The Shining Beacon
Ash leans against the window of the airbus, with his arm and legs crossed and his eyes closed. His peace and quiet is disrupted by shouting.
"Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me!" Ash opens his eyes, "This is the best day ever!"
He watches as a rather bodacious blonde girl crushes a smaller, red haired girl in a hug.
He sees the red head say something, but can't hear it.
"But I'm so proud of you!" The blonde states after releasing her sister.
Ash closes his eyes, hoping that would be the end of the conversation, at least from what was audible to him. Ash wasn't surprised to be wrong.
"It was incredible!" He hears the blonde praise, "Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees."
Ash closes his eyes as tries to drown himself into his subconscious for the remainder of the flight, but fails.
"I don't want to be the 'bee's knees', okay?!" He hears the red head complain, "I don't want to be any kind of knees! I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."
"What's with you?" The blonde asks, "Aren't you excited?"
"Of course I'm excited..." Ash couldn't hear the rest as the red head lowered her voice.
The girls' and Ash' attention is drawn to the Vale News Network being playing nearby.
"The robbery was led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities." Cyril reports, "If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you, Lisa."
"Thank you, Cyril." Lisa says, "In other news, this Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. The once peaceful organization has now disrupted..."
The news feed is cut off as a hologram of Professor Goodwitch replaces it.
"Hello, and welcome to Beacon!" Professor Goodwitch says, "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."
Ash groans as the students cheer when they see Beacon. He gets a moment of peace before...
"Oh, Yang, gross!" The red head exclaims, "You have puke on your shoe!"
Ash growls as the two freak out.
Finally off of the ship, Ash makes way towards Beacon. He stops when he notices the red head freaking out over weapons.
"Ohmygosh, sis!" She shouts, "That kid's got a collapsible staff! And she's got a fire sword!"
She attempts to get a closer look, but the blonde, which Ash now knows as Yang pulls her back.
"Ow! Ooww!" The red head complains.
"Easy there, little sister." Yang says, "They're just weapons!"
"'Just weapons'?!" The red head repeats, "They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us! Oh, they're so cool!"
Ash shakes his head at her ideology. To Ash, a weapon is a tool. What matters is the hand that holds it.
"Well, why can't you swoon over your own weapon?" Yang asks, "Aren't you happy with it?"
The red head takes out her scythe and hugs it, "Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose! I just really like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people, but better..."
"Ruby," Yang calls as she pulls down her hood, "come on, why don't you go try and make some friends of your own?"
"But... why would I need friends if I have you?" The red head, Ruby, asks as she removes her hood.
"Well..." Yang begins, "Actually, my friends are here. Gotta go catch up. 'Kay, see ya, bye!"
Ruby begins spinning due to Yang's sudden departure.
"Wait, where are you going?!" Ruby asks, "Are we supposed to go to our dorms? Where are our dorms?! Do we have dorms?!"
Ruby stops spinning.
"I don't know what I'm doing..." Ruby states before falling backwards into a luggage cart.
"What are you doing?!" Weiss shouts.
"Uh, sorry!" Ruby apologizes as she sits up.
"Sorry?!" Weiss repeats, "Do you have any idea of the damage you could have caused?"
"Uuhhh..." Ruby says as she grabs one of the cases.
"Give me that!" Weiss orders, snatching the case and opening it, "This is Dust - mined and purified from the Schnee quarry!"
"Uuuhhhh..." Ruby says.
"What are you, brain-dead?!" Weiss asks, as she closed the case, holding a vial of fire Dust, "Dust! Fire, water, lightning, energy!"
Ruby begins to react to the powdered Dust in the air due to Weiss shaking the vial.
"Are you even listening to me?!" Weiss asks, "Is any of this sinking in?! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
Before Ruby can sneeze, all the powered Dust is the air is absorbed into the runes of Ash's sword.
"You should learn when to quit, Miss Schnee." Ash warns, "As in now."
"Who do you think you are?!" Weiss shouts.
"Ash Snow." He answers as he sheaths his blade, "What is it that you think you're doing?"
Weiss opens her mouth, but Ash interrupts her.
"I have a message for you." Ash says, "Mess with her and you answer to me. You've been warned."
Without another word, Ash walks away.
"I'm really, really sorry!" Ruby apologizes.
"What are you even doing here?!" Weiss asks, completely ignoring Ash's warning, "Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?!"
"Well, I-I..." Ruby begins.
"This isn't your ordinary combat school." Weiss says, "It's not just sparring and practice, you know! We're here to fight monsters, so... watch where you're going!"
"Hey, I said I was sorry, princess!" Ruby retorts.
"It's heiress, actually." Blake corrects, "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."
"Finally!" Weiss exclaims with a smug smile, "Some recognition!"
"The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners." Blake continues.
"Wha- How dare- The nerve of... Ugh!" Weiss starts as Ruby chuckles,
Weiss huffs and walks away, her helpers gathering her things.
"I promise I'll make this up to you!" Ruby shouts after Weiss, "I guess I'm not the only one having a rough first day... So, what's..."
Ruby turns to see Blake walking away. Dejectedly, Ruby collapse onto her knees, then her back.
"Welcome to Beacon..." Ruby says to herself.
"Ruby!" Yang waves over, "Over here! I saved you a spot!"
Ruby joins her sister.
"How's your first day going, little sister?" Yang asks.
"You mean since you ditched me and I got into a fight?!" Ruby retorts.
"Yikes!" Yang responds, "With who?"
"Some crabby girl," Ruby answers, "I tripped over her luggage, and then she yelled at me, and then some guy showed up, and then she yelled at me again, and I felt really, really bad, and I just wanted her to stop yelling at me!"
"You!" Weiss shouts.
"Oh, God, it's happening again!" Ruby yells after jumping into Yang's arms.
"Now that your boyfriend's not here," Weiss begins.
"Boyfriend?!" Yang repeats, but is ignored.
"It was an accident." Ruby says before getting down, "It was an accident!"
Weiss holds a pamphlet in front of Ruby's face.
"What's this?" Ruby asks.
"The Schnee Dust Company is not responsible for any injuries or damages sustained while operating a Schnee Dust Company product." Weiss says, "Although not mandatory, the Schnee Family highly encourages their customers to read and familiarize themselves with this easy to follow guide to Dust applications and practices in the field."
"Uuhhh...?" Ruby reacts.
"You really wanna start making things up to me?" Weiss asks.
"Absolutely?" Ruby says, unsure.
"Read this, and don't ever speak to me again." Weiss orders.
"Look, uh, it sounds like you two just got off on the wrong foot." Yang tries to negotiate, "Why don't you start over and try to be friends, okay?"
"Yeah! Great idea, sis!" Ruby holds her hand out and clears her throat, "Hello, Weiss! I'm Ruby! Wanna hang out? We can go shopping for school supplies!"
"Yeah! And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, blond, and scraggly over there!" Weiss says.
"Wow, really?!" Ruby asks.
"No." Weiss glares.
The girls' attention is drawn to the stage, where Professor Ozpin is readying the microphone, with Professor Goodwitch beside him.
"I'll... keep this brief." Ozpin begins, "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."
"You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins." Professor Goodwitch says, "Be ready. You are dismissed."
"He seemed kind of... off." Yang comments.
"It's almost like he wasn't even there." Ruby adds.
"I'm a natural blond, you know!" Jaune adds.
Weiss facepalms.
Students are spread out in sleeping bags. Ruby, in her pajamas and with a sleeping mask around her head, is writing in a journal when Yang crashes next to her, also in her pajamas.
"It's like a big slumber party!" Yang comments.
"I don't think Dad would approve of all the boys, though." Ruby states.
"I know I do!" Yang replies, staring at some guys, but groans when she see's Jaune, "What's that?"
"A letter to the gang back at Signal." Ruby answers, "I promised to tell them all about Beacon and how things are going."
"Aw, that's so cuuuute!" Yang exclaims before being hit in the face by a pillow.
"Shut up!" Ruby responds, "I didn't get to take my friends with me to school! It's weird not knowing anyone here!"
"What about Jaune and your boyfriend, Ash?" Yang asks, "They're... nice! There you go! Plus two friends! That's a two hundred percent increase!"
"Pretty sure Weiss counts as a negative friend." Ruby claims, "Back to one... And Ash isn't my boyfriend!"
"There's no such things as negative friends!" Yang claims, "You just made two friends and one enemy!"
Yang is hit with another pillow.
"Look, it's only been one day." Yang encourages, "Trust me; you've got friends all around you! You just haven't met them yet!"
The sisters' attention is drawn to the sound of metal hitting the floor. They watch as Ash, wearing a T-shirt instead of his coat, leans against a wall with his sword beside him. Ash scans the ballroom, taking in his surroundings.
"That guy..." Ruby says.
"You know him?" Yang asks.
"Not really." Ruby answers, "That's Ash."
"Well, now's your chance to talk to him!" Yang says before dragging Ruby.
"Wait!" Ruby complains, "What are you doing?!"
Ruby tries to pull herself free, but fails. Her struggling draws Ash's attention to them. He sighs before closing his eyes.
"Hel-looooo!" Yang sings, "I believe you two may know each other?"
"Not really." Ash answers, not opening his eyes.
"Uh, yeah!" Ruby agrees, "My name's Ruby! But you can just call me Crater... Actually, you can just call me Ruby."
"I know your names." Ash states.
"How?" Ruby asks.
"You two talk extremely loud." Ash states.
"Sorry about that." Ruby apologizes.
Ash says nothing.
"So, why did you try help me?" Ruby asks.
"My intention was to absorb the Dust to prevent a disaster." Ash answers.
"Oh..." Ruby says, dejectedly.
"I am a man of my word." Ash states, "If she does mess with you, tell me and I'll take care of it."
"Thank you." Ruby says, "But how do you plan on...?"
Ash taps his sword.
"I know when to use force." Ash states before making a fist, "And how much to use."
Ash tightens his fist.
"I don't want you to have to fight for my sake." Ruby states.
"I swore to help you, so you've got no say in the matter." Ash claims.
"But why would you do this for me?" Ruby asks.
Ash opens his eyes.
"Your eyes..." Ash answers, "They remind me of myself when I was younger. Innocent, pure."
A small smile graces Ash's lips.
"You better get some sleep." Ash states as he closes his eyes, "You'll need it for the initiation."
"Oh, I am so proud of my baby sister!" Yang grabs Ruby into a hug.
"Cut it out!" Ruby complains as she struggles to break free.
"What in the world is going on over here?!" Weiss shouts, just arriving , "Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep?"
"Oh, not you again!" Weiss and Yang shout together.
"Shh!" Ruby shushes, "Guys, she's right! People are trying to sleep!"
"Oh, now you're on my side!" Weiss shouts.
"I was always on your side!" Ruby retorts.
Ash lowly growls as he draws his sword and points it at Weiss, still leaning against the wall.
"I recall giving you a warning." Ash comments as the runes start glowing.
Weiss takes a step back.
"Ash?" Ruby calls, noticing his hardened glare.
"I dare-!" Weiss challenges.
"Get lost." Ash warns, now standing behind Weiss.
"When did you...?" Weiss gasps before quickly turning around.
Ash glares at her and Weiss slowly walks away.
The story of the creation of Ash Snow is by far the strangest of any OC I have ever made. I knew I wanted to make a character so I started looking for music to serve as his theme, which I usually do after they're created. Based on his chosen theme song alone, which I won't state but have left clues, I created his name, his backstory, and have planned what he will be doing in volumes 4/5.
He will be OP at the start, but the gap between himself and the Canon characters will diminish. And he won't be the strongest character, not even just among the students.