Chapter 2

(AN: Surprisingly, the story isn't doing too badly. I plan on continuing with a decently fast upload schedule - though I do still have classes going on. Thanks for bearing with me.)

I reached the roof in record time, seeing the orange haired thief standing at the edge of the building in a dramtic manner, no doubt waiting for Cinder to pick him up in her equally dramatic entrance. His back was facing me, so I stepped forward and cleared my throat. "Hey!" I shouted at the orange haired criminal, ready for anything this guy could possibly throw at me.

The flamboyantly dressed criminal turned to see me, and his eyes furrowed in confusion. "I...don't know you," he said as he eyed me up and down.

"You don't," I said, attempting to sound intimidating to this guy. "But I know you. What you are and what you do."

"Well, duh. Who doesn't? Everyone watches the news, kid. You ain't special," Roman said, still confused before turning, just as Ruby joined me on the roof.

"What are you doing here? A civilian shouldn't be here!" Ruby hissed, just as the loud screeching of an airship filled my ears. Wincing, I realized that I didn't have any weapon, no aura, no combat training on par with a huntsman or huntress.

"Oh yeah. Uhh, I was only trying to help," I said dumbly before a bright light came up from the side of the building and immediately blinded Ruby and me. The Bullhead had arrived, and was blowing air in all directions in a backblast like effect. Ruby and I flinched and braced as the wind sent us both stumbling back a few feet. Squinting, I could barely see Roman climb inside the Bullhead that arrived before turning to face us. "End of the line!" he cackled before throwing what I remember was a fire Dust crystal. Except this time, it didn't land near Ruby.

It landed right in front of me.

"Shit!" I cried before Roman fired his cane. Ruby screamed, either out of panic or out of fear for me, and instinctively, I closed my eyes and braced as the crystal exploded. The feeling of searing heat and lost limbs I expected to happen...did not in fact happen.

Opening my eyes, I saw a large black wall in front of me and Ruby, who was also frozen in shock. Did Glynda save us? But...I recalled her forming a purple glyph rather than a black wall. Pressing my hand to the wall, I felt that it had a sandy texture - solid yet grainy. It was as if brick had ground into a fine powder and shaped into a wall, if that made any sense. It was rough, but smooth enough to not feel like I was gaining callouses from just lightly touching it.

Then I saw the solid wall dissipate into black mist, which sucked themselves into me. More importantly, the canisters on my belt. Up above, Roman growled before firing two more shots from his cane. Instinctively, I pushed Ruby out of the way with one hand and held up the other, and another solid wall formed before me, taking both shots.

"So I can control this with my thoughts," I mumbled. "Let's see what I can do!" Swinging my hand, the wall turned into a massive tendril that shot into the Bullhead's hull, denting it and knocking Roman off his feet. Laughing, I launched another, though the bullhead dodged this one with ease.

"A little help here?!" Roman shouted as he scrambled to the cockpit, replaced by a familiar woman with a red dress. Like in the show, most of her head was obscured, but there was no doubt that this was Cinder. Launching a blast of fire from her hands, she sent fireballs and javelins of inferno flying at us.

Ruby dodged the ranged attack with ease, and I simply held up another barrier in front of me. Though this one shattered under her fire-based barrage. Surprisingly, I felt my own body strain when it shattered.

"Ow!" I groaned, even though it didn't hurt that much. Thanks to that, I was able to recover quickly in time to throw up another barrier for another attack. However, I wasn't able to spread the wall to my sides, where seeking balls of flame went around to hit me on my exposed sides.

I couldn't do a thing as I watched the glowing ball of heat race for my unprotected aura-less self, and it was too fast for me to move my arms or the barrier. The only thing I could do was close my eyes and await my impending death.

And then the world exploded. Opening my eyes, I saw purple glyphs on either side of me, but they went away in a split second. But that was all I needed to confirm my suspicions.

Professor Goodwitch was here.

I broke the barrier and quickly launched another tendril for the Bullhead, this time wrapping around the Bullhead's thruster nacelle. As I pulled on the airship, I could feel a barrage of fire coming at me, if only from the sheer heat. Another purple glyph shielded me and a hand grabbed my shoulder. Turning, I saw Goodwitch looking at me sternly, which was much more intimidating and pretty in real life. I could see why there were a bunch of fanfictions on her now.

"Protect her. Remove her from the close area now while I'll handle things here," she said before another explosion sent us both back. Rolling to my feet, I watched Glynda levitate shards of blown off roof into a spear before launching it at the bullhead. Complying, I rushed to Ruby, who was watching from a distance. Grabbing her arm, I quickly shook her from her awed stupor.

"Hey, R-we gotta go!" I said, refraining from using her name. Pulling her towards the ladder, Ruby just kept watching Glynda and Cinder fight, shots trading from rooftop to Bullhead. I guess she really is enamoured by huntsmen and huntresses in action.

"Hey!" I shouted over the sound of battle, effectively grabbing her attention. "We need to get clear! Ladder!"

"Uhh, right!" Ruby cried and she compacted Crescent Rose on her back before sliding down the ladder, me following her quickly. Another explosion rang out, and I winced. Still, we kept climbing down until we reached the ground.

Looking around, I could see there were people gathering around the building, watching the Bullhead sway as purple and red flashed all around it. "Makes sense, that big a commotion would attract attention..." I mumbled.

"Wait, who are you?" Ruby asked, and I turned to look at the much shorter reaper before me. She was looking suspiciously at me, which both looked adorable and intimidating. Quelling my urge to pat her head, I cleared my throat.

"Markus Onissa," I introduced myself. "And I was running from some racists when you threw one of those thugs at me." Turning around, I could see police cars in the area as well. Likely arresting Junior's men. I didn't see those high school bullies either, but I didn't really care about them.

"What about how you fought?!" Ruby cried, clearly referring to my belt and that strange mist inside the canisters in them. Looking down at my belt, I could see that the canisters clearly had small nozzles in the tops, likely how the mist got out.

"I...am not very sure if I should say..." I cautiously answered. Ruby whined immediately, and I looked away awkwardly, though she simply walked around me - back into my field of vision.

"Come on! You were like one of those fantasy huntsmen in that show where they could manipulate sand, but...wait, but that wasn't sand. What was that? You were making walls and giant tentacles and it was so cool, and I-" Ruby rambled on, geeking and gushing about my weapon as I decided to simply avoid making eye contact. She didn't stop talking, and it was feeling rather awkward - as cool as it was to be around Ruby Rose herself and that adorable voice.

Thankfully, I was interrupted when Glynda landed before me, clearing her throat. "I believe you two will come with me," she said ominously. If I didn't know what was going to happen next, I probably would've been much more scared than I currently was.

And I was feeling pretty damn scared right about now.

"Can I have your autograph?!" Ruby cried next to me, her silver eyes sparkling as Glynda's dark green eyes narrowed.

Goddammit Ruby.

- 2 hours later -

I was bored out of my mind.

"This is great..." I mumbled as I leaned on the table. The telekinetic Beacon professor had brought Ruby and me to the police station, where they let her use two interrogation rooms. Right now, Ruby and I were separated, and I'd been waiting for someone - anyone to walk in and do anything. Even though I had an idea of what was going to happen, the tension was still absolute murder.

I was pretty sure that Ozpin went to talk to Ruby first, because I had been doing absolutely nothing for an hour in that interrogation room. Despite my excitement, I was also bored out of my mind, like I said earlier. Luckily, I wasn't handcuffed; though the looks of a few officers that we passed on the way in the station suggested that I should've been, maybe for my new Faunus traits.

I forgot that racism was a super big thing on this world.

Luckily an hour was all it took, and I was shaken out of my thoughts when the door opened. Glynda and Ozpin himself entered, with Ozpin sitting across from me and Glynda standing near the door. "Hello, Mister Onissa," the headmaster said. "I hope your stay has been...bearable."

"Y-yeah..." I said, clearing my throat to calm myself down. Ozpin himself was here, and here I was being an absolute mental wreck in front of him. "F-first day in Vale."

"I see," Ozpin said as he crossed his hands, fingers clasped together as he patiently looked at me. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly...I just wanna sleep..." I said honestly. "Didn't imagine I'd be fighting a criminal alongside a huntress. And a huntress in training."

"I suppose that is a rather peculiar scenario," Ozpin said curiously as he thought. "But that does beg the question, why did you infringe on that altercation?"

I gulped nervously. Telling him that I knew the future was completely out of the question. "Well...I wanted to help. Like that girl earlier was," I said.

"But she had a weapon and aura," Glynda noted.

"Y-yeah, well, I...had this," I answered weakly, gesturing to my belt, despite me not knowing what the hell this was, or anything about what was in it.

"It appears you and that girl have the same dreams," Ozpin said, and I looked back to the headmaster. "In fact, what are your dreams?" he asked, bringing the topic directly back to me.

"Well...I always wanted to write..." I said, thinking back to when I would write fanfictions on my laptop during the free time between school and work at home. "Always interested in stories."

"I see. Authors are an interesting bunch in my opinion. Some stories written can deliver quite the message, don't you agree?" Ozpin asked.

"Y-yeah," I agreed before remembering who I was talking to. "B-but my real goal is to help others. Like earlier..."

"Yes, Miss Goodwitch mentioned how you weren't being very careful in that fight. Though, your belt. Your weapon, may I ask what it is?" Ozpin asked, and my blood ran cold. Looking down at my belt, I gulped. I could feel my ears wilt as well.

I was about to speak up, before Ozpin chuckled. "I suspect you won't want to tell me. That's alright. Still, a weapon like that is rather unique. I imagine it's a kind of neural Dust, though I can't imagine how you'd get your hands on it."

"Wait. Neural Dust?" I asked, curious. This was news to me.

"Yes. Of Atlesian design. It's how they make their automated troopers as reactive as they are," Ozpin explained. "It's public knowledge."

"U-uhh, what?" I asked, clearly dumbfounded by this. I didn't expect anything like this. Ozpin, once again misunderstanding my surprise. "I suppose you being from Menagerie would hinder that sort of knowledge from you," he said.

"How did you-" I stuttered before Ozpin calmly cut me off.

"As the headmaster of Beacon Academy, I'm allowed to look through police files to see through any potential students and you don't have any..." Ozpin said, bring ing up a manila folder and opening it, revealing nothing but a sheet of paper half blank, half covered in spaced writing. "The only thing that is of interest or of existence at all is that you said you were from Menagerie."

"Y-yeah, born there and..." I said, my words slowly trailing off quietly before I looked back up to Ozpin in confusion. "Hold on a second. Did...did you just say potential student?"

"Ozpin..." Glynda growled, and Ozpin simply held up his hand to pause her words. If Glynda was mad, then Ozpin had to have said it correctly.

"Now, now, you know I won't let true potential pass you by. You said you wanted to help others, correct?" Ozpin asked. I nodded, and he smiled. "I can see you were being truthful, young man. You clearly jumped into the battle without any regard for your safety."

"Which should not be praised or encouraged!" Glynda shouted. I winced as Ozpin simply ignored her, watching as she clenched her fists at her sides. "Nevertheless, while she is correct, I do believe you made the right decision," the headmaster finished. "And she has agreed that your tendencies must be quelled if you are to keep possession of that belt of yours."

"Ozpin, you know damn well-" Glynda said, only for Ozpin to clear his throat and cut her off. "Glynda? Trust me."

As the blonde woman angrily and reluctantly stood down at his words, Ozpin turned and smiled back at me. "I wish for you to join Beacon not because of your belt, nor your motivations," he said. "But because I believe you can make a true difference in the world. You may choose to turn down the offer and go back to your normal life, of course."

"Bullshit, it's definitely the belt..." I thought to myself. But still, this was my best chance to get into Beacon, plus I wasn't sure how long I'd last any other way.

"Umm...how will it go?" I asked nervously.

"Free room and lodging, lessons on everything essential to be a huntsman, as well as a potential team of your own, and much more," Ozpin said kindly.

"I...don't really have a choice, do I?" I asked as I looked down to my lap. Ozpin's smile gave way to something more somber and he sighed.

"Unfortunately, with so little on you, there isn't much else," the headmaster said. I slowly looked up and let out a sigh of my own, which was a lot more shaky than I would've liked.

"I'll take it," I said. Ozpin's smile almost made me feel happy, and I shook the hand he offered me.

"Thank you, Mister Onissa. I promise you won't regret this opportunity," Ozpin said, and I ended up meekly grinning at him. I recall Ruby's meeting with Ozpin not being quite so enthusiastic on the headmaster's end as this one was.

"Would you like to stay at Beacon until the start of the semester?" Ozpin offered, and I shook my head.

"No thanks," I said, waving a hand reassuringly, slowly calming myself down. "I planned on crashing at a hotel earlier...well, then all this happened."

"Of course," Ozpin said, chuckling before reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. Rather, something familiar. "All students have a scroll," he said. "This one is coded to Beacon and keeps track of many things for you."

"And for us," went unsaid. I decided to ignore that for now, but that didn't give me any good feelings for the future.

"Do take the time to explore it. They're solar powered as well. Miss Goodwitch here will drop you off at the nearest hotel, along with my recommendations." I raised an eyebrow when Ozpin said 'recommendations' before the blonde woman gestured for me to leave with her. She brought me out of the room, out of the police station and into a car, which presumably belonged to Miss Goodwitch. When I got in, I thought about the conversation. It was fairly brief, and he hadn't asked too much, but I knew he had plans for me and my belt. And because I was a variable in this universe, there was no way for me to plan or figure out what that plan was.

The relatively short drive down the street and past the intersection was silent, with Miss Goodwitch quickly parking and professionally escorting me to the front desk of this relatively nice looking hotel, and bidding me a good night once she was done. When I approached the desk to ask about prices, the man in front explained that the hotel costs for the week were covered by Beacon.

"Huh," I mumbled as I was escorted to my room. "Thanks, headmaster," I said. When I was inside, I saw a pretty standard two person room, with a twin bed, a few dressers and tables, a bathroom, a microwave, and a fridge. It wasn't the best, but I preferred it to something extremely luxurious. It would only make me feel out of my element.

Still, a free week of room and board, as well as continental breakfast? I wasn't about to turn it down. The first thing I did was take a shower before preparing myself for sleep. Unfortunately, sleep was proving to be very elusive due to my excitement. I ended up lying on the bed for ten minutes, my mind flooded with thoughts of what being at Beacon for real was going to be like.

Looking at the scroll Ozpin had gifted me, I turned it on, pressing the little yellow diamond in the middle. As the side grips slid away from each other, I was greeted by the familiar holographic screen I'd seen in the series. There were contemporary style apps as well, with internet search, clock and alarm features, mail, media, documents, call options, and more.

"Hmmm..." I mumbled before switching on the browser history. Typing in 'neural Dust', I scrolled through a basic definition. "With the use of some medical and chemical technology, the scientists of Atlas created a specialized Dust that works alongside a living being's organism to improve their performance. It isn't very widespread, and is more or less limited to those who can effectively be compatible with it. A second synthetic and more easily producible version of this Dust is applied to androids for more efficient movements and processing power," the file said.

"And this is public knowledge. Wonder why this wasn't brought up," I mumbled. This would at least make sense if some of the reasons why the fights in the show were so fast paced was partially due to neural Dust alongside use of aura and experience, especially when Qrow fought Winter.

Opening the documents section next, I saw something similar to google drive. Looking up at the clock of my hotel room, I shrugged. I had a few days, and I knew exactly how the entrance exam was going to go. And until that happened, I had nothing else to do Opening up a document, I immediately started typing to pass the time.

"Condemned. Chapter One..." I mumbled as I typed. "In a world without Dust, aura, or Grimm, there is only human and Faunus..."

By the next morning, I'd finished and published the first chapter of a brand new original web-story on a few internet social reading platforms.