SMLE: Chapter 2: Opening Act

One by one, Bruce March sifted through the files. The lamp of his desk made for decent company on night job like this. It didn't answer back, it didn't question his task, and it didn't aggravate him with opinions. If Bruce had wanted to break the silence in the boxy, brick laden room, he simply had to speak his mind.

'Lilith Feline. No previous convictions,' he read aloud. 'Youngest daughter of the Faultless Feline Firearms Company.' He put the file to the side. 'You'll need further investigation.'

Money can cover up a lot

It wasn't just paranoia that fuelled his search. Flashes of the war swept through his mind each night. Hordes of Grimm every shape and size charged towards a battalion down below him. Towering walls blocked all sides of the battalion. The quarry summed up all that Bruce knew about the world.

A war against an enemy that you could never escape.

In the centre of the horde, unfazed by the carnage rushing past her, she walked towards them. Younger than any soldier gunning for her, the woman surrounded herself with fire. With a flick of her wrist and a terrible screech, a ball of flame hurtled towards the battalion. It detonated at the front and group.

Then he woke up.

Cinder Fall: the woman who murdered his parents. He had been a child amongst monsters.

No more

Bruce flicked over another file. This one was thicker. It held many previous convictions.

'"Sophia Napier" you seem more like it.' Bruce could tell her future right there. He read the words and painted the picture. Suspected gang ties evolved into charges. Behaviour issues led to tyrants. Aggravated assaults always grew into murder. A brand new Cinder Fall.

The file held two photos. Its front photo showed Sophia grinning, her scars widening her joy. Sophia casually grasped a broken red stage mask. She stood in the middle of a narrow alley, its bricks battered with unseen combat. Her torn colourful suit jacket stood out with the dim light of the camera's flash.

The second photo sat as a dying daisy in a mucky puddle. It showed Sophia, aged 11, posing in front of Ledger's School, a plaque in her hands read "Academic Achievement Award."

'Such a shame.' Bruce unhooked a mic from his belt. 'What do you know of Sophia Napier?"

'If it's not on that file, I don't know about it.' The old voice on the radio spoke with familiarity. 'Too early for details about Initiation, I'm afraid.'

Bruce scanned the dates for charges. The recent summer had seen the highest number of incidents per week for her. Assaults mostly.

'How was she allowed into Beacon?' asked Bruce.

'Her victims were, as you'll read, mostly gang members. Specifically, they were members of the Hoods.'

'Confirmed?'

'Suspected but there was never enough evidence. A skilled lawyer could get them off.'

Bruce paused. 'Where are we on that investigation?'

He heard the ruffling of paper. Alfred groaned.

'No leads,' Bruce sighed. 'For now, I want more information on these assaults. She could be trying to get a foothold in the gang.'

'Sir?'

'Do you remember how Cinder Fall took over the White Fang?'

Silence. Bruce drummed the table. 'Set up a meeting with Ruby Arc.'

Dust capsules of every type lined the walls of Sophia's locker. Any game she wanted to play, she merely had to pick a capsule and the game could begin. On the stand stood two guns. Big Laugh was on the left. On the right, taking up most of the locker, Happy Jack waited for Sophia to make a decision. The dust enhanced Tommy gun sat unused. It still had the bright tag.

"Happy Birthday, Sophia. Love from Sophia xoxoxoxoxo"

'Which one are you gonna choose?'

Lily peered over Sophia's shoulder. Miss Napier took out the Tommy gun, polished the weapon on her jacket like an apple, and put it in the holder on her back.

Sophia clapped her hands together. 'Well then, Petal, time to shine.'

Lily raised an eyebrow. 'Petal?'

'What have you got for combat?'

'Oh.' Lily took out a sheathed knife from her pocket. She presented it to Sophia as a child would their graded paper.

Sophia examined it. A knife. That was it. It was free of the mechanical parts students traditionally had as weapons. The homey brown sheath kept the blade hidden. Probably the only secret that the knife had.

'So,' Sophia began. 'Is that it?'

Lily nodded happily. 'Yep.'

'A knife against Grimm?'

Lily slowly gripped the handle tightly. Her grin decayed. She nodded.

'I'm quite good at avoiding combat,' she said sheepishly. Lily snapped back to peppy. 'Where to next?'

Sophia stared at Lily for a moment. The image of that sombre girl still lingered in her mind. She spoke slowly. 'Well, Petal, next we go to a hill to be launched into the sky.'

'Okay, how are we gonna land?'

Sophia chuckled. 'We have a few options. A, we can land flat on our faces. B, we meet a not so friendly Grimm on the way down to cushion our fall. C, my personal fav, we make it up on the fly.'

'I guess option C?' Lily laughed nervously

A locker slam echoed beside the pair. A girl by the lockers opposite the pair turned around slowly. Her bushy brown hair curled around her cheeks. The rifle on her back glistened, its parts freshly polished. She wore a black jumpsuit with a bronze military vest. Each one of her chest pockets seemed full. She clenched her fist.

'You must have some plan to descend?' she asked, holding back a harsh tone.

Sophia answered for Lily. 'The falling part comes naturally, landing is a whole different story.'

'A "landing" strategy could mean the world's difference. It determines how well you recover, how quickly you can move, and, more importantly, who you meet first.'

Sophia scoffed. 'Well, we could just walk down.'

The scene played out in her mind, alone in the forest. Sophia imagined herself bumping into someone. At first it was Lily, her cheery image faded away into a silhouetted figure. Then it ran from her.

Sophia looked to Lily. Miss Gaster stood between the two girls.

'Anything you'd recommend?'

'...pardon?' The girl lost her stern expression.

'Oh sorry, where are my manners?' Lily outstretched a hand. 'My name's Lily Gaster, what's yours?'

The girl saluted. 'Private Dana Point.'

It took a moment before she shook Lily's hand.

Dana passed a glance to Sophia who moved beside Lily.

'You were going to humble us with your magnificent landing prowess?' Sophia commented.

'What weapon do you have?'

Lily held up the knife.

'Nothing else?' asked Dana

'I've never been one for guns,' Lily replied, embarrassed.

Sophia pulled Lily closer in a one arm hug. 'Who would attack this adorable face?'

Dana folded her arms, humming for a few seconds.

'You're gonna have to catch a tree on the way down. I hope you're knife is strong enough.'

Lily nodded. 'It was forged with the new Titan Dust in its metal.'

'Or,' butted in Sophia. 'Lily could use her semblance, A.K.A that thing we all have that's incredibly useful. Trust us, we'll be fine.'

Dana sighed. 'For your sakes, I hope so.' She turned to Lily and saluted again. 'I shall see you two on the hill in approximately one hour.' Dana marched away, catching the attention of the students she passed.

Sophia nudged Lily. 'Have no fear,' she whispered. 'They wouldn't throw a bunch of students off a cliff just to have them die. After all, the attendance rates for school would be lower than the White Fang's approval rating.'

More students came into the locker room. They rattled about collecting weapons and trading banter. Sophia and Lily stood together in the centre of the students' pathway, earning a few comments as people passed.

'Thanks.' Lily hugged Sophia back. 'It means a lot that you have faith in me.'

Sophia patted her on the back, slipping from Lily's grip before beginning to walk towards the exit. 'No problem. It's what friends are for, I'm told.'

She could hear Lily rushing to catch up to her fast pace. Sophia admired the chorus of scuffing shoes against the near new floor. Her Tommy gun's presence was a constant in her mind. Big Laugh kept itself hidden, waiting for Sophia to need it. Happy Jack, on the other hand, was a guarding hand. Sophia's eyes darted between the various weapons of the student body. Blades of every configuration, guns of every ammunition, and gauntlets that held such secrets littered the locker room. Happy Jack's comparatively archaic design kept its true potency away from everyone's mind.

Lily caught up to Sophia, walking with her hands innocently behind her back.

Sophia stopped. 'By the way.' She turned to Lily. 'What is your semblance?'

Despite the brisk breeze, Ruby Arc felt warm on the cliff side. It had remained unchanged since her time, the only thing to do so. The forest before her may have been a little figure, and had gained patches of clear grass, but it was unmistakable.

This was the place it had all began.

In the distance, the ruins waited for a fresh batch of students. It stood dishevelled, surrounded by a new rock quarry. In the shadow of the highest cliff opposite, the ruins held the trophies.

'Did we have to change the relics this year?'

Ruby turned around. Approaching her and Quinton Shaw was Richard Blanc. He took a puff on his old pipe before striding through the smoke. His white business suit lost more of its lustre the longer the History teacher used a pipe. Richard's grey tie used to be clear when the two first met. The smoke wafted into his raggedy long hair.

Quinton grumbled. 'You are late.'

Richard let out a low chuckle. 'I am never late; I arrive promptly when I need to.'

Professor Shaw raised an eyebrow.

Richard walked past him to Ruby's side. '

'A rather accurate phrase I have picked up in my life.'

Ruby nodded. 'The trophies are in place then?

'Yes but why change the chess pieces?'

Ruby looked out towards the ruins. 'I thought it was time for a new set of trophies, ones that better reflect modern times and pay tribute to the war that we had to pass.'

Quinton joined her gazing. 'That is a good point. They show our respect to the warriors of the Dark Age.'

Richard sighed, defeated. 'At any rate, they are in position. Are the launchers ready?'

'Yes.'

A thought popped into Ruby's head. 'Have all students been told about them?'

Richard and Quinton exchanged confused glances. Quinton spoke up.

'They would have been through that at their end of their terms in Signal,' he commented. 'Or a school of that level.'

'What about the students who came in under the Lancaster Programme?'

Quinton scoffed. 'Might be the first challenge they actual have. It will give them something to prove they have a place here.'

Ruby turned, her fists clenched as she tried to restrain herself. 'They already have. I made the Lancaster Programme for students who have the potential to be great Hunters or Huntresses but never managed to go to school.'

'You gave them a cheat,' Quinton mumbled.

'Perhaps,' Richard said, stepping between them. 'We should give them a sporting chance then. If you do feel, Quinton, that it is a chance for them to prove themselves, it will see what they can come up with in an hour.'

Ruby flexed her hands. 'Agreed, Mr Blanc. There's three this year, could you meet them as they come up.'

Richard reached inside his jacket and pulled out his scroll. From where Ruby's point of view, she saw the images of the new students roll by as Blanch scrolled through. He stopped the screen when he saw a red rose icon next to their name.

Quinton shook his head. 'What's next?'

'Now we wait,' Ruby replied.

Getting ready was taking Edward Ryder longer than it should. He gawked at the people surrounding him. Beacon was truly alien to him with more people than he thought possible passing him by.

I don't think I'll ever get used to this.

Truthfully, he didn't even have much to get himself ready. The belt around his waist held small round patches filled with dust. They resembled thin bags of tea, he made a note not to use them in his drink (or do. Which did he write down?). The only thing in his locker were the long crimson gloves that the completed the outfit, each with a circle on the back. His jumpsuit had a similar patch in the centre of his chest.

Edward looked down at his bare hands. Despite their sickly yellow colour, they were smooth. All of his training at home had been with Dr Force's VR Combat machine. It simulated everything for him; the VR's senses became his. The VR him didn't need an IV, or cables to a monitor, he fought with the vigour he had always wanted.

Can I really fight like that?

His hands shook a little. Edwards jumped as something touched his shoulder. The students around him began to mutter about the strange lad as he turned. All accept the boy who stood in front of him, a noble long sword on his back. His silver hair contradicted his youthful face. The boy smile quickly spread across his dark skin.

'A bit jumpy?' He scratched his green tunic.

'It's a bit overwhelming, admittedly. A sense of the beginning you might say. It would make a very confusing middle.'

'Depends on where you started,' said the boy. 'Being overwhelmed is nothing to be ashamed of. Plenty of students are in the same boat.'

Edward stood up straight. 'How do you deal with it?'

'Oh, I feel fine. You'd have to ask someone else for that.'

'Fair enough,' Edward outstretched a hand. 'Edward Ryder.'

The boy shook it firmly. 'Victor Paladin.' He clicked his tongue. 'So, where's your weapon?' Victor examined Edward.

'I'm wearing it,' Ryder proudly pointed out. 'The latest in combat wear. It slices, it dices, and it has never been in a kitchen. I call it "The Creeper", mostly because that is what it is actually called.'

Victor whistled. 'Impressive, should help you on your way down.'

'Down?'

'He means after we are launched into the air in about 30 minutes,' explained a new sensuous voice.

The two boys looked up. Sat comfortably in between the domed tops of two lockers, was a girl. Her feline eyes pierced through the pair while her legs happily dangled. As Edward and Victor stepped back in shock, the girl jumped, getting in one perfectly executed flip before landing by the pair.

She bowed, showing the five red lines that flowed down the back of her green kimono.

Edward clapped. I'd give that an eight.

The girl bowed. 'Lilith Feline.' She stared at the dumbstruck boys. 'So what names should I mark on your tombstones?'

'What?' Victor sneered.

'You know, right above "plummeted to his death on the second day at Beacon." No nicknames please.'

'He'll be fine,' assured Victor. 'The Gods gave us aura for a reason.'

'Ah yes,' Edward agreed. 'It did say in the Wizard memoirs "The Gift of Aura is a sacred one indeed. Use it wisely, use it for good, and most importantly, use it to cushion a high speed crash as you plummet to the ground."'

Lilith giggled. 'I'll keep my eye on you. You're funny.'

Edward grabbed the fringe on his hair, tipping his head like a hat.

'Thanks, madam.'

The voice of Yang Xiao Long boomed over the tannoy.

'Alrighty, all first year students please head on over to Beacon Cliff. One more time for all you guys and gals, that's all you lucky first year students to Beacon Cliff.' Also, try not to worry, its better than you're all thinking.'

Victor patted his armour. 'Ready there, Edward?'

Edward nodded. 'Are you ready...' The girl was gone. 'I guess she was.'

Victor gestured for Edward to follow. 'Stick with me and you'll be fine, kid.'

'Thanks, Victor.'

Mr Paladin put his hands in his pockets. 'Any time.'

All of the first year students made a neat line. The forest before them was vast, making up most of Beacon's campus. Sophia could just make out a ruined temple on the other side.

Lily was muttering under her breath, fixated on the woods.

Miss Napier nudged her, causing her to flinch.

'Sorry, I just...are you okay?'

Sophia raised an eyebrow. '...yeah. I'm okay. The better question, Petal, is, "are you okay?"'

Lily beamed. 'Of course.'

Quinton Shaw marched alongside the Headmistress Arc, the two of them taking a spot in front of the centre of the line. Shaw held a Scroll in his hand.

Sophia looked down. A slab lay under her feet. The middle held a carving of a rose on a shield.

Any moment now.

Ruby Arc coughed. The students hushed, straightening themselves for the news.

'Hello everyone,' she began. 'I hope you had a good rest and maybe made a friend or two. As most of you have guessed today is the day you pick teams. The first part is simple. After you land the first person you come across is your partner.'

Sophia glanced at Lily who had the same idea. They both instantly looked away, hoping the other didn't notice.

'Then you will both make your way to the forest temple and grab one trophy. Based on what trophy you choose, we'll combine pairs at the ceremony later today.'

'The forest is not a walk in the park,' Quinton followed on. 'There are Grimm. We will not interfere with this Initiation. This is your chance to prove yourselves. Real danger will not let you ease on by.'

Shaw noticed a disapproving look from Arc. He took a deep breath before continuing.

'Beacon has done Initiations like this for many years.' Shaw looked out to the Horizon. 'It is one of the few traditions that have survived since the Academy's inception. Every student has gone through it.' He glanced at Ruby. 'Some became the Head of Beacon. This is where it all starts.'

Ruby took over. 'Professor Shaw brings up a good point. This is the beginning. Today you'll forge friendships and teams that will no doubt last beyond your time here.'

Silence cast its fog around the students. Sophia noted the different expressions. Excitement, fear, panic, joy, they all swept through her potential teammates. Sophia covered her mouth, holding back a grin and then a chuckle.

Time for the biggest joke.

Her hand began to shake.

Headmistress Ruby breathed deeply. 'Ready?'

Ruby turned to Shaw. 'Launch please.'

Shaw pressed a button on his Scroll. Like a line of dominos, the students flew into the air. Some let out a battle cry while others remained silent. When Lily shot through the air she let out a delighted call.

Sophia readied her Tommy gun, focusing on the horizon, even while it was her turn. She closed her eyes. Sophia often felt the rush of wind around her figure and the sinking feeling in her chest. She put herself bounding from rooftop to rooftop. No matter the time of day, she felt warm. Every night she wound down with a marathon above the city, regardless if she had spent the day doing it anyway. The wind whistled past her eyes, drowning out the other students. As it stopped suddenly, Sophia felt the cold wash of her semblance.

The forest floor shook. Her fellow students had already started.

Sophia lay on the ground, painless thanks to her semblance. She jumped to her feet before dusting off her suit. Sophia had taken far worse than a plummet to before.

Happy Jack remained firmly in one hand. After a stretch, she armed it with a magazine laced with Fire Dust, smirking at the shape in front of her.

Two Grimm crept towards her, their "giggling" echoing around her. Half as tall as her, their white masklike faces curved up to their pointed ears, creating large smiles. Tear drop shaped marks rested under each of their eyes. The wind ruffled their ragged fur. Anyone finding them asleep would think they were rotting, until they saw the whites faces.

Cryenas

'Here I come to save the day!' Edward roared on his way to the ground. He aimed himself towards a large tree-not hard to find one-and readied himself. The gloves of his Creeper suit hardened.

Several branches narrowly missed striking Edward before he dug his hands into the tree itself. His descent slowed, helped by Edward twisting around the tree. With a mild thump he landed. Aside from the he had just mauled, the untouched trees around him bustled with birds. In the centre of the mini-clearing, a battered boulder lay. Its markings ranged from claw to blaster, sword to axe, and fang to scorch marks. The lower part of it held an inscription "For those who have fallen, may you aid others with your spirits." Edward pondered the words. Beacon often used the forest for exercises so perhaps students came to pay their respects. It was then, when the high grass behind him rustled behind him, that he knew what the inscription meant.

He bounded behind the boulder. Edward peered from his cover, readying a lightning patch from his belt. Moments passed but nothing happened.

A mouse?

'Hello?' he called out. Edward awaited a response but had to make do with the faint sounds of his own voice.

'If there are any students out there, please whistle once for yes or growl twice for "what do you think?"'

A distant whistle.

Edward cautiously stood up. His thumb stroked the dust patch. Through the trees, he saw nothing. After a certain point, the forest swallowed the grass laden path.

He whistled.

A tree branch cracked behind him. He turned but found it focus his thoughts. The forest's silence said too much to him.

No more silence.

Edward slapped the lightning patch into the circle on his left hand. The sparks flew out of his palm, breaking the silence as it discharged. Edward had spent too long in a quiet room to be comfortable with silence.

Another foreign whistle.

He gazed up to the top of a tree near him. Edward could see the leaves shake but couldn't see what caused it. He rushed below it for a closer look. Quickly, he took a flame patch and slammed it into the spot on his chest before stroking the activation circuit woven into his clothes above it. In an instant, his body lit with a potent fire. He charged at the tree. The flames swept from him to every branch, covering the tree with its fire. There was a thump beside him. Edward pressed his left palm, making the lightning patch come alive. He dived at his new company, barely registering what it was before moving his attack to the ground. The lightning dispersed harmlessly into the ground.

'Nice shot,' said a flirtatious voice.

Edward stood straight up, his mind repeating his mistake repeatedly.

Lilith marvelled at the flaming tree, unfazed at Edward's "attack."

'Sorry about that.' Edward stood next to her being wary to make gap between them as an apology.

Lilith shrugged. 'Probably happens a lot around here. I was right about you though.'

'Oh?'

Lilith walked off, gesturing for Edward to follow. Her hips swayed from side to side. It barely seemed like the ground registered her presence. 'You're going to make quite the partner.'

Edward stopped breathless. The scene still repeated in his mind but with a new meaning. When Lilith noticed him still, she gazed at him with a tilted head.

'You okay?'

I have a partner. 'Absolutely.'