Underline-italic = spirit talk
Yang Xiao Long's POV:
I finished my shower and got into my school uniform. My step-sister, Ruby, forcefully woke up Weiss Schnee using a whistle, much to her annoyance, and we all pitched in to set up our dorm room. Every once in a while, I would glance outside the window and get a good look at the Academy grounds.
There are many flower beds and lots of grass that gleamed in the morning sunlight. So peaceful. Quite the opposite from that vast city I saw in my dreams. Or that temple. I involuntarily shiver as I remember 'Yellow Eyes' cold gaze and that aura around him. It was so powerful and evil that he could have been a Grimm in human form.
We lost track of time and had to run to make it to our first class, with seconds to spare. The class ended with Weiss taking down a Bourbatusk, making many mistakes in the fight because of her annoyance at my sister. She acted her usual self the entire time. I will admit, the cartoon spoof of Professor Port was a bit over the top, but it was still very funny.
Afterwards, Weiss begins shouting at Ruby because Weiss feels that she should be team leader. So while they argued, I got to know Teams JNPR and SPAM better. I mean, we will be sharing classes for years. Jaune seems nice, if a little naïve, Pyrrha is studious at class along with being an excellent fighter, Ren is definitely the silent type, while Nora is really hyperactive, which makes me wonder how she got to this point. Maybe it's her semblance keeping her on the fritz.
As for team SPAM are also good people. Max is also a weapons nut, but not on Ruby's scale thankfully, Penny is also very nice, if a little uptight and Alec is about style and some gambling. He even made a comment about how cool my shotgun gauntlets are. Out of everyone on that team, I easily prefer Sander. He's the nicest of his team, cracks jokes and smiles a lot.
Overall, I think that the 12 of us can become the best of friends over time.
The rest of the classes passed without event. The last class of the day is Glynda's class. She teaches us about the most important reason for us being here. To teach us how to fight.
"Now that we're all here, let's begin. In this class, you'll be focusing on your core traits. Weapons, Aura, Coordination and Semblance. Everything that deals with a fight. If I could have 2 volunteers, I can begin class." Glynda said.
I walk down the aisle, with my teammates cheering me on. My opponent is the school's blockhead and bully Cardin Winchester. He heaved his mace on his shoulder, looking smug. We head down to the arena floor and get into fighting positions. I felt elated knowing that Teams JNPR and SPAM are also cheering me on. "You may begin!" Glynda said and the 2 of us charge at each other.
Cardin's attacks are powerful, but bulky and slow. A turtle could avoid his attacks, for crying out loud! I jump out of the way and give him a barrage of punches to the chest. His armor now sported a set of dents. I give him another punch to the chest. Then I felt it. Somehow, I knew that his mace is coming at me from my blind spot and afterwards, he planned on giving me a kick to the chest. I jump into the air, avoiding the mace effectively, spin 90 degrees and slam my fist into Cardin's left cheek. The boy went flying and slammed on his back. He groaned loudly, getting onto one knee. Then the buzzer rang out. Really? That's the end of the match? I'm very disappointed in Cardin.
"As you can see, Ms. Xiao Long was able to change tactics mid-battle, while her opponent, Mr. Winchester, just kept on going attacking with no long-term strategy in mind. That tactic will never work ever. Unfortunately, that's all I have for today. Remember to do your assigned reading. Class dismissed!" Glynda said.
In the distance, the bell gonged, signifying the end of our first day. Ruby cheered and hugged me while Blake smiled at me. The others also looked happy for my victory, except for Weiss, who huffed and walked out the classroom.
"Good job. That was awesome!" Sander said. I smile at the compliment while my heart fluttered inside. Am I beginning to like him?
Anyway, we all head off to dinner, wolf it down, and head back to our dormitories to rest up.
The first day is done.
I see Weiss walk in, a regretful look on her face when nighttime falls. Maybe she's finally given up trying to forcefully take the team's leadership. I smile and fall asleep.
Sadly, my dreams have other ideas. I found myself in a medical chamber of sorts. On the table in the center is the most hideously charred man I've ever seen. I'm genuinely shocked that he's still alive. Three of his limbs were cut off, leaving even more charred stumps. His only limb that's left is already artificial. I have a look at the man and when I feel his aura and see his eyes, I stare in utmost horror.
It's 'Yellow Eyes' Skywalker!
'What on Remnant happened to him to turn out like this?' I wonder. Then I heard it. Metal clinking against metal. I turn around and notice medical robots of a kind I've never seen before approach the table. In their hands are black mechanical limbs. I look around, noticing something missing. Aren't they going to sedate Skywalker while this happens?
The robots reach the table and begin their work on attaching the limbs to Skywalker. While he's still awake. He screamed and writhed on the table in absolute agony. I nearly cover my mouth in horror. Whoever's behind this operation is inhuman at best. Soon, they attached more machinery to him, then put on him a black life support suit armor, then a black mask and a helmet.
The first breaths that came out of that mask are the heaviest, most labored and mechanical breathing I will ever hear.
Then the table rises up, putting Skywalker into a standing position. His arms and head move around a little, adjusting to the new body. From out of the shadows, another man cloaked in black emerges. While Skywalker radiates hatred and power, this man radiates deception and cruelty. It's almost too much for me to bear.
"Darth Vader, can you hear me?" the man asked cautiously. I notice his face and shudder under the fact he also has amber, bloodshot eyes as well as his wrinkled, grey skin.
'Vader' didn't respond immediately, then his voice came out. A strong voice, almost as mechanical as his breathing. "Yes, Master. Tell me. Where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she alright?" he asked.
Now I'm really confused. This man actually had a relationship? "It seems, in your anger, you…killed her." The other man said, backing up a little.
I could tell that Vader is going through so many emotions. Disbelief, anger, sorrow. "I? I couldn't have! She was alive. I felt it." He said. Power filled the air, crushing against my head.
I jolt awake instantly, in a cold sweat once again. I get out of bed and open the window. I crawl out the window, carefully closing it behind me, and jump onto the roof. I stare up at the moon and think.
What's going on? I've never had dreams like the two I've been through before, my sudden ability to know people's emotions. Why have they suddenly started since I came here to Beacon? That's when it hit me. This all started this semester when Sander came here as well.
What happens next will haunt me forever. Rage and hatred filled up my body, vengeance against him. This sadistic side scared me and I tried to fight it down, only to fail.
I didn't even notice Sander coming up to me, a concerned look on his face. "Yang, what's wrong?" he asked softly.
The darkness lashed out and I give him a tremendous punch to the chest. He went flying over the other side of the roof. The negative emotions inside are beaten out and replaced with horror at my actions. I run to the other side and notice Sander laying there on his back, groaning.
"Are you alright?" I ask and run to him. Before I could help him up, he threw my arm off and glared at me furiously. A couple of tears leaked down his face as he glared at me.
"Why would you do that, Yang? I treated you as a friend. No, you're nothing like my dead mentor, like I had originally hoped. Until you can get a hold of yourself, just stay away from me." He growled at me, sadness burning in his gaze.
He walked off, rubbing his lower back, which seemed to be hit the hardest. When he leaves, I break down sobbing. Distrust of myself began building up. How can I prevent something like this from happening again?
"You're time has come. The next step is fast approaching." An unfamiliar, male voice said all around me. I raise my head up and look everywhere, trying to find the source of the voice, only to come up empty.
"Who are you?" I ask. I could 'sense' that someone's here, but I can't see who it is.
"You shall know me in due time. Don't take offense to these words, but you both took that incident rather well. Don't worry, you will be forgiven this weekend and soon you shall learn to keep the anger at bay. For now, good bye, Yang Xiao Long." The voice said no more.
"Hello?" I ask again, looking around to see where the mysterious man disappeared to. Nothing. The tears still came down, but I go back to my dorm and go back to sleep.
I am not looking forward to tomorrow or the rest of the week. But I do hope to truly redeem myself and end this nightmare and maybe even understand these strange abilities greater.
I'm starting to think that I need to be more conscious about what I do and while I shouldn't stop having emotions, I might need to not let them run out of my control so easily from now on.
AN: You have no idea how painful it was for me to write this chapter.
However, it is absolutely necessary for what's to come later.
Thanks for all the support you have given me.
See you all next time!
