A/N: First Story, reviews are always appreciated ^_^. The story will start from the very beginning, and focus on the two main character's perspective. It's also written such that you wouldn't need to have watched RWBY to understand things.

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

A young swordsman groaned as the transport plane shuddered and lurched against the turbulence, his blond hair matted down with sweat, his chest heaving against his breastplate. He found himself cursing how hot his thick black sweater and jeans felt. His stomach shooting shutters of nausea throughout his body in reaction to every move. His head pounded as a result, thoughts filled with insecurity over his affliction filled his mind. He tried to pay attention to anything else, noticing some of the other students congregating at the windows to see the view, unable to move he took the time to study some of their faces, hoping that one of these people might become his friend. "Confidence" was the command given to him by his family, knowing deep down that the people around him were far better equipped for the trials ahead. The best he could do was focus on being positive in his outlook. In spite of this, his motion-sickness was contributing to his inability to see himself succeeding when they arrived.

The plane in question banked slightly, making its final descent. Coming up on the dock to Beacon Academy, the swordsman recalled how he came to be on this flying, vomit-inducing deathtrap. His family had been so happy for him, looking upon him with pride at his accomplishment. He'd applied to go to the Beacon Academy, a school which brought together all the talented youth in the country to be able to hone their latent skills for battling Grimm, a term used for for dark creatures that are a constant threat to world's safety. Those talents were not something that he truly possessed at the level of the others arriving with him. Despite this he was still able to be admitted. He looked the part just fine, standing a respectable 6'1" with an athletic build, however, his actual combat skills were nowhere near up to par. He remembered the shady website where he'd purchased his transcripts. Directed there by some of the people he knew from his old school, none of them believed he'd have the gall to truly commit to forging them. He remembered the apprehension and disgust that built up in his stomach when he looked at the paperwork, his name "Jaune Arc" etched above another person's accomplishments. Recalling the feeling combined with his currently unstable insides nearly threw him over the edge.

The transport came to a halt, setting down at the platform outside of the Academy. The doors opened shortly afterward, Jaune pushed past his peers, rushing to the nearest trashcan. Unable to hold back his nausea any longer, his stomach rolled and expelled what was left of his stomach contents into the bin, burning his throat. He tried to shake off the feeling of the other students watching his shameful display as they passed. Some snickering to themselves calling him names like 'Vomit Boy', a few girls passed with some concern for his health, yet no one seemed to feel enough for him to stop. His stomach, having finally cleared itself of any remaining offenses, allowed him to calm down, making his way to the nearest bathroom to clean himself up. Trying to shake off his apprehension, he just kept reminding himself that confidence is key.

Walking out toward the cliff-side entrance gate to Beacon, Jaune heard a concussive crack followed by what sounded like icicles rattling together. Increasing his pace, he could make out some yelling. Three girls were arguing in the middle of a scorch mark that had been made on the stone pathway. Giving the situation a closer look as he approached, he was able to get a better look at each of them. The first was in a white outfit almost in line with her pale complexion, a thigh length dress that flared outward around her waist, with a long sleeve jacket that became a pale shade of blue as his eye progressed downward. She stood around 5'5" supplemented by her wedged white boots, which came midway up her calves. Along the bottom of her dress and the wrists of her jacket was some white detailing that resembled snowflakes. A white ribbon-like belt wrapped around her waist, a small piece of black lace accenting the neckline. The insides of her jacket and boots seemed to be a contrasting red color. His eyes finally stopped on her long pale white hair, shimmering in the sunlight, tied into a ponytail on the right side of her head. Her ponytail betrayed a certain sense of independence, breaking the symmetry that had been present in the rest of her outfit. She sported a menacing look, directed at one of the other girls.

The girl that seemed to be center of the crater, stood a bit shorter than the previous, also pale but not quite as much so as the girl in white. Wearing a mostly black, thigh-length dress with long sleeves and a corset across her midsection with red strings. More red detailing in the frills of her skirt and along the inside of her sleeves. She wore black tights, and large black combat boots, with red detailing as well. Around her shoulders she sported a long solid red cloak, complimenting her two toned hair which seemed to taper into a red hue toward the end of its short length from its black roots. She seemed happy that attention had shifted from her, her attention jumping between the other two girls, who were now regarding each other with detest.

The last of the girls stood the tallest of the three, standing at maybe 5'7". She had a thin black scarf around her neck. Sporting a white undershirt, a bit more color to her than the other two, but still rather fair, she had a black sleeveless coat that buttoned up at her midsection and seemed to flare into a short tail. Wearing a matching pair of white shorts that ended connected to smooth black leggings that seemed to reflect the sunlight somewhat and change to a more purple color gradually as they progressed down her legs. She wore simple black shoes, with a slight heel to them. She had long black hair, a black ribbon adorning her head that seemed to move independently. She looked upon the girl in white with an animosity that seemed strange for people who should have only recently met, given the time frame since arriving.

The girl in white stormed off as Jaune approached, hearing the hooded girl yell, "I promise, I'll make this up to you!" mumbling something to herself shortly afterward. She appeared to turn to where the third girl was, only to find her also walking away. Seeming to slink into loneliness, she collapsed to her knees then laid out on the ground. "Confidence". The word rang through his head once again as he approached. He introduced himself with a hand to help her up, "Hey, I'm Jaune"

She responded shortly with, "Ruby", reaching for his hand. He lifted her up easily noting her slight frame. As she reached her feet, her hand covered a snicker, "Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?" Her eyes filled with a sudden mirth at his past woes.

He sighed audibly, a great first impression, he thought. "Yes that was me," he gestured to begin walking toward the school proper. They made their way toward the school, him brooding to himself over his poor starting position in his popularity at the school. "The first day and I already have a poor reputation, people calling me stuff like 'Vomit Boy'." he finished with a quiet groan.

They approached a large open space, with a fountain in the middle. A simple stone walkway wrapped around it, lined on either side with evenly spaced circular lights. Opposite the fountain was a clean cut grassy yard. They made their way around the fountain aimlessly walking the grounds, knowing little about where they were headed.

"All I'm saying is that motion-sickness is a much more common problem than people let on," trying to convince her that it was something he could brush off without it hurting his already flimsy pride.

She responded apologetically with, "Look, I'm sorry," gesturing toward him with her hands to direct his attention, "'Vomit Boy' was the first thing that came to mind." Feeling sorry for causing his discomfort.

"Oh yeah, what if I called you 'Crater-face'," responding in kind, still feeling stung by her choice in nickname. Regarding her with squinted eyes, that feigned real anger which wasn't truly present in this situation.

Throwing her hands down in exasperation, "Hey, that explosion was an accident." She stated, defending her own fragile social stature in their new school. Already feeling that she was making an enemy on her first day, the girl from earlier would come back to haunt her.

Choosing to change the subject, "Well, the name's Jaune Arc," gesturing with his hands in a smoothing motion, trying to portray that confidence he so wanted, "Short sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it."

Ruby sensing his attempt to boost his own self-esteem questioned him, given his previously bumbling attitude, "Do they?" Giving him a raised eyebrow to convey her disbelief.

Noting that his ruse had failed, Jaune back-pedaled, "They will," his confidence wavering, "I mean, I hope they will." Thinking back to the advice his family had pushed on him he began, "I mean my mom always says-" cutting himself off, trying not to sound like a child in front of the clearly younger girl, "nevermind."

An awkward silence settled in for a moment, Ruby wanting to break it before it became too much to bear resolved to bring up a topic. The easiest she could come up with in light of her earlier admiration for her peers weapons, which had been cut short by her sister, who had left her in the situation from earlier, was to talk about her baby 'Crescent Rose'. She motioned to pull it from its holster in the back of her belt, and flicked its deploying mechanism, the blade unfolding as she swung the weapon out and into the ground. Stating simply, "So, I got this thing." The ground giving way as the tip of her scythe impacted the stone tiles.

The sudden move surprised Jaune, reminding him that she was another student at Beacon, selected to be a Huntress. As a Huntress, she must have some sort of reason to be there, but the massive scythe that stood before him seemed disproportionate beside such a tiny girl. Gesturing with his hands cautiously, "Is that a scythe?"

Feeling a sense of pride in her beloved weapon, mistaking his surprise as amazement she pulled Crescent Rose up to her body, cradling it lovingly, "It's also a customizable high-impact sniper rifle."

"A what?" Jaune asked, still stunned by the ease with which Ruby could move such a clearly unbalanced and heavy piece of machinery.

Intending to get her point across, she pulled on the bolt of the sniper rifle, which was currently unloaded. The noise sufficient for her purposes, she stated curtly, "It's also a gun." Happy when he seemed to understand, the information seeming to sink in from the change in the look of his dark blue eyes. Jaune noted the gun barrel running along the polearm section of the scythe, several joints and folding sections controlling the mechanisms of the weapon.

"That's cool," Jaune stated, having sorted his thoughts. Able to comprehend the situation he was in, that she must some reason to be here.

Ruby's interest jumped realizing she had yet to see Jaune's weapon of choice, "So, what do you got?" Grammar slipping away from her, and her voice intonating as she searched for more information about one of her favourite topics.

Jaune for his part had almost forgotten he even had a weapon. He'd been given it by his father before he left, 'Crocea Mors', a sword with a matching shield that bore his family's crest. Compared to the masterpiece that Ruby had whipped out, he felt inadequate by comparison. Unable to hide from this particular line of questioning however, as they were in a combat school, their weapons were going to be a big part of their lives. "I've got this sword," he stated, choosing not to try to provide further information. Ruby gave a girly, "oooh", seeming to admire his weapon like a new collectible. Feeling even more like he didn't belong, he tried to shift attention to his shield, which at least featured moving parts. "Yeah, I got a shield too" placing it on his arm and deploying the mechanism that unfolded it into a modestly sized heater shield.

Ruby, unable to stop herself reached forward to touch his shield asking, "So, what do they do?" Inadvertently reversing the folding mechanism, causing the shield to jump off of Jaune's arm and into a narrow form meant to be a sheath for the blade. He grabbed at it unsuccessfully, it folding and unfolding with a force causing it to jump in and out of his arms. Eventually falling to the ground where he would pick it up. Ruby watching the situation play out, waiting for a response to her question.

Jaune finally having got a handle on his shield, took a breath and answered with all he could offer. "The shield gets smaller," chuckling to himself about how dumb he felt, "so, when I get tired of carrying it, I can just put it away". Feeling a bit ridiculous about trying to amp up his meager equipment.

Ruby thinking technically, not noticing Jaune's attempts to boost himself, responded "Wouldn't it weigh the same?"

Jaune's shoulders slumped, his poor attempt at grandeur cut down so easily, "Yeah, it does".

Ruby looking back to Crescent Rose, realized that she might have hurt his feelings. Laughing to herself to try to shake the awkwardness tried to offer some information about herself. "I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons." Feeling that maybe by leveling with him about her own poor sociability she'd be able to cheer him up. "I guess I did go a little overboard in designing it."

"Wait, you made that?" Baffled that someone her age could not only wield a weapon like that, but also go so far as to design it. He regarded her with admiration in his eyes, looking back noting her light silver irises.

"Of course," wondering for a moment how he wasn't aware, "All students at Signal forge their own weapons." Turning to him for further information, "didn't you make yours?"

Feeling insecure about his own simple Crocea Mors, "It's a hand-me-down," his shoulders slumped further, feeling like his meager choice in weapons would put off a gun nut like Ruby. "My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war." Holding such a simple weapon, with such a history doubly affecting his self-confidence. Not only was it not a match for the more complicated weapons of his peers, but it also carried a history of success and heroics he felt he couldn't match up to.

Noting Jaune sinking into his own self-deprecation she tried to cheer up him, "Sounds more like a family heirloom to me," noting that this didn't get his attention, she followed with, "Well, I like it." Jaune's head lifting to look back at her. "Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days." The statement not being entirely untrue, she did feel that his sword and shield seemed to be in good shape for having such a history, they must have been made to last if they'd gotten this far.

Jaune repeated to himself, "Yeah, the classics." Feeling a bit happier now that someone had taken the time to cheer him up. He smiled at Ruby, happy he'd been able to talk to someone like her just after arriving.

They both sheathed their weapons, Ruby sensing a change in subject imminent interjected, "So, why'd you help me out back there in the courtyard?" Interested in why he'd choose to pick her up off the ground. While his sword and shield did give off a knight motif, his lack of refinement seemed to imply he wouldn't be able to initiate in the way he did.

"Eh, why not?" Explaining his outlook on meeting new people. Jaune, never being one to leave someone in need of help down, felt somewhat surprised it'd even be a question of whether he'd help her or not. Deciding to explain further, "My mom always says, strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." Feeling a bit more comfortable with Ruby, able to reference his family. Moving into step beside her.

It took only a moment of them walking beside one another to realize that they were not being led by the other. Having made a half-circle around the fountain, it became painfully obvious that neither had an objective in mind for where to go.

Ruby breaking into another new topic, "Hey, where are we going?" Believing Jaune to be able to provide some insight into their direction.

"I don't know, I was following you." Jaune said pleasantly, only realizing how ridiculous he sounded after the words left his mouth. Choosing to try to fix the situation, "you think there might be a directory?"

With no response forthcoming he continued, "maybe a food court?"

Ruby giggled a bit at this, "some sort of recognizable landmark?"

Ruby snorted at the escalation of absurdity. "Is that a no?" Finally responding Ruby followed with "That's a no."