Chapter 26: First Day of the Academy

Pyrrha woke to the sound of the alarm clock going off. She opened her eyes, glancing up at the clock which stood over the Nightstand next to her bed. She then raised her hand and pressed the snooze button over the top. She then leaned up over her bed, donned in only a white shirt and red shorts. Her long red hair still tied in a pony tail behind her back.

She then glanced to the window, where she saw it was already morning. What followed was a gasp of anticipation, realizing that it was the first day of the Academy. Throwing aside the covers, she then leaped out of bed and made her way into the hallway. Along the way, she nearly bumped into Qrow, who was walking up from the living room.

"Wow, Kid!" Qrow said.

Pyrrha came to a sudden stop as she glanced up at Qrow.

"Oh, Sorry, Qrow!" she said, grinning.

Qrow smirked, shaking his head as holding up his hand to her.

"No worries, Kid," He insisted to her.

"I was just coming to check and see if you were awake. I'm making breakfast for us."

"Sounds lovely," she said.

"I'm was just gonna get ready."

"Alright," He said, nodding his head.

"Go ahead. I should have it ready by the time your done."

Pyrrha smiled and nodded her head to Qrow. She then turned and made her way into the washroom. Qrow was just about to say something. Only to then paused at the very last second. He sighed, narrowing his head. He wanted to tell her that he supported her in her decision to attend the Academy. Despite his concerns and what would happen once these few months had passed, he at the very least grant her that much. But felt it would be better to wait for the right moment to tell her.

After taking a quick shower, Pyrrha turned off the taps before pulling back the curtains. She then stepped out of the tub, taking a towel that hung down from the rack next to her, wrapping it around herself. She then came up to the sink, standing before the mirror that had been fogged by all the steam. She then wiped away the steam, revealing her reflection.

She stared back at herself, seeing how far she had come. She was no longer that little girl Qrow had rescued back in Arthamore. She was now a young woman, destined to be the successor of Akara. About to start what was to be the most important phase of her life of becoming a Knight. Only it was not all of how she had imagined.

She was about to attend the Academy. But it was not Beacon's as her parents had always planned for her. Rather it was Lothadare's, a Kingdom of which she was not from. And was only here to train to become Akara's prodigy. Not to mention, her parents weren't here to see her taking her first step at becoming a knight.

She narrowed her eye, bowing her head as frowned. She thought back to her parents. Throughout the years she had spent away from home, training, there were times that she wished that she could see them again. It had been nine years since she had last saw them. She often wondered if they were still looking for them. Or if they had given up and thought she was dead.

Though that was a thought she wouldn't be able to bear.

Pyrrha looked back up at her reflection, not allowing herself to dwell on this. She would continued to hold out hope that they were still out there, looking for her.

"We'll be together again." She said to herself.

"I know we will."

Pyrrha emerged from the hallway after having to have donned her armor. She then glanced up at Qrow, who placed tow separate bowls over each side of the table. He then glanced back at her.

"Hey, kid," he said, turning to her.

"Just in time. It ain't much but I wiped us up some oat meal."

Pyrrha came up to the table, glancing down at the bowl of oat meal he made. The smell alone was quite captivating to say the least. Pyrrha closed her eyes, smiling as she utter a moan.

"This looks great, Qrow." she insisted to him.

Qrow smirked, humourlessly.

"Awe, come on, Kid," he said.

"I ain't that good."

Pyrrha simply smiled to him, glancing to the side. It was true that Qrow had cooked for them all throughout the years they've been here at the Academy. While not every meal he made could match up to the cooking of her mother, she still did enjoy much of what he made. Even when it wasn't, she appreciated that he tried.

Pyrrha then sat down at the other end. Picking up the spoon in the bowl, she took her first spoonful of oats. The very taste caused her to utter a moan, enjoying it. Qrow sat down at the head of the table, glancing up at Pyrrha.

"First day as an actually student of the Academy," Qrow said.

"Must be looking forward to it."

Pyrrha glanced up to him. She then nodded her head.

"I am." She claimed to him.

Qrow sighed as he narrowed his eyes, knowing this was probably be a good time to tell her.

"So... look uh, I wanted to tell you something before you go." Qrow proclaimed to her

Pyrrha glanced up at Qrow.

"What is it?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

There was a moment pause as Qrow then sighed, glancing to the side.

"I just wanted to say that I support your choice." Qrow proclaimed to her.

Pyrrha only stared up at Qrow with the same questionable gaze.

"I know I said I didn't want for you to attend the Academy here," Qrow stated to her.

"And I'm still worried about what will happen. But I understand you need to do this. It would be good for you to be around the other kids. And I just want you to know that I'll be by your side the entire time."

Pyrrha was speechless to say the least. Though she appreciated that he would support her through her time at the Academy.

"Uh... right," she said, glancing up at right.

"Thank you, Qrow."

Qrow nodded back to her.

"You know, with all that training we've been doing you'll probably be ahead of the class." Qrow insisted to her.

Pyrrha glanced to the side, smiling. The training they had done over the years did indeed put her above the rest. Especially with how rushed training had become since the realms became at war with the Grimm. But Pyrrha was no one to brag about things. It was unfair that she had received full training when compared to everyone else.

"You know, back when I taught at the Academy in Ataria my students were top in their class." Qrow claimed to her.

"Really?" Pyrrha asked.

"Well, at least when it came to combat," Qrow said.

"Johnathan and Jayden weren't exactly the brightest. Kayla was always the smarter of the bunch. She was a straight A student in all her other classes. Heck, she was the most popular student among the other professors. Though I think that was because she was always a teacher's pet."

Pyrrha chuckled at that.

"She sounded very nice." Pyrrha said.

Qrow glanced to the side, nodding his head in agreement.

"She was." He insisted.

The small hint of sadness in his voice had not gone unnoticed by Pyrrha. She frowned, glancing down at her breakfast. She understood his old students were a sensitive topic for him. It wasn't something that she would bring up around him.

"Well, I don't know if I would be as good them." she insisted to him.

Qrow glanced up to her, smirking, seeing the selflessness of Amara shining through her daughter. Pyrrha once more glanced down at the bowl of oats that stood before her.

"I just wished that my mother and father could be here," She insisted to him.

"It was my mother's wish to see me become a knight."

Qrow glanced up to her. There was a moments as his eyes then shifted to the side, nodding to her.

"I'm sure it was." he said to her.

It was right at that moment they heard a loud bell ringing from outside. They glanced back at the window in the living room behind them. It sounded like the Academy's bell tower which they usually would ring during the day classes were in session. But it would also ring on the first day whenever they would welcomed in the new students. Which meant that the new students for this semester were beginning to arrive.

Pyrrha gasped with awe an anticipation.

"It's time!" She exclaimed.

The gates of the Academy opened as the New students began to enter. Upon entering into the Academy grounds, Aaron, Hanako and Keith then paused as they gazed over the grounds. Here they were. Soon to actual students of Lothadare Academy. A dream form which they had sought for ever since they were kids. And it was going to change their lives. Aaron smirked in awe and disbelief.

"Here we are, guys," he said, glancing back to them.

"Lothadare Academy!"

"Alright!" Keith proclaimed, punching his right fist into his other hand.

"That's what I'm taking about."

Hanoko nodded her head in agreement.

"This will be an honorable journey." she insisted to them.

Aaron glanced back to her, nodding to her. He then turned and continued forward toward the school as Hanako and Keith followed after.

"Hell yeah," Keith said.

"Oh, man I can see it now. When we're through, Lothadare is going to be begging us to fight the Grimm."

Both Aaron and Hanako glanced to one another, smirking. The idea of being hero's of Lothadare was indeed a ficticous line of thinking they shared with Keith. Though there was still a long way for them to go before such an idea could be so prevalent.

"Try to have some restraint, Keith," Hanako advised him.

"A warrior does not become great simply through talk and dreams."

"Oh, come on, Hana," Keith said.

"Lighten up a bit, would ya? We made it this far."

"He's got a point, Hana," Aaron insisted.

"It wouldn't hurt to have some high moral."

Hanako gave him a stern look. Only for Aaron to glanced back at Keith,

"But she's right, Keith," He claimed to him.

"We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. Remember what my dad used to say to us."

Keith rolled his eyes to them.

"Yeah, I remember." He said.

A large shadow suddenly passed over them, causing them to pause. They then glanced up, where they saw a Lothadarian Military Gunship flew overhead, landing before the entrance of the main building.

"Is that the Military?" Keith said, glancing to Aaron and Hanako, curiously.

"What are they doing here?" Hanako asked.

Aaron squinted his eyes, curiously as he walked forward. Hanako and Keith followed after him.

Emerging through the Gate of the Academy, Blake then paused upon the Lothadarian Military on Campus. They were well aware that Lothadare would be on high alert due to the attack on their transports. Which meant that they would be going after the Faunus citizens of the Lothadare, doing background checks and such. Torchwick insured them that the forged documents and citizenship ID from his so called informant in the Government would be able to pass the inspections.

Though she trusted Torchwick as far as she could throw him. But even he couldn't be that incompetent. Not with the promise of what lied within the vault.

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"I hope this works." She said to herself.

Pyrrha was running along the path to the dorms, where she saw a large airship landing over the grass before the main entrance. From the sides of the gunship, she saw several white armored troopers hope down. Along with a uniformed officer. She then paused for a moment, squinting her eyes, curiosuly. She then turned over to the entrance of the Academy, where she saw Professor Rueban, making his way down the stairway.

Professor Rueban came down the stairway, where he then approached the uniform officer.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Headmaster said.

The Commanding officer stood before the Headmaster in an upright fashion, both his hand behind his back.

"Headmaster Rueban," The officer greeted with a head nod.

"We have been ordered to inspect some of the students enrolling in your Academy."

"Under who's authority?" Rueban asked, curiously.

"By order of his Majesty, King Larr himself." the officer insisted, handing Rueban an screen pad.

Rueban took to screen pad, where he then read over the king's order. Though upon scanning the words on the screen, the Headmaster's expression turned to that of shock and dismay. Not just from the news from the White Fang attack, but also for suspecting the Faunes students that would be attending this semester. An act which he himself found to be extreme. Ever for King Larr.

Larr had promised the Faunes that they would be welcomed in Lothadare. That they would be treated as equally as the people themselves. Hoping to undo the damage that his family had inflicted upon them all those years ago. Although many in Lothadare did not share those views of the King, continuing to see the faunas as lower class citizens.

But now he was suspecting them to be the terrorists that were attacking the Kingdom.

"With all due respect, this all seems extreme," Headmaster Rueban insisted to the officer.

"I can assure you that all the Faunus students who enrolled this semester are official citizens of Lothadare. None of them are involved with the White Fang."

"Well we cannot say for sure," The officer insisted, taking back the screen pad.

"The King would like to ensure the safety of the Kingdom, as well as it's people. Not to worry, the Academy may resume as planned once we finish our inspection."

He glanced back to the other troopers, nodding to them to proceed. The troops then made their way down he path, approaching the new students that entered the Academy grounds. The officer then turned and followed suit, leaving the Headmaster to ponder. It was then that Pyrrha came up to him.

"Headmaster Rueban?" She said.

Rueban turned to the Prodigy.

"What's going on?" She asked asked, curiously.

"Why is the military here?"

"I'm afraid the King has gone back on his word." Rueban insisted to her.

Pyrrha glanced to Rueban, curiously.

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Rueban glanced ahead toward the approaching troopers.

"It would seem the White Fang have struck again." Rueban insisted to her.

"The White Fang?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Rueban turned back to her, nodding his head.

"Yes and now they have forced the King's hand," Ruedan decreed, staggering forward as he gazed toward the approaching Troopers.

"Their incisional path for revenge only continues to lead to their people's suffering. Even now, the citizens of Lothadare are paying for their actions."

The troopers formed a line, blocking the path to the Academy. They then hoisted up their weapons, raising the barrel of their blasters. The students then paused, seeing their way blocked by the soldiers. Though they did not aim at them, raising keeping them pointed in the air. Aaron, Hanako and Keith paused upon seeing the troopers raise their blasters. An act that was well familiar to Aaron, having to have grown up in a military household.

It was at that moment that the officer emerged from behind the troopers. He then brought up the screen.

"Attention, students of Lothadare Academy!" The officer announced to them.

"The Council had declared a state of emergency. The White Fang has attacked Lothadare and are believed to be hiding within the Kingdom!"

The crowd of students erupted with gasps of shock and awe, glancing to one another. Hanako and Keith glanced to one another. All the while, Aaron stepped forward, staring with a stern expression. Back within the crowd, Blake glanced away as she attempted to hide away the look of fear and guilt.

"By order of his Majesty, King Larr, all Faunus within Lothadare are to be identified!" The officer decreed.

"If found to have ties within the White Fang, shall be changed with Treason. Any hostility will be branded as treason to the Kingdom and will be met with lethal force!"

There erupted further chatter amongst the crowd. Mainly from the Faunus students. Blake glanced up toward the officer with a stern expression.

"All Faunus are to form a single line," The officer announced.

"The rest are free to proceed to the Academy."

The troopers then approached the crowd. They came up to several of the Faunus within the crowd, pushing them back toward the edge of the path. All the while, the other students made their way toward the Academy. Aaron and his friends stood for a moment, seeing the troopers line up the Faunus students. The officer came up to the three friends.

"This doesn't concern you." The officer said, snapping them to attention.

"Move along."

Aaron nodded his head.

"Yes, sir." He said as he and his friends began walking toward the Academy.

The troopers pushed the Faunus students back as they formed a line along the edge of the walkway. Blake watch in contempt, seeing how they were treating them. Though the fault could not be placed on King Larr entirely. This was all because of her an the White Fang. Her people were now suffering because of her.

A trooper came up next to Blake.

"Get in line." He said.

Blake threw a stern glance to the trooper. Only to then comply with his orders and walk toward the line as the trooper followed after. Pyrrha came up from the Academy, watching in both awe and confusion not really comprehending. Seeing they way they were treating the Faunus was a shock to say the least. And for what, the actions of another group. Back home in Arthamore, the Faunus were never given such harsh treatment. They were there were all kind people and were treated equally.

As they stepped back with their blasters in hand, the commanding officer then approached, holding the screen pad. He then glanced up to them.

"Prepare to present your citizenship IDs." He said.

The Faunus students reached down into their pockets, pulling out their wallets. They then pulled out their IDs as they presented them to the officer, who approached them with the Data pad. With it, he then scanned the ID's, which then flashed green over the screen. He then gestured a nod before moving on to the next in line. Blake pulled out the ID that Torchwick had given her. She closed her eyes, hoping that this will work.

The officer continued to make their way down the line before finally coming to Blake. He then turned to her holding his Data pad at the ready. Blake glanced down at her ID. Taking a deep breath, she then presented the ID to the Officer, who scanned it with the data pad. Blake squinted her eyes, anxiously. What may have been only a few seconds were the longest of her life. If the ID was intensified as a fake, then this whole plan would be ruined. She would be arrested for being undocumented and a White Fang member.

Although at this point, she really couldn't care. After what she had done, prison seemed to be a fitting punishment for what she had done. For the innocent lives she had taken.

It was both a relief and a shock when the data pad flashed green, all but proving the ID she had passed the inspection.

"Thank you." The officer said, nodding to her.

Blake narrowed her eyes, nodding back to him. Though right at that moment, she heard one of the troopers down the line.

"Hey!"

Blake cocked her head, glancing back down the line. It was there that he saw one of the troopers facing one of the students, who seemed to be reaching down into the bag handing down to their side.

"What do you think your doing?!" The trooper exclaimed, as he came up to them.

He then raised his blaster to the student, who glanced up to the trooper with a look of shock and awe.

"DROP IT!" The Trooper exclaimed to them.

"I SAID DROP IT!"

Both Pyrrha and Blake stared in utter shock and contempt. The student quickly complied with the trooper's orders, dropping their bag on the ground. He then stepped back, raising their hands to them. The trooper then kneeled down and examined the inside. The commanding officer approached the trooper.

"What is it?" The commander asked.

The trooper pulled out what looked to be a blaster like object from the bag, earning a glance from the Officer. The student shook their head to them.

"No, I wasn't, I swear!" the student pleaded with them.

"I was just looking for my scroll."

The commanding officer stepped forward toward the student.

"Save it!" The Officer exclaimed.

"You'll have a chance to explain your treachery!"

He glanced to the trooper, nodding his head to him. The trooper reached down to his side and pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs. The other troopers raised their blasters raised their blaster to them, causing the student to gasp. Pyrrha gazed in utter shock at the sight. She shook her head, unable to stand by any longer.

"STOP!" she exclaimed.

Pyrrha rushed up toward them. Only to then pause as two other troopers came in front of her, blocking her way.

"Leave him ALONE!" Pyrrha protested.

The commanding officer turned back to her.

"This doesn't concern you!" The officer claimed to her.

"Move along!"

But Pyrrha only continued to remain within the face of this unjust act. She frowned, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You can't do this!" she exclaimed.

The sudden appearance of red haired girl was a surprise to Blake. Especially, seeing that she was standing up for a Faunus.

"Quiet!" the officer exclaimed to her.

The Trooper slipped the cuffs over the wrists of the the student, before pulling him from the line. It was right at that moment that Blake emerged from the line in attempt to help.

"You can't do this!" She proclaimed.

"Let him GO!"

One of the troopers stepped in front of Blake, who pressed the side of his blaster against her.

"Get Back in Line!" The Trooper proclaimed to her.

But Blake continued to try and push her way through against the Trooper. He then shoved her back, causing Bake fell over onto the ground. She glanced back up at the trooper, who held her at blaster point.

"That's Enough!"

Pyrrha glanced back, where she saw Headmaster Rueban staggering toward them.

"I will not tolerate this on Academy grounds," The Headmaster proclaimed.

"I suggest that you leave at once. Tell the King that I and the staff will ensure the safety of our students."

The commander officer threw a glanced at the students. Judging by the look shock and awe upon their faces, it was clear that they had gotten across the consequences to them. Any other present White Fang member that may have been present would have revealed themselves by now. He then turned back to the Headmaster before guesting a nod.

"Very well," The Officer said.

"But if there is any White Fang activity, it is to be reported to us at once. We will have personal stationed nearby."

The officer then glanced back toward the students.

"You are all free to go!" He announced to them.

The officer then gestured to his squad to follow. He then turned and made his way toward the gunship as the troopers followed suit, taking with them the student of which they had falsely incarcerated. The other Faunus students walked past her as they made their way toward the Academy. All they while whispering among each other over what had happened.

Pyrrha glanced back with at the Faunus student, who turned back to her. She stared in utter disbelief of what had happened. She then turned to Blake, who continued to lay over the ground, staring in toward the incarcerated student. She then narrowed her head, shutting her eyes in guilt and shame.

"Are you okay?"

Blake then glanced up, where she saw the red haired girl standing before her.

"Let me help you." She said, offering her hand to her.

There was a moment's pause on Blake's part. She stared up at Pyrrha before glancing down at the hand she extended to her. Never had it been that she was shown such kindness from someone that was not of her own people. Let alone someone from humanity. Adam had said that human kind was not to be trusted. And yet this one went out of her way to help that student.

A Faunus student no less.

Blake then glanced up at Pyrrha once more. Hesitantly, she reached up her hand and took hold of hers. Pyrrha then pulled her back up onto her feet. There was a moments pause as the two looked back at each other. Both with different expressions. Pyrrha with a smile that was so warm and reassuring, relived to see she was okay. While Blake was more confused and cautious of the one who had helped her.

"Th-thank you." Blake said.

Pyrrha nodded her head to her.

"Of course." she said.

Blake squinted her eyes, curiously. She had only just met this girl and already she could see there was something different about her.

Rueben staggered up to the two.

"You two should make your way to the Academy," He insisted to them.

"The Assembly is going to begin soon."

Pyrrha nodded back to the professor.

"Yes, Headmaster." She said.

Pyrrha then turned back to Blake.

"Come on, I know the way." She insisted to her.

Pyrrha took a hold of Blake's hand as the two made their way toward the Academy.