We do not own RWBY or any other copyright content. All rights to it go to Monty Oum (God rest his soul), VIZ Media, and their original owners. We own all OCs.
Writing credits go to Uzumaki Ricky, Monsterhuntergod, Sharad the hedgehog, and Traines.
Return of the Dragon Warriors
Volume 1 Chapter 16: Badge of Silver
One Week After Initiation
The normal serenity of the Beacon dorms was soon destroyed by the sound of sudden and erratic movement coming from Team RWBY's room. Many in the dorms simply tried to ignore the cacophony, while others were forced to leave early. But, within ten minutes of when it started, it stopped as swiftly as it started. Ruby stood at the entrance of her team's room, surveying the scene. Large amounts of boxes and luggage lined the walls of the room, while several posters and pieces of art were hung on the walls. A large horizontal bookcase stuffed to the gills with a variety of books was put under the sole window of the room. The four beds they were given were doubled up into crude bunk beds. One precariously held aloft from the room by ropes and hooks, while the other stood on top of the other, held by some old books.
"Alright, everyone! I think it looks great!" Ruby said proudly as she surveyed their handiwork.
"L-Let's just hope the ropes hold…" Weiss muttered under her breath, holding Silfrdrengr in his Pomeranian form like luggage.
'For the record. I can walk on my own,' Silfrdrengr grumbled telepathically.
"Quit complaining. You have to get used to playing the part," Weiss sternly said, causing a growl from the canine's mouth.
"He's just so cute!" Ruby squealed before petting Silf's fluffy head.
"I still wish he would disguise himself as something less… canine. Like a house cat," Blair replied nervously.
"What do you got against dogs?" Yang asked.
"... Personal reasons," Blair replied, looking away.
'Okay. At first, I was indignant about this whole disguise situation. But now? I am offended!' Silf growled into their minds.
"But you're so adorable, Silf!" Ruby replied happily.
'I'm not adorable! I'm a terrifying dragon!' Silf insisted before Ruby started scratching him under the chin. 'A little to the left, a little to the left! Oh, that's the ticket…!'
"Yes. Quite terrifying," Weiss replied sarcastically.
"Are you sure we can't take him to class? I'm a little worried about leaving him alone with that injury…" Yang said, looking at him in concern.
"I don't like having to leave him behind either. But he really didn't like the idea of being classified as a support animal," Weiss replied with a sigh.
'Because I'm not! I am a dragon, not a- oh, that feels really good! Don't forget behind the ear!' Silf replied before Ruby started scratching him behind his ear and under his chin simultaneously.
"You see, Weiss? You two would get along a lot more if you just pampered him a little," Ruby told her partner with a smile as she kept petting and scratching Silf.
'The red one speaks the truth,' The draconic canine happily panted.
"My name is Ruby, Silf," Ruby told him as she kept petting and scratching him.
'You are not a Schnee, or Klein. Therefore, you don't get a name,' Silf retorted.
"I can stop any time, you know," Ruby pointed out with a knowing smile.
'Ruby, oh fairest of maidens. I apologize for my rudeness earlier,' Silf said in a friendlier tone.
"That earns you a tummy rub," Ruby happily told him before starting to rub Silf's belly as his tail started wagging.
"As much as I love seeing different species coming together, we're late for class," Blair responded dryly.
Weiss then set the dog-formed Silf on the ground. "Alright. Don't cause any trouble and don't destroy our room," She sternly ordered.
'Oh, you throw a house party one time…' Silf mentally grumbled.
"You threw a house party?" Yang asked the disguised dragon in surprise.
"I'll explain later. We need to get to class," Weiss hurriedly said, before pushing her team out the door.
As soon as the door slammed shut, Silfrdrengr immediately changed into a smaller version of his dragon form. Just enough to fit into the room. He looked back and forth in the room, before reaching into the nightstand and pulling out a small speaker.
'She didn't say I couldn't have music…' He mused to himself.
Later: Professor Port's Classroom
"Move, move, move!" Ruby called out as they kept running.
Soon, Teams RWBY and JNPR burst through the door to the classroom just in time for the bell to ring. As they did, they scanned the room to make sure they weren't too late. The room looked like a classic college lecture hall, complete with a chalkboard, bookcases, and increasingly elevated desks with benches. They could see Teams AZRE in the center of the middle row, and SHDW was in the very last row. The only real standouts were diagrams of different Grimms pinned to the walls and an ax-elephant gun mounted on the wall above the board and the teacher's desk.
"Sorry, we're late, teach! We…Uncle Peter?!" Yang said, huffing in slight exhaustion, before noticing who was standing at the desk.
"Personal relations are to be kept out of the classroom, my dear! We must maintain professionalism, civility, and an appropriate learning atmosphere! It is…" Professor Port said, before being nudged by a young woman next to him.
The young woman in question had shoulder-length silver hair, pale eyes, slightly pale skin, and smooth, noble, but feminine facial features marred only by a vicious-looking vertical scar over her right eye. She wore combat-built formal robes befitting a warrior aristocrat with a blade sheathed at her hip and a metallic whip right beside it. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she shook her head before addressing her superior.
"Sir. Class has already started," she said with a tired sigh.
Port looked at them for a moment before giving a small nod. "Of course! Thank you, Clara! Please be seated, students! Today's lecture will be on the classification of Grimm," he said, resettling himself into a more professional demeanor.
"Um… Professor?" Weiss asked in confusion, raising her hand.
"Yes, Miss Schnee?!" He asked, turning his head faster than any man his age should.
"Aren't we all a little old for teacher's aides?" Weiss asked, trying to be respectful.
"Oh no, Miss Schnee! She is here for me! I have been informed multiple times that I tend to ramble a bit! That is what Miss Belmont is here for! Alongside the more basic labor, this is unbefitting of someone with my seniority!" He answered.
Clara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Before the Professor could attempt to begin the lecture properly, Sylver raised his hand from the back of the lecture hall.
"So, Port? Is my uncle still teaching, or did he crack one too many skulls and get fired?" The Wolf boy asked.
"To answer your question, Mr. Tenrō, yes. Your uncle is still teaching. You will see him in the blacksmithing and weapons maintenance class! Wonderful man, that Edwin! Always willing to lend a listening ear or a helpful hand to a student!" Professor Port explained.
"Good. To be honest, we were all worried after what happened a few years ago. No one heard from him until we learned this year he would be teaching at Beacon," Sylver said in relief
"Yes indeed! It would be a great disservice to our students to get rid of such a man! After all, who would…" Professor Port began to say, but Clara cut him off.
"Professor!" She said tersely.
"Right! Apologies again! Clara, would you head into the back and get cage two for me?!" He said before brushing off his shirt a bit.
Clara sighed deeply. "Yes, sir." She answered frustratedly before walking over to a specific part of the wall away from the chalkboard.
Stopping at the wall, she pressed a small, ornate part of it, and it reacted as if she had pressed a button on an elevator. A sudden hiss was heard, and the wall slid aside to reveal a large, dark hallway. All the students tried to crane their necks to catch a glimpse inside before Clara walked into the hallway. The wall slid back into place as soon as she did.
"Now then! As you likely all know, Grimm can come in many different shapes and sizes! Many have tried to classify them in the past! And several competing classification systems have gained a measure of popularity over the years! However, with the end of the Great War, the Kingdoms worked together to create a standardized system to assess a Grimm species' threat level!" The Professor explained, scribbling on his chalkboard at the speed of a jackrabbit as he talked.
"Who here knows the five Grimm threat levels?"
Azura and Weiss both raised their hands at nearly the same time. However, Azura was just a bit faster and raised his hand a little bit higher as Professor Port pointed to him.
"Mr. Sōtora!"
Azura stood up and cleared his throat. "The five Grimm threat levels are as follows: Arcas, Orion, Skadi, Artemis, and Nimrod. They were named after five Hunters from just after the Great War who collaborated to create the standardized system, including the famous Caesar Arc, who became one of the first Huntsmen after retiring from the Valean military." He explained in a formal tone.
"Thank you, Mr. Sōtora! I appreciate the enthusiasm!" Professor Port replied.
Azura smiled proudly. "Thank you, Professor." He replied before bowing and retaking his seat.
"But, next time, try to keep the rambling to a minimum!" Professor Port told him.
"But I…" Azura began to say only to be cut off.
"Moving on!" Port boomed before clearing his throat.
"Teacher's pet!" A male voice called out from the back row.
"Mr. Winchester! Such insults are unbecoming of a Huntsman-in-Training!" Port chided the boy.
Azura swiftly turned to look for who said that, but after a bit of looking, he couldn't deduce who said it. Turning around to look at the board again in frustration, the lecturer continued.
"Now then! Arcas is the first and lowest level of threat! Even in groups, a group of First Year Huntsmen-in-Training should have no trouble defeating them! An example of these would be the most common Grimm sights, the Beowulf and the Ursa! Port said, scribbling down on the chalkboard as they went.
The students began taking down notes as best they could. Especially Jaune, who seemed quite enthusiastic about this particular topic. The blonde knight scribbled down his notes at nearly the same speed as Port himself.
"Next, we have Orion! These are powerful enough to give entire security units and pockets of civilization trouble! This is at a level where upperclassmen would be required to defeat them! A prime example of this class would be the Beringel or Nuckelavee!" The Professor explained, completing that part of the lecture by drawing a crude drawing of the simian Grimm.
Ruby took special note of that one in particular as she tried her best to draw a crude diagram of a Beringel in her notes. That could be important for picking out weak points in a future encounter. As she jotted down her notes, she noticed that Ren seemed to freeze up at the mention of the Nuckelavee.
'Okay, that was weird. Making a mental note of that reaction later,' Ruby thought, resolving to check on Ren after the lecture, as she saw Nora subtly trying to comfort him. Ruby then went back to her notes as Port moved on to the next threat level in the lecture.
"In the middle of the classification scheme is the Skadi class! Increasingly rare and dangerous, Grimm can lead hordes of their lesser brethren to wipe out entire towns. These Grimms require an entire military brigade or Professional Huntsmen to deal with. Examples include the likes of the Manticore and the Brute Wyvern," Port explained, before rubbing his chin. "Speaking of Brute Wyverns, that reminds me of a Grimm Hunt I did in Menagerie in my youth!"
Turning away from the chalkboard, the professor then began to rifle around inside his desk. Everyone sat a bit confused, not entirely sure what he was about to do. Then he fished out what looked like a small remote. Pressing two different buttons on it, a small boxy projector whirred to life and slowly lowered down from the ceiling as the lights dimmed. Then, with a flash, it projected an image onto the wall.
"Oh my…" Pyrrha muttered in horror, hand flying to her mouth.
"Yang, Ruby! Shield your eyes!" Azura called out, covering the two half-sisters' horrified eyes with his hands.
"Don't look at it, Ren!" Nora called out in terror as she covered both her own and Ren's eyes.
"By the gods…" Ren muttered, his words drowned out by a shrill squeal from Jaune.
"Now, now, Mr. Arc! I know it is a mighty and imposing beast! But through my determination, skill at arms, and cunning, I managed to slay the mighty beast! So, there is absolutely nothing to fear!" The Professor explained.
"That's not what we're scared of Professor!" Nora called out in fear.
"Yeah, Uncle Peter! You had a mullet!" Ruby called out in disgust.
Port turned to glance at the picture. Set on the backdrop of a steaming tropical jungle was the slain and slowly disappearing corpse of a large, winged, wyvern-like Grimm. Contrasted against its girthy armored chest was a younger version of the professor in tan safari clothing and boots, with his silver hair flowing back in long locks, shaped into an immaculate mullet.
"Ah. Yes. I did have a mullet then. Well, it was the fashion of the time!" The Professor more thoroughly replied, coughing into his hand.
"I could rock it better," Sylver replied with a smirk.
"Don't even think about it!" Ruby snapped.
As soon as Ruby's voice died down, everyone in the lecture hall began to hear a dull beeping noise. One that slowly grew louder and louder. Then the spot in the wall opened again. Slowly and surely, the source of the beeping became clear. A sturdy forklift slowly backed out of the dark hallway being driven by Clara who was wearing a reflective orange vest and a hard hat. Sitting upon the prongs of the forklift was a large, black colored metal box with several air holes, with something thrashing about inside it. As Clara pulled the lever to begin lowering her cargo, she noticed the projected image on the wall.
"Gross," she said simply.
"Ah! Perfect timing, Miss Belmont! Onto the live demonstration portion of the lecture!" Port swiftly and awkwardly said, fumbling over himself to turn off the projector.
"I don't get paid enough for this," the scarred teacher's assistant grumbled as she drove the forklift back through the wall-bound hallway.
"Now then! May I get a volunteer to fight a ferocious beast?!" Port asked simply, finally pressing the right buttons to turn off the projector and turn the lights up.
Nearly simultaneously, Azura and Weiss raised their hands. However, this time, Weiss was the one who was quicker on the draw and raised her hand higher. Seeing this, Port smiled and pointed at her.
"Miss Schnee! Step down here and prepare yourself! If you require a weapon, I have several spares behind my desk!" Port called out.
"No, thank you, Professor. I have my own weapon." Weiss told him before giving Azura a smug grin, making the samurai prince grumble in frustration.
"Go get 'em, Weiss!" Ruby cheered from the sidelines.
"Show 'em what Team RWBY can do!" Yang called out.
Weiss then looked over at Blair, who was weakly waving a set of small flags with RWBY on them. The heiress smiled just a bit at that before heading out to change and grab her weapon. Coming back in with her normal outfit on and Myrtenaster in hand, Weiss turned to face the metal box before her.
"Alright! And here we go!" Port called out, pressing a button on his remote.
With an electronic whir, the door lifted over the top. A loud sniffing noise soon emanated from the cage, and a hot exhale exited the darkness. Trotting out on four stout, hooved legs was a large, boar-like Grimm. Three sets of tusks jutted from a skull face, with one massive set curling up and back towards its own head. Inside the mouth, set behind the bases of the tusks, was a set of razor-sharp teeth. Its jet-black fur was pockmarked with plates of bone across its back. It sniffed the air before looking directly at her, four sets of glowing red orbs staring directly at her.
"A Boarbatusk!" Dahlia cried out.
"Correct! They are another example of an Arcas class Grimm, making it a fair challenge for Miss. Schnee!" Port explained.
Readying herself, Weiss dropped into a basic fencing stance as the Boarbatusk pawed the ground. With a grunting howl, the boar Grimm charged. Dodging aside, Weiss launched several thrusts into the side of the pork monstrosity as it passed her. However, her attack did little damage as the boar Grimm turned on its heels, sliding across the floor. Pawing the floor, it prepared for another charge as Weiss began analyzing it for weak points.
However, she saw no obvious weak points on its body from where she could see. It was then that Ruby called out to her.
"Weiss, go for the underbelly! Its hide is weakest there!" the leader of Team RWBY called out encouragingly to her partner.
Looking at it, Weiss nodded to Ruby before refocusing just in time to see the Boarbatusk begin a spin dash attack. Dodging aside, Weiss barely evaded the attack. Coming to a stop, Weiss turned as it rolled around for a second attack and went into another spin dash. Bringing Myrtenaster up in a guard, Weiss barely blocked the spin dash as she planted her feet and helped her ground. With a shove, she launched the pork abomination back, making it stumble.
Creating a Glyph beneath her own feet, Weiss launched herself at the boar Grimm and unleashed a barrage of thrusts to unbalance it. Knocking it off its feet, Weiss launched it back with a second Glyph beneath its own feet. The force of acceleration from the Glyph unbalanced it enough that Weiss, launching herself forward with a third Glyph, knocked it onto its back with a powerful thrust. Leaping into the air, Weiss created a fourth Glyph to use as a springboard, launching herself on the flipped-over swine monstrosity. With a final, powerful thrust, Weiss impaled the Boarbatusk through its chest, slaying it as it let out a final squeal of pain before falling still and silent.
"Well done, Miss Schnee! That was…" Port said before he was cut off by the loud ringing of the end of period bell. "Until we meet again!"
Everyone then stood and left the lecture hall. Weiss started to walk out to put her uniform back on, only to be followed by Ruby.
"Weiss! Wait a minute!" Ruby called out to her.
Turning to look at her team leader, Weiss made her way to the locker room. "Yes, Ruby?" She asked her partner.
"I just… wanted to apologize for earlier. I should have been more helpful. Or just shut up, because I could have distracted you." Ruby said, her hands on her chest in worry.
"It's fine, Ruby. Your hint was actually very helpful. Just… please ask first next time." Weiss told her, trying to approach things more gently than she might have wanted to.
Ruby's eyes widened in shock, caught off guard by her partner's reaction. "You're… not mad?" she asked.
"While I am annoyed, I understand that you were simply trying to help. You already showed potential as a leader in the Emerald Forest, and I am trying my best to give you a chance instead of being judgmental." Weiss replied, a bit stiffly.
"Thank you, Weiss. You're the best partner a girl could have." Ruby said with a smile, before pulling her partner into a hug.
For reasons Weiss didn't understand, her team leader's words made her smile a bit. Even if the hug did make her uncomfortable. Awkwardly, Weiss raised her arms and returned the hug, patting Ruby on her back.
Ruby then broke the hug and gave her a big smile. "I'll let you get changed. Don't be late for Weapon Maintenance class! I want to know everything about your weapon!" She said excitedly.
Weiss smiled a bit. "It's called Myrtenaster, Ruby. You really love weapons, don't you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ruby's eyes lit up at the name. "I love weapons! Seeing a new weapon is like meeting a new person, but better! You can tell a lot about someone by the kind of weapon they use," She excitedly explained.
"See you then, Ruby," Weiss replied with a small smile.
Later: Ozpin's Office
Ruby trembled a bit as she stood outside the ornate and imposing hardwood doors to the headmaster's office. Part of her wondered if she should even bother going to him, but she was able to muster just enough courage to give the doors a hearty knock.
"Come in," The voice of Ozpin called from the other side.
With a small bit of effort to open the large doors, Ruby entered. It was far more spacious than she expected, with the room mostly a large circle rimmed by ornate pillars and with exposed clockwork gearing embedded in the walls. White marble flooring made each of her steps echo in the spacious office. At the other side of the room was a large concave desk with ornamental metal legs. Sitting in a large, plush upholstered clockwork chair was the headmaster himself, sipping at a cup of coffee.
"Miss Rose. I wasn't expecting to see you today," the headmaster said.
"Professor… I have something I need to ask you," Ruby nervously said, fiddling with the hem of her combat skirt.
With a nod, the headmaster set his coffee cup on a coaster before leaning forward. "Of course, my dear. What is your question?" He asked attentively.
"Do you… think you might've made a mistake choosing me as a team leader?" Ruby asked, unable to look the man in the eye.
"Mistake?" Ozpin asked, raising one of his eyebrows in confusion.
"Well… I'm younger than everyone else here. I don't have as much training, I don't test well, and… I may have annoyed Weiss by offering her a hint during Professor Port's class without her permission on how to beat a Boarbatusk…" Ruby told him sheepishly.
"Was she annoyed?" He asked.
"She said she was… but she told me it was okay. Just that I need to ask first next time," Ruby replied, confused.
Slowly, Ozpin sat back in his seat. "Then, from what you have told me, there isn't a problem. And if there was, you resolved it." He explained calmly.
This response from the headmaster surprised Ruby, her eyes widening in shock. "That's it?" she asked, caught off guard.
"That's it. Miss Rose, I have made many mistakes. Likely more than any man or woman on this planet could in one lifetime. But, as of this moment, I do not consider making you a team leader one of them," Ozpin explained.
"How do you know you didn't make a mistake…?" Ruby asked, a bit worried.
"Being a leader isn't about being perfect. It's about caring for those under your command and doing the best with what you have. Miss Schnee sees your flaws but knows that you're trying and are keen on improving." He explained.
Ruby still looked a bit unsure as Ozpin continued to explain. "You will make mistakes, Miss Rose. You will fail. It is all part of learning to be a leader. What matters is how you learn from your mistakes and failures. What do you take away from your shortcomings?" He told her.
"T-Thank you, Professor," Ruby replied, bowing her head a bit.
"If you have any further concerns, don't be afraid to come again," The Headmaster replied, his lips curling into a warm smile.
That Evening: Team RWBY's Dorm Room
Ruby sighed deeply as she pored over one of her history textbooks. She lay in the soft glow of the setting sun as she tried her best to understand the words in the book. However, she found it harder to keep her eyes open. Just when she was about to fall asleep, her eyes snapped open when she heard the door open. Turning to look, she saw Weiss walk in carrying a coffee cup.
"Weiss? I thought you were with Yang and Blair?" she asked.
"Yang was worried about you, but I insisted that she stay behind so that Blair could help her while I checked on you. Studying hard, I see," Weiss explained, a small smile on her face.
"I'm trying. But why do they have to make this stuff so dry?" Ruby pouted.
"If you want, maybe I can be of some assistance?" Weiss offered, walking over to Ruby.
"Y-You don't have to…" Ruby said, trying to refuse politely.
"I want to. Ruby… I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much, if anything, about having friends or being in a team. But I can promise you this: I will do everything I can to be the best teammate possible. One that can help you live up to the potential Ozpin sees in you as a leader," Weiss told her.
Ruby smiled a bit at hearing that. "Thanks, Weiss. I'm… I'm not exactly used to being on a team either." She replied.
"Why don't I go brew some more coffee so that we can study together? How do you take yours?" Weiss asked, giving a small smile.
"Cream and three sugars," Ruby replied with a small smile.
Weiss nodded before turning to head out the door. "Oh, by the way? I love the bunk beds. I always wanted some back when Whitley and I were younger. Back before we drifted apart for a spell." She told Ruby, looking back at her with a smile.
Ruby's smile grew from ear to ear. "Once you're done with the coffee, I've got a few more ideas for the room I want to run by you…" She said, her voice trailing off whimsically.
"I'd like that…" Weiss replied with a hint of joy in her tone before heading back towards the dorm kitchen to brew more coffee.
To Be Continued…