Induction
Ruby and Yang walk in to an amphitheater. The stone seats cascade towards a stage. A hundred or more people converse as they wait for the ceremony.
"You nervous?"
"Ya, you could power a small town with how much my legs are shaking."
"Just remember what I told you and you'll be fine."
"You told me to prepare for the worse pain of my life, how is that suppose to help me."
"Ok forget that. So even though it might be the worse pain of the your life, you won't die."
"You really need to work on your pep talks."
Yang puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder and looks her in the eyes.
"It was worth it, and I would do it again if I had too."
Ruby's legs stop shaking, and she straightens up.
"Thank you."
Ozpin approaches a podium on the stage and the crowd falls silent. Ruby and Yang hurry to an open seat and sit down.
"Today, each and every one of you join the ranks of of this school and have earned the right to be called Hunters. No matter what happens through the course of your training, that will not change. If you wash out, or are unable to continue, understand that there are other ways to serve. But that is not why you are here. Here at this school we train our students to become leaders, the best. Look around you, today there are over a hundred. In the coming weeks that number will change. You are the last hope, you are the final defense. The Grimm have become more bold with their attacks and are becoming organized. The days of greatness will shortly come upon us again. You are the remnant of so many before you. Make your marks, and do not disappoint."
Ruby and Yang leave the amphitheater and walk with the others towards the Induction hall.
"I'm not going to lie. This place is a lot bigger than you made it out to be."
"I never could do it justice."
They walk through the main courtyard that connects to the staging area, and overlooks the thousand foot drop into the valley below.
"Ya the apartments are at that end past the amphitheater, under the staging area is the hanger for the roterjets, then at the foot of the mountain about twenty miles away is the town of Moniz."
"Do we get to go there?"
"Ya whenever we have rec time we can go there. There's a tram system that takes us there and back."
"This school has everything."
"Ya, but no pool. Unless you count the waterfall at the bottom of the valley."
"If it's wet it works."
Yang and Ruby walk around as they wait for Ruby's turn. About an hours passes and Ruby's time approaches. They head back towards the Induction Hall. The long line of candidates is gone and only a single person remains. A girl in a white dress.
"You don't want to go in there, the last person ran out screaming, " says the girl.
"Was that you? Asks Yang.
"What? No, I'm just waiting."
"So you are here at Beacon too?"Asks Ruby.
"Yep, here to fight monsters and uphold family tradition."
"You have Hunters in your family?" Asks Yang.
"Just about all of them."
"That's cool, maybe we will see you on the other side," says Ruby.
"Don't hold your breath."
Yang gives Ruby a hug, and Ruby enters the building alone. She receives a black and white robe from the a counter and is instructed to change her clothes. She changes then sits on a bench wait for her turn. She waits for what feels like an eternity. Her thoughts races and she has to talk herself out of running. After some time a door in the wall opens and person in a hooded black and white robesenters. It's her time.
Ruby enters the next room. She follows a short flight of stairs and stops just short of the bottom. The last three stairs are under water.
"I think there is a leak," Ruby mentions.
The hooded figure speaks softly.
"It is part of the ceremony, please continue."
Ruby steps into the water, and it comes up to her knees. As she turns the corner her eyes catch the silhouette of the room. It is circular, with a stone altar in the middle. The room is dark except for a line of candles along the circular walls. A voice from the darkness instructs her to lie on the table and remove the shoulder of her robe. She does, and places her face in a grove of the table. Other hooded figures emerge from the shadows. One carries a metal rod, and the other a clay jug. The end of the metal rod glows yellow and red with heat. More hooded figures emerge from the shadows and hold Ruby down. The hot metal presses against her shoulder blade. The hot metal seres her skin and Ruby tries not to scream. She tries to numb the pain with her essence, but the metal resists her efforts.
The metal rod is removed and the figure with the clay jug steps forward. They pour the contents on to Ruby's shoulder and place a linen onto the liquor. She sits up and her shoulder burns, but the liquor helps sooth the pain. One of the hooded figures stands in front of her and speaks.
"The hunters brand, it symbolizes the eternal nature of our struggle. Today you are born again, into a life that begins with pain and a life that ends in pain."
The hooded figure helps Ruby to the next room. She enters, and finds Ozpin waiting for her. He instructs Ruby to sit in a wood chair.
"The Grimm are unfeeling, uncivilized. Like fire, consuming without prejudice. Always remember while you fight that you are fighting for your life. And what is it that you defend."
Ozpin places three items in Rubys hands. A nail, a feather, and a piece of cloth.
"These represent the Hunter's Creed. Family, Honor, and Sacrifice. Recite the creed with me."
-"Family, Honor, and Sacrifice."
-"Family, Honor, and Sacrifice."
"Very good. You now understand the burden of your station. You may now join the others."
Ruby stands and is about to leave.
"And Ruby."
"Yes?"
"Get some rest."
Ruby and Yang walk through the campus. Ruby holds a cup in one hand and downs some pills with the other.
"Thanks."
"They should help out with the inflamation."
"I just don't get why my essence didn't protect me from the heat."
"It is part of the ceremony, they use a special metal or something. I am pretty sure it is a closely guarded secret. Don't need people knowing they can kill Hunters with the right kit."
Ruby drinks the rest of the contents of the cup and throws it away.
"Was there anything you wanted to do before the days over?" asks Yang.
"Not really, is there food in our apartment?"
"Not much I was going to stock it up with the good stuff, but forgot. There should be enough for tonight though."
"Ya I just want to go back and sleep."
"Good plan, I'll show you the way."
Yang opens the door to their apartment. It's a decent pad. They enter in through the living room, kitchen on their right. On either side of the apartment is a bedroom and bathroom. Two people per room. In the living room there is a couch and some tables, but nothing else.
"Here our bedroom is on the left," says Yang.
"What I don't get my own room?"
"No you do, you just share it with me."
"Just like home."
Ruby falls on the bed then slips into sleep.