Beacon in the Darkness Chapter 2: Protective Big Sister, a rwby fanfic

The door opened quietly, quietly enough that the girl waiting outside hadn't registered its opening. "He said he's ready for you", came Viridian's voice once he exited the room, cookie in hand. "Okay. Wish me luck," she responded while heading for the door. Wherever Ozpin was, he wasn't there now, no matter where she looked. Shrugging her shoulders, she decided to just get it over with and made her way towards the desk and chair to wait for Ozpin to return.

Gazing out the window, she could see everything far below. The sun had risen further up over the horizon showering everything further with a golden hue. Plains and forests lay sprawled out far off in the distance below. Plumes of color and different shades accentuated it all.

Looking out upon the world below left her oblivious to the man that had stepped up to stand beside her. As a result she nearly leapt out of her skin when he'd cleared his throat.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He broached, extending a hand all-the-while. "I'm Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon Academy," he introduced himself as he patiently waited for her to recover from her momentary shock and extend her own hand to shake his in a firm handshake. Releasing her hand he gestured behind him towards the solitary desk behind them.

She was seventeen unlike her brother, but one could wager a guess that there were several months between them. Standing up, she would reach five feet and four inches. Her hair was chocolate brown, highlighted by auburn, in an intricate up-do. Her face was devoid of any makeup, as she didn't really like wearing it. She had no problem keeping her gaze locked with the Professor's. There she sat, waiting to be questioned, as her brother had done before her. Viridian had told her: quite frankly, the Professor was kind and gentle, and seemed to know how to assess others. That did nothing to soothe her nerves, however. So there she sat, timid and shy, awaiting questions. There she sat; wedged into the chair in such a way that the chair's back dug into her turtle shell back.

She sat at the same table. The same, still-hot cookies sat on the table.

"Miss Watercress, tell me, why are you here? I understand why Mr. Foxglove is here, your parents explained it quite thoroughly. But I'm curious as to what you have to gain from being here with him. That's not to say that I don't look forward to seeing what you can do while you're enrolled here," the professor started.

"My parents asked me to watch over him. You know what he went through. I'm here to protect him. I'm his sister, and I wasn't able to help him when he needed us most. Now I can. He genuinely wants to do this. So I want to, too," Echium answered politely, hands folded in her lap.

"Do you though? He has plenty of reason to want to be here. You on the other hand-" he tapped the same commands into the desktop, summoning the video clips, giving a different vocal command that brought up only the clips of her. "Based on your actions, you've trained just as hard. If I may, I think that there is more to you than just that, though. Whether you realize it, or not, your transcripts shows that you aren't average. For someone who grew up outside of the kingdoms, you met all the requirements, which is saying something, since you've had no formal training. That goes for Mr. Foxglove, as well," Ozpin stated.

"I want to protect Viridian. He's my little brother, and I couldn't protect him when he needed it. I... I do want to become a huntress, but I care more about Viridian's safety." Echium added, clasping and unclasping her hands in her lap.

"I understand. As long as you can endure the Initiation, I don't see a reason to bar you from enrolling into my school," Ozpin asked, changing the topic.

"I think I can handle myself," she said with an air of bravado, reaching forward to grab a cookie, hitting the play button with the other.

The video started within an instant, showing her escapade into a subterranean lagoon, and the ensuing battle with a Light Fright, a Grimm reminiscent of an angler fish with amphibian legs. For the most part he stayed silent, which only served to wear at her confidence. His face remained neutral as he took in what the video had to offer. He hummed in consideration once the video came to an end.

"As long as you can perform as well as you did with this-" he nodded in the direction of the desktop that awaited a new command. "I am curious to know what your time here will be like." He concluded.

They descended from the tower and out across the school grounds, Ozpin leading the way. Behind him, Echium couldn't help but fidget. What had she done wrong? She couldn't beat the feeling that she'd somehow done something wrong down. Ozpin wasn't an easy man to read, that much was certain. However, she'd give anything to know that she hadn't done anything wrong. She needed to know that she could ensure her place at Beacon, as long as she could pass the Initiation.

Viridian's hand on her shoulder brought her to a somewhat calmer state of mind, but she still felt uneasy. Viridian was always good at reading her, but she didn't know if she should let it slip that she was as scared as she was. It took some concentration, but she managed a small smile and a whispered, "I'm okay. Promise," to placate his questioning gaze.

She barely registered that they had stopped outside the ballroom building. Grasping the door handle, Ozpin opened the door, moving aside to let them pass. Leaving them to get settled in, Ozpin departed, with one last farewell. Before he stopped in his tracks.

He turned around to assure them: "Please know that, if you need anything. Anything at all, my door is always open," he nodded to the tower office before continuing, "to both of you."

Hopefully, if she could survive the Initiation, she would get the chance to follow him up on that offer.

Author's note:

Echium is five feet four inches tall.
Converted, she's 162.56cm.