Chapter 1
The Academy
A/N: This is Aldo7Aces, this fanfic's author, and I'm bringing you an updated version of it. Content warning and disclaimer! I don't own RWBY, the series belongs to Rooster Teeth. I am not profiting from this in any way. Alright, now that that's out of the way… I've written a book that's post-apocalyptic and a mix of many things, having plenty of violence and such, so if you guys are interested, look for 'Sanctuary- Book One: Earth Reborn' (don't know how I'm gonna do it, but keep your eyes out for it if you're interested). I have a DeviantArt, so if you want to see some of the weapons and emblems mentioned in the story, be sure to check it out. I have a Twitter and YouTube (also Aldo7Aces) for anyone interested. Also, doing commissions and stuff for 3D weapons and emblems for anyone interested, just check out my DeviantArt for the details and I hope that you guys enjoy the story ahead of you. Music (something I'll always recommend every chapter) for this update… um… Hollywood Undead's 'Day of the Dead' album is pretty great so I'd suggest to give that a listen. Again, I hope you guys enjoy. I'll leave you to it.
I'm fiddling on my computer, making a new weapon blueprint just to pass the time. My older brother Sterling walks into the room and complains, "Man, you never get out of here! Don't you have a girlfriend or something?"
I shake my head and tell him, "Not yet. Your fault we move so much."
He chuckles, "Yeah, but it comes with the job. Can't wait till you get out of here so I won't have to worry about where it takes me."
I chuckle and ask, "Seriously though, why are you here?"
He shrugs, leaning against my desk, "Well, schooling at Beacon Academy begins in about three days, Bro. Just kind of want to know how you feel. I didn't attend Beacon because I was already working, but I know it's not going to be easy. You're ready, right?"
I nod, "Yeah. All I need is to go. Can't wait for it. Like, I'm excited but nervous at the same time. I know that a lot is riding on my shoulders."
Sterling nods and gives an understanding smile, "Yeah. I can get ya, little bro. I felt the same way starting up working as a trainer."
I give him a confused look, "Why did you choose that over being a Huntsman?"
He's looking at his Scroll, "Meh. I could work earlier than become a Hunstman. Didn't have to go to school. And a lot of people pay good money to learn more about and better control their Auras and Semblances, so that was a plus, Munsell. I'm also pretty damn good at what I do, so may as well do it, right? Like dad used to say."
I nod and he tells me, "It's going to be weird without you here, you creep."
I chuckle, "Yeah, yeah. Fuck you too."
He laughs and gets up, tussling my hair with his right hand before heading out of my room. I look around at several of my things lying around in here. Figurines from some of my favorite series, posters from a couple bands, a few blueprints my dad left behind, some art my mom made. The blueprints are just a few circuit systems for energy efficiency and conversion rates and shortcuts while the art is three different pictures. The first is a tattered red flag with her emblem (a pair of wings with a double-sided spear with a spike and mirrored halberd head, blue in color) over an empty battlefield, the sun rising on the horizon, painting the sky in different shades of orange and purple. Another is an angel with mechanical wings (it has her features, long, free-flowing, red hair, piercing left and right green and blue eyes, respectively) holding out a hand and looking down on a man with brown skin, on his knees, wearing heavy metal armor, short, spiky, black hair, like two inches in length, his back to the perspective of the beholder. The last one is a painted version of a picture that took my face as a baby's profile for the left half, the other half being what I look like now (she had flashes of the future sometimes in her dreams, so she woke up when she saw my face and had to capture it) and the resemblance is uncanny.
I grab my laser rifle, Amber King, and kiss my battery pack, "I wish you two were still here…"
I grab my Scroll and text Carmine, my best bud, and tell him, 'Yo. Want to hang out for a bit, maybe spar, shoot some practice shots?'
He gives me a reply in about two minutes, 'Yeah, sure, see you at the field.'
I get my armor together and put it on, strapping my pack over my jacket at the waist and call out to Sterling as I head out, "Going to get some training in with Carmine. See you in a bit!"
He replies before I close the door, "Dinner'll be ready by the time you get back!"
We meet up in a clearing surrounded by trees and the sun is pretty low, ready to dip and make it dusk in probably about two hours. We're practicing our usual routine. Carmine's using his Semblance to generate psychic objects for me to zap with my pump-action laser rifle. This is a combined effort between us both where we attempt to become as close to in sync with each other as possible. Carmine makes his projectiles last a second long and he tries to make them as spread apart from each other with the perfect number that I will be able to shoot all of them without any disappearing. He laughs when I mess up a shot but I laugh at him when he puts in too many projectiles, showing how we both make our own mistakes.
Carmine asks me about five minutes into his projectile throwing, "So, do you think you'll be able to adjust to attending Beacon, Munsell?"
I sigh, "Yeah. I guess. I mean, I moved here for the last half of the school year several months ago… so I guess it won't be any different this time around."
He nods and tells me, "Hey, at least this time you'll have someone you know going with you."
I chuckle, "Yeah. Thanks for that. I know that the entry-readiness exams they held were hard for you to pass but you made it. I'm glad you put so much effort to be able to come with me to Beacon."
He chuckles as he fires three more projectiles for me to shoot, "Don't get soft on me now, Munsell! I did it just as much for you as I did for me."
I chuckle as I fire at each of the projectiles before he finishes talking. He asks me, "Your brother. How's he handling the new job?"
I reply as I charge the rifle with a few more pumps, "He's doing well. Dude paying's a huge guy in the community, paying top dollar to help out his daughter to learn and control her Semblance. Sterling's got a knack for helping others figure it out, so he's determined. Knowing him, he'll be able to take on a few missions too now that he won't have to worry about me and my school hours. He's pumped to take on Hunting missions like he'd do in the last few summers."
Carmine nods and I tell him, "Well. I'll be glad to get out of here. Don't get me wrong, Ixmus is great and all but I want to get into the next level of training. The kingdoms of Remnant basically guarantee work to all Huntsmen. Besides. It'll be fun."
He laughs, "Amen to that. Hey, I'm up for a sparring session if you feel ready."
I nod and we take off our upper body armor, combat greaves still over our pants. We get intense every time we spar, but neither of us uses our Semblance in our sessions (except for me at the end to heal both of us up only to do it again). Carmine stands ready defensively, his face devoid of humor, his eyes beholding me as the only thing that matters: his enemy. I grin and roll my neck, popping some of the bones and run towards him. I flip forward using my momentum, trying to crush him with my leg but he raises both arms to catch me. I'm ready for it, using my reaction speed to arc my back and back-handspring away from him before he can kick me with a powerful spin kick. We begin to circle each other slowly, each of our guards raised, ready for the other to make the first move.
Carmine is the one to attempt a rush first. He jumps toward me with his right fist raised. He lands, trying to deliver it for my face but I block and spin him, only for his other hand to come as a backfist blow. I catch it but it was a ploy, Carmine delivering a knee to my gut that earns a loss of air from me. He uses the moment to drive his right elbow under my chin, clacking my already clenched teeth, and uses his other leg to footplant my chest and knock me away. He chuckles, "Mark one for me while you patch yourself up."
I shake my head, "Nah. I can keep going. I'll pay you back that one, don't worry."
He nods and gets his guard back up. I rush him once again but fake a punch with my left arm that he tries to block. I catch his right wrist and his eyes widen in surprise, knowing he messed up. I bring my body close and use my right arm to elbow his face three times rapidly and transition it into a backfist blow across his face. I quickly bring my right hand to his right shoulder and let go of his arm with my left hand, bringing it to his back and kick his right leg at the shin, flipping him onto his back and stand over him, chuckling, "Told you. Guess we're even."
He nods and holds a hand out for me to help him up and we continue for probably about two hours, me using at least two batteries for the entire session to heal us. I can absorb the battery energy to fuel my Semblance to boost my strength and heal myself and others. I ask him, "Ready to go all out?"
He nods, "Yeah… I'm up for it."
We put back on our armor but don't grab our weapons.
Now's probably a great time to describe our equipment's design. I commonly wear black pants with padded greaves of a yellowish sort of tan color, black metal chest piece that covers the space from my collar to lower ribs that is two banded. I have a jacket that goes down to halfway through my thighs' lengths, dark yellow color with two black stripes up at the shoulders. It has padding built into the shoulders and chest under the layer of the jacket. The jacket is fully open but strapped in an 'X' over the metal chest piece to keep stray objects from catching in the jacket. The straps are the same tan as the greaves, the area where the jacket zips is a black trim. Strapped around my waist is my battery container my jacket, holding four extra recharging batteries for my rifle. I'm wearing black combat boots and a tan, long-sleeved shirt underneath my metal chest piece that's under the jacket.
Carmine's armor is light, consisting of a sort of plastic polymer that's as durable as most metals. He has plates of it that are like bracers over his lower arms, fingerless gloves coming out of them. His torso is protected by larger pieces of the same material, a large one over his chest, another one with joints over his back, held together by a harness. His legs only have pads of the same material over his thighs, wearing white, modified shoes with metal bits as additional armor for his feet while still keeping light. He wears a black, padded sort of long-sleeved shirt under his armor and his pants are a dark grey. His armor's polymer material is the same dark grey color and every piece has a red stripe running down its center. His hair is short, has a little gel, is brown and his eyes are red.
He gets into a ready defensive stance and I get prepared. I chuckle and his face is still sizing me up, gauging the best approach or defense, depending on how I act for the next five seconds. I rush him swiftly and allow my Semblance to prepare for any attacks he deals to me, to increase my damage output. My Semblance allows me to convert energy into something I can use, either for healing or boosting, or stored into my batteries for later. Usually the damage from combat is the energy I usually convert into a useable form.
He motions his hand and large, red psychic objects (somewhat transparent, like thick, foggy glass) cylindrical in shape form to my left and try to knock my down. I sidestep but in my moment of slowing down, Carmine creates another that comes from beneath me and clocks my chin, extending my body's length to where I'm an inch off of the ground, another psychic object (probably a vice, I can't see it but can feel it) clamps on the sides of my head and slams me on the ground.
Carmine follows up quickly, exploiting my moment of vulnerability. He runs towards me as he creates the last two objects and jumps through the air, trying to land on me with a combination of his right knee and fist. I react before he can connect his attack, rolling out of the way and get into a crouched position and dash toward him and knee his face, knocking him away. His counter is unexpected, a rectangular platform striking my legs and slamming me back on the ground. After so many sparring sessions, Carmine has learned that my weakness is being layed out on the ground, because I'm able to react more quickly on my feet. He creates a column and crushes my chest with it. He gets up and tries to create another, but it fails to happen. The one crushing me fades and eventually disappears and Carmine realizes he was too aggressive, wasting his energy, only to fuel mine without incapacitating me.
I roll forward and allow the energy boost to give me increased speed and punching power. I deliver a steady stream of fists and elbows, keeping him from recovering a guard. If he's blocking his upper body, I aim for his stomach or kick his legs, creating openings in different ways. I end it by grabbing his right arm and flip him over my shoulder, keeping my hold on his wrist and lock my legs around his upper arm, telling him, "Tap or I pop your elbow or shoulder!"
He taps my leg and I let go. I get up and help him up. He tells me, trying to stabilize his breathing after our fight, from intense to normal, "Final score… you have… twenty-six… I have eleven…"
I laugh and shake my head, "You and that score… haha…"
I pull out my Scroll and see that Sterling sent me a message, 'I called Carmine's parents and he can come over for dinner, hang till late or spend it if he wants.'
I nod and show him the message and ask, "You want to come over? Videogames and chill?"
He laughs and nods, "Sure, we haven't done that in a while."
We're gathered at the airship landing and my older brother Sterling is there waiting for our departure. He wears a black trench coat with red hex trim, black pants with two metal chains, and a white shirt that sports his emblem: a vertical eye in an alchemical circle. A female announcer is heard through the intercom, "All students attending Beacon Academy board ship twenty-six in terminal A7."
Sterling tells me as I grab my trunk, "Go out there. Make some friends. Maybe even a few enemies. Just… don't be boring! Christ."
I chuckle and tell him in response, "You find a lady friend, then you can tell me to change!"
The three of us laugh and he places his hand on my shoulder, "Look, little bro. I know you're excited to go become a Huntsman, but sometimes you need to take a breath. Remember that. Hmm… Mom and Dad would be proud of you."
I nod, a little sad to remember them, but I smile, "Yeah, they would be."
He points a finger at Carmine, "You need to get better or you're going to fail the mock-battles and sparring tests! How's my little brother going to feel being alone after his best friend flunks out of their first year!?"
Carmine chuckles and waves it off, "I will. Later, Sterling."
My brother hugs us both around the shoulders and tells us, "I'm proud of you guys. Don't forget that I'm a phone call or a Scroll chat away, alright?"
We nod and are rushed by the female announcer's voice, "All Beacon students board twenty-six in A7." We run over to the high-tech, multi-personnel transfer vehicle and the trip begins shortly thereafter.
I look out the window the whole way, appreciating all of the scenery. It's interesting to fly this high above everyone. I see the other ships flying nearby for the same reason as us. A crap ton of students I guess.
Carmine asks me as he chews some tropical flavored gummies, "How long till? Do you know?"
I shake my head, "No but-" I get cut off by the holographic television getting cut from the currently running news to a fashionable teacher or professor of sorts.
She begins talking, "Hello and welcome to Beacon. My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy. Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace and as future huntsmen and huntresses it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world."
I shrug after the projection cuts off, "Well. Looks like this could get interesting. It's nice to be greeted like this."
Carmine nods, "Sounds promising. I mean, our projections are better, but meh." The ship pulls next to the landing region and we walk off onto the platform and up to the schoolyard.
I'm overwhelmed with everything, "Whoah."
Carmine tells me, "C'mon, we've still got to get registered and stuff, remember?"
He pulls out a paper that we were each mailed a week before the trip and I nod, "Right. Let's get to the attendance office or whatever it is." He nods and we begin walking down the way.
Turns out it's in the cafeteria. There's a ton of others, and I assume they're all first years like us. People are forming their own cliques and groups after registering. Carmine and I eat our lunches apart from everyone at one of the tables along the edge of the cafeteria.
He chuckles to me, "It's exciting to be here, man. Can you believe it?"
I nod, "Yeah, it's incredible. We're going to do great."
About an hour later, we arrive at the gathering hall and find a position in the crowd. Goodwitch and Ozpin appear on a platform at the front and everyone grows quiet. Ozpin speaks into the microphone on-stage, "Hehumm… I'll… keep this brief. 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 amongst 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."
He leaves and I'm psyched. I'm here to test myself, to see how far I can improve. Everyone here assumes they're the best of the best, but we're not. I know we can all get better.
Goodwitch comes up to the mic after him, "You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."
I grin, "This might be my kind of school."
Carmine tells me, "We've got a few hours to kill."
I nod, "Yeah. We can hang out somewhere. Or you can go introduce yourself to some other people."
He agrees, "Yeah, that sounds good."
We head outside to the front and Carmine leaves while I watch several of the people there. It's a familiar thing to me. Just like the three other times I've moved. It's strange that it's the same as always. While I'm watching, a girl comes up to me. Her eyes are a deep blue and her black hair is short on the left but progressively becomes longer on the right.
She greets me with her hand outstretched, "Hey, I'm Nadeshiko Mila. I… don't know anyone here so I figured it would be good to talk to someone."
I nod and take her hand, "Yeah, sure. I'm Munsell Regent."
I ask her, a little interested in learning more about the first person to talk to me here aside from Carmine, "What're your weapons?"
She has two sheathes attached to her hip and she tells me, "Oh, these are a katana and ninjato. They absorb atmospheric particles and transform them into ice crystal projectiles."
I smile, "Cool. So why come and talk to me instead of anyone else?"
She shrugs, "You seemed nice enough. I saw you watching other people so I figured 'why watch others when he can interact with someone?'"
I nod, looking at her armor. She's wearing a type of kimono that only has the left sleeve, a metal breastplate over her chest. She has a gauntlet over her right arm made of leather without fingers that has plating on it. Her lower body clothing is some short shorts and two boots with padding on them that go up to her thighs. The kimono has cherry blossom tree designs on the area from the bottom up to the chest, the rest of the material a reddish brown. The leather of her boots and gauntlet are both the same reddish brown but the metals of her armor are all a kind of pinkish white.
I tell her as we sit down on a bench, "I like your armor. Pretty nice designing." She nods and tells me, "Yours is great too."
She asks as a follow-up to her comment about my armor, "What's your weapon?"
I reach to my back and undo the two close straps holding Amber King in place. I tell her as I hold it for her to see, "It has two pumps. The bottom one charges the next beam from the battery to be fired. The top one changes the firing type from focused to dispersed or constant."
She nods her understanding and Carmine shows up, "Hey, Munsell. I found some other interesting- oh, hey there."
He notices Nadeshiko and she asks, "Who're you?"
I tell her, "He's a great friend of mine. Came with me the whole way. From training up until acceptance into this place."
She smiles at that and stretches her hand out to him, "Nadeshiko Mila. Pleasure to meet you."
He takes her hand in his and nods, "Yeah, sure. I'm Carmine Grey."
He remains standing and tells me, "Hey, I was checking on you and whether you found someone to talk to. I found some other people I'd like to hang out with for now. I'll see you back at the ballroom. Later, man."
I nod, "Later, bro."
I stay seated with Nadeshiko and she asks me, "You guys must be close."
I chuckle, "Yeah. He's an antagonizing mofo. He's…" I look around to make sure that he's not around to hear my next comment, "Well… he's what one would use to consider average. His interest in coming here surprised me and we trained together, and I pushed him so that he could come with me here. So, yeah, I'd say we're close."
She giggles and nods, "Sounds good to have a friend like that. Especially to have him come here with you! I can't imagine how that must be."
When we reach the ballroom to sleep, we're each given a sleeping bag and I lie down, looking out at the main source of light creeping into the room. The tower emanates a green light and amazes me. I'm ready for whatever comes next.
It's the following morning and I'm grabbing my equipment for initiation from a temporary locker. Carmine comes up to me, fiddling with his combat armor, "Ready to go?"
I nod, "Definitely. Ready to do some work."
He nods, "Want to impress that Nadeshiko girl, huh?"
I shake my head, "Come on, man. No, I don't. I mean… I wouldn't mind it. She's cute and all but I doubt that I'll have the opportunity."
He chuckles, "Alright. You do you, man."
Goodwitch's voice is heard over the intercom, "Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
We finish preparing and reach our destination. Each individual stands on pads with the school's emblem and Carmine and I fall into position to the right of a guy with blond hair who's shifting a little uncomfortably where he's standing. I haven't seen Nadeshiko yet so she must be somewhere else nearby.
Headmaster Ozpin begins to address us when we're all positioned, "For years you have trained to become warriors and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
Goodwitch chimes in, "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates. Today."
I'm surprised, thinking, "So we don't get to pick our partners? I hope that doesn't interfere with me and Carmine."
Ozpin resumes, "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
Wait!? What!? That doesn't make any sense! Interest can't be gauged if immediate contact is the primary base of a relationship! I can feel my blood leave my face and I look at Carmine who's also looking at me the same way.
He resumes, "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path or you will die. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation. But our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path, containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item as well as your standing and grade you appropriately. Now, are there any questions?"
The nervous blond guy raises a hand, "Yeah, um sir…"
Ozpin declares, "Good. Now, take your positions."
But it's like the blond hasn't heard him, or doesn't understand the rhetorical situation, "Uh sir… I've got um… a question. So this landing strategy thing uh, w- what is it? You're like dropping us off or something?"
The headmaster just looks through him, his hands placed on top of his cane, "No, you will be falling."
This doesn't change the blond's disposition, "Oh, I see- so like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"
Ozpin's answer is as flat as it's been every time any of us have heard him speak, "No. You will be using your own landing strategy."
The blond keeps probing and I've noticed that the people before him are steadily disappearing, "Uh huh. That. So um, what exactly is a landing strate-"
Like that, he's gone, launched into the sky after those before him and I'm next. I feel the square pad beneath me click and release, sending me soaring.
