Hey there. If you're a new reader, and didn't see the update I posted before uploading this chapter, I'll explain something to you. This fanfic does not, and will not, have an actual upload schedule. Every time I finish a chapter, I'll upload one. I fully intend for this to be a longer fic, and I hope to God I'm able to follow through with it all the way, as in, I'm getting to the point in life where I have many things I need to do; such as college work, my job, and all the other fun stuff that I have to deal with. Anyway, I probably had more to say, but I can't remember it. Now then, chapter 2 is here. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2:
Lux rose with the sun the next day, and immediately set about getting ready for Beacon. Ruby woke up not long after, soon followed Yang. Everyone was busy preparing for the day, rushing around the house.
Lux sat on his bed in the room he and Ruby shared, wearing his Huntsman outfit, looking down at the sheathed sword in his hands. The sheath was simple, yet elegant. It was black leather, with designs of thorny silver vines wrapping around it from one end to the other. Four metal rings were attached, used for securing it to his waist. The exposed hilt was also simple, but just as elegant. The pommel was a rounded cylinder, silver in color. The grip was wrapped in black leather, and the cross-guard was black. In total, the hilt was six inches in length. Engraved into the cross-guard was the name of the sword; Spinam.
Lux withdrew Spinam from its sheath to inspect the blade. The blade of the gladius hispaniensis was twenty-six inches in length, and one inch thinner than the cross-guard at the base. It thinned out in the middle, widened to its original width, then tapered down to a sharp, triangular point. Lux nodded, and, done with his inspection, slid Spinam back in its sheath, and proceeded to secure it his left hip.
He then looked to the three other weapons in the weapons case sitting beside him. Lux reached into it, and grabbed an all-black handgun, reminiscent of a Desert Eagle, with designs of silver rose vines coiling around the barrel. Its name; Rosa Flore; was engraved into both sides of the grip. Lux nodded, satisfied, then attached the magnetic holster to his right hip, and slid the gun into it. Then he stood up, and closed the weapons case, then grabbed his suitcase from the floor and set it down next to the case.
Alright, he thought. I'm all ready to go. Just need to wait for Yang to get done with her packing. Lux grabbed both of his cases, and walked out of the room, and down the hall to the staircase leading down to the living room. He set the cases down by the door, where Ruby's cases already were, and walked to the kitchen, where Taiyang was cooking breakfast. The smell of bacon and eggs permeated through the air. Ruby was already sitting down at the table, wearing her Huntress outfit, and Lux joined her, deciding to sit across from her. He offered her a small smile when he noticed that she looked tired, and she smiled back. It seemed she had trouble sleeping last night. Understandable, considering all that he had told her.
A few minutes later, Taiyang walked over with two plates of eggs and bacon, and set them down in front of Ruby and Lux with a smile, then went back to work on some more. Not long after, Yang came in and sat at the table, wearing her Huntress outfit as well. It consisted of a tan jacket that bared her midriff, with golden-brown piping and short, puffy sleeves with black cuffs that featured two gold buttons. Underneath that, she wore a low-cut, yellow crop top with her emblem; in black; on the left breast.
She also wore a brown belt, covered by a pleated, brown piece of material reaching from hip to hip around the back of her waist, with her emblem emblazoned in gold, on the right-most pleat. Underneath that was a long, white, asymmetrical piece of material reaching to her knee on the right side, as well as a pair of black mini-shorts. Covering her feet were a pair of brown, knee-high boots, and orange, over-the-knee socks, with the right sock pushed down just below the knee. A gray bandanna was tied around her left knee, and an orange infinity scarf and black, fingerless gloves completed her outfit. Her weapons; Ember Celica; sat in their inactive state on her wrists.
Taiyang set a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her, then went to retrieve his own plate, and joined everyone at the table. He asked them questions as they ate their breakfast; asking if they had everything they needed, if they made sure to pack a specific item, and so on.
After they were done, and made sure that they did indeed have everything, they made the trip down to the Vale air-docks, where an airship with Beacon's symbol was docked, waiting for people to board. After saying their goodbyes, and setting their cases in the designated area, Ruby, Lux, and Yang entered the queue, which was moving at a relatively quick pace, and soon, they were onboard, and were instructed to remain seated in the cabin until they were in the air. About half an hour later, the airship took off, and they were soon allowed to stand up and walk around the cabin.
The cabin was approximately twelve feet across, and dark-green benches lined the length of the cabin on either side. The cabin also contained four semicircular windows, mounted at a downward oblique angle. Each window also had a holographic projector, and each one currently showed a Vale News Network broadcast.
Lux looked through one of the windows, looking at all the city buildings, and the early morning city life, making sure to enjoy the view. All the while, he listened to Ruby and Yang talk.
"What's with you? Aren't you excited!?" asked Yang.
"Of course I'm excited!" exclaimed Ruby, though she frowned down at the floor. "I just... I got moved ahead by two years. It's a lot of pressure. And... I don't want people to think I'm special or anything." She kept her eyes trained on the ground.
Yang's lilac eyes softened, and she walked over and put a reassuring arm around Ruby's shoulders. "But you are special," she insisted. "And not just because of that. There's the other thing that makes you special. What makes both you and Lux special."
Lux looked on, the scene bringing a small smile to his face.
Nearby, a holographic projector showed a news broadcast describing the events of the Dust robbery led by Roman Torchwick the previous night. Thankfully, for both Ruby and Lux, neither of their names were mentioned. That was a nightmare Lux didn't want to deal with. A few people knowing; he could deal with that. All of Vale knowing his and Ruby's names and faces; that would be a nightmare. The broadcast transitioned over to a report of a civil rights protest being disrupted by the White Fang. Lux grimaced at that. The White Fang; mainly the Vale faction; was something that he needed to deal with.
All at once, the holographic projectors stopped showing the news broadcast, and were replaced by a video-feed of Glynda Goodwitch.
"Hello, and welcome to Beacon," came Goodwitch's voice. All around the cabin, everyone paid attention to the video. "My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious Academy. Our world is currently experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge, and the training, to protect our world."
The message ended, and Lux looked back to the view below, then looked back at Ruby and Yang.
"Hey!" called Lux, attempting to get his sisters' attention. When they looked at him questioningly, he nodded towards the window. "This is a view you won't want to miss."
Ruby and Yang walked over, joining him by the window, and immediately, they gasped in amazement. Down below was an enormous body of water, and, up ahead, was Beacon Academy. Even from a distance, it was beautiful; like a page torn out of some fairy-tale storybook. If Lux were honest, it was an amazing view, in his opinion. The mountains in the distance brought back memories of... easier... times. Times when he didn't have to deal with Grimm, magic, or trying to save the world.
Off to their right, a boy with blond hair gagged, and brought a hand to his mouth. Immediately, he started running away from the window, and looked for a trashcan. As he ran by, Lux brought out a brown paper bag, and held it out for the boy, who quickly grabbed it, brought it up to his mouth, and started expelling the contents of his stomach, while still running around in an attempt to find a trashcan.
Yang looked at Ruby, then Lux, then out the window. "Well, I guess the view isn't for everyone," she stated.
"It was a nice moment, while it lasted," commented Ruby.
"I wonder who we're going to meet," chirped Yang.
Ruby giggled lightly. "I just hope they're better than Vomit Boy," she said.
Lux and Yang laughed at Ruby's chosen nickname for the blond boy, and Lux noted that Ruby seemed a little more relaxed than she was at breakfast. A few minutes later, the airship came to a stop at the Beacon air-docks, and people were allowed to exit the airship. The first one out was the blond boy. Lux already knew who he was, though; Jaune Arc. Lux spared the boy a glance as he, Ruby, and Yang walked past him.
Jaune wore a black hoodie with detached, orange sleeves. Covering his hoodie was a white, diamond-shaped chest plate that cut off above his lower abdomen, and placed over his shoulders were a pair of white spaulders with rerebraces set under them. Over his legs, he wore a pair of blue jeans with a white patch over the left knee, and a pair of black high-tops covered his feet. Two belts crisscrossed over his waist, each one a different shade of brown, with a pair of small pouches on them. Over his hands, he wore brown, wrist-length gloves with exposed fingertips and small metal plates on the back. Strapped to his left hip was his weapon; Crocea Mors.
Ruby, Yang, and Lux continued walking down the broad, stone pathway, lined with light posts, as well as bushes. Ruby and Yang looked around at everything, their eyes full of wonder and excitement, while Lux gave everything a passing glance in a small attempt to memorize positions of nearby buildings, something only occasionally catching his eye. Eventually, they came upon a broad plaza, lined with archways and different types of greenery. People milled about, mostly new arrivals looking around at the scenery or walking around with groups of friends.
"Wow," breathed Yang, amazed by the sheer beauty of the architecture. "The view from Vale's got nothing on this."
"It is beautiful," agreed Lux, nodding along.
Off to their left, Ruby gasped, drawing their attention. She was looking at the people milling around... or rather, she was looking at the weapons they held.
"He's got a collapsible staff!" exclaimed Ruby, pointing to a boy who was walking by, then she pointed to a girl at the other end of the plaza. "And she's got a fire sword!" Ruby started to wander in the direction of the girl with the fire sword, as if in a trance, but was stopped by Yang, who grabbed Ruby's hood and pulled her back.
"Easy there, little sister," said Yang, as if she were trying to calm down a horse. "They're just weapons."
Ruby sent Yang an affronted look. "Just weapons!?" she exclaimed, looking as though she couldn't believe what her sister had just said. "They're an extension of ourselves. They're a part of us! Oh, they're so cool." With each statement, her voice grew higher in pitch.
Yang rolled her eyes good naturedly, a smile coming to her face. "Well, why can't you swoon over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it?" she asked.
Ruby brought out Crescent Rose, fully transforming it into its scythe configuration, and cradled it against her body, as if it were an infant. "Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose," she stated. "I just... really like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people, but better." The final statement was said in a low murmur, but Yang heard it anyway.
Yang playfully pulled Ruby's hood over her face. "Ruby, come on," said Yang. "Why don't you try and go make some friends of your own?"
Ruby looked Yang in the eyes, a confused look on her face. "But... why would I need friends, when I have you and Lux?" she asked as she collapsed Crescent Rose, and put it back in its place.
Yang pursed her lips and glanced off to the side, noticing a familiar group passing by. She looked back to Ruby. "Well, my friends are here now," she stated in a rush. "I'll see you later! Bye!" Yang quickly joined the group of people, rushing further down the path alongside them.
"Wait!" called out Ruby. "Don't... go..." She looked down at the ground, her lips pulling down into a frown.
"Hey," said Lux, chuckling when Ruby's head snapped back up in his direction. "You still have me. But, Yang's right. You do need to make friends." He laughed when Ruby looked at him with an expression of betrayal on her face.
"Excuse me," called out a voice from behind Lux, who turned around to see who was talking. It was Jaune, which surprised Lux. "I wanted to say thank you. If you hadn't handed me that bag, I probably would've thrown up on the floor."
"You're welcome," said Lux, recovering quickly, and nodded to Jaune, offering him a small smile. "It's a good habit to always be prepared."
Ruby peered around Lux from behind him, a look of confusion on her face, though that soon turned to recognition when she saw who it was. She put a fist in front of her mouth, attempting to stifle a laugh. "You're Vomit Boy," she pointed out.
An unamused look passed over Jaune's features. "Hey, motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on," he defended.
Ruby grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind," she apologized.
"Well, the name's Jaune Arc," stated Jaune, pointing a thumb towards himself, a proud and confident smile on his face. "Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue. Ladies love it."
"I'm Ruby Rose, and this is my brother, Lux Rose," greeted Ruby, gesturing to Lux, who nodded again. "And... do they?"
"T-they will," insisted Jaune, though it was a weak attempt. "Or... at least I hope they will. My mom always said... well, nevermind."
Lux pulled out his scroll and checked the time, then put it back in his pocket. "Come on," he said, getting the attention of Ruby and Jaune. "We don't want to miss the orientation speech. It should be at the auditorium, if I remember correctly. We can talk on the way there."
Ruby and Jaune nodded in agreement, and fell into step beside Lux. They remained silent for a few minutes, until Lux spoke up in an attempt to restart the conversation.
"So, a sword?" he asked Jaune, gesturing to the weapon attached to his waist.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," replied Jaune. He started to draw the sword, but Lux stopped him.
"Not while we're walking," stated Lux. "Just explain it to me. I'd rather no one got hurt. Does the sheath do anything?" He nodded to the sheath in question, even though he already knew what it did.
"Uhhh, okay," stammered Jaune, but he listened to Lux, leaving the sword in its sheath. "And, yeah, the sheath does do something. It can expand into a shield." Ruby let out an appreciative "ooh" at that.
Lux nodded again, then swept the left side of his cloak aside, allowing Jaune to see his sheathed sword. "I have a sword as well," he stated. "It doesn't really have anything special, except for the gravity Dust in the pommel." Jaune nodded along, even if he was a little confused. Lux let his cloak fall back in place, then swept the other side of it aside, allowing Jaune to see his holstered gun. "In addition to that, I also have a gun."
Jaune gave an appreciative nod, then looked to Ruby. "What weapon do you have?" he asked.
Ruby had to restrain the impulse to whip Crescent Rose out. "I have a scythe," she answered, and she giggled when Jaune's eyes went wide. "It's also a customizable, high impact sniper rifle."
Jaune looked at her with a confused look on his face. "A what?" he asked.
"It's also a gun," deadpanned Ruby.
"Ohh. That's cool," complimented Jaune.
Lux chuckled as they continued walking, following the flow of people until they arrived at what he assumed was the auditorium. As soon as they entered, Lux spotted Yang, who waved and called out to him and Ruby. Ruby and Lux quickly said their goodbyes to Jaune, and rushed over to Yang, leaving Jaune to wander around aimlessly.
When Lux and Ruby reached Yang, Ruby walked right up to Yang, and poked a single finger into her chest, her lips pulled into a furious pout.
"You left us behind," accused Ruby.
Yang started making a bunch of excuses, grimacing more every time Ruby shot them down. Meanwhile, Lux looked around the auditorium, attempting to spot certain individuals. Individuals that he knew would have a difficult task to accomplish. It was difficult to see around the whole room, but he managed to spot some familiar faces.
There was Blake Belladonna, who was all the way at the edge of the crowd. It seemed she was avoiding as much of the crowd as she could, and had her amber eyes glued to a book in her hands. She wore a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath that was a white, sleeveless, high-necked, crop undershirt, and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg. She also wore black, low-heeled boots and full stockings with a color gradation of black to purple at her ankles. Her emblem was emblazoned in white on each thigh, just below her shorts.
On her left arm was a black, detached sleeve with a silver cuff around her bicep, and black ribbons were wrapped around both forearms. A small, loose, black scarf was wrapped around her neck, and a gray, magnetic backpack was strapped to her back, though it was hidden by her black hair. Attached to the backpack was her weapon; Gambol Shroud.
Lux's eyes focused on the black bow atop Blake's head. He knew what the bow covered, but Lux wouldn't let her know that. Not yet, at least. He wasn't sure what would happen if he revealed that he knew about her past.
Then, there was Pyrrha Nikos. Her red hair was easy to spot. She wore a brown, overbust corset with a vertical strip of lighter brown in the center. Additionally, she wore an elastic, black, A-line mini skirt, as well as brown, opera-length gloves on both arms. Wrapped around her skirt was a red, ankle-length sash. On her right hip was a small, circular, bronze plate bearing her emblem. Underneath her hair was a bronze circlet adorned with a pair of small, green, teardrop-shaped emeralds on thin chains. She also sported a large, bronze gorget around her neck, and a bronze bracelet on the upper half of her left arm.
Starting below mid-thigh were elaborate, bronze greaves that continued downwards into her boots, and a pair of cuisses began mid-thigh, ending slightly above her knees. Atop the sleeve on her left arm was a bronze bracer. She also wore brown, high-heeled boots with bronze trim, matching her skirt and sleeves, and reached up to mid-calf. Attached to her back were her weapons; Milo and Akouo.
People were constantly coming up to her, most likely fans that were no doubt excited to see her. She gave a nod and a polite smile to each one; a smile that Lux knew was forced, and not at all a natural one.
Upon not spotting any others, Lux turned his attention back to Ruby and Yang, who were still going back and forth. Lux chuckled at the scene before him, a smile adorning his features. A few minutes later, the sound of feedback from a microphone cut through conversations, and soon, everyone was silent and staring up at the stage, though there was still the occasional whisper. Lux, along with Ruby and Yang, joined in staring up at the stage, where Ozpin stood in front of a microphone, with Goodwitch standing behind and to the side. Grasped in his left hand was an ornate silver and black cane. Ozpin cleared his throat to ensure that he had everyone's attention, and pushed his spectacles a little further up his nose.
"I'll... keep this brief," stated Ozpin. His eyes roamed over the crowd, though his gaze lingered on Lux and Ruby for a moment longer. "Today, you have traveled here in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and acquire new skills. And, when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But, I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose and direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far." Ozpin paused to let his words sink in. "It is up to you to take the first step."
His piece said, Ozpin walked away from the microphone, and offstage, while Goodwitch stepped up to the microphone. She passed a single, scrutinizing gaze over the crowd.
"Tonight, you will gather in the ball room," stated Goodwitch. "Tomorrow, your Initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."
All around, people started to slowly filter out of the auditorium. Meanwhile, Ruby, Lux, and Yang stayed where they were, looking at the stage where Ozpin spoke.
Finally, Yang turned to Ruby and Lux, her eyebrows scrunched together, and a confused look on her face. "He seemed... off," she stated.
"It's... almost like he wasn't there," added Ruby, nodding her head in agreement.
"And that speech," continued Yang. "Shouldn't it have been more... I don't know... uplifting?"
Lux chuckled and shook his head, amused by the fact that Ruby and Yang couldn't see what he could. "They were wise words," he stated, catching the attention of his sisters. "Right now, we are wasted energy. We only have the potential to do great, but we need direction. And as for knowledge, he is correct. Knowledge can only get us so far. Just because you know how to defeat an enemy, does not mean that victory is guaranteed. You must have the strength to achieve the desired result as well as the knowledge. So, it is up to us to take the first step towards that."
Ruby and Yang blinked at Lux in astonishment. They knew Lux could be knowledgeable, but it still amazed them that their brother could understand something so well.
Finally, Yang laughed and shook her head in amusement. "You know, you sound like some sort of philosopher, when you do that," she stated.
Lux laughed along with Ruby and Yang. He was happy to pass some simple knowledge on to his sisters. He had plenty of it. Some of it good, and some of it... not so good. Some of the knowledge he possessed could make someone go crazy. At first, Lux had thought nothing was real. But, as time went on, he discovered it was all as real as he was.
Eventually, they settled down, and with so much free time, they wandered around the campus, going only where they were permitted. Ruby and Yang continued to be amazed by the architecture, while Lux continued to memorize the positions of buildings in relation to others. When noon rolled around, they went over to the dining hall, which would be providing both lunch and dinner for all of the new arrivals. There was a wide selection of food, and Lux had to stop Ruby from filling her plate with cookies. After getting their food, they found a place to sit. They talked as they ate.
"So, do you think we should ask around what the Initiation is?" asked Yang.
Ruby nodded her agreement as she swallowed a bite of cookie. "Yeah. If we know what it is, we could make a plan," she stated. Her eyes lit up in excitement. "We could get on the same team!"
Lux chuckled and shook his head at Ruby's enthusiasm. "We could make a plan. But, I don't think anyone would tell us what Initiation is," he explained. "It's probably some sort of unspoken tradition that they don't tell the new arrivals. Either that, or they change it up every year."
Yang and Ruby nodded along, though Ruby nibbled on her cookies a little slower, and she looked at her plate intensely.
"All we can really do is train and be ready," continued Lux, grabbing Ruby's attention again. "On that note, we should probably use the rest of our free time today to do that."
Yang and Ruby groaned at that, but they knew Lux was right. They needed to be prepared for the next day. They didn't know what to expect... well, Ruby and Yang didn't know. Lux knew exactly what was to come. Unless, of course, Ozpin changed it.
Their course of action decided, they quickly finished their lunch and left the dining hall in search of a good training spot. They settled on a grassy area with some trees nearby. First, they started off with hand-to-hand combat, much to Ruby's disappointment. They started off slow, then gradually sped up. They kept Semblances out of it, as the main goal was to train without any sort of 'crutch', such as Semblances, Dust, or their weapons. The only things they could use were their Aura and body. By the time they were done with that, Ruby could barely stand because of how exhausted she was. So, they decided to take a break under the shade of the nearby trees.
While they took their break, they talked. However, after a few minutes, a haughty voice interrupted them.
"What are you doing?" came the voice, and Lux immediately recognized it.
Sure enough, when Lux turned to face the person that the voice belonged to, there stood Weiss Schnee, in all her 'glory'. Her long, snow-white hair was pulled into an off-center ponytail, pinned with a silver, icicle-shaped tiara, and her bright blue eyes seemingly bore into all three of them. She wore a thigh-length, strapless dress with a faint color gradation from white to pale blue at the hem. A small piece of black lace sat in the front of her neckline, and the hem of the dress was scalloped and stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over that, she wore a bell-sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as the dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar. On the back of the bolero was the Schnee Crest.
Around her neck was a small pendant on a silver chain, and on her ears were thin, rectangular, silver earrings. Her boots were white, wedge-heeled, and higher at the back than the front. They were lined in red, and had a small, silver decoration across the top of the foot. Tied around her waist was a thin, white sash with a pouch attached to the back. Then there was her scar; a vertical line running down and over her left eye. Attached to her waist on the left was her weapon; Myrtenaster.
It's a good thing Jaune isn't here, right now, thought Lux, knowing that the boy would try and flirt with Weiss, which was a mess Lux didn't want to deal with. He also didn't want to deal with a haughty, holier-than-thou attitude, but it was something he would have to weather through. He would give Weiss some resistance, of course. She had a lesson to learn, and Lux would make sure she did. So, bracing himself for the impending storm, Lux gave Weiss a polite smile and nod. "Hello to you, too," he greeted, adding only a small amount of snark into his voice. "Was there something you needed?"
Weiss bristled at Lux's seemingly blasé reaction. Regardless, she repeated the question.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Lux looked over to Ruby; who was now eyeing Weiss in a confused manner; then to Yang; who was giving Weiss an irritated look; then back to Weiss, and he raised a confused eyebrow. "Taking a break from training?" said Lux, though it sounded more like a question.
Weiss gave Lux a questioning look. "On the grass?" she asked.
Lux blinked at Weiss. Was that what this was about? The fact that they were sitting on the grass. "Yes," he drawled after a few seconds, looking down at the area around them, then back at Weiss. "Isn't that obvious?"
Weiss' anger seemed to intensify, as she clenched her hands into fists at her sides. But, before she could get another word out, Lux continued.
"Look, Ice Queen," he started, adding a little harshness into his voice. "Some of us actually don't mind sitting around in the grass. And just because we're Huntsmen and Huntresses; or training to be them; doesn't mean anything. When we go on missions out into the wilderness, we're not going to be staying at some five-star hotel. We're going to be sleeping on the ground."
By now, Weiss' body was shaking in anger. "Well- I-" she stammered.
Lux raised a hand to silence her, his face now seemingly an ocean of calm authority. "If that is all, then go."
Weiss looked like she was about to explode, but she took a deep, calming breath, and assumed an air of confidence and grace. "I was merely attempting to correct-"
"Do not seek to correct that which is not meant to be corrected," interrupted Lux, his face remaining as hard as stone, and his gaze unwavering.
Weiss' anger rose again, though she maintained an outward image of peace. She had one more thing that was sure to help. Surely this boy would realize he had made a mistake. "Do you know who I am?" she asked. "I am Wei-"
"Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company," interrupted Lux once more. Beside him, Ruby and Yang went wide eyed, not realizing who Lux was talking to until now. "I am aware of who you are. However, your title means naught to me. If you thought I would quake and cower, you thought wrong. Now, go."
Weiss' anger came to the fore again, visible once more in the shaking of her clenched hands, as well as the furious look on her face. Turning around sharply, she stormed off, silently fuming. Lux, Ruby, and Yang watched her go in silence. When she was far away, Ruby and Yang burst out laughing, and Lux allowed his expression to change into one of tiredness.
"Wow. You just told off Weiss Schnee," said Yang, when she had finally calmed down, wiping the tears from her eyes as she sat up, having fallen over from her fit of laughter.
"Yeah. Did you see the look on her face?" added Ruby, who had also calmed down now.
A small smile came to Lux's face. "She was pretty mad," he agreed. "However, I was only attempting to teach her a lesson." When Ruby and Yang gave him confused looks, he chuckled. "She needs to learn that not everything in life will go her way, and that she will also meet resistance throughout her life." Realization seemed to dawn on Ruby and Yang's faces. However, Lux wasn't done. "You know I'm a good judge of character, right?" Ruby and Yang nodded their heads in confirmation. "Well, underneath that rough exterior of hers is a heart of gold. I can see it. She needs a friend. Needs someone who will see her as more than just Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, Ruby and Yang thinking about what Lux told them, until Lux stood up and decided it was time to continue training. They continued to train until an hour before dinner, and even when they entered the dining hall, they were exhausted. They spotted Weiss again in the dining hall, but didn't dare go near her. Instead, they chose an empty table that eventually filled up, and they ate in comfortable silence.
After dinner, they went to the ball room with all of the other new arrivals, not before turning their weapons over to the staff, though. As they entered, they were handed a bedroll and sleeping bag, then were left to find a spot. When they found what they deemed a good spot, Lux stayed with the bedrolls and sleeping bags, while Yang and Ruby went to go change. All the while, the ball room continued to fill up. When Yang and Ruby returned, Lux left to go change.
"It's like a big slumber party!" said Yang, flopping down onto her sleeping bag. She now wore an orange tank top with her emblem on the front, in red, as well as a pair of black shorts.
"I don't think dad would approve of all the boys, though," commented Ruby. She was laid out on her sleeping bag with a book in front of her, and she wrote as she spoke. She wore a black tank top featuring a heart-shaped Beowolf design on the chest, and long, white pants decorated with pink roses.
"I know I do," returned Yang. She looked at the boys around the room with a smirk on her face, though that quickly became a grimace when she saw Jaune walk by in a blue onesie. She quickly turned her attention to Ruby. "What's that?"
"A letter to the gang back at Signal," replied Ruby. "I sent them a message yesterday, while Lux and I were waiting for you at the ferry docks. I promised to tell them about Beacon, and how things are going."
"Aww, that's so cute," teased Yang, and promptly got a pillow thrown in her face.
"Shut up!" said Ruby, glowering at Yang. "I didn't get to take my friends with me. It's weird not knowing anyone besides you and Lux." She looked away from Yang, a frustrated expression on her face.
"Well, what about Jaune?" asked Yang. "He's... nice. There you go. Plus one friend! That's a one hundred percent increase."
Ruby set the book to the side and flipped over to lay on her back, resting her arms under her head. "I guess you're right..." she admitted, letting out a long sigh.
They fell into a silence. A few minutes later, Lux returned, now in his pajamas. They consisted of a pair of long, black pants with designs of rose vines curling from top to bottom, and a black, short-sleeve t-shirt with his emblem on the front. The shirt wasn't tight, but it did allow Lux's toned muscles to show through. Before, with his cloak covering up most of his body, his muscle mass wasn't as apparent. Now, however, it was very apparent, and he was turning some heads; both in appreciation and jealousy. While he was only sixteen, and not as big as most of the other boys, he still had more muscle than them; a testament to how long he'd been training. Lux joined his sisters on the floor, rolling out his own bedroll and sleeping bag.
"So, what did I miss?" asked Lux.
Yang giggled, sending a smirk Ruby's way. "Well, Ruby was being cute, wri-" A pillow flew towards Yang's head, but she caught it. "Writing a letter to her friends at Signal." Now out of objects to use as projectiles, besides her book, Ruby glowered at Yang; to no effect, of course. "Then we talked about her new friends. Well... friend."
Lux chuckled at his sisters' antics. "So I didn't miss too much, then," he stated jokingly.
Yang grinned at him. "Nope."
The sound of a match being lit came from a nearby wall. Lux looked over, but he already had an idea of who was there. Sure enough, Blake Belladonna sat up against a wall, a book in her hands with her eyes glued to it. She now donned a black, long-sleeved, yukata-style shirt with white edging over a purple undershirt, and a matching skirt. Wrapped around her waist was a black obi, tied with a black and white string. And, of course, she still wore her bow.
Lux looked over to Yang, meeting her eyes, and nodded at Ruby, then at Blake. Thankfully, Yang seemed to get the message, as she got up with a grin, dragged Ruby up, and started walking over to Blake. Ruby, of course, tried to fight it, but it was no use. When Blake looked up to see who was making so much noise; because Ruby and Yang were making a lot of noise; she blinked a couple times, a little surprised that anyone would come talk to her.
"Hello," said Yang in a sing-song voice, waving at Blake.
"...Hi," replied Blake, blinking owlishly. She raised a curious eyebrow. "Can I help you?"
Yang nudged Ruby forward, receiving a glare in response. Ruby took a calming breath.
"Um. Hi, my name's Ruby," she greeted awkwardly, giving a just as awkward smile and wave. "What's, uh... what's yours?"
Blake blinked again. "Blake Belladonna," she answered blandly.
Ruby smiled and waved again, unsure of what to do.
"What are you doing?" whispered Yang.
"I don't know, help me!" Ruby whispered back.
Yang rolled her eyes, but stepped forward. "Well, Blake, I'm Yang, Ruby's older sister," she cheerfully greeted. When Blake gave no response she searched for something, and finally settled on Blake's bow. "I like your bow."
"Thanks," said Blake dryly.
"It goes great with your... pajamas," continued Yang, still searching for something.
"Riiight," drawled Blake, now returning her attention to her book.
"Nice night, don't you think?" asked Yang, still searching, but finding she was starting to reach the bottom of the barrel.
Blake looked back up at Yang and Ruby. "Yes, it's lovely," she sarcastically agreed. "Almost as lovely as this book." Upon Ruby and Yang not taking the hint, Blake continued on in hopes of getting her point across. "That I will continue to read." They still weren't going away. "As soon as you leave." Blake looked down at her book, but she could tell they still weren't leaving.
Yang had officially reached the bottom of the barrel. So, she did the only thing she could do. She gave up. "Yeah. This girl's a lost cause," she said to Ruby.
Ruby wasn't so convinced. "What's it about?" she asked. Upon Blake's confused grunt, Ruby elaborated. "Your book. What's it about? Does it have a name?"
Blake was surprised, but she still answered. "Well, it's about a man with two souls. Each fighting for control over his body."
Yang rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, that's... real lovely," she said sarcastically.
Ruby stepped forward, some confidence coming to the fore. " I love books," she said. "Yang used to read to me every night before bed. Stories of heroes and monsters. And when she was too tired to read to me, Lux; he's my older brother-" She pointed behind her to where Lux was. "He would tell me stories. Although, his usually were about a world without Grimm, Aura, Semblances, or Dust. A world where people actually managed to travel into space. He would tell stories of war heroes; people who charged into battle to save their own people, and even enemies." A wistful smile adorned Ruby's face. "They're one of the reasons I wanted to be a Huntress."
"And why is that?" asked Blake, letting out a small laugh. "Hoping you'll live happily ever after?"
"Well, I'm hoping we all will." Ruby thought about what Lux had told her; about Salem and what would happen if she got all of the Relics. She nodded, a determined smile on her face. "The world needs good Huntsmen and Huntresses. People who will protect others who can't protect themselves, without even being asked to help. I want to be just like those heroes in the stories Yang and Lux told me."
"That's... quite ambitious for a child," Blake commented. Her expression turned sad, and she looked down and to the side. "Unfortunately, the real world isn't the same as some fairy tale or story."
"I know," admitted Ruby, sighing sadly. "Lux made sure to always build upon that story world. Even though there were no Grimm, people were always fighting, for one reason or another. He's smart, and he always seemed to understand something, when Yang or I didn't . He still does." She let that sink in a bit, then smiled brightly. "The real world may not be as good as a fairy tale, but, that's why we're here; to make it better."
"Oh, I'm so proud of my baby sister," gushed Yang; though it was exaggerated; and she wrapped Ruby up in a hug.
Ruby instantly started to struggle against it. "Cut it out!" she exclaimed. She reared back her fist... and swung it down at Yang.
Blake flinched, surprised at how quickly things turned.
Lux sighed, got up from his sleeping bag, and walked over to Ruby and Yang. He interposed himself between them, separating them and holding a hand against each of their heads. They continued to struggle, but he ignored their efforts. With an apologetic look, Lux looked at Blake.
"I'm sorry about them," he apologized. "I saw you over here and thought Ruby could introduce herself to you. She needs some new friends. I didn't think it would turn out like this. I'm Lux, by the way."
"Blake," returned Blake. She let out a soft snort. "And... it's fine. Honestly, I'm a little intrigued about this story world Ruby was telling me about. Maybe you could tell me sometime?"
"Sure," replied Lux, chuckling softly. He looked between Ruby and Yang, who were still struggling, and he sighed. In one swift movement, Lux brought his hands in, then threw them back out, catching Ruby and Yang each in the chest with a palm heel strike, making sure to use some of his power to add some strength to it; it was visible for only a brief second, so no one was any the wiser. The girls both went flying off, landing and rolling across the floor. They both got up with groans. Both of them would definitely be feeling that in the morning. Smirking, Lux made a motion of dusting off his hands, and turned his attention back to Blake, grinning. "And that is how you win a fight amongst siblings."
Blake let out a small giggle. "Well, Lux-"
"What on Remnant is going on over here!?" came a shrill voice.
Lux sighed, turning to face the owner of said shrill voice; Weiss. She had also changed into her pajamas; a light blue nightgown with white frills.
"Don't you realize that people are trying to sleep?" continued Weiss. Suddenly, she seemed to realize who was in front of her. A faint blush dusted her cheeks for a brief moment upon seeing Lux's well-toned body, but she quickly regained her composure. "Ugh, it's you again."
"Yes, it's me again," replied Lux, smiling wryly. "But, you're right. People are trying to sleep. That's why I tried to break that up as quickly as possible."
Weiss crossed her arms and tilted her head up imperiously. "Hmph. You could at least do it quietly."
"You were making just as much noise with your shrieking," said Lux, grinning when Weiss' imperious demeanor crumbled to dust.
Ruby and Yang chose that moment to return, each holding a hand over their chest.
"Did you have to do that?" complained Yang, and Ruby nodded in agreement.
"No, I didn't," admitted Lux. "But it was effective."
Yang rolled her eyes, then glanced over to Weiss, and a look of recognition passed over her face. "Oh, it's the Ice Queen."
Weiss bristled at Yang's statement, but, before she could utter a single word, Lux spoke.
"It's getting late," he stated, effectively stopping any potential arguments. "Initiation is tomorrow. We all need our rest." He nodded to Blake and Weiss. "Goodnight to you both." Then he grabbed Ruby and Yang by an arm each, and dragged them over to their sleeping bags, leaving behind a furious Weiss and a smirking Blake.
After that, everything started to slow down as people decided it was finally time to sleep.
Ozpin took a sip from his mug as he sat at his desk, in his office at the top of Beacon Tower. It was silent, the only sound being the constant ticking coming from the gears underneath the glass floor and overhead. Currently, he had a file pulled up on a holographic projector; a file belonging to Lux Rose. Ozpin had only briefly gone over it, before he met with Ruby and Lux.
According to the file, the boy never attended any sort of school, besides Signal Academy, nor did he receive any home schooling. The apparent reason being that he could do complex calculations, as well as speak complete sentences, before he even reached three years of age. And, if the information was to be believed, Lux started training to become a Huntsman when he was only three years old.
Ozpin selected one of the attached videos; a recording of one of Lux's fights in his first year at Signal. His opponent was a student in their final year. Most would think that the older student would win handily. However, as the fight went on, it was apparent that that expectation did not apply to Lux. The boy danced around his opponent, deflecting strikes with his sword, and, occasionally, his hands. Whenever he would deflect with a hand, the limb would be surrounded in a flash of white light for a brief moment. And, if one looked close enough, they could see that Lux's eyes were glowing.
So, it seems he knows about the Silver Eyes, and has even worked on refining his power, thought Ozpin, as he took another sip from his mug. It wouldn't be too far of a stretch to assume that Ruby knew as well, most likely through Lux, as some of the recordings he watched of the young girl's fights were much the same in certain aspects. Still, though, does he know about Salem, too? Or is the design of his emblem just pure coincidence? Ozpin rested his elbows on the desk, steepling his fingers together and resting his chin on his thumbs. And why did Taiyang or Qrow never inform me of this? I'll have to ask Qrow after he comes back from his current mission.
A chime sounded from the elevator, breaking Ozpin from his thoughts, and he pushed a button on his desk that would allow the elevator doors to open. When they opened, Goodwitch exited from the elevator, and walked up to Ozpin's desk.
"Good evening, Glynda," greeted Ozpin, a smile coming to his face. "I hope everything is going well."
Goodwitch inclined her head in reply. "Good evening to you, too, Ozpin. Preparations for tomorrow's Initiation are complete, as of fifteen minutes ago; and the new arrivals are all in the ball room." She looked at the holographic display on Ozpin's desk, then back to Ozpin. "More research, I assume?"
"Correct," confirmed Ozpin, nodding his head. "It seems that Mr. Rose is something of a prodigy, though that may be an understatement."
Goodwitch's eyebrows rose at that. "More promising than you first thought?"
Ozpin replayed the video, intensely watching Lux's every move. "That is one way to put it."
"How would you put it, then?" asked Goodwitch, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Ozpin's eyes narrowed in thought.
"He is a mystery," he answered. "He knows about the Silver Eyes, and has even used them multiple times, it seems, yet neither Taiyang nor Qrow told me. Look here, for example." Ozpin pointed at another video he had opened.
This one showed Lux facing off against another student in their final year, and yet again, Lux was winning handily. What made it interesting, however, was that, after stunning his opponent, Lux created some distance between them, instead of pressing harder. The boy pulled back a fist, as if to punch, and a white, glowing energy covered it. Lux punched forwards, and in the blink of an eye, the energy flew through the air and impacted the stunned opponent. The resulting force blasted the poor student back and out of the ring.
"Mr. Rose has done something I have never seen a Silver Eyed Warrior do," stated Ozpin. "He has refined his power. And what's more is the fact that, from what I have seen, he has taught his sister how to use the Silver Eyes as well. Taiyang and Qrow both know of the Silver Eyes, and how important they are, yet neither of them have spoken a word to me of this." There was a puzzle in this, somewhere. "Here, I'll send you their files. Go over them at your own pace. Perhaps you can give me some insight. I am finding that I need a new perspective."
As much as it frustrated him, Ozpin couldn't piece it together. There were too many missing pieces.
And he intended to find them all.
Looks like Ozpin's getting frustrated.
So, that was chapter 2. If you liked it, let me know, and let me know what your thoughts were. Also, to answer Old Steamer's question; this is not a self insert, but I find it easier to use my own life experiences, rather than coming up with new ones. And, above all, I will make references. Such as references to video games, music, etc. They will align with my own interests, as well as things that I have seen. Also, I thought I should make note of this. This fic is rated M just to be safe. I have no plans for any smut, but there is language. I don't know what the policy is for mature language. I've seen some fics with mature language that were rated T, and some that were rated M, so, yeah.
Anyway, I'm rambling, like I do so often. If you have any questions, PM me. An answer isn't guaranteed, depending on the nature of the question.
This is Argentum Messorem, signing off.