"Well, I'm finally here!" N yelled out to the world as he practically leaped out of the recently landed Bullhead. He was just about to run off, but stopped dead in his tracks when he heard someone yelling from behind him.
"Hey! Your bag!" The exuberant boy skidded on his heels to a stop and quickly whipped his body back around towards the jet. His pale blue eyes were met with the elderly pilot yelling from the Bullhead's window. "Kid you forgot your bag!"
"O-Oh...right!" Embarrassed, N walked back over to grab his grey large grey suitcase from his seat during the flight. He grabbed it off of the custom red velvet seat, and began to wheel it across the cold, metal floor. With a quick tip of his cap to that kind man, he was off once again, eyes set on the illustrious Beacon Academy...though a bit slower this time.
Needless to say, they boy was excited, ecstatic even! He had been accepted into the Beacon Academy! A school designed to teach students the ways to combat Grimm, fight crime, and help others. Oh how proud uncle would be right now! This was his chance at a new life, a chance to meet new friends, a chance to live as a normal boy.
He stopped walking for a moment to take a breath, and view the school in all of its grandeur. This would be his home for the next four years, and he would do his best to enjoy every second of it.
Wow, he thought to himself while walking across the path to the entrance. This courtyard is absolutely stunning. He looked around at the wide plains around the campus, and the mountains that loomed off in the distance, at the giant towers and buildings that sat before him, taunting him of the future. That is, until he noticed a small whirring sound in the background of his gazing.
Confused, he tilted his head around and found the source of the noise to be the dozens of incoming Airships, probably carrying other students. Looks like private airlines still beats public.
N brought his cap over his face to block out the any flying dust as the jets started landing one by one. As they landed, the calming sounds of nature that filled the atmosphere were gradually replaced by the annoying chatter of incoming students. It only took a few moments for their sheer numbers to block the landscape and flood the area.
In addition to being incredibly irritating, the gigantic crowd kept pushing, shoving, and hindering movement from all angles. It felt more like being stuck in a current instead of walking along a path. N was hopelessly getting dragged along until he spotted someone not too far away from him. "Hey, move it ya simps! Let me through!" Perfect. Someone impolite enough to clear traffic.
He was wearing what looked like a frayed blue jacket, and had a light blue bandana wrapped around his head. Those were really the only details that could be made out though, the view of his back wasn't that telling.
After staying in that student's shadow, the two eventually made it to a point in the courtyard where the horde were less tightly packed. N broke off from behind and started to weave his way through the others, dodging through the crowd.
While shuffling, a large gust of wind had passed over. Probably a dust malfunction, it was definitely far too powerful to be natural. N clung onto his hat as he was slightly pushed back by the burst, an action most of the people around him were mimicking. He stood his ground, standing firm, not relenting to the onslaught, until his clenched hand gave way to the great wind. His had flew right off of his head!
Surprised, N shot out the hand but tried to reach for the cap. Unfortunately, he overextended, and the wind ended up pushing him to the ground while he was off balance. Dang, that was his favorite hat, and there was no way he would let it just fly away! He promptly got up and gave chase, dashing through what little of the crowd remained. He was leaping over bags, plowing right through small groups, and even outright pushing one or two students out of the way.
He was so close, just barely a meter away from his hat. All he had to do was just reach...a little more...a little more... a little...more...Ah dammit! Focused on his hat, N had unfortunately crashed into someone during his mad dash. With a giant clang off of the backpack, both people ended up flailing. From the ground, N watched as the hat was taken off into the distance. He slammed his fist onto the ground. "Dammit..."
"Gah! Excuse me?" exclaimed a rather irritated voice from behind him. N quickly turned, and saw someone else landed on the ground with him. The boy was just getting up now with a grimace on his face.
"Oh shoot! Sorry, sorry!" Scrambling back up on to his feet, N immediately rushed to get the man's aid.
This man seemed...refined to a casual observer. His sky blue hair was excellently styled, and the black coat he wore seemed pretty expensive. The purple and metal accents it had changed from a generic jacket into quite the sight to see. As he was helped up, he adjusted the red tie around his neck, and turned his annoyed blue eyes to the one who helped him up. "It's quite alright, but please, do watch where you're going in the future," he said with clenched teeth and a subtle snarl across his face.
The boy scoffed as he started to brush his sleeves off and walk away. N was about to sigh in defeat when he noticed a quiet clink clink clink noise coming from that boys direction. When he looked back over, N saw it was the sound of metal rings hitting together as the boy snapped his fingers repeatedly. Surprisingly, his posture shot up as he turned back around to the place where he had fallen. Even more surprising was the fact that he started to speak in a much more friendly tone.
"By any chance, did you happen to catch that announcement over the airship. I was...slightly preoccupied when they made it."
"Oh, there was an announcement?" To be blunt, N was taken aback by the sudden display of kindness thrust in his direction. When he was actually expected some chiding, he apparently had earned conversation. Not one to miss out on an opportunity, N did his best to keep it going. "I guess I missed it too. What was it exactly?"
"Oh, what a shame..." The man brought up his hand and rubbed his chin. "Well it was just a set of directions for the school's orientation speech." He turned his head, as if he was about to walk away, but stopped. He turned back around with an awkward frown on his face. "You know...I'm quite sorry about my manner back there."
"Oh...well it was no problem I guess." Now N was really confused. The person that he himself had blindly crashed into just moments before was now the one that felt bad. "I mean I did crash into you and all...that..." He scratched the back of his head, clearly unsure of what to say.
"No, no. It was just an honest accident." The boy put his hands on his hips and shook his head. Mustering up the best smile he could, he extended a hand out. "Here, the name's Steven. Steven Stone."
"Call me N," he said with a smile that was a little too forced.
"N? As in the letter?" Steven asked. Nodding in response only added to Steven's confusion. "If you don't mind me asking, does it stand for something?"
...N pondered answering for a moment. Sure, not many people would recognize his true name, but this Stone fellow seemed to be a bit more entitled than your average Joe. After racking his brain for a color that would work, he finally came up with an answer. He could imagine the light bulb that would be appearing above his head right now. "It stands for Napier." Steven didn't seem to notice N's hesitation. "Napier's a bit inconvenient to say, so..."
"Understandable I suppose," Steven commented as he looked off into the distance.
"Well, I guess we should follow the crowd and hope we end up in the right place," He suggested as he scratched at his now hatless head.
Steven nodded in affirmation. "Good plan." With that, the two started walking with the gradually progressing herd of students.
"So, what's your weapon?"
"Hmm? Oh...um...my weapon?" The abrupt question had caught N off guard. He and Steven had been practically silent for the past few minutes, so when one of them had finally spoke, only surprise was the response.
"But of course!" Steven beamed back with a smile. "All of the other students are carrying theirs out in the open, or in a sheath. You're the only one that's not." He was right. Most of the people around them had been walking with their weapons fully exposed. Apart from Steven himself, N was the only one who didn't fit that description.
His plain, tan shorts weren't supplied with a sheathed sword of any kind, and the only thing he carried in his hands was... his bag... Which for some reason wasn't at his side anymore!
"Oh no!" He yelled frantically. "My weapons! They were in my bag!" He started waving his hands in the air and started looking around frantically. "I forgot to take my bag when I ran into you!"
Steven's eyes went up in surprise. "Well we should go back and get it then! Where did you leave it?
"Dang, it's all the way back by the airships! I forgot to grab it when I started chasing my hat." This was a big problem. N had just made his first friend and he was already becoming a burden. He supposed he could go back by himself, but then he would be blowing Steven off. After furrowing his brow in deep thought, N eventually came to a decision. "You go on ahead, I'll meet back up with you when I get my bag back!" He was already turning around by the time he finished speaking, but he barely took a few steps before he was interrupted.
"I don't think that will be necessary," the new voice said, followed by a brief chuckle. N turned to his side, and found a seemingly elderly man donned in dark green jacket. On his face, he wore some wire glasses and a warm smile. In one hand, he was holding a white cup, and in the other he held a grey suitcase. "I believe this is yours Mr. Na-"
"Napier, sir." N quickly interjected before the man had a chance to finish. Standing up straight, he reaffirmed his stance. "My name is Napier."
The man hesitated for a moment, and took notice of Steven's confusion. He smiled once again, and continued. "Yes, of course. Napier." He brought the bag he held forward, and presented it to N. "Again, I believe this belongs to you."
N snapped back to reality, and nearly stumbled for a moment. "O-Oh! Right yes thank you so much Headmaster Ozpin!" He hastily took the heavy bag away from the man and brought it to his side.
Now Steven nearly stumbled. "You're headmaster Ozpin?" As he spoke, he desperately tried to maintain his professional demeanor, but even he couldn't help but sound excited. "You're the Headmaster Ozpin, ace huntsmen extraordinaire?" Thankfully, Steven managed to curb his giddy, childlike grin into an impressed smirk.
"Hah hah hah...yes. Though I wouldn't exactly call myself 'huntsmen extraordinaire', but I am the headmaster of this fine academy." He took a sip from his coffee cup. "You're lucky Napier. Had I not chosen to see how my new students were faring as they arrived, your bag might've been washed away with the crowd. I hope you'll take great care in keeping track of your belongings, hmm?" Even as he reprimanded the young student in front of him, Ozpin still kept himself as humble as possible.
"Oh yes of course Headmaster Ozpin yes without a doubt yes sir!" N was silently panicking. He was talking far too fast again. People had always said he had a habit of talking too fast when he got nervous, especially when publically speaking.
Much to his dismay, the headmaster only found humor in N's peril. He let out a small laugh. "It seems you'll get along just fine with professor Oobleck, especially with that hair of yours." He gestured towards the bright green hair that covered N's head with his mug before taking another sip. He sipped down the last drop, and looked towards the school. "Anyway, I suggest you two run along. I'll be preparing for my speech in just a moment," he suggested without facing the boys.
"Yes sir," N responded with a small smile and nod. He and Steven started walking down the stone path of the courtyard, leaving the headmaster behind them. As he watched the smile the man wore soon dissolved into a neutral frown. He started
"I was rather surprised when you decided to accept him Ozpin," a voice commented from behind. "This Natural fellow brings quite a lot of controversy wherever he goes, your just lucky none of the tabloids caught wind of his attendance yet."
The headmaster smiled. "The boy needs some time to enjoy life, Glynda." He watched as Steven and N jovially talked to one another while they walked. The grin he'd been sporting during their conversation faded, and was replaced by a grim scowl. "He's gone through so much in his life." Ozpin paused for a moment and exhaled. "He's so often been caught up with the wrong people...he deserves a chance to resolve this conflict within himself."
"Funny, I'd never expect you of all people to say that about someone." Glynda shot a rather annoyed look at Ozpin. Without missing a beat, she continued. "I know you of all people would recognize that his past is no matter to be trifled with...I just need to ask you again..." Ozpin eyed her from the side. "...what is your purpose for accepting him?"
His scowl deepened as he adjusted his wire glasses. The atmosphere of dread soon consumed his body. "He can only maintain this facade for so long. Whether he realizes it or not, this joyful innocence will only be temporary. We'll need to be there to make sure he picks the right side when he finally dwindles."
Glynda folded her arms and took a defensive stance. "Is that for your benefit, or for his?"
Ozpin adopted an empty smirk "Glynda...I thought you trusted me," he let out with a small laugh.
"Will you stop acting so frivolous about this?" she asked, sounding more like an annoyed mother than honestly angry. "To an observer, this just seems like a power play; taking him under your wing, being so kind to him. It looks like you're simply buttering him up!"
"Glynda, Natural is in a fragile state right now. I'm not buttering him up, I'm only making sure he feels comfortable."
"Why? You said it yourself that his state will only be temporary."
He didn't respond.
"Ozpin?"
"...I want him to enjoy this time while he has it. His past will catch up to him quicker than myself, you, or he can imagine it. He should savor this time while he has it."
Glynda stayed silent for a few moments, only taking the time to absorb his words. Would things collapse that easily? Natural had decided to abandon his past for the better of his future, and what better place for that than Beacon Academy?
"Oh Glynda, one more thing." Her thoughts were interrupted by the words like a knife.
"Y-Yes Ozpin?"
"Could you please do me a favor and bring this boy his bag?" Glynda looked down to see the grey bag still sitting at the headmaster's side.
"...Sure..."
So hello! This chapter is going to be a fair bit shorter than the rest, but I hope this idea will stick! I've been turning this idea around my head for a while, and I figured I'd actually right this while I think if new ways to progress the story in my other fic.
Well, the next chapter should be out by September...hopefully...
Also, I may need help naming one of the teams in the story. They're much harder to come up with when all of your characters already have names, so PM me if you'd like to help! As always, reviews and criticism would be highly appreciated!