Chapter 6: Starting Point

Silver

I can hardly contain myself. That month long wait for this moment seemed to linger on forever. Yet here I am in Vale on an Airship on my way to Beacon Academy for initiation.

The sight of my family seeing me off is still fresh in my mind. The house staff all came to see me go my nanny crying to see me go, the Faunus butler too because he would have to deal with Amey and Diana creations on his own. My teachers all came luckily none went on a mission just to see me off. Dad was holding back tears, Maya, my stepmother gave me a kiss on the cheek and a big hug telling me to bring home a nice boy she can meet. Jeez mom got more things on my mind then boys but doesn't mean I won't try talking to one of the boys. No! Focus Silver training first boys later! Amey and Diana finally got their Danceatron robot to work the three of them did a jig all coordinated by Amey with Tina rocking out on her guitar. Coop was crying the whole time I knew he was going to miss his big sister but I promised to call every night to see how he was doing. Grey and Steele had finished the modifications on the Pearly Star and gave it to me as they had promised. It was even more beautiful in physical form

The weapon had a shine to it as if it was made out of pearls and it definitely matched my outfit so yea bonus points to my goofy older siblings. The rifle was bolt action my favorite type. My brothers really know me so well. The rifle head when fully extended could by their words hit a target 700 yards easy. I loved all the mini designs they put on it. The falling stars going from the rifle butt to the end of the barrel. I had a few more designs I wanted to make but that would be done later. What surprised me most was Weiss showing up in a limo her butler Klein driving. When she approached she let out a huff. "Going to Beacon without me? Well don't you worry I'll be joining you soon so you can hold the top student spot for me until I arrive." She had a funny bone once you got to know her and I've known her for years. We laughed and hugged one last time. She handed me her gift from her to me. I opened it and inside was a pendent of half a heart made of silver. I saw she wore the other half around her neck. "Aww Weiss you'll make someone really happy once you get married. Of course your attitude needs work tho can't be the Ice Queen forever." She pouts at the remark. "Heyyyy at least I'm trying." After a few more exchanges I board the Airship to Vale and begin my journey.

Now here I am surrounded by strangers. Other students from across the kingdoms who wanted to come here to Beacon. I saw a few students who might've been from Atlas like myself but it really was a collection of individuals in here. There was a girl with brown hair wearing shades and a real fashionable outfit talking to a few others about the latest fashion in Vale. Omg I think her shoes are the limited addition high heels I wanted but only three hundred was made out in Mistral. How did she get them?! Focus Silv focus not here for fashion tips. Well at least not yet made a mental note to talk shop with her later.

Over in the corner I see three more people who are standing out. A large boy tall and muscles for arms in green robes with a giant sword on his back looking out the window keeping to himself. A boy with dark skin and burnt orange hair in orange clothing. He looked like he didn't want to be bothered as he fiddled with his weapon on his lap cleaning it and keeping it clear. The last of the trio I saw in that direction was a Faunus his teeth as he breathed gave it away. He also was wearing robes but different from the tall boy. He was doing some sort of kata while everyone was talking. His moves looked graceful and precise I felt like I was staring too long and looked away.

The last ones I saw were two people sitting down across from me yelling. Well the girl mostly it was two more Faunus one being a wolf boy with black hair and white wolf ear tips dressed in black clothing and the girl in a similar color way a bull Faunus with black hair that looked like she dyed it but it looked good on her. The girl was saying something about personal space. From what I can tell the boy didn't seem to care or was doing his best to ignore her. A lovers spat right before getting to Beacon I wished them luck.

I look outside the window and there I see it. Over the horizon Beacon Academy in all its glory. The school was built along a cliff's edge and overlooks the city of Vale. As if it is an beacon of hope for all to see as where the next generation of warriors are being trained. As the Airship landed all the new students departed and We made our way to a large loading dock leading to a wide avenue. A hologram of a woman I knew from my acceptance message appeared it was Professor Glynda Goodwitch. "All new students please make your way to the amphitheater where your orientation will begin." The image disappears and everyone starts making their way to the large building down the walkway.

I begin making my way when I hear someone shriek. "Holy cow is that Laurentum Gray?!" I turned around and realized some others turned to see what the commotion was about. The guy who called it out was pointing at the Faunus from earlier arguing with his girlfriend. "It's the two time Mistral Tournament champion everyone assumed you would enroll to Haven Academy but here you are at Beacon I can't believe it." The boy called out everyone hearing. Laurentum just kept walking ignoring all the attention he was getting from everyone. The girl behind him started asking him questions. "Wow who would've thought you was so popular. You just keep become more and more interesting pervert." A smile on her face. Laurentum shifted a bit and turned to her and huffed. "I make one suggestion and now I'm a pervert. Come on Riv…" The two continue arguing as they get further and further away.

The girl with brown hair from earlier moved right next to me and whistled. "Strong and mysterious that's someone I want to know more of." She takes off her shades and puts them on over hair revealing her dark brown eyes. "So what's your name I saw you on the Airship earlier looking around at everyone seemed like the shy type or something." I stuttered to try and introduce myself first impressions are important after all come on Silver. "Uh I'm Silver FairNeil nice to meet you." I put on my best smile. The girl look me up and down and smiles. "I'm Coco Adel and I have to say I'm liking the style you have going on with your outfit girl. You gotta share your fashion style with me we can exchange notes." My clothes were what I considered normal but Weiss always said I had an "vibrant" style. I was wearing a platinum shirt with a falling star that was bright yellow my mother's emblem. Over it was my jean jacket with different styles of pins on the chest. My shorts cut short to my upper thighs and black combat boots that reached beneath my knees. Pearly Star in it's compact form on my back.

"Oh well this is just something I threw together nothing special. Coco eyes told me she didn't believe that. "Nah girl you got s style that's all on your own and it fits you perfectly." She hooks her arm around mine. "I'm sure our time here we'll be great friends." She had a bright smile on her face as she pulled me along as we made our way to the amphitheater.

We made it inside the amphitheater hall inside it looked like a large arena probably where students had a type of training class here. It was filled with would be students in the middle as someone headed up on the stage. I knew the man immediately I was sure everyone did. Professor Ozpin took the mic and began to speak.

"Hello and welcome incoming freshman to Beacon Academy you are here today to continue your journey to become the next line of defense in mankind fight against the creatures of Grimm. Most of you are here from Vale while others came from the other Kingdoms of Remnant. Your background here doesn't change what you are all here to do. You all made the choice to follow this path. To defend and protect those that need protecting. Because if not ourselves who will protect us? Your training brought you here and your knowledge but those two things can only take you so far. What you need is the drive and heart to keep fighting for a better tomorrow for the next generation that comes after you. For the children that have yet to be born. Your own children yet to be born. All it takes is a small spark to ignite a change of an era." His eyes seem to drift over the crowd he looked over in the direction of me his eyes meeting mine or was it my imagination? "You trained your whole lives to find your purpose and you believe you may have found it." His sentence sent shivers down my spine. As if he was speaking directly to me and there was something else off about him. It was something about him that made my hair on my neck stand on end. I heard echos of Dad teachings in my mind. His eyes moved and I saw they stopped at the far left. I looked over and saw Laurentum and that girl from earlier he was looking at. "You may be using this time to hone your skills for another motive or to make just a cruel world." Laurentum seemed unfazed but I can see...no I can feel the girl soul shake at his words. Dad always said our eyes could see a person's true intentions. I could make it work a few times. Our family gift but not consistently my brothers and Dad made it look easy. I tried it on the girl next to Laurentum. I can only imagine what it's like being a Faunus. When I sharpened my focus all I felt was her outer feelings. I felt shame and sadness from her and something else. A boiling anger building up. All the racism I saw daily at Atlas growing up around it I can understand. He panned over to the right and it looked like he was looking at the boy from before who was doing kata in the Airship.

Now paying more attention to him the Faunus boy had dark skin but his hair was a light brown that seemed to shine like a lion's mane in the sun all wrapped in a ponytail. His eyes golden brown and appeared to be more wise beyond his years. He also wore what seemed like cloth robes that looked like he was a spiritual person or something. "Or you simply are finding your place in this vast world. Whatever your reason you are here. Study hard, train harder and never let a day be wasted." And with that he walked off as Ms. Goodwitch walked up and began speaking. "All students are to assemble at the Barn and prepare for the initiation tomorrow. That'll be all."

And like that we all made our ways to the next area in our long process. Our journey was starting now.

Laurentum/Loki

Everyone assembled in the "Barn" it was basically a large hall and everyone was given sleeping mats and slept on the floor. I didn't really mind used to sleeping in more uncomfortable conditions and Loki seemed to enjoy sleeping around all the girls in the room. Several females walked up to me asking how I got so strong and some asked for tips on how to get better. Ever since people started realizing who I was it's been happening nonstop. River who had her sleeping bag next to mine was reading a book and keeping to herself. I guess she rathered my company than someone she didn't know. I answered all their questions after they told me their fighting styles and how they can improve upon that. I couldn't care less but causing a problem right now would be unnecessary.

After answering all their questions they left me to my own devices and I prepared to go to sleep when I turned around and saw River staring at me her silver eyes boring into me.

"Is there a problem River?" She puts down her book and fold her arms. "Uh are you not going to explain the last two weeks we went through with you and your mood swings? The bar? Flirting with our waitress at the cafe? Oh and how can I forget the man who made a sly remark as we walked past and you threatened him with becoming "less of a man"." She was talking about whenever Loki would come out and voice his opinion. "Loki loves making people see how their ways hurt others and he likes to flirt with girls but don't take him seriously." Her face hardens and clearly is upset at me reply. "I don't care about that I care more about why didn't you tell me about the whole dual personality things. I thought you was just crazy."

I turn away to finish setting up my sleeping bag. "It's something I don't find important to tell. If it comes up it comes up and besides it's not like I'm around people a lot. They just get in my way." She puts her book away and shrug her shoulders. "Well tell him not to hit on me again. Or else he'll get another black eye." I lay down and turn my head to her. "You do know he only let you hit him right?" She throws a pillow at me and I pull it off my face. She sticks her tongue at me and lay down to go to sleep. I close my eyes as I drift off into slumber.

The next morning everyone got up and started to get ready for the day I went to the bathroom and washed my face and brushed my teeth. In the mirror my dark eyes looked into my reflection and saw myself but the me staring back had pale white eyes and a smirk on my face. I ignored it and continued on with getting ready.

Breakfast was served and it was pancakes, bacon and sunny side up eggs. After getting one serving myself Loki took control and ate three more servings. The servers didn't complain seemed like they were used to students with large stomachs. Once we were done eating River joined me as we made our way to the locker room where we stored our weapons last night before bed. I pulled out of my pocket a scroll given to me as a gift from the school. I found my locker and opened it to see Hope's End inside. I pull it out and strap it on to my holder on my left side. I look behind me where River locker was and she did he same with her weapon she called Love's Misery. They say our weapons are an extension of ourselves if so then…..I bury that useless thought. Emotions would creep out every once in a while no doubt Loki's doing but not needed for me I given them up a long time ago.

"I wonder what this initiation going to be like." River states with a hint of worry in her voice. "Students are going to be put on a team of four for their entire stay at the academies. That's what I learned while at Sanctum but how that process will be like? We'll probably find out later." I start making my way to the area the scroll had pinpointed which was the next gathering point. River in tow behind me. I walk past a locker with the door broken. It appears to have been caved in from the outside. I stopped and examined the damage to see that an large amount of force was used to do this type of damage to it. "Who could do this? Better question is why?" River walks up next to stating her input.

"It was that lion Faunus with the robes." The new voice came from our left as we turned it was a large man stood tall over even me. I was 6"6 this guy must've been 7"0. He wore short sleeved green robes fasten by a leather armored belt with two pouches. He wore brown pants and green-and-black boots. He had bracers on each wrist and a 5-layered sode over his left shoulder. On his back a sword almost as tall as himself in a rusted brown color hung off him with a hooked tip. "He tried opening the locker and after a few failures he got locked out so he punched it once and caved it in." River eyes went wide. "He punched it once?! With his bare hands? That guy got some serious punching power to do this. I'm sure the school won't be happy about this though." I stand up and turn to the new individual. I hear Loki talk to me. "Come on brother be nice and introduce yourself make new friends." I sigh knowing I won't hear the end of Loki's "help" until I do as he says. "What's your name?" I ask flatly. The boy extends his hand to greet me. "I'm Yatsuhashi Daichi it is an honor to meet the famous Laurentum Gray." I look at his hand but Loki makes me grab it and shake it after taking control of my arm. "Daichi? Are you from Mistral? I don't remember seeing you in Sanctum Academy." He shook his head. "I never attended a Primary Combat School but I was invited from recommendation by people in my village sent out to school." I can tell from our handshake he has tremendous strength. My hand sore from our brief exchange. The world is vast to have someone like him exist and not attend a school. "Well let us be on our way wouldn't want to be late." I nod my head and we make our way to our destination.

We all were lined up overlooking a cliff face on the edge of the Emerald Forest and standing on pedestals. From what I can tell from the setting and where we were I can only make one guess. I turned and looked down the line and saw River she was tying her boot laces tightening them and she looked at me and mouthed the words "Long way down.".

Ozpin was at the edge facing us with Glynda with his coffee mug in hand. "Well hope you all had a good night sleep last night because now it is time for you to prove yourselves. You have spent years training and now you will be evaluated to see if you have what it takes." Glynda holding a scroll walks up. "I'm sure you all have heard rumors on how the teams will be set up." Multiple nods are scattered amongst the students. "Well let us put that to rest all of you will be assigned teammates...today."

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your stay here at Beacon. So it should be in your best interest you be paired with someone you work well with. So thus the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." A few murmurs are heard causing discomfort among everyone with such a half baked rule. "After finding a partner you will make your way to the northeastern end of the forest. You will meet dangers along the ways as the forest is filled with wild Grimm. Do not hesitate to kill or it will cost you your life." I get dizzy a bit. Shaking my head remembering my teachings back in the White Fang with my master. Kill or be killed for our cause. I grab my sword sensing an end to his speech coming soon. I look over to my left and see River also readying herself as well as a girl with a yellowish star on her shirt and a Faunus in robes as his arms are covered in gauntlets as he stretches. "You will me monitored and graded on your performance on your initiation but expect no help if you need it you must overcome all obstacles with your teammate and own skills. You will find ruins of a temple where they hold several relics. Work together with your partner secure a relic and return to the top of the cliff. This is your starting point. So any questions?" There was a silence before there was a loud groan coming from the far left. It was the lion Faunus with robes on as he looked at Ozpin. "Enough talking I got no questions and got no more patience if anyone else does can I go ahead already?"

Glynda gave him a stern look but Ozpin simply smiled and nodded his head. "Why not Mr. Topaz you seem eager to get started." He looked back at Glynda as she was about to press a button but Topaz had already hurled himself into the sky from his position. We all looked and stared at him as he took off in a single vertical leap straight into the air covering a great distance entering the forest. Laughter echoing in the air. Another girl spoke up. "Well that was something to behold."

Ozpin unfazed looked at everyone. "Good luck students." And in an instant I was the first one sent flying into the forest.

Topaz

I had enough of the talking and speaking. I heard all I needed to hear from Ozpin from what we had to do and what was expected of us. Wasn't much different from my time at the Temple back home. Train your body, hone your skills and gain wisdom all to obtain enlightenment except here we became Huntsmen.

The air whistled in my ears and the wind blew my hair out of my face. As I grew closer to the treeline I extended my hands and focused my aura. "Crane Form First Path: Prey Flight." I flapped my arms like a bird and in a huge shockwave I slowed my descent tremendously and caught myself on the top of a nearby tree. I took gander to my surroundings and could only see what looked like an endless sea of red trees. It was a beautiful sight but I couldn't see the temple ruins Ozpin told us to acquire a relic at.

I soon looked in the sky and saw other students hurling in the air coming into the forest. "One of them is going to be my partner huh?" I wonder what that person will be like. If I made my way Northeast I'll be sure to run into someone. Regardless on who I get paired with I'll make the most of it. Even if they are weak now through training anyone can get strong. I was a perfect example of that and so was Nave. I buried the memories of better times to press forward.

I jumped off the top of the tree and landed on the ground. I looked at the sun and configured my direction towards Northeast and made my way in a dash. Jumping over tree roots and into bushes I was making good time and wondered if I would run past the ruins or into them. Before I got either answer I ran into something hard. It knocked me on the ground from the impact and left me a bit dazed. I shook my head as I looked up and saw what I ran into. It was an Ursa pack or three and I ran into the biggest one of the bunch and it was baring its fangs and dirty breath in my face.

I hold my nose and activate my semblance on my right foot giving the bear a nice face full of foot. Cracking its neck it is sent backwards as the other two get on all fours and charge at me. I get on my feet and go full metal. When they jump on me their teeth try sinking into my form but crack and break upon impact. I pick them up by their necks and toss them like baseballs into the trees. I rush to one and press my palm on its chest. "Formless Form First Path: Palm of nothingness!" I release my aura and as if passing through water slide into the Ursa hide and fire a few dust rounds into it causing it to deform into nothing. I look at the boss and other one as they get on their hind legs roaring at me. "Hmph bring it!" Taunting them as a smile forms on my face. Before they get to attack me an gunshot rings out and flies past my face hitting the mask of the smaller one cracking it and knocking it back as it turns into mist. I turn in the direction the shot came from and see someone in the trees. She had an assault rifle in her hands her hair black as night only matched by the tone of her outfit red marks on her black shirt as if she was bleeding or was painting something earlier and got it on her clothes. She readied her weapon again and fired at the boss Ursa and the bullets had no effect on the creature. It roared loudly and charged at me. I ran towards it and as it brought down it's two claws I countered and held it in place. While I was holding it the girl took advantage and jumped off the tree branch and her rifle got slicker and a handle popped out as she pulled out a blade. In a downward arc she pierced her sword in the eye of the Grimm bear and pulled it out and kicked off of it. In my hands the beast faded away leaving no remains it even existed.

I turned to the girl who looking closer at her features was a Faunus. She has two small bull horns on the side of of her forehead and temple area. She looked at me examining me and then we made eye contact. "Guess this makes us partners for the next four years huh? I'm River Tartarus and you are?" I released my semblance returning to normal. "I'm Topaz….Topaz Hu Buster. Thanks for the assist." She shrugged her shoulders and put away her sword in her scabbard. "I think you would've taken care of it easily without my help from the looks of how things were going." I caught how she said that. She made it sound like she was following me for some time but I didn't even feel her presence. Actually if she never fired I wouldn't know she was there. She has great skills in stealth good thing she's my partner and not an enemy. I turn to Northeast and point. "This way is Northeast we can continue this was until we find those ruins." She starts walking ahead of me her hand on her sword handle. "Well what are we waiting for let's go already." A little fierce but at least she doesn't mingle words. I think this will be an interesting partnership. I pick up the pace and follow her lead.

We make our way in the forest for about thirty minutes before stumbling upon a broken down building. It was a huge wall in front of us. We made our way around it and on the inside was what remain of what this structure once was. "Huh I wonder what was the purpose of this build all the way out here in the forest." I looked around examining the stone seeing if it had any resemblance to my own temple. River looked around and off in the middle of the ruins were pedestals holding white and black chess pieces. "Hey Topaz you think these are the relics the headmaster was talking about?" I stop looking around and walk next to her. There were some pedestals that were empty. Maybe other students already found it and completed the test already. "Maybe which one you think we should take?" She looks around and picks up the one that looks like a tower. "Don't think too much on it we got what we need now we can get back to….."

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" A scream pierces through the forest and River grabs her weapon and I activate mine and take positions. "It came from the west." We both look in the clearing ready to attack whatever or whoever comes. After a few heart pounding seconds. A Beowulf comes crashing through. I am about to send it to whatever hell it spawned from when it falls with a giant sword in its back. When it drops it reveals two figures. A large man in green armor and robes of what looked like Mistral design and a Faunus rabbit girl on his shoulders. "Thanks Yatsuhashi that Grimm came out of nowhere." The girl jumped off his shoulder and dusted off herself. She wore a brown long-sleeved jacket that doesn't cover her stomach and brown shorts. She had on black shin high boots that are golden tipped on the heel and toes. "It is of no issue Velvet. I will keep you safe for as long as I am able to."

River and I lowered our weapons as the two newcomers walked up to us. "Oh it's just you Yatsuhashi." River exclaims. He looks at her and takes a bow. "Ahh River glad to see you are safe and sound and this must be your partner the boy who destroyed his locker." I look nervous at his statement and the rabbit Faunus puts her hand to her mouth. "He was the one that did that to the locker door? Why you do that?"

"Hey that thing said locked out when I had forgotten the passcode and kept trying to remember it and nothing was going to stop me from getting Âdityas & Danavas out of that thing." I defended myself. Yatsuhashi had a smile on his face. "I would do the same thing for my own weapon, Daihannya. Allow me to introduce myself I'm Yatsuhashi and this is my partner Velvet Scarlatina." Velvet sheepishly bows. "Pleasure to meet you two." I bow back all this bowing is reminding me of the temple.

"I'm Topaz Hu Buster and you already met River." She half waves and turn back to the pedestal. "I think these are the relics so you guys can get your pick of which one you want looks like they're chess pieces."

Yatsuhashi and Velvet walk up and examine all the pieces. Varying from black, white and gold. Yatsuhashi picks up the black queen piece. "I guess we'll take this one. Let's move on from here and complete the initiation." We all nod and start to leave when we hear a loud screech burst our eardrums. We all recoil from the noise and let go when it stops. "Uhh what was that?" Velvet asked. I look up around and see the bushes rustle. "Looks like we might have company."

Soon after I finished my sentence four bodies ran fast out of the bushes crashing into all of us. I felt pain from the sudden impact and once my vision cleared I saw a Faunus boy in front of me rubbing his forehead. "Whoa that was smarts in the head in a bad way." He said. I look around and see the others in the same situation. It was another boy with burnt orange hair, a girl with interesting clothes and another girl quickly standing up dusting off her outfit complaining. "These are a pain to clean can't believe I chose this to wear in this initiation." River stood up and looked my way. She gasped and pointed at the boy in front of me. "Laurentum?!" "Uhhh Loki? White eyes we talked about this. Wait River?!" The boy name Laurentum or Loki yelled. The girl that was complaining stopped dusting off. "Since we all just gonna scream names. I'm Coco and the silent one is Fox." The boy let's out a grunt and looks over to the relics.

Loki and River stop arguing and Loki walks over to the girl who was still on the ground. "Hey Silver you ok?" He extends his hand as she takes it. Her Platinum eyes shining in contrast to her black hair. "Yea I'm alright just hit the biggest guy here of course." As she points to Yatsuhashi as he blushes and bows. "Much apologies I do hope you are unharmed." The girl rubs her forehead and cracks her neck. "Well nothing is broken so guess i'm ok." I step into their conversation.

"It's nice and all we all know each other now but can you guys explain why you came crashing out the bushes like that and what was that noise earlier?" River eyes gain a sharp focus. "I almost forgot yea what was that noise?" Loki pounds his fist in his hand as if his mind had created an idea. He runs over and snatch a random relic and appears back in a blink of an eye. He's fast probably the fastest one here. He might be even faster than Lim.

"I completely forgot about that thanks for reminding me we gotta go like now!" He grins with a smile on his face. Silver sighs and looks at her partner like he's crazy and so does Coco but she has a hint of admiration in them as well. "You wouldn't believe what he was trying to do." She says. Silver mumbles something under her breath. "He's a freaking idiot what a way to start my journey…."

Velvet looked confused. "I don't get it what did you do?" Loki looked at her with a sly grin. "Well….."

Before he can finish another loud screech echos in the ruins as two nevermores flying in the air past them cause the trees to shake from the beats of their wings. Everyone that was not with whatever Loki did just looked at him. He looked at the four of us and shrugged his shoulders.

"I thought it was a good idea….."

Welcome back everyone King Loki here hope you're enjoying the ride as I continue my story of Team L.S.T.R. I hope you all are enjoying it tell me your thought on the chapters so far if I made any errors or missed a detail let me become better by point out my flaws. If you were readers of the first version of Team L.S.T.R don't worry I just tweaked some things around on my base OC's but things are the same and if you are here from the old one and are confused here is on major change I did.

I have made the team enroll in Beacon or well recruited by Ozpin one year prior to the "start" of the series RWBY. But the L prologue I made? Well that's canon but don't think about that too much. (Lol) Reviews are always welcome any questions are welcomed too. If you have an OC you think would interact with my story well let me know I'll put them let my mind imagine how they would get along. You guys are a part of the story too. We all are the writers!

So till the next one hopefully Loki doesn't get everyone killed. (P.S. To everyone who read the first verison you guys know Loki sucks at riding Nevermores but that doesn't stop him from trying. :D)