Time doesn't wait for anyone
Chapter 1: This Needs More Steampunk
It is the first day of Beacon Academy, the day when new would-be students arrive. Some students are looking out of the airship windows, leaving many at a loss for words and other students' stomachs turning.
One young girl in particular is doing neither. She is sitting on the edge of one of the many benches near the windows as to not block the view for students wanting to look outside.
Her head is hanging down and her eyes are closed, a steampunk top hat with gears lining the brim staying where it is as if suspended by magic. Purple hair on top with an undercut on the sides is hiding the scarred right side of her face.
She has her arms crossed on her chest and it is particularly obvious to anyone, who cares to look at her, that she is not as blessed in that area as other girls on the airship. Through an open leather jacket, with a large collar and chains on the chest area, a white shirt is visible. Only one thing is notable about her arms. She wears 2 watches on each arm that all show different times. If there is a theme to the time on the watches, only she knows it.
Her pants lined with belts on one leg and holes on the other, a chain hanging out of the right pocket, connecting to a pocket watch. A sword, just short of a long sword is hanging on the left side of her hip. Its light purple, almost red, sheath beautifully connecting to the dark red hilt, making it look like they are one piece with bright red ruby as its pommel. The only thing not steampunk about her outfit are her steel toed, worn-out leather boots.
To anyone on the ship she looked like any other would-be student. While she certainly has the skill to become a Huntress, she has no interest in actually becoming one.
Both her Aura and Semblance have unlocked themselves at the same time, an event she never talks to anyone about. Ever. She doesn't try to hide it, but thinks it isn't something others should be burdened with. Said event is also the reason she never wants to become a Huntress.
A holographic-screen opens up, playing the local news station. Something about a Faunus civil rights movement that went violent when a Faunus terrorist organization disrupted it. The anchor Lady starts a new sentence but is cut off by a message to the would-be students by the vice-headmistress Glynda Goodwitch. She would likely be the key to find the headmaster, Professor Ozpin.
Those two names remind her of a story she loved as a child. "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz", it's called. She only remembers bits and pieces but the names are something that will always stick with her.
The airship will land soon, so the girl decided to hum a tune that just appeared in her mind.
The airship finally lands on Beacons landing platform and the students pour out. She waits for everyone to be out before standing up and turning to leave. Walking into the courtyard, she holds both arms in front of her, looking at the watches, before also pulling out her pocket watch and checking the time it displays.
"Another hour until Ozpins speech. I guess I have time to kill." she chuckles at the thought.
'Time to kill' as if it could be killed. I should know considering my semblance.
The girl looks up and two girls catch her attention. One of them clad in white with light blue accents to match her pure white hair and if that wouldn't enough to identify her as Weiss Schnee, the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, the rapier on her hip, her petite body and attitude do it for you.
Miss Schnee was yelling at the second girl that caught her attention. A young girl, a bit young to attend Beacon without being moved up one or two years, clad in a black corset with crimson laces, combat-skirt with crimson bloom sticking out the bottom. Silver crosses on her black jacket hold up the crimson cape on her back, a belt hanging loosely over the corset and combat-skirt, holding some sniper rounds and a small pouch, probably containing more sniper magazines, as well as a rose emblem. It is obvious to everyone that the outfit is designed after the girls' hair, a dark crimson only really visible on the ends of her hair as the rest appears to be black. Her weapon, in its collapsed form, is clearly visible behind the cape.
The girl in red tries to say something but Miss Schnee just continues to rant, waiving a bottle of Dust around.
The steam punk girl decides to stick around and watch this ordeal play out. As expected, the girl in red sneezes and the Dust around them explodes. That got a giggle from the steampunk girl but it was quiet enough only a Faunus would have picked it up. Miss Schnee continues the rant after the shock has settled and another girl steps in.
This one has a black bow on her head, black hair decorating it. She has her chest covered in a white top with a corset like blouse covering half her stomach. Only one arm has a sleeve but isn't connected to anything. White pants quickly hide beneath dark purple leggings and black boots.
The girl in black and white talks to the heiress a bit, shutting her up pretty fast, and leaves, not waiting for any reaction from either of the other two girls.
Miss Schnee is quickly fleeing the scene and the girl in black and white going back to the airship, the girl in red was left alone. Figuring she has nothing better to do, the steampunk girl moves to introduce herself to the, now collapsed, girl in red.
"It's not even initiation yet and you already exploded", the steampunk girl said while holding out a hand "Name's Sora. Sora Jikan."
The red clad girl looked a bit embarrassed "Ruby. Ruby Rose." Ruby took the hand Sora held out for her. Both of them notice each other's eyes first. Rubys eyes are both silver while Sora's are both a different color. Golden on the right and green on the left.
"You have … interesting eyes", both of them said at the same time, causing Ruby to blush in embarrassment and Sora to chuckle.
"We got some time to kill before the speech Ozpin in going to give. Wanna walk around with me?" Sora said. "I'd love to get to know you a bit."
Rubys embarrassment vanished instantly and was replaced with excitement at the chance of making a new friend already "Sure!"
Time flew by faster than they realized and soon there was not much to talk about anymore so Ruby decided it was a good idea to pull her weapon out and show off a bit.
"So... I got this thing." Ruby said as her giant scythe slammed into the ground.
"Whoa... That's awesome!" Sora nearly shouted in excitement. "It's also a gun isn't it?"
"Yeah!" Ruby said. "Apart from being a scythe, it's also a customizable, high impact sniper rifle."
"Ok, but why not full-auto?" Sora asked intrigued by the design.
Rubys answer followed suit, as if she expected it, "It's because of my Semblance. I can make it shoot faster than a full-auto. So what do you got?"
Sora pulled her sword out of the sheath saying: "I have this." Putting the blade in the palm of her left hand. "It's been a family heirloom for hundreds of years and has not been sharpened or repaired since it left the smiths hands, or so the story goes. Some say it makes you hit harder but I never noticed anything like that. It had a blue twin once but it was lost during the last war, never to be seen again."
"Wow... That's a lot of lore just for two swords. Well, one I guess since we don't know if the blue twin is actually real or not." Ruby said somewhat astonished by the intricate designs on the hilt.
The designs were nothing short of something one would imagine of an enchanted sword, not that magic was an actual thing.
Not long after Rubys statement Sora piped up, saying it was almost time for the speech, so they both made their way over to the auditorium.
"Hey, sis I saved you a spot!", came an unknown voice from nearby.
"Hey, I gotta go! I'll see you after the ceremony!" not waiting for a response Ruby went over to a blond girl that was apparently her sister.
Shrugging Sora took a spot in the back to watch the speech.
Clearing his throat Ozpin began. "I'll keep this brief."
He clearly needs to keep this brief. He looks sleep deprived. Sora thought
"You have traveled here today in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look among you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."
As Ozpin said the last sentience, he looked directly at Ruby as if that sentence is meant for her specifically.
After Glynda finished her small part, Sora went up to her.
"Excuse me, Miss Goodwitch?"
Miss Goodwitch wears her blond hair in a bun on the back of her head along with a shoulder long curly strand on the right. Glasses sitting on her nose accenting her green eyes.
Her dark purple cape hanging on her white shirt, which has a hole to show some cleavage and half sleeves. A black body-skirt combination covers what the shirt wouldn't cover goes halfway down the thighs.
From there black stockings cover her legs. Black knee high boots, with a strap to hold her riding crop being her footwear of choice.
"Yes?" came her cold reply.
Sora, not taken aback by this, quickly asked if she could talk with Ozpin tomorrow before initiation begins.
"If you want to ask if you can still enlist as a student here, the answer is no." Glynda summarized.
"No, it's not about that. It's about the murder of a Huntress named Summer Rose."
This is my first fanfic I've written and it's probably pretty bad. However, I'd appreciate it if you read and review it so i can make improvements!
Furthermore I'd like to dedecate this chapter to tesh_niichan and TheGamerGirls3 on Twitch, since i wrote lots of it with their streams in the backgroud. Much love to the both of them and their family!