[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

Dating System for Remnant:


Naturally there would be several calendars, but since the Tablebreaker faith is the largest and most widely established, their calendar would be the one most widely used. So, what's the Calendar?

Well. it's based on the Gregorian Calendar. In that calendar, AD/BC stand for:

Anno Domini ("In the year of our Lord" in Latin)

and

Before Christ.

RWBY came out in 2012 AD but I have put their date at around 2000 years after the Tablebreaker was born.

Thus:

The dating system is anchored not to the Tablebreaker's birth but for his most significant act, referred to as the Fractura Mensae (Breaking of the Table), the beginning of the path to unity and victory over the White Witch (Death and the ultimate Evil). For simplicity, we'll assume this event occurred 2000 years before RWBY Volume 1, marking the year as 0 AMF (Annus Mensae Fractae, Year of the Broken Table).

• Before the Breaking: Years before the epoch are denoted as Ante Fracturam Mensae (AFM, Before the Breaking of the Table). For example, 100 years before the epoch is 100 AFM.
• After the Breaking: Years after the epoch are denoted as AMF. Thus, RWBY Volume 1 would be approximately 2000 AMF.

The Beacon courtyard appeared peaceful under the midday sun, the air thick with the scent of blooming roses and the distant clang of training weapons. This illusion was quickly shattered by two loud shouts.

"YOU!"

"YOU!

Students moved quickly, fleeing the storm brewing where Cardin Winchester and Velvet Scarlatina stood frozen, their faces drained of color.

Cardin's usual swagger was gone, replaced by a litany of muttered curses—"Crap, crap, crap…"—while Velvet's rabbit ears twitched in sync, her soft voice echoing his panic. "Crap, crap, crap…"

Across the cobblestones, two legends of a bygone era squared off, their presence like showdown from ancient mythology come back to life.

Yosemite Sam Winchester, Cardin's grandfather, stomped forward, his red mustache bristling like a lit fuse, his cowboy hat casting a short, angry shadow. Opposite him, Benjamin "Bugs" Scarlatina, Velvet's pawpaw, leaned casually against a lamppost, munching a carrot with a smirk that screamed trouble. The moment their eyes locked, the courtyard crackled with the weight of their ancient feud.

"Well, well, well," Yosemite growled, his boots thudding. "If it ain't the rabbit!"

Bugs's smirk widened, his chomp on the carrot deliberately loud. "Well, if it ain't ol' Shorty."

Yosemite's face went as red as his hair, his growl like a revving engine. "Still addicted to carrots? Surprised ya ain't gotten diabetes yet, rabbit!"

"Ehh, still addicted to blowin' yerself up?" Bugs shot back, twirling the carrot like a baton. "Seems more hazardous to yer health, Sammy Boy."

Velvet, her brown eyes wide with dread, darted forward, her voice a desperate plea. "Papa, please, let's not fight—"

"Yeah, Granddad, it's not a big deal—" Cardin added, his broad shoulders hunching, his usual bravado crumbling.

Bugs raised a brow, his gaze flicking to Velvet. "Eh? You know this redheaded sprog o' Sam's, Velvet?"

Yosemite's eyes narrowed, his glare pinning Cardin. "You know this little brat o' the rabbit's?"

"Don't you call my granddaughter a brat!" Bugs snapped, pointing a gloved finger. "I wouldn't be talkin' with the musclehead you produced!"

"Better a musclehead than a delicate little—!" Yosemite started, his voice rising to a bellow.

Velvet, her face flaming scarlet, grabbed Cardin's hand in a panic-driven lunge, her voice cracking. "Papa, please! He's my boyfriend!"

Cardin's jaw went slack, his hazel eyes bulging as his brain short-circuited. The courtyard fell silent, save for the distant chirp of a sparrow.

Bugs and Yosemite's voices exploded in unison. "WHAT?!"

"Yer datin' Sam's grandson?!" Bugs gaped, his carrot hitting the ground with a soft thud.

"No boy o' mine is gonna date any relation o' the rabbit's!" Yosemite roared, his hat nearly flying off as he shook a fist.

"He's no good fer ya, sweetie!" Bugs added, flailing his arms. "He's all guts, no brains—!"

"Oh like yer little brat is any great prize!" Sam snarled.

"Still better than your overgrown lummox of a grandson!"

"She got yer effeminate nature, ya doggone lowdown crossdressing varmint!" Sam bellowed.

Bugs snickered. "Heh! Seems to me you passed down yer taste fer 'em!"

"You crossdressin' varmint!" Yosemite bellowed, his mustache quivering. "That's all yer fault!"

The two grandfathers launched into a full-blown shouting match, their insults echoing across the courtyard—"Carrot-chompin' con artist!" "Dynamite-dumb dimwit!"—as students began to gather, drawn by the spectacle.

Cardin seized the chance, grabbing Velvet's wrist and dragging her toward the dorms, his voice a harsh whisper. "Seriously?! How did that help?!"

Velvet's ears drooped, her face still burning as she stumbled after him. "I panicked!"

"Well think of something, quick!" Cardin hissed, "Before they break out the big guns!"

"I-I can't-!"

"You can!" Cardin growled, squeezing her hand tightly. "Come on! You can do it!"

"You… You believe in me?" Velvet asked in shock.

Cardin's point was more that Velvet had gotten them into this mess… But beggars couldn't be choosers.

"Yes!" He said firmly, squeezing her hands between his as he stared into her (gorgeous) eyes, "I believe in you!"

Velvet flushed.

Shit that's cute, Cardin thought.

Velvet turned to their arguing grandparents, and took a deep breath.

"HEY! CUT IT OUT!" She screamed.

Both Bugs and Sam paused, one wielding a singing sword, the other his twin guns.

Velvet, her ears trembling but her resolve hardening, doubled down, her voice firm despite the blush consuming her face. "W-Well, we're madly in love, and you'd better behave yourselves, or we won't see you during the holidays! Or let you see your grandkids!"

Cardin, snapping out of his daze, managed a shaky, "Y-Yeah!"

Bugs and Yosemite froze, their eyes narrowing as they sized each other up, the weight of Velvet's ultimatum sinking in.

Bugs scratched his chin, his tone grudging but softer. "Well… if it's true love an' all… eh, no accountin' fer taste…"

Yosemite crossed his arms, his scowl deep but wavering. "I ain't gonna attend no weddin' with no rabbits!"

Cardin's voice cracked, his face paling. "Wedding?!"

"Well, if he's gotten her with a bushel of bunnies, he's gonna marry her!" Bugs stated firmly.

"Oh no he ain't!" Sam bellowed, holding his guns up. Bugs stood right up to him, sword held up.

"Oh yes he is!"

"Ohhh no he ain't!"

"OHHH YES HE IS!"

"OHHH NO HE AIN'T!"

Bugs took a deep breath.

"OHH NO HE WON'T!"

"OHHH YES HE WILL!" Sam shouted.

"OH NO HE WON'T!"

"OHHH YES HE WILL!"

"OHHH NO HE WON'T!"

Sam threw his hat down on the ground and growled.

"DAGNABBIT IF HE'S GOTTEN HER PREGNANT HE'S GONNA MARRY HER BECAUSE A WINCHESTER STANDS BY HIS WOMAN! EVEN IF SHE'S RELATED TO THE RABBIT!" He glared at Cardin and thrust a finger at him like he was pointing his gun. "YOU HEAR THAT BOY?! IF YOU KNOCK HER UP YOU'RE MARRYING HER AND NEVER BREAKING HER HEART!"

"Y-YES SIR!" Cardin declared, holding Velvet's hand more tightly as he stood at military attention. "I'LL LOVE AND TREASURE HER FOREVER!"

Sam nodded, crossing his arms over his chest with a firm nod.

"Dang right!"

"Well well," Bugs chuckled, "Guess that showed me, Sam. Good to know yer raising an upstandin' young man."

Sam preened, putting his thumbs behind his suspenders.

"I am!"

He paused and frowned.

"Wait a second… Somethin' don't seem right about this here situation," he muttered.

Velvet squeezed Cardin's hand desperately. The redhead cleared his throat.

"Pr-Probably because we're not having a nice luncheon with our grandpas! T-To celebrate us dating!" Cardin offered.

"Sounds good to me!" Bugs laughed, pushing Sam towards the cafeteria, "Come on, let's go, let's go!"

"Fine fine, don't rush me, rabbit!" Sam huffed.

As Bugs passed by Cardin, he still grinned… But lowered his voice.

"Just so you know, you break her heart, you're not gonna make it, Doc~."

In that moment, staring into the old Rabbit Faunus' eyes, Cardin knew true terror. Then Velvet stepped up with her (adorable) pout and scowled at her grandfather.

"He won't, Pawpaw," Velvet said sincerely.

"Y-Yeah, I won't," Cardin managed.

Bugs' smile became warm and light again, as did the atmosphere.

"Great! Let's see how the roast carrots are here!"

"You and your carrots, rabbit!" Sam groaned, as the two old rivals bustled into the cafeteria.

Cardin and Velvet looked at eachother.

"What have you gotten me into?" Cardin sighed.

"I-I could say the same," Velvet managed. She sighed. "Still… If we can keep them from fighting when they visit, it'll be worth it."

Cardin nodded.

"Yeah… Yeah, sure."

"But um…" Velvet smiled shyly, "Thanks for playing along."

"I didn't exactly have much choice," Cardin deadpanned. Velvet flushed.

"I-I know… Still…"

"Come on," Cardin sighed, tugging her by her hand, "Let's make sure those two don't start fighting without us."

"Y-yeah," Velvet agreed.

The two headed into the cafeteria, still holding hands.

For the sake of Beacon's peace and quiet, of course.

- - - - -

Notes:
Naturally, Cardin's grandfather is Yosemite Sam and Velvet's grandfather is Bugs Bunny, both from Looney Tunes.

I meant to post this last week on my Patreon but I screwed up. So it's here a bit early.

Cardin's Semblance, Aegis, allows him to manifest a protective spectral shield that draws on the strength and resolve of his warrior lineage. The shield appears as a shimmering, translucent barrier imbued with faint imagery of his ancestors' heraldry (e.g., a stylized mace or crest associated with the Winchester family). It can absorb and redirect physical and energy-based attacks, growing stronger the more Cardin channels his determination to protect others or uphold his family's legacy. However, the Semblance's effectiveness is tied to his emotional state and conviction—doubt, anger, or prejudice can weaken its stability, causing it to flicker or falter.

Activation: Cardin summons the shield by focusing on his duty as a protector, often accompanied by a resolute stance or a rallying cry. The shield can cover himself or extend to protect nearby allies within a small radius (about 5-10 meters).

Strength: The shield's durability scales with Cardin's emotional resolve. When he's driven by a genuine desire to protect (e.g., defending teammates or innocents), it can withstand significant damage, even from powerful Grimm or Huntsman attacks. When clouded by rage or prejudice, the shield becomes brittle, cracking under pressure.

Redirection: Cardin can redirect absorbed energy or force as a concussive burst, though this requires precise timing and focus. The burst is not as powerful as the original attack but can stagger enemies or clear space.

Cost: Activating Ancestral Aegis drains Cardin's Aura significantly, especially if maintained for long periods or used to absorb heavy attacks. Overuse leaves him vulnerable.

He's been using this Semblance just to get in close enough to bash enemies, thinking that the shield didn't last long period. But he could learn over time that channeling more positive emotions can make the shield stronger and last longer.

Just an idea.