So despite being a big Rooster Teeth fan for a few years i just recently watched RWBY and have to admit i am impressed. so i thought i would try my hand at writing a fanfic in it with an OC team going along with the original story.
For those of you who followed me for my Fairy Tail work, dont worry. I'm not abandoning any of my current stories (A chapter of Fallen Celestial is currently in the works.) But i just wanted to put this first chapter out there.
for those of you who are reading for the first time, i hope you enjoy! And feel free to leave a review
FYI: this story is starting under the assumption that you've watched the three volumes so while i wont exactly be spoiling things from the third volume this early just be aware.
The town of Manara, a tiny little town that was only a few miles south of Vale, was a bustling little bastion of humanity. While not nearly as big as its northern neighbor for which the nation was named, Manara produced large quantities of raw ore, a resource that was just as valuable as Dust to most of the population. Thus, the city had been constructed up on the slopes of a mountain, had a wall around its outer edge, and a sizable police and Huntsman presence at any given time due to its significance. A necessary precaution considering that with so much goods going though its walls there was always more than enough Lien to attract less than noble entrepreneurs.
As night settled in on the quaint little town, many of its citizens were preparing for a good night's rest, readying themselves for the next day's events or simply enjoying the peace and quiet of the early night. Indeed, one could consider it an abnormally peaceful night compared to most evenings on Remnant.
Or it would have been, if it weren't for the fact that nearly the entirety of Manara's police force were currently screaming obscenities into the night sky as they chased two fugitives into the night, the sound of their feet stampeding across the city's streets enough to shake some to the buildings and draw curious gazes from the windows of the population.
The goal of their chase, two hooded figures that were sprinting through the streets and alleys at a speed that spoke volumes of their knowledge of the city, turned around occasionally to see how close their pursuers were to them. And unfortunately for them, due to either the sheer number of cops chasing them or simple dumb luck, they weren't getting away quite as easily as they normally did.
"Ok I'll admit, maybe the idea of stealing the mayor's food wasn't exactly my best idea yet. But you have to admit that this is a little much for just some fancy-pants food, right?" The taller of the two figures questioned the smaller one with a clearly amused and effeminate tone, only receiving a frustrated grunt in response from her companion as they continued their evasion.
The two sprinted down an alley, the taller of the two figures knocking over anything and everything she could in order to try and block the path behind them, snickering slightly when she heard the sounds of their unwanted company tripping over said debris. Unfortunately, through sheer determination or numbers, the two could still hear the sounds of their pursuers gaining on them, quite the feat considering that they were not exactly casually strolling through the city in order to enjoy the nightlife and there weren't any Huntsman behind them.
"Ok so, as fun as this had been, do you think you can take care of them? I'd be fine doing it, but I'd rather not knock down a building by accident again. They weren't exactly happy with us last time I did that." The taller figure begged with her hands held out in front of her clasped in prayer, her pace not falling in the slightest as she did so.
"Mmm…" The smaller one responded simply, nodding their head after a second. Without even breaking stride, the smaller one held out their hand and pointed it behind them at the cops, a green glyph appearing in her outstretched hand.
The two figures turned down yet another alley as the night behind them practically exploded with the same green light that was present on the smaller figure's hand. Neither figure bothered to check if the glyphs had activated properly, the sounds of metal sliding against metal along with the sounds of people stringing together curses were enough of a confirmation for the two of them that the spells had gone off properly and that they were free of pursuit for a brief moment.
"Sweet, we're almost in the clear!" The taller one proclaimed with a fist pump and shit eating grin on their face despite the situation. "Just a few more turns and we should be at the entrance to the sewer…and then we get to enjoy that smell for a few more days."
"…It's your fault." The smaller one returned, the taller one throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation.
"I know! But please, please, don't bring that up right now! Just let me freak out about this for a minute ok?" The taller one shouted in despair, clutching at their head as they moaned out loud.
Unfortunately, the two figures were forced to stop then when they rounded the next corner and found themselves face to face with a wall of trash and cars levitating in the air instead of the open four-way intersection they were expecting.
"Huh…well I wasn't expecting that." The taller one commented in a surprised tone, turning to their compatriot with her hands on her hips. "I don't suppose that this is because of you… No right, this isn't your style after all." They asked and upon receiving a shake of the head in response they could only sigh. "OK so new plan then, let's just try another way around and hope this doesn't have anything to do with us."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that." A new, cold voice declared from above, causing the two's heads to snap upwards in shock to see a woman standing in the open compartment of one of many Bullhead's that were now hovering just above the ground, bullheads that had seemingly been silent up until then. The woman stared down at them with cold calculating green eyes from behind her glasses. Before that night neither of the two figures would've thought that a woman with a riding chop could have been intimidating, let alone a woman dressed up like she was going off to work. But as the green-eyed woman glared down at them neither figure could deny feeling a could tingling traveling down their spines. "You two have caused more than enough trouble for the authorities around here, surrender and I might be merciful in your punishment." The woman declared like the grim reaper, the riding crop in her hand only somehow adding to her intimidation.
The taller of the two figures made a clicking noise with her tongue as she grabbed her right arm with her left, the sound of machinery spinning up echoing from under her cloak. "Well, I guess this simplifies things…we're just gonna have to fight our way out!" The blonde woman narrowed her eyes as she flicked her riding crop in the direction of the older girl, the tip of which began to glow purple. But before anyone could make a move the smaller figure reached out and placed a hand on the taller one's arm, said taller figure stopping to stare down at them.
"…Huntress." Was all the smaller one said as she nodded her head up at the woman in the bullhead, said woman turning her gaze on the smaller figure with an appraising gaze.
"Seriously?! I guess that food must have been really just that good." The taller one exclaimed in shock before sighing in defeat. "Well… I guess this is the end of the line then…funny, didn't think it end because we stole food." The smaller one nodded in agreement, the two figures raising their hands in the universal sign of defeat as the bullheads lowered to the ground, more police forces roping down to surround them in record time.
Glynda watched the two fugitives through narrowed eyes, the dust witch pacing on one side of an interrogation table as the two sat on the other side. The two fugitives had been brought in only minutes ago, having skipped straight passed processing and before being thrown in an interrogation room. Under normal circumstances, both figures would have been thrown into a cell immediately, likely never to see the sun again. In fact, many of the local authorities she had been working with over the last few days to apprehend these two were demanding just that…but when she agreed to aid them in apprehending the thieves, her old friend had given the local authorities one condition, a condition that was soon to be fulfilled.
But until it was she wasn't about to pass up a chance to reprimand children."Are you two aware of just how much trouble you've caused for the locals for them to actually request the aid of a huntress? You should consider yourself fortunate that we are even having this conversation instead of simply sending you to prison."
The taller of the two leaned back in their chair at that, her face covered in a grin that only irked Glynda all the more. "Yaaaa…ain't we stinkers?" She mocked, the smaller one simply lowering their head in embarrassment.
Glynda sighed as she rubbed her temple, attempting to keep . "If it were up to me, and up to the local authorities, you two would already have been processed and behind bars…but fortunately for you two, it isn't up to me. There's someone here who would like to speak to you, and I suggest that you heed his words carefully."
"Gee, thanks for the words of encouragement." The taller one continued, her tone only continuing to infuriate the blonde dust mage.
Glynda was only second away from striking the taller figures exposed hand with her riding crop when the door to the room opened, her direct superior and old friend walking through with a plate of cookies and a warm smile on his face. "Ah, the famous Phantom Thieves of Manara. I am Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon. A pleasure to meet you." Ozpin introduced himself with a nod before sitting across from the two figures and placing the plate in front of them.
Ozpin could practically feel the eyebrows of the taller one raise at the sight of the cookies, their arms crossed as she regarded him coolly. "Really? The illustrious headmaster of one of the world greatest combat schools just so happens to be in Manara waiting with a plate of warm cookies? This isn't suspicious at all."
Ozpin couldn't help but chuckle at that while he waved Glynda away, the blonde huntress's anger at the sarcasm clear on her face. "You would be surprised how often I end up in rooms similar to this one, speaking to children such as yourself and offering cookies to those on the other side of the table."
The taller one opened her mouth, likely to continue giving more snarky comments, but before she could utter a syllable the smaller one reached out and pulled the plate of cookies right in front of her, the cookies disappearing so fast that Ozpin couldn't help but remember the last time he was in such a room.
"…Really? You couldn't wait until after I had finished?" The taller one asked as they turned to the smaller one, who simply shrugged in response.
"…I'm really hungry." Was all they offered in return. The taller one simply sighing in response while Ozpin's smile grew, the headmaster pulling out a thin folder from the folds of his suit.
"The Phantom Thieves of Manara. Two thieves that have been operating within the town of Manara for over two months. Crimes include destruction of council property, petty theft, resisting arrest, and an interesting case of stealing a shipment of chocolate on its way to Vale." Ozpin recounted, raising a critical eyebrow at the last one.
The tall one simply shrugged her shoulders in response to his unasked question. "What can I say, we like chocolate and there was chocolate nearby. Things just kinda fell into place after that."
"Yet despite all these crimes and clear demonstration of skill, there were no fatalities amongst the police forces besides for a few bruised bodies and equally as bruised egos."
Neither of the two figures commented on that, the smaller one simply enjoying the cookies while the older one saw no reason to reply. And thus, Ozpin simply continued on.
"Suspect one was identified as Nuria Embers, member of the ill-fated attempt to form a new frontier town after the fall of Mountain Glenn. Believed to be dead until now."
"Tch, so you know all about that huh?" The taller one clicked her tongue in anger before reaching up and removing her hood, revealing brown curly hair and equally as brown eyes glaring at him. Ozpin was surprised at her appearance, though not her facial appearance. Rather, his attention was focused on the metal fingers of her right hand, metal fingers that would imply a false limb being hidden underneath her cloak.
That in and of itself wasn't something too shocking, as Ozpin knew quite a few Huntsmen and Huntresses who had chosen to replace lost limbs with mechanical ones in order to continue to fight, but from what little he had glimpsed Ozpin could tell that Nuria's was unique. It was bulkier than anything developed in Atlas, lacking the smooth elegance of most limbs. Instead the fingers appeared sharp larger than normal, almost as if it was a limb designed to fight as opposed to simply replace what was lost.
But all these thoughts never showed on his face, instead he turned his gaze on the only remaining hooded figure. "However, despite discovering the hidden identity of one of the Phantom Thieves, your companion here has remained a mystery to us until now. So young lady, would you be so kind as to introduce yourself?"
Ozpin could see the remaining girl freeze at the question, a cookie on the way to her lips when Ozpin began speaking to her. But after receiving a nod from Nuria the girls slowly lowered her own hood to reveal a face younger than Nuria by a few years, long black hair in a ponytail and sea blue eyes staring nervously back at him. She was clearly younger than her companion, lacking the mature aura of Nuria as well as the more effeminate curves that an older girl would have. But Ozpin could see a certain strength in the girl's eyes before she looked away, a strength that once again struck a chord in his mind.
"L-Lucina, my name's Lucina Lunimare." The girl introduced herself before staring down at the table, her eyes looking everywhere else besides Ozpin's.
"Lucina, huh…a curious name." Ozpin commented cryptically before turning back to Nuria. "Now then, regardless of your identities, with all that you two girls have accomplished here the local authorities decided to request the aid of my Academy, aid which I agreed to provide under the agreement that I would be deciding on your punishments. Miss Embers will be spending some time in a correctional facility to the north of Vale. While Lucina here, as she is still young enough not to be considered an adult and therefore will not be held accountable as one, will be placed in a foster care family until she comes of age and will provide community service."
Ozpin had barely finished when Nuria slammed her right arm onto the table, denting the metal and revealing that not only did she have a false hand but her entire right arm was false, and apparently heavy enough to bend the metal table under its weight if the crater left behind was anything to go on.
"Oh, hell no! No one's separating me and Lucina, I'll fight to keep her with me!" She growled threateningly, Lucina having scooted closer to the older girl as if to agree with her.
Ozpin quickly waved Glynda off, the huntress drawing her riding crop in preparation of a fight. "I had thought that you would say something along those lines, which is why I prepared an alternative for you just in case. As you clearly know who I am, you must also be aware that Beacon normally only accepts the best and brightest Huntsmen trainees, those who have gone to combat school or who have received a recommendation from particularly skilled Huntsmen or Huntresses. However, in recent years, the number of prospective candidates has been falling. Too many casualties along the front lines of humanity and too many people now living in fear of the Grimm to stand up and fight."
Ozpin stood then, his smile still on his face as he looked from one young girl to the other. "So here is my proposition for you two; join my school." Ozpin wanted to chuckle at the confused and surprised looks on the two girls faces, but his years as headmaster allowed him to keep his composer. "Instead of serving your sentences, you will undergo training at my school until you are deemed fit to become full-fledged Huntresses. Assuming you pass, your previous crimes will be forgiven and you will be released without penalty, allowed to find your own paths in our world."
Ozpin watched as Lucina stared down in silent contemplation while Nuria narrowed her eyes at him, both reacting to the news in different ways. "And we're supposed to believe that you're just doing this out of the goodness of your bleeding heart? That whenever kids with any skill show up you just offer them a place at your school? Heck, even forgetting weird this deal sounds, I don't even think we're the same age as all the other brats your picking up for classes!" Nuria countered, clearly unsatisfied with the path Ozpin was offering.
Ozpin tapped the file on the table before continuing. "Well, as for you Miss Embers. Based simply off of when you and your family disappeared, you must be in your seventeenth year or close to it. While Miss Lunimare here," Ozpin said as he gestured to the smaller girl whose head shot up at the mention of her name. "Looks like she couldn't be any younger than sixteen, so I doubt that anyone will raise a fuss over her considering her potential. So, I will ask you again, will you join my school for the next four years? Or would you prefer to make amends in prison?"
Nuria opened her mouth, likely to continue arguing against either going to the school or going to prison, but stopped when Lucina placed a hand over hers, drawing the brunet's attention. Ozpin watched with curiosity as a silent conversation took place between the two, a look of conviction on Lucina's face while Nuria's shifted through confusion, understanding with a hint of anger, before finishing on resignation.
"Well…at least I'll get to beat the shit out of Grimm for a while this way. That's always a fun way to spend a day." She eventually commented before turning back to Ozpin and nodding. "Alright, we'll play into your hand on this, just so long as you keep your end of the deal we'll go to school."
"Of course." Ozpin replied as he made for the door, Glynda right on his heels. "I look forward to seeing what you two can do during initiation. I have high hopes for you two. Until then." And with that he walked out the door, Glynda hot on his heels as they made their way to the chief of police to explain the situation.
Not five minutes later Ozpin and Glynda were sitting in a bullhead headed back to Beacon, Ozpin resting his hands on his cane, his eyes closed in silent contemplation while Glynda watched the landscape rush past with an annoyed look on her face.
Eventually the blonde dust mage turned to her old friend and decided to voice her concerns. "Are you certain about this Ozpin? Inviting two unknowns such as them to our school simply to help fill the ranks? For all we know they could very easily turn on the other students the first chance they get, abandoning them to the Grimm."
Ozpin did not reply immediately, his gaze focused on the bulkhead in front of him when he opened his eyes. "…I do not think we have to worry too much about them being unmotivated. While Miss Lunimare remains an enigma, there was a conviction in her gaze that even our current students lack, let alone our incoming freshman. And from what I've heard of the incident involving Miss Embers I don't doubt that she will kill any Grimm she comes across simply to avenge what she's lost. And besides…" Ozpin stopped for a moment, his own eyes turning to watch the world pass by them, his thoughts going back to the hope filled silver eyes he had recently encountered and the message from a friend that warned that the Queen was beginning to move. "We will need all the help we can get before long." Ozpin finished before he turned back to Glynda a knowing smile on his face. "And you cannot fool me Glynda. That despite your misgivings I know that you're at least somewhat impressed by Miss Luminaire's skills with dust magic. Else you wouldn't have waited so long before apprehending them."
Glynda huffed at that, crossing her arms and turning away from her old friend. In truth, the vice-Headmistress had been tracking the two girls for the last three days, but whenever she came close to confronting them runes that could only belong to a very unique Dust mage based semblance intercepted her and prevented her from making any moves. She could tell that whomever was the one who had cast the runes, clearly the younger of the two girls based off of tonight's events, could become quite a fearsome dust mage with a little polishing and training, something she would only be able to receive at a combat school.
"Hmph…very well, but I will keep an eye on them in case they try anything."
"I would expect nothing less."
Two girls sat across from each other in the holding cell, one looking nervous while the other looked downright pissed. Their weapons had been returned to them after Ozpin left a bronze carapace like shield on Nuria's left arm while Lucina now had a completely black sheath attached to her waist.
"Alright Luci, what the hell was that all about?" Nuria eventually growled out, Lucina flinching at the chilling anger in her tone. "You know why we've avoided huntsmen and huntresses up till now. So why in the hell would you want us to literally jump head first into the lion's den?"
"…I'm sorry." Lucina eventually said, her hands clenched on her lap. "I Just…didn't want you to go."
Nuria couldn't help but sigh in defeat, her anger vanishing in the face of Lucina's doe eyes. "Fine…fine, just be careful alright? There's too much that can go wrong with us being there for four years, and you've never been great at the whole subtlety thing anyway so make sure you keep your head down once we get there."
"Mnnn." Was all Lucina said in reply, her hands fiddling with the cloak around her shoulders in nervousness.
Nuria smiled as she stood up, moved across the chamber, and sat down next to the younger girl before proceeding to ruffle her hair. The younger girl leaning into the contact with a shy smile on her face.
"But still, I was kinda surprised at how quickly you jumped on their offer, even if we don't count the whole 'threat to your life' thing. Any other particular reason you wanted to become a huntress?" Nuria eventually asked.
"…Well they are pretty cool."
"Ok, besides how cool they are any other reason?"
"…Huntsmen and huntresses have access to information that most people don't. And I've heard that the library at Beacon is pretty big."
"Library?" Nuria parroted in confusion for a brief second before comprehension dawned on her. "Oh right, the secret mission your mom left you right? Is that what you want to look into?"
"U-unnn." Lucina replied her head bowed again in nervousness.
Nuria narrowed her eyes for a second; debating whether or not to press the girl and get her to tell her the secret mission she had been apparently entrusted with, but in the end simply shrugged her shoulders and held the small girl closer. "Well whatever…might as well hit the sack. We've got a busy day ahead of us after all."
A woman stood upon the ancient steps, her gaze unfocused as she stared out at the blackened crystals before her. She was not focusing on the strange formations however, instead her eyes sought out the man who had been playing a game of life and death with her for so long that she had almost forgotten when they had started. she knew that Ozpin had made yet another move, gathering more pieces on his side of the board in preparation for another round of the game.
She knew that if her most recently obtained pawn was present she would be warring the woman about her complacency, that allowing the forces of light to make more moves was a mistake on their part, but the woman couldn't care less.
Instead the woman simply smiled at the naivety of her white-haired opponent. the fool hadn't even realized that the game was already in play, and that she had already sent her pawns out for her opening move.
"Oh Ozpin, I simply cannot wait until you realize the truth. The truth that no matter what you do the game is already over."