Hello all, a new story I've been working on with someone for a bit,we wanted to see how well it might be received by people so without further ado, here it is.
Disclaimer: I own no rights to RWBY or any other inspiration in this story.
The Curtain Rises
When you read about great calamities in the old books, they are always heralded with thunder and lightning or an earthquake or some other great tragedy to bring forth the end of days. Unfortunately that is rarely ever the truth, if it where people would see it coming.
"Watchmen of Hope, Famous Hunter Crew"
"Starting quote from the book 'Once Upon The End Of The (FUCKING) World' as written by Summer Rose (and secretly edited by the Branwen twins), unintentionally documenting the story that led to the current state of our world."
Mountain Glenn, Watchtower Preparatory Combat Academy, First Initiation, 3 years prior to the FALL, 20 years prior RWBY ep 1
"Initiation's are always a colourful event, don't you think old boy!" Came the boisterous laugh of a rather tall and heavy set man, though one could only tell he had spoken by the slight movements of his large moustache, which was greying slightly from the centre out. "Indeed it is old friend, how do you think this first batch will hold up?" Asked his grey haired companion, "Splendidly I'd say, there seem to be many interested in joining as part of the new program here."
Both men looked over the influx of initiates coming through the gates of the recently finished academy, Watchtower huntsman prep academy, one of the first buildings finished in the Mountain Glenn expansion project, with the reasoning to be a more Vaconing style of huntsman teaching in an effort to keep the Grimm numbers around the expansion down. The two men themselves being the newly elected headmaster of Watchtower, Peter Port and the other being the schools forge master, simply known as Djura.
Initiate P.O.V
The entrants line up in front of their luggage at the entrance of the new school, many eager and ready for a new adventure. There are some outliers however, either older or more experienced than their possible classmates, sticking to the edges and calmly preparing. On the opposite hand several crowds were formed around some of the more popular students by their former classmates.
Of the people preparing by themselves 3 figures stood together in a small group, one larger in stoic silence with a small smile, one regular sized figure chatting and chasing the smallest, hyperactive figure. This had become the norm for these three individuals after meeting 6 months before hand, during the two older figures guarding patrol during the city's construction. The youngest had gone out of her to form a friendship between the group in an effort to make her older sister less lonely.
These figures were Jade Peridol Autumn, 17 year old huntsman apprentice and recommendation student by her adopted father/mentor. Amber Autumn, a 12 year old bundle of joy and the younger sister of Jade, taken on by the academy's medical doctor as an apprentice because of her keen inters in medicine. The final figure is known as Lucas Ghrian Lionheart, 18 years orphaned faunas son of two legendary huntsmen and represented of the Menagerie Guard.
While the girls were moving about and making a ruckus, Lucas was checking over his equipment for the third time out of habit more than nerves, from experience he knew looking after ones tools means they will look after you. Little Amber took this as a sign of nerves, so after escaping from her sister's grasp, she made a point of moving to hide behind the half cape draped over the faunas' back. "Amber, what have I told you about bothering people when they are trying to focus." Comes the stern voice of the elder sister, doing her best to not have their imposing friend get mad at the little one. "But sisss, Goldie doesn't mind playing too, do you." The littlun exclaimed while poking his side and looking up at him with her big brown eyes.
Looking down from checking his pistol "I suppose I don't." the line was delivered so monotone that Amber was shocked, thinking she had annoyed the large Faunas, stepping out from behind his legs she cast her eyes down and began to apologise… only to squeal in surprise as she felt herself being picked up suddenly and sat on the older boys shoulder. Jade breathed a sigh of relief as she smiled at the sight of her sister happily perched on their friends shoulder, at first she was worried he was annoyed from his deadpan delivery but she realises that's just how he is at times, about as expressive as a brick, though having experienced having him as an ally in combat that description seemed quite accurate, the boy could be just like an unmoveable rock at times.
"So little one, do you remember your previous lessons?" Lucas inquires to the now excited Amber on his shoulders, who nodded enthusiastically to his question. Nodding at this he produced a small, pale green dust crystal from his pocket and hands it to the little girl, stating "Good, show me what you've learned." Taking the dust and grinning, Amber begins to gather her Aura and flows it through the dust, concentrating hard on the affect she wants to create. At first nothing occurs before little by little a small, waist high tornado forms in front of the two, pulling up a good amount of regular dust and making Lucas's cape and the tails of Jades coat begin to wave gently in the breeze behind them, drawing inquisitive looks from the people around them.
After a solid 30 seconds of effect the winds gently return to normal, "Aww I was hoping to make it last longer than that…" pouts a sweating Amber in disappointment. "On the contrary little one, you did incredibly well for a relative novice in the subject, you will make quite the dust mage one day." Lucas intones, reaching up to pat the little girl on the head in praise, "Amber that was awesome! I didn't know you got so good!" comes the happy tones of Jade, who was very excited to see her little sisters progression, " I didn't think you'd progress so much in such little time since you started practicing." This caused Amber to flush from the praise of the two people with her, happy that she had impressed them.
Its true she had only been practicing for a relatively small amount of time, in truth it was a spur of the moment decision for her. After the first month of getting to know the sisters, Lucas had let slip how he regularly practices dust magic as a way of improving his aura control and after being explained what it entailed, she had jumped at the chance to learn from him. As such their little lessons began once or twice a week when he was free, up until now they had only practiced with the four basic types of dust. "I couldn't have done it without your teaching Goldie" she says whilst nuzzling one of his ears slightly, "here you probably want this back" she says, offering the crystal to the faunas. He looks at it for a moment, as if thinking, before reaching out and closing her fingers around the dust and pushing it back towards her, "No, I think you have proven your ability and responsibility with it now. Think of it as a gift as thanks for welcoming me here, I look forward to seeing your improvement in the future." Unlike his normal stoic and flat tone, this was said with a certain warmth the girls normally only hear when he talks about certain people from his past.
There was silence for a second before Amber suddenly turns towards him, dropping from her perch and wrapping her arms around his neck with small tears in the corner of her eyes "Thank you Goldie, I won't let you down." She says determinedly. For a good second Lucas is taken back by these events, before smiling warmly and patting the little girls head. Off to the side Jade looks on to these events slightly shocked but happy about these events, content that someone else would take care of her little sister too.
"Excuse me" came a youthfully feminine voice from behind Jade, as all eyes present turn to meet the one who spoke, only to see two people making their way towards them with friendly smiles "We couldn't help but notice that fascinating display of dust manipulation." Came the friendly voice of the blond woman of the two approaching people, she was decked out just like…. Well a fairy tale witch. Brown leather boots into a puffy long dark black and purple skirt, to a black corset with purple strings and a white shirt with puffed elbows, topped off with a jacked like shawl in similar colours, a purple scarf and a pointed witch hat. Approaching us with inquisitive green eyes and using a staff to walk, though with the lack of limp it just seemed like a subconscious action, she continues "I am quite the avid user of dust myself."
After reaching us she seemed to pause for a moment before coming to a halt, "Oh drat , where are my manners" she reaches up to pull off her hat, letting her blond bob cut hair fall to frame her face, pirouetting into a small curtsey "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Glynda Goodwitch and this is my friend, Bartholomew Oobleck, we graduated of Signal academy together." The young slim man slightly behind her gave a wave; he struck a well put together figure, brown leather jacket over a similarly coloured waist coat, white shirt and yellow tie. Brown slacks and sturdy boots decorate his lower half, with the bottom of a pistol holster visible on his right hip and a messenger bag slung over his shoulders. Moving up to his face, thick glasses covered brown eyes and a broad brimmed fedora type brown hat covered his seemingly neat green hair, "A pleasure to meet you" his words were short but not rushed, a lighter valean accent dripping through.
Being the first one to recover from sudden greetings, Jade turns fully to greet the new comers with a pleasant smile "Hi there, it's nice to meet you, I'm Jade Autumn and that's my little sister Amber, were from the frontiers." Dropping from her position with Lucas and rushing over to her sisters side, Amber begins waving excitedly at the new comers "Hello, it's really cool to meet you." This action brought a smile to the faces of everyone present.
All eyes move over to the last member of the group as he takes more measured steps towards them, mirroring Glynda's earlier walk with the staff that had stood freely at his side. After making his way closer to the new group he gives a small bow from the waist "Greeting, my name is Lucas Lionheart, it is an honour to meet you." As normal the words were spoken in short sentences however there was an eloquence to them that was unexpected. For a second everyone just nodded along from the introductions before Glynda let out a small gasp, turning to the larger faunas "Pardon me, but are you by chance related to Leonardo Lionheart, the dust studies professor at Haven academy?" The excitement was palpable in her voice as she spoke, "I am, he is my paternal uncle." A small squeal escaped her lips as she practically vibrated on the spot "I am such a fan of his work! His applied theory…."
She was interrupted by a loud and obnoxious voice "Don't get too close to the animal now, it might bite." A heavily plate armoured boy strutted over to the group, an air of cockiness surrounded him and group of non-descript lackeys followed close at heels. "Winchester…" came the displeasured voice of Oobleck, the new trio was slightly surprised to hear the venom in the boys voice. "Glynda, looking as lovely as ever. Barty, still need to pack on some meat I see." The new individual was obviously familiar with people who had just introduced themselves, before turning to the sister duo "And who are these two lovely ladies here, my humblest pleasure to meet you, I am Regulus of house Winchester." He introduced himself; bowing slightly with a small smirk, as he straightened up it was easy to see that he struck quite an imposing figure. Burnt orange hair swept back and arrogant hazel eyes, full body plate with an eagle embossed on the front, a wicked looking mace with a red crystal on one hip and a broad headed axe with a barrel poking out the end on the other. It wasn't fair to say he towered over them all, but he was slightly taller than even Lucas.
'Righhtttt, humble' sarcastically thought Jade as she went to reply, before she was beaten to it by Amber, "Hey, what did you mean by animal mister?" unfortunately she said this with genuine curiosity, as generally towns on the frontiers don't share the same kind of mind-set that was found closer to the kingdoms. Before Jade could push into the conversations the newcomer, Winchester, began laughing an arrogant laugh, like he'd just heard the funniest thing in weeks. "Oh you naive little girl, that's what I mean by an animal" it turned into a sneer at the end as an accusatory finger was raised towards Lucas. In turn an eyebrow was simply quirked in his direction by the one being pointed at, as if to ask 'Really?'
The Winchester Scion took this as a challenge however, moving forward and trying to push Amber out from between him and the lion, however by doing this caused Jade to react to protect Amber from a threat and Lucas himself the step around the girl to shield her, planting his staff in the ground between the racist and the young girl. There was a few very tense moments were Jade was slowly moving her hand to the revolver that rested on her thigh, ready for action. "Now you listen here you filthy animal, you have no right to step to me, do you have any idea who I am?!"
After lazily looking him up and down, a quite flat reply came from the lion "A waste of time" before turning to the young girl to make sure she was alright. With a face steadily growing red from being dismissed and ignored in such a fashion, the Winchester of winding up a strike from behind, all moved to warn and intercept the strike however…
"AH there you are!" came quite the boisterous voice, accompanied by the rather large physique of the academy's headmaster followed closely by another older gentleman in old hunter garb. "I was looking all over for you my boy." Believing himself being the one addressed, the Winchester turned to the larger man "Ah headmaster, good, I was just dealing with this animal trying to bark at its betters." He puffs his chest out with pride, obviously expecting some kind of praise. "Ah young mister Winchester… What in the seven hells are you talking about?" came quite a bland reply from the elder man, turning away and not really giving much time for the boy to reply he addresses his true target "Guard-Sargent Lionheart, I was trying to find you to deliver this, I came from Menagerie with the weekly delivery just this morning." He spoke while producing a letter for the young man, before turning to the group as a whole and saying "Good luck to all of you in the initiation, I look forward to seeing you perform." He nodded to his accomplice and moved away.
Seeing his opportunity gone the Winchester gives one more hateful glare towards Lucas before sauntering off leaving the group with the newest newest member, the other older hunter.
After glancing over at the newest members he turns to Amber and Jade and simply says "New friends?" which was me with two nods before turning to address just Jade "The trials will be hard but you are ready, just have faith" which receives another nod before he simply gives his own tilt of the head in Lucas's direction, then kneels down to Ambers height and smiles "say farewell to your sister and friends, we must leave them now." A tearful Amber gives her sister a hug, wishing her luck, then hugs the lions leg and wishes the same, before waving goodbye to the new members and walking off with her adoptive father.
Silence reigned for a few moments as the atmosphere became thick and tense, a now dejected Glynda spoke softly "I can't apologise enough, had it not been for us coming over, you would not have been treated like that." A few moments passed when to the surprise of all a small chuckle was heard from the lion "please my dear, raise your head, you've nothing to apologise for, that was actually quite tame for a simple racist." For a few moments the newcomers were shocked at this before they both cracked a small smile and a peace atmosphere fell upon them once again.
The clearing of a throat called everyone's attention to the front of the gates, the now identified headmaster beginning to address everyone. "Welcome prospective students to the first initiation to Watchtower academy, here's how it's gonna work…"