Violet Rose

AN: Skipping way ahead for this chapter. This will be focusing on Violet's second year and introduce (or reintroduce as it may be) some power players for the remainder of the story. And if you've been keeping stock on all my OCs from RWBYond Vale, then this is the fan-service-y chapter I've been building too.

Chapter 10: Arrival

My second year went by in more of a blur. First year was all about books and team building. Second year introduces more practical stuff. Advanced aura control, dust infused semblances, aura therapy, those were all classes for second years. Plus, for about a week out of every month we would go on a mission. We shadowed one of the professors just outside the walls of the kingdom. It was our first look at what life as a huntsman would be like.

After passing all our classes for the first semester and returning from our last mission for a while, we visited the docks. Vale was full of life and decorating for the Vytal Festival that would be at the end of the year. At the same time as our arrival, a ship from Vacuo was pulling in.

With both Vale and Vacuo on Sanus, it was ordinary for them to be the first when their respective kingdoms hosted the festival. Mistral and Mantle students would be arriving as the next semester was about to begin.

Lucky decided to people watch. The students coming from Shade were the best Vacuo had to offer. The students were welcomed by some Vale dignitaries and dragged around on a tour. A few hours later, we ran into one of the teams. Two of them were wrapped head to toe in light-brown cloth. Another one was a Faunas with wolf ears wearing nothing on his chest. The other one was a large man with silvery hair and green eyes wearing a yellow over coat.

"Hey!" Nellie waved. "You're from Vacuo, right."

"Dang it Nellie." I hissed.

"Silver haired one is kind of cute." She whispered.

"We are." The man walked over to us. "My name is Ambrose Thurston, leader of team AMBR."

"Thurston?" Lucky said. "Where have I heard that name before?" She contemplated.

"This is Maccabees, Bolin, and Rhud." He said. The two wearing identical clothes were Maccabees and Bolin. The dog Faunas was Rhud.

"Nelliel Green, you can call me Nellie." She winked at him. He didn't even react.

"Rah Godwin." Rah said.

"Violet." I said softly. He looked into my eyes and focused his gaze. I averted his glare.

"Oh uh…Lucky Charm, yes that really is my name." Lucky said in concentration. "Ah, you…are the headmaster's son."

"I am." He said seriously.

"On second thought, I don't know how to talk to you." Nellie murmured.

"You three, go on ahead." Ambrose motioned to his team. "I'll catch up."

"Don't stay for small talk." Lucky said. "We'll probably see each other around, if we're lucky…which I am." The other three still went off ahead, passing me by without a second glance.

"We should get going too." Nellie said. "It was a pleasure meeting you." Nellie started walking off. Lucky, Rah and myself followed suit. Then, as I passed him, I felt him nudge my arm.

"Rose." He said lowly. I stopped in my tracks. We were side by side but facing away.

"I don't recall giving my last name." I said.

"I know who you are." Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hand flexing. "I know what you are."

"Silver Eyes." I said. "It makes sense that the son of a headmaster would know about us."

"Not that. Though, that is how I distinguished you. Our mothers were friends…once upon a time."

"Anyone I've met?" I asked.

"She once told me that she met you…at your mother's funeral." He said. "Her name is Amber…I swear my father named me leader and put my team together in just a way to impress her."

"How is your mom?" I asked.

"She's alive…out and about God knows where but alive nonetheless."

"She left you?" I inquired.

"No, she visits when she can. The road of a maiden is one paved in honor and duty. But you already know about that, don't you?" My heart skipped a beat. "Spring?"

"I…have no idea what you're talking about." I lied.

"Not many people would." I could see his hand rising to eye level as he clenched his fist again. "I hope we can fight on the field of battle. The son of a maiden and headmaster versus the daughter of a maiden and Argentware." I heard a spark and quickly turned to face him. But he was already walking away. I then caught up with my friends.

My next encounter with an exchange student wouldn't come for a few more weeks. After the summer break, we returned to our fourth semester as Beacon students. And all our classes had nearly doubled in size from the incoming students.

One of those students, in my Dust Semblance class, was quite talkative. He was a second year from Mistral and liked to brag how much he knew about dust weapons. Lucky for me, he didn't take any notice to me. But he did seem a little impressed at Rah's wingsuit. He and Julius also almost got in a fight over the validity of bullets over blades. I knew Julius was more than capable of fighting his own battles. He could be so hotheaded sometimes but he was never too foolish. With that said, he did know exactly where to take a fight.

Combat class was the one place where all were treated equally. All classes from all school could sit in whenever they want. Of course, there were only a few times a week that it would be open and all students were required to attend so many times and have a minimal number of fights per semester. The day started with a girl from Atlas Academy fighting a boy from Haven. Meanwhile, another team from Haven sat right behind me. Lucky was on one side of me and Julius was on the other. Lucky said it was luck, but in hindsight I'm sure she planned it.

"So, how are things going?" The Haven kid said. He had a long face and long blonde hair the hung just past his neck. He wore a brown coat with a purple shirt underneath.

"Going alright." Lucky said.

"Eli Maru." He said putting his hand out to shake hers. "Leader of Team EMAE (emery)."

"Lucky Charm." Lucky said. "Violet, Julius, Silicon Nellie, Poppy, Ranch, Rah." She went down out row.

"Lucky Charm?" Eli said. "And those names, you wouldn't be Team LVNR, would you?"

"What's it to you?" Lucky said. "I looked back at his team. One of them had a gold studded suit, there was a dark-skinned girl wearing…next to nothing, and a boy with nappy red hair wearing a face mask. As soon as I locked eyes with the gas mask kid I heard an echoing breathing through my head.

"Heard you lot are undefeated." Eli said. "If I'm to stand a chance in the tournament I need to survey the competition. And you're odds on favorite."

"The whole damn kingdom would probably riot if you lost." The girl said. Her yellow tunic was ripped to expose her midriff, arms and most of her legs. Her necklace was made from sharp teeth and her hair looked like a couple coconuts hanging from her head.

"That's a terrible use of hyperbole Emp." Eli said. "You should be nicer." Emp rolled her eyes.

"Who'll go next?" Mr. Branwen asked.

"Yo!" Julius raised his hand.

"Mr. Season, let's find you…"

"Him." Julius pointed to the Haven student he had issues with.

"Two leaders fighting?" Eli said. "This'll be good." He looked at Lucky. "Don't hold it against me if I cheer for my schoolmate."

"Alright, do you accept?" Mr. Branwen said.

"Gladly." He put his Stetson on and vaulted over the railing then adjusted his black trench coat.

"Alright, the second match for today." Mr. Branwen said as Julius jumped over the railing. "Julius Season vs. Necros Faust. Ready?" They both nodded. "Begin."

Julius took hold of his sword and pulled it from its sheath. Necros shot his hand, causing him to drop it. Julius dodged the next few shots and grabbed his sword before advancing. He closed the gap but his swing missed. Necros hat came off and flew in Julius' face. Julius dropped a few pinches of dust as Necros aimed his gun at the hat.

"Headshot." Necros called and hit his target. Julius flew backwards from the force.

"Your guy's pretty good." Eli said.

"Cheap trick." Julius said. "Here's mine." The dust exploded, blasting Necros back. My heart fluttered as Julius was once again on him. But his progress was stopped as Necros' pistol unfolded into a rifle.

"Two for two." Necros fired. Julius activated his semblance to block the bullet. Without breaking stride Julius hit Necros with a massive upward strike. Necros dodged the next swing but was hit by Julius' heat shield. Julius punched him, slashed his head, stomped his foot, tossed him around and pinned him.

"Well…doesn't shock me." Eli shrugged. The whole, brief fight, my heart soared as I thought about how much stronger Julius has gotten.

"Guns are good…especially against Grimm." Julius taunted. "But you need have a plan for when they close that distance. Give me a sword any day."

"Noted." Necros said as he brushed himself off.

"The winner is Julius Season." Mr. Branwen said.

"Maybe next time." Necros held up a finger gun. "Bang." He smirked.

"Good job Julius." Lucky said.

"That fight was hard won." Eli said. "Necros is no pushover but…if we're talking tournament hear, he's the least of your worries." Eli pointed to Necros' behemoth of a teammate. Clad in leather with goat horns protruding from his head. "You lot may be undefeated…but so is Crimson Blaze."

AN: So many familiar and way younger faces. Thurston, Eli, Emp, Mantis, Crimson and of course, the one and only Necros Faust: Facilitator of my most popular story arc. The tournament officially begins next chapter.