Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(...)

Prologue

The Kingdom of Mistral is one of the four kingdoms of Remnant, set on Anima, the world’s easternmost continent. Our story begins in the city of Kuchinashi, a sprawl south of Mistral’s municipal capital. Its streets form a near-endless maze of darkness and decay. Pirates, bandits, murderers, thieves, drifters, and every sort of miscreant call it home.

More specifically, we begin in a bar near the city center. Amid the noise and the stink of crime, a hooded figure sat drinking whatever the bartender set in front of him. A ceramic mask hid the upper half of his face, its red spirals shaped like flames.

He had been there for hours, drink after drink, without sinking into his usual blackout. The bartender, a woman with tired eyes, was growing uneasy at his muttering whenever he paused to swallow, as if he were speaking several incoherent thoughts at once. She could not throw him out. He paid on time, and compared with the average regular, the boy was quiet.

One more thing set him apart. Oddly enough, many in the criminal world knew better than to bother him. He was best known as the Green Death, a mercenary whose services could be bought by the heads of crime families.

His routine never changed. He left before midnight and returned at eight in the evening. It had been that way for five years and would likely continue a while longer.

What the bartender did not know was that a group of people was about to enter. Most were armed. One was not. Their arrival drew every eye in the room and put the criminal patrons on alert. Weapons scraped free, from hunting rifles to pistols. The newcomers answered in kind, barrels lifting to meet the threat.

Without warning, a familiar man raised his hand and spoke in a soft tone.

“If I could have your attention.”

The criminals stared in surprise. He was the headmaster of Beacon Academy, the famed Huntsman academy of the Kingdom of Vale. No one could imagine why a figure of such renown had stepped into one of Mistral’s most miserable districts.

He looked to be a man in middle age, with tousled silver hair and warm brown eyes. Pale skin, sharp features. Shaded spectacles. A small purple cross-shaped pin on the hood at his neck. He wore an unbuttoned black coat over a dark green vest and green shirt, an attire that lent him an imposing air.

He spoke again, steady and calm.

“My purpose here is not to disrupt your business or make arrests. I am here to speak to one person, and that is the man at the bar.”

He pointed at the hooded drinker, who did not look up.

Chairs scraped, and the room emptied in a hurry. Ozpin’s men stepped aside to avoid the stampede. The bartender understood perfectly. If a fight broke out here, it would be deadly, especially with the Green Death in the middle of it.

Ozpin gestured for his men to hold their positions, then walked to the bar. He took the stool beside the hooded figure and leaned his cane against the counter.

“A local beer, please.”

The bartender slid him an uncapped bottle from the refrigerator.

Ozpin took a sip. “I’ve known you a long time. You are predictable. Try to be original for once and stop haunting the same bars.”

“Go away, Ozma.”

“You know me. You always leave me space when you want to be alone.”

He drank again.

“Why not now?”

The hooded man’s patience thinned. Ozpin set the bottle down a little harder than before.

“Because, whether we like it or not, our old friend still moves according to the gods’ will.”

“What do you want me to do, Ozma? I can’t do it again.” He slammed his fist against the bar. “I told you years ago. I’m out.”

He pushed back the hood. The face beneath was young. Freckles. Green eyes. Tousled green hair.

“You are no good to anyone while you drown your sorrows like a common drunk,” Ozpin said, contempt cutting through his voice.

“You won’t convince me, Ozma. I’m not going back to Beacon.”

The headmaster’s temper flared. He seized the boy by the shirt and dragged him close.

“YOU ARE A COWARD, IZUKU. You think you honor Summer by running away, but all you do is stain her memory.”

Izuku drove a fist into Ozpin’s gut and broke free. In one smooth motion he drew his sword, the edge flashing to the man’s throat.

Ozpin’s men raised their guns, but he stilled them with a single gesture.

“Stand down. No one is wrecking this place. Just a cranky old man who lost his temper.”

Izuku kept the blade up and his glare fixed.

“I could say the same, Ozma.”

Ozpin gave a small laugh. “One of us must be prudent, Izuku.”

He noticed the tremor in Izuku’s sword hand, the effort it took to master himself. A heartbeat later, clarity returned.

“Tsk.”

With a frustrated grimace, Izuku lowered the blade and slid it back into its sheath.

Ozpin played his card. “Izuku, Summer’s daughter is entering Beacon.”

Izuku blinked. “What?”

“You know what that means.”

Green sparks crackled from his clenched fist.

“No. She is just a child.”

“She has potential.”

“No.”

“Then choose. Who should teach her? You know what happens if she faces what is coming without a teacher. You do not want her to share Summer’s fate.”

The light around his fist faded.

“You bastard. You win.”

Izuku looked at him with hatred and disgust. That night, Beacon Academy gained a teacher for the new school year.

To be continued.

Chapter Text

(...)

There is a dangerous territory between the border between the Kingdom of Vale and the Kingdom of Vacuo. Known as the "Nothingness", it is a rather vast desert place where chaos and anarchy reign. Usually, those who live there are criminal fugitives who are wanted by the authorities, or organized gangs of looters who live there. There have even been terrorist organizations that have their influence in that area. Such as "Whitefang" and its ties with the looting gangs. But, as always in bilateral relations, there are always disagreements.

Which is why Adam Tauros was sent by the same organization just mentioned, to execute the outcome left by that particular disagreement. The Faun came in a motorcycle-type vehicle, but with an anti-gravity mechanism to avoid the unpleasant damage that the desert causes to conventional motorcycles.

Certainly, he had already reached his destination. After a few weeks gathering intelligence, he had finally stumbled upon the location of the people he was looking for. A city as ancient as it was cursed, the locals said. Common sense would dictate that it was preferable to stay away from the site because of the dangers it surely held, but he, being a Faun who had known much of the underworld, would know for sure that it was the perfect place for people who didn't want to be found to be there.

-So that's where those scum are hiding, in a city of Ancient Mankind.

Said Adam, who was gazing at the Ruins of Ancient Mankind. Which are many buildings barely standing on their feet, after thousands of years have passed since the ancient settlers abandoned them.

He knew that contemplating it would do little good, so, retaking his vehicle, he headed into the city. Once inside, the atmosphere he could feel was rather gloomy.

Sand covered some areas that were the streets, a pungent smell of ash was what one breathed upon entering, the debris was so large that could reach the breadth of houses in the current urban areas, that probably in his time, many people fell victims of these.

Adam, at one point, had to stop his vehicle, as he could not move forward on ground that was quite particular. For the fact that the anti-gravity device did not work on volcanic soil or soil covered with incandescent materials, whether ancient or not.

The street he needed to go, was covered with human bones, all preserved by early fossilization, preserved in an almost volcanic stone. It was a sight like no other.

-Tsk- The faun complained.

Adam hated to leave his vehicle in such an exposed place and with the likelihood of it being stolen by third parties. But he had to risk it, as it was urgent to find those scumbags. So, he left it parked a few meters back, trying to hide it among some debris as much as possible.

Then, he began to walk, being a long way with constant sounds of bones, breaking under their own weight. He who had already seen death and had lived with it very closely, would not believe that he could get used to this landscape.

Once he had crossed that stretch, he had already entered directly into the center of the city. It didn't take long to find some guards, stationed at a particular building, no less than a block and a half away from that bone road.

The outskirts of the building became a small makeshift camp, taking advantage of some of the structural flaws of the place. There was even a watchtower made from a small construction of wood and iron used for the joints. While in the building itself, it was not like the others, it was one well located in the center of the city.

-Was it a government building?

Adam was not an archaeologist of Ancient Humanity as there were in Vale. But, his student years had taught him that they had religious institutions that influenced politics. Many of the centrally located buildings were government palaces, before their eventual fall.

Although interesting to have known part of the history of that world, he had little interest in keeping the building intact if there was a confrontation. Nor was he interested in exploring it any further. As it was, Grimms abounded in this part of the world.

Without fear of being seen, the faun walked straight to the guards and wanted to introduce himself properly.

-Did you really think Miss Malachite would protect you- said Adam in a mocking tone-Miss Malachite values information and loyalty over money. You for your part...

The guards reacted in defensive positions pointing their weapons at the subject.

-Simple weapons eh, I see that the vast majority of you don't even have hunters in your ranks.

Suddenly, a bald man in a brown trench coat came out of the front door of the building, right from the front door. Not before, he was accompanied by more heavily armed men, who did not hesitate to aim at the faun as well.

-I didn't think they would be so careful to find us, Mr. Taurus- said the man with a smug smile.

Being the fearsome Faun of Whitefang, he didn't even react to the threat of those men and their weapons.

-Joseph Winfrey, I will say this only once. The financial intelligence unit found an irregularity of 580,000 Lien that they took from the coffers of our organization. They violated the non-aggression and theft agreement with us....

Suddenly the smiling man said interrupting Adam.

-So what, why send just one guy?

Adam continued with his statement.

-Besides, they also did not use the resources that Whitefang supplied them with to accomplish the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the regional manager of the "Schnee Dust Company" in the region of Vacuo. Also losing contact with us and fulfilling other purposes. Therefore, I was sent to ask you kindly, by a communiqué from my leader Siena Khan. Hand over most of what was stolen or you will suffer the consequences.

Adam had not the slightest hope that they would have the money intact. But he had to follow orders and do what he was told to do. If it were up to him, he would have drawn his gun before he spoke.

Without a care in the world, the bald man replied casually to Adam.

-Your leader was a fool for trusting too much. She has no vision but to take revenge on the Schnee family and their company. Those resources they gave us were used for something more convenient, being bandits was just a part of our group....

Now Adam did pay attention to the man's words. For, at last, he would see where those resources went, and besides, he would see who those bandits really were. Even at first, Adam was quite suspicious of them.

-What was that?

The man was really confident.

-I'll tell you one thing, the ancient mankind was really rich in gold....

"Another wild goose chase to plunder the ancient cities" Adam said frustrated in his mind, as he hated that cliché.

-So much gold that it surpasses the wealth of Vacuo three times over! The power of wealth is everything....

Suddenly, the man's skull was pierced by a bullet. Adam had used his trusty "Blush" rifle. Then, he fell to the ground rolling down the stairs to the entrance.

-I don't want to waste time with you. You gave me enough of an explanation you idiot.....

Without warning, one of his men said in panic.

-Shoot!

Panic reigned, their boss had died at the hands of a Faun. It was no wonder he was one of the best warriors of the Whitefang.

-It's a faun, it has agility, aim well!

shouted a member of the group as he fired.

One by one they fell like flies before the mosquito net. One by one they were pierced in their necks by Adam's sword.

-As I said, too bad you don't have that many hunters in your group.

In this world, having a weapon in your hand didn't give you complete certainty that a user with a physical weapon would be an easy target. More so if it was a well-trained person or a recognized hunter.

Once the shooters at the entrance were eliminated, and those in the watchtower and second floor neutralized. Adam went deeper into the building.

The inevitable fate of Joseph's collaborators resulted in death at his hands. Even for those operating inside the building. Although there were some Mistral and Vacuo hunters operating with them, they were eliminated by his sword.

-Damn you!

He said firing one towards Adam, who was deftly avoiding the bullets, then piercing it through his chest.

Then, pushing aside the corpse, he saw where the room where they managed their resources was supposed to be. Apparently, this hallway on the second floor was the one most heavily guarded by Joseph's men.

-Let's see if Whitefang can retrieve something....

Suddenly several roars were heard in the distance. After all, this was still a wilderness.

-He had to be quick, there were several Grimms here. Damn, I shouldn't have made so much noise- he complained, as he forced open the ancient metal door.

-If there is gold discovered by them, maybe it will be useful?

When he finally managed to break the rusty lock, he was met with a huge surprise. It was an empty room, with a mine close to the wall, but by the looks of it, this one had been done before. Some vestiges of the rusted iron supporting the structure could still be seen.

Without hesitation, he went into the mine to see if there were the resources the gang had found. He had already given up hope of recovering the stolen money, when he pulled from a corpse a log book, where every expense the gang had made to get there was noted. Worse, most of it was to fortify the fort from Grimms' attacks, leaving them with almost no resources to break through the stone walls that hid that treasure in that building.

-From what I see, this was their last option, although I think I interrupted them in their work- said Adam, as he saw brand new equipment lying on the floor of the small mine.

Something inside him said that they had found gold. But a few meters later, he confirmed it, there were small strips of gold inside the walls of the mine. The odd thing about it, it was treated gold, not raw, which puzzled the faun. There seemed to be some sort of gold structure on both sides of the mine. Added to the equipment found, they wanted to dig it out in a hurry.

-What the hell?

Suddenly, a light was brighter than the gold found, it seemed to be crystal. Even with the modern light stuck on the walls, it had more reflection of its own. Oddly enough, it was the last known section of the mine. Adam was realistic, he couldn't get all that gold out without knowing how to use the men's equipment, but maybe he could take something of value like a crystal back to his leader.

He would even bet that Joseph knew about the crystal. Surely he would have already taken it out in his own absence.

-Let's see, what have we here.

As he moved some dirt, what little was left so that he could see the crystal clearly. He realized that the crystal was a bit larger than he had imagined.

-What?

Suddenly, as he wiped even more of the remaining dirt off the crystal, he saw a hand reflected, a small hand.

-It can't be possible....- Adam said in shock. 

It was as small as a child's. His curiosity was such that with his own hands he removed all the dirt from the crystal, until at last he saw what or who was inside. It was a little girl, who seemed to be asleep inside the crystal itself, she seemed to float inside.

She was a small, pale-skinned girl with bluish, whitish, messy, unkempt hair parting in the middle of her forehead, reaching almost to her waist. She has very wide, bright red eyes. On the right side of her forehead protrudes a small brown horn. She had old rag-like clothes and battered shoes.

Inside, Adam hated for a child to suffer, even if it was a human child. The glass seemed to have an empty space where the child seemed to float inside, or so he sensed. Suddenly, he was stunned when he saw a finger move. That set off his alarms, for the child might be alive.

-It is alive!?- he exclaimed in surprise.

Without thinking. With sword in hand, he thrust his blade into the glass. It didn't take long for it to break, to his surprise. What he didn't know was that his action resulted in a small explosion, which pushed him back a meter. But he managed to pull himself together enough to see how the girl fell to the ground abruptly, remarkably she was instantly conscious of herself.

Now, he was on the ground, shocked by the previous small explosion. As the little girl stared, she seemed expressionless at first.

The shards of glass that were left scattered on the floor were now turning into water. Including, the ones she had in her hair, leaving her wet. Even a little on him.

-Hey... You...-He wanted to be a little tactful with the girl as he tried to approach her.

What surprised the faun the most, was that she answered him in his own language.

-Who are you?

"You can't be! She surely must have been miles of years trapped in that crystal" Adam concluded, as he looked at the girl quite surprised.

-Don't hurt me... -She said, while she had tears in her eyes, looking at him with fear.

To be continued ....

Hello, for the new readers I would like to welcome you and thank you for continuing with this project. I hope you like it and if you can comment what you thought.

This week there will be more updates in a row

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, outside the building several grotesque-looking creatures with a certain resemblance to wolves were approaching. These call themselves Beowolves, and are fairly common Grimms in this world. They possess a bone-shaped mask with red markings characteristic of most Grimms, as well as the bone-like spikes protruding from their arms, backs, and knees. Their hands and feet are also tipped with long, sharp, white claws.

They are also known for their excellent sense of smell, mainly blood. Blood was plentiful in this area of the abandoned city, as the corpses of the bandit group were found exposed and too much of it. Adam knew perfectly well that even with his skills, he would probably have no escape from the city if he didn't get the hell out of there. The constant howling and roaring of those creatures was a clear sign of that.

He could leave quickly, but his biggest obstacle was the girl in front of him. Still fearful, she didn't seem to trust him completely. For his part, within his few remaining morals, he did not want to leave her at the mercy of the creatures known for their cruelty in attacking any living thing with human and Faunus traits. He wanted to convince her somehow.

-Girl, I don't think you're understanding what's going on here. So I'll tell you- said Adam gathering all the patience he could muster- There are creatures that can devour you, we need to get out of there, now!

He, who was already up, offered his hand to the girl. In the meantime she, seeing that his intentions were not to harm her by the looks of it. She still distrusted him and his intentions. When she wiped the tears from her face, she said.

-No... Tell me who you are...- said the girl with a little more confidence.

Adam could only get frustrated.

-My name is Adam Taurus, I am proudly faunus. Now I'm the only person who can help you escape from here. But I need you to trust me.

-What is a faun- she asked doubtfully.

Adam couldn't get angry this time, this girl is probably over a thousand years old and probably didn't know about Fauns and the humans that make up today's society.

Suddenly, loud noises could be heard near the mine door. The situation was getting acclimatized.

-I won't hurt you, we need to get out of here.

The girl was thoughtful at Adam's proposal. She still seemed doubtful of him.

Without warning, a Grimm was heard closer, as if he had entered the tunnel.

-Fuck!

Then he drew his trusty red sword, "Wilt." After he stood on guard, he said.

-Wait here.

Then the girl said to him. I could tell she was done thinking about trusting him.

-Sir, could you take off your mask?

-Is this a joke?

Now the faun became angry. Suddenly, a Beowolf swiftly threw itself at Adam and he smoothly managed to slit its throat. Which caused him to fall to the ground dead. Eri had to take a couple of steps away from the Grimm's corpse. Although she panicked a bit, she didn't fall victim to panic.

-Girl, I don't need to remind you that more Grimms are coming and this tunnel doesn't give us any advantage.

Adam began to hate her morals. He wanted to be selfish and leave her, he would be nothing more than a mere nuisance. But he couldn't, his will would never let him do it.

-I've learned that you always have to recognize a person's face to be trusted. You have that mask and I have never seen your face. Please, if you want me to go with you, take off that mask.....

Her voice was like that of any child, but her words were not like those of one. Adam knew well what it's like to grow up from a young age, he knew that girl's past had its moments too.

-Shit! Fine, if you want to see my face, it was fine.

He had no choice. So, he took it off and put it in his pocket.

-See, there are reasons why people want to keep their face to themselves. Since you know me, I guess you can trust me, right?

Eri couldn't help but look sadly at that horrible scar on his right eye. She finally saw a real part of him, she knew it wasn't easy for him to show anyone that face. From there, she knew she could trust him now.

Then, she stood up and said to Adam. In a more cheerful way and the tenderness that a child can only give.

-I trusted you, little brother!

Something in him was moved, he had never felt like this before. It was as if those words sweetened him in a way he never experienced.

"ARGGGGGG"-Growls could be heard nearby.

The Beowolves were closing in, and he would never allow her to be harmed.

-Come and get me, you bastards!" he said boldly.

Now, for the first time in his life, he found himself needing to protect something. In this case, a girl who needed her protection.

(...)

Meanwhile. At the famous Beacon Hunter Academy, a ship illegally sailed from the Aircraft port, leaving behind a still hooded boy, who was accompanied by his faithful bottle of alcohol. In Renmant it was common that there were airships that radars could not detect them, so they were often used for smuggling. In this case, it was used differently by dropping that individual off at the academy.

-It's been years eh Beacon academy- He said contemplating the academy in its greatest beauty during the night, along with the fragmented moon at his side- Izuku Midoriya has returned, as always obligatorily, because of that asshole.

Then, he immediately took a deep gulp of his alcoholic beverage. To then cough sharply. From there, he began to walk deeper into their premises. Arriving at the main garden, he sat down on a nearby bench simply to rest and contemplate the fountain.

It didn't take her many minutes to start talking, even if there were no people nearby. A habit he had acquired almost 20 years ago. 

-I'm sorry Summer, I couldn't give up drinking -Each time his tone became drunker and a little depressed- So much that you tried so hard to make me give it up, but that's the way I am. A jerk who won't stop drinking and having disastrous relationships.

To the eyes of anyone passing by, he seemed to speak to nothing. But to his eyes, she was there. Summer was standing right in front of him. He couldn't tell if she was real or a product of his alcoholism, though he wasn't complaining. It was comforting enough that she was standing next to him.

The one in front of him was just as he remembered her. With the same silver eyes, fair complexion and hair faded from black to red and her ever-reliable white hood.

Then she spoke.

-So many years have passed and you still don't get over my death- Now she touched his shoulder and looked at him in an understanding way- Master, it's time for you to move on, you should give this generation a chance.

Then, he answered her with tears on his face.

-I don't know if I can, I don't feel capable, you were my children - Suddenly he dropped his bottle to the ground crashing on the spot, he was not able to hold it - Letting you die like that and then your children grew up without you, I made Tai a widower....

Then she interrupted him.

-It was my decision, and you of all people know that. You both have to accept it, as much as Tai and you....

Deep inside, he knows she's right. He just hasn't wanted to do it, it's not something that's easy for him.

-You always were stubborn, huh.

-You know me well, ja ja ja - She replied laughing.

-I guess I have a responsibility now.

-Exactly, you taught me yourself, I know you'll manage my daughter well.....

Those words made him change his mind, after all, this was what he needed.

To be continued....

Chapter Text

(...)

-Will someone finally do something?!

Student Weiss Schnee, a member of Team RWBY, was losing her patience. The "Practical Hunting" subject had gotten her school year off on the wrong foot when her teacher had been absent on the first day. Being a girl dedicated to her homework in general, it was disrespectful of her assigned teacher that she had not excused her absence. To make matters worse, on the second day the same teacher was absent again and to the discomfort of the class, a young man in a hoodie was sleeping on the teacher's desk.

His snoring echoed throughout the room, while there was a pungent smell of alcohol in the air. Many of those present felt more like they were in a canteen environment than a classroom. Some were unhappy that a likely classmate was in such a deplorable condition, but others simply ignored it and chatted. Taking advantage of the time the absent teacher gave them.

-Didn't you send for Professor Ozpin? - Blake asked, indifferent to the situation and reading a book.

Moments earlier, Weiss had sent a message to the professor's email on her Scroll. She didn't hold out much hope that he would respond to her complaint, since after all he was the principal and had better things to do than deal with a boy.

-You have to at least wake him up. He probably belongs in another classroom. What's more, I don't think he's a classmate of ours. He doesn't even have a uniform and he has that dirty hood- said Weiss, looking at the guy, quite disgusted.

It had already been 20 minutes since they entered and the boy still looked like that since they arrived. Nadia had changed.

-He looks like my uncle when he used to sleep drunk on our couch- said Ruby analyzing the stranger- He even holds his bottle the same way.

-Even the same smell- said Yang, amused- You can tell that guy knows no limits and started drinking alcohol at school. He looks like my uncle in many ways, but I'm not sure if he's that cool or just another drunk.

She said the latter a little more analytically. In short, there was an argument over who that drunk was.

-Let's find out- Ruby said, standing up with a lot of determination- Let's see if this one is cool and rebellious. Maybe he's a teacher's assistant, like Professor Port and his fourth-year assistant.

-Although I don't think he's cool like our uncle- said Yang in conclusion- At least there must be something to impress us, what do you think Blake?

-That they should throw that idiot out of the room. The smell of alcohol doesn't let me read- said the cat girl with much annoyance.

As always, Blake remained indifferent. He preferred to take advantage of the free time he had in class to continue reading his favorite book saga, "The Passion Moon". The writer, believed to have died 80 years ago, went by the alias "Deku". But his texts are still relevant today.

-Ruby, if you're going to get close to that lout. You'd better kick him out of the classroom. He's not the teacher- said Weiss, expressing her annoyance.

-At least let him express himself. Maybe he's the teacher's assistant and he went out partying last night. Besides, he must be someone skilled to be here in the first place. You have to meet him!

Besides checking to see if he was a cool person, Ruby wanted to get to know this new guy. She wanted to know what weapons he had for battle, how he made them and what his technique was like. As always, her curiosity got the better of her. She could consider herself an extreme weapons nerd.

-Then I'll go with you, I'll judge for myself if it doesn't belong here- said Weiss with propriety and a bit of arrogance.

-Her weapon will be visible to the naked eye-Ruby questioned, ignoring Weiss, who was escorting her to the professor's desk.

Once they reached the desk, Ruby was the first to take the initiative to wake him up. Then, she moved a little closer to his head so that he would ask to hear her.

-Ehhh, boy-Said Ruby with a calm and a little motherly tone of voice so as not to scare him- Wake up sleepyhead, it's too late to sleep here. Once you're awake, could you tell me who you are?

The fact that they approached the boy who reeked of alcohol attracted a lot of attention. Even from the JNPR team, who also stopped their talk to see what was going on.

It seemed that the boy's efforts to wake him up had not been in vain. Why he had stopped snoring, and said a few words in response to what Ruby had told him. Although many of them were strange.

-What... Don't bother me now Malachite girl, I can't now....

Suddenly there's Blake, she lowered her book to pay attention to his words. From her past she had heard of that surname. One, which in the underworld was respected and feared. Now she doubted the boy's origins and his intentions for now.

-Boy, come on wake up, it's a sunny and beautiful day!

Ruby tried to wake him up with the best positive attitude. She believed that the most important part of your day was when you woke up, that would determine how much energy you would have to do things.

-Nah! - he said sleepily- I don't want to...sum....

Suddenly, Weiss who had frozen a glass of water that was on the desk. Then he poured the liquid directly on his head.

The last thing he said puzzled this Ruby. Her action interrupted what he was about to say.

-Wait Weiss! He was about to say...

The man reacted as expected. The first thing he did was that he stood up in a frantic and surprised manner, even seeming not to know where he was. The bottle he was holding in his hand while he was sleeping was left on the floor, with the liquid spilling out.

-AHHHHH! Where am I?!

Half the group reacted by laughing at this scene. While the boy, moaned and watched as a part of his clothes got wet.

-I woke him up Ruby, whatever you want to know, you can ask him now- said Weiss seriously.

Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard at the entrance of the classroom. Just to the right of those who were starring in the scene.

-Don't worry, Miss Schnee, this drunken jerk is usually not like this when he teaches. I would also like to apologize in advance that he did not excuse his absence.

He was none other than Principal Ozpin, the highest ranking man in this academy. As always, he had a cup of coffee in his hand.

-Wait, what? -Weiss said in shock.

Now everyone reacted to the principal's statement.

-WHATTTTT! 

This last said almost everyone in the classroom, as a chorus that spread almost to the other classrooms nearby. In their eyes, he seemed to be too young to be a teacher, too young even to be a hunter.

-Says a coffee addict and wearing the same thing for years. You look like a fucking old mannequin- said the new teacher with an amused tone.

Now again, almost everyone was in shock. The professor was a figure to be respected all over the world, even professors and important people always addressed him with respect. It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to him with such a nonchalant attitude.

-Maybe it is, but you're still as lonely and without a partner as ever- he said mockingly with a fake pout.

-Leave your post, animal! Ha, ha, ha, ha, put someone else- the boy continued laughing.

-You wish! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

-Can you explain to us what the hell is going on here!?- said Weiss interrupting the duo.

Now no one questioned Weiss' question. It was what everyone was thinking right now. They wanted to know who the hell that kid was. Ruby, meanwhile, was staying out of the loop.

-Ahhh, yeah right. I think they need an explanation- said Ozpin, returning to the calm and professional attitude he always displayed- I think you need to introduce yourself.

Finally, the new teacher had taken off his hood and left it hanging on his desk chair. Leaving a somewhat handsome boy visible. He looked to be about apparent 17 years of age, medium height, freckles, green eyes and tousled hair, also green in color. He was slim, but it was obvious that he had a toned body, which the desk didn't quite show.

Suddenly, he had pulled out a large sword, with a slightly long black handle. To then say first.

-Sorry for the inconvenience and discomfort. Even with a hangover and internal problems, I thought I'd introduce myself....

Suddenly, his sword took on a brighter appearance. Lighting up the room a bit, and then, from his arm, a cluster of green lightning bolts shot out and surrounded the sword.

- Welcome to the Practical Hunting class, I am Izuku Midoriya, your new teacher-.

Finally. Yang, again ignoring the surprised faces of his classmates, finally concluded on something.

-He's cool, we surely won't get bored. It will be as much fun as when we are with my uncle- she commented amused.

Now at last, after starting off on the wrong foot. The class would have its new teacher, to Weiss's misfortune, it was not the one she had imagined.

To be continue......

Hi, I hope you liked it. Don't forget to comment ;) and I'll see your reviews with pleasure.

Chapter Text

(...)

Ruby, in her experience as a student, had always had the notion of what a teacher was, especially in the field of hunters. Both her teachers and her father (who is also a teacher in another academy) are people with years of experience. As such, they were usually around middle age, a very clear sign of experience. However, it was exciting to see such a young person with the approval of the director teaching, and besides that he was probably already a hunter at an even younger age. She agreed with Weiss on one thing, she had to be objective with this new teacher.

Although, she didn't have a bad impression of the boy as her new friend. Putting aside being objective in his teaching, she would if she had the chance make him her friend. She also wanted to meet him and find out certain doubts from him, because she wanted to clarify one thing, was he really going to mention her mother?

Knowing how stubborn she is about getting what she wants, it wouldn't take long for her to make that boy her best friend. Her previous success in turning that rich girl into her friend had shown her the fruits of her efforts. Even having her older sister and that faun girl on her team were other of the many fruits she had reaped. She was really confident of winning the friendship of this new teacher. She would just need to go with the flow of events and talk to him.

-I wonder what his fighting technique is - Ruby said as she finished adjusting her skirt.

Meanwhile, she was with her teammates in the women's locker room at the academy. What was left of the class would be taught outdoors, near the academy's forest, according to the new teacher. So the students had to change into their battle suits.

Right there, they had the opportunity to talk about the new teacher and share opinions. Among his team, some opinions were divided.

-I'll hold him, that kid, I don't think he's a qualified teacher, what was Professor Ozpin thinking- said Weiss as he dressed in his suit.

-Come on Weiss, didn't you see the mastery of his semblance? -Said Yang, as he put on his boots.

-I don't doubt that he is skilled in battle, after all it is more than obvious that he is a prodigy, but I doubt that he has the ability to teach and neither the necessary ethics- Weiss answered seriously.

Yang, for his part, had to admit that if that boy drank during class it is more than predictable that he would not teach his class correctly.

-What do you think Blake? -said Ruby, curious about the faun's opinion.

Blake, for her part, had finished dressing, while waiting for her friends, sitting on a bench, watching the messages on her Scroll.

-As long as he teaches us as he should, I don't care about anything but him.

Deep down inside, she couldn't trust this new boy. Nothing good could come of the Malachite name, in her own experience, Mistral was a place one would have to be careful.

-Come on, there must be something else you think about the professor.... -Ruby said a little more insistent.

Blake was already getting to know his team leader. She knew Ruby wouldn't tire until she got an answer from him.

-I wouldn't recommend you to be his friend, Ruby.

-Why?

She hadn't expected that answer from him.

-Ruby, not everyone can be your friend. Everyone has a past, unless you want to know things you were better off not knowing, I wouldn't recommend it.

After all Ruby was still younger than her, in her eyes she was still innocent in some things. Blake, for his part, had seen some pretty horrible things in the group he belonged to. If he could warn someone not to do something stupid, he would.

Too bad that girl was pretty stubborn.

-Well, if you say so....

Suddenly, their companion Nora had caught their attention.

-Girls, hurry up! The boys are ready and so are we, I won't wait for you.

At that, they hurried quickly to catch up with the group that was heading to the outskirts of the academy. Specifically, at the edge of the Emerald Forest.

There he was, waiting for them. Compared to the first and strange impression, the professor apparently already looked more composed, with a better demeanor and apparently more serious and focused.

-Well, Professor Izuku, let's see how to teach- said Ruby with a more analytical demeanor.

Ruby was able to observe her new teacher better. He looked too young, without falling into conjecture, she could not guess his age. Although she didn't think he would be over 18 or 17 max. Another feature to note about him was his eyes, they were tired and red, with dark circles under his eyes a little noticeable. But it did not detract from the seriousness he conveyed, and that he was a bit handsome for the rest of his teammates, who looked at the boy with quite flirtatious eyes. Except for the girls on his team and the JNPR girls.

-I wonder which Grimms he hunted- Ruby said, continuing her analysis a bit.

To her, surely her new master already had a hunter's license, why his equipment he had, could be seen with the naked eye. To an expert eye like hers, it was a professional hunter's equipment. She had already seen professional hunters in lectures at Signal Academy, mainly the equipment they own. An example of what she had seen, was that the boy had a belt of excellent workmanship, where he kept the Dust powder ammunition. It was the same equipment that they had said in that conference, it was a clearly expensive equipment and that only professionals use it correctly.

Of course, she was quite surprised at how old-fashioned it was, compared to the new equipment of today. However, she was interested in the two pistols that were well hidden in the back, which could only be seen if she turned her hip a little.

The whole group was already standing in front of him. The boy spoke with a tone, which was worthy of a teacher.

-Good morning, group, I would like to introduce myself again, my name is Izuku Midoriya. I will be your teacher during your first school year. I would like to give a little speech to start this training with you. All before we start with something quiet for the rest of our remaining hour....

Now everyone without exception was going to pay attention to his words. Some were wondering, what kind of speech can a boy say, and they were about to find out.

-A very wise old man once told me "You are what you do, not what you say you are going to do" That is, your own effort will define what you are and mere words will not make you what you say you are. In this case, many will surely think that they are already hunters because their successes have made them think that way.

That caused a bit of controversy among the students. While some are born into stable families and directly applied to the academy. Others are people who already had more independence at a young age and have a degree of combat experience. Unfortunately, the vast majority have no family members to support them. Some took offense, of course.

Then a boy named Cardin raised his hand. Yes to give him permission to speak, he said.

He was one of the richest people in the group, second only to Weiss and his family. It was to be expected that his tone of voice was most boastful and arrogant.

-Honestly, Professor, I do not agree with your statements. A previous experience does give you the right to consider yourself as such. I traveled to Vacuo to hunt extra officially with my father. It is more than well known that Beacon has not updated its curriculum and much of the knowledge is acquired outside these walls. In fact, many only go here for the mere fact of obtaining a license required by the government to practice.

Cardin then stepped in front of the group and turned his back to Izuku. He turned his back on Izuku and addressed them.

-IT'S MORE! The professor himself is proof of that, he surely gained his experience outside of an academy. So, it doesn't make sense, does it?

Everyone except Team JNPR and RWBY seemed to agree with his statements. For they began to murmur among themselves, discussing what he said.

Then Izuku decided to answer.

-So, Ehhh Cardin Winchester? No? - Izuku said remembering his face on the list of students Ozpin handed him - Tell me something, why do you think the civilian population is becoming more and more distrustful of academy graduates?

Then he turned to look at the teacher.

-Why, the hunters are always positively in the public eye- he said arrogantly- Why would there be distrust towards us?

-Because people like you just go through the motions and don't want to learn and ignore the knowledge that experience can't give you. Then, they come out of there satisfied with what they learned and end up being food for Beowolves. If you want to get a license so badly you better go to Mistral to get a fake one and go practice the way you want to.

For the first time, Weiss agreed with the kid. It could be considered the first good impression he had of him.

-Tsk, like you're better than me-now the boy was getting annoyed- Freckled boy.

Izuku's patience with this boy was not infinite.

You'd better get back to where you were, you pick up Grimm's excrement, Winchester. That's what your great-grandfather did for a living, wasn't it? Before your grandfather made guns.

Izuku always took pleasure in catching rich kids off guard with some insider information.

-What?!? How did you know, asshole?!?!?

-You just gave yourself away.

Now everybody laughed at him.

-Ha ha ha ha, I can think of good jokes for that- said Yang laughing his head off.

-Shut up! This is not funny! It was our business before the guns!

He was angry and humiliated in front of his group.

-I hate you!!!- Cardin declared to the boy, then walked back to where he stood, his hands covered in shame.

-Well, as I said, experience does not determine everything. You can always learn new things in an institution, indeed, you can complete them. Having said that, I would like to do something that will teach me your capabilities. Finally, I would like to close before I start, with a joke.

-Oh no! -Ruby complained.

-Did you hear about the guy thrown in jail for refusing to take a nap? He was resisting a rest, you know what I mean?

The only one who laughed was Yang. While her sister looked at him with an expression of utter embarrassment.

-Ha, ha, ha, ha, what an excellent joke!!!

-Thank you. She sure knows jokes.

Oh no!, another Yang -Ruby loved her sister and her father, but she would rather hear Vale's new musical star named Kuno, than his 50 cents a minute jokes.

Then, Izuku picked up on what he was saying.

-So, we'll do a diagnostic test, so I'll see what to start with to get you on track in the subject matter-he said.

The group's reaction was immediate, and then the murmuring among them all went off.

Then Weiss raised his hand. Accordingly, Izuku gave him the floor with a gesture.

-What kind of exam is it going to be?

Something in her knew it would be no ordinary exam.

-That's what I'm going for, miss, and by the way, my apologies for the confusion this morning. It was unethical of me to arrive with a hangover. This applies to the whole group.

Incredible as it may seem, the vast majority took that apology as sincere. Although they still haven't forgotten the annoyance of his earlier statements. Although Cardin was humiliated by trying to repel with him, some still agreed that the professor was wrong.

Instead, to him, he had his own thoughts about Weiss. 

"You can tell from a distance that she's Willow's daughter. I have to be careful with her" Izuku thought looking at the Schnee girl who was clearly still looking at him in disgust.

Meanwhile with her, she felt that her apology looked a bit hollow in Weiss' eyes, but she let it go.

-As I was saying, the whole group must face me. Semblances and weapons are allowed, but injuring your companions to accomplish the goal of finally beating me up will not be valid. understand?

He raised an eyebrow, clearly challenging his group. Cardin and some offended people wanted to beat him up, all the more reason for the guy himself to give them permission to do so.

Weiss, on the other hand, although he did not like his teacher, was going to be cautious. Since apparently many of his classmates didn't understand one thing:

"For a reason they have chosen him as their teacher" Weiss thought, gripping her gun tightly. She trusted the headmaster's judgment, despite her complaints, so trusting him was not an option.

More so because of the fact that he kept looking at them from the first moment they were in front of the. His eyes always gave fleeting glances at each of them. The Schnee family had always tended to have the natural ability to identify people's facial expressions and also determine what other things they see through their eyes.

What he would do was watch his upcoming opponents, the way they gripped their weapons, their posture as they stood. He even seemed to even analyze their facial expressions, like her. That gave her a bad feeling.

Ruby wanted to see her master's fighting technique, so fighting him would be exciting for her. She could at last fulfill one of her goals. Also, if she could, show off for him to be her friend.

Yang, for her part, wanted to have fun fighting him. She had liked this guy a lot, more because of the good sense of humor he has (According to her). Besides, she had never in her life been allowed to fight against an authority and knowing him, she would never miss such an opportunity. Kicking a teacher's ass. Better yet, a teacher who was almost her age.

Maybe after that, he'd give her a copy of a book of his best jokes. It was a relief to find someone who appreciated his comedy.

Lastly Blake, who had been on the sidelines all this time. She got a little curious and might get to know his fighting style. In the criminal world, she could, a fighting style is your personal stamp. If he was related to Malachite, probably the Whitefang, she might have heard of him.

-Well, then let's get started.

Then Izuku grabbed his sword and unsheathed it.

Now everyone readied themselves in their battle pose, waiting for the first move of the aforementioned master.

Cardin seemed the most excited about this.

Weiss was really nervous, why she feared the beating would be brutal. Not for him.

To be continued...

I hope you liked it, and don't forget to comment. Any comments on spelling will be welcome. 

Chapter Text

(...)

-Run!

Cardin Winchester had given the signal for the few students still standing to retreat after the initial attack on the new teacher. Incredibly, the JNPR team and the RWBY also obeyed Cardin's signal to flee into Emerald Forest.

-Harry Evans, Emily Smith need to improve their jogging. The speed needs to be improved when it comes to rapier with their swords.

Teacher Izuku was squatting, watching and explaining the above to two of his students lying on the ground, completely defeated. Even the stars in their eyes were noticeable, why they had not fully regained consciousness. Even consciousness needed to be regained.

They were the last of the fallen to be given an observation by Izuku.

-Guys!, you know you can't run away from me - Izuku said already standing up, with a slightly wicked smile.

Izuku had not forgotten about the "Chickens" coming out of the pen that was his class. He was the fierce sparrowhawk who would hunt them down, not a student would leave without receiving a remark from him.

-the hunt starts now! - Izuku said in a cheerful voice, as he resumed his walk from where his students fled.

"Be thankful I'm a horrible hangover limiting me" Izuku thought, still suffering the ravages of his drunkenness from the night before. He deadlifts Ozpin had given him didn't help him much.

The last thing he did before disappearing into the forest vegetation was to rub his chin a little. Then he said nonchalantly and laughing a little.

-Just like your mother, kiddo - he said, remembering his former hens that he had the opportunity to hunt almost 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, panic reigned among the students in the group. They had underestimated the power and skill of this boy, the others in his class had paid the consequences of this.

Cardin was the only survivor of his team, he was alone. Although to the surprise of many, he seemed to have made a successful strategic retreat.

-Shit, Who the hell trained that kid?! -commented the same boy annoyed, while complaining about the pain in his arm, which was hit by the handle of the teacher's sword.

He could barely hold his weapon, which he named Verdugo. Which is a large black mace, with ten flat titanium flanges extending further outward than a normal mace would and a red Dust crystal, which was placed in the center, held in place by four legs.

Try as he might, the professor seemed to know every move he made to hit it. To his frustration, he was never able to hit him with an accurate blow.

It only took him a few minutes to get married to keep up a decent attacking pace. When that happened, the teacher, quickly making use of his sword, managed to hit him in his arm that held the mallet.

His right arm had suffered a fatal blow in his own words. He did not feel able to face him and survive in the process.

All that was left for him to do was to cross his fingers that the professor would not find him.

Meanwhile, a few yards away from the Winchester boy, the sisters were resting under a leafy tree.

-Sister, are you all right?

Now Ruby Rose was asking her sister if she was all right. Since not moments ago, the professor had knocked the air out of her lungs, causing her to barely breathe.

-I'm fine sis, just let me catch my breath.

Although it seemed that her pride had been hit dramatically because his teacher had defeated her in a simple way. She didn't feel that way, she even felt proud of herself. Because unlike all her classmates, including her own sister, she was able to punch him lightly in the jaw. She was the only one who managed to land an accurate blow on him without missing, although it never ceased to amaze her that several combined attacks from her companions never managed to graze him.

Of course, her self-styled victory did not come without reaching levels of frustration she had never experienced. Reaching even to anger, why the aforementioned boy seemed to smile when she missed and he dodged. A smile, the same smile she wanted to wipe off his face.

So he did, she wiped her smile with that hit with "Ember Celica". In a timely moment of carelessness, which unfortunately he also took advantage of to knock the wind out of her with a fist punch. The latter did not erase her smile.

-Rest assured, sister, we were able to run away.

Everything happened in a way she had not imagined.

(...)

Ruby was frustrated. She was even beginning to take personally the fact that her teacher mercilessly threw her a couple of meters into a nearby tree, only to be the victim of a volley of bullets that made her take shelter behind it. He had shot her with his two pistols, which still showed a small trail of smoke coming out of the barrel.

She could hear his mocking laughter. From that, she could feel what her sister described as "The call to avenge pride". He was mocking and it annoyed her.

-please remember!...You have Non-lethal synthetic rubber bullets. But they still hurt a lot. Don't think your Aura can protect you forever.

Aura can serve as protection for long-range projectiles, but in a prolonged battle it was a limited resource for only the situation will require it.

So, she started firing as a counterattack measure at Izuku. She was not afraid to hurt him, as he, to the surprise of many, allowed the use of projectiles. But, only synthetic rubber ammunition. Fortunately, every student by school requirement had at least one mandatory practice cartridge.

Too bad the rubber ammunition cartridge ran out when he missed exactly the 20 bullets contained in the cartridge. In her eyes, the teacher was inhuman in dodging the bullets with just a few steps. If she wasn't frustrated, she would be thrilled at his inhuman reflexes.

-Miss Rose, you have a good shot, but your shot pattern is predictable.

-Shut up! You're inhuman.

She was tempted to use live ammunition, but she didn't want to get in trouble in her first days of school.

- Can't you? - Izuku said with the same mocking tone that Ruby began to hate- You still have your main weapon. That doesn't stop you from taking a swing at me, even if I'm shooting. In battle the weapon types can be alternated to gain tactical advantage.

She would prove to him that she could take him on. If she could take on a criminal who stole Dust, hunted Grimms before and survived a ship attack, she'll be able to take on a cocky kid.

Then, finally, she'll use her semblance. After all, those are not forbidden. The professor's own words.

Ruby is able to travel at extreme speed from one point to another by breaking down into its molecular components, thus negating their mass and then reassembling them at the destination.

-Let's do something, your sister has my respect for giving me the first punch of the school term, can you be the second?....

His next blow would be more personal for his defeated sister, who at that moment was being helped by Weiss and company 20 meters away from their location. Family was sacred, it was his family dogma, he had to do something.  In fact, it had already been made personal several minutes ago.

-... You have the potential for that, prove it to me.

She still wouldn't give up the fact that she wanted to be his friend. Giving her a good punch in his handsome face would give her a plus for being her friend. At least in Ruby's logic.

-ARGGGGGG!!!

Suddenly, Ruby jumped out of her spot where she took cover. To the surprise of those standing, she had used her semblance magnificently, it was amazing for someone her age.

Izuku simply stowed his pistols in his trusty belt. He had a phrase that had always accompanied him whenever there was a confrontation, no matter the level or difficulty of it.

In Ruby's case, for him she is a special case and she is also one of the reasons he is here. So he would have her learn as much as a human being breathes.

-There is one observation I want to bring forward for you.....

Now the petals had surprisingly stood behind her.

-Hello teacher...

Izuku dodged with an acrobatic leap the attack with the Cresecent Rose.

-...Always expect the unexpected....

-What?

Now green lightning appeared behind her. It seemed to have a similar semblance to her own, nothing more than it was flashy green lightning.

Now, with a nimble hand movement, he removed the Crescent Rose from Ruby, then activated the mechanism that retracted it. The way she removed it looked a bit like the martial arts Yang proudly practiced. It was an attack she didn't expect and he went after her. This left her quite vulnerable.

-Ruby!

What Izuku didn't expect was that Jaune Arc had snatched Ruby's cresecent Rose from her hands and would throw it at her afterwards. 

-Well done Jaune -Congratulated Izuku to the blond.

-Run!

Now the student Cardin had surprisingly ordered the retreat.

Now Jaune was the one who grabbed Ruby's hand and pulled her away from the teacher.

-What are you doing Jaune?!!!!

-Tactical retreat.

(...)

Everything else that happened after that, was that they ran fast despite the wounds he gave them.

Poor Blake was in agony from the blow to the head caused by that counterattack he made with his sword. The failed attack he planned together with Weiss and Nora had failed miserably.

Worse, was the attack with Nora's hammer that left Weiss knocked out, but not defeated. It had backfired on them.

All that remained was to resist.

To be continued....

Chapter Text

Chapter [6]

(...)

Years Ago

“Damn it, I’ll kill that boy!” Qrow spat, fury twisting his battered face.

“Stop whining,” said the blond boy as he wrapped a strip of torn cloth around his teammate’s swollen hand. His voice was calm but heavy with exhaustion. “None of us could take him down together, much less you on your own.”

“At least I managed to land a direct hit,” Raven declared, smirking with pride. Her dark hair, long and untamed, framed a face far too similar to her twin’s for Qrow’s comfort.

“Don’t boast, Raven!” Qrow snapped.

“Jealous,” she teased, sticking her tongue out like a mischievous child.

“Enough,” the girl with the pale skin and the hood as white as snow intervened. Summer’s voice was steady, though her grip tightened on the black scythe propped against her shoulder. “We’ve no time to quarrel. What matters is what we do next.”

“What can we do, Summer?” Raven folded her arms, unamused. “Taiyang couldn’t even hold him still.”

“I hate to crush your optimism, but Raven’s right,” Taiyang admitted. His tone carried the weariness of someone forced to accept a bitter truth. “We saw what he’s capable of. There’s not much left for us.”

“Unless you’ve got a plan B, boss,” Qrow muttered, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips despite his pain. “Because I’d rather not ruin my other hand.”

“Did you see how he left that spoiled rich girl, Willow?” Raven jabbed a finger toward the unconscious Schnee, her pale form sprawled beneath the shade of a tree while others tended to her.

“She brought it on herself,” Qrow said bitterly. “How could she think a cheap surprise attack would work after Taiyang warned her?”

“Let it go, crow boy,” Taiyang interrupted, fire flashing in his eyes. “What matters is what Summer said: finding our next move. Maybe even figuring out how to make him pay.” He raised his fist, a spark of rebellion flickering.

“Yes!” the twins answered in unison, their voices too eager, too loud.

Summer exhaled slowly, her patience fraying. She had been their leader for only a handful of days, but already she understood the burden of command.

“Taiyang, we all want revenge. Even me. But if we rush in blindly, we’ll only prove him right. We have to outsmart him, show him we’re not so easily crushed.”

And then the thought struck her, wild, reckless, the kind of madness that suited Qrow too well.

“I’ve got a plan. A crazy one,” she confessed, winking at him.

He grinned, teeth flashing.

“If he likes it,” Taiyang muttered darkly, “then I’m already against it.”

“Tell us,” Qrow urged, his eyes gleaming. Risk called to him like drink, and Summer had a gift for weaving danger into schemes that bordered on impossible.

“I’m in!” Raven added with dangerous enthusiasm.

Summer had learned to tolerate Raven, but the nickname she used, Summer girl, gnawed at her. She pushed it aside.

“First step,” she said, glancing at the unconscious Schnee, “we wake the Atlas princess.”

Raven’s hand shot up. “I call dibs on the first slap!”

“Not a chance,” Qrow growled, lurching unsteadily to his feet. “My good hand deserves the honor.”

“Dream on, Branwen,” Taiyang cut in, pointing at the pair. “That slap’s mine.”

Summer bolted without warning, laughter spilling from her lips as she sprinted for Willow.

“Hey, not fair!” Taiyang shouted.

“Yeah!” the twins roared after her.

“I’m your leader!” Summer called back, breathless with mischief. “So deal with it!”

Her laughter rang out as her teammates gave chase, the absurd scene witnessed by their fellow students, who could only shake their heads at the chaos this strange team carried with them.

At Present

“You’re insane, Ruby! I’m not doing this!” Weiss’s voice cracked with outrage as she stormed away from the tree where they had been resting.

“Come on! Don’t give up so easily. The plan might work, it’s reckless, sure, but that’s exactly why it will!” Ruby hurried after her, crimson cloak flaring with each step.

“I’m with my sister,” Yang declared, slamming her fist into the air like a declaration of war. “This could be our chance to strike back!”

Blake, however, crossed her arms, her expression colder than her words. “Be rational. It’s suicide. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t read nearly enough books to be ready to die.”

Yang’s heavy hand clapped her back, harder than she intended. Blake winced.

“Relax, kitty. You’ll live long enough to empty Vale’s libraries. And Ruby’s plans aren’t half bad. Remember the giant bird?”

“This isn’t the same, Yang,” Blake insisted. “That was a beast. This is a man. Someone our age, maybe older, who outclasses us all.”

“A monster’s a monster,” Yang said with a shrug, her golden hair catching the light. “Size doesn’t matter. Maybe he’ll beat us down, but I’d rather go down fighting. Wouldn’t you?”

“Your enthusiasm unsettles me,” Blake murmured. Deep down, she wanted no part of this. Izuku reminded her too much of the White Fang, of the shadows she’d spent her life trying to leave behind. Fighting him again felt like walking willingly into a trap.

Yang’s grin widened, and Blake suddenly noticed the flames licking at her sister’s locks.

“Yang, your hair...”

“Yeah, I know, I’m on fire” Yang said with exhilaration, her semblance alive with battle, thrill rather than fury.

“No, it’s literally on fire!” Blake’s worry deepened, not just for the hair but for the mind behind it.

“Exactly. Burning to face that smug bastard of a professor,” Yang said.

Blake’s only answer was a silent prayer that she wouldn’t be dragged into their madness again.

She thought bitterly: I just wanted to read my novel, to dream of meeting my favorite author, not be humiliated again by some boy my age.

Meanwhile, Ruby and Weiss’s argument carried far enough for the entire clearing, including team JNPR, to hear.

“Boring!” Ruby teased, sticking her tongue out.

“Your bird stunt may have worked,” Weiss countered sharply, “but this is different. Against him, there’s no guarantee we’ll walk away alive.”

“Since when do plans ever go according to plan, princess?” Ruby shot back.

“What did you just say?!” Weiss bristled.

“Exactly what you heard. And I can’t do this without you. Don’t you want payback? Don’t you want to wipe that smug grin off his face for showing up hungover and still humiliating us?”

Weiss stiffened, torn between pride and fear. “I follow rules and respect authority. I don’t take orders from a child, especially one less mature than an eight-year-old.”

Ruby groaned in indignation. “Immature? Fine, that’s me. But you? You’re just a coward without the guts to fight him.”

Weiss’s composure shattered. She jabbed a finger at the scar near her eye. “Don’t call me gutless, little girl. I saw him fight. He wasn’t even trying. He was toying with us. Hiding until this exercise ends is the smartest move we have.”

“Cluck cluck cluck,” Ruby imitated a chicken, flapping her arms. “Look at me, I’m Weiss Schnee! I don’t fight unless I get paid in Lien. Cluck cluck!”

Laughter erupted across the clearing. Even Nora and Cardin couldn’t contain themselves.

“You little....!” Weiss’s cheeks burned red with fury. In Atlas, honor was everything; insults to bravery and wealth cut deeper than any blade.

“Alright then,” Weiss hissed. Her eyes blazed with defiance. “I’ll play your reckless game. But I’ll last longer than you.”

Ruby grinned, her challenge returned. “We’ll see about that, Snow White.”

Chapter Text

Chapter [7]

(...)

Professor Izuku ventured into the forest with an unhurried, steady stride, as if taking a leisurely walk. He hummed a soft tune while spinning one of his pistols by the barrel, a mechanical game that kept him alert. The safety was on; even so, he trusted his speed to flick it off if a fight broke out. He knew his students had spared no fury against him, and that certainty steadied his mood.

The situation demanded caution, but it didn’t strip him of his good humor or his nostalgia. That “initiation”—hunting first-year students—had been his personal tradition for years, a habit he gave up when he left the institution. Now, thanks to the academic freedom Ozpin had always granted him, he could afford to relive it.

“I’d forgotten what it felt like to hunt first-years,” he said jovially. “Watching them band together against me is always a delight…”

The memory tasted sweet—perhaps too sweet, given his circumstances. Many things change over time; others endure like stubborn roots. As he moved through patches of light and shadow, he imagined what sort of strategy that generation might prepare: a classic ambush, two decoys, and a flanking attack… At some point he recalled the clever maneuver Summer and her team had pulled on him back in the day.

“I still remember it like it was yesterday,” he murmured to himself. “The beating they almost gave me… ja,ja.”

(...)

Back then almost all the students had been defeated, save for team STRQ and a girl from Atlas. To him, it was only a matter of time before he found them and wrapped up the class.

“Where could they be? The hour’s about to end,” he grumbled, annoyed, glancing at his watch.

He had reached a part of the forest with fewer trees: a carpet of dry grass stretching a few meters to a wall of dense vegetation. Beyond it, the sun failed to reach the ground. That marked the edge of the safe zone; past that line, Grimm were more frequent. It didn’t look like a good place for an ambush—no high ground, no element of surprise. He doubted the new generation’s cunning, yet he didn’t think they were foolish enough to cross into the unsafe zone just to run from him.

Boredom began to gnaw at his patience.

“I suppose they gave up and went to their next class. I’d better head back to the others… Wh—?!”

He was about to leave when a girl stepped out directly from the unsafe zone. For the first time in a long while, Izuku was surprised. What are these brats planning? he thought, folding his arms as he watched her approach with confident steps.

He had gone over the roster Ozpin had given him. He was excellent at memorizing names and faces and, truth be told, didn’t need any list to recognize a member of the Schnee family. He knew their patterns of behavior and their unmistakable bearing, especially in the women.

When the girl was within a prudent distance, Izuku spoke:

“Miss Schnee, I wasn’t expecting you to come out of the unsafe zone.”

What was strange was her poise. Those who had already suffered a defeat at Izuku’s hands tended to be cautious; in her, the fighting spirit still burned.

“Well, well, commoner. You found me. Didn’t you take a little too long?” she smiled with a presumption worthy of her surname.

She had fair skin, slate-blue eyes, and white hair pulled into a bun, with a lock falling over the left side. She wore a white trench with red accents, a fitted violet suit and skirt. She had a high collar lined in red, a brooch to match, and a silver sword with a mechanism for different types of Dust.

“I hope your fighting spirit is still intact after our bout, miss,” Izuku said, frankly pleased. “I wouldn’t like to see you throw in the towel over one loss.”

She slipped into the Schnee’s characteristic stance, fencing honed over generations and reinforced by her inherited Semblance: fast strikes, hard to anticipate and with a force the unwary tended to underestimate.

“As the heir to the Schnee family, I promise it won’t,” she replied gravely. “Though, will you also give it your best?”

“Huh…?!”

The girl’s smile tilted toward the malicious, like someone finally collecting an old debt. She drove her sword down and, upon activating her Semblance, ice spread at high speed across the ground. Izuku knew that hardness well; it didn’t break without the right focus. In seconds, his legs were trapped.

“What the hell—?!”

“Now!” the young woman shouted toward the woods.

A bull-shaped Grimm burst out ahead. Massive muscles, four legs that made the earth tremble, long horns, furious steam frothing from its nostrils.

“This is our revenge, t-e-a-c-h-e-r\~!” trilled a voice.

It didn’t surprise him to see a Grimm in the safe zone; what left him open-mouthed was the leader of team STRQ, Summer Rose, riding the beast as if it were a charger. The girl’s mocking tone made it clear she meant to get even for the recent thrashing.

“It’s been a pleasure, professor! Ha, ha, ha!”

The Schnee stepped aside with a laugh rare for her, clearing the way for the bull.

“Go, Bull! Go!”

Summer tugged on the rope and the creature charged. Each step boomed like a small quake. Izuku, however, showed no fear; what lit his eyes was genuine admiration.

“These youngsters impress me more and more!” he whispered just as the beast was about to reach him.

He activated his Semblance. A gleam of green lightning ran over his body. The pressure of the ice peeled up from the ground without fully releasing his legs—just enough that, with a kick, he could deflect the charge to one side. The impact shattered the block around his left foot and wrenched the Grimm’s trajectory.

The creature crashed down. Summer leapt clear in time, and the beast unraveled into black mist, dissipating. The girl didn’t miss a beat: she sent her scythe in a clean arc—at Izuku’s right foot. The blade splintered the last chunk of ice pinning him.

“Thank you! Miss Schnee’s ice is really tough,” Izuku said, almost amused.

Summer stepped back a couple of meters, spirits firm. Izuku didn’t need to guess: this wasn’t over.

“Behind you, idiot!”

Two voices in unison. Gunshots. Qrow and Raven had come up behind him with weapons ready, a maneuver even he hadn’t foreseen with his attention fixed on the Grimm and Summer. Even so, he reacted in time: with a Semblance-charged blow he put Qrow out of the fight and checked Raven, who answered with her katana with all the ferocity of her school.

Taiyang appeared to back her up. His style broke into fluid flurries—elbows, fists, sweeps skimming the ground—always balanced.

Willow, seeing her side’s imminent defeat, came out of cover to try another ice bind; two rubber bullets were enough to take her out of the fight. Even with all that, they couldn’t break Izuku’s guard, who had already coated his sword in his own Semblance.

One by one, they fell. Only Summer remained, a momentary witness to the scene.

“How is that possible…?” she whispered, stunned.

“Care to surrender, Miss Rose?” Izuku asked politely.

“Of course not!”

The fight lasted a few seconds more. A well-measured kick put her on the ground. Izuku couldn’t help laughing at her stubbornness and, at the same time, being glad for that warrior spirit.

“It was an honor to fight you, Miss Rose,” he said, offering her his hand.

Summer took it with an open smile, unlike her companions’ irritated grimaces.

“Maybe we didn’t beat you today, but one day others will!” she said, pointing a sparkling finger.

“We’ll see… Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How did you tame a wild Grimm?”

Summer burst out laughing.

“Guts, courage, cunning… and a rich girl to use as bait.”

For all the respect Izuku had for the Schnee line, he couldn’t stifle a guffaw. That was when he understood Summer was capable of almost anything.

(...)

“Miss Yang, I acknowledge your bravery in facing me.”

The memory faded as, in the present, he ran into Taiyang’s daughter in the middle of the path. From the way she was waiting, it was obvious she’d been expecting him.

“Hi, professor,” she greeted him jovially.

Knowing who her father had been in his academy years, Izuku expected a lot from her in martial arts, and he wasn’t disappointed when she was the first to land a hit on him in the trial. He also didn’t rule out that she might be serving as a distraction for an ambush. If Ruby was Summer’s daughter, her craftiness could very well be hereditary.

He privately prided himself on knowing that generation well enough not to be caught off guard by trifles. And yet he wasn’t prepared for what came next.

“So, do you have a girlfriend now?”

The question pierced his concentration like an arrow. He froze.

“What…? Why are you asking that? I… no…”

He started to stammer. He hated that question: there was never a satisfactory answer.

“I’m a girl who falls in love easily,” Yang sing-songed. “And right now you’ve got me very, very interested. I wonder why that is?”

In a couple of steps the blonde was a few centimeters from him. The closeness, the voice, and the confidence with which she looked at him unsettled him more than he would have admitted. He was, after all, a man. Back in the day he had found Raven very attractive; now the daughter had inherited well: tall, fair-skinned, lilac eyes, a golden wavy mane that faded into a pale blond. A striking beauty to many eyes—and, apparently, to his as well.

Her neckline—generous and, by that point, deliberately emphasized—made the distraction trick all but inevitable. Yang blew him a kiss. Imaginary or not, it hit Izuku square on.

“Feeling lonely, Professor Izuku? You’re far too handsome not to have a partner\~”

Lust might have paralyzed him; instead, it was fear that froze him. He remembered the last words before cutting ties:

“I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYWHERE NEAR MY DAUGHTERS!”

The dread Yang’s father inspired in him was real. And what terrified him even more was picturing him finding out about that scene.

He could only wish, with all his heart, that Taiyang would never learn of it.

To be continued....

Chapter Text

Chapter [8]

(...)

Moments before Yang’s unorthodox move, her younger sister, Ruby Rose, had somehow convinced the other survivors of the exercise to take part in her risky plan. They wanted to get back at that boy and make him feel the humiliation they had suffered. All that remained was to polish a few details before putting it into action.

“This is the final step,” Ruby said, sketching a rough diagram with a twig in the dirt.

It wouldn’t be the first time a great strategy was born from a scribble on the ground. The thought comforted Ruby as she traced her scheme.

Team JNPR, the members of RWBY, and the rest of the survivors gathered in a circle around her. They listened closely to the operation’s finer points. When she finished, most seemed convinced it would work, and several praised Ruby’s creativity—though doubts surfaced immediately.

Ruby had expected that, so she needed everyone involved to be crystal clear on the steps.

“Any questions? Do I need to go over it again?” she asked her new accomplices, serious.

Nora Valkyrie raised her hand amid the small crowd. In class she was usually the most extravagant member of JNPR, but now she was a key piece of the plan.

“I know my part, but I find it hard to believe a casual chat with that guy will be enough of a distraction for us to act. Even if we bring Winchester into it…”

Optimistic by nature, Nora could be realistic when necessary. She didn’t believe Cardin could distract the prodigy serving as their instructor, no matter how many topics they might cover. The general murmur suggested several shared her concern. Even Cardin himself was starting to doubt, though he kept acting like a jerk.

The comments set off a round of whispers. Ruby had to admit Nora was right. That boy was too sharp not to be suspicious of Winchester. She feared the group would back out and her plan would fall apart. Her pride wouldn’t allow that.

“Ruby, do you have another idea to distract him?” asked Weiss, standing beside her.

Ruby fell silent for a few seconds. There were plenty of options, and none fit without contradicting other steps. Some involved a direct attack; others were unworkable. Frustration mounted, and she was almost ready to scrap the plan she’d worked on so carefully.

Then Yang raised her hand.

“Yes, Yang. What is it?”

Her gesture drew the group’s attention at once. No one dared offer a solution.

“We’re leaving something out, Ruby. Know what it is? It’s inevitable with him,” she said, inviting her sister to guess.

Weiss, only just getting used to the pair’s dynamic, already understood the sisters almost always took unorthodox routes. She didn’t expect a conventional solution from Yang.

Meanwhile, Ruby and a few teammates tried to figure out what she meant. They gave up quickly. Ruby had to ask outright.

“What are you getting at?”

Yang smiled, triumphant. The idea was hers, and no one would guess it.

“The key lies in our target’s gender. He’s male. If we’re talking about human nature, certain instincts remain. For many men, noticing a potential partner. Basic biology—continuing the species and all that.”

Ruby understood at last. She knew that side of her sister well, the one that had brought her the most trouble in recent years—the same one that had earned her expensive gifts from gullible boys at Signal Academy.

“Yang, you’re not thinking of…”

“Exactly, sis,” Yang said with a wink. “We want to captivate with a gesture, with a word, be instantly likable. Stir desire, admiration. In short, seduce. The key is in our emotions and in our bodies.”

Without warning, the blonde struck a provocative pose. A wink, a smile, and a subtle emphasis of her bust were enough to draw the eyes of nearly all the boys there, including the innocent Jaune Arc. Cardin let out a vulgar whistle, as expected. Lie Ren was the least affected, as unflappable as ever. Even a few classmates glanced at her sidelong.

No one disputed that Yang was among the most attractive and charismatic in the class. It was only a matter of time before she drew every gaze.

“What do you say, Ruby? Wouldn’t that make a good distraction?” Yang asked the one in charge of the plan.

Faced with the evidence that attention was exactly where it needed to be, most accepted the proposal. The final word was Ruby’s.

Privately, Ruby hated the idea of Yang returning to her old tricks so soon in their new school life. She wanted to refuse to keep the reputation her sister carried from Signal from flaring up again—the same one that had earned her enemies of both sexes. But there was no viable alternative. Reluctantly, she gave in.

“Fine, Yang. It had better work.”

“It will, little sister. You have my word,” she replied with confidence.

Blake, who had stayed on the sidelines and quietly accepted her role, was the only one still doubtful. She didn’t believe a prodigy would fall for the most obvious flirting in the world. She didn’t realize that every living being has a weakness—and that once the plan was in motion, Izuku Midoriya’s would be laid bare.

Back in the present, Yang’s seductive maneuver was already bearing fruit. Several conspirators were taking their positions as planned, without the green-haired boy noticing.

“Miss Yang, I don’t think it’s a good idea to approach like that during this exercise…”

Izuku’s expression gave him away. He was flustered. He tried not to look at her neckline, nor at those eyes that followed him without pause. Yang’s sweet words were constant, and each time she brought her face a little closer to his.

“Come on, no one’s looking at us. Don’t you think we should get closer? My heart’s racing…”

Izuku’s composure wavered. He could smell her addictive perfume, a blend of white flowers and honey. The temptation to taste her lips grew. Yang was exploiting his greatest weakness: the female sex. Only Taiyang’s explicit threat kept him upright in the face of that temptation.

He thought to himself that the little girl who used to eat dirt in the yard was now a beauty capable of getting him a beatdown at the hands of her father and uncle. His only way out was to step back a little more, to put some distance between himself and this dangerous girl.

Ruby, smiling to herself, watched her plan unfold perfectly. Her sister was nailing the distraction. The only odd thing was that at times Izuku seemed more frightened than excited.

“You don’t know what you’re doing. Stop, Yang,” he said, almost stumbling backward.

“Am I not beautiful to you? Do I look ugly?” Yang asked with a slight pout.

By nature, Izuku tended to be courteous and mindful of a woman’s feelings. No matter how unusual the situation, he tried to make the other person feel okay. Sometimes that helped him; other times it got him into trouble.

“No. You’re beautiful. I’m not someone you should be interested in. You have classmates who are handsomer, richer—better than me.”

The group couldn’t help a quiet laugh. The fearsome instructor had been reduced to a teenager with a flushed face and palpable fear in front of a girl.

The show ended when Ruby’s signal sounded—a whistle like a birdcall.

Weiss’s style capitalizes on ricochets off surfaces and on glyphs that let her seize control with quick attacks from multiple angles. This time, a glyph very familiar to Izuku—thanks to his long dealings with that family—appeared beneath his feet.

“I fell for the ice attack again,” he muttered with mild frustration.

His legs were trapped in a prison of ice. Yang smiled to see him immobilized.

“Surprise, teacher. By the way, if you really want to go out with me, just ask me to dinner.”

She winked coquettishly and drove a punch forward with one of her gauntlets, her Semblance flaring.

“Believe me, Miss Yang, I would if I could. They’d kill me,” Izuku said, still nervous under the girl’s imposing gaze.

He never specified who would do it. He didn’t need to.

“What a shame,” she laughed.

To Izuku’s misfortune, the invitation would hang in the air, should the chance ever arise.

One strike later, Izuku went down and was sent skidding a few meters. He looked up to see almost the entire semester’s cohort advancing on him like a flock of vultures closing on their prey.

What they didn’t know was that they were making history at Beacon Academy.

To be continued…

Chapter Text

Capítulo [9]

(...)

Izuku recognized this generation’s cunning and, in silence, conceded they had found one of his weaknesses. He had let himself be swayed by the charm of an attractive girl, even if he hadn’t reciprocated her flirting. The lapse was enough: Weiss caught him in the classic Schnee ice trap, and Yang, Semblance burning, finished the job.

He had never wanted to admit it, but he carried a real flaw when it came to the opposite sex. Not because he was a practiced womanizer—that was another story—but because he could not keep a cool head when faced with a proposition, or when a girl opened up and laid bare her feelings. In those moments he thought more with his heart than with reason, and over the years that softness had led to more than one ill-timed remark.

With his former student’s eldest daughter, the distraction only deepened. He dreaded the consequences of his own warning and, for now, found it simpler to accept the prospect of defeat than to face what might follow. And yet, beneath the unease, a quiet spark had kindled. The turn of events stirred him, if only a little, especially because, in Ruby, he glimpsed the same steady spirit of leadership that Summer had once carried.

“Get him... it’s payback time!”

Ruby’s shout lit a fire under the group, and most of them answered with a unified roar. Izuku smiled.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He tried to stand, but couldn’t. A rain of projectiles forced him into evasive maneuvers.

“Fire!”

The order doubled the barrage and drove him back. Then he noticed a small infantry of students who had stayed behind, coordinating a flawless volley in a tight horizontal formation. Leading them was Cardin Winchester—surprisingly, a sound choice, even for someone usually so insufferable.

“Fire! Hold your positions, our teammates need covering fire!”

Having family ties to the military industry was paying off. Ruby, who had learned this in a brief conversation with Izuku, took advantage of it. He was no longer the decoy but the one directing the shooters.

As always, the leader spared no praise for those who played their part, even while advancing at the front herself.

“Well done, Cardoso Woschester.”

Cardin’s look of indignation was immediate.

“Cardin Winchester. Don’t forget it.”

Yang, fighting close by, noticed his distraction and frowned. They needed everyone focused.

“Cárdenas, keep shooting.”

The sisters managed to unsettle him more than Nora Valkyrie ever could.

“Argh, just keep firing!”

Resigned, he went on barking orders.

Meanwhile, Izuku was still dodging projectiles when Ruby decided to honor him with the first close-quarters engagement. That, too, had been part of her plan.

“These projectiles leave me little room to maneuver around you. ¡Well played, Miss Rose! ” Izuku said sincerely.

The blades of Crescent Rose and Izuku’s sword scraped together, sparks flying with every clash. Each tried to force the other into retreat.

“I do what I can, Professor,” Ruby said with a determined smile.

By her actions she showed why she had earned her place at the academy despite being the youngest. In silence, Izuku found himself trusting Ozpin’s judgment even more.

“Let’s make a bet, Professor.”

“What?”

He already had a feeling he wouldn’t like what was coming. They broke apart for a moment, and the gunfire stopped as if the group were following a script.

“If we win, you won’t give us homework for a week. And my personal request is that you’ll be my friend,” Ruby declared, pointing at him.

He wasn’t sure how to feel. She was still Tai’s daughter, and he preferred to keep his distance. Being her friend would only bring trouble, and he felt far too old to be of interest to such an energetic girl. Refusing outright would raise suspicion, especially when he wanted to avoid revealing that he had known her mother and the awkward truth tied to that. He relied on his confidence that he could win within the limits he had imposed on himself.

“I can lay out my terms too.”

Ruby’s eyes lit up, convinced he was accepting.

“Sure.”

“If I win, I’ll assign you twice the homework.”

The tension spiked instantly.

“That’s if you win,” Ruby replied with a surprisingly wicked smile.

Suddenly something clamped around his ankles. Again.

“I really need to watch my feet more... damn hangover,” he muttered to himself.

Izuku turned and barely managed to say,

“Ouch...”

Blake Belladonna had entangled his feet with her weapon’s ribbon. He lost his balance and fell. With her knack for hiding, she had waited for the perfect moment, the instant Ruby and Weiss left him exposed.

“Well done, Blake!” Ruby applauded, every inch the leader who celebrated her teammates’ success.

Bound at both feet, Izuku was yanked forward several meters and landed right where Pyrrha Nikos was waiting. The Champion of Mistral planted her shield into the ground and, bracing with one hand, delivered a precise kick to the green-haired man’s stomach.

“I’m sorry, Professor Izuku,” she whispered with genuine kindness.

Anyone else would have believed the innocence in her apology. The blow hurled him in another direction, and with no air left in his lungs he still managed to rasp, “Don’t worry about it...”

Weiss activated her glyphs and transported Lie Ren, who finished the combo with a kick that left Izuku sprawled on the ground. They had chosen a part of the forest beside a pond, and he ended up soaked through.

He pushed himself back up with a grimace.

“Again… ow.”

It had been years since he’d felt a jolt like that. When he looked up, Ruby was standing before him, and beside her Jaune Arc clutched a sheet filled with notes.

“You still haven’t given up, Professor?”

“No. Why would I?”

Ruby’s confident smile gave him a bad feeling.

“Luckily, Jaune brought a notebook. He drafted the terms of the bet, and we just need your signature.”

“No,” Izuku shot back without hesitation.

Jaune immediately sprinted to a safe distance. Ruby stayed firm, preparing her next move.

“Ready, thunder girl!” she shouted.

“What...” Izuku managed, startled.

“Always ready!”

Nora was already aiming at him with her finger. Sparks danced over her body, announcing the finale. Being drenched didn’t help. A blinding flash lit the forest and, to everyone’s delight, the professor was forced into an involuntary dance.

A good plan requires thinking through every last detail, however small. Nora was one of those details.

Chapter Text

Chapter [10]

(...)

Chapter Text

Chapter [11]

(...)

As agreed, they had a meeting scheduled in the headmaster’s office. It was a spacious room—never ostentatious—large enough to house a small library that only the headmaster himself could access. The shelves lined both sides of the main wall. A large oak desk occupied the visual center of the place, with a few discreet ornaments and the essential work supplies. Behind the desk, a black leather chair completed the set. A picture window, just beyond, offered a clear view of the main garden and, farther out, Emerald Forest, where the moon spilled its light.

Glynda and Izuku waited seated. The atmosphere had grown tense in a way that clashed with the professional conduct expected in an office like this. For both of them, given their circumstances and their past, reaching this point had been inevitable.

Each clung to their own perspective on the conflict. On one side was Glynda’s, and she had several things to say—among them, the word with which she had defined Izuku for years…

(...)

“Idiot…”

She couldn’t stop insulting him in her thoughts. Although a few minutes alone had steadied her, the irritation of having him close persisted. She knew she had to cling to what little professional composure she had left if she didn’t want to relapse into the immaturity that had marked her youth.

“Damn it, I really can’t keep calm, can I?” she thought in frustration.

That semester was supposed to be routine: ordinary students, predictable situations, and a controlled work environment. She hated chaos and, as deputy headmistress, she considered herself responsible for maintaining order at the Academy and for forcing Ozpin to exercise his office with due seriousness.

But events, even before the first-year calls began, had proved how wrong she was. It started with the White Fang’s sudden financial “miracle” and their recent movements across the continent—clear signs of a different hand behind their resurgence.

After an exhaustive intelligence operation, everything pointed to the same conclusion: they were back. And, to top it off, stronger after more than a decade of inactivity.

Nothing good happens when old shadows start moving under the radar again.

Another disaster joined the chain of setbacks: Summer Rose’s daughter—her former student and comrade from days of battle outside the Academy—ruined an operation to ambush the dangerous terrorist Roman Torchwick. The girl threw herself headfirst into danger without weighing the consequences.

Even so, Glynda had seen what she could do in combat, even with only minimal training from a basic Huntsman academy. She had to admit, grudgingly, that she was as talented as her mother, if not more so. Pity the stubbornness seemed hereditary as well.

As expected, Roman merely toyed with her and led her into a trap: a Bullhead illegally modified for combat, with a Dust cannon powerful enough to damage armored structures. Glynda was forced to intervene so that “that woman” wouldn’t end up killing her. The result: two months of intelligence work down the drain and one step farther from uncovering the identity of the White Fang’s unexpected ally.

The only consolation was that the Royal Intelligence Commission (CIR), with which she collaborated, managed to arrest several henchmen, from whom it would be relatively easy to extract information. Even so, she knew she would have to deal with the Counselor for Sovereign Defense and his predictable complaint about the failed operation.

After that, she took Miss Ruby Rose to the nearest CIR offices to question her and reprimand her—just enough—for her recklessness. The easy thing would have been to leave her with a warning, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough: Ruby, eager to prove herself, would go looking for trouble again. It would be shameful, as a teacher, to feign blindness to potential so evident in a prospective Beacon student, despite her young age. It was also her duty to keep watch so she wouldn’t repeat the stupidity of that operation.

Ozpin, who was in the capital at the time, came as soon as he learned of the mess. Over the phone, Glynda laid out what she had observed: the danger, yes—but also the potential.

The rest is history: Ruby was allowed to sit the exam at a younger age than usual. If she passed, she would be in her class, where Glynda would keep a close eye on her.

From then on, Glynda’s problems only multiplied.

No sooner had the girl’s sister picked her up at the CIR offices than Glynda and Ozpin held a private conversation about the inevitable matter she longed to avoid: if Ruby entered the Academy, they would have to call Izuku Midoriya.

In the building’s cafeteria, Glynda clung to her obstinacy tooth and nail, with feelings she thought buried, driven mostly by the old anger of spite.

“No! I refuse!” she said, folding her arms.

Ozpin remained firm and calm.

“There’s no going back, Glynda. I know you two had something, but there’s more at stake: Ruby’s education. She’s a ‘Silver Warrior’ and needs guidance to handle her birth-given gifts. She could be one of the last of her line… that is, if Maria is still alive.”

Glynda knew that trait of Ozpin’s well: his ability to persuade even the most stubborn.

“He has to come back, Glynda. With the threat of the Cult looming, he’s the only one who can turn Ruby into the warrior she must be.”

She couldn’t let Ruby’s development be conditioned by her quarrel with her ex. She swallowed her pride and agreed to cooperate with her former fiancé.

“Tsk, fine,” she yielded, annoyed. “How do you plan to find that old man?”

To her surprise, Ozpin nearly laughed.

“I’ve known him forever. I know where his shadow would hide.”

Days later, he confirmed that Izuku would be arriving at the Academy soon, even though the idiot had slipped away for a while from CIR custody to waste time in the capital. That ended the brief stretch when she didn’t have to think about the man she had fallen in love with… and she bade farewell to her peace, thanks to Ruby Rose.

When she finally stood before him, she understood that dealing with the past wouldn’t be as easy as she had imagined. Having him seated across from her was, in itself, a test.

(...)

From Izuku’s perspective, he didn’t know how to break that long, tormenting silence. He felt fate was offering him the perfect chance to set things right and ask for forgiveness. But he also knew he had no excuses: he feared his mouth would fill with cheap apologies. It was a situation with no clean outcome for either of them.

His cowardice pushed him to hold out, as best he could, until Ozpin returned to the office and released him from the trance. The headmaster had been urgently summoned by the Administration, and that absence opened an opportunity Izuku had never asked for.

But at the same time…

“For a Grimm’s sake! I’m sick of this!” he thought, feeling his emotions flare.

He knew his cowardice had a limit. He had hurt too many people by vanishing from Beacon without a trace; and it wasn’t the first time he had done so in his life. Sometimes his condition and the circumstances pushed him to it. That time, however, he’d had the option to stay… and didn’t. He had to make things right with Glynda before it was too late.

(...)

Finally mustering his courage, he decided to break the silence and meet Glynda’s inquisitorial gaze.

“I… Look, I know I have no excuses, but if you let me—”

“Don’t speak, idiot!” she cut him off, stepping close to hush him with a finger against his lips. “Just shut up and listen.”

She had wanted to vent from the instant Ozpin told her he was coming back.

“First: Miss Ruby. She never should have exposed herself to the White Fang so recklessly… and she drew the attention of that bitch”—she clenched the riding crop hard between her hands—“Now she runs the risk of their discovering that she’s a ‘Silver Warrior.’ And that brings me to the next thing…”

She seized him by the chest with both hands; Izuku let the ice pack fall to the floor. She locked her eyes on his and let out the scream that burned her throat.

“Where were you, bastard? Nearly twenty years gone, running from your pain like a coward! You say you came to protect Miss Rose… but don’t you think you arrived late, idiot!? If you had been in her life, her photo wouldn’t be on the White Fang’s target boards!”

“I…” He had no excuse to offer.

Absences always exact a price.

“What became of the man I knew? The one who wasn’t weighed down by the past and brimmed with passion for his students to learn. The one who loved Summer and the rest equally; the one who promised to care for and guide her daughter. Now I only see an old alcoholic… worse than Qrow.”

Glynda didn’t usually show emotion, but this time she was made of rage and sorrow. Izuku, honest with himself, was also full of rage—at himself. Even so, he needed to calm down.

“You’re right,” he said at last, in the calmest voice he could manage.

He held her shoulders gently. Little by little, she loosened her grip on his clothes.

“You’re right, Glynda. You have every right to vent. It was my fault for leaving Beacon without a word, for abandoning all of you. If you want to hate me, I understand. What I did was wrong. I want to make it right now. I want Ruby to have the ability to face what’s coming…”

She looked him in the eyes and spat out the question that mattered:

“How are you going to do that?”

“By doing the right thing this time,” he replied. “By helping Ruby… and her class.”

To be continued…

Chapter Text

Chapter [12]

(...)

Glynda was still not entirely convinced by his words. The grudge lingered crouched inside her, like an ember refusing to be extinguished, and although logic whispered that she ought to grant him a vote of confidence, her heart remained upright in its refusal. She knew him far too well: she could tell when Izuku was telling the truth, when genuine remorse weighed on his features, and when his words were merely a way of buying time. And in that moment, despite everything, she saw him regretful, with that expression that in other times had softened her character, but that now seemed only a painful reminder of what had been lost.

The redemption Izuku sought would not restore what he had destroyed: neither the bonds with those who had once loved him, nor much less with her. And yet, she was in no condition to oppose him completely; not because she forgave him, but because too much was at stake. She needed to make it clear that this time there would be no second chances, no room for frivolities.

"That is my purpose, Glynda. As a teacher, it is my duty to guide this generation. Only then can I repair my mistake…" Izuku said, his voice rasped by guilt, eyes cast down, as if it pained him to hold the gaze of the woman before him.

Glynda pulled herself free from his shoulders and, standing tall, clung to that severity that had defined her all her life as a teacher. Her silhouette seemed to harden with the same firmness with which she had faced generations of students, and her voice came out sharp, leaving no room for misinterpretations.

"I will trust you, Izuku, for now. But if you abandon us again, I will spend every year I have left hunting you down and punishing you. Understood?"

Glynda’s piercing, authoritative gaze stirred in Izuku an old fear, the same he had once felt when they were a couple and jealousy or arguments left wounds deeper than any blow. He remained silent, unable to answer immediately.

"I said, understood?!" she repeated, raising her voice with the impatience of someone who always despised half measures.

"Yes!" Izuku finally exclaimed, as if the word had been forced out of him.

The tension eased for barely a second, long enough for a fleeting thought to cross his mind: how had they ever been together? She, a woman of iron character and absolute devotion to her work. He, a disheveled old man, who for far too long had found in the bottle a companion more faithful than any human being.

"That’s what I wanted to hear. And I expect you to take your role seriously, just as you said. I will be watching you myself… " Glynda warned, her tone less a promise than a sentence.

"Yes… " Izuku repeated, faint, like an answering machine incapable of variation.

The conversation seemed to have reached its end. Glynda’s last words closed the discussion and left behind a dense silence Izuku knew too well, a silence that condemned him to chew on his own guilt while waiting for Ozpin to finally end his interminable meeting.

But inside, the old professor felt he could not leave it there. Another matter weighed on him, one much more personal, clinging to his conscience like a thorn that would never heal.

“I’m an idiot,” he scolded himself silently. He knew his instincts were begging him to stay quiet, to avoid reopening old wounds, but he also knew that grudges feed on time and, when postponed, turn into hatred. And he could not allow Glynda to hate him. Not again. Not like so many other women who had thrown his flowers back with disdain, or soaked him with dirty water when their patience finally snapped.

He took a deep breath, feeling as though he were walking toward a cliff with no return.

"Glynda… I…" Izuku began with uncertainty "I want to apologize for the ring. And also… for our wedding."

The air in the room tensed instantly. Glynda’s gaze sharpened even more, as if in that precise moment he had lit the fuse of an explosive. Izuku knew there would be no calm, yet he could not turn back.

"I don’t want to talk about this, Izuku!" she burst out "The memories are still far too fresh for me to forgive you for what happened between us."

He pressed his lips together, fighting not to break down.

"I know our relationship will never be what it was. But I’d like, at least, for us to be on good terms…"

"Professionally, I can assure you of that. But personally, I am not ready to have you near me. Idiot!" Glynda spat, her fury restrained.

Izuku felt the sting of those words like a lash, yet he did not desist.

"I ruined it, I know. I just want to leave it behind and start over…"

"It’s not that simple!" she cut him off, her voice cracking between anger and pain "Do you think I’ve forgotten how I felt when you failed to show up on our wedding day? Do you think your stupid note left on the banquet table was excuse enough?"

Her words crushed him, and still he would not yield. He clung to hope like a castaway to a plank.

"I’m not asking to return to what we once were. Just… that we can be friends, Glynda. Nothing more"

"No, you fool!" she roared.

In a desperate attempt, Izuku resorted to the clumsy humor he had so often used with her.

"That’s all I ask, my lovely girl with glasses… " Izuku said, with a nervous smile that poorly disguised his plea.

The silence that followed was shattered by a sharp crack: Glynda’s hand striking his cheek with such force it made him stagger.

And then, from the half-open door, a laugh resounded like another blow.

"Haven’t you learned from the others, Izuku?" Ozpin sneered, leaning against the doorframe, savoring the show as if he were watching a private comedy.

Izuku, with his cheek burning, realized that on that day he would not receive the forgiveness he so desperately longed for. Glynda, her hand still trembling from the slap, could only think that she had closed a chapter, even if the wound remained open.

Up to that point, an amused Ozpin lingered in the office doorway, leaning carelessly against the frame like someone watching a private performance whose script he already knew. His eyes followed every gesture of the pair, keenly observing the predictable quarrel unfolding before him. The shows broadcast across the Kingdom had long seemed mediocre to him, bland, incapable of wringing anything more than a yawn; thus he had learned to find amusement in closer spectacles: nothing more hilarious, in his judgment, than watching his old comrade beg for forgiveness that never came. Real life, he thought, always had more bite than fiction.

Meanwhile, Izuku, his cheek still reddened from the slap, clumsily rubbed his face, unable to hide his discomfort. Glynda, standing before him, breathed heavily, as if struggling to order the rage within her and find a way to end an exchange that had dragged on far too long. Her voice came out firm, cutting, with that same severity she wielded both in class and in intimacy:

"Leave it at that! Nothing will make us recover even the friendship we once had. For your information, I had my own disasters after you, and I’m tired of still dealing with your issues… especially with you."

The silence that followed had the density of a wall. Izuku opened his mouth, ready to reply, but Glynda struck first with words that had the force of a nuclear detonation.

"Knowing you… I suppose there were others after me. Am I wrong?"

He had no answer. A lie would be his ruin; the truth, his condemnation. He hung in suspense, stammering a broken word.

"I…"

And then, sarcastic applause echoed behind them. Both turned in unison, irritation drawn on their faces. Ozpin, still leaning on the frame, smiled contentedly, like a spectator who knows he owns the stage.

"I must ask, dear couple, that you postpone your romantic problems for another time. You’ll have years to argue them out" Ozpin sneered as he walked toward his desk, with the theatrical calm of someone who knows he has just stolen the scene.

It amused him to think how easily he could unsettle Izuku with just a few words. He even considered, for a moment, revealing the name of that young woman with whom his friend had been entangled during his years of absence, just to embarrass him further, to settle old scores. But the moment demanded seriousness: the meeting had to begin without further delay, and even he knew when to set the theater aside. That said, the aftertaste of juicy gossip was already secured; with it, the certainty that he would never let Izuku forget this episode.

"Yes, director" Glynda said with a hint of annoyance "And please, I would like a bit more privacy concerning my personal affairs".

Ozpin’s smug smile was answer enough.

"You know I can’t help it, Glynda. Since our youth I’ve always managed to uncover all your secrets. Why would it be different now? After all, they make for excellent topics of conversation in the future".

"Speak already!" she interrupted sharply, cutting the irony at its root.

"Just tell me what I need to know!" Izuku added, almost shouting.

Ozpin raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture, savoring every second of their discomfort.

"I will. Calm yourselves, my friends. All in due time. Here I have the report that will lay the cards on the table".

He opened one of the desk drawers and pulled out a hefty file, which he dropped with a dull thud onto the oak surface. The friction of paper against wood filled the room with a rough sound, like the curtain announcing the start of a new play. At once, Izuku and Glynda understood they had to set their dispute aside; the shift in atmosphere was almost tangible, as if the walls had absorbed the personal tension only to replace it with the weight of what was about to be discussed.

The report, nearly two hundred pages long, contained carefully summarized chapters, enough for Izuku to review quickly and complement with his colleagues’ explanations. The first detailed financial figures, capital movements, and intelligence reports pointing to suspicious activities by the terrorist group White Fang. The second presented covert operations of the Atlas Intelligence Department. The third and fourth were pure bureaucracy, even for Ozpin’s patient eyes.

Izuku flipped through the pages with growing concern, murmuring that, in the past, he had known White Fang members as a civil, peaceful movement demanding faunus rights. Their radicalization still baffled him.

Then Ozpin’s grave voice interrupted, heavy with sorrow:

"Lastly, the sixth report. One of the reasons your presence was indispensable. Qrow and a group of hunters barely managed to save a Maiden".

Izuku shot to his feet, eyes wide.

"What?!"

"That’s not the worst" Ozpin added, his face darkening "The worst is that Salem seems to have gathered new heralds, and they represent a threat like we have never seen before".

"How is that possible?!" Izuku exclaimed, incredulous.

Glynda intervened, her voice tinged with helplessness:

"Qrow asked himself the same question. No one had ever witnessed anything like it".

Ozpin looked at her with a seriousness he rarely displayed.

"Glynda, you were there. Summarize what happened for him, even if Qrow’s report is a mess."

She nodded slowly, with a sigh that carried both exhaustion and resignation. Izuku turned to her, alarmed, searching her eyes for an explanation.

"What happened?"

Glynda held his gaze in silence for a few seconds, as if she still struggled to find the words. Then, finally, she began to speak.

(...)

“As we know, the vast majority of the Maidens are either missing or remain hidden for reasons we are already aware of. The alliance with the White Fang and the Cult raised our alarms; therefore, our ‘spy Crow’ carried out intelligence work alongside other colleagues, mainly allies in Vacuo, to precisely determine what they are planning…

To be continued....