Chapter 1

Bonds.

Macchia Coppertail

Macchia Coppertail (aka Max)

Age: 18

Height 6' 2"

Race: Faunus

Eye color: Sulfur

Hair color: Black

Disabilities if applicable? N/A

Beacon approval application.

Please fill out a small summary of you personality, nothing you say can be used to disqualify you from attending. Please be as honest as possible, and remember, we are all Remnants greatest hope for a peaceful tomorrow.

My name Is Macchia Coppertail. Many people used to judge me based upon my Faunus heritage. Life amongst humans has proven to be difficult at times, but in the end I am as human as the rest of you. For those of you who do not know what a Faunus is, the answer is simple. All Faunus share a small physical relation to the animals that inhabit our world. Some of us, have horns or antlers, others have claws or sharp teeth, and yet others may have a tail or ears. I am one of the latter, however I am still a rare type of Faunus simply for the reason I have both ears and a tail. Copper fur adorns my ears and tail, both fading to silver near the tips. My mom used to say they made me look wise, if only words could empower. As a child I was quite sick, constant coughing and crippling fevers. The doctors never knew what was causing it, but eventually I did recover. And with that recovery came strength. Before any other kids my age, I was capable of conjuring my aura. Needless to say, that easily gave me an advantage in school yard fights. Now I know some of you are asking, what do you mean when I say aura? Well that answer is simple, and complicated at the same time. All living creatures can generate an aura. Put simply an aura is a manifestation of one's soul. Many wise people say that aura bears our burdens and shields our hearts. Which means that aura can protect our hearts from emotional harm, and shield our bodies from pain. However that is entry level stuff, true mastery over aura grants what many call a semblance, an ability unique to each person. For example it can grant a person super strength, or even super human speed.

Being so young and capable of generating my aura so early, also granted me early access to my semblance. Which in turn drew the attention of many combat schools from across the world, however I was afraid of my power. Most semblances are benign in nature, over powered but harmless. Having a semblance that grants control of blood at an early age, made me fearful of my role to play in our world. For how could such a dark ability ever be used for good? It took my mother many years to help me overcome that fear, eventually saying one thing that has stayed with me for the last six years. "Be not afraid of one's power, be afraid of one who abuses that power. All those with strength are given choices, often times far fewer than those without. Most of the time boiling down to doing what is right, and what is wrong." Those words have guided me through school and finally to one of the most renowned schools in the world, Beacon. A school designed to train students to keep the peace and combat the many forces in our growing world. Many of us design and forge our own weapons in our early teens, and all of them vary from person to person based on their personality. Vigilance and Sacrifice, dual lever action shotguns paired with slender scimitar blades, simple yet elegantly crafted. Due to my mechanical knowledge lead other students to reach out to me for advice, or help in designing their own weapons.

So there you have it, my personality in a nutshell, if you want any other information feel free to message me at 1800 – eat a dick.

Personality profile

Based upon your personality review, we will assign you values based on your most prominent traits.

Inter-person relations: 5

Intelligence: 7

Speech: 3

Mechanics: 8

Agility: 8

Skills.

We will assign you skills based upon your personality, please note these are subject to change at a later date.

Shotgun surgeon: You are skilled with a scatter gun, you negate 10 percent of an opponent's aura.

Grease monkey: Your mechanical skill are tried and true. Your weapons condition decreases much

Slower than normal, and are more easily repaired.

Dual action: Your use of both hands is commendable, when both hands are filled, you gain 10 percent to

Your aura's defenses.

Faunus heritage: Your close relations to the wild creatures of remnant allow you to sense a living

Creature as long as it has an aura.

Cats Eye: Your Faunus heritage has provided you with night vision.

Student enrollment.

ACCEPTED

Signed by Headmaster/Headmistress

Professor Ozpin.

It had been a year ago today that I had received a letter of acceptance into Beacon Academy, the same letter I hold in my hand. I had forgotten that I stuffed it into the glove box of my car the year before, and only now do I remember how cocky I had been. A year is not a long time, yet a lot can happen in such a short span. I had made friends who will last a lifetime, and learned many lessons on the history of our world. Most people go through their time at Beacon pressured with studies and sparring matches yet not really focusing on family until they return home on break. I was one of the lucky few who got to attend Beacon with family. My little sister Velvet Scarlatina and I had spent many nights studying and sparring with each other. About halfway through the school year, Velvets team had not only accepted her, but had grown to appreciate her skills in combat. Now Velvet and I do not look alike in any way, our Faunus heritage differ from one another, as well as our last names. Velvet and I are step brother and sister. My mother met her father while we were still infants. I can't remember the details to well, but I know Mom and Dad started living together very quickly. I chuckle to myself as I remember Velvet crawling after me because I stole one of her crayons. It took her a very long time to be able to say Macchia properly, so when she started talking she started calling me Max out of general frustration. Her long bunny ears would always droop when I made fun of her for it, but I wouldn't trade my sister for anything. How many brothers can say that?

The sound of an idling V8 is but a symphony to my ears. The echo of forced induction slipping through straight pipes, and the smell of burning tires. I lean against the front fender of my car, relaxed, smiling easily as I recall memories of my little sister. As a Faunus most people would treat me like the scum of Remnant, however I had earned my reputation here and no one would fuck with me in any manner other than the few jokes passed from the few friends I had made here. The chrome scoop protruding from the hood receives a little attention from a soft rag. My ears swivel around, listening to the sounds of nightlife in the industrial district of Vale. I hear shouts and the sound of revving engines and the latest music blasting from modified sound systems. The chrome shines brilliantly under the yellow lights causing the whole car to have a dark amber hue, and I step back to look lovingly at my car, a 1957 leb-air wagon that my mother had given me just last year. The chrome trim stretching forever along the side separating at the slender white fins[J1] , and surrounded by cherry red paint. If it wasn't for the chrome super charger and scoop sitting out from under the hood, the car would almost look like something an old timer would drive, that and the massive exhaust pipes coming out from behind the front wheel. As I stand there, admiring my car I hear a voice off to the left shouting my name. "MAX….MAX." I groan softly, as I recognize the voice. "What do you want Michael?" I ask him, hoping he wouldn't ask me for anything. He runs up to me a little out of breath. "Hey man, some chick over there is looking for a challenge, and we all thought… "He works hard gasping for breath. "You would be perfect, plus it's been a while since you tore through these streets, plus I have a large bet placed on ya." He winks at me as he still struggles to breathe. "What do you say? Get your ass out there and race her." I glare at him before looking back to my car, admiring my mother's craftsmanship. Without turning back, I ask him. "What's she driving?" I didn't need to see him, to hear him shuffle around nervously. "Well she's on a bike, and if that isn't bad enough, I know it's heavily modified. And it looks mean." I nod and finally turn back to him. "What are you waiting for? Let's have a good race."

My car lets loose a primal howl as I turn over the ignition and put it in first. I gently let the clutch up from the floor but even with no throttle the tires bark. I let the car coast through the gathering of cars and watch as people turn to look in my direction. It has indeed been far too long since I let loose on these streets, but tonight seems special, as if its my fate. I round a small corner to see a beautiful woman leaning on a bright yellow bike, that I can assume is hers. The woman was dressed casually with a hint of badass biker, she had a brown leather jacket, a yellow tank top with 40 pounds of breast squeezed in, matching knee high boots with orange socks, an orange scarf wrapped lazily around her neck, long blonde hair that falls down her back, and she wore a brown leather belt, with a half skirt cut at an angle along soft blue fabric. And not-so-short shorts connecting legs that never seem to end. As the rumble from my car grew closer she turned to look and even through the wind shield we made eye contact. Lilac meeting emerald. I pull up beside her and step out of my car. I gently close the door before I turn to her. We stand there for a few seconds before I speak. "Nice bike." Ok I know not a great start but I'm not trying to impress her. "She nods "Nice car." She says. Ok not any better, seems her and I prefer to let actions talk. "So you came to race tonight? Or just show off that bike?"

A cocky smile splits her lips, a smile that her little sister would call evil, but it wasn't…ok yes it was but this might actually be fun. Standing before her was a male, maybe in his late teens, almost twenty. He looked about 6 feet tall and had an average build not overly muscly but defiantly well-toned. He sported a simple outfit, black slacks, a black t-shirt with a splash of red and a black leather coat, with copper trim and stitching. He wore black boots with matching piping, but there was more, he had sulfur hued eyes, slender fox ears and an elegantly groomed fox like tail colored amber fading to silver near the tip. She never thought Faunus could fit in so well with humans, but they all seemed to accept him as one of their own.
'I hope he can drive better than he trash talks, or this will be a pathetic celebration.' She thought to herself. Her eyes wander around looking at the beautiful car before her. Polished chrome, freshly waxed, and even the wet tire look. The only thing threatening about the car, that she could tell was that massive scoop and super charger. 'This things a show car and no more' she thought once more, otherwise he was as reckless as she was.

I look over her bike carefully. Heavy duty rear brake and the rear tire looked over full. 'She must slide the back end around tight corners. The over full tire provides less traction so she can slide faster. She's nuts.' I look back up and address her. "So you ready to do this?" She doesn't respond but just nods, a wry smile on her face. I smile in return, and pull my door back open before sliding into the seat, making sure to rest my tail on my lap. I slide the rose shaped key into the ignition and turn it over, with an earth shattering roar my car comes to life.

Yang's eyes widen as the wagon starts up. A small puff of flame scorches the asphalt and just the shockwave of it makes her heart skip a beat. His presence outside of his car was a little… off, but she liked that, it reminded her of her little sister. But when he sat behind that wheel…even she could feel his aura radiating through him and into the car. Just the sound was raising butterflies in her stomach, but she pushed the nervousness aside and slid onto the seat. She cranked over the bike and jammed the throttle, causing it to sputter and back fire harshly. She turned and made eye contact with her opponent, he had his dark eyebrows raised and she just winked at him cockily before slipping on her aviator glasses and revving her motor.

I smirk to myself as her bike cranked up, no less intimidating than my car. I grit my teeth and slowly work my hands softly over the warm mahogany of the wheel. And softly, I began to talk. To the car. Yes I know but to a guy like me a car has a heart. "Listen we can do this. After all the races we have been through and even the restoration this race will be easy." As I talk I strap myself in and flip a single switch, which pumps air into the shocks in the back raising it up a few inches. I look to the woman and her mass of yellow hair and she looks at me and gives me a small nod before pulling her yellow helmet over her head.

I flash my lights causing that same man from earlier to run up and stand before us. He points at the woman and she revs her engine in response, the throaty growl speaking clearly to me "Ready." He then points at me and I rev mine in return, the echo sounding in my ears. "Fuck yeah" He steps back and looks at both of us before thrusting his hand into the air holding up all five fingers. Four. Three. Two. One.

One up. New skill obtained.

Red like roses. Your skill behind the wheel of your car has granted you greater knowledge. Rose now suffers five percent less tire wear during races.

[J1]