CACE: A RWBY Story

Volume 0: Chapter 8

Months pass by, as team CASE falls behind in the class rank system. They are so focused on passing classes, little time is spent training together. It is Ze who takes notice of their falling rank. During a lunch with his team, he motions Charley to stay behind with him.

"Before I ask, I should say that you have been a good teammate. Cat seems to be doing decently in our classes." Looking at the cafeteria's empty door, he verifies that Cat and Alex are gone. "I don't want Cat or Alex to hear this."

"I can keep a secret." Charley looks inquisitively at Ze.

"Have you noticed our team is falling behind the others?" He pauses to gage Charley's reaction. Charley shakes his head. "I'm not saying we are failing, but we're loosing our edge in this academy. The whole point is to graduate as a huntsman who can go on missions. I don't want to just become another free lancer or officer."

"We could start training." Charley suggests.

"Yeah, like a sparing night every week."

"If it works, we shouldn't have a problem fitting an hour during our weekends."

"Tonight?"

After finishing their day, Ze and Charley take a few moments to gather Cat and Alex in their dorm room to ask. Before they can begin, Cat is already pulling out the homework she needs to work on.

"Wait Cat." Ze stops her. "There is something that I would like to start doing, as a team."

"What do you mean Ze?" Alex asks. "We study together, eat together, and go to classes together."

"I want to start training." Ze replies. "I want you, Cat and Charley to join me. It is my goal to be able to beat team CFVY in a match by the end of the year."

Alex bursts out in laughter and Cat can't help but join. Charley is able to stifle his laughter before placing a hand on his teammate's shoulder.

"An impossible goal, but a great one to work toward." Ze looks at the group, surprised.

"I'm being serious. Come on, we can do this."

"I'm game for training." Alex offers. "Only if I can beat up Charley, in the ring."

"That's not going to happen." Charley counters.

"I would like the break from classes." Cat speaks up.

"It's decided, we're going to train now." Ze informs his team. "Grab your things, and meet me in Professor Goodwitch's classroom in five minutes."

Only five minutes later, the three teammates are standing in the center of Professor Goodwitch's classroom. Ze stands off to the side with the Professor.

"Students, you are free to use this room for the next hour." She turns to Ze. "Please use your time wisely young man."

"Thank you Professor." He takes a running leap onto the sparing platform, where the rest of his team waits. "We're going to start with teams fighting each other. Charley and Alex will form one and Cat and I will form the other."

"Do we get a moment to plan?" Alex asks.

"Only a moment." Ze replies.

Professor Goodwitch, watches the pairs split and begin to talk strategies. She analyzes each pair, as they take a minute to talk before facing each other. Suddenly the two pairs are at each other, fighting furiously to try and dominate the other pairing. Another person enters the room, and stands near the Professor, a small smile creeps across her face.

"Another team formed in the shadow of other's achievements." The male voice comments a few paces away from Professor Goodwitch.

"Indeed." She replies, turning she faces the new comer. "You wanted to see me?"

"After." Professor Ozpin answers. "For now, I wish to watch."

Both turn their attention back to the team on the stage, battling each other. The screen above shows that all members of team CACE are wearing through their aura. Each member is fighting with an unwavering focus. A few comments can be heard from each member, trying to strategize while fighting seems to only be a few words. Between the number of times Cat has activated her semblance, the stage is almost completely filled with fog. While it disappears a few seconds after her activating it, the fight happens in visible and random flashes of a clear and foggy room. Fighting drags on for a quarter hour before the team calls the fight. Neither team is the clear winner, both Charley and Ze are in the danger zone for their aura. Cat and Alex are not far behind the boys, only having a slightly higher aura count left.

"Students, I think that's enough for today." Professor Goodwitch calls out. "Please get some rest for tomorrow, you don't want to miss my class."

The Professor turns to leave and Professor Ozpin joins her.

"Our meeting?" She asks.

"Is in my office." He replies.

Team CACE picks themselves up from the floor. Charley had collapsed from exhaustion after Ze called the fight a draw. Cat, holds her her katanas as a brace against falling and Alex leans on her quarterstaff. Ze pushes himself up from the floor, with a groan.

"Well done." He stretches. "Alex, you hit hard."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." She replies between deep breaths. "But Cat, when did you get so good with your rifle? I felt like you were one step ahead of me every move."

"My father taught me. He said it's easier for me to get a hang of." She straightens her back and sheaths her katanas on her belt. "He also taught me how to use a katana."

"Cool." Alex uses her staff to straighten her body back into a standing position. "My father taught me to use a crossbow."

She changes her weapon back into its crossbow configuration and straps that to her back.

"My father taught me to wrestle, I spent so much time doing that with him and my village friends." He smiles, breathing in a deep breath. "Used it many times too."

Ze laughs to himself, before speaking again. "Gained and lost a lot of friends, betting on fights. Probably not the best idea." He looks at Charley. "And you?"

"My father was a Huntsman, though never while I was alive. I think he did it for the title." Charley glances toward Cat and Alex, before returning his eyes to Ze. "I think my biggest influence were the guards around the Schnee Dust Company, former Atlas military and specialists."

"Never spoke of it?" Ze asks.

"Mostly my mother." Charley admits. "I think she likes that he was a Huntsman. His old weapon must still be in his room, but I've never seen it."

"It's a shame that huntsmen and huntresses quit. The villages certainly could use their help." Cat comments.

All eyes fall on Cat. She squirms from the attention.

"I- I mean, look at all the people who have been moving recently." Cat stammers.

"Is it really that bad?" Charley asks her earnestly.

She nods.

"Yeah, I not only want to keep my place safe, but also the towns around me." Alex tells Cat. "Even if I do hang up my weapon and settle down, I want to still be their if I'm needed."

"That's good to hear." Cat smiles. "I know my family would be happy to know that."

"Let's get back to the dorm." Ze suggests. "Don't want to anger Professor Goodwitch."

Cat and Alex leave together while Ze stays behind to walk with Charley.

—————