The Winter Knight

Volume 1: Chapter 2

Demonstration of Dust

Disclaimer: RWBY is the property of Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth. I own nothing.

Wynn sat quietly in the corner of the airship. It lacked the sleek design and efficiency of Atlesian airships. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the cool metal of the ship's interior. He could sense the vibrations of the ship in flight, I can feel the wings going up and down, such an odd design choice, more like a flying turtle than a bird. Wynn slowly opened his eyes and started to examine his fellow passengers.

Valemen dressed a lot more colorfully than the more austere people of Atlas. A plethora people adorned in flamboyant reds, yellows, greens, and even pinks were sitting or standing around the crowded interior of the airship. Reminds me of Dust with all this color. I wonder what they are like?

Wynn was dressed in clean white slacks with a freshly pressed short sleeve white dress shirt. Over that was a navy-blue vest, the only thing particularly garish was the red scarf he wore around his neck. It had been a gift from his late grandfather. He always said the scarf was lucky, I hope he was right.

A girl with long blonde hair caught his eye, she had pretty lilac eyes and she also wore an orange scarf. Her outfit was too low cut to be modest by Atlesian standards, not that Wynn was complaining. He didn't see an obvious weapon, but on her wrists were two heavy looking metallic yellow bands were the most likely them.

The blonde was standing next to a shorter girl dressed in a red hood and flowing cape, under that was a long-sleeved black blouse and skirt with red trim. Poking out from under the cloak was a red metallic casing that could only be her weapon. I wonder what it could be? It must be a large weapon judging by the size of it.

Wynn continued to scan the room. A screen was playing a news broadcast from the Vale News Network. Wynn stiffened as the female newscaster mentioned the Red Fang. He gave the program his undivided attention.

The name Lisa Lavender appeared on the screen. "Thank you, Cyril. This Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when the Red Fang disrupted the even turning it into a minor riot. The once peaceful organization has now disrupted over 80 percent of peaceful Faunus protests although the kingdoms. They are also claiming credit for several high-profile Dust robberies and attacks on Dust mines in Atlas and Vacuo."

A train of dust that had recently been stolen in Forever Fall Forest. Now riots, there does seem a larger than normal Red Fang presence here in Vale. Alexandre wasn't lying about that. What are they planning in Vale?

8 years ago, the White Fang had shown their true colors and reorganized as the far more extreme Red Fang led by the fearsome Sienna Khan. The once peaceful group had been known for organizing protests, staging boycotts, and establishing a support network to assist Faunus throughout the Kingdoms. Now they spent their time stealing dust, causing riots, performing assassinations, and other forms of terrorism. In short making his father's life a living hell. The Schnee Dust Company (SDC) had been a major target of the Red Fang both in Atlas and throughout the other kingdoms.

As the news broadcast went to commercial Wynn noticed there was another person watching the news. She was frowning slightly but watching intently, with her black and amber eyes, with black bow sat on top of her head. On her back was a black sword with a long ribbon from the hilt. It was in an odd-looking rectangular sheath. Is the sheath sharpened? Probably a backup weapon of some kind.

His eyes flicked back to the screen as another news story ran, the mugshot of one Roman Torchwick was on the screen. The green-eyed orange haired criminal was responsible for robbing several dust shops over the past summer. The Vale Police force had been unable to capture the criminal. First the Red Fang and now common criminals. I might have to investigate this later if he has been targeting stores that bought from the SDC.

"Attention Beacon students," the screen had changed to a blond woman was talking through the screen. "I am Professor Glynda Goodwitch, Assistant Headmistress of Beacon Academy. You are among the privileged few who have been selected to attend this prestigious academy, the finest Hunter school in all of Remnant. Although our world is currently in a state of peace, Hunters will always be needed to fight off the Grimm Hordes. You have demonstrated the courage and skill needed to become Hunters. Now it is our turn to give you the training and knowledge in order to do so. We will soon be arriving at Beacon. Please disembark in a calm and orderly fashion."

Wynn stood and walked to one of the airships windows and looked down over the city of Vale. It was a dense and compact city with a large river winding its way through the middle like a long blue snake. It seems so peaceful from up here, one wouldn't think that riots or dust robberies were commonplace. High stone walls surrounded the city to the North and South. To the West was the bay and to the East was Beacon. Beyond that lay a vast mountain range.

At a nearby window the girl in the red hood was looking towards the coast. "Look sis I think I can see our house from here."

The blonde walked up next to her. "I can make out Signal at least. You've got good eyes if you can see it."

The airship had started to descend and a young man with blond shoved his way pass him. Wynn was about to reprimand him when the young man almost jumped headfirst into a trash can and started to vomit into it. Wynn's nose wrinkled at the pungent smell and quickly headed towards the exit.

A few people laughed and he heard someone dub the blonde Vomit Boy. Wynn was slightly curious since the blonde wore some body armor. Most Hunters had stopped using body armor, since Aura was usually a superior form of protection. He thought about asking the boy but decided against it. The students gave Vomit Boy a wide berth as they heading out of the airship. Wynn walked out into the bright sunlight he raised his right hand to cover his eyes. Better go secure my luggage before someone steals it.

OoOoO

Ruby Rose stood close to her sister Yang as the airship doors opened with a loud clanking noise. She took a half a step closer to Yang, she had never liked crowds and everyone was pressed far too close for her liking.

Yang had noticed her slight movement and looked down at her. "Is everything ok Ruby? I thought you were excited to be at Beacon."

"I'm excited just… more nervous," said Ruby in hushed tones. "I got jumped ahead two years, I don't want everyone to think I'm special."

"You are special Ruby," replied Yang. She patted Ruby's head in a reassuring manner. "Everyone's going to think you're the bee's knees!" The crowd had started to disperse at the students walked towards the school.

Ruby gave her a disgruntled look as she stepped away from her sister. "I don't want to be the bee's knees, I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."

Yang gave her a sidelong glance. "If you say so."

The two girls started walking towards the school as more airships started to disembark on the landing pad. Ruby looked around as many students started taking out their weapons and comparing them with others. Ruby's eyes went wide as she looked around in amazement at the variety of weapons the students had. "Oh, that kid has a collapsible staff, and that girl has a fire sword."

Yang smiled at her little sisters' antics. "Easy there, they're just weapons. All hunters have one."

"Just weapons?" Ruby spluttered. "They're extensions of ourselves! They're a part of us!" Ruby let out a small squeak of excitement, "weapons are just the coolest part of being a Hunter!"

"Isn't Crescent Rose enough for you?"

Ruby pulled out her weapon and held it to her chest. "Crescent Rose will always hold a special place in my heart, but there is nothing wrong with looking at other weapons. Besides is like meeting new people only better."

"Why not try using that as an opener? I am sure plenty of other people have the same… passion for weapons that you do."

Ruby looked up hopefully, "You think so?"

"I know so. Ruby, making new friends is easier than you think."

Ok I can do this. Ruby took a deep breath and sped off to find new weapons to meet. She started on the outskirt to avoid the larger groups of students and soon came to a large circular area.

Her silver eyes looked over the students in groups of various sizes. Maybe I can find someone alone, there perfect. She had spotted a young man wearing a red scarf with short silver hair sitting alone on a bench. He was polishing a short sword whose pommel were filled with many vials of Dust. Next to him was a cart filled high with matching white luggage with a snowflake like sigil on them.

Ruby started to rush over, but after a few steps her foot snagged on protruding brick, and her body tumbled towards a cart full of luggage? She closed her eyes and braced herself for impact. She slid up something icy cold, then slid back down again. With a shiver she rolled over away from the cold.

"Are you alright Miss?" a voice called out to her.

Ruby opened her eyes to see a young man in white towering over her. "I'm ok." He extended a hand to her. She gratefully reached back, and with a swift motion he pulled her to her feet. Flush with embarrassment at looked at her feet and started to dust herself off.

"Good." The man turned and walked over to a small curved wall of ice and pulled the short sword out it before replacing it on his left hip. On his right hip Ruby saw a large revolver. "You gave me quite the fright for a moment."

Ruby steeled herself, "I'm so sorry about that, my name is Ruby Rose."

"My name is Schnee, Wynn Schnee. It's a pleasure to meet you." He gave a small bow then looked her up and down. "You seem a bit young to be attending Beacon."

"What?" asked Ruby her heart sinking.

"The minimum age of 18 is required to enter one of the Hunter Academies and you were running around like a child."

Ruby faced him. "I am 16, not a child."

Wynn looked at her curiously. "You must be incredibly skilled to enter Beacon two years early. My older sister got into Atlas Academy a year early and she is a true prodigy."

Ruby felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. "Not really I'm just a normal girl, with normal knees."

Wynn looked doubtful. "Headmaster Ozpin decided to let you attend two years early. Why?"

"I don't know," replied Ruby honestly.

"Fine keep your secrets." Wynn turned to leave.

"I'm not keeping secrets! Over the summer I fought some criminals trying to rob a Dust shop. They got away, but a Hunter named Glinda took me to Ozpin. He asked some questions then gave me chocolate chip cookies and asked if I wanted to attend Beacon. I said yes. Now I'm here."

"That makes no sense or logic. You failed to capture the criminals but get rewarded with cookies and Beacon. What did Ozpin say to you?"

Ruby thought back to the events of the past summer. "Well the first thing I remember him mentioning were my silver eyes."

"Silver eyes are rare trait, I've never actually seen anyone with silver eyes. Curious, most curious."

Ruby looked around eager to change the subject. "You're certainly are good with Dust."

"Of course, it's one of the four Pillars of being a Hunter." He started counting off on his fingers: Aura, Dust, Semblance, and Weapons. Granted I've learned that most Hunters can't use Dust to its fullest potential. Do you use it Ms. Rose?"

"Only Dust bullets," she pulled out Crescent Rose and extended it out to sniper mode.

Wynn whistled slightly. "That's a large sniper rifle, what else is it?"

"What do you mean?" asked Ruby curiously.

"From what I've read the Hunter's from Vale have a bit of a reputation for having hybrid weapons. So, I figure it must be a gun and something else."

Ruby started to grin. "Well you have that right," she hit a button which extended it out to scythe mode. "I call her Crescent Rose, I know she's a little overdesigned but…"

"You designed her yourself?" asked Wynn excitedly.

"Yes, all students as Signal Academy were required to create their own weapons."

"A fascinating tradition, you seem to really like weapons."

"Oh, I do."

Wynn smiled for the first time. "Would you like to see mine?"

Ruby nodded vigorously. "Yes please."

Wynn smiled in response and pulled the short sword from his hip. "This is Silverthorn, I designed it."

"It's kind of small for a sword."

"The Messer is technically a knife not a sword. Besides its only small because it's only its first form," he pointed it at the scythe in her hand. "You don't carry Crescent Rose around in its scythe form all the time, do you?"

"No, that would be silly," said Ruby.

"Now observe," he slid a button on the hilt and the blade extended almost doubling in length and turning from white to longer silver blade.

Upon examining Silverthorn up-close, Ruby observed that not only the blade but the hilt had also increased in length though not nearly as much as the blade. Her eyes travelled along the hilt to the pommel that had a bunch of different colored vials of dust powder. "So, you can use the dust in the pommel in some way?"

"Obviously," replied Wynn pleasantly. "I have the four primary elements and a few composite ones."

"Composite Dust?" asked Ruby.

"A combination of two or more the primary Dust elements which can be artificially created or found in nature. As you should know the lime-green vial is Air Dust. The yellow vial is Earth Dust. The red vial is Fire Dust and the blue dust vial is Water Dust. Follow me so far?"

Ruby nodded she knew about the primary elements of Dust but Wynn seemed as excited about Dust as she was about weapons so she let him continue.

"Now when I saw you sliding towards my luggage I was able to use this navy-blue vial of Ice Dust to create this small wall to prevent you from hitting it. Ice is a combination of air and water dust hence the term composite dust. Would you like a practical demonstration?"

"Ohhh yes please," said Ruby excitedly. She had read that Hunters from Atlas had the reputation for using Dust when fighting.

"Well then Ms. Rose could you carefully push my luggage to the other side of the bench? Do be careful. There is quite a lot of Dust in my luggage."

"Sure thing," Ruby grabbed the cart and gingerly started to push it. "Why do you have so much Dust?"

"For combat and study primarily. Atlesian scientists are always trying to find new and better ways to use Dust." Wynn walked until he was standing in front of the ice wall.

"So, your something of a scientist?" Ruby finished pushing the cart to the far side of the bench.

"Only a novice but I had some of the greatest scientists in the SDC as teachers." Wynn drew Silverthorn with his left hand as a brilliant white light started to glow around him, then the pommel started to spin.

Suddenly Ruby became aware of the silence that had descended on the terrace. Everyone on the round terrace had stopped talking, and watched Wynn. She hoped it didn't bother him, but he seemed to be focused on the task at hand.

As the pommel came to a stop in Wynn's hand, red dust started to envelope the blade. He pointed Silverthorn and a red-hot ball of fire shot out of the blade and flew towards the ice wall. The fireball hit the ice with a hiss as it started to melted the small wall. A few moments later all that remained was a puddle of water.

Woah, thought Ruby, much cooler than the fire sword, or is it hotter since it was fire? Yang would know which was which. A roar of approval came from the crowd of onlookers.

A smile of satisfaction touched Wynn's lips, as he surveyed his handywork. He looked over to Ruby. "So, what do you think?"

"That was AWESOME!" Ruby sprinted back over to him.

"Uh thanks, I didn't mean to cause such a ruckus."

"First ice now fire what else you got?" shouted a voice from crowd that had started to form around them.

"Would you like a continuation of the demonstration?" Wynn asked the assembled students.

"Go on."

"Do it."

"Show us something cool," shouted the various voices from the crowd.

"Alright then," Wynn voice turned serious. "Now as I have just demonstrated Dust can be channeled into weapons for various effects. Dust can only be used in its raw form by the most accomplished of Hunters. It requires a fine control of Aura and knowledge of how Aura interacts with dust. It can be very dangerous in the hands of the untrained so please don't try this at home."

The crowd chuckled at that. Ruby watched as Wynn reached into a pouch at the small of his back and pulled out a dazzling white crystal of dust. He raised it high above his head so the crowd could see it. "Now who can tell me what kind of dust this is?"

Ruby saw a hand shoot out of the crowd. "It's lightning Dust, right? My grandfather told me a story about a Hunter who used white lightning Dust."

"That is correct," Wynn replied. "Since you got it right you can assist me with the demonstration. Come on down."

Ruby watched as a blonde hair, blue eyed young man walked out of the crowd. He was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie with pieces of white armor on top.

"What's your name?" Wynn asked the blonde.

"Jaune Arc, short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it!"

"Do they?" Ruby asked quizzically.

"They will," Jaune responded confidently giving her a cocky smile.

Wynn seemed to ignore the few people snickering in the crowd he walked over to one of the topmost cases on his luggage cart. He pulled out a small orange disc. "Now Jaune do you think a strapping young Hunter such as yourself can hurl this as far as you can when I give the command?"

Jaune took the orange disc from Wynn and gave him a thumbs up. "You got it."

"Alright, everyone else please step back and Mr. Arc please head to the edge about 30 feet to the left of the bench, I want you to throw it off the edge." The crowd of excited students started moving back. "Ms. Rose would you mind taking my luggage with you just to be safe."

"Of course I can Wynn." Ruby pushed the cart to the far edge of the crowd. She kept the cart between herself and the crowd of excited students.

Wynn strode confidently to the edge of the terrace. "Now Mr. Arc I will count down from 3 to 1, on the count of the 1 please hurl the disc as far as you can."

"Yes sir," said Jaune giving a nod of his head.

Wynn turned his back on the crowd and held out the Dust crystal in his outstretched right hand. As Ruby watched the bright white light of his aura enveloped his whole body. The dust crystal started to glow brightly in his hand.

"3…2…1."

On the count of 1 Ruby turned as Jaune threw the orange disc far out over the empty air, although not as far as Ruby had expected.

When the orange disc reached its apex of its flight a white-hot bolt of lightning shot out of the crystal and disintegrated the orange disc completely. The lightning arced out over the city and headed north toward Forever Fall Forest.

A cheer rose up as the crowd surged forward. Wynn had to shout over the crowd, "I am sure the teachers here are far more capable than I to teach anything more about Dust. We all need to start heading towards the Amphitheater anyway."

The crowd dispersed with some grumbling as the students melted away. Wynn let out an audible sigh. "Well that was a thing."

Ruby walked over to him. "You're not a scientist you are clearly some kind of wizard."

"He's an heir actually," a new voice said.

Ruby and Wynn turned to look in the direction the voice was coming from. It came from a girl taller than Ruby. She was dressed in black and white clothes and a black bow on top of her head. She had a black sword on her back with a long black ribbon trailing from the pommel.

"Wynn Schnee, heir to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant on Remnant," said the girl in the black bow.

"The largest now, the leader in mining and production of Dust and Dust accessories," said Wynn calmly.

The girl frowned. "The same company known for its infamous labor forces, controversial business partners and questionable business practices."

Wynn frowned slightly. "I'm afraid you have at a disadvantage Miss?"

"Blake."

"Blake what?" Wynn prompted.

"Just Blake."

"Well then Just Blake do you have a shred of proof to back up these vile accusations?"

Blake looked annoyed. "Well no but…"

Wynn interrupted her as he crossed his arms. "Then it's nothing but slander. Still I am not an unreasonable man."

Blake looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"As it happens I am new to the Kingdom of Vale and I could use someone to show me around the city after things have settled down. You show me around and then I will buy you dinner. Then you can tell me your problems with my father's company. What better deal could you ask for?"

Blake's eyes narrowed. "Well your out of luck. I am not from Vale either. You'll have to find someone else."

"A pity, still the offer still… wait which of the kingdoms are you from?" asked Wynn in a quiet voice.

"I'm from outside the kingdoms," replied Blake.

Ruby bit her lip as Wynn's hands slid slowly down to his belt resting right next to his weapons. "Why would anyone from outside the kingdoms have interest in becoming a Hunter?"

"I don't know," replied Blake sarcastically. "Why would anyone living outside the kingdom want to learn to better fight the Grimm?"

"A point," replied Wynn.

"What's the big deal about being from outside of the kingdoms?" interjected Ruby.

"Only the worst kind of people live outside of the kingdoms. Bandits, thieves, murderers, assassins, terrorists etc. People who live outside the law, or have something to hide. So, that begs the question what are you hiding Just Blake?"

Blake looked like she was about to say something, but abruptly turned on her heel and walked off in a huff. Wynn's light blue eyes followed her movement until she was out of sight. He immediately started to relax and his hands moved away from his weapons.

"Beacon's standards must be slipping, how disappointing," said Wynn. He turned to Ruby. "Ms. Rose we will simply have to talk weapons some other time we should be heading to the Amphitheater for Ozpin's speech." He turned on his heel and walked off. A man Ruby hadn't see dressed in a suit and sunglasses started to push the cart with his luggage after Wynn.

"See you later Wynn," Ruby called after him. He simply raised a hand in farewell and was soon out of sight.

OoOoO

Jaune Arc had watched the altercation in silence. He knew better then to jump into the middle of heated argument. Dust was every bit as amazing as his grandfather's stories maybe even more so up close. After Blake and Wynn had walked off, he strolled over to the smaller girl in the black skirt. Her red hooded cloak blew slightly in a breeze, as she gazed after the departed students.

"Well that was awkward," said Jaune.

"Yes, it was." She turned to face him. "Your name was Jaune Arc, right?"

"Yup. Your is Ruby Rose, right?"

"Shall we head to the speech Mr. Arc?"

"I would be honored Ms. Rose," replied Jaune solemnly. He offered his arm to Ruby. Their eyes met as they both started to laugh, and began walking towards the school.

"I wonder if everyone talks like that in Atlas?" pondered Ruby.

"Not sure, he's the first one I've met. That dust display was really something else."

Ruby turned towards him. "Wait aren't you to that boy that vomited on the ship?"

Jaune for a moment thought about lying but there was no point. "Motion sickness is a far more common problem than most people realize," he replied sheepishly.

Ruby threw back her head and gave a bark of laughter.

Jaune gave her a wounded look. "Well at least I didn't trip and fall in front of half the school."

That shut Ruby up. "Sorry Jaune. I shouldn't have brought that up."

They soon arrive at a fountain full of clear blue water then started to walk around it. Jaune looked around but didn't see any other students. "So, are we headed in the right direction?"

"I don't know. I was following you," said Ruby. She looked around. "I don't suppose there is a map anywhere on campus."

Jaune turned from right to left. "I don't see any, just that statue over there."

They started walking towards the statue. "Anyway, I got this thing." She pulled out Crescent Rose and pressed a button to extend it into scythe mode.

"Woah is that a scythe?"

"It's also a customizable, high impact sniper rifle."

"Ah what?"

Ruby cocked Crescent Rose. "It's also a gun. What about your weapon?"

Jaune pulled the sword from the scabbard on his belt. "I have this sword."

"Ooooooh," said Ruby. "Simple but elegant. I like it."

"I also have a shield that gets smaller and becomes the sheath for the sword." The shield sprang from Jaune's hand, uncontrolled in the air. After fumbling the catch several times, the shield fell to the ground with a clatter. He tried several times to catch it but it fell to the ground with a clatter in front of the statue.

Ruby continued as if nothing had happened. "Well, I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to weapons."

Jaune and Ruby looked up at the statue. A man in crown stood pointing his sword skyward in a heroic pose. Next to him was a hooded and cloaked woman holding a huge axe of some kind. Under them was some kind of wolf looking Grimm, I think it's a Beowolf. It certainly looked wolfish.

"I wonder who these people in the statue are," said Ruby.

"I know the man is the King of Vale who ended the Great War. He won the war in a single battle in desert sands of Vacuo 80 years ago. My grandfather told me stories about him."

"Your grandfather sounds like quite the storyteller."

"He was. My family have been Hunters for many generations. My father, grandfather, and my great grandfather who fought alongside the King of Vale during the Great War. He was one of the first generation of Hunters."

"That's really cool Jaune. Both my parents were Hunters as well."

"Were?" asked Jaune.

Ruby frowned slightly. "My mother died on a mission when I was really young. I don't really remember her."

"I'm sorry for your loss Ruby," said Jaune solemnly. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "My father died two years ago from the injuries he had gotten from being a Hunter."

"Jaune I'm sorry to hear that."

Suddenly a harsh female voice rang out across the campus. "All students should now be in the Amphitheater for the Headmasters speech."

Ruby's silver eyes had gone wide. "Oh no!" It's Professor Goodwitch, we better hurry!" Ruby started sprint off like the wind. Jaune followed hoping the girl knew where she was going. Ruby had started to glow with a soft red light.

"Wait Ruby don't run off without me," shouted Jaune. To his surprise Ruby stopped running but continued to glow. He quickly caught up to her but tried to hide his slight panting.

Ruby held out her hand to him. "Hold on to me and don't let go."

Jaune took her hand a bit uncertainly. "Ruby what exactly are you going to do?"

OoOoO

Yang tapped her foot idly as she sat in the Amphitheater. She looked up to the glass dome above her then lowered her eyes to the bleachers that lined the upper levels. They were filled with older students, teachers, and the support staff. She and the rest of the freshman sat in a few rows on metal foldable chairs on the floor of the amphitheater.

She had easily found her friends Nora and Ren after Ruby had run off to look at weapons. I hope that worked out ok for her. She always has liked weapons more than people, still she should be here by now.

Yang scanned the hall looking over the heads of her fellow students but still saw no sign of her sister's short brown hair or red hood. She sighed. "She is late."

"Who are you talking about Yang?" asked Nora.

Yang looked over at her orange haired friend. "My sister. She got moved ahead two years and will be joining at Beacon this year. I told you about its weeks ago."

"Oh, I must have forgotten how silly of me," said Nora.

Ren leaned forward in his chair and gave a her a questioning look. "How?"

Yang toyed with her long blonde hair curling a strand around her finger. "I honestly don't know the full story, some scuffle with a Dust thief in Vale City over the summer. Apparently, Ozpin questioned her about it and was impressed enough to let her into Beacon."

"That is AMAZING!" shouted Nora. "Aren't you excited you have your little sister is here with you?"

"Of course, I am," said Yang quietly. "It will be great for her to be here so I can keep an eye on her, but…"

Ren quirked an eyebrow. "But?"

Yang looked at her friend's faces, Ren's bright pink eyes showed a look of curiosity while Nora's aqua blue eyes just brimmed with excitement. "It's just I've been looking after Ruby ever since mom died. Dad has never the same after she died and I've been trying to raise Ruby, training to be a Hunter, and making sure Dad was ok for all these years. I… I was just looking forward to having some fun for a change."

Ren looked thoughtful, but said nothing.

Nora gently patted her on the back. "I know how you feel, you have no idea how much effort it is to clean up after Ren."

Ren gave snort of derision but his lips curved in slight smile.

Yang started to laugh at the absurdity of the statement and pulled Nora in for a huge hug. "You two are the best. Thanks." Yang wiped a few tears of mirth from her eyes then sat back up. "Speaking of Ruby, where did she go?"

"Excuse me Miss is this seat taken? It's almost time for the speech and seats are quickly filling up."

Yang looked up to see a handsome man with silver hair standing next to her. He was pointing at empty seat next to her. He was dressed in pressed white pants and a short sleeve white dress shirt with a navy-blue vest over it with silver buttons. Around his neck was a bright red scarf, she noticed a white symbol near the left end of the scarf that looked like a stylized snowflake of some kind. She looked up to his smiling face and stared into his sky-blue eyes. There was thin scar over his left eye.

"Uhm, I…" After a long moment Nora elbowed her in the back. "Sorry I was saving this seat for my sister."

"Oh well thanks anyway." He turned to look for another seat and Yang saw the same snowflake sigil on the back of his vest.

"No wait," Yang blurted out.

He turned back around to look at her expectantly.

Yang looked past Ren and Nora an saw an empty seat in the middle of the row. "Nora could you ask those students to move down a seat so we could make room for him.

Nora gave her a catlike grin and turned to look down the row. She then stood up on her seat and shouted. "Hey people move down a seat we need to fill in the empty spot!"

Some people looked like they were going to argue but after getting a good look at Nora they clearly thought better of it. Ren and Nora waited for the row to shift down then each of them moved down a seat.

Yang moved down a seat and patted the one she had just vacated. "You can sit here."

He sat down and extended his hand. "Schnee, Wynn Schnee and at your service."

She extended her hand to shake his but he leaned forward and gently kissed her hand.

Yang blushed slightly. "I'm Yang Xiao Long."

"It's nice to meet you Ms. Xiao Long."

Before Yang could respond the crowd started to buzz as Professor Ozpin walked out on a raised stage at the center of the amphitheater.

Suddenly the doors to the Amphitheater burst open from a gust of wind that blew everyone's hair and several students hats were sent flying. Everyone turned to see two figures panting heavily in the doorway. Yang saw her sisters red hood and cape billowing behind her. Yang's hand moved up and covered her face with embarrassment. Great entrance sis.

Author's Notes:

Many thanks to my editor Linthal.

Sorry for the late chapter both my beta and I were sick last week and had to catch up on work and sleep. There should be a new chapter on Sunday evening and that is tentatively the new chapter release date.

merendinoemiliano Tukson will have an expanded role in the story.

Many thanks to everyone who has followed and/or favorited my story. Any and all feedback is appreciated.