He woke up earlier than usual. He grabbed his mirror and checked his eyes. Dead eyes looked back at him. There has to be a better way for this to work… A few seconds later, his eyes changed back to "normal". Perfect. He went to his closet to get his clothes for the day. He reached for his red t-shirt, then stopped. He looked over at his red tuxedo. Maybe I should wear that today. I did buy it, after all… He nodded to himself, then put on his tux. A bit stuffier than my normal clothes, but at least it looks nice. He grabbed his new red top hat and red cane, then walked outside his room. Surprisingly, Michael walked out at the same time. He was wearing his usual attire of an open white button up and light blue shorts. Talon looked at him. "You're up early." Michael started, then looked at him.
"Is that Talon Teknos? Nah, it can't be. The Talon Teknos I know wouldn't be caught dead in a penguin suit." They smiled at each other. "But seriously, why the tux? Can you fight in that thing?"
"Probably not, but you know me. I'll find a way." Michael shrugged. "It was Port's idea." Michael laughed.
"You let Peter Port convince you to wear a tux? You've lost it, man." They both laughed, then turned to start walking to where the students would be arriving.
"Peter Port is a great man." The two boys jumped, then turned to see a young man standing behind them. He had messy green hair and round glasses. His white shirt's collar was sticking up. His shirt was only partially tucked into his dark-green pants. He wore a slack yellow tie and had one brown and one black shoe. He took a drink from his coffee mug and adjusted his glasses with his free hand. Once he finished, his free hand went behind his back. "Hello, my name is Bartholomew Oobleck, I am a teacher here and am to guide you two to the front of the school." Talon and Michael looked at each other as the man stopped to take a sip of his coffee.
This guy talks faster than a runaway train! The man put down his mug again and immediately went back to speaking.
"Follow me please." Without another word, he dashed past the two boys and around a corner. They stared at each other, dumbfounded. Michael shrugged and followed after Oobleck. Talon shook himself and adjusted his top hat, which had fallen out of place.
So, that was Oobleck… Definitely not what I expected of this school. Well, I guess he's competent if he's a teacher here. Talon started as he realized what he just thought. I can't believe I'm trying to decide if Professor Oobleck is supposed to be here… HE should be the one deciding if I'M supposed to be here. Talon laughed at himself, then checked his scroll. 10 A.M… I still have about an hour until the students arrive. Well, time to explore the school a bit. He looked at his blueprint for Beacon. Hmm… Well, the smart thing would be to go to Oobleck and Port's classrooms and get a feel for them. So that's what I'll do. He quickly memorized the quickest routes to the classes from his room, then put away his scroll as he started off.
She was so excited to go to Beacon that she had woken up an hour before the transport was scheduled to leave. She hurriedly got dressed, grabbed her bags, and nearly ran to the hotel lobby. She stopped when she almost ran into someone waiting at the bottom of the stairs. It was a fair-skinned golden haired girl with purple eyes. She was wearing a tan jacket with puffy sleeves and black cuffs. The jacket didn't cover her chest entirely, showing a low cut yellow crop top that had some sort of emblem on the left breast. She also wore black mini-shorts and a brown belt with a brown piece of fabric hanging from the back. She wore brown knee-high boots with orange knee socks. One was pushed below her knee. The girl looked at her, eyes wide. Rie flushed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!" She lifted a hand apologetically. "Please, excuse me." She hurried past the girl, only to feel a fingerless gloved hand grab her arm and stop her in place.
"You seem to have a habit of nearly running into people. First my sister, now me." Despite the chastising words, the girl smiled at Rie. Rie gulped.
What does she mean? I don't think I've run into anyone who looks like this girl… The only person I've almost run into lately was… Rie's eyes widened. "You mean Ruby?" The girl smiled, maintaining her death grip on Rie's arm. Rie smiled. "Nice to meet you! I'm Rie Himora." She waited for the girl's response. She smiled back at Rie. She pointed at herself with her free hand as she introduced herself.
"I'm Yang. Yang Xiao Long. And Ruby's my baby sister. She's waiting for us outside." She let go of Rie's arm (which had turned red by now), only to put it around Rie's shoulders as they walked out together. Ruby was throwing pebbles into the street when they walked out. She turned, and broke into a huge smile when she saw them.
"Hey, Rie!" Rie smiled back at the young girl.
"Morning, Ruby. Why are you here instead of heading to Beacon?" Before Ruby could answer, Yang stepped in between the two girls.
"She wanted to say hi, and I wanted to meet you." Yang smiled. Rie looked at Ruby, who looked like she was debating something.
"Uhm… Rie…" Ruby was tapping her two index fingers together.
"Yeah, Ruby?" Ruby took a deep breath, and sped through the next sentence.
"She wants to ride with you to the airport," Yang said for her sister. Ruby started, then glared at Yang.
"Of course you can, Ruby." Rie was trying hard to not laugh at Ruby's awkwardness. Ruby's eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"Really?" Rie nodded, then removed a vial of Ice Dust and a vial of Fire Dust from her bandoliers across her chest. Yang's interest was easy to spot, and it grew as Rie sprinkled all of the dust on the ground. Rie figured she could be more flashy with forming her board than she had been the night before. She returned her now empty vials to their places, then moved her hands as if she were performing a ritual. The Dust began to rise, Ice mixing with Fire. The Dust became a tornado of Fire and Ice. Rie let a small bit of the Fire Dust lick out at Ruby and Yang. Ruby jumped, and Yang smiled. Rie formed a board in the middle of the tornado with a sort of Yin-Yang design in the center. The rest of the tornado was turned into two small dragons, an Ice dragon and a Fire dragon. Ruby gasped loudly. Yang gasped as well, but much less noticeably. The dragons made two circuits around the board before flying towards Rie. The dragons flew back into their respective vials, and Rie put the corks back on her vials. The result of the spectacle was a thin Dust board large enough for three people. Yang clapped.
"That was impressive, Rie." Yang clapped Rie on the back.
"Thanks, Yang. I aim to please." Rie did a small bow. "So, are we ready to go?" Ruby nodded.
"Well, take care of my sister for me." Rie looked at Yang.
"Are you not coming?" Yang shook her head, then smiled.
"I'll take the Bumblebee." She gestured behind her to a yellow bike. Rie nodded. The Dust board started to dissolve from the edges until it was large enough for just two people. Rie uncorked her two vials again as the Dust streamed back into their respective places. Ruby and Rie jumped onto the board as Yang mounted her bike. Yang waved goodbye, then drove off. Rie lifted the Dust board over the rooftops of the city's buildings, and made a direct course for the airport. Rie looked back at Ruby, who was holding onto Rie's back for dear life.
She doesn't know that I can shift the Dust so that she won't fall off… Poor girl. She's terrified… "You ok, Ruby?" She felt the girl nod, maintaining her vice grip on Rie's back. What would Talon do in this situation? Rie thought about it for a few seconds. He'd probably strike up a conversation with Ruby to take her mind off of her fears. Well, here goes… "So, does your sister EVER wear clothes?" Really, Rie? THAT'S your conversation starter? To her surprise, Ruby laughed.
"Sometimes. She wears what she wants, when she wants. Our dad has tried to get her to cover up, but he stopped trying about 2 years ago." Rie cocked her head, puzzled.
"Why did he stop trying? Yang's his daughter, right?" She felt Ruby nod.
"Yeah, but apparently 'she has too much of her mother in her. They're both too stubborn.' That's what Dad told me, anyway." Rie cocked her head again as she remembered something Michael had told her a few months back- something about a girl at a bar here in Vale that he'd visited.
It was CRAZY, Rie. I was in Junior's Bar just minding my own, when all of a sudden this blonde walks in as though she owns the place. She walks straight up to Junior and starts talking to him. I heard the word "blondie" a few times, then she grabbed him where the sun don't shine and yelled something to do with "Sir!" Junior's men started trying to fight her and failed because this girl had these really cool shotgun gauntlets, then the Malachite twins got involved, and then Junior tried to fight her himself. When he failed, I stepped in. I was feeling nice, so I didn't use all of my abilities, but it was a close fight. I knocked her out of a window, then sat back down to finish my drink. I didn't see her again.
"Does Yang fight using shotgun gauntlets?" She felt Ruby nod again.
"Yeah. Her Ember Celicas. Why?" Rie smiled.
"Oh, no reason. Just curious. Hey! There's the airport!" Rie felt Ruby lift her head up, then a gasp. "You ok back there?" Rie was concerned that Ruby was slipping, but the girl quickly allayed her fears.
"The view is GORGEOUS!" Rie sighed a little bit, then laughed.
"It really is, isn't it? Whenever Talon didn't need me around the lab, I would fly around Atlas at night. It was amazing." Rie landed in front of the entryway to the airport, and she and Ruby hopped off. "Flashy or efficient?" Ruby cocked her head, confused. Rie smiled. "Should I put the board away in a flashy manner? Or an efficient manner?" Ruby grinned.
"Flashy." Rie nodded, then snapped her fingers. The board behind her lost its solidity, then swirled into the air. Rie uncorked her vials without removing them, then set the corks down beside her feet. The Dust rose and formed a crystal with flames of both Ice and Fire appearing to resonate from it. Ruby looked like her jaw would fall clean off. The crystal dissolved from top to bottom, then the Dust whipped around the two girls twice before returning to their vials. Rie corked the now full vials and bowed. Ruby began clapping. "That. Was. AWESOME!" Rie laughed, then noticed someone standing in the doorway to the airport. Someone with a sailor's hat and a sawed-off shotgun attached to his hip. Rie smiled.
"I've got to go say hi to someone. See you at Beacon, Ruby." She didn't wait for a reply and ran to the boy. "Hey Sam!" Sam turned around, and Rie struggled to keep her face under control. He didn't have a single barnacle on him. Wow! He's even more handsome than before!
"Hello, lass." He tipped his hat. "Good to see ya again. How've ya been?" Rie's smile widened.
"Keep your cool, Rie." She could hear Talon's voice clearly as though it was her own. "Remember, control. Don't ever lose control. Lose control, and you become a slave to your emotions." She thought back to his voice as if she were talking to him. I'm trying, Talon. I really am. She took a deep breath. Ok. What would Talon say or do in this situation? He'd probably ask him how his day was or something like that. Ok, you got this, Rie. You've got this. "So, what happened to the barnacles?" Rie grimaced. Oh yes, THAT'S what you should ask. Good job, weirdo... Sam looked at her, a smirk on his face.
"I hadn't had a chance to get rid of them." He laughed, then opened the door to the airport. "After you, lass." Rie nodded her head in thanks and walked in. Sam followed behind. The two talked about minor things until the transport arrived. Once aboard the transport, the two talked about things like the family and friends wishing them luck from their homes.
Rie noticed that a news story about Torchwick was playing and held her hand up to silence Sam. The newscast was showing a mugshot of Torchwick. "The robbery last night of Dust to Dawn, led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick, was stopped by two girls according to an eyewitness. This is what he had to say on the matter:" The screen changed to show a man with a face edited to be blurry past recognition.
"It was crazy! I looked out of my window and saw what appeared to be a storm of Dust surrounding a girl. Then I saw-" The newscast ended abruptly and was replaced with an image of Glynda.
"Hello, and welcome to Beacon. My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy. Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world." Rie looked out the window and saw Beacon. She smiled.
Even though I've seen Beacon before, it's still awe-inspiring. She looked over at Sam. "Well, this is it, Sam." He looked back at her.
"Aye, lass. No turnin' back now. Let's be the best Hunters we can, aye?" Rie nodded.
"Aye."
Hey guys. I'm so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I've been busy. Two weeks ago, my parents came down to visit from Alabama, so I spent time with them. Then last week I was super busy doing stuff around the house and looking for a job. I'm trying to get these out quickly for you guys, but it isn't working out like that. Thank you for your patience.