In the great round hall of Beacon Academy, spotlights lit the circular stage at its center. Flanking either side of the platform were massive projection screens, displaying the names and emblems of students. Standing around the room were the remaining first-years, watching attentively as teams were called.
Ozpin stood tall at the center of the stage, his cane resting lightly at his side. His calm and steady voice echoed through the chamber.
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark—the four of you retrieved the Black Bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team Cardinal… led by Cardin Winchester."
A polite round of applause followed, with Cardin puffing out his chest proudly while the rest of his team followed him offstage.
Another set of four students stepped forward as their names were called.
"Pyrrha Nikos, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, and Jaune Arc. The four of you retrieved the White Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team Juniper…"
Nora, already grinning ear to ear, leaned forward eagerly.
"…Led by Jaune Arc."
Jaune blinked, stunned. "Wha—me?" he muttered under his breath.
He barely registered the enthusiastic smack on the back from Nora or Pyrrha's encouraging hand on his shoulder that almost sent him stumbling forward.
Ozpin smiled softly. "Congratulations, young man."
Jaune nodded awkwardly, still not fully sure how this had happened, but grateful all the same. The newly formed Team JNPR left the stage to more applause.
A final group now approached the stage—four more familiar faces to those who'd watched the initiation closely.
"Blake Belladonna. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long. Ruby Rose."
The screens behind Ozpin shimmered to display their names and the white knight chess piece they had claimed.
"The four of you retrieved the White Knight relics. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY…"
Ruby's brows lifted in mild surprise, her lips parting just slightly.
"…Led by Ruby Rose."
The surprise flickered across her face, but only for a moment. It quickly settled into something steadier—resolve. She straightened her posture just slightly, her expression focused and calm. She didn't know exactly what laid ahead, but she would face it—head on. Whatever this responsibility meant, she would carry it.
Yang, standing to her side, looked over with a giant smile."That's to be expected–guess you're the boss now."
Ruby gave her a small smile but said nothing, her gaze forward, already turning her thoughts toward what being a leader meant.
Weiss glanced at Ruby, raising a curious brow—not in protest, but with cautious intrigue. She'd seen Ruby fight, lead, and think under pressure. Perhaps she does have potential, Weiss thought to herself. And if not… well, we'll see.
Blake remained silent, her arms folded, expression unreadable. But she didn't object either. Her golden eyes watched Ruby for a long moment, then slowly drifted forward again.
Ozpin offered a faint smile. "Congratulations, Ms. Rose."
The applause that followed was firm and steady, echoing across the great hall. With their new title and new leader, Team RWBY stepped off the stage.
For Ruby Rose, the first steps as a leader had just begun.
________________________________________________________________
The soft hum of morning filled the air in the shared girl's dormitory at Beacon. In the open common room, Ruby Rose sat alone, perched on one of the lounge sofas with her weapon folded neatly by her side. She absentmindedly glanced at the time on her scroll, already dressed and ready for the day. Despite the relaxed look on her face, there was a subtle energy in her eyes—today was the first day of classes, and their first was Grimm Studies.
She looked around. The dormitory common room was starting to stir with life, but her teammates were still absent. Just as she leaned back with a small sigh, Weiss stepped into the room, uniform crisp and posture perfect as always.
"Weiss," Ruby greeted with a small wave. "Morning."
Weiss gave her a nod, adjusting her sleeves as she approached. "Morning. You're up early."
Ruby smiled faintly. "I like being prepared."
Weiss arched a brow, glancing at the time. "Fifteen minutes until class starts. You sure we're not cutting it close?"
Ruby shook her head. "Nope. Already mapped the route. We'll get there in seven and a half minutes—eight, if we walk slowly."
Weiss raised an impressed brow, arms crossing lightly. "You always plan like that?"
Ruby nodded. "Yup. My dad and my master were big on teaching me how to read the land. Analyze my surroundings, figure out where I am and how to move efficiently through it. Helps a lot when you're dropped in the middle of nowhere with no map."
"Like in the Emerald Forest," Weiss said, realizing the pattern. "That's how you moved around so confidently."
Ruby chuckled, scratching the back of her head. "Well, when I let my guard down, I tend to drift… so they drilled it into me until it stuck."
Weiss gave a small smile. "Interesting. It's a useful skill. I'll admit, I didn't expect that level of training from someone your age."
Ruby just shrugged with a grin. "Guess I surprise people a lot."
At that moment, the door leading into the shared dormitory hallway swung open, and out walked Yang, Blake, Nora, and Pyrrha. All four emerged at once into the common room—each a reflection of their unique personalities.
"Good morning, everyone!" Ruby greeted with a small wave.
"GOOD MORNING!" Nora practically shouted, her energy somehow defying the early hour as she bounced forward, her arms to her side and with a radiant smile.
Yang dragged her feet in, rubbing her eyes and yawning loudly. "Ughhh… I swear, morning classes should be illegal," she grumbled, clearly not a fan of being awake at this hour.
Pyrrha, as composed and radiant as ever, offered a warm smile. "Morning, everyone. Hope you all slept well."
Blake said nothing—just gave a subtle nod as she fell in quietly beside the group, eyes already scanning the scroll in her hand.
Ruby stood and glanced at the time. "We've got eleven minutes left until class starts. If we don't wanna be late, we should head out now."
Everyone exchanged a quick glance before nodding in agreement. Without another word, they followed Ruby as she led the way through the wide stone corridors of Beacon, off to their first real class as Huntsmen and Huntresses-in-training: Grimm Studies.
As the lesson progressed, Professor Port proved to be a surprisingly easy teacher to follow. His booming voice and animated gestures brought a certain energy to the lecture, and he took a conversational approach that made the material accessible and engaging.
"Now then, class!" he declared, twirling his weapon as he walked across the front of the room. "Tell me—how do you hide from a Grimm?"
Hands went up. Port pointed to a student near the back who nervously answered. He followed up with another question: "Are there Grimm who fight better at night than during the day?"
Weiss confidently answered that one, her posture upright and proud. A few students scribbled down notes quickly.
"And if you're trying to locate the weak point of a Grimm," he continued, pacing slowly, "what should you look for?"
Weiss hesitated this time, unsure of the answer. Ruby leaned over slightly and whispered something to her. Weiss blinked, nodded subtly, then raised her hand again to answer—earning a small smile from Port.
Throughout the class, everyone diligently wrote down notes, their pens moving steadily. It was clear they were all invested—whether because of genuine interest or the entertaining delivery.
As the period neared its end, Professor Port rested his weapon against his desk and cleared his throat dramatically.
"Let me leave you all with a tale," he began, puffing up his chest. "There I was, deep in the northern forests of Anima, when I came face to face with an Alpha Ursa. Not your run-of-the-mill Ursa, no—this beast was massive. As wide as a Bullhead and just as mean!"
The students leaned in, captivated.
"I watched it for two hours, waiting. Studying. Not every Grimm charges at you like some foolish brute. This one circled—smelled the air. When it lunged, I sidestepped, right as its claws cut through the trees behind me!"
He pantomimed the motion with flair.
"I watched its movement, waited for the faint shimmer on its exposed ribs—that's where the bone plating was weakest. And when the time was right, I struck! A single blow—clean, precise—and the beast fell."
As he concluded, a few students quietly clapped before stopping, unsure if they were supposed to. Port smiled and rested both hands on his cane.
"Any questions about today's lesson?" he asked warmly.
Weiss raised her hand. "Will we be doing any practical learning in this class, Professor?"
"Ah! An excellent question, Miss Schnee!" Port nodded enthusiastically. "Eventually, yes. I'll see about getting us permission to conduct a practical hunt in one of the nearby forests. After all, it's not as though I could just capture a Grimm and bring it into class. That would be highly irresponsible!" He laughed heartily. "I can't imagine any professor worth their paycheck doing something like that!"
Laughter rippled through the class just as the bell rang.
"Alright, everyone—you are dismissed. No homework tonight!" he declared.
A few cheers and sighs of relief passed through the rows as students packed up their things. Ruby and her friends gathered near the aisle as they made their way toward the exit.
"He was fun," Ruby said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Easy to understand."
"Yeah," Yang nodded, yawning. "And he didn't assign homework on the first day—that automatically makes him one of my favorites."
"I liked his story," Blake said quietly.
"He's got energy," Nora added, twirling her pen. "And that mustache? Peak professor."
Jaune stretched his arms. "Isn't history class next?"
Pyrrha gave a graceful nod. "You would be correct."
With time to spare before their next class, the group took a relaxed pace as they made their way through the hallways of Beacon, chatting casually and enjoying the peaceful walk between lessons.
Ruby and friends find themself in the History of Remnant class, where they now sit at their desks, notebooks out and pens ready.
Zipping around the room in a blur of motion was Professor Bartholomew Oobleck, the eccentric and unmistakable professor of history at Beacon Academy. He was tall and thin, with sharp, angular features and bright green eyes hidden behind a pair of circular glasses that somehow never fell off despite how fast he moved. His messy green hair swept back like it had been caught in a wind tunnel, and his long white lab coat flared dramatically every time he dashed across the classroom, which was often.
In one hand, he clutched a steaming coffee mug that he sipped from with clockwork precision between sentences, never once spilling a drop.
Professor Oobleck taught at a dizzying pace, his speech rapid but surprisingly clear. He darted from one side of the room to the other, tracing diagrams in midair with a laser pointer, referencing historical wars, diplomatic events, and political shifts across the Four Kingdoms—all within the span of minutes. Despite his speed, he always slowed just enough to make sure his points stuck, pausing for questions and ensuring comprehension.
Then, as the class neared its end, Oobleck came to a sudden stop in front of the whiteboard, took a long sip from his mug, and turned to face the room.
"Now!" he declared, voice rising just enough to grab attention. "Let me ask you something very important."
The class quieted down.
"Why," he said, pacing in tight, rapid circles, "is history so important that it is taught at a school meant to train warriors? Hmm?"
Students glanced at one another, unsure. The silence stretched until a voice from the back finally chimed in.
"Uh… is it to know how amazing our kingdom is?" asked Cardin Winchester.
Oobleck zipped across the room in an instant, standing directly beside Cardin with an arched brow. "While not completely incorrect, that is not the answer I'm looking for, Mr. Winchester."
A few chuckles passed through the class.
Then Jaune raised his hand.
"Yes! Mr. Arc!" Oobleck called, pointing his mug at him like a spotlight.
Jaune shifted in his seat. "Is it… so we can use the experiences of our past to make sure we're ready to deal with similar situations in the future?"
Oobleck dashed forward with a spark in his eyes and leaned in dramatically.
"That is just about right!" he said, nodding excitedly. "We must learn from our past, so that we may avoid the mistakes our ancestors have already made. Good one, Mr. Arc!"
Jaune smiled sheepishly, clearly pleased with himself as Nora gave him a quick thumbs-up from her seat.
Just as the final words settled in, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
"Well!" Oobleck said with flair, "That's everything for today, folks! Don't forget your homework—and remember, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!"
And with that, in a blur of white and green, he zipped right out of the classroom, leaving a streak of motion in his wake.
Ruby blinked. "How much coffee do you think he drinks?"
Yang smirked. "Enough to power a Bullhead."
The group laughed as they packed up their things, still buzzing from the high-speed whirlwind that was Professor Oobleck's class.
~Launch break brought to you by Chibi Ruby and friends eating food at the dining hall~
We now find ourselves in Combat Class, taught by none other than Glynda Goodwitch herself.
The classroom was more of a coliseum—seats rising in tiers around a large circular arena at the center, designed for one thing: battle. Students from various teams sat scattered across the rows, and among them were Ruby and her friends, seated together, eyes turned toward the center.
Glynda stood with perfect posture in the middle of the arena, her riding crop tucked neatly under one arm. She looked over the gathered students with her usual calm, commanding presence.
"Students," she began, her voice projecting with crisp clarity, "welcome to Combat Class. In this course, you will learn how to fight against your fellow classmates."
A murmur of curiosity swept through the room, and one student raised a hand.
"Professor," the student asked, "why do we need to know how to fight other people? Isn't our main priority to fight Grimm?"
A fair question.
Glynda turned to face the student, her tone composed but firm. "While most of your missions will involve Grimm extermination, you must never forget that not all of your enemies will be mindless beasts. Criminals, mercenaries, insurgents—even terrorists who wish to destroy our way of life—exist beyond the shadows of the forest. And unlike the Grimm… they think, they plan, and they adapt."
The class went silent, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"You are not just being trained to slay monsters," she continued. "You are being trained to be protectors of peace, defenders of the realm. That means preparing for every threat—be it claw, blade, or bullet."
What was meant as a simple answer grew into something more—an unexpected but inspiring speech. The students, moved by her conviction, offered a round of applause in response.
Glynda allowed the moment to settle before gesturing toward the arena again.
"As this is the first day," she said, "and considering most of you are likely still sore from your time in the Emerald Forest, we will not be sparring today. Instead, we will discuss the philosophy and psychology of combat."
She paced slowly around the arena floor.
"Fighting a person is not the same as fighting a Grimm. A Grimm is driven by instinct, hate, and little else. But your fellow human opponent?" She paused. "They have strategy. Emotions. Experience. You must be able to read them—and expect to be read in turn. Being the strongest will not always guarantee victory. But being the most aware? That just might."
Everyone in Ruby's group listened carefully, jotting down notes. Even Yang, who looked like she'd rather be in the ring than listening to theory, stayed attentive.
As the lesson came to a close, Glynda gave one final message.
"Once we begin sparring, I will expect each of you to take today's lesson into account. Awareness, adaptability, and precision—these will determine whether you pass or fail this class."
Just as the bell rang, signaling the end of their first combat lecture, Glynda nodded.
"You are dismissed."
The students rose from their seats, some stretching, some still scribbling down final notes. Ruby and her team gathered together, quietly discussing the lesson as they filed out of the room.
"Man," Yang said, cracking her knuckles, "I'm ready to hit something already."
"You would be," Blake replied with a faint smile.
"Do you think she's really that strict when sparring starts?" Jaune asked, a nervous look on his face.
"Oh definitely," Nora grinned. "This is gonna be fun."
Ruby, her notebook still in hand, looked back at the arena with a thoughtful expression, thinking of her countless spar with her father.
"Hopefully I'll get a few wins under my belt this time" .
The final class of the day brought Ruby and her friends to the lecture hall for Combat Tactics.
Unlike their previous classrooms, this one was grounded in harsh practicality—no grand arena, no sweeping tiers. Just rows of desks in front of a wide chalkboard, every seat bolted to the floor, every light harsh and clinical. The kind of room that made you sit up straight whether you meant to or not.
At the front of the room stood Professor Berdic Remington.
He was a wall of muscle, broad-shouldered and towering. His chain beard was well-kept and steel-gray, matching the slicked-back hair that framed a deeply lined face. A single black eyepatch covered his left eye, but the other burned with the clarity and command of a veteran. He wore a heavy leather jacket with reinforced plating on the shoulders—if it weren't for the setting, one might assume he just stepped off a motorcycle after wrestling a Deathstalker.
The room was dead silent.
Then he spoke—and his voice tore through the silence like a beast.
"You are all in Combat Tactics," he growled. "Do not expect this class to be easy in any way."
No one moved.
"I am not here to be your friend. I am here to make sure you do not die out there—and come haunting me after. Unlike your other classes, you will only see me twice a week. And unlike your other classes, you will need everything you've learned to pass this one."
He scanned the room. Not a student dared look away.
"Those who are not deemed capable," he said slowly, letting the weight of his words settle, "will never receive a license. I will make sure of it."
A heavy silence followed.
Then, with an almost imperceptible shift in tone, Professor Remington began to lecture.
"Tell me," he said, walking slowly across the front of the room, "what do you think is the difference between this class and your regular Combat class?"
No one answered.
Until Ruby raised her hand.
The professor's eye landed on her. "No need to raise your hand," he said. "Just speak."
Ruby lowered her hand and answered, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
"In Combat Class, we focus on individual fighting ability. But in Combat Tactics, we'll be learning how to utilize those abilities—to push them to their limits, to make sure nothing is wasted. We'll learn how to fight smart."
Professor Remington stared at her for a long moment. Something unreadable flickered behind his eye. Then he muttered quietly under his breath—too soft for most to hear, but Ruby caught it.
"…Guess he taught you that much."
He spoke up again. "Correct. In this class, you will learn to properly put your skills to use. Power without purpose is a wasted edge. We will find your limits—and we will break them."
And with that, the lesson began.
For the next hour, Professor Remington presented simulated combat scenarios—some drawn from history, others from his own experience—and challenged the students to solve them. Whether it was ambushed patrols, grimm stampedes, or hostage situations, he pushed their strategic thinking hard. No sugarcoating. No easy outs.
By the time the bell rang, everyone felt like they'd run a mental marathon.
Remington stepped back from the board, tossing his chalk into a tray. "Very well. Class is over. I'll see you in two days. Come prepared."
The students filed out in silence, the pressure of the class still heavy on their shoulders.
Once outside, Ruby and her friends finally exhaled.
"That man is terrifying," Jaune said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"But in a cool way," Nora grinned. "Like a grizzly bear with a doctorate."
Yang smirked. "At least we didn't get called out."
"I liked him," Pyrrha said simply. "He was clear. Honest."
"He definitely knows his stuff," Blake added, folding her arms.
"Yeah," Ruby agreed, her voice a little tired, "but man, I'm wiped…"
The group split off—girls to their side of the dormitory, boys to theirs.
Ruby found her way back into the common room, dropped her bag by the nearest couch, and finally let herself relax. Her muscles ached, her brain was full, and the day had been long.
With a quiet sigh, she told herself she'd tackle the homework later. Right now, she just needed to rest.
And with that, Ruby settled in, letting the weight of the day fade as the sky outside began to darken—another chapter in her journey at Beacon coming to a close.
A/N: Welp, that was long. I wanted to introduce all the professors, as some of you might have noticed someone is acting differently from canon. There was also mention of a new character, Berdic Remington. I hope this can be a fun character you all can enjoy. He also works as a way to test the waters when it comes to adding new characters. Hopefully they don't feel out of place. Anyway thanks for the read guys <3