Year X? ? ? ?
In a past time, within a desolate region of the continent, a child was born.
Its birth was unplanned and unwanted. The events and situation leading up to its conception were deplorable, the aftermath even more so. It had no value, so it was originally meant to be disposed of. Fortunately for the wild snakes that would've choked on the malignant flesh, fate spared the spawn's life. The parents were gone. A replacement was desired. Whether this was luck or a lack of it remains to be determined.
Sufficient nutrients were provided till it could walk. Afterwards, it was treated just like the rest. It was given trials. Tests that would've killed anything lesser. Being left in a forest, in which countless monsters and dangers crept, was considered a rest.
It grew with age, and inevitably changed into something that wasn't quite human. Bones became harder than diamond. Flesh transformed into that which was stronger than steel. Skin that could not be pierced by the weapons of man only ever grew more resilient.
Only a small portion of the world was revealed to it. Blinding white lights and concrete walls were the predominant image that remained engraved in memory. The images were often stained in red.
The child was aware that it was surrounded by creatures similar to itself. They communicated through specific sounds and seemed to want certain things. Yet, the differences were perplexing. The strain that the flesh could endure varied between the individuals. Those that felt like wet mud soon vanished.
Meaning and purpose were a nonexistent concept. Instinct was the only thing that pushed the abomination forward. It was aware, but only as much as a common beast. It found loud noises unpleasant, yet monotonous silences intolerable. It became aggressive when food was lacking.
Many were torn apart by it. Some were more challenging than others. Not that it was apparent. Every gash and tear healed up until it was good as new. Fear was never a learned concept. It always proved to be the superior subject, the superior weapon. Clarity was always experienced in the second it eliminated its target. It sensed everything: fear, anger, hatred, disgust, regret, guilt, sadness... and pain. Though the abomination "knew" about these emotions, it could not understand what they were. There was no way for it to understand the creatures known as humans, but it disliked them all the same.
It was let out to fight in a war, smaller scale battles. Anything in its wake was torn limb from limb. One would think that a devil was released onto the battlefield. The creature only ever saw the worst of humanity and judged them for it.
All the events were eventually bleached away, for they had no meaning to him. Only one other person in the world would know what happened.
but...
There was one thing that stood out. One last trial before everything changed.
Underground, they were somewhere underground. A female showed herself. It sensed fear from the others around it when she appeared. It sensed something different from this women, but nothing truly important. Something within her was unusual, but her body was weak. It could see that. It could always see that.
She spoke, an eerie smile on what many would consider a beautiful face. It vaguely understood the message.
"You are the strongest, the most able to adapt and survive. I cannot describe how proud of you all I am. Humanity's hope will be found here. Thousands of years will have led up to this. There is merely one step remaining, children. We are currently over fifty kilometers below ground. This room will be sealed for one year. Oxygen is lacking, so I'm sure you are aware of what must be done. Only the most worthy among you will leave this place.
Though you must kill each other, please do not feel hatred. Regardless of who lives and who dies, you all will pave ahead your race's future. I've high hopes for you. The world may have abandoned you, but I found your purpose. Do not disappoint me."
"Remember children, everything requires a sacrifice." She smiled. "So, start sacrificing."
Her body melted away, leaving no flesh or bones behind.
A brief pause followed after. Then everything started at once. Eyes were gouged out of the sockets. Spines were ripped from their skeletons. Few actually pleaded. Those who had made it this far knew better. The woman was granted her wish. There was little hatred. It was only a matter of survival after all.
Within an hour, silence was all that remained. The boy was alone in a cave, drowning in the stench of corpses.
It was very, very dark for a long time.
Year X4651
A lone soldier ran past exploding fields and smoking plains, gun clutched tightly to his chest. Pieces of shrapnel struck against his back and shoulders, causing them to bruise. His mind ached from the mental stress of keeping his Aura strong. If he were to let his defense slacken for even a second, he could be blasted apart.
Dirt and grass flew into the sky after an explosion lit up directly behind him. His body was sent shooting forward. He tumbled and rolled at what felt like the speed of sound, but Miller was able to reach the trenches in one piece. His body collapsed to the side as his breath heaved. Green wisps of energy dissipated into the air when he let his soul's intinctual protection cool down.
When he looked to the side, he could see a few allies holding down the line at the end of the tunnel. Rifles positioned right on the edge of the ground. Bullets fired away without rest. Miller shuffled over to them.
"Any new orders?" His voice was raspy and unclear, so he swallowed and repeated himself. "Any new orders? Are we getting support any time soon?"
"No." The guy who replied fiddled with the radio transmitter while keeping an eye on the radar. "We're outnumbered three to one. Almost wish a Grimm would show up right about now. It'd be a good distraction." He got kicked in the shin.
"Don't joke about that crap. Heard what happened to York Province?"
Scoffing, he banged the transmitter against the ground. "That was just bad luck for them."
"Yeah, well as you can see, our luck isn't exactly stellar," his partner snapped back. "Give up on that piece of junk and get ready. I'll need someone to cover me while I go over to the next cover to check for suppl-"
His body was cut into hundred of pieces by something that could not be seen by a human's eye. The same fate occurred to the rest of them.
"What the h-!"
Something exploded against the trench and caused the sides to collapse. Miller was sent flying back. He blacked out.
"Grandpa?"
Something tapped is shoulder.
"Grandpa?"
"Hurm!?" Miller woke up with a start, eyes wide and darting about. He was in the front seat of a sedan parked outside a very nice looking restaurant. A young boy was pulling at his arm, trying to lift him up with his short arms.
"We're here! Come on. We'll miss lunch if we don't get to our table on time. Dad and Uncle already went ahead!"
"Adrian," the boy's mother picked him up and set him on the sidewalk. "Don't bother your grandfather like that."
Blinking slowly to get used to the brightness, Miller placed his hands on the armrests to support himself and stepped out of the sedan. He looked around. Everything was peaceful. The place was mostly filled with old couples, but some youngsters were scattered about too. It was a convivial moment.
Yet, the echoes of gunfire still rang in his left ear. The hearing aid on his right buzzed before he gave the dial a quick adjustment. He took deep breathes before taking out his cane and walking towards the door. It had been quite a while since he spent any time with his sons. Times like hese were meant to be treasured he reminded himself. After all, they were living in a time of peace.
The war was over.
Ruby ran into the city faster than the wind, nearly running into some buildings. She stopped at a crosswalk and impatiently tapped her toes against the ground while she waited for the cars to stop. She probably could've jumped, but she didn't want to get yelled at by the cops sitting in the parked car just half a city bock away.
She eyed the many buildings constructed in the city. Skyscrapers that dwarfed anything in her hometown were a common sight. Thinking about it now, she really was taking this place for granted. It was the first place she'd ever been outside of Patch after all. It was different from what she expected. The random people she somehow met by chance were what really made the place special, though.
The walk signal blinked on and she ran forward faster than a speeding bullet. Before she could turn around the corner, she noticed a large man resting heavily against a decorative tree on the sidewalk. He clutched his arm and seemed to be in slight pain. The guy looked pretty old too. His hair was grey and balding. His thick beard looked like a knife could get tangled in it.
"Hey, mister, you need any help?" Ruby walked directly over to him. "I'm not really familiar with the city, but I can ask for directions to a hospital and take you there if you want."
He raised his head and yawned. "No need to concern yourself, little miss. Just an old man resting his weary bones." Just that simple movement alone was enough to cause muscles to ripple underneath his clothes.
Ruby tilted her head. 'He looks pretty tough for an old guy. Wonder if he used to be a cop or a huntsman...' It did look like he was just tired and facing old people problems. "My sister says that a hot bath helps if you're feeling sore."
"Your sister sounds like a smart girl," the man grinned, showing a mouth full of teeth. "I'll be fine. The new arm is just acting up."
"Positive?"
"I have no need to lie." He made a shooing gesture.
"Alright, if you say so," she turned around. "Have a good day, mister." She crossed several city blocks in a burst of rose petals.
The war criminal raised an eyebrow as she disappeared behind a building. Seems like kids would always manage to surprise him. A deep sigh escaped his throat. "The tragedies just keep getting younger, don't they?" Glancing at the map, he considered the city's layout. Much had changed during the decades. To the right, he would end up at this new "school." To the left, he would get to finish some old business.
His limbs all ached and his joints would crack as they shifted. He truly missed his youth.
Hardened shoes kneaded the ground two-hundred and fifty-three meters to his left. An officer in a black uniform, with the proper tools equipped to his belt, hastily whispered into his radio. The young man's hand drifted down towards his firearm. Five more men were scouting the individual city block.
"Right it is, then."
Ruby found the grocery store she was supposed to go to after about ten minutes of circling around the same eight roads. The moment she walked past the automatic doors, she was bombarded by the hundreds of shelves that filled up the building. A line of shopping carts were placed next to the entrance. She took one and started rolling down the aisle.
After she picked up everything on the list, she could get something for herself with the money left over. It was the easiest job in the world. There was absolutely no way she could ever mess this-
So anyways, she ended up with a cart full of junk food and random products she didn't even know the purpose of. "Awww...," she cursed. After putting everything back in the shelves, she slowly trudged back over to the baking aisle. Six different items on the list would probably be here. It was a little weird in its own way. She figured the moment she stepped off the island, she'd have been as tall as Yang, as strong as Dad maybe, gotten some shiny rings like Uncle Qrow, and then would be on a long monster hunting adventure.
'Wasn't Natsu doing a bunch of huntsman things when he was may age? I wonder how strong he was back then... Yang was stronger than me even back then, so Natsu probably would be too. It'd be nice to get to go on more missions. Wait, no. No missions means nobody is in trouble. That's good.'
She was using a scythe because she had seen its effectiveness first hand. The idea of a sniper rifle came with the knowledge that it was in particular demand in scouting missions, according to Uncle Qrow at least. How could she improve it, though? If she was the leader, she should be the strongest. Relying on her team too much wouldn't be good. She can move fast, but her fighting speed was still behind. Copying people stronger than her could only work so much. They were simply born different after all.
'What can I do on my own? If I was pushed to the limit, could I surpass it?" Ruby wondered. She didn't exactly live a long life so far, and she hadn't seen much of the world, but she'd met the kind of people that only tended to exist in fantastic myths, people that seemed almost immortal, who would never lose.
It was this view that made her firmly acknowledge that she was not the same. Even still, she would like to catch up one day...
Ruby slapped her cheeks to regain her focus. Had to get the groceries and get back to the dorm house. She left the cart by the aisle and looked at the lower shelves for flour.
The petite girl was so focused on her task that she didn't see what was in front of her until it was too late. Her head collided with something soft, slightly heavy, fairly comfy, and stayed there.
". . . . ."
'Hah? Wait a moment, I know this feeling...' She pushed off with her hands and looked up to see a pretty lady with golden horns, in black clothes, looking down at her with an innocuous expression on her face. Something about her was oddly familiar.
"Do you need something?" the woman asked softly. Her voice was reminiscent of a cool night's breeze.
She hastily back peddled, offering an apologetic bow. "Sorry, I didn't mean to... I didn't look where I was going!"
"You apologetic gesture is not appropriate." the lady said. "I was not harmed. Do you require assistance, little one?"
Ruby straightened up. 'Oh, she's a nice lady.' That's good. "Umm... no?" Noticing the shopping bag tucked underneath the lady's arm, she whispered, "Are you trying to bake something?"
"Yes, I am currently procuring the necessary components to produce a confectionary." Her dark eyes sparkled just a tad bit.
"Oh, okay!... I don't think you need that much flour though."
Her bag was filled with at least ten different bags of flour. The handles were slightly tearing. The lady paid it no heed. "I am unfamiliar with the variety of... ingredients, so I'll simply experiment at his residence."
Ruffling the back of her fluffy hair, Ruby glanced at the ground while she spoke. "I- I know mostly what goes in a cake. I can help you if you want."
"Would that be effective use of your time?"
She nodded her head. "MmHmm."
"Very well then, I'll be in your care." She bowed her head down slightly, causing her bangs to fall away from her forehead. The tribal-like marking had changed somewhat, becoming more forbidding in appearance.
"I'm Ruby, by the way. What's your name?"
Beacon Academy: Headmaster's office...
Ozpin flipped through some pages in a manila folder, humming slightly. "Hm, according to this report, you've attended a total of five classes in the past two weeks. Care to explain yourself?"
"Anyone seen my la-" "As you can see, this new model is made from cutting edge-" "Wash the-" "Just take a right after the first bronze stat-" "H-hey! We shouldn't be doing this here-" "Mom, can we get something to ea-" A car was being started up. "I want all of you to memorize these three faces-" "Thank you, would you like a drink with-" Dust was swept along the floor by a broom wielding drone. "Sir, the damage reports just came in! There isn't even a trace of the mount-" Electronics were being crushed. The circuitry fizzled for a second. "What do you think of this shirt?" "What do you think? Works like a-" "God, this is bori-" "We have reason to believe that at least one of them will being coming to our-" "Hey, can I copy your note-" "I think that flour goes well in cakes, but this one does say cake flour so..."
"Mister Dragneel?" Ozpin prompted. "Are you alright?"
He snapped back to attention. "What?" he banged his ears for a second. "Damn, these people are noisy..."
"It seems that you lack interest in the curriculum, correct?" Ozpin continued, setting down the folder and folding his hands downward.
Natsu leaned back and groaned, "Damn, right."
The headmaster's eyes widened for a moment, a detail that was not missed. He coughed into his fist and leaned on his desk. "These lessons may seem like a waste of time at your age, but they will serve their purpose in time."
He wasn't convinced, not in the slightest. "I only have one goal, old man. Listening about how a bunch of dead people screwed up before my time and stretched out stories of one of the thousands of Grimm I already killed before isn't a real priority."
Ozpin continued to smile. "Mister Dragneel, tell me, what do you think this school is?"
"A play house for a bunch of kids to figure out how to play stabby stabby properly with the monsters hiding under people's beds," Natsu drawled.
"Not quite. The history of this world is rather embarrassing," Ozpin chuckled. "-what was recorded at least. Civilization was nurtured from sticks and mud, blood and sweat. Even when guided in exactly what they needed to do, it seems that humans progress slowly. Yet, they did eventually progress. Castles were built, technology was improved, and even nature was somewhat tamed.
Men and women would spend their entire lives working towards a better one, before passing the results to their children. Though the world certainly wasn't kind, humanity continued onwards anyways. Monsters tore people apart. Even the right to bear emotions wasn't granted. Despite this unfairness, they still pushed forward. Brave hunters would rise forth to fight against the monsters. Their teaching were passed on as civilization grew.
Monsters weren't the only problem of course." Ozpin's eyes looked to the side. "Humans got in the way of humans rather often, choosing to be cruel over the most trivial things. Wars erupted and those left in the aftermath struggled to continue. But, even to my surprise, they did. It was so trivial and pointless, but even if they couldn't learn from their mistakes, they still... tried. It's what allowed me to continue as well. It is why this place was made.
This place is meant to nurture hope, to guide the next generation so that they can protect what our civilization has fought so hard to preserve after all these centuries. They'll band together, becoming stronger than what any individual could hope to be. All in the hopes that they'll see a world free from suffering. That is the conviction behind those that call themselves huntsmen."
"Pffft." The boy quickly covered his mouth. His eyes upturned. His chest heaved, and then he burst into laughter. "Hahahahahahaha! Oh-Oh! You you- you're actually serious!" He clutched his stomach and bent over. "Hahahahaa haaa, sorry, but that was the funniest thing I've heard all year."
The man's smile remained the same. Then, it turned upwards and his lips parted just slightly. "Heh."
"Ah, you laughed too."
"Despite all that power, you really are just a boy."
"You're still just a conniving old man with a shady smile." Natsu grinned, his teeth making him look more monster than man. "Come up with any new schemes lately? If you weren't such an old geezer, I probably would've kicked you out the window by now."
"I prefer the term "countermeasures" actually."
For the first time since Natsu arrived at the office, he was serious. "Your countermeasures are weak, Ozpin. The people in your school are weak. None of them even seem to know what a real fight is. Pyrrha was supposed to be the best, and she turned out to be another disappointment. Every other human I've played with since coming here were all just weak disappointments. When you convinced me to come to this school, I figured it be a good way to relieve some boredom. It wasn't too bad, met some interesting people, but it doesn't suit any of my real goals."
"And that is?"
"Becoming the strongest creature, nothing is more important than that."
"And the difference between baking powder and baking soda is?"
Ruby shrugged, "I don't know. Normally, I just sit on the counter and wait till it's out of the oven."
Tilting her head, Seilah scrutinized the boxes, "Are these in toxic to humans in large quantities? It would be ill to poison my benefactor." Her shopping bag was heavy with the weight of all the different ingredients: eggs, milk, sugar, flour, cocoa, vanilla extract, and other minor tastes.
The shopping cart rolled across the tile floors while Ruby stood atop its lower rails. "So this Aki guy is a police man?"
She shook her head. "He likes to solve mysteries. I stumbled onto him during my travels, We are currently in a partnership."
"You're also a mystery solver?" Ruby dumped five rice bags into her cart.
She shook her head again. "My ability allows me to recieve truths, but I am primarily an assistant first and a combatant second should the situation call for it."
"Is it fun?" Ruby asked her.
"...Fun?" She tilted her head again.
"Yeah! Do you enjoy what you do?"
Seilah closed her eyes and continued walking forward, putting a hand to her chin whilst deep in thought. "Personal enjoyment is not a neccessity for my own function. However, none of my current experiences are something I deem dislikable. My objective will remain the same. I must find him, but... hmm, this is rather strange." She opened one eye and looked at the girl rolling alongside her.
Ruby looked back up at her, "Hm?"
"I require more knowledge."
The came over to the cash register and started their billing. Seilah purchased an additional bag of chocolates and wordlessly handed it over to Ruby.
She looked at the bag in awe. "Really? I can have this?" A happy smile formed on her face.
"By my nature, I alway repay a debt." She held up a finger. "Though, it is more similar to karma. I'll repay evil with evil and good with good."
Ruby giggled, "You're a little odd, Seilah. But, you're also pretty nice... and pretty." She frowned as she tried to recollect the sensicalness of her words. "Wait! I meant-"
Someone screamed. The sound came from a little way from the store. Trouble had arisen. Twenty blocks in the opposite direction away, an entire division of police officers were laying on the ground, absolutely decimated in seconds.
"That is unfortunate," Seilah commented. A flutter of rose petals trailed out of the store. The girl was already gone. "Hm, she left her groceries."
An irreversable series of events had been set into play, the result of years and decades of grudges and regrets. With conflict, death would follow without doubt nor failure. This fate was set in stone, all because a fool repeated the same mistake twice.