Chapter Three - A Beacon in the Night.

It had been a week since Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, and Yui had been transported to the world of Remnant. After they had left the police station, Ruby introduced them to her sister Yang and their father Taiyang. Taiyang offered to put them up for the night, but they decided, asking instead for directions to a cheap inn, as Ozpin had been kind enough to loan them a few thousand Lein to buy essentials. In the morning the girls and Kirito went shopping, where the each got a standard Scroll, I device that seemed like a cross between a smartphone and a tablet. They also picked up some firearms, a foldable machine pistol for Asuna, and a pump action shotgun for Leafa. Kirito opted to stick with the pistol he had picked up and Yui got a small flare gun/grenade launcher for emergencies.

When they got back to their hotel with their purchases, they tested the Aura measuring function on the Scrolls. It was quite similar to a video game, but with only one bar, instead of the separate health and stamina bars they were used to. On the day before they were to get the ship to Beacon, Kirito and Asuna decided to have a quick spar. Both Kirito and Asuna were surprised to discover they could still use their sword skills when Kirito accidentally preformed a horizontal squad to finish the match. Later that night Asuna found her cooking skill had translated over to her new body, to the absolute delight of Kirito and Yui. That night while looking at the stars Suguha approached her brother.

"We're really in a different world, aren't we." She mused aloud, looking at the alien sky, the cracked moon shinning in all its glory.

"That's what it looks like, who knows." Was his calm reply.

"How do you do it, Kazuto."

"Do what?"

"Well everything, SAO, ALO, the world you did to help Yui, and now all of this. How do you remain strong, and calm even with everything going on around you. I'm not sure I can keep this up. I'm afraid, afraid we'll never see mum, or dad, or our friends back home. I'm afraid that we might spend so long getting back we may no longer want to, or we could get killed, or, or anything!"

"I'm afraid of those things to, but if I let it stop me, well then, who'd watch over you or Asuna or Yui, I'd like so many things in life but most of them are things like living peacefully with Asuna and Yui, or seeing my friends grow old, be safe and happy. If I'm in this world I'll make friends with people same as if we were home. So I just don't stop trying and thinking it will be alright in the end. So Sugu don't worry if you're not strong enough, nobody can be all the time just take things one step at a time and when you can't, we'll be right there to help." He said pulling her into a hug.

After that they sat in silence until Suguha whispers "Thank you, Kazuto. I really needed that." Then they got up and went to bed, to rest for the long day ahead.

The morning of their trip to Beacon, they gathered all their weapons and equipment, packing their other essentials and clothes into bags, and checked out of the hotel. Approaching the terminal they caught their first sight of the airship to Beacon and could only stare in awe. "This thing can fly, it's like a piece of Aincrad made real." Muttered Kirito.

"Indeed." Replied Asuna, as they climbed aboard.

The flight passed in comfortable silence, for the most part. The only real interruptions were the news and the views, they did learn the thief they chased was one Roman Torchwick. They also found out the name of the Huntress they met was Gylnda Goodwitch, the deputy head of Beacon from her speech. It was Leafa who spoke first saying "it's just not the same as flying yourself, honestly I think I prefer that."

"That's true but your still doing better than that kid." Kirito said, pointing at one boy face down over the trash.

"-oh Yang, gross, you've got puke on your shoe!"

"Gross! Gross! Gross! Gross! Get it away from me!" Cried Yang, hopping to the bathroom.

Seeing Ruby left on her own the four joined her till it was time to land and when Yang returned they all prepared to disembark together. Yang tried to comfort Ruby she was no longer the youngest there, with Yui at hand and she would have some people she knew other than herself.

After landing Yang in an attempt to get Ruby to make more friends decided to take Kirito and Asuna to meet some of her friends from Signal. Leafa deciding she needed to fly for a bit to clear her head asked "Ruby, can you watch over Yui for a bit I just need to clear my head a bit, the smell of vomit makes me nauseous."

"Hey" cried Yui "Ruby's more trouble than I am, Aunt Sugu."

"Then look after her then Yui-chan, stay out of trouble."

And with that self fulfilling prophecy in the air Leafa left. Not two minutes later Yui found Ruby buried in a pile of luggage.

"What are you doing?" Yui saw a girl in a white mini-dress call out, she has a slim rapier at her waist with a revolver like handle, and shockingly white hair.

"... um sorry."

"Sorry?" She shrieked, "do you have any idea the damage you could have caused?"

"Um"

"Give me that. This is dust mined and purified from the Schnee Quarry."

"Uhh..."

"What are you, brain dead? Dust! Fire, water, lighting, energy!"

"Ah, ahh, ahhh..."

"Are you even listening to me-" AHHCHOO! BANG!

"What the heck, what are you even doing here, aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?"

As Ruby looked down dejectedly, Yui spoke up "we're old enough to know not to shake explosives in people's faces."

"Who are you anyway, Princess?"

"It's Heiress, actually." Chipped in a newcomer, a tall girl with a white shirt and black dungarees, a black bow on her head and a sword strapped to her back "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

"- Finally, some recognition!"

Yui giggled as the girl continued. "The same company known for its controversial labour forces and questionable business partners."

"How dare you!" Weiss yells and storms off in a huff.

"I'll make it up to you!" Ruby calls after her. Realizing she's been left alone with Yui again says "that could have gone better."

"Maybe, but I think it will work out eventually." States thesmall fairy girl as someone new walks up to the pair.

"Hey, I'm Jaune." Says a boy in jeans and white chest armour, one handed sword at his hand reaching out to Ruby.

"Ruby."

"Yui."

"Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?"

Later after wandering around with their new friend Jaune the conversation turned to weapons. Ruby draws Crescent Rose saying "I've got this."

"Whoa, is that a scythe.?" Replied Jaune.

"It's also a high impact, variable, sniper rifle."

"Huh?"

"It's also a gun."

"Cool, I've got this sword," He said "and this shield. It foldsaway, like this" showing them the mechanism.

Yui pipes up "That's cool, you can parry with it and still block projectiles."

"Huh, never thought of that you're really smart Yui."

"Yep, and I've got these." Showing her staff and flair gun. "The staff boosts my spells, and papa got me the flair gun for just in case."

"Spells?"

"Yui uses her Semblance in battle." Replied Ruby a little too quickly "Anyway we should try to get back to the others."

That night after Ozpin's speech Yui would sleep next to her family, they would talk about the things they did that day,of Ruby exploding. Of meeting Jaune and exploring the grounds. They'd tell her about Yang's friends, and their own experiences. Her Aunt Sigh would talk about the wind and the forest and flying through the school's grounds.

That night she would fall asleep, thinking about theheadmaster's speech, the words playing in her mind. "I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge-to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your lifeto 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."

'Tomorrow.' She thought. 'Tomorrow I take that first step.' And with that she went to sleep.