Albus FF - Chapter 2

It was a beautiful day in Vale. The birds were singing, the sun was shining. Albus was strolling through Vale, walking towards the docks to board an airship to Beacon. Man, I can't believe I'm going to Beacon so soon. I thought it would take a few more years, thought Albus.

He had his bow blade across his back, ready to take on this new challenge. As Albus got to the docks, he noticed more weapon-wielding young adults arriving as well, some he remembered from Signal. He checked his scroll, noting that he only had fifteen minutes until the airship departed. He quickened his pace in order to find a good spot to sit down and enjoy the ride. He found a seat next to a sleeping, orange haired man with no shirt on. Seemed like a good place to relax, Albus thought.

He sat there, watching the other students walk in and looking at their weapons. Swords, axes, rifles, pistols, spears, clubs; many of them stood out to him. He still loved to look at them and try to figure out how they were made. Old habits seem to die hard.

As the airship took off, Albus looked out the window, watching Vale go by. Suddenly, a blond woman wearing a white and black outfit with a purple cape appeared in front of all the viewing windows on the ship.

She began, "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." She then disappeared.

The guy beside Albus had woken up when Glynda had begun her announcement. After she disappeared, he turned to Albus and said, "Man, if I get to wake up to that hot lady every day, I'm gonna like it here," as he smiled.

Albus turned to the shirtless teen, "That was Glynda Goodwitch," he began. "She's one of the professors at Beacon. I don't think she's gonna wake you up again, unless you fall asleep in her class."

The orange haired teen lightly laughed, "That probably won't be so pleasant." He extended his arm toward Albus, "Name's Russ."

Albus shook his hand, "Albus. Hey, you're obviously going to Beacon, so where's your weapon? I don't see any laying by you."

Russ widened his smile a bit. "Oh, don't worry about my weapons. I don't 'carry' them, per say." Albus looked confused. "You'll see." Russ stated.

Right after Russ had finished his statement, a blond boy ran up and puked into a trash can next to Albus. Russ looked concerned while Albus seemed a little disgusted. "Hey, dude, you alright?" asked Albus.

The armored boy finished and spit into the trash can. He still looked a little green. "This is my first time flying. So far, not a fan." He promptly threw up again.

As he continued puking, the airship stopped as they had arrived at Beacon. Albus quickly got up and rushed for the exit, not wanting to smell the throw up anymore. He stepped off the airship, took a deep breath, and started walking to the academy. He heard a loud thumping of boots as someone ran behind him. "Hey, Albus!" Russ shouted as he caught up to him. "Do you know where we're supposed to go?"

Albus slowed down for him. "I would assume the tall building. I was just gonna follow everyone else."

Russ caught up to the white haired boy. "That seems like a good plan. I'll walk with you."

The crowd was making their way to the central building like Albus guessed. The two boys followed them into a large a large auditorium along with the other students. On the stage in the front of the room stood Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch. When everyone had found their way in, Ozpin stepped up to the microphone and cleared his throat.

"I'll," he paused, "keep this brief. You have travelled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft, and acquire new skills. And when you have 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. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you, to take the first step."

Ozpin stepped away allowing Glynda take the stage. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

The first years were now in the ballroom, most wearing their pajamas. Albus was sitting at a table against the wall, sketching in a notebook some of the various weapons he saw that day. He was putting the finishing touches on a mace when a faunus with wolf ears sat down across from him. "What are you drawing?" The faunus opened up with.

Albus looked up, "This mace a saw a tall redhead carrying. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I'm just going around meeting some new people," he answered. "I'm Carmine, by the way."

"My name's Albus. So what's your reason for meeting everyone, sizing up your competition?" Albus countered.

"No, it's not like that," Carmine responded. "I was just trying to see who I wanted to be on a team with. They say we're gonna get sorted into our teams tomorrow."

Albus continued on his sketch while he talked. "I was just gonna feel it out as I go."

Carmine paused for a bit, "Well, what kind of weapon do you use?"

Albus put down his pencil and flipped to the first page of his notebook and showed it to Carmine. He saw an elegant bow with a lot of curves and intricate designs. "This is my bow blade, Brightshot."

"Cool, I have a bow too!" exclaimed Carmine. "Mine can transform into two swords as well. Where did you get yours, it looks really cool."

"It was my father's. So, your bow transforms?" Albus said, quickly changing the subject. He flipped a couple pages to another bow. "Is this it?" On the page he presented was a straight edged bow with what looked like handles on each end.

Carmine looked closely at the drawing, "Yeah, looks like it. So, you like to draw weapons?"

Albus relaxed a bit, saying, "Yep, I used to work with a blacksmith, mainly helping repair weapons and tools. I always used to draw the weapons that came in, trying to figure out how they worked."

"So, did you go to a combat school before coming to Beacon?" inquired Carmine.

"Yeah, I went to Signal for a year before this. What about you?" asked Albus

Carmine leaned back in his chair, saying, "I went to Sanctum and decided to come to Beacon instead of Haven. I wanted to see more of the world, you know? You only went to Signal for a year? Did you get moved up?"

"Yeah, at the end of my first year, Ozpin came to talk to me and asked me to come to Beacon this year." Albus said.

"Wow, really?" Carmine blurted out. "What did you do before Signal, besides working for that blacksmith?"

"I'd rather not talk about it," Albus curtly said. At this point, the lights started going out in the ballroom. "Well, it looks like it's time to sleep. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow, Carmine."

"Good luck!" finished Carmine.

The next morning, Albus was in the locker room inspecting his bow and arrows. He unloaded his quiver, checked the sharpness of each arrow, then loaded them back into the quiver. As he was finishing up, Carmine walked over holding his bow. He looked into the open locker seeing Brightshot. "So, this is your bow? Looks just as good as your drawing."

"Thanks," Albus said as he reloaded his last arrow. "Have you heard what this initiation is?"

"No idea." The red haired faunus said. "Well, I was wondering. Do you wanna be on a team together?"

"No offence, but as I said last night, I'm gonna let my cards fall as they may," explained Albus.

"C'mon!" began Carmine. "I was one of the best archers in my class at Sanctum. We could be a good te-"

Glynda's voice was then heard over the intercom in the locker room. "Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation. Again, all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."

"I guess that's our queue," stated Albus.

As the two boys came to Beacon Cliff, they noticed several stone squares close to the edge. Some students were already standing on some. "Pick a square and stay on it, students." Ordered Professor Goodwitch.

Carmine choose a square to the left of a white haired girl in a white dress, while Albus chose the one next to the faunus. Albus suddenly felt a slap on his back. "Hey, Albus!" exclaimed Russ, still not carrying a weapon. He stepped onto the square next to Albus. "Do you know what we're gonna be doing today?"

Glynda again interrupted, "All of you, be quiet and listen." Everyone immediately stopped their conversations and waited.

Ozpin began, "For years, you have trained to become warriors. And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Glynda continued, "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates, today."

Ozpin further elaborated, "These teammates will with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years. After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path," he paused, "or you will die. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

A boy to Albus's right spoke up, "Yeah, um, sir-"

"Good!" interrupted Ozpin, "Now, take your positions."

With that, the students started getting launched off the cliff from their stone platforms.