Chapter I: New Beginnings
I don't know what I was thinking when I stepped off the shuttle headed for Vale's most prestigious school at dusk. I thought a childhood of bullying was enough. Guess I can't take my own advice.
Oh, I'm sorry. You probably have no idea who I am. I'm Adrian Frostgale, a 17-year-old Signal Academy graduate. I was furthering my education in the hopes I could overcome my past through becoming a Huntsman. You see, my childhood consisted mainly of discrimination due to the fact that I was a Faunus, and...well, there's probably a better time to explain my life story.
I stared with awe at the building where I was to conduct my studies for the next four years. Beacon Academy. I don't know why, but Beacon just seemed like the best choice for my future, even though I could have gone to any other school around the world if I wanted to. I took a deep breath and continued approaching the towering structure.
As I came even closer to Beacon's doors, I barely saw a blonde, bespectacled woman who could only be waiting for me.
"Adrian Frostgale?" she asked.
"Yes, that is my name, ma'am." I answered.
"Headmaster Ozpin has been expecting you," she stated, turning as if telling me to follow.
I soon found myself in a well-lit office with Beacon's headmaster.
"Adrian," Ozpin greeted, standing up from his chair and offering a handshake which I returned. "Take a seat."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, wishing whatever higher powers that existed would make this quick. I was already on edge upon learning that I could possibly attend Beacon Academy.
"So...You're from Vale, but went overseas to Mistral." Ozpin summarized, reading from a file labeled "Exchange Papers". "After a"-Ozpin pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose-"persistent bullying situation that never seemed to end, the school thought it best for you to move altogether and resume your studies elsewhere. As soon as possible, I was informed. That explains why you are here now and not when classes officially started. Does that sound about right?"
"Yes," I confirmed, "The authorities had hoped it would die down naturally at the start of this year, but that was not the case."
"Hm. Well, these papers would technically let you in, and the teachers who contacted me described you as a good kid, but I want to personally evaluate you. How bad, exactly, was this situation?"
"In the beginning, it was only a couple of kids," I explained, "but it escalated from there. Soon it was all the humans who were in on it. I wasn't a victim alone, though." I hesitated, wondering if he caught my wording of "humans."
"Oh?" Ozpin inquired.
"Many other students attending classes alongside me were also targeted. Because of this, I only had them to call friends, as they had me. No disciplinary action could stop the harassment. Whenever a teacher stepped in, it went quiet for a day before the whippings came back even harder."
"Sounds like quite the harsh childhood," Ozpin noted. He looked through a couple of papers in the Exchange Papers file and I swear he had the most minuscule reaction, although I couldn't tell what emotion was behind it.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No, no..." Ozpin said, waving the question away and sliding the file to the side of his desk. For some reason, his response made me believe that there actually was nothing wrong. "Going on...ah, yes. Why do you want to become a Huntsman?"
This question caught me off guard, despite knowing I'd have to answer it sooner or later. "I...I want to…" I stuttered, trying to find a cover for my real purpose for being here. I'm always afraid that people won't be accepting of my "special heritage."
"Is something wrong?" Ozpin asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
I might as well stop trying to lie, I thought. It probably won't help my chances and he'll see through it anyway.
"I want to gain equality for the Faunus." I said, slightly biting my lip. Those words hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.
"Is that so?" he responded, taking a sip from his mug. His eyes urged me on, gently comforting me into a sense of security.
Time to prove my case, I thought to myself, eager yet still a little nervous to hear the outcome.
"It began when I was a child. As I said before, I was constantly discriminated by most people around me. What I left out was it was because of my...Faunus identity. I found out all of this abuse was because of the White Fang's now-violent actions. People were bullying me because they were afraid and wanted to keep me submissive. I'm here because I want to find a way to get equality for the Faunus without using bloodshed and criminal activity." At this point, I was fighting a losing battle of tears. My past changed me. I didn't want to remember all the pain it brought. But Ozpin exuded this kind of...heartwarming atmosphere that just let the words flow out of my mouth.
"Hm," Ozpin pondered. The deafening silence made me wish this meeting just ended, no matter what. Nothing could have prepared me for what I heard next, even though I briefly considered the best case scenario a couple times before arriving at Beacon.
"Ms. Goodwitch, could you lead Adrian to his dorm? It's getting late, and he will need sufficient rest if he plans to excel at any of the courses the school provides."
"Certainly, Professor Ozpin."
A smile lit up my face as soon as I realized I would be continuing my education here. Hopefully, no one would know me and I would be able to pass myself off as a human with my trench coat hiding my animalistic features. I would be treated just like anyone else...For as long as this facade kept up, anyways. I got out of my seat, brushed my eyes and said, "Thank you, Professor Ozpin," before bowing and turning to the door.
I followed Goodwitch back to what was now decided to be my dormitory, thinking about how things were going to turn out here.
"This will be where you sleep each night unless decided otherwise by Beacon's staff." Goodwitch explained. "I suggest that you do not unpack until you get the results of your Initiation."
The word 'Initiation' flickered in my mind, a question alongside it. If I had already passed the entrance exam at my previous school, why would I need to do it again?
I turned to ask Ms. Goodwitch, but before I knew it, she was gone. Mentally shrugging to myself, I carried my luggage into the room, picked the bed in the corner of the room as opposed to the other three choices, washed up and went to sleep faster than I've ever done so in my life. I was extremely excited to see how the next four years would turn out. For all I know, things could turn out to be WAY better here. All my fears had disappeared…
...For now.
AN: Check it out, the first fanfic I've ever written in my life! What do you guys think? The stage is set; all it takes is time for me to write.
Here's a character bio for my OC that will hopefully provide much needed context for the rest of the story.
Name: Adrian Frostgale
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Appearance:
-6 feet tall
-Slim build, non-muscular
-White open trench coat with two large slits in the back
-White bandages around body (as opposed to an undershirt)
-Black jeans
-Black/white checkered sneakers
-Black spiky hair
-Grey fedora with sky blue band
-White fingerless gloves
-A black digital watch on left wrist
-Brown eyes
-White earbuds worn casually
-Green physical Aura
-A pair of jet black Faunus wings capable of flight (concealed most of the time)
Weapon: Windsbane
-Longsword with a sky blue hilt and a tiny rotary fan at the bottom of the handle
-When Aura is channeled through Windsbane, the fan will begin to spin and the sword becomes extremely light, almost as if weightless. However, attack power lowers noticeably.
-When slashing air, the blade can channel air waves forward as a form of ranged attack.
-Is kept away in a sheathe on Adrian's waist.
Fighting Style: Defensive, only attacks in such a way as if to take down the enemy in as few strikes as possible. When Windsbane's power is unlocked, combat strategy changes to all-out assault.
Semblance: Spacial Wind
-Takes up a lot of Aura when used
-Allows Adrian to manipulate objects through gravity
Personality: Quiet, but when Adrian does speak, it's worth listening to. He tends to sit back for a bit and analyze situations before getting involved. A bookworm, Adrian only likes groups of up to four when talking, maximum. He tends to randomly and silently appear, unintentionally scaring those not used to it. Adrian dislikes being in the spotlight. He may seem emotionless, but it's really just his ability to hide his feelings from others. He gets lonely really quickly.
Even with the bio, I will write the story as if there was none. This is just to give a mental image.
Any criticism or reviews you have to offer would be extremely helpful in my writing.