The Halls of Beacon were lively, people unaware of the world around them laughing and conversing. Ruby and Jaune felt out of place, like they didn't belong in this world. They felt that they should be doing something, something more than whatever they were doing at that moment. But initiation would soon begin and Ozpin would give his speech and then they were to form teams. It was such simplicity when told as chains of events, but life rarely was simple. And Jaune and Ruby knew this lesson by heart, it was engraved into their very soul.
But what of the previous generations? THe countless huntsmen and huntresses who laid down their lives to protect and serve the common people. The very people who swore to defend against the Grimm. Ozpin drank his coffee as he stared at all the students before him, he could see the hopes and dreams in the eyes of these young men and women. The scars of battle had not yet etched their way into their souls.
Except for three
A young blonde haired boy looked as if everything was unreal, a red haired girl stood at attention, not letting any stimuli surrounding her go unnoticed, and a red haired boy who looked as if he killed countless innocents. They all looked as if they had been in a war. The red haired boy lingered for a moment, staring at the blonde and the red haired girl. He seemed as if he wanted to speak to them, but he didn't. The blonde haired boy began to stare at Ozpin, and in turn Ozpin stared back. Taking a sip of his coffee once more, he waited for more students to file in before he began the speech.
When Jaune had been younger the meaning behind this upcoming speech had somewhat flown over his head. After going through all the things in his life and coming back, to stand here watching Ozpin as he waited on more students before beginning, he realized that this was one of the many speeches Ozpin gave that he wished he had understood back then.
Jaune started to feel depressed at noticing how far back he had made mistakes, it stretched further before this point in time. It weighed down on him that he had been making mistakes for most of his life, and no matter how many times he learned from them there were always more around the corner.
He inwardly cringed at how ignorant he had been about the world. Now he knew how cruel it could be, and it only made him feel even more like an idiot.
Letting out a quiet sigh, he changed thoughts to the man on stage.
It was strange to see Ozpin again in this light. Back in the old days of Beacon. He remembers having thought Ozpin looked old, for lack of a better vocabulary then, but now Ozpin seemed more relaxed and content. Jaune's Ozpin was more weary and stressed than anyone he had ever known. It was good to see him look so much more at ease.
One thing that Jaune noticed was different from that time long ago was that Ozpin was looking at him and just over from him, Ruby, as if he could tell there was something different. That struck Jaune as odd, but he dismissed it as he noticed Ozpin's gaze shift to somewhere to the left side of the room. Curious, he turned his head to look and scanned the sea of people for who it might be. Uneasy indigo eyes caught Jaune's gaze for a split second before his attention was called away by someone coming to stand next to him and right in his line of sight.
Jaune knew all too well who that had been, but he hadn't been able to see them long enough to wager if they were different as well or if he was going to have to deal with the same old routine. Either way, it would have to wait until after initiation. If what Ruby had theorized was true, then Jaune could not stand for that person to get in their way. He was stronger now, and wouldn't hold back against who that person used to be.
With new resolve, Jaune returned his gaze to Ozpin, feeling more than ready to take on the challenges ahead.
The halls quickly filled and Ozpin drank his coffee slowly, he looked at the dynamics of the people. Who would look good in teams, who wouldn't. That was his secret of how he was able to get people on teams that worked well. He calculated beforehand and tweaked the launch pads to send the students with greater affinity together. But there were no greater enigmas that those three students. Last he had seen of Ruby she was a cheery and happy girl, what had changed that? Ozpin ponders these things before beginning his speech.
Ozpin continued to stare at Ruby, it was clear something was wrong. And the way she and Jaune had interacted, it was as if they were close. But today was supposed to mark the first time they met, this confused the man. Something was wrong, and he would have to figure out why. Tapping the microphone he begins to speak.
"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, mostly that is. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. There are among you who understand the weight of the world, those who understand loss, and those who understand that an innocent must always be protected. There are people among you who have realized that knowledge is only a tool, to be used and utilized. It is in intellect that we find ourselves arrogant, it is in ignorance we find ourselves yearning for knowledge. It is up to you decide if protecting humanity deserves you placing your life on the life. It is up to you to decide which step you must take."
Glynda's piercing green eyes narrowed at Ozpin's sudden addition to the speech, caught off guard by the implications behind those few extra words, but promptly attempted to regained composure as he left the stage. With minor hesitance she stepped forward to say her piece, taking a sweeping glance over the students in front of her as she did so.
"You will gather in the ball room tonight. Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready." Glynda explained, her last words a clear warning from the tone of her voice. She scanned the crowd gauging the responses she saw. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to her, so she mentally prepared to question Ozpin later. "You are dismissed."
Ozpin walked off the stage, a million questions in his mind. A million questions and he felt lost. For the first time in forever, he felt lost. How had Ms Rose's personality changed so much? He would try to find out in initiation. He wanted her to be paired up with Weiss Schnee, she looked like she'd be a good partner to her. Sighing, he let his legs take him to his destination.
It was night, and people gathered around the ball room. Soon they would be asleep and Blake would have peace and quiet. Soon. Her current task was reading the book Tukson had given her many years ago. A story of the man with two souls. It was her favorite, it always managed to brighten her mood on any occassion. She hears someone calling her name, her FORMER task was reading the book Tukson had given her, her new task was to attempt to ignore the person pestering her.
She failed
Ruby walks up to the familar girl, steps nearly silent. She could never quite perfect walking completely silent, but it was still something. The girl sits down, back against the concrete wall and lets out a small sigh. She turns her head and holds out a hand, she musters up a small smile. It was nice to see her teammate once more, and if they were to meet again, she wanted to make it right. "My name is Ruby Rose. Although you may already know that, Blake."
"How do you know my name?" Blake continued reading her book. Maybe if she kept her responses short, she would leave.
"I've heard it before." Not the whole truth, not the whole lie. It was quick think that usually saved Ruby's skin. That, and sheer dumb luck.
"Oh," she turned the page. Silence. Ruby would rather it not end like this, and she had no plans of leaving.
"What are you reading?" Now the girl had her attention, she could talk days on end about books.
"It's about a man with two souls, each fighting for control."
"Tell me more." Wanting to keep the conversation going, she asks a few questions. "Does it hurt while they fight? How can he tell it's his souls?"
"Well, not exactly. It's more one moment he's this good man who's a Doctor. Saving people's lives. And the other, his darker soul takes over and he ends up doing dark things." Blake explains the premise of the plot a bit more clearly. Ruby wanted to point out that it could've easily been a personality disorder, but decided to hold her tongue.
"Does he kill people?"
Blake ponders this for a moment and responds with "Yes."
Silence. What should Ruby say? "Well, it sounds like an interesting book." Realizing conversation was dying fast Blake opted to continue reading her book.
The conversation had reached it's end. Ruby let out an inaudible sigh. It was a start, and then she remembered fragments of the authentic conversation she had had with Blake when they first met. "I love books. When I was younger I wanted to be like the good guys in the stories I would read. Someone who fought for what was right! Someone who protected people who couldn't protect themselves!"
"What, you think we'll all get a happy ending?" Blake chuckled a little bit. A moment of silence, Ruby was thrown for a loop. Blake hadn't gotten a happy ending, but now, Ruby can change that.
"I'll do whatever I can to make sure of it."
"Well real life isn't like a fairytale. We all have monsters inside that we have to conquer. But most people sucumb to theirs, it's why it's such a dark world out there." Blake sighs pessimistically.
"Believe me, Blake, I know better than you think I do... Just because there's dark in the world, it doesn't mean I can do my best to try and spread the light."
"Well Ruby, was it? It was nice talking to you. I'd like to finish this chapter before initiation tomorrow. Who knows maybe we might share a class or two." Blake goes back to reading her book. If initiation goes as it did in the authentic past, they'll be sharing a lot more than a few classes.
"It was nice talking to you as well." Ruby rises to her feet. "I hope to talk to you again."
Blake merely nodded her head and turned back to her book. As night dragged on, the students went to sleep one by one until Blake was the only one up. Finishing the last words of the book she sighs, it would be a long day tomorrow. Lying her head down on the pillow, she hoped she would do alright.
"Students are to go to their lockers and gather their survival gear." The overhead PA system had told the recently woken teenagers. But two students in particular were there already. Pyrrha and Weiss. Currently Weiss was trying to subtly recruit Pyrrha onto her team. Subtly wasn't her strong suit. Pyrrha merely responded to her questions with enthusiasm and cheer, one of the many things she had learned to FORCE when dealing with interactions she found unpleasant.
Meanwhile, Ruby was retrieving Crescent Rose from her locker. Taking a moment, she looks down at the red and black metals, recalling the flesh it's torn through and the blood it's spilled. Grimm don't have blood. Pushing the thought away, she slams the locker closed and hooks up the sniper scythe to her belt. Turning around, she see's Yang closing her locker, Ember Celica on her arms, a lot more gentle with it.
Yang was at her locker, slipping Ember Celica onto her wrists, the warmth they brought giving her relief. Wearing her gaunlets was like putting on clothes - it felt natural, normal, something she couldn't go a day without. And recently, she couldn't go anywhere without them. She was getting into more bar fights and ran into more grim than she ever had before. And if that Weiss girl continued being inexplainably rude to her little sister, Yang might have to knock some manners into that girl. Cocking her gaunlets, she turned to her sister, a smile on her face from both excitement and pride for Ruby. "Are you almost ready, Ruby? We can't be late for the first mission. I hear they're making us choose teams today!"
Ruby merely grunted at her sister, she didn't have the energy to interact with anyone right now. All she wanted to do was get initiation out of the way, form her team and prevent the bloody war that cost her all of her friends. Looking to her left she sees Pyrrha and Weiss interacting with one another. Apparently Weiss was trying to recruit Pyrrha into her team. 'Good luck with that.' Ruby thought to herself.
Pyrrha let Weiss chat with her but clearly who was this girl to suddenly come over and demand she join her team? However she swallowed her pride and put on a cheerful front. She nodded politely as Weiss talked as well.
Weiss was determined. Hellbent even. What better pair could there be besides Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos? Nothing, at least, nothing Weiss could think of. "Your weapon is very impressive, you know. I've never seen anything like it and it appears to be very powerful, though I doubt anyone could wield it like you do." Kissing up? Maybe. Possibly just gushing. She should stop, but her brain went on autopilot.
"It isn't anything special. Anyone could easily craft a weapon better then mine.." Pyrrha replied. "So what about your weapon?"
"A Rapier that uses Dust. It's very nice to use, and I designed it myself, so obviously it's one of a kind." Most weapons were one of a kind, but Weiss couldn't help but feel a bit holier than thou about her weapon.
"Interesting. So the Schnee Company has components to make nice weopons.." Pyrrha replied. 'How to get away from her Pyrrha. .just play it cool..' she thought to herself as she glanced at the door ready to try and bolt if she could get a chance to without offending Weiss.
Walking into the locker room, Jaune scanned the room. It was still a little disorienting to see Beacon standing, but he felt it was slowly getting easier. He had thought he would have woken up from this when he had gone to sleep last night, but it seemed to insist on continuing and that left a heavy uneasiless in the pit of his stomach. Just then Jaune's gaze fell on a familiar face, all train of thought stopped, and before he could stop himself he was running towards Pyrrha.
"Colonel!" He exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around the redhead, "Oh, Colonel Nikos! Pyrrha, it's so good to see your face again, you've been gone for so long! I've missed you so much!"
Pyrrha looked at Jaune "Colonel? Umm who are you?" She was confused as she gave him a raised eyebrow.
At being asked who he was Jaune let her go with a small nervous laugh. Right, how easy it was to forget. He put on a smile, "Ah, awkward. Sorry, about that, Pyrrha! The name's Jaune Arc! Please ignore what I said... all that Colonel stuff and you know. I'm just so excited to meet you, I hope we can be good friends!"
"It's nice to meet you Jaune. And it's fine. We all make mistakes." Pyrrha smiled at him.
Weiss scoffs, pulling the odd blond boy by the hood. "Do you have any idea who you're hugging?!"
"Weiss that isn't nice .." Pyrrha replied giving the girl a glance.
"He just shows up out of nowhere and hugs you! That's not something anyone should do!"
"Even if he doesn't know me what is wrong with a friendly hug Weiss.." Pyrrha was starting to show signs of annoyance now.
"It's okay, really! Weiss is right, I'm sorry about hugging you out of no where. What can I say? I'm a hugger." he shrugged. Sensing the growing tension he quickly spoke up again, "I don't know much, but I can tell just by looking that Pyrrha's a kind person. She's going to be making a lot of friends here."
"Thank you Jaune for your kind words. I really did not have a problem with it. It was a nice thing to do." Pyrrha smiled at Jaune. Weiss fought against herself, determined not to blow up.
The PA system sounded over the school. "All initiate students report to the school cliff." After a few moments all the students began filing towards the cliff. The path to war an unsure one, Jaune and Ruby walk towards tomorrow. Hoping and praying that they can prevent darkness from shrouding the earth once more.
Author's Note: So I replaced Ruby's and Weiss's contributor with .com and I made Pyrrha's contributor .com, I've also taken the role of Ozpin as well Blake from the previous chapter. Also this will probably take a lot longer to update than The Chessmaster's Choice purely because I'm working with so many people at once. Speaking of TCC, I'm having a bit of trouble with Chapter 7. Might be a while before I publish it. Sorry.
