"There it is!" Sin excitedly called to his teammates looking out the window of the airship, "Beacon Academy!"

"Sin please calm down" Rhia told her teammate while smiling at his excitement.

Sin turned to her, "Sorry, I'm just excited. I've always wanted to compete in the Vytal Tournament and now we're here. This is going to be great."

Alena rolled her eyes, "The festival doesn't start for another week. I know it's hard for you, but try to behave."

The Vytal Festival, a biennial event to celebrate the end of the Great War. An event where citizens of all four kingdoms can come together for entertainment, parades and a mixture of cultures with the main attraction being the Vytal Tournament. A combat tournament between students of each of the four academies with no restrictions of age or education level, the only thing tested was skill. This year it was Vale's turn to host and Sin didn't bother containing his anticipation and excitement.

"Professor Xing said Shade hasn't won in years" Sin told his team, "We're going to break that streak."

"Hate to break it to you, Saber" one of the other students from Shade said from the adjacent row, "But we'll be winning this year."

Sin quickly turned to him, "You see you say that, but…" Sin punched his own palm, "You and your team don't have anything on us Brawnz."

The raven-haired student chuckled, "You've been awfully confident the past few weeks, more so than usual."

Sin smirked, "What can I say? We're just that damn good."

A girl laughed from a few rows behind them, "You and your team are impressive Sin, but there's a lot of other teams competing this year. Don't get too cocky."

"Lexi my dear" Sin began crossing his arms over the head of his seat, "I've beaten each of your team one on one, trust me when I say. RUST is winning this."

"You are so annoying" Nebula commented from the row behind Brawnz and his team, "Just because you hold Shade's record for an undefeated streak doesn't mean you're better than everyone else, besides teamwork and skill are going to win this, not bravado."

Sin looks to his team, "Do not heed the non believers guys, victory is already ours, they just don't know it yet."

Rhia giggled while her sister rolled her eyes again and Brick remained as silent as ever. Ever since defeating the gloom widow Sin has been more energetic and confident, not that he lacked in either prior to that fight, but now he had it in spades. The Vytal Festival was a big deal and every team entering the tournament was proud to be there and while each would no doubt refuse to settle for anything less than victory Sin took every opportunity to remind any and all of his schoolmates that his team would be the last standing at the end of it.

"Hey Rhia" he said, jumping back to his seat next to her, "Since the tournament doesn't start for a week, what do you say we have a trip around Vale? Take in the sights, enjoy local cuisine and all that."

The fox faunus shook her head, smiling, "Sure a team outing sounds great."

Sin's expression shifts, his excitement and smile becoming nervous and shy, "Uh I was um, more thinking just you and me."

"Oh" Rhia blushed, "Uh, um...wel, well I uh…"

"If you're going to be busy th...that's understandable" Sin struggled to say seeing Rhia's own hesitation.

"No!" Rhia cried, "I mean I...That's...okay" she quietly spoke trying to sink into her seat.

"Uh, okay" Sin replied, "I'll...I'll look up some good restaurants or movies then."

Seeing Rhia nod, Sin fell back into his seat, beet red himself. Looking at Brick he saw his faunus brother smirk and nod expressing that he handled that well enough. The airship began landing with the pilot announcing to the passengers that they had arrived, welcoming them to Beacon Academy. Stepping off the ship with their luggage in tow RUST observed their surroundings, other airships carrying other students were arriving as well and in the sky above the city they could see it, Amity Colosseum.

"The stage of our victory guys" Rhia said, "Let's not settle for anything less."

Sin grinned keeping his eyes on the levitating arena, "Aye, Captain."

Together they followed the other visiting students, all of them converging at Beacon's amphitheatre where the headmaster would address them.

Standing at the center of the stage was Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon, a middle-aged man with tousled silver hair and wearing a black and dark green outfit. His brown eyes scanned over the hundreds of students before him and he smiled before greeting them, explaining the history of the Vytal Festival and its importance.

"Does he look tired to you?" Sin asked his team.

Alena answers, "He does, almost as bad as Headmaster Eden."

Sin hums in thought, "Running a school the size of the academies can't be easy, but they can't possibly do so much they lose that much sleep right? Think maybe he's just been through a lot?"

"Maybe" Rhia guessed, "Or maybe it's just because of the festival, it is a big event so maybe hosting it has extra work."

"That would be the council's job though wouldn't it?" Sin asked, "I know we don't have one in Vacuo, but the others do."

"Quiet" one of the students near them said, their uniforms showing them to be from Atlas, "Show some respect."

"Oh why don't you come over here and make me buddy" Sin growled with what sounded like spite, "We'll make sure you don't make the tournament."

Rhia quickly grabbed Sin's arm and pulled him back before offering the Atlas student a polite bow as an apology, one he ignored and returned his attention to the speaking headmaster.

With the speech over and everyone dismissed, Rhia confronted Sin outside, "Sin, I know you like riling people up, but can you try to not start a fight? I've never heard you speak to anyone like that."

"He's Atlas scum" Sin answered watching more students file out of the amphitheatre, "I have issues with people who are arrogant enough to think they're above everyone else, and you won't find a better example of that than the people of Atlas. While the people of Mantle live in a city that's really no better than a dressed up gutter, the ones in Atlas get to ignore it all and worry about their clothes being wrinkled in the morning. Rich snobs and discriminatory on top of it, the world would be better off without them."

Rhia lowered her head remembering how her family was treated while under the 'protection' of a branch of the Schnee Dust Company, "I don't disagree with you Sin, but try to remember if it wasn't for Atlas and their technology Remnant wouldn't be what it is today."

Sin looked down at her, "So we should just give them a pass for their history then?"

Rhia shook her head, "No, but we can't blame them forever, there are good people in Atlas and Mantal, just like there are bad people here and in Vacuo. We just have to remember to not blame everyone for what some did."

Sin exhaled, "You're too good for this world Rhia" he managed to smile, "Just another reason why I love you."

Rhia blushed at that, "You...you...what?"

Hearing her stutter, Sin began turning pink himself, "Uh, not like that uh, what I meant is a...as a friend."

Alena rolled her eyes, "Come on Rhia we should find our dorm."

Rhia snaps out of it and agrees, following her sister looking back at Sin and Brick who were staying behind, her cheeks still red.

Once they were gone Sin look at his best friend, "I didn't handle that well did I?" he asked.

Brick shook his head and nudged Sin with his large fist before following after their teammates. Taking a few minutes to collect his thoughts Sin leaned against the wall watching all the students from the other academies, seeing all of them greet each other and laugh and being friendly bothered him. Aside from Brick and Rhia he never made friends with anyone, while he did like Alena, she was still on the fence about him and that team they met in the desert they got along, but one meeting and surviving an impossible battle didn't make them friends, just acquaintances. Yet as he stood there watching many of them meeting each other for the first time and leaving to spend time together he felt envious.

Growing up he didn't have friends thanks to his parents, and he didn't meet Brick until he was thirteen, the only friend he had before them was the woman that trained him to fight and use his aura, but he hadn't seen her since the night he and Brick fled from Mistral.

"Wonder what she's doing now" he thought, wishing he could see her again.

"Hey there" someone said, bringing Sin out of his thoughts, "You okay?" the blonde boy asked him.

"Yeah" Sin answered, "Why?"

"Oh uh, well. You just looked like you had something on your mind" the boy answered obviously a Beacon student, "And, well I don't mean to intrude on any personal thoughts, but figured if something was wrong or you had any questions maybe my team and I can help. I'm Jaune by the way, Jaune Arc."

Sin chuckled, "Thanks Jaune, but I'm alright. Just thinking about a few things."

Jaune replied, "I see, if you say so" he looked around, "Well if you're not doing anything I can show you around, introduce you to my friends. We're always welcoming here at Beacon."

Sin chuckled again, "You're nervous" he said grinning at Jaune, "Don't be, we haven't started the tournament yet."

It was Jaune's turn to chuckle, "Yeah, right. Well we'll only have to wait another week" he cleared his throat, "So, would you like a tour?"

"Sure" Sin answered, standing up from the wall and following him, "And, thanks."

"Hey no problem" Jaune answered, "Besides you looked like you could use a friend."

"Yeah" Sin said, "Why not."

Following the Beacon student around the academy Sin examined each room and area while listening to Jaune talk about them. While he wasn't knowledgeable about the history of the school he did have a few funny stories to tell. Jaune told him a story about how he fought off an Ursa Major solo to save a classmate and while Sin felt there were a few details missing he indulged his fellow huntsman-in-training. During one of his stories about how his team helped save the city from a horde of grimm that burst through an old train tunnel from the mountains, someone snuck up on him, scaring and interrupting him.

"Oh is that how it happened?" the orange-haired girl asked, "I must have forgotten the details, silly me!"

Jaune quickly turned to the girl, "Oh, hey Nora" he chuckled nervously afraid his teammate would correct his recount of the grimm attack, "Uh, Nora this is Sin he's from Shade. Sin this is one of my teammates, Nora Valkyrie."

"Hello" Sin greeted.

"Hi!" Nora cheered, returning his greeting with multiplied enthusiasm, "Are you here for the tournament?"

"I am" Sin admitted, "And so is my team."

Nora narrowed her eyes, "Well then, that makes you the enemy!" she proclaimed, pointing at him with one hand and flexing her other arm, "Well don't expect mercy from us because Team JNPR will crush you!"

Sin raised an eyebrow with a light smirk, obviously amused by the girl's excessive personality.

"But hey no hard feelings right?" Nora asked quickly, returning to her normal tone, "It's not that big of a deal it's all in fun right?"

"Yeah I guess it is" Sin answered, "But if my team does happen to win just remember. No hard feelings."

Nora grinned and flexed, "Oh you and I are going to get along great."

"So any stories about Shade?" Jaune asked him, hoping to stop Nora from getting more excited.

"A few" Sin shrugged, "A couple of them are fun antics my team and I got caught up in, but Vacuo is a rough place so some of them are a bit brutal, nothing like people...dying" he hesitated remembering the mission to exterminate the gloom widow.

"Is something wrong?" Jaune asked him.

"No" Sin lied, "Well, my team's last assignment didn't end very well. We're alive, but I'd rather not go into detail about it, at least not yet."

"I see" Jaune replied, "Well, chin up as my mom used to say, it'll never get better if you dwell on it."

Sin shook his head, "My mother used to say something similar. She would say things get better when you force them to."

"Well there you go!" Nora cheered, "So just take that downer of a mood and wrestle it into submission and if it doesn't get better then you just break its legs!"

Sin turned his gaze to Jaune, "I like her" he smirked, clearly enjoying the vitality Nora brought to their conversation.

Jaune nervously laughed, "Yeah Nora is like that a lot, but that's what we like about her."

"Aw, Jaune!" Nora cooed, "I always knew you loved me, well not love, love, more like friend love because there's me and Ren even though we're not" she chuckled, "Together, together."

Sin couldn't hold himself back anymore letting out his laughter forcing the two Beacon students to wait for him to calm down.

"Thanks you two, I'm starting to feel better."

"Anytime" Jaune told him.

"Of course!" Nora interrupted, "What are friends for?"

Sin asked her, "We're friends after just seven minutes?"

"Well for now" Nora said, "Once the tournament starts we're enemies" she excitedly growled before regaining her cheery tone, "But once it's over we'll be friends again no problem!"

The sky rumbled, the call of thunder reaching them while grey clouds began gathering over the city. The wind shifted direction, cooling the air as it swept across the academy courtyard.

"We should get inside" Jaune told them, "Don't want to catch a cold before the festival."

"You two go ahead" Sin said, "I'll be alright, besides it's been a couple of years since I last saw some rain, thanks to the whole living in a desert thing."

"See you around then" Jaune said to him, "Come on Nora, we should get back inside."

Walking the courtyard Sin ignored the rumbling sky, Nora and Jaune were nice, maybe the other students at Beacon would be as well.

His scroll rings, receiving a message from Rhia, 'You better not be causing trouble again, we are guests here.'

'Not this time' he replied to her, 'Just enjoying the weather and the view. A year of sun and heat makes this rain feel like paradise.'

'Well don't catch a cold, we've got a tournament to prepare for. Sick or not I won't go easy on you.'

Sin laughed as he read that, "God I love you" he said to her image on his scroll, 'Copy that Leader. I'll see you in a few hours.'

Slipping the scroll back into his pocket he explores the courtyard and classroom building, the interior layout just as different from Shade's as the exterior. Satisfied with what he had seen he headed toward the cafeteria finding many of Beacon's students and staff inside, studying or hanging out while enjoying a late lunch. He asks a few students and some staff for restaurant recommendations since he and his team are visiting, writing down the names he was told before finding somewhere quiet to look them up along with their reviews.

"They said good food, but this place seems cheap" he mutters to himself, crossing the shop from his list and moving to the next, "Mid range on price scale, but owner has a dislike of the faunus...I'll burn it later" he crosses that one from his list as well.

Seeing another place with a discriminatory owner he sighs, "I thought Vale was the progressive kingdom. I could always rig a gas leak after they lock up for the night."

"Damn" his eyes go wide when he sees a high end five star rated restaurant, "I could definitely afford it, but Rhia would wonder where I got the money...since I told her Brick and I grew up on the streets I can't really tell her the truth. Thanks a lot dad, stole all that money from you and I never have a chance to spend it."

He scrolls through the pictures of the restaurant, 'I want to take Rhia somewhere nice, but would she feel uncomfortable going to such a high end place? Given her past, expensive stuff like that might make her feel nervous.'

He bookmarks the location, maybe one day in the future he can take her there. He lowers his scroll for a moment staring out from the patio table at the rain that nearly flooded the courtyard, according to the forecast it was supposed to keep raining well into the next afternoon, should he wait to take Rhia out, or would she like a rainy day out on the town? Tilting his scroll's screen back up he stared at Rhia's picture, he really did like her he just hasn't been able to tell her, each time he tried he chickened out at the last moment except for when he asked her out on the airship before they landed.

He feels his face heat up when he thinks about it, he was nervous, but so was Rhia, she hesitated before agreeing what was bothering him was he couldn't tell if she was shy or if she hesitated because she didn't think of him the same way, or because he was human asking out a faunus.

"Given her and Alena's past I wouldn't blame her if that was the case" he admits to himself, "But Rhia isn't the type to hold a grudge."

Returning to his restaurant search he finally finds a suitable place, seafood so he'd have to make sure she isn't allergic first, but it's a good start for now. Decent price range, nothing fancy as far as environment or patron class, perfect for a potential date. Calling the listed number to make a reservation he waits for someone to answer only to not speak when they do. He saw someone stepping out of the cafeteria and walking across the colonnade, a fair-skinned woman with dark hair wearing a sleeveless, beige leather jacket and gray pants with what looked like a sarashi wrapped around her chest and hips.

"Hello?" the woman on the phone asked.

Snapping out of it Sin apologized to her, "Sorry I, I think I dialed the wrong number, have a good evening."

He hung up, sliding the scroll into his pocket before jumping over the patio railing and chasing after the woman he saw, it couldn't be her, it couldn't be, why would she be here? Those were his thoughts as he slowed to a stop grabbing the handle to what appeared to be Beacon's gym and pulling the door open. He saw her again as he stepped inside, she was stepping into the workout room, he saw her bright amber eyes and ran after her once again.

Opening the doors to the gym floor he approached her from behind, waiting for her to sense his presence and turn around, when she finally did he confirmed it was her.

"Cinder" he muttered, meeting her gaze.

"Sin" she smirked upon recognizing him.

He stepped toward her again, "It's really you" he said, a smile slowly forming before he suddenly threw his arms around her, hugging her, "It's really you" he said again, holding her tightly.