-Gen. Ironwood Office-
"Mr. Black" Gen. Ironwood calls out. "Seeing this blade of yours. It seems like your Semblance is too powerful for a common blade. Is this a Vacuo Blade?" Gen. Ironwood asks about the blade.
"I don't know, sir" Adam timidly answers, "It's just a sword that I pick up from one of the bars beforehand. I thought I could use the sword as my self-defence weapon but I didn't know if I could use it in a fight" Adam explains.
"I see" Gen. Ironwood picks up the broken sword and analyzes it. "I guess we could build you a sword but it'll take time before you get it". Gen. Ironwood throws the broken sword away. "So what can you tell me about the Pound?" Gen. Ironwood is curious about the rumoured Pound.
"Well, not much. It just operates as a normal mining town but we don't get proper treatment, regardless of race" Adam remembering his life in the Pound. "I lived on the top side since I was a kid, and they teach kids on simple subjects. But we were also taught about mining tools and minerals. And we just do find something common, but once you get older, you live in the bottom to make room for other kids that are coming by. And as for the naming rule for the children of the Pound, we name them depends on each region but always the same. Adam is a common name for orphan boys and Anna for the girls, but we don't get surnames unless if we're Faunus, we got by animal features. So I tend to be called either Bull or Taurus" Adam then grabs his arm and circling his backhand "But as for the proper treatment. We would normally get beaten if we get the wrong mineral that's on our assignments. Normally just 3 whips. But if we cause problems for the Frost, we'll get 5-10 chain whips. And if we end up hurting or killing a Frost member, then we'll get 20-30 chain whips and a trip to the Vet".
"The Vet?" Gen. Ironwood confused but horrified over the nature of the Pound.
"The Vet is either for the elderly people who are too old to work or people who hurt or killed the Frost. It's where they treat you and branded you" Adam continues to circling his hand.
"Your hand?" Gen. Ironwood noticing it.
"It's..." Adam takes off his glove to reveal a 'P' around a circle as a brand, "...it's my citizenship of the Pound".
"Then why didn't you come to authorities or other Huntsmen for help?" Gen. Ironwood stands and pleads for more information.
"Because if we notified anyone. Our loved ones will get the Vet treatment but it'll last till they have weakened knees and to broken to work" Adam remembers the code of silence. "I've seen so many people getting the Vet treatment and being hunted down by The Frost and being brought back by the Pound"
"Hmm...I see" Gen. Ironwood sat down and analyzing Adam's story. "So how did you escape from it?"
"Well there's a riot but there's a small opening and I took it" Adam holding his right arm. "But I ran away like a coward and the Frost had been hunting me down. And when I encounter Flair and Nubuck Twins, I thought they were working for the Frost and trying to bring in more kids for the Pound".
"And your arm?" Gen. Ironwood quickly noticed that Adam was holding his right arm.
"Cuts" Adam takes off his coat and shirt to reveal a scared up and burned skin across his body. "I made those cuts. 12 cuts to represent my brothers and sisters I've lost through the Vet". Adam's eyes showing a vulnerable and scared look. "6 brothers. 6 sisters. We grew up in the orphanage together and we promised each other that we'll escape but we keep causing problems for the Frost so get this treatment" Adam broke down and remembering nothing but the screams of his brothers and sisters getting the Vet treatment.
Gen. Ironwood looks sorry and slowly walks up to him and kneels. Hugging the poor bull as he embraced him.
"There, there. As long you're here at Atlas, you'll be safe. Jacques screwed up when he came up for the Faunus treatment for Atlas, the Faunus Humans Rights. Because since you've gone through so much. You are welcome to come and go from Atlas, as an equal" Gen. Ironwood welcomes Adam to his academy. Gen. Ironwood let go of Adam and walk back to his desk, "Then I know a perfect metal and an ideal weapon for a man like you" Gen. Ironwood brought out an odd red gem.
"That's..." Adam wiped away the tears, put on his shirt and coat quickly as he noticed the gem, "...Moonite Rock"
"You heard of this mineral?" Gen. Ironwood is shocked over Adam's knowledge of Moonite Rock
"Yes!" Adam puts his hands behind him and observed, "My family found one. We report it back to the Frost Security and they reward us a feast. Mr. Schnee himself was rumour to be proud of this finding". Adam's shocked expression turns into horrors again from the Pound as he backs away from it. "Then we were assigned to find more and the reward if we find a barrel full of them will be our freedom. So we search and search till our eyes are covered in dust and rubble. We dig and dig till our bodies stop and collapse. And from our failure..." Adam again holds his body and shaking in fear.
"Adam..." Gen. Ironwood grabs the Moonite Rock and holds it in the air in front of him. "If this is the rock you and your family found during the Pound. Then I guess it should return to its founder"
Adam hesitant but slowly grabs it. "Are you sure, Headmaster?"
"You found it. Then it's yours" Gen. Ironwood smiles at Adam.
"Then...what kind of weapon do you have in mind?" Adam asks
"This..." Gen. Ironwood opens up a scroll and shows a then sword with a shotgun works as the sword's hilt, "I know one other person who has Moonite Rock as their sword, and she owes me a favour". Gen. Ironwood smiles. "Oh, yes! I forgot" Gen. Ironwood remembers "Moonite Rock weaponry isn't your traditional weapons. It's much heavier but stronger than any blade. So once Professor Polendina finishes making it, expect a workout from it. You're gonna need all your strength just carrying it alone"
"Right, Headmaster!" then Adam suddenly remembers Gen. Ironwood previously mention, "She?" a confused Adam asks.
"But for now, what do you think of this idea weapon?" Gen. Ironwood quickly changed the subject to asks Adam about his potential weapon.
"Well I like the colour and the shotgun does work" Adam likes it.
"Well, I'll call Prof. Polendina to work on it since he loves crafting weapons" Gen. Ironwood stands up and making a call to Prof. Polendina. "Now, please. Take your leave, since you got school work after all" Gen. Ironwood dismisses Adam for the day.
"Right!" Adam quickly left the room but before he left, "Um, sir. I was wondering and I forgot to ask. Why Black?"
"Simple" Gen. Ironwood stops his call, "You came from the world of Darkness. And the people should dread it because there's a Beast in the black void. Plus it was the false name you gave to Flair, then I guess you could go by it" Gen. Ironwoof smiles at Adam.
Adam smiles and left the room.
-Atlas Military's Hallways: Three Hours Later-
Adam is walking around with homework and walking with other Faunus, a black sheep who have dark skin, muscular built, and have black wool-like hair. And at Adam's other side, a tall toned up girl with fair skin who have wolf fangs and claws who towers both Faunus boys, talking about their Huntsmen Titles.
"I think The Wool Collection sounds cool! Am I right, Adam?" a pure white female lamb Faunus is talking about a team-up, "Or...what about the Horn Collection!" the lamb Faunus is annoyed about Adam's daydreaming, "Adam!"
"Ah!" Adam was in dazed and daydreaming about his sword, "Sorry, Ms. Wool. What were you talking about?" Adam asks the lamb Faunus, Wool.
"Adam, the name's Mary" She's trying to be civil with Adam. "Now, me and Marquis here are talking about being part of a team once we're in Atlas Academy" Mary continues to talk about being in a team. "I, you and Marquis well be in one but we need another member".
"I had a question, my dear, Mary" Adam asking Mary.
"My dear?" Mary gets the romantic eyes around Adam "We just met one day and already you're thinking about calling me pet names"
"Actually..." Adam was gonna talk till Mary force him down to the ground and holding him there.
"Then why the hell do you call me 'dear' if you don't like me that way! What? You think I'm not that pretty to you!" Mary angrily talks to Adam.
"It's not that..." Adam struggles to talk, "...it's why attend to Atlas and the Atlesian Soldier Program instead of Signal Academy? Don't Beacon accepts Faunus in their academy?"
"Oh!" Mary quickly snaps from anger to her joyful self, and she let go of Adam, "Well the reason why that Beacon has more student death rates on their second day. And the students who graduate from there don't have happy careers since some are underground Huntsmen or they open weapons shops to sell to anyone. And Atlas Academy may have the highest Faunus death under Mr. Schnee but at least they died in admiral death since Mr. White mentioned them. And I never..." Mary continues to romanticize being a Huntsmen and rambles on.
"In other words, Beacon is bad with students since have a higher death rate" Marquis Baba, a dark skin sheep Faunus, simplified Mary's answer.
"I see" Adam nervously smile at both Faunus while picking up his books.
"So why did..." Marquis was gonna talk till he was smack away from a flying hammer before it returns to its owner.
"Hey! Black!" a familiar voice is heard from the hallway, Loki Flair who's burning up with his fire horns towards Adam.
"Oh!" Adam noticed him, "Shit!" he mutters to himself. "It's good to see you again, Mr. Flair" Adam nervously talk to Loki.
Loki rush towards Adam, head to head while activating his Semblance. This cause Mary quickly noticing the two and she started to romanticize both Adam and Loki butting heads with their horns.
"Are you two seeing each other!" Mary again starting to romantically ramble towards Adam and Loki.
Both boys look at Mary, but Loki speaks, "Shut it! We're not an item nor we never will be!"
Mary quickly slams both Adam and Loki to the ground while she activates her Semblance of cotton hands. She angrily talks, "What the hell! Don't you know it's a rule to start shipping two boys together when they know each other or don't know each other! I mean come on! No normal person or Faunus would be headbutting to each other for no other reason than romantic feelings! What? Are you two friends or rivals? Because I don't accept friendship or rivals in my world!"
"Just because I have horns doesn't mean I express my feelings by headbutting them" Adam struggles to talk.
"And who the hell said we're friends?!" Loki added while struggling, "But rivals? Yeah!"
"Oh!" Mary let go of both boys, "In that case, I apologize".
Both boys started to breathe once Mary let go of them.
"Marquis! Are you..." Adam quickly rushes to Marquis but got a disgusted look once he saw Marquis breathing heavily, lustful eyes and drool coming down from his mouth.
"I don't know why you hit me, but I dare you don't get the shears to do so again" Marquis weirdly taunted Loki.
"I..." Loki is confused over Marquis dare, "...honestly don't know how to take it?"
"Maybe..." Mary getting romantic again.
"It's not, Ms. Mary" Adam quickly shot down Mary daydreams.
Mary got angry again and trying to suffocate Adam against the walls with her Semblance.
"What on earth is this loud ruckus!" a commanding voice came from the other side of the hallway, revealing to be Winter Schnee. "Now where's my butler!" Winter looking around but noticed Adam, Loki, Mary and Marquis. "Oh! It's you Black" Winter looks unimpressed.
"Oh!" Adam quickly kneels and bowing for forgiveness, "I'm sorry if me and my fellow..." Adam quickly grabs Marquis and slam his face down to the ground, "...lowly Pets are in your way, my dear!".
"My..." Mary quickly gets enraged and she stomps Adam and Marquis to the floor "...dear!"
"Why on earth is a Schnee is here? I thought you were getting your ass wiped right about now" Loki questions Winter
"Isn't that your job when my father around?" Winter retorts
"You..." Loki gets angry at Winter's comments which cause his Semblance to burn up.
"Now, Black!" Winter looks at Adam
"Yes! My dear!" Adam mutters under Mary's foot.
"I read from your student profile that you're a good butler, would you make me something to drink?" Winter orders Adam, "I would love to have a mocha with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, a chocolate wafer, and a toasty marshmallow on a second whipped cream that's on the wafer. Got that?" Winter orders Adam a complicated mocha.
"There's no way, Black would..." Loki mutters to himself till Adam interrupts him.
"Yes, my darling!" Adam accepted.
"He took it! What are you? A masochist?" Loki shocked over Adam's willingness to make her that mocha.
Adam looks to Loki and points at Marquis, "No, you want Marquis next to me. He's a masochist sheep".
"Point taken" Loki agrees, reluctantly.
"Ms. Mary, can you please get off of me?" Adam request Mary to stop stomping him.
"Fine!" Mary took her foot off. "But you're gonna make me one, too!" Mary asks for the same drink.
"Yes, Ms. Mary" Adam accepts.
"Thank you! You're a sweet bull" Mary smiles while she's still stomping on Marquis.
"If you're taking orders, Black. I guess you can go ahead and die already" Loki added with a cruel demand
"Sorry, Mr. Flair. I want to live but you can help me, Lady Schnee, on her mocha order" Adam made a different suggestion.
"The day I help you will be arresting you for being an animal!" Loki shouts at Adam.
Adam left the little group of misfits to itself and head straight to the kitchen. Adam talks to himself, "Note to self. Don't mention love around Mary. This is what you get crossbreeding a wolf and a lamb Faunus" Adam shakes to himself, "I don't want to know if all lamps and sheep Faunus are that mentally derange".
-Atlas Military: ASP Kitchen-
Muttering to himself on Winter's order without noticing a nerdy girl who's wearing a long dress, gloves, tights underneath while having a Bee Hive attach to her belt. Adam was getting all of the ingredients for her order but one item until he finally noticed her.
"Sorry, my dear" Adam approaches but she quickly backs away.
"Sorry! It's my bad since I'm just here to make some tea" She too was timid and nervous around people but Adam approach her.
"I apologize for scaring you, my dear" Adam quickly trying to calm her down. The two continue to stumble and trying to talk but end up keeping apologizing to one another. "My last apology. Can you tell me on where I can find some shaved chocolate" Adam asks as he's been trying to find the shaved chocolate for the mocha that had been requested by Lady Schnee
"I don't know where you can find them, but..." the nervous girl ends up passing her tea to Adam "...take my tea instead, since I was getting too greedy for something and I made myself a cup".
"Oh, no! I'm getting something for Lady Schnee" Adam respectfully rejects her offer. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself", Adam got into his knees and holding her hand. This causes her to blush heavily and nervously stutters. "My name is..."
"I'm not ready to marriage, sir!" she yelling at him out of nervousness out context. "I'm so sorry!" she forced the tea which spilled on Adam and runs off.
Adam was confused over it, "Do women outside of the Pound are like this?" Adam grabs a towel to clean himself up. "I understand Lady Schnee but these girls?" Adam then remembers. "Right!" Adam continues to search for shaved chocolate but while he's looking around for the shaved chocolate and making the mocha on the side till he saw the girl's scroll and reads it, "Madison Honeycomb" Adam looks around and noticed a lost and found box. As Adam was gonna place it there, he looks around again, "I guess I could give it to her personally". Adam places it in his pocket and continues to finish to make Winter her mocha.
Madison who never left but only hiding on the other side of the kitchen, listening to Adam mutters to himself.
"The Pound?"