HAWK GATLING!~ Here we are everyone, finally on Beacon grounds.

Now, to eliminate any concern, I do have many things planned for Adam Taurus and his character will differ from the savage psychopath the original writers turned him into. I appreciate all of the recommendations in the form of both reviews and PMs, but getting more than ten in one day about the same topic adds a tad bit of pressure not gonna lie... But I do intend to deliver, so please be patient with me as I continue the initiation arc.

Also, for you Trifa fans, she'll also be coming back in a big way soon, so a tad of a teaser for that one.

With that, cheers everyone, and have a great day.


"Hawkins-rero!" Vito waved to the blonde who waited patiently for his visitors to arrive.

In the newly established Mermaid Cafe, Hawkins and his family were seated at a large marble table with steaming plates of pasta, soup, and pizza along with four wide pitchers of water. Shyarly was kind enough to serve the group ahead of opening hours, besides it was a good chance for the shark Faunus to sneak in some flirting to the charming, yet oblivious magician.

"Uncle Vito, uncle Kuma!" The Hawkins siblings rushed from their seats and jumped into their uncle's warm embraces.

"Haha, you two have grown so much-rero!" Vito chuckled and patted the children's heads.

"How's it been in Vacuo? Is uncle Crocodile a good boss?" Jaune asked.

"Easy on the questions Jaune, let's sit down and get some food in our stomachs before you and Emerald head off to Beacon-rero." The gunslinger and Kuma joined everyone at the table, but Kuma had to sit cross-legged on the floor because his mighty arse was too swole for a standard chair.

"So Jaune do you think you're ready for what the school has in store for you?" Sam said through stuffed lips filled with pizza. Carla patted him on the back when he choked on a piece of crust.

"I think so, the courses shouldn't be too hard, and Ms. Thyme has helped me a great deal with the subjects of dust and Grimm." The blonde boy replied.

With a tug on his sleeve, Jaune turned to see a pair of saddened cobalt pupils. No matter how much Jaune tried to uplift his best friend's spirits, Trifa's saddened expression continued to pull his heartstrings. Eventually, the boy grew tired of Trifa's antics and decided to do something about it.

"Hey, Silkmoon, can we talk outside for a bit?" Jaune didn't wait for an answer and gently wrapped his hand around Trifa's wrist. Pulling them outside the restaurant and into a hidden alleyway, Jaune nodded, content with their privacy, and sighed.

"Well, Trifa, now is the best time to say something if you want to say it."

Her sights toward the ground, the spider Faunus refused to meet the blonde's questioning stare. Truth be told, unlike his father, Jaune didn't like depending on his tarot cards when dealing with people he cared about. There was a time when Kuma of all people advised him that the reason why his father was so socially awkward was that he didn't take the time to consider other people's feelings and depended solely on what his cards foretold.

Jaune loved his dad to death, but he couldn't deny his uncle's wisdom. Granted Hawkins did improve drastically over the years, but he was still considered difficult to approach. Though for people like Madame Shyarly and Ms. Thyme, they found it easy enough to invade the stoic magician's personal bubble and be friendly with him.

As such, Jaune's personality would not allow him to ignore a friend's emotional pleas and would wait as long as he needed to for them to speak. That is until his patience got the better of him or the washroom needed to be used.

"Jaune?"

The boy nodded as his best friend lifted her head to meet his ocean eyes.

"I-I'm still going to be your friend when you go to Beacon... right?"

Jaune tilted his head and his lips curled downward.

"What kind of question is that, Trifa?"

Her cheeks burning red in embarrassment, the Faunus turned her head to the side but was brought back when two warm hands rested on her shoulders. Her face drowned in scarlet, Trifa's voice died in her throat at Jaune's warm smile.

"How could I ever forget my best friend?"

"I-I..."

"I know you're worried... I'm not that stupid." Jaune chuckled.

Plump tears rolled down the girl's cheeks, but Jaune was quick to act. He pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped away his friend's salty droplets.

"I-It's just that you're so nice and so easy to get along with... Not to mention you and your sister complement each other really well..." Trifa said through hitched breaths.

"And we don't?"

"W-What?" The Faunus squeaked.

"Trifa, Minty is my sister, and I do care for her but the same applies to you as well. Did you think I'd throw you away once I made a new friend at school?"

His friend silent, Jaune performed an act his father, uncles, and grandparents would always do when he was down in the dumps. Moving his right hand from Trifa's shoulder, he caressed the bluish-gray locks atop her head.

"I'm not going to lie that I have been annoyed with you recently."

Trifa winced at Jaune's blunt words.

"But that doesn't mean you're not precious to me. After all, how many times did we get spanked because of our crazy adventures?"

Her lips curling upward, Trifa looked Jaune straight in the eye and he returned her gaze. Locked in understanding and compassion, Jaune pulled his best friend in for a hug and squeezed. His own eyes growing moist, Jaune could never hold back his own tears when someone he cared for cried.

"I-I'm sorry Jaune..." Trifa sulked.

After a few more head pats and hugs, Jaune gently separated himself and pulled out a small box from his sash.

"I've got a present for you Trifa."

Eyeing the brown cardboard, Jaune ripped it open and revealed a new scroll.

"T-This is for me?" Trifa curled a brow and accepted the electronic gift.

"Yep, I spent the whole week searching for a scroll you'd like, and the percentages from my cards said this one suited your interests. With it, we can chat whenever we want, even if we're away from each other. Though, I'll have to send you a list of my classes so you don't interrupt me during a lecture or test."

"T-Thank you..."

Stepping forward for another hug, Jaune gladly opened his arms and wrapped them around his best friend's back.

"Feeling better Silkmoon?"

"Y-Yes..."

"Alright, just don't forget that we'll be best friends no matter what. Otherwise I'll get annoyed with you again." The blonde boy chuckled.

Stroking her hair, Jaune did this for Oum knows how long. If it weren't for his father, Jaune would have missed his bullhead to Beacon Academy!


The hour finally came, and the Hawkins siblings could barely contain their excitement. Well, one of them at least. In the distance, a gathered mass of tall building tipped with pointy roofs, wide stone pillars circled the plush greenery of the calm courtyard of Beacon Academy.

Gathered at the staggering steel gates of Beacon Academy, Jaune F. Hawkins breathed in the fresh air filled with ambition, strength, and pride. This was the place he would etch his name in stone. Where he'd honor his great father's name and support those too weak to defend themselves. Yes, these soils would be where Jaune would grow, not only as a hunter but as a person as well.

"Hey, Jaune, stop spacing out. I don't want to be the one to hold your hand when you get lost." Emerald rolled her eyes at the look of marvel held on her brother's face.

Truth be told, the daughter of Hawkins wasn't as keen on being a huntress, but her father said it would be a good place to hone her skills and learn something about the world and her special power, so she went with it.

"Aw, come on Minty, don't be such a sour puss. Grandma Carla let you wear the outfit you wanted to, right? So that's a plus." Jaune grinned.

Groups of students eyed the Hawkins duo, though the majority of the attention seemed to be on Jaune.

"Look at that weirdo, what kind of fashion sense is that?" Muttered a girl with short blue hair.

"He looks like a comic book character. Do you think he actually knows how to use the sword on his waist?" Whispered a tall boy clad in steel armor.

"The girl next to him is kinda hot though." Smirked a thin teen with yellow eyes.

Feeling the pressure of their peers, Jaune puffed his chest and did his best to ignore the rude comments being shot his way. As for Emerald, she didn't like that her brother was being bullied, but she also didn't want to attract the wrong kind of attention on her first day of school. With a firm hand, Emerald grabbed her brother by the wrist and dragged him away from the crowds and under the shade of a tree.

"Come on Minty, don't let some random strangers make you feel uncomfortable." Jaune tried to sound confident, but his courage chipped when his sister shot him a glare.

"I didn't come here to get bullied Jaune. If that's what you want for yourself then do as you please after we go through our initiation." Emerald scoffed.

In the midst of their light banter, the sound of wheels on gray pavement rattled across the courtyard. Long snow-white hair tied in an offset ponytail swayed side to side as the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company observed her new school grounds. While not as technologically advanced as Atlas, Beacon had its own quaint charm to it.

"Hey, Minty, does that emblem look familiar to you?" Jaune pointed to the white suitcases stacked on a silver cart.

"Yeah, it's the SDC trademark. Y'know, uncle Crocodile's prime adversary in business." Emerald said.

Jaune nodded at his sister's reply. The boy was fully aware of the uses of dust from the books from his father bought for him, and the lessons from Fiona and the Happy Huntresses when they came to visit on the holidays. Though he only knew of the RDI because their uncle Crocodile was nice enough to send them samples for Emerald's weapons. Also, Funkfreed didn't need dust to function so he never bothered to enter a dust shop in Vale.

Jaune's gaze veered to the petite girl who owned the expensive luggage, he admitted she was rather cute. The way her ice colored eyes complimented her fair skin, she looked like an elegant princess as she strutted past her peers with a confident visage.

The snapping of fingers broke Jaune from his daze and he turned to a rather annoyed sister. The cheeks of her brother blushing red in embarrassment, he hunched his shoulders and rubbed his neck in apology for spacing out again.

"Hey, watch it, you dolt!" Scolded the very same girl Jaune was admiring.

Turning back to the white-dressed student, both Emerald and Jaune curled a brow at what appeared to be a petty rant. A small girl with red-tipped black hair had somehow stumbled into the moving cart of the elegant SDC noble, and boy was the white-haired princess having a field day of running her mouth.

Unknown to the two bantering teens, one of the suitcases clicked open when it hit the ground and a few bottles of red and yellow dust popped their caps off. Faint clouds of sputtering dust encircling the two first years, Jaune stepped forward and opened his mouth to warn them of the incoming danger, but Emerald grabbed his shoulder and dragged him back to her side.

"Minty, what are you doing? This doesn't look good." Jaune grumbled.

"We got a few minutes before they clue in on their surroundings. Come on Jaune, calculate the percentage of them dying from this inevitable accident." Emerald smirked.

Jaune tried to shrug off his sibling's hold, but gave in when Emerald shot him another glare. Shuffling his cards, Jaune drew three and announced his tarot reading.

"96% They'll survive." Jaune sighed.

Lifting his head plastered with concern, Jaune winced as a dazzling explosion of red and yellow dust electrified the air around the two girls in a heatwave. Her white dress covered in soot, the Schnee girl stomped her boots and uttered one last insult before storming off with her cart and luggage.

"Do you feel happy now Minty?" Jaune clicked his tongue in annoyance as Emerald giggled beside him.

"Come on, Gold Nugget, don't be such a stickler. You know the spoiled rich girl deserved that."

"Well, I'm going to lend the poor hooded victim a hand, you coming to help?" Jaune asked.

Her red eyes darting around for a convenient distraction, Emerald's prayers were answered when the familiar sight of a red bowler hat and long brown and pink hair came into view. Before Jaune could grab his sister's wrist, the mint-haired girl dashed away and waved to Roman and Neo near the eastern section of the courtyard.

"Welp, time to be a kind gentleman. Just like how Granpa Sam taught me." Jaune sighed.


"Hah... Welcome to Beacon, Ruby..." The huntress in training groaned. Silently cursing her older blonde sibling for abandoning her in the middle of the courtyard.

Her silver eyes given a reprieve from the sun by a tall shadow, Ruby squinted at a new face with golden locks. She slowly shook her head and steadied her focus on an outstretched gloved hand aimed toward her.

"Need a hand?" The boy chuckled. His eyes a gentle cerulean, he lifted Ruby back on her feet in a jiffy.

"The name's Jaune F. Hawkins. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Flashing the little rose a goofy smile, Ruby found herself giggling along with the friendly tones of her new acquaintance.

"M-My name's Ruby. Ruby Rose."

"That's a wonderful name. Say, are you hurt? That was a pretty nasty accident a while ago."

The huntress in training puffed her cheeks and pushed her index fingers together.

"Just so we're clear I didn't plan for any of that to happen."

"Don't worry about it, there was a 96% chance of you surviving the incident, so you had nothing to worry about." The blonde teen hummed.

"Ninety-six percent?" Ruby furrowed her brows and tilted her head. The sound of paper rustling beside her, Ruby eyed Jaune's meticulous gloved fingers as the cards in his hands danced back and forth between his palms.

"Haha, you'll have to forgive me if I start speaking numbers out of nowhere Ms. Rose. It's a tendency I got from my dad when he was teaching me the ways of the cards."

"They look pretty," Ruby commented.

"Thank you, Ms. Rose, they were a gift I earned on my seventh birthday-"

Before Jaune could recount his old memories from Patch, a shiver crawled up his spine. Light taps on his shoulder forcing his head to turn, his ocean pupils met with a set of narrowed lilac. Though being a tad taller than the fellow blonde he had to veer his sights slightly downward, but it shot straight back up when his eyes almost landed in the crease of the blonde girl's generous chest.

"Um, hello there, my name's Jaune F. Hawkins. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Putting her hands on her hips, the young brawler leaned over with a scowl. Jaune stepped back in response with his arms raised and gulped. All he did was extend a hand to help Ms. Rose back on her feet. He didn't do anything wrong!

"Yaaaang." Ruby drawled. She expected this to happen but hoped that she could at least establish one friendship with a boy before her sister arrived with a loaded Ember Cecelia.

"The name's Yang Xiao Long. You'd better remember it." The brawler growled.

"W-Well, I'll see you later Ms. Rose and I hope you have a splendid day." Jaune broke away from the angry eyes of Yang and scuttled back to the tree Emerald had dragged him to earlier.

The blonde brawler let out a satisfied grunt, but Ruby shot her an annoyed glare.

"Why did you have to scare him off Yang, he helped me up and was being nice to me!" The little rose pouted.


"Phew, dodged a bullet with that one." Jaune rested his back against the trunk of the tree and slid down till his bum touched the ground. He didn't expect such a rough start to the day, but helping his new friendly acquaintance was worth it in the end.

Due to his flustered state, Jaune failed to realize the once vacant spot at the tree's base was now occupied. A low grunt garnered his attention, and the hunter in training turned to see a girl sitting a few inches from him. She had a fair complexion, slanted amber eyes, and long ebony hair with a large bow tied atop her head. From the frown on her face, she was clearly displeased.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." Jaune stumbled to his feet but noticed a familiar novel in the hands of the black-haired student.

"Is that Sora the warrior of the sea, volume six, Poisoned Butterfly?"

Jaune could have sworn the bow atop the student's head twitched, but it happened so fast he figured his eyes were playing tricks on him. His curiosity getting the better of him, Jaune leaned over and read a few words on the pages. He curled a brow when he saw that the novel wasn't a mass-produced copy, and written in his father's calligraphy. Jaune read enough of his dad's books to recognize those characters anywhere.

"Yes it is, now could you leave me alone?" The girl narrowed her eyes and tucked her book closer to her face.

"U-Um, yeah my apologies. The name's Jaune F. Hawkins by the way, and I hope to see you around... maybe?" Awkwardly scuffing his shoes on the pavement, the blonde quickly turned to find himself a new spot of isolation and maybe make a new friend along the way.

The back of the boy growing smaller as he muddled his way through the crowds of students, he didn't notice the curious expression on the secret Faunus' visage.

"...Hawkins?" The girl muttered.


"All first-year students, please gather at the auditorium in an even and orderly fashion!" Announced a group of second and third years.

Guiding the lost first years through the courtyard and through the main doors of the school, Jaune frantically searched for any sign of his sister, but she was nowhere to be found, not even in the places where the percentages were high.

"Hey there blondie, might wanna get your butt into the auditorium before Ms. Goodwitch throws a fit. Believe me, poor attendance is something the bewitching instructor absolutely despises."

With a slap on the back forcing him to turn around, Jaune's ocean pupils met with a confident dark brown hidden behind a pair of stylish sunglasses. One word to describe the girl would be stunning. The way her black beret laid atop her dainty head, added with the stray lock of caramel-colored hair, with her clothes and accessories only adding to her natural beauty, it took all of Jaune's willpower to keep his sights above her neck.

"Alright blondie, that's enough staring for one day, how about we get you to the auditorium before I'm forced to report you?" The girl grinned.

"I-I'd appreciate that very much, I'm Jaune F. Hawkins by the way." The young man reached out a cautious hand with a nervous smile. The girl shook with a chuckle, then went back to her initial duties.

"Coco Adel, blondie, now get moving already." Slapping her new acquaintance on the back of the head, Jaune rushed to follow the trail of students gathered near the main entrance of the school.

"Jaune, there you are!" Emerald growled and snagged her brother by his ruffled collar.

"S-Sorry Minty, I got caught up in a few things and lost sight of you."

Emerald rolled her eyes.

"Never mind that, did you hear the rumors?"

"What rumors?"

"The ones where the teams this year will be randomized." Emerald hissed.

This was news to Jaune. He'd assumed there would be some sort of draft to see which students complimented each other and augmented their strengths, but to leave it down to fate? Much tarot reading would be needed to fix this conundrum.

"Well, what do those cards of yours say?" His sister peering over his shoulder, Jaune shuffled and deduced the rumors had a 64% chance of merit to them.

Her face paling, Emerald bit her lip and glared daggers at her brother who raised his hands and stepped back.

"Please Jaune, I don't want to be partnered up with a stranger, most notably a pervy boy who'd try to date me on the first day. If this 'searching for a partner in the forest is actually real, please promise me that you'll do your best to find me."

"O-Of course Minty, what are brothers for?" Jaune rubbed his neck but tilted his head when he saw a familiar face waving at him.

"Jaune!" A student with silver eyes and red-tipped hair appeared out of nowhere, a trail of rose petals petering around her as the sudden gusts of wind died down.

"Oh, hello Ms. Rose." Jaune grinned.

"Hi!" Ruby beamed a pearly smile at her new friend, then turned it toward his mint-colored sister.

"Minty, this is Ruby Rose. I met her after she blew up." Jaune didn't mean to say it like that, but he wasn't technically wrong with his description.

"Nice to meet you Minty!" The young student said in a chirpy tune.

"It's Emerald S. Hawkins. Only my brother gets to call me Minty." Emerald said a tad too harshly.

Ruby's expression wilting, Jaune did his best to remedy the damage and explain he often made the mistake of using his sister's nickname when introducing her.

"Hey, what are you doing to my little sister?" Growled a female voice.

Jaune's ears perked up and he felt a chill run through his spine. He'd already got off on the wrong foot with the blonde brawler before, but now he was going to deal with her while her little sister was sad.

"Rubes, did he say something mean to you again?" Yang grumbled.

"What? All I did was say hello and try to clear up a common misunderstanding. I meant your sister no harm, Ms. Long." Jaune sighed. The boy could relate to Yang's desire to protect her sibling, but this was ridiculous.

"He's telling the truth, Yang. Jaune isn't a bad person." Ruby nodded.

"Hm, alright, if Rubes says you're alright then I guess you're okay in my books. For now." Her eyes shifting from lilac to blood red for a second, both Jaune and Emerald curled a brow at the display.

The Hawkins sibling sharing a glance, they nodded in silence and decided to discuss the topic at a better time.

"Good to know Ms. Long." Jaune showed his trademark goofy smile and Yang's stern demeanor softened a bit.

The sound of a microphone echoing across the auditorium, all eyes turned to a middle-aged man with tousled silver hair and thin brown eyes. He had a light complexion and sharp facial features along with an unzipped black suit over a dark green, buttoned vest, and green shirt. He also wore black trouser shoes and long, dark-green pants.

Next to him was a line of professors all prim and proper, waiting for their superior to speak.

His silver cane clicking against the wooden boards of the stage, the man took a sip from his mug and with a deep breath, greeted his new students with a mischievous smile.

"Welcome everyone, my name is Ozpin, the headmaster of this wonderful academy. The place where you'll learn to be the next generation of hunters and huntresses for the next four years."