(Good god, between internet problems and school I almost didn't have time to write. But here's chapter 2)

Chapter 2: Old Memories, New Experiences

I've been leaning beside a door for ten maybe twenty minutes now waiting. After Ruby and I's fight with Roman and rescue by the Huntress who showed up just before we got blown to pieces, she brought us to what seemed to be just a regular building. She brought Ruby into the room that I'm beside for what I could only presume is questioning why the hell me and her fought and chased a dangerous criminal. But just before she went in I gave Ruby a pat on the back for encouragement, and now here I am bored out of my skull.

It's not to long however before I hear footsteps coming down the left side of the hallway. I turn to see another familiar face:

A middle-aged man with silver hair and brown eyes behind shaded glasses, wearing dark green pants and an open suit jacket over a vest and green shirt with some black trouser shoes, and in his hands are a tray filled with chocolate chip cookies and a coffee mug with the symbol of Beacon Academy on it. I see him smile at me, which I reply by smiling back and waving at him.

"Hello there mister Lind! I have too say that it's pleasant too see you." He said in an affable tone, always polite and stoic. "I could say the same thing myself Ozpin, it's been to long." I say chuckling a bit, he nods in response then looks at the door before looking back at me. "Could you open the door for me please? As you can see I'm a bit...preoccupied at the moment", I nod and open up the door for him. I see Ruby sitting in a chair inside, she spots me and waves smiling sweetly...still adorable...I wave back at her before closing the door once Ozpin is inside

4 years ago, Qrow's cabin

Ahhhh...sleep, it's good too have you after sparing with Qrow yesterday. Today is going to be, the lights come on as the door creeks open. I groan loudly in frustration and cover myself in sheets, "Come on Qrow, can't I just sleep in for once? I know you're home-schooling me for combat but my god you run me ragged." I say sounding muffled by the blanket. "Well kiddo, we're not gonna be training today. We're gonna be meeting with someone", the room is silent for a solid ten seconds before I come out from under the sheets looking at my guardian with sleep-filled eyes.

"Oh yeah? Who would that be?"

Present

Have I ever mentioned that I don't like waiting?, because I don't. After Ozpin came into the room I still had to keep waiting, only hearing the sounds of muffled voices. 'You know what? I'm coming in' I think too myself, and just before I open the door...it smacks me right in the face. "AXEL GUESS WHAT?! I-" I heard Ruby yell out excitedly before cutting herself off, "Ummm...you around here Ax?" I step away from the door and wave at her lazily trying to make sure I don't fall towards the ground.

"Whaaaaat's the news Rubes?" I say slurred by my head injury, "Well...I'm now enrolled at Beacon!" she says happily smiling at me. I shake my head to snap out of the daze and smile at her, "That's great! Proud that you're heading there" I say rubbing her hair causing her to groan and puff her cheeks. "Oh come on! It's not that big or anything" she says causing me too roll my eyes "Whatever you say", she nods before her eyes light up "Oh! Professor Ozpin says he wants to talk with you, something about 'Your decision'."

I hear that and my face turns sullen and I nod, "I see...well I'll catch up with you later Ruby. Ok?" She looks at me for a moment looking confused before nodding, "Right. Catch you around Ax" I wave to her as she leave before turning towards the opened door, with Ozpin gesturing me to come in as the Huntress watches me with a stern look on her face. I take a deep breath before walking in and taking a seat opposite of the two adults.

4 years ago

I finish putting on my usual attire of a longcoat, orange shirt, slacks and sneakers before putting Cerberus on my back and coming up to Qrow. "I'm ready when you are sir" I say, he nods before taking a shot from his alcohol flask and leading me outside. In the middle of the view of the forest was a man with silver hair, he had a cane at his side...he had a stoic look resting upon the sharp features of his face. I gotta admit, I feel intimidated by him...he seemed to resonate a sense of authority, strength, and years of experience. A hand is placed on my shoulder, I look to see Qrow smiling at me: "Axel, I would like you to meet professor Ozpin: headmaster of Beacon Academy. Oz, meet Axel Lind: a boy that I saved one day and helped take care of."

I walk forward to the man Qrow called Ozpin, he stood taller then me by a head or two. He and I looked each other in the eyes before I extended a hand, "Pleased too meet you professor." I told him politely. He smiled at me and shook my hand in gratitude, "The pleasure is all mine I can assure you young man. The reason I am here is that I wish to discuss something with you." I raised an eyebrow at him in curiosity, "What's so important?" I asked him

"As Qrow may or may not have told you, Beacon Academy is a school for training future Huntsmen and Huntresses when they are seventeen years old. Qrow has told me about how you were taught at Signal for a time before being tutored under his wing...may I see your weapon?" He asked me cocking his head towards the right

I nod and step away before pulling Cerberus out of it's sheath to show it to him. He took a moment to analyze it, "Not exactly subtle...is it?" He asks sarcastically too which I shake my head. "It's as quiet as a church mouse having a house party" I say causing him to laugh a bit, "Could I see some other functions of it?" he asks causing me too nod in response

I grip on to the hilt two-handed causing the sword to transform into a rocket launcher, the rocket launcher itself has a boxy main body with a long pipe end to let out exhaust. Ozpin nods at this with Qrow taking a drink from his flask, "Qrow mentioned one more weapon that it can transform into...demonstrate it." I grinned as it switched back into sword-form

I grab onto the handle as before and twist it: the middle of the blade starts to move up revealing a staff handle for it, the blades themselves move towards the tip of the blade and rearrange into the blade of a scythe, as this is happening I grab onto the middle of the staff and point the blade towards the ground once it finishes forming...leading to me holding a scythe with a black blade with an orange line going from tip to hilt.

"Well?" I ask him leading to the middle-aged man to nod once, "I can see it clearly...now with that out of the way: please put the blade back into it's sheath and I will tell the reason I am here." I nod, one twist of the hilt later Cerberus reforms into a sword before I put it back into it's sheath

"Now then, I wish for you to realize that I have told you about Beacon because of this particular reason" he told me in a serious tone, his smile gone "I wish for you to enroll into Beacon Academy once you turn seventeen. There you will be trained to the fullest extent of your abilities, hone your craft as a warrior, and be ready to face the Creatures of Grimm at their worst." This caused me to feel more then nervous, I mean...I know Grimm can be killed and all, but what could make them worse?

"Professor Ozpin, what if I say no? What if I end up crashing and burning when I enroll at Beacon due to some reason?" I ask him with an eyebrow raised, he sighs and looks on towards the horizon. "Axel: I have made more mistakes then any man, woman, or child in the world...and I have come to learn that doubts are sometimes caused by fear, so I'll ask another question: what exactly are you afraid of?" the question cut right into me like a knife...what makes me afraid?

A lot of things really: failure, losing someone I care about again, and most of all: ending up alone. I look down for a moment staring at my feet, someone who doesn't acknowledge their fears must face them...and I'm going to not be afraid. I look back at him shrugging "I'll let you know in four years, but until then Ozpin...it's been nice meeting with you!" I say smiling at him before heading back inside the cabin, I could here him say: "Until then mister Lind...until then"

Present day

I look towards Ozpin, his brown eyes watching my every movement along side the Huntress that came along. "It's time...what's your decision" I look down at myself for a moment, no way Ruby is having this much fun without me. I clench my hand into a fist and look back at Ozpin with a smile full of determination: "Ozpin, I would be honored to come to Beacon." He looks at me with the same kind of smile I saw him with four years ago, one of knowing and wisdom.

"The airship taking first year students to Beacon arrives at 11:30 AM, don't be late now" he says still smiling. I nod before opening up the door and make my way out, I smile to myself before making a teleport away

Tomorrow is going to be...exciting

9:00 AM, Qrow's cabin

After getting up form a decidedly good night of sleep I start to get ready in preparing and getting together all I'll need for the next four years: clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, a box filled with bacon, another box filled with cookies, some books, a few video games, deodorant, and a picture: one with my parents with a baby me in my mom's arms...I promise I'll find you soon.

"Hey! You ready yet or what?" Qrow yelled out from the living room, "Keep your shirt on you alcoholic pigeon I'm coming!" I sling the bag over my shoulder and put Cerberus on my back before coming out the door. Right there is Qrow crossing his arms with a grin on his face, "You all set kiddo?" he asks me, I nod and grin back "Yup. All ready to go" he pats me on the shoulder in reassurance "Just remember to keep safe alright?" he says causing me to chuckle. "I'll be safe so long as you keep sober." I tell him dryly causing him to laugh

I exit out of the cabin and take a deep breath of air, I look back and see Qrow waving goodbye...I smile and wave as well. I then start to walk to where I need to go, I'll do you proud Qrow.

10:30 AM, Airship Docks

An hour and a half later I arrive at the docks for the airship that will soon take me to Beacon. I got an hour of time to kill...might as well go and- I stumble forward causing me and a girl to make an 'Umf!' sound for either of us. "I'm sorry! Didn't mean to bump into you like that" she said in an apologetic tone, "It's fiiiiine, it's fiiiiiine no worries about it." I say turning to look at the smiling girl: she's dressed up in armor that would normally be seen on a warrior with a folded up spear and shield on her back, she has red hair that's tied into a ponytail with her bangs coming just over a circlet on her head, she also has vibrant green eyes with some light green eyeshadow in the upper corners, one more thing I notice is that she's tall...standing up towards my height.

I smile at her and extend a hand out for her, "I'm Axel. Axel Lind...what's yours?" I ask her. She takes my hand and shakes it...girl has a damn strong grip, "Hello again! I'm Pyrrha Nikos" she says smiling back at me. She stops shaking my hand, "So Pyrrha. Are you seeing someone off oooooor?..." She shakes her head still smiling. "I'm enrolling here, it's going to be my first year here at Beacon. What about you?" she asks tilting her head to the side, I shrug "It's going to be my first year as well, but a friend of mine is attending here with me." she nods in response

"So I have a question for you," she asks a bit hesitantly "Do you know anything about me? Just curious is all!" she says nervously cheerful. Know anything about her?...not sure if she want me to say yes or no, might as well be honest: "I don't know anything about you...so sorry? I think?" She sighs in relief shaking her head, "Sorry...it was just something that I was wondering. It means nothing" she says smiling. "Well it was nice meeting you Axel. But I have to go now! Take care" she says walking away, I smile and wave goodbye at her until she's no longer in view

Not a moment later the sound of whirring engines fills the air along with people making sounds of excitement and gasping, I look up to see a massive airship coming in for landing. Once it lands the still running engines kick up clouds of dust and causing people to cough a fit: a hatch with the symbol of Beacon opens up and the hum of a loudspeaker comes to life before saying: "All first year and returning students please board the ship, it will be leaving in five minutes. Again, all first year and returning students please board the ship...it will be leaving in five minutes." everyone present save a few start to make their way aboard the ship, I follow and once on board take a seat. I can feel the ship start to move soon afterwards...we're flying in the air

15 minutes later

After sitting for a quarter of an hour I finally get up and start to look around: let's see...blonde guy with a hoodie and armor looking ready to vomit, some other people, Ruby getting hugged by a blonde girl...wait what? I can see Ruby being hugged by a blonde girl in a tan vest with a tank-top under it, she's wearing shorts with a belt on it that has a number if things on it, and she's also wearing an orange scarf, a pair of fingerless gloves, and knee-high leather platform boots. Ruby sees me and starts waving at me to come over, I wave back and oblige coming up to her

The blonde she's with looks at me with a smile on her face, lilac eyes looking at me...they look nice. "Hey there" she says to me with a chill tone to it, "you know Ruby?" I shrug and nod "Yeah. Kind of a friend of mine, oh! By the way what's your name?" I ask her with Ruby trying to cut in "Actually that's-" "Name's Yang. Yang Xiao Long"

Wait. Yang? Oh my god

I give her a tight hug which she stiffens up to, "It's been to long Yang" I say quietly with a smile on my face. She gets off of me and looks at me in confusion, "I'm sorry guy but...who're you?" I squint at her before shaking my head "Sorry about that. It's been seven years so I don't blame you, it's me Axel." I tell her simply. Her eyes widen for a moment and she gasps before hugging me, oh god the pain!: "Oh I've missed you Axel! I've missed you too buddy! How've ya been?" she asks happily, I could only respond with wheezes and groans of pain. "Hey uhm...Yang? I think you're killing him." Ruby says nervously, Yang let's me go causing me to drop to the ground gasping for breath. I hug Ruby by the legs crying tears of joy: "THANK YOU MY SAVIOR! I WILL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK!" I yell out laughing like a madman, "Yep. You do that." she says slipping out of my grip.

I calm down and stand back up smiling at Yang "So Yang, how've you been?" I ask tilting my head to the side, owowow my neck hurts. "I've been great, thanks for asking. And you?" I shrug "Besides from a collapsed lung, several broken ribs, and some fractured bits in my spine: I'm perfect" I say smiling with a thumbs up causing Yang to smile and roll her eyes. "Never changed a bit did you?" She asks with her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh no. I've changed while you haven't" I tease back at her with a grin.

The news is turned off and is replaced by a hologram of the Huntress from yesterday. "Hello, and welcome to Beacon!", the hologram said. "Who's that?" Yang asks, but before I could tell the hologram said right after Yang asked the question, "My name is Glynda Goodwitch". And again right at the same moment Yang and I said aloud, "Oh." please let this be the end of the weird questions being answered immediately and jinxing thing?

"You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being 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. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world." And with that, the hologram disappears, and my prayer was answered

Once that's done there are several cries of surprise, with people looking out of the ship's windows. I head over to see a town below: Vale, "Oh, wow! Look, you can see Signal from up here!" Ruby says in awe as she and Yang look out the window. "I guess home isn't too far after all!", I give Ruby a pat on the shoulder and shake my head "Beacon's our home now." I say smiling at her with Yang adding in "You said it", after that little heartwarming exchange I can hear someone groaning: and a blonde guy in a black hoodie with armor over it run by hunched over.

"Well... I guess the view isn't for everyone." Yang says rolling her eyes with Ruby adding in "It was nice while it lasted." I nod along with her, "I wonder who we're gonna meet! I just hope their better than Vomit Boy." she adds in excitedly, she looks down toward Yang's feet and her face scrunches up in disgust "Oh, Yang, Gross! You have puke on your shoe!" Yang looks down in horror and starts to shake her head rapidly chanting "Gross" over and over again, meanwhile Ruby is backing up with the same look of horror saying "Get away! Get away!"

"H-Hey guys? You know it'll come off right?" I add in nervously to no effect at all.

I sigh heavily, this is going to be a long time. Isn't it?