Chapter 1: It Begins
He opened his eyes to see he was sitting on a bench, out in an open city. But it was strange. The streets were clean, little noise could be heard. Where was he? He got up from the bench and decided to look around. He couldn't help it. He was till thinking of her. Of all of them. But now, he couldn't. This was a new life. And hopefully he wouldn't need to fight constantly. But that has always proved him wrong. He saw a small flash of light behind him.
"Mr. H..."
"It was rough, wasn't it kiddo?"
"Yeah. Having to say goodbye...it wasn't a good feeling."
"You have a fresh start. And a new life. Enjoy it. You've earned it more than many times. A chance to be a normal person for once."
"Yeah..." Mr. Hanekoma smiled.
"Still making the same face since that battle. It's been nearly a week too. Hard to believe its over."
An awkward silence. Mr. Hanekoma checked his watch as he whistled.
"Hoo boy. I gotta go! Oh! Before I forget!"
Mr. Hanekoma summoned a small box, no bigger than a foot or wider than half a foot.
"What is it?"
"Trust me. Don't open it unless you need to. When you think of it, you'll know when to use it."
"Wait! Before you go...I need to know something. Who are you really mr. H? No games this time."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone doesn't just randomly show up and help another person at random and critical times when help is needed. Especially since you're an angel. What's the cause? Why have you been helping me?"
Hanekoma sighed.
"Caught again I suppose. Okay then. I guess there's no tiptoeing around this one. There's two reasons why I've been helping you. The first one being the biggest reason why. I knew your mother Dante."
"What?!"
"A long time ago. When she had you, and when she knew she was going to die, she told me, 'Please. Watch over him. Take care of him. Protect him through all his endeavors. Be his guardian for eternity.' I didn't know what to say. I was shocked."
"Why?"
"Because I'm more of the loose cannon and rule breaker angel. Get the picture?"
"Well...its perfect. I mean, it just fits together really well."
"Anyway, once your father sealed you away in stasis, I was trying to help them in every way I could. In the end, we failed, your father and I. So, he asked me what to do. Easiest thing I could come up with was erasing your memory."
"More like rushed idea."
"Hey! I didn't say it was the smartest thing to do. So with that, I took you to your first world and watched over you there. When in your time of need, I helped unlock your powers, transforming you into your full form. Afterwords, anything that happened at random occasion, was me."
"What about the Reapers Game?"
"That was a happy accident."
"Let me guess, Joshua?"
"He is a Composer. And one of the favored angels."
"The Creator plays favorites?"
"You have no idea. The four favorites are Death, Azrael, Joshua, then there's me."
"Isn't Death a Nephilim?"
"There's the widely known Nephilim Death, and there's the real Death, or Grim Reaper."
"I see."
"Back to the story...so ever since that time you're powers awoke, I've been guiding and helping you along the way. Even till recently."
"Wow. It's..."
"A lot to take in, I know."
"So...what now?"
"I'll still keep watch over you. Not as much now. Things are getting busy up there."
"I understand. Thank you for everything mr. H."
"No problem kiddo. And remember, enjoy the moment."
Mr. Hanekoma disappeared in a flash of light. From behind the mountains, the sun was steadily rising. It was going to be a beautiful morning.
He found a coffee shop nearby. He needed some. It was a while since his last coffee. What was strange is that the store around here used a currency called "Lien." Lien was a type of currency used within this world. Each lien chip was displayed in the form of a plastic card, with a specific color and value notation on the front, and a black magnetic reader strip on the back. It was unknown to Dante if this was a universally used currency, or if it only has worth within this place. He asked around, "Where was he?" People laughed at him like he was crazy. He simply took his coffee and left embarrassed.
That went well.
"Look out!"
"Huh?"
Someone crashed into Dante. His cup flew out of his hand high into the sky as he caught the person that ran into him. It was a girl. She was a young, silver-eyed girl dressed in a black blouse, and a skirt with red trimmings, complete with a red cloak. Her clothing was entirely made up of various shades of red and black, with black on the main suit and red on the cloak. Even her hair was lightly red-streaked. She had cross shaped pins holding her cloak to her shirt. Around her waist was a belt which held large cartridges, possibly .50 caliber or comparable, in individual loops, and a magazine pouch. She had a silver rose symbol on her belt. She was shorter than he was, five foot five to be exact.
"Uh...hi?" Said Dante.
The girl blushed, "I am so sorry!"
"No! No! It's fine! See?" Dante outstretched his arm and caught his cup of coffee that flew in the air.
"Wow!" She said in amazement. "How did you do that?!"
That's a good question. How in the hell did I do that? Maybe since I've used my powers a lot, I've retained some nice reflexes? I'm okay with that.
"Just reflexes. I uh...noticed you're packing heat." Said Dante.
"Oh this!"
She then grabbed the device that was holstered behind her back and pulled it out. It was a magnificent weapon. The frame was colored rose-red with black trims, while its large scythe blade forged into a crescent shape. Her symbol was engraved onto the circular swivel frame of the weapon. The most notable property of the weapon was its foldable frame: it appeared that the weapon was able to transform to different modes of combat, from a full-scale scythe and sniper rifle form to a dense shotgun form. It also seemed to fold up tightly into the form of a holster for easy convenient transportation, stored underneath the girls cloak at her waist. Also, it appeared to be a bolt-action weapon, it did not need to be in its gun mode to fire from what it looked like.
"Wow!"
"Wanna hold it?"
"Uh...sure." Dante took the scythe in his hand. It was surprisingly light for its size, and the fact this girl could carry it no problem, implied that she was either super strong or the scythe was made with light weight metals that are durable.
"You built this?"
"Of course. I go to Signal academy and everyone student is required to make their own weapon."
"That's nice."
Dante took some practice swings and hacks.
Reflexes... and memorization of my moves and combos. Excellent.
Dante pushed the button to turn into its compact form and handed it back to the girl.
"I'm sorry, again!"
"Like I said, no worries. I never got your name."
"I'm Ruby. Ruby Rose."
She extended her hand. Dante gently grasped it.
"I'm Dante."
"Uh...hi Dante. Are you new to Vale?"
"Is that what they call this place?"
"Yup."
"And you go to an academy that requires you to build weapons?"
"Well, it's for our use. Signal is an academy to train Hunters and Huntress'."
"What are those?"
"We slay monsters basically."
"Basically? What kind of monsters?"
"Creatures of Grimm. They kind of resemble wild animals, just ugly looking and scary looking."
"Wow. And you slay monsters like these?"
"Just last week I took on an army of Beowolves."
"And you killed them all?"
"Yup."
"You gotta be crazy-talented in using that thing."
"One of the best."
Dante was taking all this in better than he expected.
"So...what are your plans? Are you staying in Vale?" She asked nervously.
"Looks like it."
"Which school are you planning to go to?"
"I don't know. Mind telling me which schools are around here?"
"Well there's Signal, then there's Beacon, which you're probably old enough to apply to."
"Beacon?"
"The number one academy in this entire world!"
"All the academy's are for slaying monsters?"
"Pretty much."
I guess I'll like this school. "Only problem is I don't have a weapon."
"Well that's where I come in. I, will help you, build a weapon of your choice. But first we need some materials."
Dante remembered Hanekoma's words.
When you need it most, you'll think of it.
Dante got the box from his pack and opened it. Inside were materials, glowing with black energy, white energy, red energy, and blue energy.
These...these are angel and demon materials!
"Wow! What are those?" Asked Ruby.
"Materials for my weapon."
"All right! Let's get started then!"
For two days, Ruby and Dante were working. Dante had the plans, Ruby had the skills to help. They designed blueprints for Dante's weapon, used his angel and demon materials, and created a weapon that Dante most definitely loved. After letting it cool, Dante held it in his hands. This...was Kokushibyo...version two. His katana was similar to his Kokushibyo in its transformed form, which was a black katana, only there was no guard, making it convenient for for sheathing. He had a trigger mechanism at the near top of the hilt, which activated the blades high frequency oscillators, and idea adopted from a science study he read online, making it a sword able of cutting through anything. It crackled with black energy as he held down the trigger mechanism. It was a sword reinforced by a powerful energy currents and resonated at extremely high frequencies. It was created so that the oscillation weakened the molecular bonds of anything it cuts, increasing it ability to cut and do damage. Users who were like Dante were also able to wield the blade with accuracy and speed to the point that they were able to deflect bullets, one of Dante's favorite aspects he trained in.
"That is by far one of the most awesomest weapons I've ever seen! Being able to cut through anything and block bullets and all!"
Squealed Ruby with excitement.
"I know!"
"What about those other features we installed?"
"Oh! I almost forgot!"
Within the next second, the katana transformed into a set of black gauntlets, greaves, mask, and small back armor. Dante made it so that this weapon form could be powered up by engaging the thrusters inside the gauntlets and greaves. The gauntlets had small panels on each arm capable of transforming into twin blades that would be able to extend during attacks and retract back into the gauntlets themselves, while the greaves had small saws allowing Dante to cut through enemies or hazards with kicks. Almost all of its attacks could be charged, which where black charged attacks, and offered extreme damage with every hit. This weapon form was created with two levels of charge, and when fully charged, the attacks would be utterly devastating.
"Amazing handiwork Ruby. With your ideas and mine, I think we've created a masterpiece!"
"We're not done! There's still the third weapon form of your weapon!"
"Oh yeah!"
The third stage weapon form was a light, speedy scythe that was both powerful and reliable. It specialized in aerial attacks and its abilities were centered, making it weightlessness and full with agility. The scythe was exactly like Ruby's, only black and when attacking, it would leave behind a black streak of energy in its wake, similar to the color of the weapon. It was magnificent in every way.
"I think it's done." Said Dante.
"So it is!" Said Ruby.
They gave high fives to each other.
"Thank you so much Ruby."
"No worries. With those three forms, you're bound to be unstoppable if you join Beacon."
"Yeah."
"I'll be right back, I need to go get something." Said Ruby.
"Take your time!"
Dante waited for a while. Then there was an explosion in the distance followed by gun fire. Dante got up from his seat and ran towards the noise. He could see destroyed ground, and Ruby along with a woman older than her. The older woman appeared to be a middle-aged woman that had very light blonde hair tied back in a bun with a curl hanging down the right side of her face. Her eyes were emerald green and she wore thin rectangular glasses. She had teal, hanging earrings with a small bead identical to her earrings on her collar. She wore a white long-sleeved suit that exposes part of her chest, and puffy sleeves that tighten near the wrist before spreading back out near her hands. Her lower body had a black business skirt with buttons running in a vertical line up the front of it and lighter black-brown stockings. She wore black boots with brown heels, and wore a torn cape that was purple inside and black on the outside, decorated by a row of diamond-shaped brown beads going horizontally across her cape. Above this line of beads appeared an emblem of a tiara. However, this lady was not happy.
Dante had to go to station with Ruby and the woman.
"I hope that you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady. You put yourself and others in great danger."
"They started it!" She replied. Dante sat in the corner. It was about all he could do.
"If it were up to me, you'd be sent home... With a pat on the back..." She then noticed Ruby's smile, "...And a slap on the wrist." she demonstrated with her wand, which Ruby barely avoided.
"But... there is someone here who would like to meet you."
Suddenly, a man entered. He was a middle-aged man with tousled gray hair and thin brown eyes. He wore shaded glass spectacles and a dark green scarf with a small purple cross-shaped emblem on it. He wore an unzipped black suit over a black buttoned vest, with a green undershirt underneath. The man also wore black trouser shoes, and dark green long pants. Interestingly, he had black eyebrows, so Dante assumed he may have had black hair when he was younger. Dante saw him with a mug bearing the an emblem on it along with Beacon Academy written at the top. He was also holding a plate of cookies.
"Ruby Rose..." He said.
The man leaned in to look at her face.
"You... have silver eyes."
"Uh, um..." She said nervously.
"So! Where did you learn to do this?" gesturing with his head at the tablet showing Ruby's fighting.
Wow! She can do that?! This girl...she's...
"S-Signal Academy." Replied Ruby.
"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" The man asked.
"Well, one teacher in particular."
"I see..."
He put the cookies on the table in front of Ruby. She tentatively picked one up, and ate it in a single bite, and then, not seeing any rebuttal, proceeded to devour the rest.
"It's just that I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty, old crow if I were to recall..." The man said.
Ruby, mumbled through her full mouth, "Mmmm! Thash muh unkul!" she then finished the last of her cookies and wiped her mouth, embarrassed.
"Sorry. Thats my uncle Qrow! He's a teacher at Signal. I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing. And now, I'm all like- Hooowaaah! Witchaaaa!"
Ruby proceeded to make some karate-style poses and noises while sitting down.
"So I've noticed." The man then placed his cup on the table as he leaned in, then sits down opposite of Ruby.
"And what is an adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?" He asked her.
"Well... I want to be a Huntress."
"You want to slay monsters?"
"Yeah! I only have two more years of training left at Signal! And then I'm going to apply to Beacon!"
Ruby was talking faster and faster with her enthusiasm growing.
"You see, my sister's starting there this year, and she's trying to become a Huntress, and I'm trying to become a Huntress 'cause I wanna help people. My parents always taught us to help others, so I thought, 'Hey, I might as well make a career out of it!'" She giggled a bit.
"I mean the police are alright, but Huntsmen and Huntresses are just so much more romantic and exciting and cool and really, gosh, you know!"
Ruby flipped out at the last part, staring at the man and woman with a wide, crazy smile. They studied her.
"Do you know who I am?" Asked the man.
"You're Professor Ozpin. You're the headmaster at Beacon."
Ozpin, smiling, said "Hello."
"Nice to meet you."
"You want to come to my school?"
"More than anything." Ozpin exchanged glances with the woman, who showed her disapproval with a "Hmmph" before he turned back to Ruby.
"Well okay." Ruby smiled, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. The man rose from his seat and went towards Dante.
"And what about you young man?" Asked Ozpin.
"Me?"
"Do you want to attend Beacon?"
"I..." Dante looked over at Ruby, who was giving the double thumbs up signal for, "Say yes!"
"What made you ask me?" Asked Dante.
"Judging by your appearance, you seem to have experienced many battles before now. Some of them gruesome."
"And you know this how?"
"Let's say that right now, you are like an open book."
"Is that right?"
"With training an education, you can perfect your skills and abilities quite tremendously. What do you say?"
Dante took a glance at Ruby, then smiled.
"Count me in professor."
"Excellent. The both of you will start tomorrow. Welcome to Beacon Academy."
Ozpin took a sip from his coffee mug as he exited the room with the woman.