He had almost made it. If he could have, he would have chuckled and given a face-splitting grin at the thought of the amount of resources Shinra had used on himself alone. Battalions of their finest troopers, helicopters- their fuel and ammunition. All of it spent on him. But he couldn't right now. The amount of lead that had sunk into his chest was making things difficult to breathe. He felt cold, save for a warm trickling running down the left side of his face. His chest rose and fell slowly as the rain began to pour down over him, cleansing him. Pools of blood, whether his own or that of the opposing troops, were washed off his form and that of his mentor's sword.

He heard a quiet scraping, something was moving towards him, crawling along the ground. It was getting harder to see. Eventually, the face of the one he had been protecting for the last four years due to his comatose state came into view, looking down at him with concern with the same glowing blue eyes that he held. The man looked down over him with a blank expression, probably still out of it from the coma. "Z-Zack..?"

Cloud Strife... that was his friend's name. He was finally awake. Which meant he had one last thing to do. His form shaking slightly, he slowly began to move his right arm, his leather gloved hand gripping the hilt of the massive blade as tightly as he could. Slowly, words started to form in his mouth, an extreme struggle considering the lack of air in his lungs, and the general lack of remaining lungs he probably had. With great effort, he looked down to his golden-haired friend, a small smile on his face as he spoke, his tone lighthearted but profound at the same time. The words finally came from his mouth, the effort leaving him panting slightly afterwords. "For the... both of us..."

Cloud's expression was one of drowsy confusion as he knelt by the fallen form of his best friend, repeating the words in an autonomous tone. "Both... of us?"

Slowly, the downed man's head gave a slight incline, an affirmative nod as he pushed his left arm upwards, dragging it off the ground. "That's right... you're gonna..."

Once again, Cloud repeated, his tone still a blank, empty expression. "You're gonna..?"

His left hand slightly gripped the back of his friends spiky golden locks, bringing his head down to rest against his bullet hole ridden chest. Cloud did not resist the motion, staying blankly still has the blood still slowly flowed, matting the right side of his face and some of his hair. "Live."

After several moments, Zack's form shook again as he continued to speak. "You'll be... my living legacy." After the words were said, Zack's left arm lost the strength to keep a grip on Cloud's head, dropping back into the pool of mixed blood and water at his side. Slowly, Cloud's head finally raised back up, ignorant to the blood of his friend on his face as Zack's eyes met his own, the small smile still resting on his ever paling face. The right arm that gripped the massive sword that was handed down to him by his mentor, took the remainder of his strength, slowly lifting it by the handle, holding it before his friend's face in offering. "My honor... my dreams... They're yours now."

Cloud's hands slowly moved to take the hilt of the massive sword, gripping it gently as he took on its weight. When Zack felt the weight of the sword lessen from his hands, he lightly pushed the handle back towards Cloud, his right arm dropping with a splash to the ground, his energy spent. Cloud looked to the sword for a moment, then back over his friend's failing form. "I'm... your living... legacy."

Upon hearing those words, Zack's eyes finally closed, the small smile still resting on his face. Cloud's eyes widened before he finally woke up enough to realize what was happening. Looking over his friend's still form, he let out a howl of pain. His best friend, someone that kept him alive, took care of his for over four years when it would have been easier to just leave him behind, considering all he was had been literal dead weight. Memories flared of their younger days, when they had met, training, and their many escapes while he had been out of sorts. When the memories finally stopped, the rain had passed, bringing a bright ray of sunlight down over the two. Looking up, Cloud slowly began to move, remembering words that Zack had preached when training cadets all those years ago.

Embrace your dreams... if you want to be a hero, you need to have dreams.

"Thank you. I won't forget." As Cloud turned around, slowly beginning to drag the sword, his last words were solemn. "Goodnight, Zack."

As Cloud walked off, Zack's final moments were spent questioning himself. The sun shone down over him, splitting clouds above his still form, a shape coming down from the sky. "That girl... she said the sky... frightened her. But.. it looks so liberating.." Slowly, Zack's eyes opened back up once again, the damage to his body completely erased, the bullet holes in his chest, even his clothing, were gone. His form was washed clean of all the blood. He let out a small smile as his left arm lifted, stretching out to meet the left arm of his mentor, gripping the familiar leather glove tightly. "Those wings... I want them too." As he closed his eyes once again from the warmth of the sun, his body finally relaxing, his last thoughts were simple ones. "Flying feels... good."

As his body faded, his view was changed to that of a bird, soaring in the sky. With a glance to the side, he could see Cloud still dragging the Buster Sword through the desert, making his way back to Midgar, their original destination. "If you see Aerith, say 'Hi' for me." As he flew by Cloud, a white feather dropped from the sky, taking Cloud's glance back to where his friend had once stood, the feather lazily looping around the rocks. "Hey, would you say.. I became a Hero?"

Several years passed after that, and several adventures for Cloud and his own friends took place. Eventually, Cloud had his own sword made, and the Buster Sword was taken to the wastes to be used as a grave marker for Zack Fair, SOLDIER 1st Class. However, within the Lifestream, the planet's lifeblood, Zack Fair was being given another chance to fulfill his dream.

Floating in the endless abyss that was the Lifestream was pleasant for Zack. He was able to unite with friends lost, his mentor Angeal Hewley, and his girlfriend, Aerith Gainsborough. Time slipped by in the Lifestream, and eventually, he felt a foreign mind touching his own. After a few moments of trying to resist, the Lifestream itself spoke to him. It told him of another world, one that needed heroes. At first Zack was hesitant to leave. He was content with what he had, his friends, his love, and peace. Eventually, it was Aerith who had convinced him that if anyone deserved a second chance at life, it would be him. Angeal had agreed, questioning Zack's honor in a slight guilt-trip as to why he would hesitate to help others now? After a few moments, Zack relented, agreeing to be sent to this new world.

The Buster Sword faded into the Lifestream from its place upon the cliffs as Zack's grave marker, the weight of the familiar sword returned to the leather gloved hand of its second wielder. With a small grin, he lifted the blade to one side, swung it off to the side, sending the large blade spinning in his palm, only to slide to rest with the blade facing down on his back, the magnetic holster on his back still functioning.

Turning to his friends, he raised a hand in a wave as the Lifestream engulfed him, his words echoing as he left, "Wish me luck."

-Hero-

Legends- Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts of a forgotten past. Man, born from dust, was strong, wise and resourceful. But he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness, Hellish creatures, known as the Grimm, set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void. However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to incite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help them even the odds. This power was appropriately named 'dust'.

With the very power of nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life. But even the most brilliant of lights flicker and die.. and when they are gone, darkness will return.

You may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called 'free world'... but take heed. There will be no victory in strength.

But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that are long forgotten. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul...

Several man were walking with an arrowhead formation through the middle of a street. None particularly standing out, all of them wore the same uniform, black suit and undershirt, with a red tie and black bowler hats. Each of them wielded short-bladed red-tinted scimitar blades. At the point of the arrow was a different man, walking with a cocky swagger. The man wore a white suit with a black undershirt. His neck was covered by a grey ascot, and in his gloves hands he held a curved cane, which he freely waved around as he stepped. The group approached a small shop, a Dust shop, and quickly entered, filling the front of the store. The man in white approached the counter, tapping out some of the cinders of his cigar to the floor before looking to the shopkeeper. He began to speak in a sardonic tone of voice, asking the elderly shopkeeper, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?"

At the end of the question, one of the men in black, which shall now be referred to as 'mooks' raised a gun to the old man's balding head. The old man stepped back with his arms raised, his wizened voice already in a desperate, pleading tone, "P-please... just take my Lien and leave!"

The leader of the group of mooks, gave the man a mockingly kind response as he looked over him. "Shh... calm down. We're not here for your money..." He glanced to each side of him, to the mooks who stood at the ready. "Grab the dust." At his order, the men began to spread out after opening a small case, each of them withdrawing a small black canister used to contain loose dust. The mooks began to spread out, applying their canisters to several tubes, draining the different colored dust supplies from each section.

One mook in particular went alone to the opposite end of the store, where he was about to hook up his canister when he spotted a young figure in a red cloak, with its hood drawn up. Quickly, the mook drew his short bladed scimitar and directed it at the figure, giving the order to "Put your hands where I can see them, kid." As he did, the male with the cigar began to order the elderly shopkeep to hand over several of the more potent, solidified dust crystals. In particular, a red gem, Burn, a fire Gem. Back to the mook, his patience was beginning to wear thin as he approached the figure, who didn't acknowledge his statements. With several quick steps, he pushed the figure's shoulder.

The figure turned around, the hood falling back to reveal a young, black haired girl with some crimson streaks listening to a rather large set of earphones. Silver eyes looked curiously at the mook, who began to mime at his ears. The girl lowered the earphones and looked at the man, completely oblivious, "Yes?"

"I said, put your hands in the air, now!" The mook's patience was beginning to wear thin at this point, a look of frustration plastered over his face.

The young girl's face remained rather confused as she looked over him. "Are you... robbing me?"

By this point, the mook had lost it. "Yes!" he exclaimed, exasperated.

"Oh..." Was the only reply that the young girl gave, her eyes narrowing slightly, a tiny smirk on her face.

Meanwhile, the rest of the mooks were continuing to drain the Dust tubes, only to hear the thud of their compatriot hitting the window of the shop. They each stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the boss, before facing the girl. One mook in particular went along the same aisle the first one had, only to be repelled and sent crashing through the window, with the young girl's feet planted in his torso.

Slowly, the girl rose to her feet at a distance to the two mooks already forcibly evacuated from the shop, in her hands a large crimson scythe began to unfold. The girl looked over her should with a slight smirk before she began to roll the scythe in her arms, and over her shoulders, quickly burying the blade tip first in the street, an open challenge to the mooks. The leader of the mooks rolled his eyes as the rest of his compatriots stood there dumbfounded, his sarcastic tone of voice growing slightly irritated. "Okay... get her." He gestured towards the girl with his hand, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world to do.

The mooks charged out the door in a line and surrounded the girl, the first already charging towards her with his blade raised. The girl lifted herself parallel to the ground with her scythe as her balance, only to twist on her wrist twice, planting her feet firmly in the place of mook number one. He was out like a light before he hit the ground. Continuing her momentum, the moved with her feet, twisting the scythe's blade out of the ground and rolling in the air until she landed, the scythe's blade curling near her ankles. Slowly, the red cloak she wore began to wrap back around her form after it had trailed behind her motions, only to cover her hand, which slid to a trigger on the scythe's handle. With a quick press, a heavy caliber gunshot was fired off at the end of the scythe, the recoil causing the scythe to spin, with the girl freely flowing with it. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your view, several mooks had the intelligent idea to rush her at the same time, only to be sent flying by the blunt end of the scythe. One unlucky mook received the end of the spinning momentum, the dull end slamming him into the street by his stomach.

Several other mooks has popped up by now, beginning to aim and take fire at the young girl. She began to fire off the scythe's rifle modification several times, using the momentum to perform rapid dodges, weaving in an out between the mooks, several slashes were dished out with the blade of the scythe, either sending the mooks flying, or dropping them where they stood. One lucky mook in particular managed to fire off a lucky shot when Ruby's back was turned, however, and she was not fast enough to dodge. The bullet was stopped with the sound of glass cracking, a small orb covering Ruby's body lit up like a small shell before it disappeared, the bullet dropping to the ground. With a quick rechambering of the scythe, she shot towards the mook, her feet buried into his stomach, and he was sent flying back towards the bowler hat wearing leader.

The man looked across the pavement, seeing his mooks spread out and seeing stars and muttered with yet more sarcasm, "You were worth every cent, clearly you were.." He then glanced up at the young girl and tossed his cigar to the ground, pressing it out with the end of his cane, "Well Red, I think we can all say it has been an eventful evening. As much as I would love to stick around..." The sound of police sirens became apparent in the background. The man raised his cane, only for a cross-hair to flip up from its end, revealing itself to be a weapon. "This is where we part ways." He then fired off a massive red flare at the girl, who jumped and fired the scythe at the ground, its recoil kicking her up into the air as the shot exploded on impact. When the girl hit the ground, she glanced around for the man, only for him to have somehow already rushed up a ladder, making his escape.

The girl glanced over at the elderly man, who peeked his head out the door to check on her, "You alright if I go after him?" The girl's voice was young, but there was a serious conviction to her tone. The old shopkeeper nodded his head, and the girl ran off. She quickly ran at the ladder, firing her scythe once again at the ground. The recoil carried her up to the roof, where she yelled out at the man to stop.

The man turned back to her with a cocky smirk and a mocking tone as a large hovership rose from the side of the building he stood at. He quickly climbed into the open side door, fingering the red Burn crystal he had stolen. "End of the line Red!" He tossed the crystal to the ground in front of the girl, who glanced down at it in confusion. When she looked back up, the man had his cane aimed right for it, and he took the shot. Another massive flare shot was sent surging at the crystal, and when they connected an explosion consumed the girl, much to the man's glee.

-Hero-

As the dust settled, the blast ruffled the girl's combat skirt, sending her hair whipping back. Her scythe was held in front of her in a defensive position, but she knew it wouldn't do much against a point blank explosion. Much to her surprise, once again the glassy shell around her form was visible once again, protecting her from harm. Slowly looking up, her eyes adjusted to the sight before her. A young man in a grey sleeveless turtleneck with black spaulders covering his shoulders stood in front of her, his own black pants ruffling in the disturbed wind from the explosion. His form was hunched, with one hand folded in front of his face, the other holding a massive single edged blade at an angle with the large flat side used as a shield. Turning back to face her, the small cross shaped scar on his left cheek was faintly visible, with a small smile and the most feature he bore, bright glowing blue eyes. When the dust finally faded out, the young man withdrew his sword, holding it out in a ready stance.

Next to the male, an older woman touched down, holding a cross between a wand and a riding crop. The woman was already beginning her counterattack, making several motions with the wand, her energy building in visible purple light. The light gathered at the end of the wand until it finally burst, firing off several streaks of purple light. The orbs impacted the hovership heavily, sending the would-be thief tumbling in the side of the ship. Quickly he rushed to the cockpit, calling to his partner. "We've got a Huntress!" Rushing out of the pilot's seat without a word, the shaded feminine form brushed past him in the entrance to the cockpit, where he quickly took the controls to try and leave.

As the woman made her way to the open side-panel on the ship, the woman on the rooftop's eyes narrowed. Immediately, the figure on the ship's arms began to glow in odd runes, flames licking and dancing along her fingertips as she began to move her hands, a quick pillar of fire nearly scorching the woman on the roof. In a second assault, the figure built up more energy, sending slabs of heat down at the assembled fighters on the roof. The young man swatted a few of the fireballs away with the flat of his blade, which he swung in one hand with surprising ease.

As the ship began to pull away, the woman quickly sent another orb into the sky, where it melted into the clouds. The sky began to darken above the ship, trapping it inside a dark stormcloud, only to be quickly attacked by a series of icy hail shards. The youngest girl on the roof altered her scythe's form, and began to shoot at the figure in the doorway. Each shot she took was blocked just by the palm of the dark figure's palm. Eventually, the figure counterattacked, a series of flame pillars began to build below the group's feet. With a leather glove quickly grabbing the girl's wrist and a tug, the young man pulled her out of the line of fire, and the younger woman sent a counter attack of her own, the slabs from the destroyed roof began to build up in a massive purple sharded spear, only to be fired at the hovership. The figure in the panel destroyed several sections of the spear, only for them to reform into separate, smaller spears, which ended up grinding into the sides and wings of the ship. Having had enough, the man in the bowler hat found his way out of the dark clouds, and began his escape.

Seeing this, the young man on the roof began to glow with a small blue flaming aura, and leapt into the air, slowly spinning his sword. Words from sources unknown were heard nearby him, a soft uttering of 'the power of SOLDIER...' The young man continued his windup in the sky, calling out below him as he brought the glowing blade down. "Alright, here comes the big one!" Inexplicably, flaming boulders began to rain down from the skies, crashing into the hovership, causing it severe damage, smoking and shaking as it made its escape. The young man landed nimbly as the group watched the smoking ship float off in its escape over the night sky's horizon.

Turning to look at the two ladies on the roof, the young man slowly brought up his sword in a swing to his left side, just to bring it to his right, spiraling it before it settled back into place in the magnetic holster on his back. He gave them a small grin, one lock of black spiky hair hanging over the right side of his face. "Well that's a fine 'how do you do?'." Both were looking at him wide-eyed, and eventually, the girl let out a squeal in her surprise, turning to face the older woman. "You're a huntress! ..Can I have your autograph?" Her expression was one that was lit up with hope for one second...

-Hero-

...And then it was dismal, glanced off to the side in the next. The three of them were in a dark room, with no light but one hanging down over them from the ceiling existed. The young girl was seated in front of a flat, empty table. It was an interrogation room at what could be assumed was a local police station. The young woman from before was walking around them with her stern expression, a holographic tablet in her hands as she watched the recording of the youngest girl's fighting of the mooks. "I hope you realize your actions tonight will not be taken lightly young lady. You put yourself and others in great danger."

The younger girl's expression fell even lower as the woman spoke, only to burst out in an attempt to defend herself. "They started it!"

The young man, having passed up his chair, was off to the side, performing squats, his attention focused on his exercises. If the man was always this focused on his fitness, it was no wonder how his form was so well defined. In between squats and exhales, the male glanced over with a small nod. "Its true.." Another squat, "They started it, and.." Yet another squat. "She kept civilian injuries.." And yet another. "At a minimum." A few more to go. "I think she did.." And last one. "Pretty well for her age, actually."

The woman's frown deepened as she looked over them, then back to focusing on the girl, "If it were up to me... you would be sent home." Her expression became a tad kinder, her tone softer. "With a pat on the back..." And she then cracked her wand/ crop to the table, startling the girl as she began to smile a bit, "And a slap on the wrist." She withdrew the crop for a moment walking off to the side as another person entered the room, still in the entrance hallway. "But... there is someone here who would like to meet you."

As she finished her statement, an older man began to move in from the hallway, carrying a mug of coffee in one hand, and a small plate of cookies in the other. Slowly, he set the box down onto the table as he looked into the eyes of the youngest one in the room. "Ruby Rose... you have silver eyes."

Ruby began to glance around nervously at the proximity of the man's scanning yellow eyes, slightly leaning back. "Umm..."

"So..." the older man turned to the holographic monitor, showing the recorded combat she had been in earlier. "Where did you learn to do this?"

Ruby's eye cocked up slightly, stuttering in her response. "S-Signal Academy."

The man's expression became rather serious, his tone catching a slight edge. "They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?"

"Well, one teacher in particular" was Ruby's response, leaning slightly toward the plate of cookies.

"I see..." The older man set down the plate, glancing at the other on the side of the table being 'interrogated'. The older man began to start up his speech once again. "Its just that I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty old crow." He stated as he looked off, as if lost in thought.

"That's my Uncle Qrow. He's a teacher at Signal. I was complete and utter garbage before he took me under his wing. And now I'm all-" Ruby began to make odd poses, and typical karate movie sound effects as she did. The older man simply sat there with a straight face, taking another sip of his coffee.

"So I've noticed. And what is an adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?" The older man slightly leaned over the table, his palms pressed into its edges.

Ruby glanced up at him, slightly embarrassed by her own response, "Well.. I want to be a Huntress."

"So you want to slay monsters?"

"Yeah. I only have two more years of training left at Signal, and then I'm going apply to Beacon!" at this point, Ruby began to ramble on in her explanation, her speech growing faster and more frantic as she explained herself. "You see, my sister is starting there this year, and she's trying to become a Huntress, and I'm trying to become a Huntress because I want to help people. My parents always taught us to help others, so I thought 'I might as well make a career out of it'. I mean, the police are alright, but the Hunters and Huntresses are so much more exciting and romantic and cool and just amazing you know?" She glanced at the two adults on the other end of the table.

The stern young woman did nothing but deadpan, blinking at her for a moment. The older man, however, gave a slight smile to her. "Do you know who I am?"

Ruby did nothing but nod, smiling politely, "You're Professor Ozpin. You're the Headmaster at Beacon. It's nice to meet you."

"Hello... so you want to come to my school?" He leaned in slightly, glancing over her for a moment, and then to the other young man near the table.

"More than anything." Ruby nodded her affirmation, her tone slightly wistful.

"Well... okay." Ozpin gave a small smile. The stern woman in the corner rolled her eyes.

Ruby's face lit up in excitement, and then she blinked looking over the other person in the room, the young man who had been doing the squats was now leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Wait, what about him? Isn't he already a Hunter?"

At this, both Ozpin and Glynda glanced to each other, their faces wearing the same frowning expression. "Actually, we are not entirely sure. We were hoping he would be willing to answer some questions for us."

The young man gave a smile just as bright as his glowing blue eyes, nodding as he took several steps, twisting one of the chairs they had provided at the girl's side of the table around. Squatting down on the seat, he raised a leather gloved palm in greeting. "Heya. I was always taught that honesty was the best policy by my folks and my mentor, so go ahead and ask what you would like to know."

Ozpin's response was a rather surprised blink, but it faded so quickly it may as well have not happened. "Alright then. What is your name, your age, and your affiliation?"

Zack blinked for a moment, his face giving off its usual endearing smile. "My name is Zack Fair. I think I'm in my late teens right about now. And I am an Ex-SOLDIER, 1st Class."

"SOLDIER 1st Class? What does that mean, exactly?" Ozpin questioned, his face curious.

"I used to work for this company back home by the name of Shinra General Electric Power Company. They had just found a new, nearly limitless energy source, and were quickly taking over pretty much anything. SOLDIER were their enforcers, like Hunters and Huntresses, guess. We took care of monsters and wars so other people wouldn't have to get involved. We were given a few surgical enhancements by the company to make us stronger, faster, and more durable. There were three classes of SOLDIER: the new recruits, the 3rd Classes. The 2nd Classes, the more experienced guys, I suppose you would call them your second in commands, and the 1st Classes. The best of the best, and the strongest of the strong."

"I see... May I ask why you refer to yourself as an Ex-SOLDIER, then? It doesn't seem like it would be a bad thing to be known as a 1st Class, if what you say is correct."

"Thing is, Shinra began to do some pretty twisted stuff. A lot of us either left, or disappeared. I left due to something personal the company had done to myself, and several of my other friends."

Ozpin gave a nod, his hands steepling on the table as he looked across to the young man. "I noticed you have several skills and abilities. Can you explain a few of them?"

Zack gave an earnest nod, slowly withdrawing a small glass orb from his pocket. The orb was a light greenish hue as he held it up to the light. "Well, for starters, I'm not sure about those crystals you seem to have around here, but this is what we use back home. We call it materia. This particular materia is a 'Wall'. Is essentially makes a shield around whatever the caster targets to protect them from damage."

Ruby let out a slow blink before nodding, pointing at him quickly. "So that is what that weird glass thingy was?"

Zack gave her a cheeky grin as he nodded, pocketing the orb once again. "Yeah. I have a few others from back home, but two of them are kind've destructive, so I don't think I'll be using those here."

Glynda gave a frown as she looked down over him from her spot near the door. "Like the meteors that you were raining down?"

Zack blinked for a moment before giving a sheepish grin, one hand scratching the back of his black spiky haired head with an embarrassed chuckle. "Actually, that is another ability that is pretty common from back home. We call them Limit Breaks. Some people have a few different ones. The stronger you are, the more Limit Breaks you can have."

Ozpin gave a thoughtful nod, glancing over him for a moment. "How many would you say that you have, Mister Fair?"

Zack brought a propped his chin in his right hand for a moment as he recounted his own Limits. "My own, Tseng, Cissnei, Angeal, Sephiroth, Aerith, Cloud, and Genesis. I have eight Limit Breaks actually, not counting summons. I don't think those will be able to work here though. I don't have any of their materia on me."

Each occupant in the room gave him a slow blink in confusion before Ozpin spoke once again. "And how many of these... Limit Breaks do your people commonly achieve?"

"Eh, about one or two." Was Zack's nonchalant reply.

Ruby's eyes went wide before she pointed at him, blurting out. "You must be some sort of ultra strong super hero or something!"

Zack gave another sheepish grin before he closed his glowing blue eyes in thought. "Actually, it was and still is my dream to be a hero. Go new places, meet new people. Its what I wanted to do since I was a kid."

Ozpin had a few questions remaining, glancing to the large weapon that rested against the wall. The young man was loathe to be parted with it, and was eventually allowed to keep it with him in the room. "Lastly, that sword. Where did you get such a fine weapon? Why did you not use it more during your fight?"

"That sword was actually my mentor's. He passed it along to me when he died. That sword is a symbol of his family's honor, and my own. I asked him a long time ago why he never seemed to ever use it. His father had borrowed a lot of money when he had made 1st Class, and eventually fell ill working off the debt to pay it back. In his own words 'use brings about wear, tear, and rust. That's a real waste.' If I ever do fight with this sword, I usually use the flat side of the blade to prevent any damage from being done to it."

"Your mentor sounds like he was a good man. I am sorry for your loss."

"Its alright. Its thanks to him I grew to be as strong as I did. I inherited his morals and his beliefs, so as long as I'm alive, he is to. He told me that if I ever wanted to be a hero... I needed to have dreams. And honor."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Ruby was ogling the weapon for a few moments until the words hit her about his mentor, her own face dropping into a somber expression. Ozpin eventually looked to the young man, who was looking as if he were deep in thought. "If you would like, you would be welcome to join my school. You would be doing a similar job as to what you were doing for your previous employer: Slaying monsters and protecting the innocent. Food and board would be provided, and payment for missions will be given upon completing contracts that the school takes in, such as protection, escort, and monster hunting. You could continue your path to becoming a hero here."

Zack gave the man a small smile as he thought it over, nodding. Slowly, he extended his leather gloved hand across the table, which was taken by Ozpin's own, giving it a light shake. "Sounds good to me."

Slowly, Ozpin and Glynda left the room, only for Ozpin to turn around to the pair still in the room. "The transport to Beacon will be arranged for you. Bring what you need, and good luck to you both. I expect great things from you."