Chapter 3
The Shining Beacon
The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
H. P. Lovecraft
Docks of Beacon Academy
"Finally we are here!" Yang yelled in joy, when she and her siblings finally came out of the bullhead, while 'Vomit Boy' passed them again and puked into a trash can.
"Yes, I can't wait for the action!" Mikhail smiled, the first step for his dream was done, and better in this school, he can finally fight others, with different weapons and fighting styles. He could prove his family that he is capable to fight and look after himself he could…."Yang stop pinching my cheek…"
"Nope!" She said it, while popping the 'p' "Like I said before, you are right now under Yang watch, and that means no flirting with girls, no fighting and if there is some danger you step behind me, clear?"
He looked deadpanned at her "Nope!"
"You know, Dad said that you are under 'probation' if something happens, I should send you home."
"Okay seriously, why can't you both stop bothering me, about becoming a Huntsman?"
"Well, duh, we are your family"
"Then why can't you trust me more!?"
"Because you are too reckless!" Yang answered her brother in a harsh tone.
Mikhail scoffed and rolled his eyes; he turned around and tried to walk away. But Yang gripped his hand and glared at him "Where are you going?" Her voice turned even harsher.
"To the only one in our family who supports me with my dream, right Ruuu…okay where is Ruby?"
Both blondes looked around, they couldn't see Ruby anywhere.
The siblings sighed and shook their heads.
"She is probably swooning over weapons from the other students." A smile formed on his lips and he noticed a grin from Yang "What?"
"Why don't you do it, too? Aren't you also a weapon maniac like Rubes?"
"Okay, first," He put a hand on his hips and raised his forefinger "Unlike Ruby, I am a 'weapon enthusiast' and second, unlike our oversized puppy in red and black and you I respect the private sphere and personal space of other people and third I have myself under control."
Yang looked again, while smiling brazenly "Says the one who loves cuddling more than everything."
"You know what?" Mikhail scowled "You suck!"
Yang's eyes widened and she grabbed the left side of her chest and touched her forehead with the back of her other hand, while posing melodramatically "Oh such harsh words, how I miss the days of my cute baby brother, who loved to cuddle with me and always played with my hair! It hurts, oh the pai…uf!" She was punched on her sides and glared at her brother. "Pain..."
"Your acting is almost bad as your puns ….uf!" She punched him back.
"My puns are great! Take it back!"
"Nope!"
Yang and Mikhail took a battle stance and before they could start a brawl, the sound of a loud bang could be heard, not far away. *BOOM*
Both siblings turned around and looked at each other.
"Ruby?" Yang asked the obvious.
"Well, it wasn't me; yup it must be her…"
"Let's yang to the bang!" The girl began to run towards were the bang was, while Mikhail rolled his eyes, because of the new bad pun.
Before he could start to move, two strong and yet soft hand covered his eyes and a wonderful and familiar scent filled his nostrils.
"Who am I~?" The voice of the person behind him was female.
He smiled and took the hands and held them "Pyrrah..ah..Pyrrah!?" He turned around saw his old friend Pyrrah Nikos. And what he saw surprised him.
Before him, stood a beautiful woman, with red hair and wonderful green eyes. This was Pyrrah Nikos.
She wore a top consisted of two layers. The top layer was a light-brown, strapless top split divided vertically with some bronze patterns. Made from a piece of leather or metal armor as it appeared to be quite stiff, maintaining its shape without support; this layer also seemed to have some kind of riveting or small, round embroidery on the sides, which may also be heavy stitched. The bottom layer was a low bronze V-neck. Pyrrha also wore an elastic, red, A-line miniskirt and brown cut-off sleeves on both arms. She wore a red ankle-length drapery that appeared to be wrapped around her skirt.
There was a small circular bronze plate by her right hip opposite two pouches with both connected to a belt. The plate bore her "shield and spear" emblem. She wore a bronze circlet headpiece that could be seen above her ear and under her bangs. A pair of small, green, teardrop-shaped emeralds hung from her circlet on thin chains. She also sported a large bronze gorget around her neck, and a bronze bracelet on the upper half of her left arm.
"What," She tilted her head "Cat got your tongue?" And smiled at him.
"No, eh…" Mikhail was speechless; he didn't see Pyrrah in person for one year. After their first match, which ended in a stalemate, they became good friends, who sparred often with each other. But, because she lived in Mistral and he lived on an island in Patch, they held contact with each other through their scrolls. But right now he could see how beautiful and mature she has become. He stormed at her, hugged and lifted her up "Hi, did you miss me?"
Pyrrah giggled "Of course I did!" He put her down and looked at her.
"You more beautiful than ever…" With a voice of sincerity he complimented her and it was effective, she blushed slightly, while rubbing the back of her head.
"You became more handsome and taller." She came closer to him "One year ago, you were smaller than me and now we are the same."
"In my defense, you were and still are taller than other women."
She giggled again.
After some seconds both of them looked softly at each other and then hugged again, but in a softer way.
"I am glad to see you Pyrrah."
"Me, too… Mikhail."
Mikhail really liked Pyrrah and she really liked Mikhail. Both of them were in the same situation.
They strived to become stronger, looking for better enemies, and yet they also felt the drawbacks of their strength and talents.
Almost no one, wanted to fight with them, or treated them normal. She was the 'Invincible Girl' and he was 'Patch's Grimm Reaper'. But unlike him, Pyrrah hadn't any siblings; she was lonelier than Mikhail.
But then…..fate decided to screw with him, like everytime…
"Ahem, excuse me!?" A female voice interrupted them and Mikhail knew that voice.
He turned around and his snow-white skin lost every color it still had, when he saw an angry Yang standing behind him, while tapping her foot.
Yang huffed and separated them. She glared at Pyrrah and rose an eyebrow "So Miss Tall, Toned and Older, what are you doing with my little brother?" Great she was now in her 'Watcher Mode'.
Pyrrah looked between the panicked Mikhail and the angry Yang and smiled "My name is Pyrrah Nikos, I am a good friend of Mikhail," Yang, frowned and turned around to look at Mikhail, who broke the eye contact. She turned again around and continued to glare at the red-haired girl "You must be his older sister Yang; Mikhail told me many things about you."
She raised her hand for a handshake, but she was ignored and turned again around "Did he…? Yang looked back at Pyrrah and eyed her "Unfortunately he didn't tell me about you…" She muttered the last sentence, so that no one could hear, no one but Mikhail…
"Is…something the matter?" The red-haired girl tilted her head.
"Are you dating my brother?"
"Yang!?" Mikhail yelled in shock, while Pyrrah's face became red as her hair.
"Shut it, Mike! So are dating my brother!?" Yang's tone had taken a considerable drop as she kept her eyes on Pyrrah.
"No, we…are….we are just friends….." She shook her hands and looked down; that was really hard for her, to say.
But Yang wasn't dumb and crossed her arms "Good, he is too young to date someone, especially when that someone is older than him….
Mikhail palmed his face, yet again, Watcher Yang was in action.
Meanwhile Pyrrah finally understood it. Mikhail always said that his sister was overprotective, but she didn't believe him, until now.
"Look, I know that I don't have a right to say something, but Mikhail is old enough to make such decisions…is also a good fighter, I never saw someone….."
"Yes you have no right to say anything," Yang leaned her head back "He is too young for such things, and for those championships he participated; I also don't and never approve of them."
"But…"
"No buts, he is my little baby brother and I will prevent everything that could harm him." Yang made her point 'I don't want to lose him….I almost lost him twice….'
Mikhail had now enough "Okay sis, that's it, can I not have even one female friend!?
When Pyrrah heard the word friend from him, she frowned. Yes she wanted to be more than friends with Mikhail, but now she should back off a little bit…"Mikhail, I think, I should go, I see you later."
He smiled, a little bit sadly and nodded "Kay, see you later."
She walked away while smiling and waving at him and it helped him to cheer a little bit up.
When she couldn't be seen anymore, Mikhail turned around and glared at Yang "Are you proud of yourself!"
Yang flinched and looked away.
Mikhail scowl hardened for second and then vanished. He sighed and crossed his arms.
"I will not apologize, I only did what I thought was best for you…."
"I know, Yang." His face softened and he smiled at her, his anger didn't last long.
Now Yang frowned.
"You are just worried about me, I understand it, but please have some confidence in me."
Yang didn't say anything but thought something 'Because of this, too, you forgive someone so quick…'
"By the way," He looked around "Did you found Ruby?"
Yang also looked around "Yes, she was right behind me…"
"I am here…"
Both blonde turned around and saw how her sister came out from a bush, she looked really frightened.
Mikhail's eyes widened when he could smell dust on Ruby, besides the smell of cookies, strawberries and whipped cream "Okay, who did you blew up?"
Yang snorted and tried not laugh.
Ruby glared at their older sister "I didn't…okay I really blew someone up, but it was not my fault, okay!" She huffed. "I also hid myself sometimes on the way here, because I don't want to meet her…..
"Okay, so tell me what happened?"
"Well," She looked down and put her forefingers together.
'She is so cute!' Yang and Mikhail thought.
"When I was looking at the weapons of other students, I didn't pay attention and tripped over some crabby girl's luggage and then she started to yell at me."
"Okay, then why do you have the scent of dust on you?"
"When I tripped over her luggage, some dust vials rolled around, she picked them up, said really mean things to me and shook them before my nose. I think they opened a little bit, while rolling around. When it came in contact with me, I sneezed and then there was some fire, ice and I think some lighting…."
Mikhail quirked an eyebrow and looked at Yang who shrugged with her shoulders "Okay that would explain why I can smell different kinds of dust on you, but who is so dumb to shake open vials with different kinds of dust around. This is simply dangerous…." Both his sisters looked at him with deadpanned eyes "Okay at least, I don't blow people up, because I throw a tantrum!"
"Riiiiiight, so Rubes you are alright?"
"No, she continued to yell at me, and I feel really bad, and I just wanted her to stop…." She sighed "I think that white-haired girl was right…."
'Wait, white haired girl with different sorts of dust…it can't be…' Mikhail thought.
"What do you mean little sis?"
"I guess I am not ready….." Ruby was again depressed…
"Fiddlesticks, Ruby, people also said that you can't overdose on aspirin, but guess what!"
"Yeah…wait, what!?" Mikhail looked at his oldest sister with a strange sort of look, while she smiled back. He shook his head "What our dear sister wants to say, Ruby, is that you shouldn't already throw the towel, come on, don't you want to become a Huntress?"
"Of course, it is my dream!"
"Then have some confidence!"
"Yes!" Ruby made a fist of confidence threw it up the air.
"Good," Mikhail grabbed something from his pockets and gave it to Ruby "Here is a cookie."
"Cookie!" Ruby chirped in joy and devoured the sweet in less than a second, while Yang and Mikhail looked at each and tried not to break down in laughter from their sister's antics.
'Like a puppy.' Both of them thought the same thing.
XXX
Before Beacon
The sibling trio finally arrived before the entrance of Beacon, and they were speechless.
"Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww!" 3x
'That Academy is even bigger than my castle, back in Midgard…' Mikhail couldn't help but being astonished, sure his castle was big, but wow….
Yang put her hands around the shoulders of her siblings "The view from Vale's got nothing on this, don't cha think, guys?"
"Yeah, sis."
"Right!"
Yang walked forward "Let's go!"
"Wait?"
"Yeah, Mike?"
"Aren't you going with your friends?" Mikhail hoped that, his sister would drop them, so that he had so time for himself and for Ruby. He knew that she would get lost, and walking around while fuming, where she is. He linked his arm with Ruby's "You can go if you want."
Ruby smiled, the only one in this family who wouldn't ditch her, and also give her sweets whenever he can, best brother ever!
Yang raised an eyebrow "Nope, sorry little brother, I will go with." She ditched her friends, only to for the reason to look over Mikhail. If it would have been only Ruby, she would do it, Ruby is fine, she could take it being alone…maybe. But he didn't want that Mikhail meets Miss Tall, Toned and Older or rather other older girls that could use him.
"*Sigh*, okay…."
"Haha, sorry little bro!" "She smiled mockingly "I will not let you go, now forward!" She gripped the hands of her younger siblings and stormed into Beacon.
XXX
Amphitheater
"Ah, finally, we arrived!" Yang chirped in happiness "So…ups…." She looked back to her siblings, only to see them lying on the ground, while she had their wrists tightly gripped.
"Ouch…" Mikhail groaned.
"My knees…normal knees…." Ruby winced in pain.
"Sorry, guys, now get up!" She jerked them up and dusted them.
"Okay, seriously sis, what did I say about dragging other people!?"
"Pssh, come on Mike, don't be so…"
"Yang, he is right, ouch….." Ruby rubbed her elbow, in pain.
"You guys should train more."
"Oh shut up, sis…" He looked at Ruby and took another handkerchief out, to clean her face.
"And I thought the day can't be worse anymore…thanks" Ruby sighed, but life can be sometimes a bitch.
Behind her was, right now, a white haired girl who glared daggers at her.
"You!" The girl shouted, while pointing at Ruby.
"Oh god! Not again!" The scythe-wielding girl jumped in the arms of her brother, who looked somehow, torn.
'Great, it's Winter's sister…' Mikhail groaned in his thoughts, he had already the honor of making meeting Winter, and he also heard, that her little sister, could be rather handful, more than her….'Every Schnee is somehow, handful, but at least they are not like their asshole of father….' He looked at her.
Weiss was young girl, dressed primarily in light blue, white, and some red. She wore a pale blue bolero jacket over a similarly colored thigh-length dress with a piece of black lace making up the neckline of the dress. The inside of the bolero was red and the sleeves turned blue as they got closer to her wrists. The back of the bolero displayed the Schnee Crest, which bore a resemblance to a snowflake.
Weiss also wore an apple-shaped necklace along with a pair of thin, rectangular earrings. She had white, heeled wedge boots that go to mid-calf; the insides were also lined with red. Her long white hair is pulled back in an off-center ponytail, at the base of which was a small tiara that resembles icicles. She had a pale complexion and ice blue eyes. She also bore a crooked scar down her left eye.
Mikhail became suddenly sad, when he looked at her, she reminded him of…..Zero…..
Meanwhile Ruby jumped off from his arms and tried to apologize again.
But Weiss didn't let go "You're lucky we weren't blown off the side off the cliff!"
"It was an accident, an accident!" She tried to reason…
"You..." Before Weiss could say anything, Mikhail moved between them.
"Okay first, enough with this, Ruby didn't do anything wrong."
"But!"
"In first place!" His voice became louder, while his sister looked at him astonished. Mikhail was a soft guy who never raised his voice often, but when he does it….…doesn't end well….."Who shakes open vials filled with different kinds of dust around?"
"How dare you to speak…..oh my god it is you!" Weiss with shock pointed at Mikhail.
"Yes, it is me, Mikhail…" The younger twin said deadpanned.
While his sister looked at each other and shrugged.
"Yes, I mean, you are Mikhail Rose, Winner of the last Mistral Championship Tournament, the one who had a stalemate and a victory against Pyrrah Nikos, 'The Reaper of Patch'! You are one of the strongest in our generation!"
Yang frowned, her brother, one of the strongest of this generation? Well she knew that like their sister, he had a knack with weapons, not as much as her. She shook her head, for her, Mikhail was her little baby brother, who loves to read, draw, to sing and to cook. Instead of a warrior she could only see a boy, who loved to cuddle with her when he was younger, played with her and Ruby's hair and sang them a lullaby when they couldn't sleep.
"You know me?"
"Of course!" She huffed "Who wouldn't!? I saw you fighting on your second championship, my sister also told me about you.
"Yeah, every month, I receive a letter from the Schnee Dust Company, that I should work for Atlas Military…."
"Wait what!" Yang was now not amused. A job offer from the Schnee Dust Company, Atlas and who the fuck is Winter, another woman!?
"Mikhail, how do you know that crabby girl?" Ruby asked her brother, while pointed behind her at Weiss.
"Excuse me!?" Yelled the heiress
"Eep!" His older twin shrieked and hid behind him.
While Yang gripped his shoulder and smiled at him "Yeah, where do you know, Princess?"
"Wait what, did you just call me Princess!? I am an heiress!"
The boy rolled his eyes and parted from his sister "Stop. Can I finally explain, first, your name is Weiss, yes?"
"Of course!"
"Nice to meet you, Miss Weiss." He extended his hand and Weiss took it to shake.
"Finally someone with manners, by the way, you can call me Weiss, pleased to meet you, in person, Mikhail Rose."
"Me, too than first these are my sisters." He pointed at them and what did Weiss? Her mouth was wide open.
"Your sisters!?" Seriously first Junior and now she, why was everyone surprised, that he has sisters?
"Yep, the blonde is my older sister Yang."
"Hey Princess!" She raised a hand for a greeting.
"Don't call me that, you dunce! I am an heiress!"
He coughed and pointed at his twin "And that quirky girl,"
"Hey!"
"Is my older twin sister Ruby, Ruby Rose…but it seems you already know each other…"
"H-hey…" She hid behind her brother and greeted Weiss.
Weiss palmed her face. The first person she met was this girl who blew her up. And now that girl is the twin of one of the two persons, who are in this school and are on her level. She looked between him and her. Now she knew why that girl looked so familiar, they had the same face; their hairstyle was almost the same like him. She had also silver eyes, well he had only one….She heard from Winter, that Pyrrah Nikos and Mikhail Rose are going to this school, which hardened her resolve, to visit Beacon, even more , and if her sister speaks highly of someone, which was really rare, than she really needed to team up with him.
"So how did you meet this Winter chic?" He could feel Yang's anger rising up and his frustration even so….
"Hey don't speak about my sister like that, you imbecile!"
"Ok sorry, sorry…" She raised her hands.
Weiss glared at her and Mikhail pinched the bridge of his nose "Can I continue please, thank you. So, I met her sister when I participated on my first championship in Mistral."
Winter was someone, who was really prideful. When she met Mikhail in accompany of his Uncle; and she really loathes him, thought that he would be the same as him.
She was pleasantly surprised, how polite Mikhail was, on the contrary of his uncle. He always needed to apologize, many times, for his uncle's behavior.
"Okay." Yang said.
"So, in my fight with Pyrrah,"
"You mean Miss Tall, Toned and Older?"
Mikhail raised his eyebrow, while Ruby tilted her head in confusion, who is Miss Tall, Toned and Older? Meanwhile Weiss was shaking her head. Were those girls really the siblings of the famous Mikhail Rose, the Reaper of Patch, one of the greatest fighters besides Pyrrah Nikos?
"Yeah, but I call her Pyrrah, because she is my friend."
Yang narrowed her eyes, while Ruby looked even more confused. Her brother has a friend, she never met? She spent almost her entire free time with him; her brother was her best friend. She always hated it, when he was gone, training without her, or going together with their Uncle Qrow to the Championships or somewhere else. She hated also the fact, that he had secrets from her, even though Mikhail knows everything about her! And the fact, that he ditched her because of some girls, irked her still, even today.
"So, there were also many celebrities and high ranking people watching"
He tried to be polite, he also admitted it. He hated the Schnee Dust Company and General Ironwoods, much to his uncle's delight. But that doesn't mean he hated Winter and Weiss, they were just deluded by their jackass of father. The sisters were a victim of his racism and greed of gain. How can that man, could even stand himself, for looking down on a race like they were vermin. But 90 % of Atlas' high class was the same.
Mikhail smiled when he thought about those years back. Zero Rose and Crescent Rose were built on that time. But those two completed themselves as weapon developer. While Mikhail is good at the design and planning the weapon, Ruby was much better in building and the details. Mikhail tested them, and if there are some minor flaws, both twins worked together, to make the weapon perfect. Ruby was better in engineering than her brother. She had many invitations from companies.
"Then may I ask?" The heiress looked at him "Why didn't you take the offer of my family to work for us or join Atlas?"
"The same reason you probably have?" There was also the fact that he hates the Schnee Dust Company.
"W-what?"
"Like me who wants to be a Huntsman you want to become a Huntress am I right?"
Weiss sighed "My sister told you, didn't she?"
"No, I could see it in your eyes, they show your resolve." He looked her directly in hers ice-blue eyes; shortly she broke the eye contact. Oh the joys of having thousands of years full of experience…
"Y-yes you are right…
"So," Ruby slowly pulled away from Mikhail "Friends?"
Weiss looked deadpanned at Ruby "Oh yes," Her voice became sarcastic "Of course! Let us paint our nails, go shopping and talk about cute little boys like tall, blonde and scraggly over there." She said all things while smiling and pointed behind 'Vomit Boy' who perked up at the comment.
Ruby smiled "Oh wow really!?"
'Sis, that was sarcasm…' He facepalmed.
Weiss glared and said a big "NO!"
But Yang had enough "So enough of this chit-chat, why don't you go there and let us in peace, kush!" She waved away with her hand.
But the heiress looked angry at her and huffed; she turned around to Mikhail and waved him. 'I try later to speak with him, seriously how can someone like him be related to such buffoons!?'
"So finally the Ice Queen is gone," She turned around and glared at her brother "And you!"
"Me!?" He pointed at himself.
"Yeah, we will talk what about happened in those tournaments."
"Okay, sure…" He shrugged and smiled.
"And you will tell me all about those chic, Winter and Pyrrah."
'Okay, I am screwed…' He looked for help at Ruby, who silently sneaked away and now stood now beside Yang.
"Yeah, little bro, you will tell us all about them!" She accusingly pointed her finger at him, too. Ruby didn't it do it, because she was jealous or angry, okay maybe a little. She also did it for fun, too…
'Traitor! My own twin!'
"Ahem!" All siblings looked simultaneously up, to the stage. Ozpin started his speech, while Glynda stood behind him. "I keep this brief." He adjusted his glasses "You have traveled here today in search for knowledge."
'Already have too much of that, little boy…..but for some things, knowledge can only carry you so far.' Mikhail smirked.
What? Mikhail was so old that he couldn't even remember his age anymore. For dragon standards he was ancient.
But back to Ozpin….
"To hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction.
Now Mikhail smiled 'It seems I found my counterpart in this world….' He continued to listen.
"You assume knowledge will free you of this but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far.
Ruby and Yang frowned, while Mikhail was happy. He couldn't wait to have conversations with Ozpin.
"It is up to you to take the first step." Ozpin then looked directly at Mikhail, while he crossed his arms and nodded "But it seems, some of you already did it." Then he walked away.
'What was that? That wasn't planned?' Glynda looked to the direction where Ozpin looked at and he was looking at Mikhail. She narrowed her eyes and adjusted her glasses and then walked to the microphone. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation will begins. Be ready. You are dismissed!
Yang sighed and put her hand on her waist "He seemed kind of off, almost like he wasn't there.
"Yes, right Mikhail?" Ruby asked while bending her head towards her twin, Yang also looked at him. But both girls were surprised, when they saw Mikhail in a thinking pose.
"Earth to Mike!" Yang yelled.
"What, oh ehm, sorry I was thinking." He shook his head and looked at both of his sisters, who blinked at each other and turned their eyes back to the male blonde.
"Mike, are you alright?"
"Of course Yang, why not?"
"Because you had that gaze again…"
"Yeah, sorry, I just thought about the thinks Ozpin said." He shrugged, closed his eyes and sighed "Nevermind." Mikhail felt a hand on his head and opened them. Before him was Ruby who patted his head and smiled.
Meanwhile Yang was behind them and wrapped her arms around her siblings "Come on let's go!"
XXX
Later at night.
It was already in the middle of the night. The ballroom of Beacon was used as a sleeping hall, regardless of the mixed genders. This was a first step to become a Huntsman or Huntress. There is a possibility that you are in a team with girls or boy.
Ruby was currently in her pajamas. They consisted of a black tank top with a heart-shaped Beowolf design on the chest and white long pants with pink roses as decoration.
She also wore a black sleeping mask with triangular red eyes on her head.
But her concentration was broken when Yang jumped on her own sleeping bag.
She also wore her night clothes. Yang's pajamas were an orange tank top with her flame emblem on the front, and black boy shorts.
"What's that?" She asked sister before grimacing, when she saw a familiar blonde boy, in blue full-body pajamas with blue bunny slippers and a white bunny face on its chest, walking around.
"Ah, a letter to the gang back in Signal. I and Mikhail promised them to tell them all about Beacon and how things are going." She smiled.
While Yang had a wide grin "Aww, that's so sweet….Of!" A pillow, thrown in courtesy of Ruby, met her face.
"Shut up!"
"Come on Ruby, at least Mike is here with you, so brightened up."
Ruby's angry face vanished and was replaced by a smiling one "Yeah, you're right." Her best friend and brother was here, so everything's fine.
"But Ruby, you should still look for friends, I mean….."
"Yaaaaaaaang…"
"Okay, okay. By the way," Yang looked around "Where is Mike?"
Ruby was now in a tailor seat "He is still in the shower."
"Pssh, man it is dumb that the showers are divided."
"Yeah." Ruby agreed.
Yes, the three siblings still took, even as teenagers, showers and baths together. All three of them loved a good shower and bath. And their home had a big one, enough for the three.
"Well, I hope nobody peeks on him." She honestly hoped, since they were here, she, Ruby and Mikhail was ogled by others and now, boys played with their muscles before them.
"I don't think Dad would approve of the boys here." Ruby rolled her eyes at the bragging males.
"And the girls, too…" Yang said. One of their father's greatest fears was when Mikhail would get a girl or girls pregnant. He sued their uncle because of it. He was a bad influence, for the youngest member of the family.
Mikhail often trained with their uncle and sometimes went with him somewhere. He was like their uncle a womanizer. Well Qrow was a notorious one, while their brother was a natural one. But one of the sorts, who don't know that he, is one.
Shortly, Mikhail was a little bit dense…but that was his charm, what gave him more points by older women.
"Well, whatever." Yang shrugged and took a book out under her pillow and started to read it.
Ruby saw it and scowled "Eww, gross! I can't believe you are reading that smut."
"Hey, it is not smut! Grand Light of Antiquity, from Michael Peyt is an awesome book!"
Ruby looked deadpanned at her sister "It is smut…uf!" And she received a pillow on her face.
"What is smut?" Both girls turned around and saw their brother in his pajamas. Like them he wore a tank top, in the color white. His/Zero's emblem were on it and he wore also black long pants.
"Mmmh, momma likes it." Yang purred. The tank top showed Mikhail well-built body. He was muscular, not overly muscular like some maniacs. But he body was the result of years of hard training. His abs and pecs were also something nice to see. She never approved of his training, like their father, but Qrow could convince them.
What? Yang appreciated all nice bodies, even her brother's.
Mikhail raised a brow and smiled "Than would momma please go back to her sleeping back? That's my place."
"Sure." She rolled to the side and Mikhail lay down, in the middle. "So everything's fine?"
"Yeah, it was awkward and I think some girls and dudes peeked on me."
"Yeah…wait what?" Yang and Ruby asked in shock "How?"
"Dunno, when I was finished and went out, some guys flushed when the saw me, they cursed and walked away.
'Ha, they saw BIG MIKE.' Yang thought amused, about the reaction of the guys. Mikhail had a big junk. Jealousy incoming!
"And then I found this on my clothes." He took some papers with scroll numbers on them out of his pockets.
Yang didn't even hesitate "Gimme!" and took those numbers out of his hands. She tore them apart and when they were in shreds, she looked at Mikhail and smiled.
He and Ruby blinked at her and like nothing happened they continued to talk.
"So what were you girls talking about?" He sat down and noticed Yang's book "Sis, I would appreciate it if you don't read this near to Ruby."
"So what!? It is an awesome book! Don't you also read Michael's books?"
"Of course! But Ruby is too young for such hardcore literature..."
"Hey I am older!" Ruby pouted and protested.
Both blondes ignored their sister's tantrum "So you were talking about…?"
Ruby scoffed and laid down.
"Yeah, I talked with Ruby, that she should find new friends."
"Hey I found a new friend!"
"You mean Jaune?" Yang asked.
"Jaune?" Mikhail tilted his head.
The blonde sister smiled "Vomit Boy in the funny child pajama."
"Ah!" He nodded "Good for you sis, I am proud of you!"
"You guys are so mean and the biggest jerks, in the history of jerks!" She pouted and blew a raspberry at her siblings.
"So, did you found another friend?"
"Yeah Rubes, what about that bossy girl Weiss?"
"I think she is more a minus friend…."
"Minus…friend…" Mikhail mumbled about Legna, okay he was a minus friend, too. Then suddenly, he smelled a feline scent and looked around. His eyes stopped at a girl. 'Faunus, a cat faunus.' He blinked 'She is pretty.'
She was young girl of light olive complexion, similar to Ruby. She had long, wavy black hair, and her eyes were amber, complemented by light-purple eye shadow flaring backwards. Her eyes were slightly tilted upwards at the ends; strengthen his idea more that she was cat faunus. Even though it was sleeping time, she still wore a bow on her head. 'Ha, she hides her kitty ears with it I. WANT. TO. SEE. THEM.'
Her sleepwear appeared to be a black yukata, with gray and white as a secondary color setup. In her hand was a book, also from Michael Peyt, too. Its name was 'The Prince and the Red Dragon'. 'Maybe I should talk with her…..'
"Hellooooooooooooooo!" His thoughts were interrupted when Yang waved her hand before his face. "Remnant to Mikhail!"
"AH! Sorry! What?" He didn't even notice that Ruby started to play with his hair. For a boy, Mikhail had really silky and soft hair. So it was a habit, which Mikhail also had. But his habit with playing hairs was stronger. Yang found it really cute, especially when the two were children. They played for hours with the hair of the other, until they went asleep. She and their mother always gushed, how cute they were. And even now it looks cute, how Ruby smiles while playing with the long golden and red hair of their brother.
"Why are you ogling Miss Dark and Mysterious over there?" She had a shit eating grin on her face.
"Eh, what?"
"I didn't know that you were interested in the emo-type. But still Big Sis does not approve. She looks like someone, who has a big baggage"
The boy could only sigh and pinch his nose.
"Ah it is her!" Ruby pointed at the black haired girl.
"You know her sis?"
"Yup!" She nodded vigorously "She helped to get that crabby girl, Weiss, off me."
"Mmh," He looked again at the girl "You wanna talk with her?"
"Ehm…I…I…" She looked nervously back and forth, and rubbed her neck.
Mikhail shook his head "Ruby, you need to break out of your shell! Make some new friends!"
"Why should I? I have you and Yang." Mikhail pinched her nose and shoved her on her back.
He took a book from his bag out and stood up "Where are you going?" Yang demanded.
"Showing Ruby how to make friends, duh!" Mikhail shook of Yang's hands and he walked towards the girl in the yukata.
"Ouch, my nose!"
"Wait!" Yang yelled but then…
"Excuse me, but is this place taken?" A tall red haired girl stood before the sisters. It was Pyrrah. She wore a white tank top and green girl shorts with white linings.
Ruby still on her back, looked at the girl. She turned around and sat back.
"Well isn't that Miss Tall, Toned and Older." Yang crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
Meanwhile Ruby's eyes were wide open and she looked at the girl. That's Mikhail's secret friend Pyrrah Nikos, the strongest woman in their generation. She stood up and tilted her head "You are pretty." Ruby said, while smiling.
Pyrrah quirked and eyebrow, but shortly she started to giggle "You must be Ruby."
"You know me?"
"Yeah Mikhail told me many things about you."
"Okaaaaaaay, what did he said?"
"That you are cute girl and that he is proud of you. He really loves you."
Ruby's cheeks started to become red. While Yang thought about the things Mikhail had said about her.
"He also said that you are also an exploding, weapon loving and socially awkwardly girl.
"Hey, I am not socially awkward!"
Pyrrah raised an eyebrow, seriously, that was the part that made her angry?
Yang put a hand on her shoulder "Ruby, you are socially awkward."
Ruby pouted and crossed her arms "You guys are mean!"
Yang smiled and Pyrrah giggled "So," She asked "Can I?"
"Sure!" Chirped Ruby, she wanted to know more about that girl, Pyrrah. It is her duty as big sis to decide if she is a 'threat' to her little brother.
Pyrrah laid her sleeping bag and stuff besides Ruby and sat down. Yang still looked with disapproval at her.
"So Pyrrah, you met my brother in the Mistral championships?"
"Well," She twirled her finger around her hair and a dust of pink appeared on her cheeks. "Yeah, the first time we met was in the finals. Before we started to fight, he said to me, too that I am pretty."
"Oh, like me!" She put her hands together, and her eyes sparkled.
Pyrrah nodded, while being slightly flushed.
Yang shook her head; she looked back at her brother. He sat beside that emo-girl and both started to talk already in a friendly manner. She stood up and stomped towards her brother.
XXX
15 minutes before.
Mikhail with his book in his hands walked towards the girl. When he stood before her, she noticed him.
"Hi!"
The girl tilted her head "Hello…."
"Mind some company? My sisters are too loud and I can't read because of them.
"I noticed..." She said dryly willing turning the next page of her book.
"Yeah, sorry about that." He rubbed his head "So mind helping a fellow Peyt reader?"
She stopped reading and looked up to him. She was a little bit surprised. "You read his books, too?"
"Yup, the one you are reading his one of my favorites."
"Mine, too. It is incredible how detailed everything is. And the story is not just normal fantasy, it is like….
"It is like; he was there the entire time and observed it.
Her eyes widened a little bit and she smiled.
"So can I?"
The girl shrugged and Mikhail sat on the ground beside her. "My name is Mikhail Rose."
"Blake, Blake Belladonna.
"Black Fair Lady, a nice name.
"Your name, too. The rose, which is like God."
"Oh immediately knowing the meaning of name.
She shrugged and continued to read. "Also you're the one who won against Pyrrah Nikos.
He snorted and opened his book and started to read, too.
The girl named Blake, took a short glance at his books and gasped.
"Is that….Black Song, White Scales!?" Her voice was louder than she used to it, and immediately she put her hands in embarrassment on it.
"Oh, yes." He nodded.
"How did you get that, it shouldn't be released before the end of the next month."
"Ah this, the publisher of Michael Peyt is a good friend of mine. So I always get his books earlier.
"You…you get his books earlier?" There was a glint in her eyes.
"Yup…"
"Ehm, then is it possible….you know….."
"Of course, I can lend it to you, when I am finished." He smiled at her and continued reading.
"Thanks…" She did the same.
"By the way, Blake…"
"Mmh?"
"I know that you are a Faunus…"
*Pat* Blake dropped her book in shock and looked with bewilderment at the boy who discovered her secret, on her first day in Beacon. She narrowed her eyes, while her body became tense.
Mikhail smiled "Easy, don't worry I am a human who loves Faunus."
Blake sighed, at least a human who likes Faunus, but she was still careful"How did you notice it…."
"Mmh, it wasn't really hard," He almost break down from laughter, when Blake looked more shocked than before "First, your body posture, it has a more graceful tune than a human. Second your bow twitched, when you noticed my book and when I said I will lend it to you." Blake put her hands on her bow, that boy has an incredible comprehension "And third," He pointed at his nose "You can't fool this nose. You have the scent of cat …"
Blake was shocked. She thought she could hide the fact, that she is Faunus, by a boy with flame like hair and weird, yet beautiful eyes. And he could smell…..scent of a cat…."Wait."
"Yeah?"
"Didn't you say you are a human? How could you smell that I am a faunus. Are perhaps….?"
"Nope, I am a human."
"But…"
"The answer is simple, my Semblance."
"Your Semblance, enhances your smell sense?"
"Yup, well it enhances all my senses, too." He shrugged.
'All senses' Blake was confused. Mikhail could be deemed as a Faunus, because of his long canines, but that thought vanished when he said he was human….well it didn't vanished a bit… "Then can you…."
"Please keep it a secret; of course, these lips are sealed." He made the zip gesture and continued to read.
Blake sighed in relief, and looked at Mikhail who still red his book. Some seconds passed and she quirked an eyebrow.
"Don't you want to know the reason, why I hid my identity as a faunus?"
Mikhail stopped reading and clapped his book; he looked back at Blake "Of course I want to know,"
"Then…"
"But," She was cut off from him "Blake, I will not use your secret, because I want answers from you or to know your personal stuff, if you tell me the reason, then only then if you want to."
Blake was taken back "Only if I want…." She murmured.
"Blake, I am a supporter for the rights of the Faunus, I was on every protest and boycott with the old White Fang since I was six and I also don't like the Schnee Dust Company and Atlas as well.
"Okay…" Blake didn't know what to say, it seems she could trust Mikhail with her secret. He spoke in sincerity and never broke eye contact with her when he talked 'Maybe I can trust him.' But she swore herself to be careful.
"So Blake, why do you like Michael's book?"
Blake thought about it "Well, there are many reasons, why. His books are something new, fresh. Like I said they are so accurately written, as if he was there when everything happened. His stories have up and downs, sometimes the plot develops in a direction you never expect." Blake flushed and was embarrassed when she talked nonstop and very vigorously about it.
Mikhail smirked 'She is cute, when she is embarrassed'
"Please don't look at me right now; I am so ashamed." She hid her face behind her book.
"Hey don't be. It is your hobby and besides you are right."
She popped her head from the sites of the book "Well, there is only one flaw his books have."
Mikhail was surprised "And this flaw is?"
"All is books, are beginning with a tragedy, then they become happy but soon or later they turn from bad to worse. Almost none of them have good endings; it is somehow, I don't know, doleful. It is like…"
"He never saw a happy ending. As if he knows that the world is more evil than good. That there is sometimes no hope…." Mikhail looked down.
"Yeah, that's it…" She did the same "I think Michael Peyt hadn't a good life and never could enjoy piece…" Blake clenched her fist, she remembered her past live.
"Well, I think he also wants to teach his readers something."
Blake looked up and to him "What do you mean?"
"I mean, did you notice that no matter what, no matter how hopeless the situations were, the protagonists never gave up? They never lost their will to fight and protect, even though they had to sacrifice many things, they never faltered.
Blake was surprised, she never thought about it.
"I think this; Michael Peyt wants to show us, that we must go one, no matter how hard it is. That we must fight and go on, even if that means that we will perish. We must go on. WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP." Mikhail learned it, the hard way. He could not survive if he didn't fight his enemies or kill them. For the protection of his loved ones, he killed, and one day he admitted it, he became like Michael. You can't protect anything, if you don't jump over your shadow, but also if you are not faithful to yourself. Sacrifices must be made. This is life. But yet he felt how much of a hypocrite he was. Mikhail slowly became more jaded over time as he watched the rise and fall of civilizations over multiple millennia and seeing every real friend, he had, dying. Yet despite living until the actual end of the Earth's lifespan, Mikhail manages to fight off despair by drawing strength from his memories of Zero. But did he really save humanity, or did they already go extinct the time he made his Wish was he 'alone' in his last moments? He will never know it, but Zero or rather Rose gifted him with a second chance. And no matter how many he had to kill, he will bring peace and protect the things he love….And he will prevent that children, yes all of these guys and girl here are children, will become like him.
'No one could understand me; no one wanted to understand me.' Mikhail thought.
The cat faunus was stunned, she really never thought about it. Yes Michael's stories are all almost tragedies, but none of the figures gave up. When they failed, they became stronger and tried again. Life is not simple, it can be cruel, but it can be crueler to giving up.
Blake smiled "I think you are right, thank you."
"For what?"
She looked at him for a moment and shook her head in amusement "Nothing."
"Okay so friends?" He grinned.
Her amber eyes widened "Yes, friends." She smiled slightly.
"Ahem." Both of them looked up and saw an irritated Yang before them. She crossed her arms and smiled sick sweetly. "So Mikhail?"
"Ehm, Yang this is Blake, Blake this is my big sister Yang." Mikhail was nervous and smiled sheepishly. 'Please Yang don't make a scene!'
Blake looked to Yang and then to Mikhail. She noticed how tense he was, and then she looked back towards the female blonde "Nice to meet you, Yang."
"You, too." She nodded "You know Mikhail, I first thought you had the hots for that Pyrrah girl," She pointed behind the red-hair who furiously blushed, then to Blake "And now you are flirting with Miss Blacky here."
Mikhail palmed his face; his frustration reached a new level, while his fellow reader narrowed her eyes.
"Look Yang, I just wanted to talk with her, because she reads the book of Michael Peyt."
"Oh, do you also read the Antiquity Series?"
"Ehm, yes." Somehow, her cheeks started to burn, the series were erotic novels, yeah, but somehow, many people red it, even in public.
'What!? She too!?…Oh man…' Now he was disappointed, what next!? Does she read Ninjas of Love, too!? Mikhail looked around and was shocked; many students also had copies of the antiquity series in their hands. Most of them were females.
"Aha, a fellow smut reader!"
Blake's cheeks became even redder "It is not, and didn't you yell at your sister, that those books are not smut?"
"You heard us?"
"Yes." She stated it obviously.
Yang rubbed the back of her head "Well I like to read the Grand Light of Antiquity! You?"
"Quickened Puppets of Antiquity."
'Huh, she likes proably older men and it suits her since she is so...dark and mysterious...' Mikhail thought.
"What are you guys doing?" Now Ruby appeared behind her was Pyrrah.
"Ah, Pyrrah how is it going?"
"Good." She smiled and then noticed Blake sitting beside him. Her smile weakened a little bit.
Ruby stepped forward and greeted Blake "Hi, we see us again."
"Yes."
"My name is Ruby. I am Mikhail's older twin!"
"Okay…my name is Blake." She looked between the siblings. They almost looked the same, face; skin the red tint on their hair…..'Their personalities are the opposites; it must be hard for him, having such sisters.'
Ruby looked to her brother and grinned "Guess what Mikhail!?"
"Yeah?"
"Pyrrah and I, have become friends, ha take that, I am not socially awkward." She smug-smiled and then hugged Pyrrah from the side.
"Is she always this?" The read haired girl asked, while being amused.
"Yup. But that's what I love about her…"
Ruby smiled even more, while her cheeks went red. Pyrrah and Blake looked dumbfounded about Mikhail's sudden declaration and Yang shook her head in amusement, while shrugging.
She smiled and looked at Blake, who noticed her gaze "My name is….."
"Pyrrah Nikos, winner of two Mistral Championship tournaments, before you were defeated by Mikhail, but before that you both had a stalemate. The fights were tight matches, were you almost won."
"Yeah, Mikhail is the strongest enemy I ever had," She looked at him and smiled, what he did too "My goal is to defeat him." Both of them looked at each other, while Ruby, Yang and Blake glanced between them.
'Why are they looking at each other? I know! They are probably super-friends.' That were Ruby's thoughts, she is too innocent for her own good and dense, too.
'Okay, there is definitely something going on between them.' Yang crossed her arms, and narrowed her eyes.
'Do they like each other? Not that I am interested in love, or so…' No matter how she denied it, Blake was really interested in such things. But she had no experience in the area of love. All her knowledge came from books, smut books…..
Meanwhile Ruby saw, and sensed that Yang was a little bit…..irritated. 'That's it!' She snapped her fingers and with high-speed she went to their sleep place and took Mikhail's white scarf. She put it around her head and went back.
"Look Mikhail, I am a ninja!" Ruby made a finger sign as well and all of them looked at her with dull eyes.
Mikhail and Yang broke out in massive laughing.
"Oh man sis, you kill me, my sides, my sides, ahahahaha!" Mikhail held his stomachs while lying on his back, tears started to come out of his eyes.
"Oh my god Ruby, ahahahahaha." Yang was on her fours, she hammered on the ground with her right hand, while holding her side with her other hand. "This is priceless!"
Pyrrah first started to giggle, while holding her hand on her mouth. But it didn't last long and she also broke out in laughter, while Blake smiled and shook her head.
But the humorous moment, was abruptly broken when an angry Weiss stomped her way towards the group.
"What in the world is going on over here!?" The heiress was furious because her slumber was interrupted "Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep!?" Then she saw Yang and Ruby.
"Oh no not you again!?" She and Yang shouted at each other simultaneously.
Meanwhile Ruby feared to be yelled again by Weiss "Shh! Guys, she's right! People are trying to sleep!"
Pyrrah, Mikhail and Blake could only look perplexed as they witness the comical spectacle before them. Blake and Mikhail looked at each and sighed, while rolling their eyes. Their precious reading-time is now over.
"Sorry, about my sisters…" The younger Rose twin apologized in whisper to Blake.
"It's alright…."
Weiss huffed at Ruby's sudden changeover "Oh now, you are on my side."
"I was always on your side!"
Pyrrah slowly backed away and walked went around the three quarreling girls. When she was close to Mikhail, she sat beside him, while earning a quirked eyebrow from Blake. "You didn't lie; your sisters are really troublemakers." She whispered in his ears.
Mikhail could only smile wryly 'Yep, they are my nutjobs of sisters…'
Yang began now to demand "What is your problem with my sister!? She's only trying to be nice!"
Weiss stomped with anger on the ground "I may respect your brother," The heiress glanced at him.
"Hey Weiss." He waved at her, while smiling. Both Pyrrah and Blake looked at the boy with various emotions.
Pyrrah thought this 'He knows Weiss Schnee? How and why did he never tell me about that?'
While Blake thought this 'I thought he dislikes the Schnee Dust Company, is he trying to be nice?'
Weiss slightly smiled and nodded, when she faced the sisters again, the scowl on face returned "But she is a hazard to my health!"
Blake had enough and took the candleholder beside her.
"May I?" Mikhail asked and blew the candle out.
So this is the third chapter of Red Roses, White Scales. By the way, Peyt is a dragon word…
Also vote for my poll, I might reconsider the pairing.
If you have questions, pm me.
This chapter was edited.