VCTR – Chapter 1
Initiation – Part 1
"... but, it is also the location of one of the kingdom's greatest failures."
"Mountain Glenn."
"That's right, it was an expansion of Vale! But in the end it was overrun by Grimm and fenced off from the rest of the city..."
"Correct! And now it stands abandoned, as a dark reminder."
3 Years Before Crisis...
"Never thought I'd see the clouds up this close…" stated a lanky, untidy dirty blonde haired young man in his fairly lively voice, peering through the extensive window of the Vale airship. His jacket draped over his shoulder was a recent gift; having velvet and dull red in the scheme. The sleeves of the apparel were slack and ample; their ends would be snug around the wrists of the wearer. His plain black shirt and grayish-black pants made him appear colorless and distinct. He exhibited a belt around his waist with high-caliber bullets tightly woven together by leather loops. The outsized buckle was spherical with an emblem of sawblades encircling the forward barreled of a six barrel Gatling. His footwear in particular were auburn hiking boots, shabby and nearly dilapidated. He sported greenish-blue eyes, and his skin appeared to have seen the light of the sun a fair amount. "Or again," he continued to speak to himself as he recalled gazing up to airships in his earlier youth, "I might've known I would, heh…"
Bemused by his memories, he began strolling down the passageway of outsiders within his age group, or near so, all of which sharing his destination… not time, nor acknowledgement. The young man wouldn't pay mind to much people as he turned inherently shy around unfamiliar faces… and he attempted not to show it by pretending to have no interest. However, he glanced toward them occasionally; personally hoping a graceful and willing individual approached him. As the blonde man continued his stroll, gazing out toward spacious vista of cotton clouds and rough forests, when he heard a particularly aggravated grunt from before him. Investigating ahead, he perceived two other teenagers, both sitting on their seats incorrectly as the seating was designed to face the windows; not one another. Both grasping onto their translucent devices, seeming to enjoy a board game together; a particularly checkered one.
"Dang it, Raiden!" barked the marginally taller teen, but he smirked in a quite ironic way, like he was embarrassed or amused, "You always win at these games!" The other gazed up to him, readjusting his square glasses with his fingers.
"It's not my fault, Carmine." He replied sneeringly, guarding his device adjacent to him as he spoke, "You just aren't paying enough attention!"
"I was payin' a lot of attention and you won!" complained Carmine as he squinted his eyes at him with a slight frown, "How do you keep doing that?"
"I'm just lucky, I guess!" chuckled Raiden.
"Um, excuse me," the blond huntsman eventually spoke as he approached them; his voice turning anxious as he raised his hand to wave, "W-what do you got there?"
"Playin' checkers on our Scrolls!" smiled Carmine as he held up his device for him to see, "But," he pointed at Raiden suddenly, barking once more, "This little ninja keeps winnin'!"
"It's not my fault." chuckled Raiden again with a shrug, sneering as his glasses flash lightly.
"Whatever!" grumbled Carmine as he frustratingly smacked Raiden's shoulder a bit hard. Raiden only yipped subtly, rubbing his arm softly. The rough teen returned his attention to the blond stranger, "So what's your name?"
"Vulcan," replied the young man with a warm smile, placing his hand on his chest, "Vulcan Goodwitch. U-Uh, you..?"
"Carmine Arvelos," replied Carmine cheerfully with his often orotund voice as he tipped his hat lightly to him, revealing thick, brown curly hair underneath the dark red ten gallon hide hat. His apparel was essentially Western, sporting a silver cross around the top of his hat as it nearly dangled in his eyes. The vest he wore was also a dark blood-red leather and the button up rolled up sleeve shirt beneath was pure snow white. An emblem was seared onto the left side, shaped in a sheriff's star with a knife and a revolver crossing over another. He sported thick leather riding pants padded for battle as even his kneecaps were covered in the sturdy dark brown padding. His dirt-stained white jeans showed through clearly underneath though. The boots he had were made of a thick russet leather; caked with dirt with a couple of dark red riding stars jutting out from behind. His bulky leather gloves around his hands with rubber finger tipped and brass knuckle buttons appeared to make his hands seem overproportioned. Below his belt of revolver shells Vulcan could see two peculiar revolvers holstered, both well-crafted with marble white handle and seven-shot cylinders.
"And this is Raiden," Carmine gestured to Raiden beside him. The thinner teenage boy stood up, bowing to Vulcan with his solid black hair and cyan eyes. His outfit appeared light and maneuverable as they seemed ideal for martial arts. The bright blue shawl encircling his shoulders made him appear mysterious. The black circular pin on his shoulder with an electric blue emblem of water being struck by lightning appeared to keep his clothing in order with a solid black undershirt preserving his modesty. The leggings sagged slightly as they ceased at his armored feet. The metal footwear appeared as an obvious weapon as sneakers underneath the lightly armored boots of electric blue and black color were barely noticeable. Nothing could be noted but the samurai design of the armor that covered his toes, ankles, heels, and his shins. The ankle armor appeared rounded with four gem-like stones embedded within: blue, light-blue, white and purple.
"Nice to meet you, uh, Vulcan," greeted Raiden as he leaned up soon, sporting a curious smile on his pale face, letting Vulcan see the light brown dimples on his cheek bones. His gravely and silent voice struck Vulcan to think he doesn't speak much.
"It's nice to meet you too, heh, uh…" he glanced down to the devices in their hands and he revealed his own device from his jacket, "I don't suppose either of you know how to work one of these..? Erm… What're these called again?" Both of the boys gave Vulcan strange expressions. "Uh… I mean… I…" he cleared out his throat, "N-Never mind…" He retreated quickly and awkwardly, leaning back some as he went. The two friends gave each other strange looks.
Vulcan quickly made his way as far as he could, walking out of their sight until he soon stopped to the most empty side of the airship. He stood still a moment in the silence and smiled a bit, liking the silence. Silence mostly meant safety for Vulcan. Where no noise existed, no one was around to find him... Usually. Grimm were often too loud for him not to notice. In his silent sanctum, the huntsman gazed out through the windows and watched as the ship glided over rooftops in Vale. He mind started to unravel as memories danced before his eyes.
He didn't know much about his father, but he remembered his mother quite well. Well enough to recall the pain she endured when his father "left." Or so she tried to tell him as he knew his father was dead from the beginning. On those sad and lonely nights, Vulcan remembered walking down the halls to see his mother in her room, crying over the family pictures with a glass of wine and a nearly empty bottle. Each time he watched, it became more and more clear that the pain he felt was his need to help his family. To help bring love and happiness to his mother, before he was gone.
Vulcan's thoughts were suddenly stolen by a slow sigh was made in the passenger seat section. The blond quickly turned around and looked around quickly. A tall darkly skinned Faunus sat lone near the exit into the lone hall where Vulcan searched. The wolf-eared being sat upright, eyes closed to help relax himself patiently. His colors were of silver and black, metal banded and armor covering his street-design apparel on his joint regions. He also wore a military-styled dog tag with black wolf's head and neck in a white circle, howling upward. His black hair was pulled back as it was less than medium length with a few silver streaks going up and over his head. His physique was well fit and healthy; well above average as beside him was a long, silver battle ax. The weapon was dual edged in a circular fashion. The blade resembling fangs as it seemed to be crafted like buttresses of a Gothic cathedral. A large crystal of Dust on the end served as the counterweight; it was hexagonal as half of it was white and the other was brown.
In his moments of silence, he heard a sudden chime from beside him, a very fruity voice from a female, full of life and vigor. "Hiya!" The stranger greeted him, catching the serious Faunus' attention. "My name's Winona Ava! What's your name?" The adorable pig-tailed girl tilted her head some, smiling at him sweetly. She was a Faunus as he could see her fox tail flicking about behind her.
The larger Faunus looked at her slightly surprised and uncertain in reacting, "I'm Titan… Rogers…"
"What'cha doin', Titan!?" she giggled some, leaning toward him a bit. She had a slim figure as her hands held a couple of pompoms in bright green and silver. Her eyes were golden and her hair was a ginger color too. Her outfit seemed fit for cheerleading or ballet as it was colored mainly in bright green and lined with silver. Her skirt was short enough to barely cover her thighs but she wore long black leggings beneath that stretched down to her bright green tennis shoes. Around her waist was a thick designer's belt with a big round buckle and hanging from her back from the belt was a long bright red feather with a white tip and there was also Winona's tail, bright red fox tail with silver tip. Her shirt seemed to be a part of her skirt with strings strapped over her shoulders. Titan leaned back from her some awkwardly. "Nothing… Just waiting… like everyone else."
"Oh, really!?" She grinned as she sat back now, "I'm waiting too with my best friend!"
"Best friend…?" Titan looked at her oddly now as she didn't seem to be a person who would make best friends easily… unless there was more of her. That doesn't bode well for him.
"Yep!" she nodded quickly, looking back to a young man sitting alone with his scroll out, watching videos with his headphones on… and he looked back to them both, smirking some. "Hey, buddy!" She waved quickly to him. Titan just raised his eyebrow at the young man, who began to laugh at him.
The young man was tall enough to meet Titan's shoulders, having black hair and green highlights and darkly tanned skin. His apparel was casual, having blue jeans and a papaya green hoodie, but with a dark gray tool belt with several open holsters, but only one peculiar tool in one: a bright green customized nail gun. The headphones he had around his neck were green and black and worn down, appearing to be always used and worn on his being. He also wore blue tennis shoes.
"What's so funny?" Titan spoke in his serious tone.
"You!" The friend of Winona gestured toward Titan, "You've made this all so awkward! All of you Atlas guys, I mean really."
Titan frowned at him hard, not impressed by his disrespect. Quickly Winona spoke, "One Faunus to another, he's just playing around! I promise!"
As Winona talked, the young man finally stood up. He walked over to Titan and held out his hand, "Hi, I'm Plamen Papaya!" He said with a smile on his face as he pulled down his headphones.
"Mmh…" Titan shook the young man's hand firmly, "Titan Rogers. Where do you both come from?"
"Siiiignal! From the island of Patch!" giggled Winona cutely as she spoke in a singsong voice, grinning some.
"The small island of Patch, huh? Is it as small as they say?" Titan asked with his monotonous voice.
"Small?" Winona looked at him oddly, "I thought it was just a normal school!"
"Winona…" Plamen said rolling his eyes at her some.
"Hey, guys! What's happenin' over here!?" shouted another voice entering the room. The three acquaintances look over to see Raiden and Carmine approach. Immediately, Carmine laid eyes upon Winona and he became silent, blushing brightly as he stared at her indefinitely. Dumbstruck, Carmine couldn't seem to take his eyes off her serene beauty and adorableness. However, this brief moment got shot out of the water as Plamen suddenly shouted, "Hey, Private Derp!" Carmine looked down to him, who was squatting below, looking up to him, "What'cha lookin' at?!"
"Uh!?" Carmine stepped back a bit, looking at Plamen in surprise. Winona stared blankly a moment in confusion, not knowing what Plamen meant at all in her ignorant bliss. Titan heard enough already as he put his earbuds in his ears and listened to his music from his Scroll. Paul and Raiden laugh as Vulcan watched them from the outer hall as he walked past the door, he gazed back to the window, sighing a bit as he was nearing the television area and he stopped, seeing the program suddenly getting interrupted by a hologram of Glynda Goodwitch. "Greeting, Students," she said and began to speak as Vulcan became distracted by the clouds as he saw them part and he could soon see the school of Beacon Academy come into view. He smiled some as he walked over to the window for a closer look, putting his hands on the handle bars to keep people from falling through the windows in cases of emergency. "Wow…" He smiled brightly in nervous excitement and soon he felt a presence behind him… with familiar chatter… He focused on the reflection of the window and he soon noticed the party he noticed earlier now behind him with a large group of students all grouping and smiling in excitement. Vulcan just remained silent and still as he waited from them all to scatter in this awkward position he was in.
Soon the airships touch down, and the passengers were let out, Vulcan looked around as he now wore his jacket on now as the collar revealed how the inside was furry and warm, giving good insulation for cold nights or weather as it was nearing fall now and the weather was beginning to turn. The zipper was slanted, coming from one side of his collar down to the other side of his hip. He had it zipped up most of the way to keep it from looking awkward. The jacket also seemed to be put together by four patches of velvet, orange and black. On his back was his metal backpack, made for backpacking one would assume at first, but with a closer look and you would notice the gun barreled and chain blades inside it. The pack with painted bright red with golden lining of half fleur-de-lis. The straps that held the pack to his back were bullet belted. As Vulcan walked, he looked around, seeing all the other students walking and mingling with one another.
He quietly frowned as the voices and laughter continue. His eyes flash bright red as he grunted.
Vulcan let loose his anger.
He punched a bunch of luggage beside him, causing a domino effect as they fell onto another student, causing him to push a cart of luggage away into one of the guards, making him fall and fire his weapon. The mass of people stir in surprise as some rush to safety and Atlas guards went on alert, aiming their weapons as they began looking around to find out what happened, reporting to their superiors as they go. Some students actually pulled out their weapons in reflex, expecting the worst to happen already, including Titan and Raiden.
The bewildered Vulcan looked around in nervous anticipation of the guards coming after him. As he held up his hands slowly, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his ear, pulling him away from the scene quickly. "Ack..!" Vulcan yelped as he's pulled away and led back behind one of the pillars ahead. He was soon released and smacked upside the head by a familiar riding crop. He winced in pain, "Ooooooow…" The young man soon looked up to see Professor Ozpin and Glynda looking at him. Glynda gave him the normal glare and frown of disapproval as Ozpin looked at him calmly, neither frowning, nor smiling in this serious moment. "What do you think you're doing?" Glynda grumpily scolded him, holding up her riding crop some, "You could've gotten someone killed! One of the students could've been badly injured, or worse one of the guards!" She pointed the crop at her nephew, "We didn't accept you just so you can cause a scene!" Vulcan gulped a bit, looking down as she didn't hold back as usual.
Ozpin took his cane, gently pushing Glynda's crop down, "Glynda, I think some of our new candidates need assistance on where they need to go for the initiation."
Glynda turned her gaze toward Ozpin, but not at him directly as she still glared at Vulcan, "I'll see to it that they're given proper guidance." She turned and walked away rather briskly, crossing her arms as she went. Vulcan took a moment to breathe as the weight felt lifted off his chest.
"Endearing, isn't she?" Ozpin smiled to Vulcan lightly but sincerely, "You never had the chance to know your aunt better, mmh?" Vulcan just shook his head to him some; silent as he felt that was more respectful. "Well?" The silver haired headmaster tilted his head lightly, "Mmh… I see." He looked back to the guards all returning to their posts. Soon he looked back to Vulcan, "There's no need for silence. You're not in trouble."
"Thanks…" Vulcan eventually spoke, sighing a bit.
"Nervous?"
"Yeah…" Vulcan nodded his head to the wise headmaster, smiling back to him some.
"That's okay, but you don't have to be. It's just a simple initiation. I'm sure Glynda explained everything to you before you boarded the airship." Ozpin spoke, watching Glynda direct some students toward the candidate housing.
"Yep." Vulcan nodded lightly, "Said something about making sure I remembered all my techniques before I go, heh."
"That's good. You've got a reputation to uphold." Ozpin nodded some as he looked back to Vulcan.
"A… reputation…?" Vulcan asked him a bit confused.
"Yes, but I wouldn't worry too much." Ozpin nodded some, pointing to the young man, "You just remember that we're expecting you to do the best in all your abilities. Do not hold back, Vulcan. Eight years should have taught you all you need to know out there," He looked out to the forest not far from them. He returned his gaze to Vulcan, "but now you're going to be running with the big boys." He tapped Vulcan's chest with the handle of his cane, "Remember that."
"Heh…" Vulcan nodded some to Ozpin, chucking lightly, "Thanks, Professor Ozpin."
"Your welcome. Your aunt cares for you, Vulcan." Ozpin nodded to him, "Don't be afraid to ask for her guidance," He chuckled some, "But I shouldn't be saying that," he turned around and walked off toward the building, "I'll be seeing you, Mr. Vulcan."
"S-See you," Vulcan waved to Ozpin as he walked over to follow the other students when Glynda tapped his shoulder and he looked back to her.
"Consider this a warning, step out of line again and I won't hesitate to commit disciplinary action," Glynda crossed her arms, "I'm watching you, Vulcan. We're expecting big things from you."
"Mmh…" Vulcan nodded a bit to her and smiled some, "Thanks, Aunt Glynda. I'll try not to lash out like that again." Glynda nodded and looked back, directing student traffic as Vulcan resumed following the flow.
"So, what's this initiation 'bout?" Carmine asked his friends as he laid out his mat. He laid on his stomach as he was just across from Winona now. He wore his red overalls for bed tonight in the steadily dimming room.
Raiden looked back to him with a dull look, wearing his plain blue pajamas, "I already told you, Carmine." He mumbled some as he rolled out his mat beside his best friend.
"I forgot, bro," laughed Carmine awkwardly.
"It's not supposed'ta be known, ya dunce!" spoke Plamen as he held up his Scroll as he laid on his belly between Winona and Titan. Titan laid on his back, listening to music still as he wore a black long sleeve shirt and shorted. Plamen was in a shirt and underwear as Winona wore her green pajamas, "That's why it's also called a test!" Plamen gave him a smart look for a moment.
"Well, that isn't fair! How'll we be ready?" Carmine pouted a bit.
"I already told you!" Raiden huffed a bit as Vulcan passed by them, watching and eavesdropping in their conversation, "You'll need to remember everything you've been taught in our Vacuo Huntsman School."
"Awww…" Carmine laid his head on the floor, huffing some.
"Don't worry, Carmine!" Winona giggled some happily, "We can do it! I was told we get to be in teams in this initiation!"
"Well…" Carmine lifted his head from his pillow, "I guess you're right… Heh… We can do it, W-Winona!" The fox Faunus nodded to him quickly as he laid on his back, "Well, I'mma hit the hay. Night!"
"Good night, and don't forget about what you've learned before!" Plamen laughed some at him.
"I won't…" Carmine waved his hand a bit airily as he spoke.
Vulcan meanwhile kept walking, not watching where he was going and suddenly he bumped into someone.
"Ooof...!" He stepped back some and he looked down to see young man in front of him, holding a rolled up mat as he wore a black robe on him with a hood that's shadow covered his face, especially in this dark room. "Watch where you're goin'!" Grumbled the shorter dark figure… in slippers, his penetrating voice intimidated Vulcan.
"S-Sorry…" Vulcan sayed looking away some nervously.
"What? You think that you're tall that means you don't need to look out for us little people, eh?" grunted the hooded figure, who was barely a full head beneath Vulcan.
"Uh… Well, you aren't that short… sir..!" Vulcan grunted a light when the figure pushed past him, "Mmm'kay…" Vulcan mumbled as he walked over to roll out his mat as the lights went out and he laid down. Using his jacket as a blanket as he closed his eyes. As he tried to go to sleep, someone suddenly stepped on his stomach and he grunted in pain, "Gah..!"
"Oh, sorry! I didn't see you there." Said the hooded figure from earlier coyly as he turned around and stepped on him again.
The next morning, Winona was going at it, chiming and talking in rushed fits about how excited she was for today. She expressed it during everyone waking up, the showered and finally at breakfast where both Plamen and Titan shout, "Shut up!" As loudly as they can, making a strong wind to stick up Winona's pig tails.
"What crawled up your tailpipe and died!?" Shouted the hooded figure from across the table, chuckling a bit as he sat by another one, she being silent as she was obviously feminine.
"What's that, scrub!?" Plamen suddenly stood up angrily and curled his fists. Titan pushed him back down to sit with his dull expression.
"Nothing!" The hooded figure shook his head, chuckling lightly.
Carmine and Raiden soon sit with the three friends, "So! What's for grub!?" happily spoke Carmine as he began to dig into his meal of pancakes.
"Pancakes!" chimed Winona cheerfully.
"Looks good," Raiden said with a light smile.
"Your Faunus girlfriend looks good," heckled the hooded figure again.
"What's that, scrub!?" Plamen shouted as he suddenly stood up again.
"Nothing!" The hooded figure just shook his head and chuckled as Vulcan watched them in awkward silence.
Later, the candidates are called to the initiation area and Vulcan followed them, last in line. As soon as he arrived there, outside where the candidates are lined up shoulder to shoulder, a couple feet apart, Vulcan felt a riding crop on his chest, stopping him . "Do you have everything you need?" Glynda calmly and quietly asked him so the others wouldn't hear.
"Got lunch," Vulcan chuckled lightly and Glynda just lowered her riding crop some.
"Stand on the gray square next to Mr. Titan," She gestured to Titan near them as Ozpin smiled light at Vulcan obeying.
"Nervous?" Ozpin asked him with his usual smile.
Vulcan looked back to him and shook his head a bit, "Not really." Ozpin smirked some and nodded. A few moments passed and Vulcan looked around some, looking back to Titan, "Uh, hey. I'm Vulcan… Vulcan Goodwitch," he spoke some, holding out his hand.
"Titan Rogers," Titan replied monotonously as he shook Vulcan's hand, "Nice to meet you."
"Ditto," chuckled Vulcan lightly.
Soon, Ozpin spoke, "Greetings, candidates. It's my pleasure to congratulate you on coming this far to Beacon Academy, but now, the real test began." He nodded lightly, gesturing to the forest ahead of them, "Before you is an area which is infested with Grimm, but there you will each need to find an artifact… and bring them back here before sundown." The headmaster spoke as Glynda held up her scroll, showing a chess piece on it, "The initiation test is for us to gauge how much you remember from your schools and how you all fare in battle. You'll all be thrown into the air and show us your landing strategy, once you touch down, the first person you'll have eye contact with will be your partner for the next four years. Stay sharp and good hunting." Suddenly, Vulcan heard a horn go off and the first candidate was launched off.
"U-Uh…" Vulcan looked back to Ozpin in nervousness, "Professor Ozpin… What's a landing strategy…?"
"Ugh…" Glynda frowned at Vulcan hard.
"May I, Professor Ozpin?" Titan spoke with a light smile and Ozpin nodded to him. Titan turned to Vulcan , holding up his hands to explain, "A landing strategy is very simple. What's going to happen is that we're going to be launched off and you need to find a way to land onto the ground safely without hurting yourself, understand?"
"Uh…" Vulcan gulped as Titan is soon launched off, "Whaaaaaaaaaaa!?" Vulcan shouted as he's launched off behind Titan, sprawling out of control.