The Path of the Huntsman
by
Kyle Feller
Note
This story will take place starting from Volume 1 up until the end of Volume 3. Afterwards is pure speculation until the end of Volume 4. It will follow parallel to the story of RWBY thus far. As before, I do not own RWBY or Rooster Teeth. With the disclaimer out of the way, enjoy!
Chapter 1: Introductions
"I've always wanted to be a Huntsman. Why though, I really couldn't give you a concise answer. Maybe the personal glory that came with it, to have my own legend someday. Or perhaps that my dad was one, my own personal hero. He still does it to this day and I want to be just like him. That's why, I'm hoping you'll accept my application to Beacon, so that I can begin as soon as possible." I gave my answer with a confident and daring smile. Rubbing the back of my head with a slight and stupid grin indicating my nervous demeanor as well. She just stared at me silently back with the scroll in her hands, the emerald eyes piercing mine. I would even go as far to say that she was beautiful, especially with the blonde hair, always a personal favorite of mine.
Finally she sighed and pressed a button on her scroll following the response soon after, more like a brief introduction to herself. "Your profile says that you excelled at Signal Academy in your combat classes, every single one was topped." She indulged me as I gave my confident stare once more.
"Yup, I've always had a knack for my sword, custom made too. Impressive if I say so myself." She coughed to interrupt me stroking my ego.
"Your book work however could use some working on, a lot of it actually." She mentioned.
"I prefer practice over theory." I joked.
"Well Benjamin, at Beacon, we must master both practice and theory. Now let me ask again, do you really want to join Beacon?" She inquired once more.
"Yes, I want to be a Huntsman and I'll do whatever I can to accomplish that task Ms. Goodwitch." I gave my response with a coffee mug being placed next to her. The man had amber eyes and silver hair, holding the cane with both hands. A blank stare hidden behind his glasses gave me a slight sense of despair.
"Well then, welcome to Beacon Mr. Snow." The man said with a grin as Glynda responded with a face of shock.
"Ozpin you can't be serious, his grades are not close to the mark we desire, he has a habit of brash impulsiveness and has a serious narcissistic tone." She tried pleading to the headmaster but it was hopeless, he had already made up his mind in earnest.
"You're right in the fact that he is brash, impulsive, even reckless but that's why we are here, to change those attitudes. Form this young man into a proper Huntsman for the 4 Kingdoms. I suspect you'll be able to show that for us next week Benjamin?" Ozpin asked leaning forward on the maple wood desk.
"Of course sir, I won't let you down." I responded with an honest smile as Ozpin nodded and picked up his mug and cane.
"Excellent, we'll take our leave. We still have another student to attend to, come on Glynda." He said with her soon following out of the Snow homestead here in Vale, the front door quickly opening and shutting behind them, leaving a wake of silence soon afterwards. A cough broke that silence with my old man leaning against the door frame. His chocolate hair mixed with the incoming gray by his ears. His bright silver eyes showed a deep semblance of relief that his son managed to get into one of the 4 Huntsman Academies.
"Well, guess you will be following in my footsteps after all." He joked at my own expense which was soon met with a snarky remark.
"You had doubt? Shame Dad, shame." I said pushing the chair back and picking myself up past him towards upstairs where I would soon pack away towards a new life. Before I could go upstairs however, a woman with straight crimson hair and blue eyes stood in my path with a half smile. Olivia Snow, my step mother.
"I'm proud of you Benjamin." She congratulated me, only to be responded with silence and a cold shoulder while I forced my way past her upstairs to my room. My father took notice of the act with him following in pursuit. Shutting the door to my room before he forced his way in, ready to berate my rudeness.
"You can't treat Olivia like that Ben, you know that." He explained while I scoffed at the mere thought alone.
"No? She isn't my real mother, I can treat her however I like." I snapped back.
"Maybe she isn't your mother, but she is the mother of Lyanna and Jon, and I know you are Lyanna's idol. So maybe you should go apologize to Olivia." He responded.
"We've had this conversation so many times dad that I don't even care at this point. I don't even know who my real mother is because you won't tell me." I started to redirect, something he obviously didn't like.
"I told you Ben, when you're ready to know, you'll know."
"And when is ready? When you're on your death bed? When I'm on mine? I have a right to know who my mother is!" I began to yell now.
"You're right, you do. However, when you get back after your time at the Academy, when you are grown and a man. I promise I'll tell you who your mother is. Right now isn't the best time, please Ben." He pleaded with me, because no matter how much I asked or demanded, he would not budge.
"Fine, but once I return, I want the truth and all of it." I proposed as my father nodded his head to the deal.
"Deal, before you go too, you have someone who wants to see you off." He said while a shy face appeared from behind him. A young girl barely hitting 15 with short brown hair, covered in the jacket I gave her last spring. She pushed past my dad as I embraced the young girl. He soon left us along to say our last goodbyes for a while.
"Hey there Lyanna, was wondering if you were going to see me off. Where's Jon?" I asked my step-sister.
"He said that he'd be out running some errands but I know he doesn't like you very much." She admitted as I rubbed her hair.
"Don't worry, I'm not mad. Gonna miss me that much huh?" I asked.
"Yes! I really don't want you to leave!" She pleaded with a small chuckle.
"I'm only going to be over at the Academy across the bay. It's not like I'm going to Atlas a continent away."
"Yea but I'll still miss you Ben." She said reaching into her pocket, pulling a chained necklace with a clasped pendant. Handing it to me as I examined the object. "Here." She said as I opened the pendant with a clear picture of herself inside the clasp. I smiled at it, rubbing her hair one more time.
"I'll be fine Lyanna, its not like I won't visit."
"Just try and forgive Dad, I know you're angry with him but he has the best intentions in mind." She spoke in his defense. While I could be mad at him, Olivia, even Jon. I loved Lyanna, her innocence, purity and even a slight frailty. I want to protect all of those.
"I will, now head off Lyanna, I got to pack for the trip." I said as she nodded running out of my room, leaving me be to get ready for the 4 year journey I had ahead of me.
One week later
Airship en-route to Beacon Academy
Excitement wasn't even beginning to describe what was going through my mind. I was onto to become what I had always dreamed of being, a Huntsman for the Kingdoms, to do what was right and just, even it was a bit naive. Wearing a navy dress shirt with the top two buttons undone and a black vest over top, I sported a black shoulder cape over my right arm with a hood attached, gray pants with black boots and on my left side, my father's old long sword with a wolf pommel and a silver cross-guard. It was old I'd admit to that much but it worked regardless of the situation. But now, I would take that first step to be a warrior, a leader and a legend. No matter the cost.
Naivety is a deadly cost to ignorance of reality...