Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ I'm back everyone! Sorry I wasn't able to write this chapter last week, but shit got busy, oh well. So, I was thinking that maybe I could do a chapter, or part of a chapter from Arslan's POV while she was still in Haven. I don't know, what do you guys think, sound good? Let me know what you think. Anyways, on to the next chapter!
With her two new friends leading the way, Ruby was able to focus a little more on her aura. Sighing at her lack of progress, she broke the comfortable silence. "So Jaune, where are you from?"
"Oh, uh, I'm from southwestern Vale, my family owns a lot of farmland. Where are you from Blake?" Jaune turned to the raven-haired girl.
"I grew up outside of the kingdoms, mostly looking after myself." Blake explained. Ruby could only laugh a little at that.
"Well, at least you could make it out there, for some reason I doubt I could have made it." Ruby joked, much to the surprise of the others.
"Not that I'm judging, but how can you make jokes like that so easily?" Jaune asked, dumbfounded at the girl beside him.
"Jaune, I went my whole life not understanding color, never seeing my families faces and relying on everyone to make sure that I don't wander into traffic, it's nothing new to me. Plus, I'm pretty sure I got the dark humor in my family. If you met my sister or dad, you would understand." Ruby explained, cringing slightly at the thought of her family's idea of comedy.
"Well, at least you don't try to victimize yourself. You said your sister was attending this year?" Blake asked as they stepped into the amphitheater.
"Yeah, if you could help me find her, that would be great, there are too many people here." Ruby grimaced as the noise assaulted her ears.
"Sure, what does she look like?" Jaune responded, looking for anyone that might look like Ruby.
"Tall with long blonde hair, you can't miss her, or so I'm told." Ruby explained, trying to sense her aura.
"Alright, not at all what I was expecting, but that shouldn't be an issue." Blake spoke as she looked around the sea of new students. While she saw a large mass of brown, black and even red, Yellow was a hard one to find.
"Ruby! Over here!" A loud voice managed to cut through the sound of the crowd, as Blake and Jaune turned to see a blonde matching Ruby's description.
"This way Ruby, I think we found you sister." Jaune pulled Ruby slightly towards her sister. As the trio pushed their way through the crowd, Ruby could see Yang waving them over.
"So Ruby, where have you been?" Yang asked, before looking over her two new friends.
"You mean after you ditched me, and I exploded?" Ruby spat, with no serious venom in her voice.
"Yikes, meltdown already?"
"No, I literally exploded! There was some mean girl and I tripped over her luggage and there was dust everywhere and- "
"YOU!"
"Oh god it's happening again!" Ruby clutched onto Yang.
"You're lucky we weren't blown off the cliff!" Weiss shot.
"Oh my god you actually exploded." Yang commented quietly.
"Here, read this to her." Weiss spat as she shoved a pamphlet into Yang's hands.
"What's this?" Ruby asked, confused as to what was happening.
"Do you really want to make this up to me?" Weiss growled.
"Y-yes!" Ruby stuttered.
"Then have someone read this to you and never talk to me again, got it?" Before Ruby cold even respond, the entire room was silenced as Ozpin walked on stage.
"Welcome to Beacon, everyone. I hope you have all had a pleasant trip here. You have all journeyed here because you wish to join the ranks of hunters, to gain knowledge, to maybe be immortalized as a hero. But what I see is wasted potential, in search of purpose. You assume Beacon will free you of this. Beacon will test everything you have, and only if you pass Beacon, will you achieve what you want." Ozpin finished, Glynda stepped forward.
"Your initiation will begin tomorrow morning. All first years are to gather in the ballroom for tonight. You are dismissed."
"Is it just me, or did he seem off?" Jaune asked. Everyone ignored him though as Yang spoke up.
"So Ruby, who're your friends?"
*Later that night*
"I'm sorry Ruby, but I never would have taken you for a reader." Blake apologized as Ruby sat next to her, listening intently.
"Usually it's Yang reading to me. Books in braille are terrible to try and find on Patch. I always liked coming to Vale, one book store in particular, Tukson's book trade." Ruby explained as she listened to one of her favorites. It was about a man with two souls, fighting for control of his body.
"He was always one of my favorites, did you bring any books of yours?" Blake asked, the sound of the page turning filling the now sleeping room.
"Only a couple, most of them are too important too me. Hey Blake, I have a question, if you don't mind." Ruby asked.
"What's up, Ruby?" Blake marked her page before turning her attention to the younger girl.
"What kind of faunus are you?" Ruby would be thankful that Yang was asleep, as suddenly a hand shot at her, covering her mouth.
"Ruby, you can NOT, say anything, do you understand?" Blake spoke through grit teeth, tightening her hold over the silenced mouth. Feeling Ruby nod, she released her hold. "Ruby, I hide my ears, I don't want anyone to know that I'm a faunus."
"I'm sorry for asking Blake, I really am. I just noticed it earlier, but I didn't want to aske right away because I thought it would be rude." Ruby apologized.
"No, Ruby, you don't need to apologize. It's just, my whole life, I've seen faunus being judged for what they are, I wanted to hide my ears, so I could be judged for who I am." Blake explained.
"Alright. I won't judge you, and I know Yang wouldn't. I hope we can all be on a team together. You're already helping me so much, I hope I don't have to find someone else to rely on." Ruby admitted to the faunus.
"Just so you know Ruby, I'm a cat faunus."
*The following morning*
"Ruby, is that really your weapon?" Blake asked, as Ruby retracted the blades into its compact form.
"What, were you expecting a walking stick or something?" Ruby shot, laughing at her own joke.
"Would I have been surprised? No. Was that my first guess? Also no." Blake spoke as the solid clang of lockers being shut rung out through the room.
"Yeah, she went a little overboard in making that thing. But it also doesn't hurt that our uncle taught her how to fight. Don't ask me how she makes most of her shots, for all intents and purposes, she shouldn't even be able to hit the broad side of a barn, inside the barn." Yang joked, earning a smack from Ruby.
"You're just mad that I'm a better shot than you." Ruby huffed as a now familiar aura moved past her. Turning to focus better, Ruby saw who she could only assume was Weiss talking to someone. Listening in, Ruby learned a nice bit of information.
"So Pyrrha, who were you planning on partnering up with? I was thinking we could pair up, you're the best fighter, and I'm the smartest, it would only make sense." Weiss offered.
"I don't know, I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may. Now if you'll excuse me please Weiss, I see someone I would like to talk someone before initiation." Pyrrha excused herself. Ruby, noticing the new form walking to her, she began to run through many scenarios in her head. Suddenly she was pulled from her thoughts.
"Excuse me, miss?" Pyrrha asked, tapping Ruby on the shoulder.
"Oh, hello!" Ruby replied cheerily, "Can I help you?"
"Actually, I noticed you while I was gathering my weapons, what's your name, if you don't mind?" Pyrrha asked politely.
"Oh, my name is Ruby, nice to meet you, what's yours?"
"Pyrrha. Would I be correct in assuming that you're from Patch?" Pyrrha asked tentatively.
"Yes, I am, I assume this black cloth gave it away?" Ruby asked, a slight giggle following.
"Just a little, yes. I just wanted to come and congratulate you on making it to Beacon. I know it couldn't have been easy." Pyrrha spoke with an understanding tone.
"You have no idea. Eleven tape recorders lost in one year at Signal. Thankfully I had Yang's notes, even if she had to read them back for me." Ruby blushed slightly at he admittance, thankful that she came prepared this time.
"Well, I wish you luck in your studies, now if you'll excuse me, Weiss seems to be having troubles." Pyrrha excused herself as the three girls stood there dumbfounded.
"Did either of you know that Pyrrha Nikos was going to Beacon?" Blake asked.
"Not in the slightest."
"Oooohhhh! Ren look! She looks so cool and mysterious!" A sudden voice rang out, dripping pure hyper activeness.
"Nora, you're probably hurting her ears right now, come on, before we're late." Ruby stood there as two more figures walked by, thankful for the quitter of the pair as he pulled the boisterous girl out of the room.
"I would hate to be that guy."
AN/ And that's a wrap! Next time we'll have initiation. I want to take this time to specifically thank Grano Onis for his review last chapter. I took up writing fanfiction to kill two birds with one stone, to have a creative outlet, as well as work on my story telling and writing. Those of you that have been with me for a while now probably know that I fell out of creative writing a while ago, dropping it in favor of professional essay writing for school, mostly out of necessity, and getting reviews that tell me that I have something to work on, I love those, they are more helpful than you may realize. I don't consider myself truly great, to me, I'm just some random college guy on the internet writing about fictional characters, but I want to be better for you guys, expect another chapter of Shrouded Truth later today, as I have a lot of free time between classes today. Anyways, until next time, have a great day!