Tick Tick Boom

Beacon academy the gem of vale where young hopefuls come to train and become the defenders of tommorow. Time seemed to slow as students young and old gazed upon its magnificence as the light shined on the school while older years and teachers bussle about in preparation for new students. This was where it all changes, new better life awaited them they just needed to take the first step. Taking a deep breath putting one foot forward-

*urk* *violently retching*

Only to be shoved aside as a blonde boy rushed to the nearest trashcan and emptied his stomach. Just like that the magic was gone as time went back to normal, disappointed sighs were heard from the crowd as everyone began leaving the ship with Ruby and Yang looking at the blonde boy as they walked past, Ruby held a face with disappointment and sympathy while Yang looked on with barely contained rage.

"Guess the view isn't for everyone huh sis." Ruby said as they walked.

"Pfft I'll give him a view when I toss him over the ledge." Yang said with an irritated look on her face.

"Come on Yang it was an accident besides it was only a little and it doesn't even stink well not more than usual." Ruby said with a smile.

Yang gave ruby the side eye as she quickly put her in a headlock "What are trying to say I smell amazing and feet pics are all the rage nowadays I bet some soul here would love to have my socks." Yang said causing Ruby to gag as she struggled to escape.

"Ew Yaaaang don't put that image in my head I do not need to think about someone doing...things with your sweaty socks." Ruby said as yang let go.

"I'd charge extra if they want them worn." Yang said as Ruby continued to gag before she let out a laugh before ruffling her hair much to her sisters displeasure. "Now come on look alive we're being left behind."

"Darn it Yang you know how hard it is getting my hair right." Ruby said as she attempted to fix said hair.

"Ruby you hair style is quite literally bedhead you wake up and half you work on your hair is already done." Yang said as she reached over and started scratching a part of her scalp.

Ruby let out a squeak before she melted into Yang's side causing her to stop and enjoy the moment a look of intense fondness appearing on her face as her scratches became strokes before slowing to a stop. When she stopped Ruby returned to her senses as she stared up at yang with an inquisitive look tilting her head and Yang had to fight not to bring her sister in for a kiss instead she simply smiled before bumping ruby with her hip receiving a hey and continued on.

As they got closer to the school they got a better look at the students or in Ruby's case their weapons to which she promptly gained stars in her eyes as she excitedly circled Yang while oogling them.

"*GASP* Look! Sis! That kids got a collapsible staff! *GASP* And she's got a fire sword!" Ruby said as she began drifting closer to the students before Yang reached out and grabbed her hood bringing her back.

"ow ow!"

"Easy there little sister I like your enthusiasm but let's focus it on the people rather than their weapons."

"But but I am weapons are an extension of ourselves so seeing new ones is just like meeting new people but better."

"Ahuh well then it should be easy for you to start up a conversation and make some friends." Yang said in a peppy tone.

"W-why would I need friends when I have you?" Ruby said as her nervousness grew as did her eyes. Yang knew from experience what Ruby was about to attempt so she quickly looked away and spoke in a loud voice.

"Actually my friends are here gotta go bye!" As she was quickly enveloped in a crowd and dashed away.

The sudden influx of people disoriented Ruby as she let out a squeak trying to gather her bearings she yelled. "Ah wait Yang where are you going don't we have to go to our dorms, where are our dorms, do we have dorms *sigh* I don't know what I'm doing." Feeling lost Ruby let herself fall backwards into a trolley of suitcases she failed to notice in all the confusion.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" A shrill voice screamed cause Ruby to look up as she nursed her head, what she saw she could only describe as an angel garbed in a white pure as freshly fallen snow not only her clothes but her hair as well currently in an off centered ponytail really the only thing that wasn't white or a shade of light blue was the inside of her jacket which turned out to be a bright red and her vibrant blue eyes. Her face was drawn into a scowl that sent a shiver down her spine almost bringing forth a growl out of shear instinct as those eyes glared at her the intensity of the glare aided by the scar across her left eye.

Ruby wasn't aware of just how hard she was staring until the woman snapped her fingers in her face "HELLO ARE YOU BRAINDEAD AND RUDE!" Coming back into herself Ruby hurriedly apologized as she held up a suitcase. "Sorry!" Unfortunately for Ruby the woman was not satisfied.

"Sorry!? Do you have any idea the damage you could have caused, give me that." The woman said as she snatched the suit case and brought out a corked bottle. "This is dust mined and purified from the schnee quarry!" She yelled swinging the bottle currently in her hand.

"Uh." Ruby said nervously taking a set back looking at the bottle the woman held as she pressed on.

"Are you that uncivilized you don't know what dust is fire, water, lightning, energy!" with each word the woman advanced on Ruby moving into her personal space as she waved the bottle and Ruby's focus changed to the woman almost touching her.

Though no one stopped to watch, the commotion began drawing attention a pair of Amber eyes in particular flickered with recognition before widening in concern.

"Are you even listening to me? Is any of this sinking in? What do you have to say for yourself!?" The woman yelled as she swung the bottle once more in Ruby's direction neither noticed how loose the cork was nor the particles of dust floating in the air drifting towards Ruby with their attention focused on the other. On her final swing the cork sealing the bottle of dust wiggled free causing the contents to shoot out directly at Ruby whose eyes widened in fear, with such little space between them and being unable to activate her semblance lest the large amount of dust ignites she was unable to avoid the wave.

That is until she could see nothing but darkness and was rendered unable to breathe as she heard the sound of a blade cutting through the air and felt her body be pulled into motion by an unseen force. She attempted to pull back and right herself until she felt the air around her constrict tighter holding her in place and a voice say "Not yet." it was then she realized it wasn't the air suddenly crushing her but a person as she began to make out a hand on the back of her head and a leg pressing her against the body of another.

The feeling of being dragged slowly stopped as her other foot made contact with the ground so she was no longer balancing on one foot. Immediately she felt dizzy as she gripped the person to ensure she did not fall, and thankfully their grip let up so while she was still being forced face first in whoever this was she could at least breathe through their cloth clothing. Taking Struggled pained breathes she soon took in the smell of the person holding her, some type of perfume muddled much of their scent but not even the perfume could get rid of the smell of lavender mixed with something sweet she couldn't quite make out but made her heart race all the same.

She recognized this smell but it was impossible they couldn't be here, but even as she thought this she couldn't help burrowing herself deeper, holding tighter and taking another deep labored breathe something she was rewarded for by sharp nails gently scratching a part of her scalp that had her melting. She could feel how tense they were and hear their heart racing even as they remained gentle in their ministrations and then they spoke their voice filled with utter rage they practically growled.

"Wiess Schnee heiress to the Schnee dust company one of the largest producers of energy propellent in the world."

"..."

"The SAME company thats infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners."

"..."

"Someone of your 'standing' should know the dangers of disturbing much less flinging a improperly secured flask of dusk so tell me did you just so happen to skip that lesson or did you simply not care."

"..."

It was at this moment Ruby noticed everything was strangely quiet not just from the lack of response but also everything else she couldn't hear any gossiping any footsteps its as if everything stopped to hold its breathe.

With some effort Ruby managed to push her head from in between the womans chest to which she blushed heavily at her position before gazing up to see someone she never thought she would see again holding her sword to the other woma-Wiess's neck the tip piercing skin as she saw a small drop of blood trailing down the blade.

It was then Ruby realized the gravity of the situation and why everything was so quiet Wiess didn't have her aura up passively and would not be able to bring it up in time to stop the blade from cutting her throat if the wielder deemed it appropriate. With the look of sheer hatred adorning the wielders face the rest of the students and staff remained stationary and quiet because the slightest twitch could possibly set the woman off and then there would be alot more than spilled dust to worry about. With that in mind Ruby knew she had to stop this before things had a chance to take that turn and thats what she did as she raised her head and said Bla-.

*Splash*

The smell of blood filled the air as it flew in an ark across the ground and the sound of a body hitting the floor rang out. Everything was still until a heart wretching scream was let out and as students and teacher alike burst into action some panicking never prepared to see something like this or simply unable to handle the stress, others called for nurses and emergency first aid while professors tried to calm everyone down and get medical help. They all looked on in horror as the blood made contact with the dust and began hissing then suddenly it exploded in a cloud of gas that was nigh impossible to see through. The cloud only obscured the three occupants at first but then it quickly began growing at a frightening pace hissing and bubbling in an unstable manner causing everyone to begin running and screaming. While inside not all the dust turned into the cloud when coming in contact with the blood, it activated in a multitude of ways some began eating through the stone as if it was acid while more drenched dust began turning black and spreading looking like tar as it began releasing strange fumes that seemed to make the air vibrate viciously as if it was an extremely hot day.

No one looked more horrified at what was transpiring than Wiess as she was surrounded by the seemingly volatile cloud of gas and saw the woman that was holding her at sword point on her knees blade forgotten wailing and apologizing to the red themed girl that had just vomited a pool of blood all over her as she held her and began glowing purple as she touched the girls chest. Wiess was not spared as blood also splashed on her defiling her once pristine clothes and cheek but she didn't notice she could only stare at the young unresponsive girl surrounded by her own blood and dust, she couldn't really call it dust anymore whatever her blood was doing to the dust wasnt like anything shes ever seen. Blood didn't have any real reaction to dust or vice versa it had been tested in hopes of curing multiple illnesses all had lead to failure as none had given any reaction but this girl this things blood did and for some reason it scared her, looking at her hands seeing them stained with that things blood she couldn't take it trying to back away only for her heels to snag on the gravel and her to fall on her backside.

She could only watch as more of the that girls blood activated the dust causing reactions shes never seen before that only got worse her other suitcases were compromised. Wiess had to move out of the way as a large pillar of red ice suddenly shot out of the dust in her direction nicking her cheek, explosions started shaking the ground around her as she tried to remain steady while she heard teachers outside the cloud yell for evacuation and quarantine. Wiess felt fear and uncertainty at the situation scared to attempt to move from her position as the reactions became more wild, she looked towards the two others and she noticed the girls blood never stopped flowing it only continued to spread and the woman holding her was soaking in it much like Wiess herself. She heard more screams as a strong tremor shook the ground before she noticed the blood begin recede back in the direction of the girl like as if returning from where it came but it didn't enter her body instead it formed a large dark pool under the three of them seeing as they were so close.

Wiess tried to move but she couldn't the blood was so thick and clung to her dragging her down she was becoming hysterical as she felt like she was sinking, the more she moved the deeper she went. She screamed in terror as she felt her legs fully submerge she began to panic as she looked to the others and attempted to latch onto them and pull herself out, and while she succeeded in grabbing the young girl and stopping her decent she couldn't pull herself out. She desperately asked the woman holding the girl for help, screaming apologies hoping for forgiveness but as the tears from her eyes cleared somewhat she noticed the womans glassy eyed face and realized she was unconscious the only wailing she was hearing was her own.

Wiess's hope we're dashed as her tears renewed the only thing she could do was cry and hold onto her last vestige of safety until she felt a shudder pass through them and they all started to sink into the pool. Wiess scrambled to hold onto them, there was nothing else she could do at least if this was how she was going to go she wasn't alone hugging their bodies for dear life her wailing was cut off she and the girls submerged into the pool her mouth was flooded with the taste of blood, iron and strawberries. The last thing she saw as they sunk was the blood forming large tar like bubbles floating into the air before popping and a swirling blackish red crystal before the pool covered her still open eyes and she felt the girls return her embrace, it might be her mind trying to soothe her in it's last moments but she squeezed as tight as she could at the gesture as she succumbed to darkness.

AUTHORS NOTE: WOOO alright that developed real quick huh I'm not gonna lie I redid this so many times because this was originally going to play out differently and not nearly as bad but I just couldn't pass up an opportunity like this it's a perfect way to build into the good stuff. This one scene gives me all the prep work I need to continue and I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter might have been on the shorter side I understand and to be honest it was gonna be shorter I almost ALMOST ended it at the description of blood flying as that woulda been a pretty good little cliff hanger to ya'll on before I came back swinging in the next chapter, but I decided to be nice. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter let me know what you think and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. REMEMBER I DONT OWN RWBY OR ITS CHARACTERS

ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK ME OUT ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN AS I AM MOVING MY STORIES OVER AND APPLYING EDITS DURING THE TRANSFER. AS WELL AS STARTED POSTING STORIES ONLY AVAILABLE THERE MY NAME IS THE SAME AS HERE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!