So my third RWBY fanfic. And this time, I'm going for a full-length fanfic, not just a oneshot or a two shot. I was originally going to make a yaoi fic called Kindred Spirits and it have gone as follows:

As he gets ready to pull off a massive job for Cinder, Roman Tochwick is on edge, worried about failing Cinder again. As the day of the job gets closer and closer, he seems to slip more and more. In his present state, Mercury and Emerald worry he won't be able to pull the job off at all. So Mercury, of all people, decides to take a crack at settling Roman's nerves. As the two talk, Mercury reveals some very personal information and he and Roman realize they might not be so different after all.

But yeah. Aside from the idea, I never actually came up with the body of the story. Like, I know what I want to happen, I just don't know how to get there; how to put the idea into words. So, for the time being, Kindred Spirits is being shelved. While I write this, which I do have more of a grasp on.

ONE MORE NOTE: The story's title is only a working title. This story's title has been the hardest I've ever had to come up with, and I'm still not fond of the results. I'm considering hosting a poll for alternate title names.

PS, I am a major REVIEW ADDICT! You can favorite and follow the story, but please review it. I love hearing what you guys think. I also appreciate constructive criticism.

Disclaimer: RWBY is not mine. It is the glorious brain child of the brilliant Monty Oum (rest in peace), and it the property of Rooster Teeth Productions. I do not profit from this work.

The Secret Academy

Fifteen Years Ago

It was a particularly gloomy day. It was overcast with thick gray clouds blocking out the sun. The clouds had even seeped low over the mountains, casting a thick fog around them.

This weather was perfect however. The fog provided excellent cover. Five people gathered and met deep within the mountains. The five figures were all gathered in what looked like a large crater surrounded on all sides by the vast mountains.

They surrounded a hole in the ground. What was unusual about this hole, however, was that a metal grate had been placed on top of it. In the pale daylight, the grate glistened silver. The bars gave the indication that this hole was meant to serve as a cell. Behind the bars, a black abyss was all that was visible, giving some impression as to how deep the pit went. The ground shook as a monstrous growl burst from the hole.

Four of the five people in attendance flinched and backed away from the pit; the last one did not. He was a man of above average height. He wore a fitted black suit with a green tint to it and a green scarf wrapped around his neck. A sleek black cane with an ivory handle rested in his hands. His hair was a stark white and unruly. Black, round sunglasses covered his golden amber eyes. Despite the cane and the white hair, the man had a young looking face, bringing his age to question.

"Calm down everyone." The man's voice spoke softly after the noises subsided. "It's not getting out of there." He said reassuringly. "We've taken every precaution. The walls of the hole are lined with runes and spells. The cage is forged with a combination of iron and silver." He tapped the grate with his cane. "Materials which are toxic to their kind. And even the cage is lined with runes. Combined with the fact that it's trapped down there in a silver net. Rest assured, it's not getting out."

One of the companions was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. He had spiky black hair which had grayed only somewhat into a more charcoal shade. His face was unshaven, slight covering his chin and jaw. He wore a tight, long sleeve, button up shirt. The shirt was a light gray with a stripe of darker gray along the middle. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and the cuffs of his sleeves and his collar were black. His ensemble was completed with black pants and a red cloak which hung behind him.

"This victory came at a great price." The dark haired man spoke. His crimson eyes glared at the cage. Another snarl erupted from the hole.

Unfazed by the creature's sounds, the third of the group stepped towards the dark haired man. She was a beautiful, middle-aged woman. She had flawless pale skin and bright blue eyes. She had long hair like spun gold which she pulled over her left shoulder so that it all dropped and curled off the left side of her face. She was clad in a blue blouse which matched her sapphire eyes. Flowing below her waist was a matching blue skirt. Beneath her skirt she wore black leggings and brown boots.

"Qrow." The blonde haired woman addressed the dark hair man by name. "No one could have seen what happened." She tried to assuage him. "But it was Summer's sacrifice that ultimately assured our victory."

"Tell that to Taiyang, Azura!" Qrow spat to the blonde. "He'll never get to see his wife again. And their daughter, my niece, has to grow up without her mother." He tried to use anger to mask his hurt.

The fourth traveler was a woman as well. Her blonde hair was a lighter shade than Jade's and she kept hers in a tight bun. Behind her glasses, her green eyes held a stern expression. She wore a white blouse, a tight black skirt which showed off her curves, black stockings, and black high heeled boots. Like Qrow, she wore a cloak, but hers was purple in color.

The fifth and final member of the group was a man. Tall and broad, he had dark hair which had grayed at the sides. He had a square face and dark eyes and was dressed in almost all white. A long white coat, white pants, white boots. Beneath his coat, glimpses of a gray vest could be seen.

"Qrow," the other blonde walked up to him and Azura, "Summer was a friend to all of us." Her green eyes softened.

"I know Glynda." Qrow sighed, trying to get a hold of himself. "I just…I have to tell Taiyang that his wife was killed. He's going to be devastated."

The man clad in white placed his hand on Qrow's shoulder. "Would you like one of us to?" He asked.

The gesture brought a small smile to Qrow's face. "Nah, but thanks anyway Jimmy."

"It's James." He corrected with a glare.

Qrow went on, ignoring him. "It should be me who tells him anyway." He said with a sigh.

"We should be getting home now that this ordeal is over." Glynda suggested.

"Yes." Azura agreed. "Now that this ordeal is over, I want to go home and see my son." She smiled. "I'm so glad he won't have to grow up plagued by this nightmare."

As they conversed, Qrow took out a flask and took a large swig from it. "That's right, you have a son now." He slurred as he capped his flask. "What's his name again?"

"Jaune." Azura answered. Just mentioning her son's name brought a smile to the Azura's face.

The silver-haired man finally spoke again. "You've all fought admirably." He told the other four. "Yes, our loss was great." Behind his glasses, he looked down. "But we mustn't forget that we stopped a major threat today." He looked to each one of his four comrades; Qrow Branwen, Glynda Goodwitch, James Ironwood, and Azura Arc.

"Return to your homes, your families, and your lives." He instructed.

The other four nodded. They all turned in separate directions and walked into the mist, seemingly vanishing. The last one to leave, the silver-haired man in black took one last look at the pit before he started walking away.

The ground shook as another snarl burst from the pit. The ground shook, but the man remained standing, unfazed. A loud roar echoed from the cage, filling the air. Cane at his side, the male turned and began walking away. Something happened that caused the man to stop in his tracks. The roars changed. The faded and were replaced by screaming. A woman's screams.

"OZPIN!" A woman's voice cried out from the hole. "DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE!" She begged. "LET ME OUT!" She continued to screech. "HAVE MERCY!"

Ozpin turned and took one last look at the pit. After staring at it for a moment, he turned back and continued walking away.

"OZPIN!" Her screams fell on deaf ears.

Not one of my better first chapters, I have to admit. But it does help set up the story. I don't like doing OC-centric stories. I'm not that great at writing OCs. So, to the best of my ability, I'm only going to limit myself to two OCs. The first, we briefly met in this chapter; Jaune's mother, Azura Arc. The other, we'll meet in the future.

Once again, review addict. Please review.