling us this?” he asked calmly.

Ruby lifted her gaze for a moment and nodded.
“Y-yeah… she’s with Yang right now,” she answered softly. “And… I trust you guys to keep this between us. Blake trusts me too… so please…”

The seriousness in her tone made everyone nod almost in unison. This wasn’t just Ruby’s secret—it was someone else’s as well.

Jaune spoke again, still processing everything.
“And… on Saturday… you fought those same guys… and the police thought you and Blake were part of the White Fang… because you’re faunus, right?”

Ruby nodded silently, and Weiss cut in with a curt, “Yes.”

“Wow… that’s… quite a story,” Jaune murmured, awkwardly glancing at Ruby’s flattened ears.

Ruby swallowed hard. She had dreaded this moment for days. She expected looks of rejection, discomfort… or worse. She braced herself and asked,
“A-aren’t you… mad?” Her voice trembled.

To her surprise, the response wasn’t cold or distant. Jaune was the first to speak, his eyes wide.
“Mad? Ruby, no! Not at all,” he said, waving his hands. “If anyone should apologize… it’s us.”

Ruby blinked in confusion.
“Huh?”

Ren nodded, his tone calm but sincere.
“When the whole police thing happened, none of us knew what to say,” he admitted. “Seeing our friend there, and then finding out you were faunus… it caught us off guard. It wasn’t rejection… we just didn’t know how to react.”

Nora, unusually serious, lowered her gaze a little.
“Yeah… we’re sorry, Ruby,” she said softly. “We were confused, but it wasn’t fair to let you feel alone.”

Weiss crossed her arms, though her expression was clearly protective.
“Exactly. If anyone should be upset, it’s you. But here you are, apologizing…” she exhaled. “I’m ashamed I didn’t say anything sooner.”

Ruby stayed quiet for a few seconds, processing everything. The tension in her chest slowly began to fade. Just then, Pyrrha stepped forward and placed a warm hand on her shoulder.
“I already knew,” she said with a calm smile. “You told me yourself a while ago, remember?” —Ruby timidly nodded— “And it didn’t change anything between us then… and it doesn’t now.”

Ruby felt a lump in her throat; all the fear she had built up was slowly dissolving. Her ears perked up slightly, twitching nervously but happily.

Ren spoke next, with his usual serene tone.
“Same here,” he said with a small smile. “Thank you for trusting us with something so important, Ruby. And no, we don’t have any problem with faunus… right, Nora?”

Everyone turned toward where Nora should’ve been… but there was no response.

“Nora?” Jaune asked, puzzled.

“Eep!” Ruby yelped suddenly, jolting as playful fingers began stroking her ears without warning. Her whole body stiffened like she’d been shocked.

She turned around to find Nora grinning behind her, both hands buried in Ruby’s hair and ears, utterly fascinated as if she’d just discovered Remnant’s cutest treasure.

“They’re so soft! And fluffy!” Nora exclaimed with genuine excitement. “And they move when I touch them! This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”

The scene was so sudden that no one processed it right away. But as soon as Nora started petting Ruby’s ears like a plush toy, everyone—except the leaders—shouted in unison:

“NORA!”

The pinkette jumped, looking around confused, though she didn’t let go of Ruby.
“What?” she asked with complete innocence.

“That!” Ren said, frowning as he stepped forward. “Nora, you can’t just touch someone like that without asking.”

“Uh…” Nora slowly lowered her hands, though her eyes still sparkled with curiosity. “But they’re so cute…”

Weiss stepped forward, concerned.
“Ruby, are you alright?”

Ruby took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her ears, which had been stiff as springs, gradually relaxed.
“Y-yeah… I’m okay,” she replied with a nervous smile. “I just… don’t like being touched there without saying so first. They’re… sensitive.”

Nora’s expression shifted instantly from fascination to guilt.
“Oh… I’m sorry, Ruby,” she said with genuine remorse. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Ruby shook her head quickly.
“It’s okay… I know you didn’t mean any harm. Just… warn me next time, okay?”

“I promise!” Nora said solemnly, placing a hand on her chest. “No more ear touches without permission!”

Weiss glanced over at Jaune, who had been oddly quiet… and staring at Ruby’s ears. Pyrrha noticed and gave him a discreet elbow jab.

“Ow!” he whispered, straightening up. He looked up to find everyone staring at him. Ruby watched him nervously.

“Ah! N-no, not at all,” he said quickly, waving his hands. “I don’t have a problem, really. This doesn’t change anything, Ruby.”

Ruby’s ears perked up happily like two little antennas.
“Thank you, Jaune!” she said with a bright smile.

———

Velvet crossed her arms, watching her curiously.
"Okay… an innocent slip-up from Nora, I get that. Did it bother you when she touched your ears? I mean, I’d react too if—"

"No, Vel," Ruby interrupted, lowering her gaze. "It’s just that…"

She fell silent for a few seconds, clenching her hands slightly.
"I guess I… still haven’t fully processed it. Thinking that my biggest fear came true… and that everything turned out… fine?"

Velvet didn’t hesitate to hug her warmly.
"Hey, you should be happy. Your team accepts you. Even Weiss wants to improve. And Blake… well, you know how much she wanted both of you to know each other’s truths."

Still in the hug, Ruby murmured,
"I know… it’s just that… call me paranoid, but I don’t want it… to happen again."

Velvet understood perfectly and tightened the hug.
"Ruby… what happened wasn’t your fault. It never was. And I’ll keep telling you that until you believe it."

Ruby sighed deeply as they pulled apart, her eyes still a little dim.
"Thanks, Vel… I needed that."

"Always, my little pup," Velvet said sweetly, patting her head. Ruby smiled faintly, her ears twitching slightly at the gesture.

Velvet watched her quietly for a moment, studying her mood. Then, a mischievous smile crept onto her face.
"You know what? I’ve got an idea," she said, tapping her palm with her fist. "Come with me."

Ruby blinked, confused.
"Huh? Where to?"

"Training. It’s been forever since we sparred together, and… well, I still haven’t shown you Anesidora."

Ruby’s eyes widened slightly.
"Y-your weapon?"

"Uh-huh," Velvet nodded proudly. "It’s not ‘officially authorized’ yet, so I can’t use it just anywhere, but if we book a training room, we could practice a bit. It’d help you clear your head… and I’m dying to see how much you’ve improved."

Ruby opened her mouth to protest… but found no words. Her shoulders relaxed a little, as if the idea had sparked a faint glimmer of energy inside her.
"I guess… that doesn’t sound bad," she admitted, scratching her neck timidly.

"That’s what I wanted to hear," Velvet said, gently grabbing her wrist. "Come on, before all the rooms are taken. You tell your team you’ll be late, and I’ll message mine."

"My team’s busy doing their own stuff, so it’s fine," Ruby said with a small smile.

"How does your team even work like that? Coco always keeps tabs on us… especially me," Velvet chuckled, pulling out her scroll.

Ruby raised an eyebrow.
"Shouldn’t you tell her first?"

"I’ll do it on the way," Velvet said nonchalantly. Then she remembered something and added, "Oh, by the way, Coco wants to meet your team."

Ruby froze.
"W-what?"

"Still afraid of meeting new people?"

"N-no, not at all… I’ve already met… Coco, right? Your leader. I’ve heard so many good things, haven’t I? And her last name is Adel, right? She helped me at the police station because of you! Oh no… I haven’t even thanked her. I need to thank her. What should I do? What if…?"

Velvet sighed as Ruby’s rambling grew faster. She placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"First, breathe. Second… let’s just say, during my panic attack when I found out about your arrest, I may have overshared a bit. She found out your team helped me with Cardin… and she wants to thank them personally."

Ruby swallowed hard, still processing what Velvet had said.
"Uh… well… if Coco wants to meet them… I guess… I can’t say no…" she mumbled as her ears twitched nervously. "I-I just hope it’s not a disaster!"

Velvet laughed softly and patted her shoulder.
"Relax, Ruby. They’re going to love you. And believe me, Coco’s not as intimidating as she looks… well, most of the time."

Ruby blushed a little, looking away.
"That doesn’t help much, Vel…"

"Come on, trust me. Everything’ll be fine," Velvet said with that calm confidence that always managed to soothe her.

Ruby took a deep breath, then nodded with a bit more determination.
"Alright… but first, training."

Velvet smiled, satisfied, gently pulling her by the wrist.
The two walked together toward the training halls, leaving behind the gray tint of dusk, replacing it little by little with a renewed spark.

———

The Beacon library, with its tall windows and endless aisles, had become Weiss Schnee’s perfect place.

The white-haired girl walked with purpose, her analytical gaze scanning every section with the same precision she wielded her rapier.
It may not be as grand or luxurious as Atlas’s library… but it has what I need, she thought determinedly.

Weiss wasn’t there out of curiosity. She’d made a decision: if she wanted to grow as a person, as a teammate and friend, she had to understand what she’d ignored for far too long.

With steady movements, she began pulling books from various sections—history, culture, politics, genetics, and society—stacking them in her arms until they formed a tower. She didn’t hesitate once, even as the pile threatened to collapse. She remained perfectly composed.

Reaching a table by the windows, she set the books down with a firm thud. She immediately began organizing them by theme and historical period, preparing for a long study session.

That’s when a few volumes slipped and fell to the floor. Weiss bent gracefully to pick them up… her eyes catching the titles:

“History of Faunus Discrimination”
“Knowing Your Faunus Traits”
“Faunus Rights and Law”
“Mixed Societies and Cultural Prejudice”

Just reading those titles made her feel strange—only a short while ago, she’d never imagined herself even touching such books.

Father would never approve of this… she thought coldly. To him, these books weren’t knowledge—they were heresy, defiance against Atlas’s “pure” image. Even speaking of equality at home would bring mockery or punishment.

For a moment, her mind wandered to her older sister, Winter.

And her?

She vaguely recalled conversations about Atlas Academy… about how there were hardly any faunus among the students. “They exist, but they’re rare,” Winter had once said, in a neutral tone Weiss hadn’t understood back then.

And later… that more recent comment:
“One of the new Ace-Ops members is a faunus. A loyal, efficient soldier. Not everyone in Atlas accepts him, but he’s proven his worth.”

Weiss narrowed her eyes.
If Winter could recognize that… then I can, too.

She wouldn’t be like her father. She wouldn’t repeat those cruel, ignorant words that now weighed on her conscience.

Without hesitation, she gathered the fallen books and placed them neatly atop the pile—visible, deliberate.
Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her skirt automatically.

If she’d ignored these truths before, she would face them now.
Weiss Schnee did not back down.

Finally, she opened the first of many books before her. The texture of the pages and the faint scent of old paper felt oddly comforting. Just as she began reading, she heard footsteps echoing through the aisles.

She turned, already suspecting who it was—and she was right.

"Sorry I’m late" Blake said as she approached, looking tired and carrying her own pile of books—. Some of these I haven’t touched in a while.

Weiss closed her book gently, watching her with quiet gratitude and satisfaction.
"You’re just in time" she replied". I was about to start."

———

A few moments later, the library settled into a comfortable silence, broken only by the turning of pages and their soft voices.

Blake, her gaze on a paragraph she’d reread three times, couldn’t help but reflect on how surreal the situation was.

She was teaching Weiss Schnee about faunus.

If someone had told her that months ago, she would’ve laughed bitterly. Weiss—the “ice princess,” heiress to one of the most infamous companies for her people—and now, sitting beside her, taking notes with genuine curiosity, asking thoughtful questions. It was almost unreal.

What surprised her most was that Weiss wasn’t there out of obligation or to look good—she truly wanted to learn, to understand, to change. And deep down, Blake admired that.After all, Weiss wasn’t her father.

"By the way," Weiss interrupted suddenly, veering off-topic. "How did things go with Yang yesterday?"

Blake looked up, startled. For a moment, her expression softened into a smile, but it soon turned pained as she remembered Yang’s anger. That argument had been intense… and Yang had every right to be upset. Blake had dragged Ruby into a situation that could’ve gone terribly wrong; there was no physical harm, but emotionally… Ruby had come close to breaking.

"It wasn’t that bad…" she answered with a faint, unconvincing smile.

Weiss raised an eyebrow; she clearly didn’t buy it but chose not to press, steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Can I ask something?" Weiss said more seriously this time.

Blake noticed where her gaze went—to her black bow, covering her cat ears.

"If it’s about this…" Blake said, touching the ribbon lightly. "It’s because, even though my team knows and accepts me, not everyone will. And with people like Cardin around…" Her voice darkened slightly, her eyes losing some light. "It’s not easy to let your guard down."

Weiss lowered her gaze slightly, her tone losing its usual sharpness.
"I understand…" she said quietly. "It’s almost exactly what Ruby told me…"

Blake couldn’t help but roll her eyes—not in annoyance, but with a faint, resigned amusement.
"I figured," she replied calmly. "Maybe someday… but for now, the bow stays."

Weiss nodded, accepting that without pressing further.
"Alright then," she said, straightening up again with resolve. "How about we keep going?" she added, gesturing to the stack of books.

Blake smiled faintly and reopened the book before her.
"Alright," she said. "Let’s see how far we get today."

Blake turned the pages slowly, eyes following the lines, though her mind wandered back to the previous day.

Ruby had said she didn’t feel comfortable being a faunus.

It wasn’t the first time Blake had heard those words—back in the White Fang, she’d heard them countless times from new recruits: broken voices filled with shame, fear, or anger.
But hearing them from Ruby was… different.

Ruby, with her bright smile and disarming innocence, had said those words with a tremor Blake could still hear in her mind.
She’d wanted to respond right then—to ask more, to help—but couldn’t.

Ruby didn’t accept herself yet… and Blake felt deep down that she wanted to help her reach that acceptance.
Maybe… that could make up, even a little, for what she’d put her through.

"Blake."

Weiss’s voice snapped her back. Blake blinked and turned to see Weiss pointing at a paragraph.

"It says something here about wolf faunus," Weiss noted with interest. "Do they have… specific habits or behaviors?"

Blake nodded, settling comfortably in her chair.
"Sometimes, yeah," she explained. "Many wolf faunus tend to have certain instincts—like twitching their ears when alert, low growling without realizing it, or being more protective of their pack. Not everyone’s the same, but it’s pretty common."

Weiss frowned thoughtfully, eyes scanning the text as her lips moved silently. Blake could almost see the gears turning in her head, connecting dots.
She didn’t need to read her mind to know who Weiss was thinking of.

Ruby.

Weiss was analyzing Ruby’s traits through what she’d just read.
And Blake… started thinking the same.

Ruby didn’t behave like most faunus Blake knew. She didn’t have those strong instinctual signs, nor that ever-present self-awareness of being “different.”
She was… different.

And then, as if a puzzle piece clicked into place, Blake realized something:

Ruby Rose, her team leader… had been raised entirely by humans.

She quietly closed the book before her, lost in that thought.

How much does Ruby really know about herself?

———

The roar of an engine tore through the night air like bottled thunder.

Yang’s motorcycle sliced down the streets of Vale at high speed, leaving behind a blur of light and wind. She had no destination—she didn’t need one.

This wasn’t a joyride. It was her way of thinking—of sorting through the chaos in her head.

The wind whipped at her face, but her mind was elsewhere.

One night and a day.
That’s all it had taken for Yang to feel like she’d failed Ruby again.

It wasn’t because of Blake’s escape, or the “ice queen’s” remarks.
The real blow came afterward—when she realized, deep down, that she’d failed her little sister.

Her dear little sister.

How many times had her heart stopped because of Ruby?
How many calls had she answered, hearing her father’s tired voice saying Ruby was in trouble… or detained, just for being a faunus?

Too many.

Yang had known it from the start.
Since they were kids, she’d understood they were “different,” all because of one small detail: Ruby’s wolf ears.
And from that moment on, she knew she had to protect her.

For as long as she could remember, caring for Ruby wasn’t a choice—it was her mission.

After all, they didn’t exactly grow up in a “functional family.”
Not dysfunctional either… but losing their mother had changed everything.
And Yang, only two years older, had to take on a role no child should—almost like being a mother to her sister.

Their dad had fallen into deep depression. Barely moved for weeks, staying in bed while the girls fended for themselves. Yang had to be strong—to keep them fed, to wake Ruby every day, to help her bathe, dress, eat, smile.
Their father had turned to alcohol; bottles littered the house. Yang cleaned them daily. She’d learned to cook, to keep them alive.
Those were hard years… before things finally got better.

In school, Yang was the big sister who stepped between Ruby and anyone who dared to bother her. Always.
She was her shield, her strength, her constant.

It was only when Ruby started making friends that Yang finally felt she could relax a little.
Friends she even came to care about herself… until that day.

She gritted her teeth, remembering the boy with the scar—the ex “friend.”
That incident was burned into her memory.
After that, Ruby had a breakdown so severe it still hurt to think about. Seeing her in a hospital bed… hearing their father’s muffled sobs in the hallway…

That was the day Yang Xiao-Long swore she’d never let something like that happen to her sister again.

And yet… seeing how things were going now, she felt she was failing again.

The words Ruby said yesterday still echoed painfully in her mind:

> “I don’t feel comfortable being a faunus…”

Yang closed her eyes for a moment, as if she could erase the déjà vu.

Those were the same words as last time.
And she’d acted too late back then.

This time… she wouldn’t.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a sound she’d come to hate.

Sirens.

Police sirens—right behind her.

Yang rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath, slowing down and pulling over.

Moments later, a patrol car stopped behind her. Two officers stepped out and approached. Yang got off the bike, placing her helmet on the handlebar, flashing her trademark smirk.

“Problem, officers?” she asked playfully, crossing her arms.

“You were going over 60 in a 30 zone,” one said sternly.

“Oh, come on… the streets were empty,” Yang protested lightly.

“That’s not an excuse,” the other replied, pulling out his notebook. “License and ID, please.”

Yang sighed, pulling out her scroll and handing it over.
The officers checked it, and one of them raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

“Well, well… if it isn’t the wolf girl’s keeper.”

The words hit like a spark in dry powder.
Yang clenched her fists instinctively—but held herself back.
Not here. Not now.

She bit her lip hard, keeping her face neutral, though her golden eyes flickered dangerously for an instant.

The officer didn’t seem to notice—or didn’t care.
He finished writing the ticket and handed it over indifferently.

“Law’s the law.”

Yang took the slip with a frustrated sigh.
“Seriously, dude?” she muttered sarcastically, knowing it was pointless.

The officers returned to their patrol and drove off, leaving Yang alone on the sidewalk.
She stared at the ticket like it was a bad joke, then folded it and shoved it into her jacket pocket with a weary sigh.

“At least… I still have some of my allowance left... ,” she muttered before getting back on her bike.

Before starting the engine, she looked up at the sky, noticing dusk was falling fast.
She knew she should head back.

She started the bike again, her mind clearer now.
It was time to check on her little sister—and hopefully, Velvet had managed to lift her spirits.

Chapter Text

The deep echo of Professor Port’s voice resonated through the classroom as if he were narrating an epic.

Standing in front of the blackboard with his trademark heroic pose and an enthusiasm only he seemed to enjoy, he was recounting in lavish detail the construction of his faithful shotgun-axe.

“…and so it was, young students, that on the third day and with nothing but my wit and a humble anvil, I forged the very soul of this glorious weapon!” he exclaimed, raising his old relic with theatrical flair.

Normally this class is taught by Professor Harold Mulberry, but he’s away on a mission, leaving Port as the substitute — to the misfortune of some — all — the students. In the rows, no one seemed to be really listening.

Blake, with a concentrated, quiet expression, had Gambol Shroud unfolded across her desk. With a small precision screwdriver in hand she carefully inspected the hinge mechanism that allowed it to switch between sword and kusarigama forms. Every so often she turned the spool that held the metal tape, making sure there wasn’t excessive friction in the retraction mechanism.

Beside her, Weiss was disassembling the drum of Myrtenaster, removing the Dust cartridges one by one to inspect the focus connectors and channeling chambers. A small blue spark jumped when she tightened a loose part; she frowned with that usual mix of perfectionism and irritation at the task.

Meanwhile, Yang was leaning back in her seat, feet propped on the lower bar of the chair and her scroll hidden in her lap. She lazily swiped her finger across the screen, clearly more interested in anything than in Port’s story. From time to time she pretended to nod, though her eyes never left the device.

And next to Yang, Ruby—headband on—had both hands buried up to the wrist inside the mechanisms of Ember Celica, Yang’s pair of gauntlets, which lay disassembled after Yang had taken some severe damage in combat. A few metal pieces shot out when she tried to force the transformation system.

“Yang!” Ruby whispered with annoyance, popping her head out from between the parts. “When was the last time you cleaned or maintained Ember Celica!? The mechashift is completely stuck. There’s dust, dried oil… and crumbs!”

Yang looked up from her scroll with a cocky grin.

“Hmmm, when was the last time you checked it?” she answered nonchalantly, shrugging.

Ruby puffed her cheeks, visibly annoyed, while carefully adjusting an internal spring.

“This isn’t funny, Yang. If this jams in the middle of a fight you could be left weaponless when you need it most.”

“Relax, leader. I have complete faith in my personal armorer,” Yang replied, winking at her.

Ruby huffed and leaned back over the gauntlets, muttering something about “chronic mechanical irresponsibility.”

Port, oblivious to his class’s complete disinterest, continued to gesture passionately.

“…and then, with a masterful blow, I shaped the edge that would split the Grimm in two!”

Weiss finished snapping the Myrtenaster drum back together with a precise click. She turned slightly toward Yang, arched an eyebrow with her classic look of disapproval.

“I can’t believe you make Ruby do your work,” she said coldly. “You should be maintaining your own weapon, not your sister’s.”

Blake, without taking her eyes off Gambol Shroud, nodded softly in agreement.

“Weiss is right,” she added calmly. “Ember Celica is part of you. You should take care of it yourself.”

Yang shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“I would—” she said with a lopsided smile, “but let’s just say a certain pup doesn’t like the way I do things.”

“Yaaang!” Ruby shouted from beside her, popping her head out from between springs and gears, her face flushed. “Don’t use that nickname here!”

Yang laughed, raising her hands in mock innocence.

“Come on, Rubes, it’s not a secret anymore.”

Ruby puffed her cheeks even more, tightening the screwdriver.

“It’s still embarrassing!” she shot back without looking up.

Blake frowned; her tone turned firmer.

“Yang, those kinds of comments aren’t appropriate,” she said seriously.

Yang blinked, a little taken aback by Blake’s sudden sternness.

“Eh… I didn’t mean to upset her,” she replied, softer.

Sensing the tension, Ruby quickly intervened.

“Don’t take it personally, Blake,” she said as she adjusted the last spring. “That’s just how she and I are.”

Blake seemed like she wanted to say something, but she held it back.

Finally Ruby placed the last piece with a satisfying click and lifted the finished gauntlets with a proud smile.

“Done. Try them on.”

Yang slipped them on and activated the mechanism. Ember Celica responded flawlessly: the chambers rotated smoothly, the barrels extended precisely, and the mechashift changed from compact to combat mode without jamming.

“Perfect, as always!” Yang exclaimed, spinning her arms and throwing a small punch into the air. Then she grinned at Ruby. “Thanks, Rubes. I owe you some cookies.”

Ruby raised both fists in victory.

“Free cookies!”

Weiss sighed, crossing her arms.

“You shouldn’t let her take advantage of you like that, Ruby…”

But Ruby just waved her hand, unconcerned.

“Oh, please. I couldn’t leave poor Ember Celica in Yang’s hands. She deserves better.”

Yang feigned being offended, placing a hand on her chest.

“Hey!”

While Professor Port continued his epic tale about how he forged his “legendary” axe-shotgun after beating a three-meter Alpha Ursa with his bare hands, the murmur of gears, metallic clicks and little mechanical snaps came from Team RWBY’s table.

Weiss watched the freshly repaired gauntlets with interest, evaluating Ruby’s work with a critical eye.

“For how bad they were…” she murmured, “I didn’t think they were repairable.”

Yang crossed her arms with a proud smile that was really for her sister.

“They looked impossible, but Rubes is a genius with weapons.”

Blake looked up from Gambol Shroud, surprised at the comment.

“I thought you just liked weapons… not that you also fixed them,” she said with genuine curiosity.

Ruby, who was at that moment putting the leftover parts away in exact order, looked up with a bright spark in her eyes.

“I love weapons!” she said, growing more enthusiastic. “Not just because they’re awesome, but because of how they’re made. Every piece, every joint, every mechanism… it tells a story. The story of who built it and who carries it.”

Her voice softened a little, as if she were speaking about something very personal.

“Besides, the technical stuff fascinates me…” she added, proudly setting her scythe on the table. “After all, Crescent Rose is my greatest pride.”

The imposing scythe-shotgun extended across the desk with a soft click, its black-and-red metal gleaming under the classroom light. Even Blake and Weiss, who had seen it countless times, couldn’t help following the massive shape of the weapon with their eyes.

Weiss nodded slowly.

“I must admit, I agree with you,” she said honestly. “And I didn’t know you had so much mechanical knowledge.”

Blake also nodded.

“You talk about weapons like they’re people… but it makes sense,” she commented with a small smile. “It’s clear you really understand them.”

Yang slapped the back of Ruby’s chair.

“That’s my favorite armorer!” she said with exaggerated pride.

Ruby chuckled softly and shrugged.

“Well… someone has to make sure you don’t blow your own arm off.”

Weiss looked back to the front; Port was still on his endless tale, exaggerating his gestures as he mimed blocking a “tremendous” swipe from the Grimm. Then she looked back at Ruby.

“And you?” she asked with a curious tone. “Can you still do Crescent Rose’s maintenance today?”

Ruby made a slightly guilty gesture, scratching her cheek.

“Ah… well… I didn't do any maintenance last weekend because of what happened at the docks.” she admitted with a nervous smile. “But since this is the last class of the day, I can stay afterward and do it now.”

Weiss nodded.

“Need any help?”

Ruby shook her head.

“Nope,” she replied confidently, standing up and pulling a large metal case from under the table, painted in Crescent Rose’s same red-and-black colors.

Yang’s eyes widened.
“When did you bring that?” she asked, amused.

With a mischievous grin, Ruby set the case on the floor with a metallic thunk.
“When I got back to Patch, Dad gave me that box and put my tool case in it... I still have to get the stuff out of the boxes,” she explained.

She pressed a small button on the side and, with a click followed by a soft mechanical hum, the case began unfolding like a transforming mechanism. Side panels opened, inner trays slid upward, and small compartments expanded automatically—revealing a perfectly organized arsenal of tools: precision screwdrivers, calipers, small hammers, spare springs, bottles of oil, special wrenches, hooks, files, and various instruments specifically adjusted for Crescent Rose.

Every tool had its own padded space, arranged with near-surgical precision. They even gleamed with cleanliness, as if Ruby polished them daily.

Blake let out a soft whistle, clearly impressed.
“Wow… now that’s what I call being prepared.”

Weiss couldn’t help but smile slightly at her young leader’s dedication and orderliness.

Yang, on the other hand, just laughed.
“Yeah, she still manages to surprise us with that.”

Ruby straightened her scarf and grinned proudly.
“Obviously! A good huntress never neglects her equipment!”

The shrill sound of the bell rang through the room, announcing the end of the school day and cutting off Port’s grand speech just as he was describing how the Alpha Ursa “fell with a roar that shook the entire forest.”

“Ah, the unmistakable song of academic freedom!” Port exclaimed, adjusting his mustache with theatrical flair. “Very well, young hunters, that will be all for today. Don’t forget—next class I’ll bring the legendary axe for a demonstration! You may go!”

The students began standing up amid whispers of relief. Meanwhile, Ruby was still focused on Crescent Rose, with several disassembled parts and a few springs on the desk. She looked up slightly.

“Professor?” she called timidly. “Can I stay a bit longer to finish the maintenance?”

Port turned to her with a proud smile.
“Of course, Miss Rose! It’s always a pleasure to see a student so dedicated to her weapon. Just make sure to close the classroom properly when you’re done.”

Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, sir!”

Yang stretched with a long yawn, intertwining her hands over her head.
“Finally… the day’s over,” she said with relief.

Blake also stood up, carefully placing Gambol Shroud back in its sheath.
“At least the last hour’s always peaceful,” she added. “We can kind of do whatever we want.”

Even Weiss allowed herself a small sigh, relaxing her shoulders.
“I’ll admit that’s a nice change,” she said, neatly closing her maintenance kit.

Ruby, completely absorbed in the inner workings of her scythe, said nothing. Her hands moved precisely, tightening internal parts with a fine screwdriver.

Yang leaned toward her.
“Want us to bring you something from the cafeteria?” she asked casually.

Ruby barely looked up.
“Eh? Oh… no, I’m good. Thanks,” she replied, quickly going back to work.

Yang smiled knowingly.
“Got it. All right girls, let’s grab dinner—and bring some back for Ruby,” she said, turning to Blake and Weiss.

Weiss crossed her arms.
“How long will she be?” she asked, glancing at the weapon’s half-disassembled mechanism on the table.

Yang gave a short laugh.
“Judging by that look? At least half an hour.”

Blake raised an eyebrow.
“That long?”

“If it were a full inspection,” Yang said, amused, “she’d be here all day. Trust me.”

Both Weiss and Blake turned to look at Ruby. Their young leader smiled softly while adjusting the internal springs, completely absorbed in her work, her expression peaceful—almost hypnotic.

“Well… in that case,” Blake said with a faint, resigned smile.

Yang chuckled and pointed toward the door.
“Great, kitty, let’s go then!”

Blake shot her a glare.
“Don’t call me that,” she said sharply.

Yang lifted her hands in mock innocence.
“You’ll get used to it someday.”

Before Blake could reply, a firm voice interrupted the scene:

“Am I interrupting something?”

The three turned in unison. Standing in the classroom doorway was Glynda Goodwitch—impeccable as always, riding crop in one hand, her expression calm but authoritative.

“Professor Goodwitch,” Weiss greeted politely, straightening her posture.

Glynda returned the greeting with a slight nod.
“Good afternoon. May I ask why you’re still here?”

Weiss immediately took the lead.
“Ruby is doing maintenance on her weapon. Professor Port gave her permission to stay,” she explained in a formal tone.

“I see,” Glynda replied, nodding. “Good to know. However, I need to borrow your leader for a moment.”

Ruby’s head shot up, still holding the screwdriver.
“Me?” she asked, surprised.

Yang raised an eyebrow with a half-smile.
“Is there another leader named Ruby around here?” she teased.

Blake gave her a quick elbow to the ribs, earning a quiet “ouch” from Yang.

Glynda kept her composure.
“It’s nothing bad,” she clarified, her voice firm but calm. “We just need to discuss a few important matters.”

Ruby noticed the serious—but not threatening—tone, and carefully set the parts down on the table.
“Oh… okay,” she said, turning to her teammates. “See you in the dorms.”

Yang gave a thumbs-up, Weiss nodded elegantly, and Blake simply said,
“We’ll wait for you.”

Ruby quickly wiped her hands with a cloth, feeling a faint itch on her head that she tried to ignore. Glynda approached her student as the other girls left the classroom.

———

Beacon’s cafeteria was quiet at that hour. It wasn’t exactly rush time, so most students had already eaten or were in their dorms. The soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of utensils filled the wide dining hall, blending with the aroma of different dishes.

Yang, Weiss, and Blake walked in with trays in hand, following the self-service line. Each of them stopped at different stations, showing varying levels of enthusiasm.

Yang was the first to move decisively, loading her tray with a double burger, fries, and a generous portion of dessert.
“If we’re having dinner without Ruby,” she said with a grin, “then it better be worth it!”

Weiss, on the other hand, stopped at the healthy section, critically inspecting every dish before serving herself a perfectly balanced salad and a small bowl of clear soup.
“I don’t understand how you can eat that much fat every day,” she commented, sounding both astonished and disapproving.

Yang winked.
“With training, Miss Fancy.”

Blake stayed quiet, moving without haste. Eventually she picked a plate with grilled fish, white rice, and steamed vegetables. Her choice was calm, natural… until Yang noticed.

Yang’s eyes widened in feigned surprise, a mischievous smile curling on her lips.
“Ohhh… now everything makes sense,” she said teasingly, leaning toward Blake. “No wonder you like fish so much.”

Blake raised an eyebrow, clearly not finding the comment funny—though she didn’t look angry either.
“Very funny,” she replied flatly, turning away to keep moving.

Weiss frowned slightly.
“Actually, that’s not as funny as you think,” she interjected firmly. “What we read about Faunus customs mentioned that those of feline descent tend to prefer fish.”

Blake shot her a sharp, irritated look, though Weiss didn’t notice—and Yang took it as her victory.

Yang crossed her arms, still smiling.
“Well, well, Miss Encyclopedia. Let me have my moment.”

Blake rolled her eyes, visibly annoyed, and dropped the subject with a quiet sigh.
“Forget it,” she muttered.

Feeling “victorious” in her joke, Yang let out a satisfied chuckle as they moved toward an empty table. Weiss, with her usual dignified posture, sat gracefully and began eating her salad with meticulous precision.

Blake sat across from Yang, resting her elbows lightly on the table. While she absentmindedly broke a piece of fish with her chopsticks, her gaze lingered on Yang a little longer than usual.

Ruby wasn’t there. Their leader was still in class with Glynda.
Yang was relaxed, in a good mood.
And Weiss… well, she wasn’t the best company for this conversation, but she wasn’t going to vanish magically either.

Blake saw this as an opportunity.

If she was going to talk to Yang about it—about Ruby, and what she needed to know—maybe this was the time.

Yang was halfway through a bite when she noticed Blake watching her. At first, she didn’t think much of it… until Blake cleared her throat softly and spoke in a tone more serious than usual.

“Yang…” Blake began cautiously, “can I ask you something?”

Yang slowly lowered her burger, raising an eyebrow.
“A question?” she repeated curiously.

Weiss, who had been focused on cutting her salad with surgical precision, glanced up slightly—interested, though she didn’t interrupt yet.

Blake rarely asked personal questions, much less so directly. Still, she tried to keep her tone casual.
“I mean…” she started, choosing her words carefully, “what was Ruby like when she was little? Before she came to Beacon?”

Yang smiled softly, relaxing her shoulders.
“Oh… weird question, but since I’m the big sister, sure. Let’s see…” she said, her tone nostalgic. “She was just as hyperactive as she is now. Always in the workshop, taking things apart, building others, asking a million questions. And when she wasn’t there, she was running through the forest like she had infinite energy. She was a fluffy little ball of enthusiasm.” She laughed quietly.

Weiss nodded slowly.
“That matches what we’ve seen here. She has… an uncommon level of dedication for her age.”

Yang pointed at Weiss with her thumb.
“Exactly.”

Blake smiled faintly, imagining a younger Ruby running around everywhere.
“Sounds like her,” she said softly.

The conversation lightened for a while. Yang shared a short story about how eight-year-old Ruby once tried to build a scythe out of scrap metal and springs—which ended with pieces flying all over the room. Weiss even laughed quietly at the mental image, though she tried to keep her composure.

But Blake hadn’t forgotten her real question. After a few moments of silence, she decided to go for it.

Yang was about to take another bite when Blake, after some thoughtful hesitation, spoke again.

“Yang…” she began more softly, “about Ruby…”

She paused, searching for the right words.
“Did she… grow up knowing things about… Faunus?”

Yang froze, blinking at the oddly specific question.

Weiss once again stopped mid-movement with her fork, this time looking up curiously.

“Eh?” Yang said, setting her burger down slowly. “What do you mean exactly?”

Blake looked down briefly, a little embarrassed by how direct the topic was.
“It’s nothing strange,” she clarified quickly. “It’s just that… there are things only Faunus understand among themselves. Traditions, habits, how their senses or bodies work… things you simply don’t learn unless you grow up around others like you.”

Her tone was calm and genuinely thoughtful.
“And since Ruby grew up in a human environment, I wanted to know if she ever learned about those things. If anyone explained them to her.”

Yang studied her for a few seconds… then smiled, relaxing.
“Ahhh, I see what you’re getting at,” she said, nodding in understanding. “No offense taken—it makes sense you’d ask.”

Blake looked up slightly, relieved Yang hadn’t taken it the wrong way.

Yang continued, resting her elbows on the table.
“Dad married a Faunus, you know. So even though Ruby and I grew up in Patch, there were plenty of things we learned… in our own way.”
She scratched her cheek thoughtfully.
“Dad didn’t know everything, of course. But he tried. And well, I had to learn a few things myself so I could help her when we were kids.”

Weiss nodded slowly.
“That makes sense,” she said reflectively. “Information about Faunus isn’t always accessible in human communities—especially in isolated places like Patch.”

Yang nodded, turning her gaze toward Blake.
“Ruby never had a Faunus community teaching her directly,” she said, her tone a bit more serious. “But she didn’t grow up ignorant of it either. She knew who she was from the start. Some of those… unique things, though, we had to figure out together—trial and error.”

Yang leaned an elbow on the table and grinned with that familiar mischievous spark.

“Well…” she began, “I don’t know if I’d call it teaching or domestic survival,” she said, laughing a little, “but yeah, there were quite a few things we had to learn on the go.”

Blake raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and Weiss subtly leaned forward—interested in hearing more.

“For starters,” Yang said, counting on her fingers, “Ruby had this strong habit of biting things when she was little. Everything she could find! Shoes, furniture, pillows… and don’t even get me started on the sleeves of my clothes.”
She rolled her eyes with a nostalgic smile.
“One time she almost chewed up my favorite scarf. Found it hanging off a chair and, well—let’s just say by the time I caught her, half of it looked like it had been through a shredder.”

Weiss listened with genuine curiosity; stories like these were foreign to her—she’d never… been like that. Normal.

“Really?”

“Oh, wait,” Yang went on, raising a finger like she was just warming up. “When she got nervous, her ears would move so much it was like they were broadcasting her emotions before she even spoke. If something scared her—boom!—ears down, head twitching, eyes locked. You could literally read her like an open book.”

She sighed, laughing.
“We had to teach her how to relax so she wouldn’t give herself away so easily. Though, well… even now she still struggles with that a bit.”

Blake smiled with genuine warmth; maybe she’d worried too much. Weiss, despite trying to maintain her elegant composure, had a small amused smile on her lips.

Yang lowered her voice a little, as if sharing a secret.
“And… there was also the ‘night howling phase.’”

Blake tilted her head; she could already guess. Many young wolf-type Faunus had that habit.
“Howling?”

Yang nodded with mock seriousness—though it lasted barely two seconds before she burst out laughing.
“Yeah. If Ruby woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t find Dad or me nearby, she’d start howling loud enough to wake up all of Patch. The neighbors didn’t even complain anymore; they just knew it was ‘the little wolf pup, Rose.’”

She leaned toward them and added conspiratorially,
“Don’t tell her I told you that, okay? She dies of embarrassment every time she remembers it.”

Weiss just shook her head, though her cheeks were faintly pink from suppressed laughter.

Blake couldn’t help but smile for real this time; the image of a tiny Ruby acting like a restless little wolf was genuinely adorable.
And it was comforting, too—to know Ruby had been supported as she grew, even if in an unconventional way.
Maybe she could be someone who helped Ruby understand herself better now.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Blake said warmly. “And… how did she handle… that?” she asked curiously, tilting her head slightly.

Yang raised an eyebrow, not immediately catching what “that” referred to.

“With… what exactly?” she asked, a bit confused.

Before Blake could clarify, the weary voice of a janitor interrupted them:
“Girls, cafeteria’s closing. Time to wrap it up.”

“Oh, right…” Yang muttered, grabbing her tray. “Got late, huh?”

Yang detoured briefly toward the counter.
“I’ll bring something for Rubes,” she announced, grabbing a couple of take-out wrappers. “Bet she hasn’t eaten anything decent all day.”

Blake and Weiss nodded, and together they left the cafeteria, their quiet nighttime chatter fading down the hall.

———

The dormitory hallway buzzed softly with the voices of students returning to their rooms. Yang walked with her hands clasped behind her head, carrying herself with that relaxed, carefree air so typical of her.

“So… are you really going to lend us some Dust to practice tomorrow, Weissy?” she asked with a mischievous smile.

“Yes, I will, Yang,” Weiss replied with elegance, though her expression quickly shifted to annoyance. “And don’t call me that.”

“No promises, pincess,” Yang teased, dragging out the word on purpose.

“It’s not like I even need Dust…” Blake muttered, brushing off the subject as they approached their room.

When they opened the door, the sight that greeted them made them pause for a moment.

Ruby—without her headband, her wolf ears fully visible—was scratching behind them absentmindedly. It had become a small habit between her and Blake: both took off their “disguises” in the room to feel more comfortable. Neither had an issue with it… well, someone was still getting used to it, but it was already part of their nightly routine.

Ruby sat at her desk, completely focused. Several books lay open in front of her—some filled with schematics, others covered in handwritten notes. The small lamp beside her cast a warm glow across her face, highlighting a seriousness that was rare for her.

“Ohh…” Yang tilted her head. “Look at her—model student mode.”

Ruby looked up briefly and waved in greeting.

“Well, well… what do we have here?” Yang added, walking closer.

“Nothing special,” Ruby said quickly, avoiding eye contact. “Just some Signal stuff I never got around to finishing.”

“Perfect, because I brought reinforcements,” Yang interrupted proudly, placing a small wrapped bag on the desk.

Ruby blinked in confusion as Yang set it down. When she opened it, she found a meat sandwich and a chilled juice bottle inside.

“I grabbed you something before the cafeteria closed,” Yang said with a shrug, like it was no big deal.

Ruby’s eyes lit up and her ears perked slightly forward, clearly delighted.
“Thanks, Yang!” she exclaimed cheerfully. “Honestly… I hadn’t eaten yet.”

“Knew it,” Yang said, crossing her arms with the satisfaction of an older sister. “Eat first, study later. No point trying to learn with an empty stomach.”

Weiss raised an eyebrow, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
“For once, I agree with you,” she remarked, setting her things neatly aside.

From the bookshelf, Blake glanced over with a soft smile.
“She spoils you too much,” she said in her usual neutral tone, as she untied the ribbons from her own ears.

With a mouthful of sandwich, Ruby just raised a thumbs-up in victory, making Yang laugh.

Yang leaned over slightly, eyeing the small chaos of books.
“Need help?”

Ruby shook her head vigorously.
“No, no, it’s fine! It’s just stuff from the years I skipped—I’ve got to catch up.”

Weiss crossed her arms, nodding approvingly.
“I’m glad to see you’re taking your studies seriously, Ruby.”

“Thanks…” Ruby mumbled, rubbing her cheek, slightly embarrassed.

Yang, however, didn’t waste time asking what had been on her mind since they walked in.
“So, by the way… what did Glynda want with you? She’s been calling you a lot lately.”

“You mean all week,” Blake added while scanning the bookshelf for a title.

The question made Ruby blink, her eyes darting back down to her notes.
“Oh… it wasn’t anything important,” she said quickly. “Just… leader stuff, you know.”

Yang squinted, clearly unconvinced—but Blake stopped her with a calm glance.
“Well… if you say it’s nothing,” the Faunus conceded.

“Yeah,” Ruby nodded quickly, focusing again on her books.

The girls began getting ready for bed. Weiss arranged her belongings with her usual precision; Blake settled in with a book of her own; and Yang flopped onto her bed like it was the softest cloud in the world.

Ruby, meanwhile, switched on her small desk lamp, leaving the room bathed in a gentle amber glow.
“I’ll stay up a little longer to study,” she announced without looking away from her notes.

“Don’t stay up too late, Rubes…” Yang murmured from her bed, already half-asleep.

“I’ll try…” Ruby replied with a soft smile, turning the page.

———

The next morning, Professor Thumbelina Peach’s classroom was buzzing with energy. The characteristic metallic and mineral scent of Dust filled the air, accompanied by bursts of colorful light as students experimented all around. The professor had given them free practice time—to explore combinations as they pleased, as long as they didn’t blow up the classroom.

Team RWBY occupied one of the open workstations. Weiss had brought a carefully organized selection of Dust vials, neatly aligned on the table. Ruby was reading a book with a tired expression, Yang looked like she was planning something “spectacular,” and Blake… well, Blake was trying something new.

To everyone’s surprise, the Faunus had begun using her Semblance in combination with Dust—creating clones that burst into flames, wind gusts, and electric flashes. The surrounding students started to gather around, amazed, and the highlight came when Blake used Ice Dust: her silhouette vanished, leaving behind a perfect ice sculpture of herself, crystalline and lifelike.

Yang whistled, impressed.
“Wow! That was awesome, Blakey. Why didn’t you tell us you could do that?”

Blake, still a bit surprised herself, looked down at her hands.
“I didn’t know,” she admitted sincerely. “I’d never tried it before.”

Weiss approached to inspect the ice figure, clearly fascinated.
“Your Semblance synchronizes beautifully with Dust. It’s… fascinating.”

“Thanks… I guess,” Blake replied, feeling slightly awkward under the attention.

Yang crossed her arms, smiling.
“So you’re only now playing around with Dust, huh?”

The question was friendly, but Blake’s tone grew a little more serious.
“I couldn’t always use it,” she said quietly. “You know…”—her voice lowered—“for Faunus, getting Dust wasn’t exactly easy.”

Yang’s smile faltered a little.
“Oh…” she rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, Blake. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” Blake interrupted gently. “Besides, it’s not like I need it that much. I manage just fine with my Semblance.”

Ruby understood exactly what she meant. She too had faced her share of discrimination when trying to buy Dust—being denied entry or overcharged just for being a Faunus. Yang had ended up running most of the errands for her. With that in mind, Ruby closed her book and walked closer to Blake.

“So… you can’t really afford it?” she asked softly, genuinely concerned.

Blake hesitated for a second, but realized Ruby probably understood from experience. She finally nodded, slightly uncomfortable.
“Dust is expensive. And I… don’t have the money to stock up like some people.”

Weiss, who had been listening quietly until then, lifted her chin with determination.
“That can be solved,” she said without hesitation. “If your Semblance works that well with Dust, it would be foolish to let money stand in the way. Consider my supply open to you whenever you need it.”

Blake looked at her, surprised—not by the offer itself, but by how natural it sounded coming from Weiss.
“Weiss…”

“It’s not a favor,” Weiss clarified. “It’s strategy. A strong team uses every advantage it has. And you have an exceptional ability.”

Yang grinned widely, throwing an arm around Blake (who immediately flinched a little at the sudden gesture).
“Would you look at that—Ice Queen sharing her Dust like a real teammate! Mark this historic day!”

“Be quiet!” Weiss snapped, a faint blush creeping onto her face.

Ruby just smiled softly, watching the scene. Seeing her team work together like this… she loved it.

Yang rubbed her hands together eagerly.
“All right, my turn!” she said with a mischievous grin, eyeing the vials of Dust like candies in a shop.

Ruby’s eyes widened instantly.
“Yang… Ember Celica isn’t compatible with Dust,” she said firmly.

Yang snorted.
“Oh, come on, I’ll just test a little bit. If anything happens, I can fix it later.”

Ruby sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead, feeling a twitch in her hidden ears.
“You mean I’ll fix it…” she muttered, sounding every bit the exasperated little sister.

Yang, taking that as permission, grabbed a vial of red Dust and held it up to Blake.
“Come on, Blakey, let’s move over here—don’t want to blow up the Ice Queen’s table.”

Blake raised an eyebrow but followed her calmly. She couldn’t deny she was curious about what Yang would try… though a part of her was already expecting a disaster.

Meanwhile, Weiss approached Ruby with two vials—one blue, one purple.
“All right, leader,” she said elegantly. “Which one will you test?”

Ruby blinked, startled, shaking her hands quickly.
“Oh—uh, that’s not necessary. I’d rather finish my reading first—”

Before she could finish, Weiss swiftly snatched the book from her hands. Ruby let out a small “ah!” and flinched, her wolf ears twitching nervously under the headband.

“We’re in class, Ruby,” Weiss said in her authoritative—but faintly teasing—tone. “And any material not related to this subject is prohibited.”

Ruby pursed her lips, clearly ready to protest… but when she saw Weiss’s firm expression, she sighed in defeat.
“Gravity,” she muttered at last, giving in.

Weiss smiled in satisfaction and handed her the vial of gravity Dust.
“Excellent.”

Still holding the vial, Ruby sighed again, then unfolded Crescent Rose with a smooth mechanical motion that filled the air with a series of metallic clanks. The weapon shifted gracefully into rifle form, immediately drawing Weiss’s attention.

The young leader opened one of the special bullet capsules on her belt and pulled out a few custom rounds. Weiss frowned slightly, intrigued.
“Is that .45 caliber?” she asked analytically.

Ruby shook her head with a proud smile.
“Nope. .50 caliber,” she said, deftly manipulating the round.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, impressed.
“That explains the ridiculous recoil your weapon has…” she murmured, recalling more than one of Ruby’s impossible acrobatics.

Carefully, Ruby opened the round and poured a small amount of gravity Dust inside, then sealed it with practiced precision.
“Yup. It lets me move around a lot more freely when I need to,” she explained, sliding the bullet back into the chamber.

Weiss watched every step with surgical focus.
“Have you considered using other types of Dust?” she asked, genuinely curious.

Ruby tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm… I have,” she admitted. “But, well, like Blake—I can’t exactly afford much Dust. So when I do get some, I stick to gravity. It’s what helps me the most for movement.”

Weiss immediately recalled the initiation day—the first time she’d seen Ruby fight. That moment when Ruby had launched herself through the air with perfect control using gravity rounds… and completely taken her by surprise.

“Then,” Weiss said with a small, satisfied nod, “you have my permission to use mine. Blake already does; I see no reason why you shouldn’t.”

Ruby stared at her, mouth half-open, as if Weiss had just said something absurd.
“Eh? I can’t just—!”

But Weiss lifted a finger, cutting her off.
“It’s not a favor, Ruby. It’s efficiency. If your mobility depends on this Dust, it would be wasteful for you to hold back for financial reasons—especially when your performance affects the team as a whole.”

Ruby opened her mouth to argue… but no words came out. Weiss had used the perfect argument: team efficiency.

“Ugh… fine…” Ruby finally sighed, puffing her cheeks in a mix of resignation and embarrassment as she loaded the gravity round into Crescent Rose.

Weiss smiled proudly, crossing her arms.
“Wise decision.”

A sudden BOOM echoed through the classroom, followed by a thick cloud of smoke rising from one corner.

Ruby and Weiss turned in unison—and, of course, there they were: Yang and Blake, standing amid a gray haze, Yang coughing and waving the smoke away.

“I’m fine, I’m fine…” Yang croaked, as if that made things any better.

Weiss pressed a hand to her forehead, exhaling through her nose.
“Of course…” she muttered, as though she’d foreseen it entirely.

Ruby just sighed.
“Most predictable outcome,” she said matter-of-factly—it wasn’t the first time Yang literally blew up.

With a click, Ruby reloaded her rifle. The gravity-charged bullet was ready. Weiss watched with her arms crossed.
“All right… and what exactly do you plan to do now?” she asked.

Ruby smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with technical excitement.
“If I’m going to test something, I want to try an idea I’ve been working on with gravity Dust.”

Weiss raised an eyebrow.
“Do you need something?”

Ruby thought for a moment, then pulled an empty plastic bottle from her bag.
“Yeah—could you throw this? I’ll shoot it.”

Weiss understood immediately and took the bottle with graceful precision. Ruby lifted her weapon, focused, and gave the signal.
“Go!”

Weiss tossed the bottle in a clean arc. Ruby quickly adjusted her aim, locked onto it—then pulled the trigger.

Nothing.

No recoil, no sound, no spark. Just silence… and the bottle falling to the ground with a sad plop.

Ruby blinked, confused.
“You didn’t… shoot?” Weiss asked incredulously.

“I did! Or… I tried to,” Ruby said, staring at her weapon as if expecting it to explain itself.

She began checking the exterior mechanisms, turning parts, making sure nothing was jammed. Weiss leaned closer, concerned.
“Could the Dust have clogged the chamber?” she asked analytically.

Ruby shook her head, frowning.
“It shouldn’t have… I’ve done this plenty of times,” she said, frustrated, and pulled the trigger again.

Nothing.

Ruby narrowed her eyes, muttering under her breath. Maybe something was stuck, but she didn’t have her tools—an irritating thought. She squeezed the trigger a bit harder.

BOOOOM!

The bullet fired all at once, launching Ruby upward like a human projectile. Her body shot through the air and hit the ceiling with a heavy thud, her Aura flickering from the impact.

“RUBY!” Weiss shouted.

Ruby crashed into the floor, bouncing once before landing flat on her back, dazed. Her aura flickered slightly, and the entire room fell silent for a moment.

"RUBY!" Yang's voice rang out over the murmurs of the other students. In an instant, she, Weiss, and Blake rushed to their fallen leader.

Yang knelt beside her, frowning with concern as she offered a hand.
"Hey, Rubes... you okay for real? That ceiling wasn't kind to you."

Ruby blinked a couple of times, seeing stars before letting out a small groan.
"Ugh... I'm fine... I think...," she said with a nervous laugh.

Weiss let out a long sigh, checking Ruby's aura with precise movements.
"Your aura flickered like you took a hard hit. Are you sure you didn't hit your head harder than you think?"

Blake crouched down too, watching her carefully.
"I clearly saw you bounce off the ceiling. That... wasn't good."

Yang helped Ruby sit up, keeping a hand on her shoulder, scanning her with her eyes.
"That was an epic entrance, but... you sure nothing hurts? Don't give me 'I'm fine' if you look dizzy."

Ruby looked down, a little embarrassed, and let out a giggle.
"Well... maybe it hurt a little..."

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose.
"A little," she says..., she muttered, exasperated.

Yang sighed in relief but still worried, ruffling her hair gently.
"You're a walking disaster, little sis. Next time warn me before you go flying."

Once on her feet, Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose and announced firmly:
"I definitely need to fix this. See you later."

"The class isn't over yet!" Weiss protested as Ruby headed for the door.

As if on cue, the bell rang, signaling the end of class and the day. Ruby gave Weiss an innocent smile.
"See ya!" she chirped, and before anyone could stop her, she vanished in a blur of red petals.

Yang crossed her arms, looking at the door with a mix of pride and concern.
"That girl... she didn't like all that attention one bit."

Weiss exhaled, resigned.

Blake, calm as always, commented:
"I think she'll be fine."

———

Sun Wukong slipped through Beacon's hallways with a conspiratorial grin, hands clasped behind his head and tail swaying lazily side to side.

Beacon didn't resemble his old academy at all, and he fully intended to explore it. Being locked in his room as "punishment" wasn't doing him any good, so... a quick leap out the window had given him free rein for a little **nighttime adventure**.

Though, to be fair, he'd already had plenty of adventures in the few days since arriving. He hoped to reconnect with the friends he'd made; he hadn't seen them since the station. Hopefully Ruby was okay—she'd looked pretty shaken up.

That's when he heard it. Metallic.
*Clack — clack — tink tink tink.*
An uneven rhythm, like tools striking metal, mixed with a frustrated sigh that echoed faintly through the empty nighttime hallway.

Sun stopped, flicking his ears slightly as he tried to pinpoint the source.
"What was that?" he whispered curiously, following the echo.

The trail led him to what he assumed were the academy's forges. The heavy metal door stood slightly ajar; a thin line of warm yellow light spilled into the dark corridor. Moving silently, Sun crept closer and peeked through the gap.

There was Ruby Rose.
Hunched over a cluttered workbench littered with tools and the disassembled pieces of Crescent Rose, her brow furrowed as she worked with rapid, precise movements. Her usual spark of nervous energy was absent; she looked focused, tense... and clearly frustrated.

Sun leaned against the doorframe, watching silently for a few seconds. He didn't want to interrupt her, but he couldn't help thinking it was a curious sight: Ruby, alone at **this hour of the night**, tinkering with her weapon like a seasoned mechanic.

Then he saw her bring a hand to her head, like something was bothering her. At first, he didn't get it—until Ruby took off her headband, revealing her **wolf ears**. A second later, she started scratching them insistently, frowning even harder from discomfort rather than anger.

Sun blinked, surprised.
"She's scratching her ears?" he murmured.

Completely absorbed in her frustration and the irritating itch, Ruby didn't notice him. She ran her fingers through the fur of her ears, trying to relieve the sensation with little success.

Sun tilted his head slightly, unsure. He could leave her alone... but seeing her like this—visibly upset and by herself—didn't sit right with him. And since Sun Wukong was a good friend, he'd solve the mystery.

"Alright... guess a little company won't hurt," he muttered to himself, before gently pushing the door open and stepping into the forge.

Chapter Text

The relentless blare of the alarm filled Team RWBY’s dorm, shattering the early morning silence.

Without a second thought, Blake stretched out her arm and smacked the noisy device with the precision of someone silencing a mortal enemy. She sighed, rubbing her still-sleepy cat ears.

“...Why do I keep letting them set that thing?” she muttered under her breath, caught somewhere between a dream and annoyance.

One by one, the rest of the team began to stir. Weiss, still half-asleep, forced herself upright and gave a groggy “Good morning.” Yang, on the other hand, let out a low, drawn-out groan that somehow perfectly captured her entire mood.

As always, Blake was the first to adapt to the morning routine. She grabbed her towel and bag, heading straight for the shower.

“Second,” Weiss called casually while brushing her hair in the mirror.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m fourth, like always,” Yang mumbled with a sleepy grin, her golden hair swaying as she stretched.

No one bothered to argue.

While Blake showered, Weiss began preparing her uniform, and Yang—still half-asleep—walked over to the top bunk, where her little sister usually slept.

“Ruuuuby…” she called lazily, resting her hand on the railing. “C’mon, sleepyhead, up you go…”

Silence.

Yang frowned, climbing a bit higher, expecting to find Ruby tangled in her blanket like usual.

“Ruby, don’t make me come up there…” she warned half-jokingly, reaching out—

Then stopped cold.

The bed was empty. Sheets neat. No sign of anyone ever being there.

Yang’s sleepiness vanished in an instant.

“...Ruby?” she repeated, her tone now alert.

Weiss noticed the shift in her voice and turned. “Is something wrong, Yang?”

Yang climbed down and scanned the room quickly, as if Ruby might suddenly pop out from behind a piece of furniture.

“Yang,” Weiss called again, a bit more firmly.

Yang turned to her, arms crossed. “Ruby’s not here.”

Weiss blinked, setting aside her neatly folded uniform to check for herself. The upper bunk was perfectly made—empty.

“What?” she said, stunned.

Yang frowned, scanning the room again. Her gaze landed on Ruby’s desk. Something was missing.

“Her scroll’s gone… and her uniform, too,” she murmured. “Did she get up early?”

Weiss frowned. “But you waited for her last night, didn’t you?”

“That was Blake,” Yang replied with a shrug.

Right on cue, Blake emerged from the bathroom in her uniform, towel in hand, tying her black bow perfectly over her cat ears.

“It got late yesterday,” she explained calmly. “I called her, and she said she’d be back soon. I must’ve fallen asleep after that. She probably left early this morning.”

Weiss sighed, clearly unsatisfied. “We’ll have to talk to her about that.”

Yang rolled her shoulders, shaking off the last traces of sleep. “Well, she’s probably fine. I’ll ask her when I see her. For now, we should get ready.”

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Beacon was alive with the usual morning chaos—students chatting, trays clattering, the smell of breakfast in the air.

They joined Team JNPR’s table, but one glance told them enough: no one had seen Ruby.

She didn’t show up for breakfast either, which only deepened Weiss’s irritation (and her concern). By Weiss’s insistence, they decided to head straight to class.

As they walked through the halls, conversation naturally circled around Ruby’s whereabouts—ranging from simple theories like “maybe she fell asleep somewhere” to “she’s probably training again before class.”

None of those ideas sounded impossible. This was Ruby, after all.

But as they reached the classroom door, someone unexpected appeared in the hallway—

Sun Wukong, strolling casually in the opposite direction, holding two cups of coffee and wearing that signature carefree grin.

Blake froze mid-step. “...Sun?”

His face lit up the moment he spotted her.

“Blake! Wow, what a coincidence!” he said, tail swishing cheerfully.

Yang and Weiss exchanged quick glances, sizing him up. Blake, meanwhile, frowned slightly.

“What are you doing here? Weren’t you grounded?” she asked bluntly.

Sun shrugged. “Technically, yeah. But starting today, I’m joining your classes… or, well, whatever’s left of the semester.”

Blake blinked, processing that. “…And your uniform?”

He shrugged again. “Didn’t really pack much.”

Blake just sighed and decided to let it go.

Then Sun tilted his head curiously toward the others. “And these are…?” he asked, gesturing with one of the cups.

Blake hesitated for half a second before remembering her manners. “Oh—right. This is Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long. My teammates.”

Yang raised a lazy hand in greeting. Weiss gave a polite nod, though her expression was stiff; Sun’s presence clearly didn’t sit well with her.

“Your name sounds familiar,” Yang said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Sun grinned. “Of course! You’re Ruby’s big sister, right?”

Yang’s smile tightened, her tone shifting. “You know my sister?”

Before she could get the wrong idea, Blake quickly cut in. “He was… at the docks,” she said, sounding mildly uncomfortable at the memory.

Yang’s expression shifted to mock annoyance. “Oh, right! The day my dear little sister ended up in a holding cell.”

Sun scratched the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. “In my defense, she kinda just showed up out of nowhere.”

Weiss, tired of the chatter, stepped forward with her usual air of authority. “We should get to class. It’s about to start. And you, Wukong,” she added sharply, “coffee isn’t allowed in the classroom. Finish that before you go in.”

Sun smirked and raised one cup. “Oh, this one’s not for me. I promised Ruby I’d bring her one.”

The three girls froze.

“…Ruby?” Yang echoed.

Sun nodded. “Yeah! She’s already in class. She didn’t sleep at all last night, so I figured she could use the caffeine.”

Weiss crossed her arms. “Didn’t sleep?” she repeated warily. “And how exactly do you know that?”

“Oh, I was with her all ni—”

He didn’t get to finish.

“WHAT?!” Yang’s shout echoed through the hall like a thunderclap. “YOU SPENT THE *WHOLE NIGHT* WITH MY SISTER?!”

Sun stumbled back, flustered. “W-wait! Not like that!”

Blake groaned, stepping between them before Yang’s protective big-sister energy exploded. “Yang, calm down. Let him explain before you break him.”

Weiss’s eyes were sharp as knives. “Explain yourself, Wukong. Now.”

Sun raised both hands defensively. “Okay, okay! I sneaked out last night to explore Beacon, alright? When I passed near the forge, I heard noises—and there she was.”

Weiss’s eyes narrowed. “…Working on Crescent Rose,” she finished, piecing it together.

Sun nodded quickly. “Yeah! She was welding and tuning parts like it was noon, even though it was, uh… definitely not noon. We talked for a bit, and, uh… I fell asleep first. She kept working all night.”

Yang exhaled sharply. “You *could’ve* led with that.”

“Yeah,” Sun admitted with a nervous grin. “Didn’t sound great the first time, huh?”

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. “So she stayed up all night in the forge. Wonderful. No sleep, and she skips breakfast. Perfect.”

Blake remained calm as always. “At least we know where she is.”

Yang sighed. “I’m still gonna lecture her later.”

The bell rang just as they entered the classroom—Ruby, as Sun promised, was there.

Sort of.

Headband in place, arms folded under her head, and fast asleep at her desk, she was already snoring softly.

Sun grinned, setting the coffee cup in front of her and gently tapping her shoulder. “Hey, Ruby. Wake up.”

Ruby shot up instantly, eyes wide, only to relax when she saw who it was. “Oh. Hey, Sun…”

He handed her the coffee. She took a big sip—then made a face. “Bleh. No sugar.”

“You didn’t say how you liked it,” he replied, sipping his own.

Ruby blinked as she realized the rest of her team had arrived. Yang crossed her arms.

“Really, Ruby? The forge? All night?”

Weiss nodded sternly. “You’re the team leader. What kind of example is that supposed to set?”

Ruby yawned, rubbing her eyes. “My weapon needed a full check-up,” she said defensively. “I couldn’t just leave her like that after yesterday.”

Blake, already seated with a book open, didn’t even look up. “You could’ve done it this morning.”

“But we’ve got combat class today!” Ruby protested, before yawning again.

Yang chuckled. “Then nap during class.”

“Yang!” Weiss snapped. “Don’t encourage her!”

Ruby took another sip of coffee, grimacing again. “Ugh… still no sugar…”

Just as she finished complaining, the door swung open.

“Good morning, students!” boomed Professor Peter Port, striding in with all the flair of a stage actor, his glorious mustache nearly vibrating with enthusiasm. “A fine day for tales of heroism and valor!”

The entire team groaned in unison, as if it were rehearsed.

“He’s starting with the stories again…” Yang muttered, resting her chin in her hand.

Ruby lowered her head back onto the desk. “You know what? I’m just gonna sleep…” she mumbled, eyes closing. “And Blake, I wanna talk to you after class…”

Within seconds, she was out cold again—snoring softly as Port launched into another dramatic monologue.

———

The next class came faster than anyone expected.
Team RWBY took their seats in the combat arena—or rather, almost all of them did.

Ruby was slumped over her desk, her head bobbing forward every few seconds in a losing battle between consciousness and sleep.

When Glynda Goodwitch entered, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, the chatter in the room vanished in an instant.

“Good morning, students,” she greeted in her perfectly composed tone, her riding crop floating beside her as always. “Today we’ll be discussing something fundamental for every huntsman and huntress in training: adaptability in combat.”

That single word—combat—snapped Ruby halfway awake. Weiss, Yang, and Blake were already sitting upright, fully attentive.

“Up until now,” Glynda continued, pacing across the arena floor, “you’ve been practicing in one-on-one duels—controlled, predictable scenarios. But as huntsmen, you won’t always have the luxury of facing a single opponent.”

A ripple of curiosity ran through the class. Even Yang leaned forward, interested.

“In the field,” Glynda said, her voice carrying through the air, “you will face groups of Grimm, skilled human adversaries, and sometimes both at once. What will you do when chaos reigns and coordination becomes survival?”

With a precise flick of her wand, the holographic display came to life.

“Which is why,” she announced, “today’s exercise will feature four combatants at once.”

That got everyone’s attention—Ruby’s eyes shot open completely, like she’d been doused in cold water.

Yang grinned. “Oh… this is gonna be good.”

Weiss crossed her legs elegantly but couldn’t hide the gleam of excitement in her eyes. Blake stayed quiet, observing calmly. Ruby, meanwhile, was still yawning despite herself.

“Let’s begin with our first match,” Glynda declared, turning toward the display as four names appeared in glowing letters:

Pyrrha Nikos.
Yang Xiao Long.
Russel Thrush.
Arden Vale.

The class buzzed immediately.

From Team JNPR’s side, Pyrrha stood gracefully, her composure unwavering. Nora clapped like a maniac, Ren nodded approvingly, and Jaune looked equal parts proud and terrified.

Yang cracked her knuckles, her trademark grin spreading. “Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun.” She stood, stretching her arms above her head while Ruby gave her a sleepy thumbs-up.

Russel—one of Cardin’s goons—looked like someone had just called his name at random.
“Wait, me?!”
His teammates shoved him forward between bursts of laughter.
“C’mon, Russel, show ‘em what you’ve got!” Cardin said, smirking. Everyone knew it was going to be a one-sided show.

Ruby leaned toward Blake, whispering through another yawn. “Who’s Arden?”

“From Team MARS,” Blake replied quietly, eyes still fixed on the arena. “Doesn’t stand out much, but I’ve heard he’s good with a spear.”

Weiss tilted her head slightly. “Quite the variety of weapons. This should be… enlightening.”

Down in the arena, Yang greeted Pyrrha with a confident nod, which Pyrrha returned with her usual polite smile. Russel looked ready to faint, and Arden simply took his stance.

“Positions,” Glynda ordered firmly. “This is a free-for-all. When your Aura drops into the red, you’re out. The last one standing wins.”

As the combatants spread out, holographic Aura bars appeared beside their names. The audience buzzed in anticipation—the first multi-fighter match of the semester.

Ruby, barely holding her head up, clutched her half-empty coffee cup and blinked hard. Yang’s fights were always explosive, and Pyrrha was, well, Pyrrha Nikos—the undefeated champion. There was no way she’d sleep through this one.

“This is gonna be… aweso—” Ruby started, but her yawn devoured the rest of her sentence. She propped her chin on her hands, eyelids drooping dangerously.

“Begin!” Glynda’s voice rang out.

Ruby blinked. Just once.

When she opened her eyes again, the arena was silent.

Pyrrha stood at the center, unruffled and immaculate. Yang was on her knees, Aura bar glowing red, wearing an expression that could kill. Russel and Arden were already lying on the ground outside the ring.

“Eh…?” Ruby blinked again, completely lost. “It’s… already over?”

The hologram flashed: Winner: Pyrrha Nikos.

Ruby slumped forward, defeated. “I… missed the whole thing…”

Without looking away from the arena, Blake murmured, “If you blink, you miss it.”

Weiss turned to Ruby, crossing her arms. “Don’t tell me… you fell asleep?”

Ruby sat up straight instantly. “Sleep? No! I just… blinked. Really long.”

Weiss sighed, rubbing her temples. “Ruby, that excuse is as obvious as Yang’s defeat.”

Ruby smiled nervously. “Heh… whoops.”

Yang returned to her seat a few minutes later, sweaty but grinning. “Sooo… what’d you think?”

Blake answered calmly, “You were great. Ditching your gauntlets was a smart move.”

Weiss nodded in agreement. “Very clever. Pyrrha’s Semblance can’t manipulate your metal if you’re not wearing any.”

Yang smirked proudly. “Exactly. Figured I’d at least take one of her tricks off the table.” She shrugged. “Didn’t help much, though—she’s a beast.”

She turned to Ruby. “And you, Rubes? How’d I do?”

Ruby jumped a little, caught off guard. “Ah! You were—uh—amazing! So intense and… explosive!” she said, gesturing wildly.

Weiss rolled her eyes. “She slept through the whole thing.”

Ruby turned bright red. “Did not!”

“You still have a pillow mark on your cheek,” Weiss replied dryly.

Yang burst out laughing. “You fell asleep during my fight?!”

Ruby covered her face. “It was just… a really long blink…”

Blake chuckled quietly, Weiss shook her head, and Yang gave Ruby an affectionate pat on the back. “Next time, double the coffee, sleepyhead.”

Glynda tapped her scroll. “Next match: Jaune Arc, Blake Belladonna, Dove Bronzewing, and Nolan Porfirio.”

A new wave of murmurs filled the air. Jaune slumped in his chair. “Oh, great…”

“You’ve trained for this, Jaune,” Pyrrha encouraged warmly. “Show them how far you’ve come.”

“Yeah! Go, Jaune the delinquent! Beat them up!” Nora shouted from her seat, pumping her fists.

Ren sighed. “Nora, don’t call him that.”

“What? It sounds cool!” she said, whispering only after Ren glared at her.

Meanwhile, Blake stood calmly, tightening her gloves and checking Gambol Shroud. Weiss looked at her with faint concern.

“You ready?”

“Yes,” Blake said evenly. “And I’ve got the Dust you lent me. Don’t expect too much—it’s my first time using it in a match.”

Weiss folded her arms, but her tone softened. “Confidence, Belladonna. You’ve got this.”

Yang nudged her shoulder. “Give Team RWBY a win, Blake!”

Blake smiled faintly, then glanced toward her half-conscious leader.

Ruby was half-melted over the desk, her cheek pressed against the surface. “Good luck, Blake…” she murmured drowsily.

Yang gave her a small shove. “At least watch her win.”

Ruby weakly raised a thumb without lifting her head, earning yet another sigh from Weiss.

Down below, the four fighters took their positions. Jaune raised his shield nervously. Blake drew her weapon with feline grace. Dove twirled his daggers, and Nolan powered up his electrified gauntlets.

Ruby’s chin rested on her palm. “This looks… really promi—” yawn “—sing…”

Yang smirked. “You’re not gonna sleep through this one too, are you?”

“N-no… just resting my eyes… for a sec…” Ruby mumbled, already blinking slower.

“Begin,” Glynda announced.

Ruby blinked.

She caught a glimpse of a red flash—probably Blake using Weiss’s Dust.

Blink.
Jaune was stumbling back as a shadow darted past him.

Blink.
Dove threw a dagger; it ricocheted off something and vanished in smoke.

Blink.
Blake was midair, her silhouette splitting in two before everything blurred again.

When Ruby opened her eyes properly, the arena was silent once more.

“Winner: Blake Belladonna,” Glynda declared.

Ruby shot upright. “WHAT?! It’s over already?!”

Yang snorted, trying not to laugh. Weiss just gave her a flat look. “You fell asleep again, didn’t you?”

“I did not! I just—blinked! A really long blink!” Ruby insisted.

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. “Your ‘blink’ lasted the entire match.”

Yang burst into laughter. “You missed it, Rubes! Blake crushed them! Poor Dove looked ready to puke!”

Ruby groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I can’t believe it… I missed another fight…”

Down in the arena, Glynda approached Blake with a rare approving nod. “Excellent use of Dust, Miss Belladonna. Your control and adaptability were impressive for a first attempt.”

Blake gave a respectful bow. “Thank you, Professor.”

From the stands, Sun cupped his hands around his mouth. “That was awesome, Blake! I could barely see what you were doing!”

Blake raised an eyebrow, unsure whether that was a compliment or not. “...Thanks, I guess.”

Weiss crossed her arms. “At least someone is making good use of my Dust.”

Yang nudged Ruby again. “C’mon, sleepyhead, you’re missing the good stuff.”

Blake returned to her seat quietly, a subtle hint of pride in her expression. Ruby looked at her guiltily.

“Blake… I’m sorry… I know you did amazing and… that’s great! But… could you, uh… maybe do it again?”

Blake raised a brow. “I’m not repeating a fight just because you napped through it.”

Yang chuckled, and Ruby sighed, defeated, lowering her head back onto the desk.

Glynda raised her wand again, and the arena hushed.

“For our next match,” she announced, her voice carrying over the crowd, “Cardin Winchester, Lie Ren, Sun Wukong… and Ruby Rose.”

The moment Ruby’s name lit up on the screen, Sun jumped from his seat, grinning from ear to ear. “Yes! Finally, some action!” He stretched, tail flicking behind him.

Meanwhile, Ruby was… fast asleep, head buried in her arms, a small drool thread hanging precariously off her lip.

Weiss groaned and leaned closer. “Oh, for Dust’s sake… Ruby, wake up! It’s your turn!”

Ruby jerked upright. “Huh?! What—morning already?!” she blurted, blinking wildly. “What’s going on?”

Yang laughed. “It’s fight time, sis! Let’s see that hero energy!”

“M-me?!” Ruby blinked again, wide-eyed. “Now?! Oh, no no no—okay! I’m awake! Super awake!” She grabbed Crescent Rose, nearly tripping down the stairs as she ran toward the arena.

From the stands, Nora was already on her feet. “Go, Ren! Show them your stuff!”

Ren sighed quietly as he descended, ignoring Nora’s endless enthusiasm.

Cardin smirked, spinning his mace with arrogant ease. “This’ll be quick,” he said, eyeing Ruby like she was the warm-up round.

As the four took their positions, Glynda flicked her wand. The Aura display appeared above the field—and immediately, something was off.

Three bars were full.
Ruby’s sat at 78%.

Whispers filled the room.

Weiss leaned forward. “Wait—her Aura…?”

Glynda frowned, lowering her wand slightly. “Miss Rose,” she said sharply, “would you care to explain why your Aura is below standard before the match has even begun?”

Ruby rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep. “Huh? My Aura? Oh! Uh… right! I… maybe… kinda… cut myself a little fixing Crescent last night? It’s fine! Totally fine!”

Glynda arched an eyebrow. “Fixing Crescent Rose? Miss Rose, you were not scheduled for maintenance with Professor Mulberry last night. And at that hour, you should have been resting.”

Ruby winced, shrinking under her gaze.

A few long seconds of silence stretched. Glynda’s tone dropped a degree colder.

“Miss Rose,” she said evenly, “Aura is your lifeline. Entering combat below capacity is reckless—and entirely unacceptable.”

Ruby nodded frantically. “Y-yes, ma’am! It won’t happen again! Promise!”

Glynda sighed. “I’ll believe it when I see it. You’ll visit my office after class.”

Ruby froze. “Y-yes, Professor…”

Yang whispered to Blake, “Well, at least she’s awake now.”

Blake murmured dryly, “Out of fear, maybe.”

Glynda straightened again. “Very well. Consider this an unplanned lesson—huntsmen rarely face danger fully prepared. Adapt accordingly.”

Sun twirled his staff lazily. “Sounds fun.”

Cardin smirked wider. “Even better. This’ll be over fast.”

Ruby tightened her grip on Crescent Rose, muttering, “Great… just what I needed…”

“Begin!”

The floor trembled as the match started.

Sun moved first—a blur of motion as he lunged at Cardin, his staff spinning in a flash of gold. Cardin barely got his mace up before Sun’s blows drove him back several meters, the air cracking with each strike.

Ruby barely had time to admire the speed when a green flash caught her eye—Ren.

Her instincts kicked in. She jumped back just as his blades sliced through the space she’d been standing. Crescent Rose unfolded into its scythe form with a metallic click. Normally, Ruby would’ve twirled it with effortless energy, her movements fast and sharp.

But this time… everything felt heavy.

Her eyelids dragged. Her arms were sluggish. Even her breathing lagged behind her thoughts.

Ren noticed. Calm, focused, precise—he pressed the advantage.

Their weapons clashed in a rapid series of strikes that rang across the arena. Ruby tried to keep up, but her timing was off, her rhythm uneven. Ren could tell.

They locked weapons mid-swing, blades grinding against each other. Ruby grit her teeth, sweat dripping down her temple. A low, guttural growl escaped her throat—instinctive, almost animalistic.

Ren’s eyes widened slightly at the sound, but he didn’t falter.

With a swift motion, he spun and kicked her square in the stomach. The impact sent Ruby flying backward, air knocked from her lungs. Crescent Rose clattered to the floor—right at Ren’s feet.

Ruby lay still for a few seconds, gasping. Her whole body ached.

In the stands, whispers spread—surprise, concern, disbelief. Ruby Rose, usually a flurry of speed and precision, was stumbling through the fight like she was half-asleep.

Yang sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “Yeah… definitely not her best.”

Weiss frowned. “Did she just… growl?”

Blake’s amber eyes tracked the scene. “She did. And…” she trailed off, her tone shifting slightly.

Down below, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren’s teammates and the rest of the class watched closely. Nora, of course, was losing her mind.

“COME ON, REN! YOU GOT THIS!” she screamed, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Nora, please,” Pyrrha said, holding her down by the waist.

“If you keep that up,” Jaune added, “Glynda’s gonna make you clean the arena again.”

Nora puffed her cheeks and sat back down with exaggerated patience—though her eyes never left Ren.

Back on the field, Ruby pushed herself up, trembling. Ren stood over Crescent Rose, his expression calm but unreadable, blades ready.

He didn’t need to say a word; his stance said enough.

Ruby’s breathing came ragged, but her eyes flicked toward Sun and Cardin still clashing nearby. That little spark of defiance inside her refused to die.

And then—she moved.

In a scarlet flash, she charged.

Ren blinked, surprised. He swung instinctively, but Ruby’s body dissolved into petals of red light. She vanished, reappearing behind him mid-stride.

Ren turned just in time to meet her eyes.

At that same moment, across the arena, Cardin’s mace came crashing down toward Sun. The faunus dodged with a cocky grin, his tail flicking as he countered with a spinning strike that slammed Cardin in the ribs.

Cardin hit the ground hard, weapon slipping from his grasp. His Aura dropped straight into the red.

“Cardin Winchester, eliminated,” Glynda announced crisply.

Sun twirled his staff with a grin. “Who’s next?”

Before he could blink, a crimson blur zipped past him.

“Eh—?”

Ruby materialized right in front of him—wielding Cardin’s mace.

“Woah, wait—!” Sun barely brought up his weapon before Ruby swung down with surprising force. Metal clanged against metal, the sound reverberating across the arena.

Sun gritted his teeth, sliding back a step. “Whoa, easy there, Red! Guess you are awake now!”

Ruby’s tired eyes locked on him, determination flickering beneath the exhaustion.

Their weapons clashed again and again. Sparks danced. Ruby’s blows were heavy but erratic; Sun countered with fluid, dancing strikes.

But exhaustion was catching up to her fast. Her swings grew slower. Her breathing, uneven.

Then, movement—Ren rejoined the fray.

Without a word, he lunged at both of them. The arena erupted into chaos—three fighters, blades and staffs flashing, weapons colliding in a storm of sparks.

Ruby’s semblance flickered, red petals swirling as she darted across the field, narrowly avoiding Ren’s blades.

For a moment, it looked like she might actually hold her own—until Ren’s kick grazed her shoulder, dropping her Aura dangerously low.

Sun followed with a downward strike, the two impacts combining into a single, brutal blow.

Ruby flew backward, tumbling across the floor until she landed face-first on the ground. Crescent Rose spun to a stop beside her.

“Ruby Rose, eliminated!” Glynda called.

Ren and Sun froze mid-step, then turned toward each other. No words needed—just a silent nod.

Sun smirked, splitting his staff into twin nunchaku. “Alright, quiet guy. Let’s finish this.”

Ren charged. The final exchange was fast and fierce. Ren’s form was precise, but Sun’s reflexes were sharper, unpredictable. With one swift move, Sun crossed his weapons, hooked Ren’s blades, and flipped him to the ground.

“Lie Ren, eliminated. Winner: Sun Wukong.”

The arena erupted in applause.

Sun exhaled, lowering his weapons with a grin. “Now that was fun.”

Ren simply nodded, composed as ever, before walking off.

Everyone began clapping—except for the small, worrying detail no one had addressed yet.

Ruby still hadn’t moved.

Face-down, unmoving, Crescent Rose beside her.

Glynda’s expression tightened. “Miss Rose…?”

No response.

She took a step forward. “Miss Rose!”

Yang was already out of her seat. “Ruby?!” She vaulted over the railing, Blake and Weiss close behind.

They reached her within seconds. Ruby’s breathing was steady—but she was completely out cold.

Yang knelt beside her, turning her over carefully. “Is she… asleep?”

Glynda arrived, her sharp tone softening slightly. “Unconscious,” she confirmed, then looked at Yang. “Miss Xiao Long, take her to the infirmary. Miss Belladonna, accompany her.”

Yang nodded immediately. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Miss Schnee,” Glynda added, “I’ll need a word with you after class.”

Weiss straightened. “Understood.”

Yang lifted Ruby into her arms gently, the smaller girl’s red hair falling over her face. Blake followed as they left the arena in silence.

When the doors closed behind them, Glynda turned to the class.

“Let today serve as a lesson,” she said evenly, though her gaze lingered on the door. “A huntress must know her limits as well as her strengths. Neglecting rest—or overexerting oneself—can be the difference between standing tall… or falling when it matters most.”

The students stayed quiet. Glynda waited a moment longer, then resumed the class.

———

The infirmary was quiet, sunlight filtering through the tall windows. Ruby lay on one of the beds, unconscious but peaceful—her headband removed, leaving her wolf ears free. Her breathing was calm, steady.

Yang sat beside her, resting an elbow on the mattress and twirling a strand of Ruby’s hair absentmindedly.

“It was just exhaustion,” the nurse explained gently, jotting notes onto her clipboard. “Her body simply shut down from lack of rest. She’ll be fine, but she needs to take it easy.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Blake said with a polite nod.

Once the nurse left, Blake folded her arms, watching Ruby’s sleeping form. “She’s been… off lately,” she murmured. “Distracted.”

Yang sighed. “Yeah. I’ve noticed too. I just… don’t know what’s going on with her.”

A voice from the doorway cut in, casual and familiar. “Because she’s stressed.”

Both girls turned. Sun stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, wearing his usual guilty grin.

“Sun,” Blake said, unimpressed. “What are you doing here?”

“I may or may not have slipped away from class,” he said, scratching his neck. “Pretty sure Glynda didn’t see me.”

Blake groaned. “Of course.”

Yang, however, focused on him. “And what makes you say she’s stressed?”

Sun stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly. “Last night, when I found her in the forge, she talked a bit. Let’s just say she… opened up.”

Yang and Blake exchanged a quick glance.

Yang crossed her arms. “Opened up about what?”

Sun hesitated, glancing between them before nodding toward Blake. “I think you can help her more than I can.”

Blake blinked. “Me? Why?”

Sun didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pointed subtly toward his own head.

Yang frowned. “What are you—”

Blake’s eyes widened. “…Oh.”

Sun nodded. “Yeah. I don’t think she fully understands what’s happening, but she told me it was the first time it ever happened. And since you…” He lowered his voice. “…have ears like hers, you’d know how to help better than anyone.”

Blake nodded slowly, his mind already working. "I can share some balm with her, but it might not work... maybe Velvet can help me..."

Yang blinked, still lost. “Can someone please explain what’s going on with my sister?”

Sun rubbed the back of his neck. “Right, right. So, uh, when faunus get stressed, their animal traits can… act up. Depends on what kind you are.”

Blake continued, her tone calm but honest. “For some, it’s sensitivity—hearing, smell, reflexes. For others…” she sighed. “It’s an itch. A really annoying one.”

Sun grimaced. “Yeah, it’s the worst. Feels like you wanna rip your ears or tail off. If Ruby’s not used to it, she probably freaked out.”

Yang blinked, absorbing that. “Huh… I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

Blake shook her head softly. “You weren’t supposed to. But now we can actually help her.”

Yang looked at her and smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Blake. Really.”

Blake smiled back. “We’re a team. Remember?”

Then, a sleepy voice interrupted:

“…Help who…?”

All three turned. Ruby was stirring, her eyes fluttering open in confusion. A lock of messy red hair fell over her face as she reached up and began scratching her ears instinctively.

Yang’s relief was instant. “Hey, Rubes—finally awake?”

Blake folded her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Looks like we’ve got some things to explain, leader.”

Sun chuckled from the door. “Yeah. And maybe get you some really good ear cream, boss.”

Ruby blinked, utterly lost. “Ear… cream? What are you talking about?”

———

The bell rang through the combat gym, signaling the end of class. Students began filing out in small groups, chatting excitedly about the day’s fights.

Weiss, however, stayed behind. Her gaze followed Professor Goodwitch as she calmly organized her notes and stowed her wand away.

She remembered the words from earlier in class:

“Miss Schnee, please stay after the session.”

With a quiet breath and her usual composure, Weiss approached.

“Professor Goodwitch,” she greeted with a polite nod. “You wanted to speak with me?”

Glynda didn’t answer right away. She walked over to a locker, holding something in her hands—Crescent Rose, left behind after Ruby’s collapse.

“I want you to keep an eye on Miss Rose,” she said finally, her tone steady but thoughtful.

Weiss blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“Help her,” Glynda repeated, setting Crescent Rose carefully into its case. “She doesn’t need supervision. She needs support.”

“Support?” Weiss frowned, stepping closer. “But Ruby’s fine now, isn’t she? Aside from… what happened today.”

Glynda lifted a hand to gently stop her. “She isn’t in danger,” she clarified, “but that doesn’t mean she’s fine.”

The professor’s tone had softened—a rarity. Weiss stood silent, knowing better than to interrupt.

“To be frank, Miss Schnee,” Glynda continued, “Beacon broke precedent for Ruby Rose. Moving a student two years ahead of schedule is unheard of. Many protocols were skipped—protocols that exist for a reason.”

Weiss nodded slightly. Of course she knew that. Ruby was younger than everyone else in their year. A prodigy, yes—but still a girl thrust into a world that demanded more than most could handle.

“As such,” Glynda went on, “she’s been expected to perform—not just adequately, but exceptionally. And though she tries to meet that expectation, I fear the cost is beginning to show. What I saw today confirms it.”

Weiss lowered her gaze, thinking back to the dark circles under Ruby’s eyes, her distracted stare, the exhaustion she’d brushed off as nothing.

“So… you think she’s falling behind?” Weiss asked quietly.

“Among other things,” Glynda said, adjusting her glasses. “I trust your judgment, Miss Schnee. You have discipline, focus… and patience enough to deal with her.”

Weiss arched an eyebrow. “I’m… not sure if that’s a compliment.”

Glynda allowed herself a faint smile. “Take it as one.”

Then, more firmly: “Just see that she doesn’t push herself too hard. Ruby Rose is not a typical case.”

The words lingered in the air. Weiss straightened, expression turning serious.

“I understand, Professor. I’ll make sure she’s all right.”

Glynda seemed satisfied. “That will be all, Miss Schnee. You’re dismissed.”

Weiss bowed her head respectfully before turning to leave, but her thoughts were anything but calm.

As she walked down Beacon’s corridors, Glynda’s voice echoed in her mind: