(chapter 3 destined meetings) [Yang pov]
After I caught up with my old group of friends, talking about our latest tattoos, discussing boys, and just talking about how great it was to be in such an awesome school. But we had to part ways, there was a rumor that no one could pick our teammates. So we decided to let the teachers decide if we are meant to be together throughout school here. It was a real bummer, but at least I had my sister. If everyone else leaves, I know we will always stick together.
I waited in the orientation hall. The headmaster's speech was soon, so I chose a spot in the middle of the group of new students. I made sure to stay visible from the entrance, that way I could see when Ruby arrives. I wanted us to go through this together. 'after all, if what my friends said is true. We could end up separated for the next four years' I said to myself. I ended up making myself sad with that thought.
A tiny girl wearing a bright red cape caught my eye, Ruby was just about to enter the open doors to the hall. As soon as she entered I knew something was wrong. The way she was walking was very telling. Something was weighing heavy on her mind. Something that was really upsetting her. I knew she needed me, maybe to vent, maybe to help her with fixing the problem, whatever it was. I decided to do both. I called her over to me "Ruby!" I waved my arm, easily reaching overtop the gathering of students.
She hastily walked straight to me. Almost breaking out in a run. 'whatever it was that upset her seems really bad' I thought as she came up to me. "hey sis, how was your morning?" I asked in my usual happy tone, even though I knew it was bad based on how she walked in here. "awful! Especially after you ditched me for your friends!" she said, her words laced with annoyance "then I knocked this girl over. Then she started yelling at me! And to top it all off I exploded!" she ranted. I felt bad for leaving her. But I knew she would feel even more awkward if I dragged her along with me to meet my friends. Although hearing that someone yelled at my baby sister is making me upset, I'll let it go. "wow, dramatic much?" I asked jokingly. Her explosion comment must have been a way to make me feel bad for leaving her.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a girl wearing all white yelled "You!" at the sound of the voice Ruby paled and leaped into my arms. Doing her best to imitate a dog who got caught digging through the trash. 'did she just yell at my baby sis?' I thought anger beginning its slow simmer. "you're lucky we didn't get blown off the cliff" the new girl continued her yelling. But before I could scream back at her, Ruby talked instead "I'm so, so, so sorry. I didn't mean to cause any damage to your stuff. Please forgive me" Ruby said. She sounded nervous, like the thought of this white haired girl hating her would cause her pain.
The girl in white huffed and crossed her arms. "fine, but read this" then out of nowhere she held a pamphlet in Ruby's face. "what is it?" ruby asked, but eagerly grabbed the paper. "the Schnee dust company's basics do's and don'ts. read it and I will forgive you for what happened earlier" she said, turning to walk away. But Ruby had another question for the girl "wait Weiss, does this mean we can also be friends?" she asked
Weiss stared at her. Then her posture shifted into an upright position "I dought it" then she walked away, into the sea of students. I saw the sadness fall upon Ruby at her words. "hey, cheer up sis. We don't need her. Pretty soon we'll be swimming in friends, just you wait" I said, doing my best to sound encouraging. In reality I was pissed. That girl just yelled at my sister in front of me. And to top it all off. Refused Ruby's sincere attempt at wanting to be friends.
But before I could go out and find this Weiss girl, a tapping on the microphone rung through the hall. "I'll keep this brief. All of you have gathered here today hoping to be great worriers. But as I look amongst you all I see is…wasted potential, in need of purpose, in need of knowledge. You assume having a tattoo grants you power" he paused, a small mummer of agreement sounded by a number of students. "you assume wrong! Power will only take you so far, it is up to you to take your own first step" and he walked off the stage. Glenda then spoke "you will be sleeping in the hall for tonight, your evaluations will be held tomorrow morning. Got your rest students" and fallowed the headmaster off the stage
Weiss after leaving Ruby and Blake) [Weiss pov]
The walk to the orientation hall felt miles longer than it actually was. It truth it was a hundred or so feet, but to me it felt like I was walking back into my father's cold hands. But I was here at this school by my father's orders, at least for this year. In truth he most likely expected me to drop out soon, and I highly expected him to call me after a few months, ordering me to return home. But until then, and hopefully after then, I will be here at Beacon. With or without friends. Even if my teammates don't want to get along with me, I will remain here until I can escape my father.
I made my way into the hall, a mass of students were already gathered in here. I wanted to get a better view of the stage, I had no idea what the headmaster's speech would entail, so I was going to prepare for everything, maybe he would be showing something. I might as well be in a position ahead of time, instead of fighting my way through students later. Once I reached the center I was halted in my tracks. There stood that girl. The one in red who knocked me over. 'I hope she isn't still mad at me' I thought. I overheard her conversation with a tall blond haired woman.
"awful! Especially after you ditched me for your friends!" she said, her words sounded mad, but I could tell she wasn't trying to blame the woman she was talking to. She continued her talking "then I knocked this girl over. Then she started yelling at me! And to top it all off I exploded!" she said, throwing her arms up, mimicking an explosion effect. 'she's talking about me' I thought happily. I'm not sure why that thought made me so happy, but it did. 'wait, she thinks I was just yelling at her? I was trying to tell her the potential danger. Oum! I'm so bad at interacting with people!' thought about what I could do to make things right between us. 'maybe if I give her the pamphlet, then she will understand the danger we could have been in' I thought.
"you!" I said, loud enough to get her attention, I walked over to her so I could talk without being loud "you're lucky we didn't get blown off the cliff" I said. She immediately twirled around to face me, I worried but friendly look on her face. Before I could finish saying what I planned on saying, she spoke. "I'm so, so, so sorry. I didn't mean to cause any damage to your stuff. Please forgive me" she pleaded. My mind went into overtime, my body felt light, and I had no idea why. 'I can't let her think I won't forgive her' I thought, I recovered from my feelings and went back to my original plan for talking to her. "fine, but read this" I said, pulling out the paper that had all the dangers of dust on it. "what is it?" she asked, a confused look showing itself on her face. "the Schnee dust company's basics do's and don'ts. read it and I will forgive you for what happened earlier"
With that done I decided to leave, I didn't want to impose on the conversation she was having before I arrived. But as I took my second step away she called out to me "wait Weiss, does this mean we can also be friends?". 'did she just? No it can't be. She would never be able to understand my life. I need to keep her out of my life. Something about her is…is…no I must keep her away' I thought in a panic. But my father's voice took over my head 'you are a Schnee! We do not associate with those below us!'. Before I could stop myself by body shifted into its upright and proper form, and my mouth started saying my father's words instead of my own "I dought it" and I walked away, shame and regret filling me to the top. Shortly after that the headmaster stepped on stage. I couldn't even manage to listen.
(that night after sunset) [Ruby pov]
I was writing in note book while lying in a sleeping bag provided my Beacon. I was writing a letter to the few friends I had back in Signal academy. They were excited I somehow managed to get bumped ahead two years. So they asked me to write to them telling them how things function here and what to expect. The teachers were also surprised that I managed to move ahead, so they said my letters would be turned into lessons for some of their classes. I was sad I didn't know anyone here with me. Yang is lucky in that regard.
just as I finished my last word, Yang plopped down on the sleeping bag next to me "this is like a biiiig sleepover" she always knows how to make a bad situation a little better. "I'm not sure dad would approve of all the boys though" I said, trying to play along with the joke, but my voice sounded defeated. "what's got you all down in the dumps?" she asked. "it's just…I don't know if I'll ever make any friends" I said, letting the frustration of today known through my voice. "is this about that Weiss girl? Because if she hurt you in any way…." She trailed off, making her threat known. "no, no!" I said, angry at the thought of her being hurt "it's just…I didn't get to take my friends with me like you did, and I think me being younger will hinder any attempts at making new friends here"
Yang looked at me in deep thought. "don't let it bother you, there are plenty of friends here, you just haven't meet them yet" she said, her big sister attitude trying to make me feel better. It did make me feel better. "thanks sis" I hugged her, as we broke apart I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a figure emerge from a shadow. I stared at her for long enough that Yang noticed. "who's that?" she asked, shocking me out of staring. "I don't know. she belittled Weiss after I got yelled at, but she disappeared before I could say anything to her" I said.
"she stood up for you? I like her already" Yang said. 'yeah, if standing up for me means making someone else feel like a terrible person' I thought. But I couldn't say that, in Yang's eyes Weiss was harming me. Yang always gets tunnel vision when it comes to people she cares for being harmed. But I had a feeling Weiss wasn't trying to be mean to me. I felt she was, first off scared of whatever was in her bag being damaged, and secondly of me injuring myself. Of course this is just me guessing, it reality she could have just been mad at me. But no matter how hard I tried, what this mysterious person did, saving me from Weiss, she did so in a mean way.
"I say we go thank her, you said yourself you didn't get the chance to thank her right?" Yang said. 'no, I didn't. and I don't want to thank someone for being mean' I thought. But before I could say anything I was dragged up off the ground by Yang. "come on, this is your chance to make your first friend" Yang said with a sisterly pride. 'ughhh…this is not going to go well' I thought in dread
"helloooo!" Yang sang as she walked over to the girl in black, dragging me along with. "my name is Yang, this is my sister Ruby. She was telling me about how awesome it was when you saved her earlier today" 'I defently didn't put it that way' "what's your name?" Yang asked the woman. She was reading a book, and didn't even bother looking up at us. But that fact didn't deture Yang in the slightest "I like your bow, it matches your, errr, pajamas!" Yang said, her confidence wavering at the lack of input from the person she was trying to engage. At the bow comment the woman looked up "thanks, my name is Blake" was all she said. "that's a nice name Blake. Sooo, what you up too?" Yang asked she looked up from her book again "I was reading. This vary book" then paused, 'she probably wants to get back to reading, I should drag Yang away' I thought. "which I will get back to doing….as soon as you leave" Blake said, a little rudely, but it didn't feel like it was meant to hurt Yang. Just get her to go away.
Out of the corner of her mouth Yang said to me "yahhh, this girl is a lost cause" 'I know already. You're the one that forced me to come over here' I thought, but I still didn't say a word. I still wasn't sure if I could get along with this girl, maybe if we spent more time together. But based on your first meeting, and this, I wasn't sure. 'maybe I should try harder myself. She could just be bad at being social, just like me. I should try to talk to her about something she likes' I thought. "what's it about?" I asked. "what?" she said. Fair question, "your book, what's it about?" I clarified. She looked at me, this time she really tried to look at me with interest. "it's about a man who received a tattoo on his brain" she said. Yang butted in "that's… awesome" she said, her voice saying she was grossed out. I didn't really want to get into talking about that either. "I love books. Yang used to read to me every night. Story's about hero's who fight for Justice, and defeating the bad guys. It's one of the main reasons I wanted to become a huntress" I said.
"that's a nice dream" Blake told me "but sadly that's not how the real world works" I knew that, I knew that better than most. "but that's why we're here. To be that exception, to light up the darkness, to give people that sense of hope" I said, giving her a small taste of my life ambition. Before Blake could give me a response, Yang decided to tease me "awwww, that's my baby sister" she said, grabbing me in a bear hug. 'here I am trying to make a friend, like you asked. And you go and do this to embarrass me' I thought. Then as my annoyance I started play fighting her, which she eagerly fallowed me into. So we erupted into a ball of kicking and punching. Eventually tirering ourselves out and passing out asleep.
(the next morning) [Weiss pov]
I awoke long before the sun was ready to rise. I had planning to do, I searched through the new student files. Luckily Beacon allowed a small amount of information to be available to all students, about all students. I was searching for potential teammates. I didn't know if we were going to be allowed to choose our own, or if the most compatible of us would be matched together, but I was going to be prepared for everything.
I searched for a number of attributes. Firstly, I looked for grade point average from previous schools. At the top were Pyrrha Nikos, Lie Ren, Ruby Rose. 'interesting, this Ruby girl was top of her class, that explains her jump ahead Two years'. (A/N Weiss doesn't know who Ruby is at this moment) I was also interested in combat ability too, this was a hunter training school after all. As far as pure skill was concerned Lie Ren was at the top, followed by Yang Xiao Long, and Pyrrha. Lastly I was interested in tattoo/weapon mastery. To my surprise Ruby was number one, by a wide margin. Next was someone named Cardin Winchester, but that was based on the sheer number of tattoos he possessed, 76 in total. But ruby only possessed two, but the number of weapons she could use masterfully, was listed as "all", I didn't know if that was an error or not though.
So I made my choice in desired teammate. Pyrrha Nikos, the four-time Mistral combat tournament champion. She came from a high enough class of family that my father could complain too much, and she had a rare family heirloom tattoo, too bad the files didn't explain what that tattoo was. 'I guess I'll find out when she is my teammate' I thought. So now I was prepared, I set out for my next task. Clean my gear, my rapier was first. Myrtenaster, a silver alloy replica of the ancient Schnee weapon. It was, and is designed for the best broadcast device for activating complex [Glyphs]. But it requires a constant supply of raw dust to power. It has a chamber that allows me to select a different type of dust for any given situation. Normally I am restricted to ice Glyphs, because that is what dust is mixed with my tattoos. But with my sword I can use fire, lighting, and wind. All without putting my life in danger and using those elements in a tattoo.
By the time I was done, most of the new students were awake and getting ready for our initiation testing. I did my best to avoid everyone. I was still mad at myself for how I treated the girl in red yesterday, I didn't know how to apologize, and I knew if I tried it would only sound like I was yelling at her. So I just headed to the Cliffside and waited for whatever test the headmaster had planned to start. I didn't have to wait long, before I knew it, I was standing amongst a group of students, waiting for Glenda Goodwitch to give instructions.
"I would like to start out by addressing a lot of rumors floating around about teams. None of you have to worry about that, you will all receive teammates today" she paused, letting the shock in the students die down. Ozpin stepped forward then. "today's test will be held in the forever forest, you will be dropped off and make your way west whereupon you will find a relic, you and your teammate will only grab one between you. Then you will have to fight your way back here to the clifftop. I must warn you, the dangers you face are real, the staff will not step in to assist you. So prepare yourself, or you will die" he said. Glenda then spoke again "after you land, the first person you meet will become your teammate for the next four years. So choose wisely" and as an afterthought "don't die either"
One by one we were launched off the cliff by an air dust pad. Most students screamed in terror as they flew. I counted two with angel wing tattoos, they were able to fly all the way to the relic site, I assumed they also teamed up. next thing I knew I was launched into the air, falling into a Grimm infested forest. As I was flying, a yellow blur whizzed by me, going too fast to see. But I had to focus, I needed to land. I decided on the simplest method, using my Glyphs to make a plat form, then create them lower and lower, making a crude yet effective staircase. So I did just that. Now that I was on the forest floor, I needed to find Pyrrha, and also not get killed by a Grimm.
(Shadow cat) [Blake pov]
I landed in a small clearing, almost at the center of the Emerald forest. Looking up at the sun, I found the direction of west and headed off. I should activate my tattoos and walk there without disturbing any Grimm along the way. But the mental strain it took wasn't worth it right now. 'I hope my teammate doesn't ask about my past' I thought. Remembering the bad things, and the people I hurt. 'enough of that, you are here to make amends. Not fall into a pit of self-loathing' I told myself.
About a hundred yards from my landing site. I heard the distinctive sound of a shotgun. 'must be a student' I said pointing out the obvious. I activated my tattoos. An old habit from meeting new people, watch them then decide if they could be worth my time. My tattoos were specifically created for one purpose. Stealth, my body had been tattooed at a young age for a single purpose. I was meant to be an assassin, a spy, the person in the night who you look over your shoulder and hope not to see. My tattoos were a complete set of [hidden tattoos] two on each foot, on the bottom of them. It was a circle with an x crossing through it. They were meant to cancel the sound of my normal footsteps. Each of my breasts had a tattoo, a small circle with a line through it, those were used to make my breathing silent. Then there was a tattoo going around my neck. It felt like I was wearing a collar and I hated that feeling, but it also was painful by far the most painful tattoo of the set. Even today it gave me a dull ache from its activation. The one on my neck was the most important, it allowed me to appear as a shadow, but there had to be a shadow already present for me to blend in with.
When I use them I have to focus on each tattoo by its self, as well as what is going on around me. This is extremely hard on my brain. I was told if I used it too much, without the proper brainpower, the tattoos would start taking compensation from me, the first thing they took was the ability to speak, then day by day you would be driven insane by your own power. I was less than thrilled to learn about that, which is why I read so many books, I was stretching my mind. Giving it as much exercise as my body.
I took my training vary seriously, when someone interrupts it, I get snappy. As I made my way closer to the shotgun sounds, I saw a person who had just been on the receiving end of that vary attitude of mine. 'the older sister, Yang. I guess she is my partner. I don't see her fighting along with anybody else' I said to myself. As I left my shadow, a Grimm she was fighting, in hand to hand combat with, almost managed to take of her head. Luckily she ducked just in time. But she froze soon after, the Grimm looked at her in confusion, not understanding her lack of movement.
A single strand of long golden blond hair fell to the ground 'the Ursa must have missed her by a hair's with' I joked to myself. 'ughhh, why did I just make a joke so bad'. But before I could think anymore a massive wave of heat rolled over the clearing I was standing next too. Yang literally exploded in a ball of flames, her hair was rising and looking like it was on fire, her hands had a fire like glow, but her gauntlets were blocking whatever was glowing underneath. I watched as her eyes shift to red 'I should help, before she is consumed by her own anger' I said. I took out my sword and clipped it onto my pistol, the ribbon attached to my pistol was already wrapped around my wrist. I fired Gambol shroud, it launched itself like a boomerang at the Ursa, impaling the monster in the back, killing it with that single blow.
I stepped into the clearing, and walked up onto the downed Ursa, pulling out my gunblade I looked yang in the eyes. Confirming our status as teammates. "I totally had that" she said in a playful way. And just like that, her hair was back to normal, her arms weren't on fire, and her eyes were back to a beautiful shade of lilac. 'wait? What did I just think?' I asked myself.
(Ruby's friend?) [Ruby pov]
"BIRDY NOOOOO!" I screamed as I flew into, and killed a tiny baby Nevermore. But I had to land, so I put off my mourning till later. I took out my sweetheart. She was always there for my when I needed her. I shot a few explosive rounds in front of me, slowing my momentum. Then as I approached a thick enough tree, I hooked my scythe blade on it, spiraling down it and landing with a practiced ease. Then I took off running. This was my only use for my tattoo. I was fast. Faster than anything. But the pain I went through wasn't worth it, my past had a dark spot and these fast legs where all I got out of it.
My tattoo was an heirloom tattoo, given to me by my mother. The story of how I got it was still too painful to think about. But the tattoo itself was pretty straight forward, I could accelerate at near supersonic speeds. My legs were so ugly from what my tattoo looks like, solid black from my knees to the bottoms of my feet. With a wind dust crystal implanted into my Achilles tendon. It allowed me to run with great ease, but if I over exerted my legs, my Aura would shut down. Without Aura a huntress was useless, an easy kill for the weakest of Grimm 'stop thinking about the past!' I yelled at myself.
My mind was racing almost as fast as I was running 'who should I try to find? Yang? She is my sister, and she would be my best bet at making it through Beacon without having to meet many new people. But her grades suck. Oh, maybe Blake. She was mysterious, and she liked books. But I'm still not sure if I can get over her rudeness towards-' I was halted in my train of thought when a figure suddenly appeared in front of me. The down side to my great speed, is poor turning time. I had no choice but to slam into this person and hope they lived.
"owww" a girl voice said. "what is the matter with you? Can't you watch where you're going?" the voice asked, it sounded annoyed, yet vary familiar. I looked up at the girl. It was Weiss, standing already she looked over at me during the same moment. "hey, Weiss. I uhh. It's nice to see you" I said, failing to find the correct words. "I should at least know your name if we are to spend the next four years together?" she asked. 'fair point, I wasn't even aware she didn't know' "my name is Ruby Rose" Wiess' eyes widened at my words. "you-you're…but that's imposable" she said. "who else would I be?" I asked, confused as to why it was impossible for me to be me. "I just…." She started to say, but never continued. "I just want to say sorry. I know you said we might not be friends, but sense we are kind of stuck together now…. I would still like to be your friend" I said, my honestly was very evident in my words. Weiss looked away, hiding her face. But I heard a faint whisper in the wind "I don't see why not"
'yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes. I did it. I made a friend. Ha, in your face Yang. Saying I couldn't do it. Ha, ha-ha-ha' I celebrated in my head. Victory tasted oh so sweet. I was taken out of my mini party by the sound of a twig snapping. Me and Weiss looked to my left at the same moment. A set of glowing red eyes was looking at us from inside a shadow. 'Grimm'