Here is the partial rewrite, four months after promised. Not because I put four months of work into it, but because I was working on other things and didn't give this the 2-3 hours it deserved before now. Still not my greatest work but at least it's now consistent in writing style with the others.
Chapter 2: The Shining Beacon
The airship landed smoothly, attaching itself to the cliff with a click that resonated through the courtyard. Then its doors hissed open and students poured out in waves, spilling onto the cobblestones. Some shouted and cheered, others whispered, but all were excited to finally see the school for the first time.
Ruby and her sister stood to the side, watching the crowd. Groups of students meandered toward the main campus, while others were chatting, sitting on benches, or taking photos at the edge of the cliff.
Her new school brought both opportunity and concern. She would be training in teams, just like real huntsman did. While she couldn't deny that she wanted to work with others, it had just never worked out before. Everyone at Signal her age hadn't taken their work seriously, and everyone that did had been older than her.
"This is going to be the best year ever," Ruby said to no one in particular, and she meant it. "Yang, look at that!" Nearby two students were dueling, their broad-bladed spears twirling and stabbing with incredible speed.
"Oh no you don't!" Yang teased, yanking her sister away. "No more drooling over the latest flashy gadgets you laid your eyes on. Not until you make some friends, at least."
Ruby's voice went serious. "They're not gadgets, Yang. They're our weapons; they might as well be part of us. What's wrong with obsessing over them? And don't pretend like you're not partial to Ember Celica yourself."
"Nothing's wrong with obsessing. They're just not a substitute for real friends."
"Crescent Rose is not a substitute," she said, crossing her arms. "I have plenty of friends!"
"Who, exactly?" Yang teased.
Her face reddened. "I didn't say here! I only just arrived, you know. I'll get there after I learn to—" Her voice trailed off.
"Learn to what?"
"I don't know that yet Yang, that's why I'm here. You're one to talk about it, because if I remember you were never that crystal clear on why you wanted to become a huntress."
"Because I wanted to?"
Ruby puffed out her cheeks. "That's not a real answer."
"Maybe not, but it's good enough for me. I'll figure it out later. Bye, Ruby!" she said, then rushed off into the crowd. Her pleated coat swished behind her.
"Yang!" Ruby yelled in the direction she had gone. "Where do we go? What do we do? You can't just leave me already..."
A golden mane bobbed over the sea of heads. "Sorry sis!" she called back sarcastically. "Gotta see my friends! We'll catch up later!"
Ruby tried to follow, but a trolley got in the way and she rammed into it. Suitcases clattered to the ground and opened. A jar shattered, the dust inside dissipating into the air.
A white-haired girl stalked up to her. "What were you thinking?" she said, shaking the broken jar in her face, scattering dust everywhere. "Oh, don't even answer! You weren't thinking, that's what. Can't you watch where you're going?"
"Don't shake that near my nose!" said Ruby obliviously. "It's itchy."
"I will stop shaking it," she said, "When you apologize for breaking it. A jar of that size and purity costs more than a month of tuition here."
"Well then — how come you can afford it?"
"Because she's Weiss Schnee," someone said. "An heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, Remnant's largest miner, producer, and distributor of dust."
"At least someone recognizes me," said Weiss scornfully.
"I wasn't done. They're also infamous for undercutting competitors, signing special-interest deals with Atlas, and for their practice of abusing and underpaying Faunus."
"How dare you?" she hissed.
The girl in black merely shrugged, then turned and walked away. Ruby meant to snort, but her nose was still itchy and full of dust.
"Ahh-choo!" Ruby's sneeze ignited the fire dust, engulfing Weiss' head in a brief burst of flame.
"Screw you," snapped Weiss. "You immature, thoughtless brat!"
Brushing ashes from her face and dress, she stalked away toward the school. Ruby flopped down on the stones and breathed deeply. Her attempt at making friends was off to a horrible start.
"Hey!" someone said. "Are you okay? Ruby hurriedly sat up. It was the boy from the airship, who had deposited his lunch on Yang's shoes.
"Oh! No, um, I'm fine. Heh. I was just resting." Ruby took his hand and stood back up. He was wearing a patchwork of armor over a hoodie and jeans.
"So, what's, uh, your name?" he said.
"Oh! I'm Ruby. Nice to meet you. Weren't you the one that threw up earlier?"
He cringed at the mention of it. "Yeah. I feel pretty bad for that girl. I mean, I'd have offered to help her clean up, but that would've been sort of weird, and she probably wouldn't have wanted my help anyway." He turned to walk back toward the school.
"Don't worry. Yang won't hold it against you, once she cools off."
"Is that her name? Huh. I should at least apologize a little less lamely than I did. You know her, I guess?"
"She's my sister."
"I'll pretend I saw a resemblance."
Ruby didn't feel like explaining they had different moms. "We do look nothing alike," she said. They were nearing the courtyard when Ruby realized something.
"Hey! What's your name, Vomit Boy?" she said. "I'm guessing you don't want me calling you that."
He blushed. "The name's Jaune Arc. Rolls off the tongue, don't you think?
"Sure."
"It's very popular with the ladies."
"It is?"
Jaune couldn't tell if she was confused or just being sarcastic. "It will be," he amended. "I'm still working on it."
Ruby giggled. "I can tell."
Jaune realized the trap he had fallen into. "I didn't mean it like that," he stammered. "We're just being social, right?"
"Yeah….So, what kind of weapons do you use?" asked Ruby, trying to turn the conversation to a less awkward ground, "Because I have this."
She clicked Crescent Rose and it expanded into a scythe. Its blade struck the stone tiles with a thud.
Jaune jumped backward a step. "Woah. It's huge! And the color matches your outfit and everything. I've never seen a scythe user before."
"It's also a customizable, high-velocity sniper rifle."
"A what?"
"It's also a gun."
"Well, I can't really top that, but I do have this sword," said Jaune, pulling out a simple steel sword with a blue leather grip, "and this shield." The shield was white with a gold rim and had a crest in the middle in the shape of two golden half circles.
"That's cool!" said Ruby.
"You don't have to be nice. It's just so simple compared to yours."
"Don't say that, Jaune. A weapon is all about functionality. I just really, really, overdesigned mine. Yang even says I have a weapons fetish – actually, uh, never mind about that. So, what's special about your sword and shield? And where'd you get them?"
Jaune was unsure of what to say, having never been asked so much about his weapons before. "The sword is just a sword, and the shield collapses, so when I get tired of using it, I can just—" he clicked the shield, and it folded inward on itself, forming a scabbard. "—and where I got them? They were a family heirloom. My great-great-grandfather's, apparently. He fought with them in the Great War."
"That's quite a history."
Jaune looked down at his shoes. "Yeah. It's a lot to live up to."
"Hey, where are we going, anyway?"
"Don't look at me."
"Wait where are we? Isn't there an orientation starting?"
"I think we should probably find it."
"You think?"
Ruby and Jaune entered the auditorium late, just as Professor Ozpin was stepping up to the podium.
"Ruby!" shouted Yang from the front row. "Over here!"
"Sorry Jaune," said Ruby, "I'll see you later, OK? I'm coming, Yang!"
"I'll keep this brief," began Ozpin. "Today you are here because…."
Jaune was proud at how little he'd embarrassed himself. Most girls were just so quiet, or bitchy, or whatever, and he'd struggled to deal with them. But the conversation with Ruby had gone so smoothly. Although he hated to admit it, that was likely a product of her friendly and trusting nature and not his social prowess. He still had a long way to go there.
"–and that brings me to the end of my speech," said Ozpin. "But hold on just a moment. I have some important information. If you're a returning student, you should go find your team and check into your dorm. You can pick up keys from the student office. New students, all of you will be staying in the South Wing for tonight. Your initiation is tomorrow. Take this time to find a locker for your gear and get to know your fellow students. Thank you."
The crowd dispersed through the school, looking for their teams and lockers.
"So how did your first dig go, Ruby?" Yang said.
"He's not a dig," she countered.
"Uh huh. Well, did you meet anyone else?" She was just a little curious about the sort of people her sister gravitated to.
Ruby shuddered as she remembered what had happened earlier. "Sort of. I tripped over this rich girl's bags, and then she yelled at me, but I deserved it because I broke her stuff, and then I burned her, and–"
"You," snarled Weiss, who had crept up behind them, "still haven't apologized to me, you sniveling little shit."
"I was going to! What was I supposed to do? You left before I could." Ruby realized she was tearing up a little and quickly wiped it away.
"Woah. Calm down," said Yang. "Didn't realize it was this bad. Who are you?"
"Weiss. Weiss Schnee," she said, sneering in satisfaction.
"OK Weiss Schnee, don't call my sister a little shit. And Ruby – don't burn people. I think that part's obvious."
"But she shook fire dust in my face!"
"Only because you broke the jar," Weiss snapped.
"That's enough," said Yang, "argument over. Why don't you two forget that, pretend you never met, and try to be friends? Or at least not enemies."
"Alright then... Hiya! I'm Ruby! Do you wanna hang out?"
"Oh my gosh yes!" Weiss' voice dripped with venomous sarcasm. "We can go shopping for school clothes, and talk about all the cutest boys. Like tall, blond, and... scraggly over there. He's such a wimp." She gestured to Jaune, who was walking by.
"Don't talk about my friend like that," said Ruby.
"Oh, you're friends with that loser? Forget this, I'm leaving." Weiss stomped away, heels grinding into the smooth-worn floor.
Jaune squeaked in in Weiss's place. "Sooo," he asked with comical suaveness, "who was that?"
Ruby and Yang rolled their eyes simultaneously. "Weiss Schnee," they said.
"She's beautiful."
The girls rolled their eyes again. "What?" asked Jaune. "You think she's — out of my league or something?"
"Absolutely," Yang said, "but you have other obstacles, such as her being a stuck-up jerk with a chilly personality. Also she hates you."
"She's pretty mean," Ruby added.
"Weiss has obviously never experienced true love, never found a person who cared enough to look past her icy shell. I, Jaune Arc, will be the one to melt her frozen heart, free her from the curse of solitude, and bring her to warm hearth of passion for all eternity."
"You done?" asked Yang.
Ruby giggled. "'Warm hearth of passion'?"
"I'd roll my eyes again," said Yang, "but I've already used my quota."
Jaune feigned surprise. "I'll have you know, poetry is one of my many talents."
"So Mr. Arc," asked Yang, "What are your ambitions? Other than rhyming couplets and slayin' it with the ladies."
"I want to be a hero. A respected one, like my great-great-grandfather, or even my dad. I don't care what kind, but someone selfless and strong. Someone who protects others, instead of relying on them all the time.."
"Seems like you're in the right place," joked Yang.
"I'm kind of the same," said Ruby. "Yang read me so many stories about brave hunters and huntresses fighting Grimm and saving people, what else would I want to be?"
Yang laughed. "Y'all are motivated. I just want to have fun, and this just lined up with that so that's what I did. Being respected and helping people is just a bonus."
Jaune began to walk away. "I'll catch you all later. You two down for joining Team Arc?"
"You wish," teased Yang. "See you later."
"Bye Jaune!" Ruby called.
Ruby snaked through the raucous crowd, dodging flying pillows and shirtless boys wrestling around the tables. I'm the youngest one here, she thought. Why do I feel like I'm the only one taking it seriously?
Setting down her sleeping bag in the corner, she pulled out some paper. Writing to her friends via scroll was easier, but a letter would be a lot cooler. Especially on her new paper. Earlier in the day, she had gotten her hands on some official Beacon Academy stationery, perfect for pacifying her over eager classmates back at Signal.
Yang flopped down next to her. "Whatcha' writing?" she asked energetically.
"I'm just writing the gang at Signal. They want to know what's happening."
"Cool. When you're done there's a pillow fight going on."
"Uggh. Isn't there anyone here besides me who wants to be quiet? Why won't people just talk or sleep or something?"
"Everyone's too excited for initiation to sleep. Hey, she's being quiet." She gestured to a black-haired girl reading nearby.
"Oh! I met her — well, sort of. She got Weiss off of me after our little, you know, fight, but she left before I could say anything."
"Now's your chance! Go and say thank you, or something." The girl had claimed the only armchair in the room. She was wearing a plain black nightgown and had an upright bow in her hair; she reading a thick leather book with decided interest.
"She looks busy," complained Ruby.
Yang grabbed her arm and began dragging her toward the armchair. "Nah. Come on, I'll go with you."
The girl's eyes didn't waver from her book even as Yang deposited a protesting Ruby on the ground in front of her.
"Helloo!" she announced. "Ruby here has something to tell you."
Amber slits peered over the top of the book with a hint of annoyance. "Yes?" she said.
"I just wanted to say thank you," Ruby said.
"For what?"
"Well, earlier, you kinda saved me from Weiss. Even if you didn't mean to."
"You're welcome." Her eyes flickered back down to the page.
"Oh," said Ruby as if she'd expected something more. "What's your name?"
"Blake," she said without looking up.
"Nice night, don't you think?" Yang interjected, playing with her hair.
I can't believe this, Blake thought. How thick is she? Do I need to spell it out that I have zero interest in this conversation? "Yes," she answered. "I'm enjoying it by reading my book. Well, I was enjoying it."
"Alright Ruby," whispered Yang. "Good on you for trying, but she obviously doesn't want to talk right now. You change your mind about that pillow fight?"
Ruby ignored her. "What's it about?" she said.
Blake seemed surprised. "Sorry?"
"What book is it?"
She closed the cover. The Stran– was all that was visible of the title. "It's about a man with two souls," she said, "each fighting for control over his body."
"Do you like books?"
"You could say that."
"Why?"
"People like books for a lot of reasons. They want to learn or experience something impossible outside of one. Or, if your own life is miserable, a book can be a place for you that isn't as bad."
"Is that why you like them?"
She didn't answer.
"Sorry," said Ruby, "That was kinda rude. It's just that — I love books too. The stories with the selfless heroes saving the world were so cool! They inspired me to start my training. I wanted to be just like them."
"That's admirable. Those stories are inspiring, and fun to read, but life just isn't that simple. There's no such thing as only good or only evil, and no hero is completely selfless. You can't save the world, just make it more safe for a while."
"But we can try, can't we?"
"We can try."
"You know," said Ruby, "You're a lot nicer than you seem."
"Thanks."
She is so naïve, Blake thought. But not insincere. She really wants to do good. I wonder how long it will be before she learns what the world's really about.
"I got you!" a voice said. Yang whacked Ruby to the ground with a circular pillow. Ruby grabbed her legs in retaliation, and within a few seconds, they were full-on brawling on the floor.
Blake's mouth curled just enough to call it a smile, had anyone been looking. At least someone is having fun. She returned to her book in a very different state of mind than she had left it.
Thanks for reading. Since this is a rewrite the next chapter is already up.