The evening's dark settled over the Kingdom of Vale. Golden lights sprung up across the continent but, the abundance of light didn't stop civilians from cowering into the shadows.
The source of their fear?
Notorious criminal and Hunter evader, Roman Oliver Torchwick.
He owned swagger - it rolled off him in waves and flashed in every stride he took. He flourished his cane after smoking his cigar and smirked at the flinches of the citizenry. Roman tipped his hat to the people that cleared from his path, his cocky grin spreading. Call it what you will: confidence or vanity - the ginger clarified that getting in his way was brave or stupid.
It would mostly be stupid.
Many police officers in the ICU could attest to that. The dead ones… not so much.
Men dressed in black suits and sunglasses (at night) followed him, nowhere near as ominous as their pack leader.
It was the shades. They looked silly wearing shades at night.
Silver eyes studied Roman and his posse from a distance. Despite the air of terror that trailed the criminal, the owner of the silver eyes strolled towards the group, headphones on and his arms swinging.
"Welcome to Dust 'Till Dawn, gentlemen!"
After a glance, Torchwick smirked at the elderly shopkeeper.
"Punny."
The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed.
"I lost a bet to one of my ex-employees - she thought it would be hilarious and it stuck."
Roman chuckled, and the man continued.
"Is there anything you need?" He gestured to the glass counter, "We've got many Dust crystals here – refined and uncut," He pointed to grey tubes hung on the shop walls, "We have powered Dust in those; but understand, it's going to cost you more Lien than usual."
Torchwick's green eyes glinted with mischief and he popped his trench coat collar. He lent over to read the shopkeeper's name tag.
"Is that so, Mr Custos?"
"Aye, lots of train robberies in the past five years – even the Schnee's are feeling the heat, don't fret, everything else has the same prices as before."
The dark-suited men kept quiet during the exchange. Custos struggled to see what they were doing without his glasses, so he ducked under the counter to find them. Roman beckoned two of his mooks over and they placed two large crates on the counter. The others rested the hands on their weapons.
"Well, sir!" Roman dowsed his cigar under his boot, "As interesting as that is, I'm afraid we're going to have to-"
"Hello, Mr Custos!"
Perking up (without his spectacles) Custos beamed at the familiar blur of blacks, reds and silvers on a short figure and his high-pitched voice.
"Ruben, it's good to see you, Pup – your sister already finished her shift."
Ruben barged past the miffed criminal and leaned on the counter – his wolf ears twitching. He waved his gloved hand.
"That's fine, I've come to collect… the cargo."
Custos held back a laugh at the secretive tone of his favourite customer.
"It's in the back and The Grimm Reaper: Volume 6, Chapter 1 has just come in."
Rose gasped, "Do you think Maria will tell her Papa about her Platinum Eyes?"
"At this point pup, I feel like you read that junk just to torture yourself, especially after the last volume."
"You gotta have hope!" The wolf Faunus whined, "You know it can get good… when the writer is bothered."
"I'm thinking she can't be bothered anymore, and the good bits are just accidental."
Roman coughed, glaring at the two. Custos sighed.
"Sorry about Ruben here, he forgets his manners sometimes."
Ruben sniffed, sized up the white-coated criminal and walked into the backroom.
"I can tell." The ginger hummed, amused.
Fishing out his glasses, the old man faced his customers.
"So, where were…"
Two guns, three swords and a smiling crook met him in kind.
"Oh."
'They see you as small and helpless; they see you as just a child. Surprise when they find out that a warrior will soon run wild!'
Headphones blasting, Rose emerged from the storage room loading up a magazine with rubber bullets. His dark, thick locks bounced to the beat of the song. His Faunus ears noted the macabre silence at the storefront.
'Relax, Rubes, I'm sure he's fine.'
He picked up The Grimm Reaper comic, trying his best not to whip Crescent Rose out and find the danger – if there was any.
Shoes scuffed the ground, but Ruben couldn't pinpoint where. The footfalls sped up and edged closer towards him.
'Maybe I should take my headsets-'
A blade pressed against his throat.
"For your own good, kid, I suggest you give me your valuables."
Rose blinked. He looked at the weapon, then at the man.
"Are you… threatening me?"
The shades stared at him.
"I-Is it not obvious?" Ruben shrugged, "I'm literally – I mean, I…"
One of Rose's cherry-black ears lay flat on his head and the other stood to attention. The thief's nerve almost crumbled at the cute display. Ruben remained clueless.
"If you want the comic, you could just ask; there are tons to spare."
"This isn't about a dumb comic!" the thief grabbed the hood of the teen's cloak, "This is a robbery, and it starts with me taking this!"
He noticed the other wolf's ear pressing against his victim's skull, as tense as its twin. Silver orbs became steel; dark eyebrows furrowed in a slow, dangerous manner and his jaw locked tight. When moondust eyes glared at him with the fury of the gods, he wondered if he picked the right profession.
The teen's lips parted to whisper two words:
"I see."
Roman's green eyes wandered over his hired men carrying out the heist. When he peered at Mr Custos – his form a mix of frozen and shaking - a twinge of sympathy stroked his heart. He suppressed it, knowing that this heist isn't optional. A commotion kicked up where one of his goons stormed over. Feet shuffled, grunts echoed, and a few muffled words later, a blur of red and black stormed through the storefront and out the window. The group inside stared at the figures on the road.
Ruben, unaware of his audience, kicked his attacker in the head.
"How dare you steal from people - do you understand how rude that is?" he pointed a finger at the unconscious gentleman, "If you want something you pay for it, like everyone else, you horrible, horrible man – Dishonour upon ye!"
Giving him one last kick, the boy turned to the others. His face scrunched up, filled with guilt and determination. He pulled Crescent Rose off her holster and extended her into Full Bloom mode. The scythe spun in her master's grip as a red and black blur before slamming into the tarmac, the nozzle pointed at Roman's chest. Ruben pulled off his headset as a silver sheen of light encompassed him.
"I dare you to take my cloak again, just watch, I'll cut you!"
Wide-eyed (and a bit intimidated) Roman pursed his lips.
"Okay…" he waved his cane in Ruben's direction, "Get him."
One idiot tried jumping through the broken window, but tripped over the shards of glass, knocking himself out. The others ran out the door. Roman backed away to take the Dust. Custos watched him do so but knew better to stop him. Instead, he focused on the child, taking on grown men with an oversized gardening tool.
Percussion instruments in Rubens mind awakened. The battle drew near with every step his opponents took. The orchestra kicked in as he dodged the katana swipe. Using his scythe as leverage, he roundhouse kicked a goon in the face. The momentum threw him forwards and his enemies surrounded him.
All combatants studied each other.
A violin stung and the fight resumed.
Another mook behind Ruben ran towards him. Wolf's ears picked up the movement, a guitar rift joined the fray, and Ruben pulled the trigger. The recoil spun him round and flung the crook in the air. Ruben kept the spin going and slammed another into the ground.
One man remained.
Live machine gun rounds fired at Ruben, but the youngster dashed across the 'arena', leaving rose petals in his wake. The recoil of Crescent Rose propelled the Faunus towards the gunman and the boy swiped the man's feet, sending him soaring. As he slid, he dug the tip of CR into the ground, swinging himself skyward. Airborne, Ruben slammed the blunt side of his scythe into the thief. The man crashed before Roman's shined shoes.
Torchwick cringed as he held a box full of Fire and Magma Dust.
"You were worth every cent, truly you were." He corrected his ascot, "Well, Red, this has been quite the eventful evening and as much as I'd love to stick around…"
He pointed his cane at the child.
"I'm afraid this-" a crosshair popped out above the cane's nozzle, "Is where we part ways."
Ruben tried to switch Crescent Rose back into a sword, but the Dust covered bullet struck him in the chest, exploding upon impact. Flying for a few feet, Ruben inhaled hard when he stopped rolling across the tarmac.
'I should really start wearing undershirts.'
His gloved hand massaged the scorched waistcoat, and he frowned.
"Ow."
The Faunus stumbled towards the shop.
"Mr Custos!" He saw the senior sit, shaken by the embezzlement, "Are you alright?"
Store alarms rang through the night sky. The elder's skin was ashen and sweaty, but he flapped away from his friend's worry.
"I'll be fine, Pup, skedaddle before the Bobbies come and get the wrong idea…" His watery eyes studied Rose's slight build and the unconscious men outside, "Go kick that scoundrel's ass for me!"
A wrinkled finger marked to a ginger chap hauling up the crate of stolen Dust up a fire escape. With a grin, the boy chased after Roman. Rose ran between pedestrians that inspected the scene of the robbery. He tumbled into an alleyway, his black knee-high boots splashed puddles and kicked takeout boxes. He extended Crescent Rose into rifle mode and launched himself upwards.
"For Ozma's sake, where is she?"
Roman's scoured the alleyway and the skies for an aircraft before he heard:
"Hey – I have to kick your ass and you still haven't paid for that!
Torchwick laughed.
"You're persistent, Red, I'll give that," He eyed Ruben's slender stature, "But I don't think you could handle such a… tall order?"
Ruben peeked down at himself and realised what he meant.
"You dishonourable cretin – there is no shame in being vertically challenged!"
"Is that what you call it?" Roman picked up on the engines of an airship get closer, "Most people call it short."
One button pressed, and the rifle shifted into a sword. But before the boy could take a step, blaring spotlights blinded him. Torchwick climbed onto a one-seater Bulkhead. They blacked the cockpit out and the craft itself was barebones. The entire vehicle appeared like a half-done job. When the Faunus' eyes adjusted to the scathing light, Roman had chucked a Fire Dust crystal at his feet.
"End of the line, Red!"
Cackling, the criminal squeezed the trigger on his cane. An instant later, there was a blinding flash, like sheet-lightning, and an enormous ball of varicoloured fire belched upward, leaving a series of gas-rings to float after it. The smoke cleared and Ruben's Aura flickered. The boy's toned arms wobbled under his weight – the power of the crystal weakening him.
Torchwick grimaced but aimed.
He pulled the trigger one last time.
As it flies out of the chamber, the bullet aims dived for its target. Until that moment when the projectile had been blocked by a… purple glyph?
A middle-aged blonde stopped in front of Ruben. Graceful and poised, the woman stared at the chopper without a hint of fear. The artificial wind blew back her black-purple cape, rippled through her clothes and styled hair. The wolf was in awe.
'A real Huntress saved my life!'
And she stood firm, ready to do her duty.
She flicked her riding crop, pulling out a yellow, green and blue crystal. Purple energy guided them to slam together above the Bulkhead. Black clouds sprawl over the vehicle. The air grew heavy, and the humidity pressed down, suffocating. A stillness fell over the street, and in the silence came a low crackle of thunder, rolling across rooftops. For a second, everything stopped. Even the wind holds its breath. A streak of hot silver split the sky, and a downpour of ice struck the machine. Roman stumbled into the cockpit, and a feminine figure replaced him. They wore glass shoes, a thigh-high red dress with a gold and black trim. Their eyes were a hellish amber that blazed like an ember in the shadows of the cargo hold.
Glynda stared the figure down.
The cuffs of the clothing ignited, and its sleeves lit up. The figure swiped a palm down their arms and shot a fireball towards the blonde. A quick block decimated the projectile. However, the cinders scattered around her lit – the person raised a fist and a pillar of flames surged beneath her. Debris damaged the ground, but the Huntress used her Semblance to command the rubble. A series of rapid attacks battered the chopper before the character scorched the debris to ash.
Deciding he's done enough gawking, Ruben aimed Crescent Rose at the attacker and fired a few shots. Each one stopped with a raised palm. Five more pillars surged under the two on the roof. He felt an invisible force shove him out of range of the explosions as the Huntress backflipped.
By the time the two recovered, the criminals had escaped. Moments pass filled with the sound of aircraft engines zooming off With noise fading to nothing, Rose continued to gape at the woman.
"You're a Huntress."
The blonde scrutinised him with her stern green eyes.
"Can I have your autograph?"
Before she could reply, a police officer arrived at the scene. The alarm from the Dust shop stopped. He noticed the Faunus next to the Huntress and pulled out his gun. She waved him off.
"There's no need for that, the ones responsible have escaped – he tried to apprehend them."
Wary, the officer lowered his firearm. Ruben perked up, unaware of the assumptions of the officer.
"Oh, there's a group of thieves in front of Mr Custos' store; they're knocked out but-"
"We found them, thanks, kid."
The man glared at the Fire Escape and sighed. The duo watched him grumble down the steps.
"So…"
The blonde considered the boy.
"Can I get that autograph now?"
"A 'No' would have been fine."
"I think your activities tonight are a more pressing matter, young man."
The woman, Glynda Goodwitch, paced before him Her tone carried disappointment that caused his canine ears to flop, while he kept wary of the riding crop in her grip.
After the fight, she took him to a café owned by a Beacon Academy alumni, Apollo, and his husband, Darcel. For some strange reason, they owned an Interrogation Room – spotlight and all - in their basement. Ruben wanted to question it, but Glynda hurried him. It was horrendously dark inside, and the metallic surface of the bench made the blinding effect of the lamp worse. The metal chair was uncomfortable, and the condescending note in Glynda's voice ruined his rather exciting night.
"Shooting firearms in a civilian area," she continued, "Apprehending criminals without a Hunter's License instead of calling the authorities, and chasing a known killer then almost dying yourself in the process – do you understand the severity of your acts?"
Over his gloves, Rose fiddled with his hands. The urge to pull his hood on tugged at his nerve.
"I'm sorry, Ms Goodwitch, but I couldn't do nothing – I had to protect Mr Custos!"
His defiance flopped when he hid from the scrutinising stare of Beacon Academy's Vice-Principal. Suddenly, his fiddling leather fingers had become interesting.
"And they started it."
The blonde sighed, putting her Scroll Pad down to focus on him.
"Your father will be notified of this and you'll be sent home with a pat on the back…" Ruben's ears perked up and if he had a tail, it would wag. Glynda went on. "and a slap on the wrist!"
The Disciplinarian slammed on the table. Ruben was sure his heart bumped into his lung out of pure shock.
"But there's someone who would like to meet you."
From the shadows, a tall figure emerged. His shaggy white hair glimmered in the strobe light in contrast to his prim and proper green suit. His small shades hung on the bridge of his pale nose and his brown eyes maintained a permanent, all-knowing sass. In one hand he bore a mug, the other held a plate of cookies.
'I can't believe my luck – Willis Ozpin is standing right in front of me!'
"Ruben Rose."
The cookies slid over to Ruben. Rose's muscles twitched and tensed in pitiful attempts to resist the lure of the confectionary. One was already being swallowed before he realised he even picked it up.
Ozpin analysed the boy, his brow furrowed at the rare sight before him.
"You have… silver eyes."
Ruben heard the murmur and replied.
"And you have brown ones."
A grin appeared on the pale face.
"I do – now, I've seen the CCTV footage of your fight with those men and I wondered where you gained your skills."
Ruben wiped the crumbs off his face. His ears perked up.
"S-Signal Academy, sir!"
"They taught you to use one of the most complex weapons ever designed?"
"Yeah, my Uncle Qrow took me under his wing; before that, I was utter garbage, but now, I'm taking down Fledgling hordes without a scratch!"
Both adults raised a brow at his boast. The pride in Ruben's chest deflated when he realised he couldn't believe the lie himself.
"Kind of, I guess."
Ozpin's smile grew.
"Why is a young fellow like yourself doing fighting Grimm?"
Ruben fidgeted in his spot, feeling eager to explain.
"I want to be a Huntsman."
"You wish to slay monsters?"
"Not just that – I've always wanted to save people, and I was good at making weapons; although I thought would be my sister's tech guy; but I unlocked my Aura and Semblance, I knew it was my fate was to become a Huntsman."
A thoughtful expression fell over the man's face as he leaned backwards. His silence unnerved the boy.
"Save lives…" the Head Teacher hummed, "That is a difficult dream to dedicate yourself to, Mr Rose, many don't even bother to help each other nowadays – why do you want to dedicate your short life to what most consider to be a fruitless endeavour?"
Glynda's focus on her tablet wavered as she followed the conversation. Ruben's bright eyes studied the man in front of him – putting him on edge.
"I need a reason to help people?"
Willis leaned on the desk.
"Reasons like honour or glory – nothing of that sort?"
Not a second passes before a simple "Nope!" bounced off the walls.
Now Ozpin grinned, a light flaring up in his eyes.
"Do you know who I am?"
"You're Willis Ozpin – the youngest Headmaster in Beacon's history with several… aco- aca-"
"Accolades?" Glynda offered. Ruben pointed a finger at her to confirm.
"So, you've researched me and my school."
"Yep, my sister is going there this year, and I'm going to follow in her footsteps – I made sure I learned everything possible."
Sipping his hot chocolate, the light and mischief brightening, Oz asked,
"If I were to invite you to join my school, in secret of course, how would you-"
"Yes, please!"
"Are you sure, Ruben?" Oz laughed, "Beacon Academy is no Combat School – we are training Mankind's future protectors not teaching measly self-defence classes and weapons arts."
"And I'll do everything to be worthy, I promise!"
Oz turned to his second in command, with pleading puppy eyes. Innocently, Ruben did the same. She rolled her eyes at Oz's antics but she didn't protest. Willis chuckled and turned to the teenager.
"Well, alright then."
He handed over an envelope, the Kingdom of Vale/Beacon Academy emblem waxed on top. It shook in Ruben's hands and the boy's eyes and the smile widened as he held his golden ticket.
VALE: AIRSPACE- Bulkhead to Beacon Academy MARCH 1st, 2020 – ¾ MOON SHATTER
"Ruben, I am so proud of you!"
Yang's hugs were always intense, but the sound of bones cracking around his spine worried him. That and oxygen grew scarce.
"I… need… to… breathe!"
She dropped him, holding him steady as his body tried to resupply the brain with blood.
"Why didn't you say anything yesterday?"
He stood on his own and explained.
"I wanted to surprise you, besides; Professor Ozpin said it this had to remain a secret, the High Council wouldn't approve of a fifteen-year-old getting their Hunting License early – so as far as anyone is concerned, I'm an average kid and we were born months apart."
Yang held a deadpan expression, then giggled.
"That would make Dad a two-timing cheater."
Finger raised to counter, but Ruben realised that Taiyang would look bad no matter what in that scenario.
"Besides," the blonde continued, "You don't look seventeen."
"What are you implying?"
Yang made awkward gestures with her hands. Ruben's glare intensified.
"You're… never mind, you can't pull off the average person shtick, that's a fact."
Rose wanted to pull his hood on as he whimpered. His big sister wrapped her arm around him.
"Why?"
"Because you are special…"
She held him in a chokehold and noogied him, mindful of his extra ears. Her smile widened at his giggles and pleads for mercy.
"You're special to me!"
Their roughhousing ended when a chime rang through the airship. A hologram of the Vice-Principal emerged right after.
"Hello and welcome to Beacon."
"Who's that?" Yang asked.
"My name is Glynda Goodwitch."
"Oh."
"You are among the privileged few who have been selected to attend this prestigious academy; our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses; it is your duty to uphold it."
Chest puffed out and head raised high, Ruben beamed at the message as a part of him felt like it spoke to him directly.
"You have shown the courage needed for such a task and now it's our turn to give you the knowledge and the training to protect our world."
The image faded away and the views of the city of Vale came into focus. Smothering his face on the window, Rose awed over the incredible sights of historical buildings standing beside the modern skyscrapers and the river that flowed by the High Parliament Palace. Xiao Long smiled at her brother's excitement as she joined him by the window.
"You can see Signal from up here – home isn't as far as I thought!"
The elder sibling put her hand on his shoulder.
"Beacon's our home now, it'll take a while to get used to it, but I think we'll manage."
"Right!"
Groaning sounds caught their attention – a blonde male held his mouth and stomach, stumbling towards the airship toilet. Grumbles of disgust resounded around the ship. It seemed he left a bit of his… issue on the floor. Ruben scrunched up his nose and cursed his heightened Faunus senses. Yang's grimaced but kept cheerful.
"That's disgusting, but on the upside - we're almost there!"
"Sis, there's vomit on your shoe."
"What?!"
"I guess this is a rather stomach-turning situation."
Yang glared at Ruben's smug face and wiggling canine ears.
"You're lucky I raised you."