This will be the day we've all been waiting for! Ruby Rose practically skipped her way onto the tarmac. The Aerial Bus sat there, gleaming silver against the sunlight. Gathered all around it were masses of candidates hoping to get into the illustrious Beacon Academy. Just last night, she had been officially enrolled in Beacon because of her stopping the latest robbery from Roman Torchwick. Ruby grinned to herself; when her Dad found out about it, he was worried at first but Ozpin had called him to let him know and when he heard from Ruby what happened, his anxiety gave away to joy. Upon Ruby's request, neither of them told her big sister, Yang. What a big surprise this is going to be.

Ruby leaned in and pushed her way through the crowd, the candidate's parents having left already. Ruby made her way through the crowd but couldn't find her. "Hey! Stop pushing!" Someone said, pushing back.

"Sorry!" Ruby said, moving on quickly before a fight started. The people here were taller than her, more muscular than her, had what looked like better weapons. In fact, some of the girls were better looking than her. It made Ruby sigh. Her Dad told her that since she would be skipping several years ahead, many of the students. Heck, most of them knew each other because they attended the same classes. But all of Yang's friends never really interacted with her for some reason so they would have no reason to recognize her.

The Air Bus let out an audible ding. "The doors are officially opened. Candidates, file in one at a time." An automated voice called out, the side doors sitting wide open. Upon request, everyone filed in together. Ruby found herself behind a rather tall boy with messy black hair and what seemed like tanned skin if the back of his neck was any sign.

"Hey, good luck getting into Beacon." Ruby said to the boy in front of her. He turned back and Ruby blinked. He reminded her of one of those bad boys shown all the time in those Spruce Willis films. He wore an orange shirt with a red star in the center and jeans. Ruby couldn't see any weapon on him, holstered or not. He was tanned as if spending a lot of time in the sun, but Ruby was startled by his eyes and how green they were.

"Thanks. You too." He said but even Ruby with her limited social skills could tell how half-hearted it was. He turned back, stepping onto the ship. Ruby made her way aboard, finding the railing and window before it filled up.

"Ruby?" Ruby jumped, looking back. Dang it, she had hoped to sneak up on Yang, not get caught by her. Yang stood there, looking shocked to see her here. Her long blonde hair was as curly as ever and the clothes she wore stood out like fire, short shorts with a yellow tank top and brown jacket. Ruby would never understand why she left so much of her skin exposed. She remembered all the arguments she and her Dad about her wardrobe but she wouldn't have any of it.

"Uh, hi Yang."

"What are you doing here? We're about to take off for Beacon."

"Uh, yeah. I'm coming with you. We're going to be students together."

Yang blinked, surprised by that. "No, you're not. You still have two years to go at Signal."

"Remember the incident last night, where Roman Torchwick tried robbing that Dust store?" Yang nodded. "I helped stop it. Ozpin seemed to think I had something of value so he moved me up two years. I wanted it to be a surprise."

Yang blinked once more, trying to process it all. A wide grin broke out on her face and she hugged her. Ruby thought she felt a rib pop out of place. "Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me! This is the best day ever!"

"Please stop." Ruby groaned.

Yang did so, bouncing on her toes. "I'm so proud of you."

"Really, sis. It was nothing."

"What do you mean nothing? That's so incredible. Everyone at Beacon's gonna think you're the bees knees."

"Except I don't want the bee's knees!" Ruby practically shouted. "I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."

"What's with that attitude?" Yang asked, perturbed.

Before she could question further, a new voice spoke up. "How about both of you shut the fuck up? I'm trying to get some sleep here." Both sisters looked to me a boy lying on a bench, indeed looking like he was trying to sleep. He was wearing the most unusual orange armor with a slightly less orange visor covering his eyes.

"Language!" Ruby shouted, pointing a finger at him dramatically.
Yang's eyes turned from purple to red for a moment and as she opened her mouth to say something, the boy just sighed. "You know what? Fuck this. I'm gonna find some other place to be." The boy sauntered to a nearby staircase and climbed it out of sight.

"Good riddance." Yang sighed, her eyes returning to purple. "Where was I? Oh yeah, you are special. You need to stop doubting yourself."

They were interrupted once again, this time by the news. "…The robbery was led by infamous criminal, Roman Torchwick, who had escaped prison 6 months earlier and remains at large. If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the Vale Police Department. Back over to you, Lisa."

"Thank you, Cyril. In other news, another protest for faunus rights turned dark. Members of the White Fang had infiltrated the event, leading to clashes with police. So far, five faunus are confirmed dead along with two police officers. The once peaceful organization…"

The news was cut off by a hologram of the woman who helped Ruby stop the robbery, Glynda Goodwitch. She was dressed the same as the other night, with a tight white top and black skirt. "Who's that?" Yang asked.

"Hello, and welcome to Beacon Academy. My name is Glynda Goodwitch and…" Ruby tuned out the rest of it, not really caring for it. Before Ruby knew it, the transmission ended and the news returned, no longer focusing on the Faunus protest. The trip was surprisingly pleasant, they could even see Signal Academy from here! Ruby sighed, memories of her time at the best Huntsman preliminary school filling her mind. She knew and liked some of her instructors; her uncle Qrow, Wartan the weapons master of the school more than others. But the other students were just obsessed with their skills and looking good doing it. Hopefully it will be a new start at Beacon.

The view was interrupted by a blonde boy wearing a breastplate over a hoodie rushed by them gagging, trying to hold in the puke. Seriously, how was he this queasy on an Aerial Bus? "Guess the view's not for everyone." Yang commented.

"It was nice while it lasted."

"I hope the people we meet at Beacon are better than vomit boy there—" The boy could not hold it in any longer, vomit flowing freely. "Oh, gross! Yang, you got some on your shoe!"

"Ah! Gross! Get it off!" Yang screeched trying to flick it off. The blonde didn't realize what had happened, rushing to the trash can and letting the rest of it out as the Aerial Bus touched down. The door opened, which got the students to exit en masse.

"You okay?" Ruby heard a new voice and looked back. The one who made that comment reminded her so much of the tanned boy, you'd have thought they were brothers. Same black hair that went all over the place and green eyes although his were brighter like emeralds. He was wearing a pair of glasses that made him look dorky. What Ruby did notice was that he wore the most vibrant scarlet cloak over a white dress shirt and red trousers, a pistol holstered at his side. The blonde gave a thumbs up. "Good. Real good impression you've made so far."

"You can say that again." Yang said, her eyes stuck forward. Ruby looked in the same direction and moaned in pleasure. Beacon Academy was even more beautiful than the pictures showed. But that wasn't all Ruby saw. She weas in weapons heaven and she was going to take advantage of it, until Yang grabbed onto her hood and pulled her back. "Whoa, calm down there Rubes. They're just weapons."

"Just weapons?" Ruby asked as the boy with glasses passed. "They are extensions of ourselves." Was it Ruby's imagination or did the boy flinch when she said that? Anyways.

"Well, why don't you swoon over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it?"

"Of course I am happy with Crescent Rose, but I want to see new weapons too!"

"Hey, Yang! You coming?" Both sisters looked to one of Yang's friends, Amber if Ruby remembered right. Frankly, Yang went out to meet them more than them at the house so to Ruby, they might as well as faceless figures.

"Oh yeah!" Yang winked at Ruby. "Gotta go Ruby. See you at orientation."

"Yang, wait!" But Ruby's cries went unheard as the group of older girls charged for the front entrance. "What about dorms? Where is orientation? Where is anything?" Ruby didn't get the brochure of information Yang did, having been moved up so last minute so the questions hit her like a hurricane making her fall back, crashing into a cart Ruby hadn't heard behind her.

"What do you think you're doing?" She heard another girl screech. Ruby looked up to see an angry-looking girl with long white hair that was in a sideways ponytail held by a tiara. She wore a short white dress and boots and boy, did she look pissed.

"I'm sorry about it!" Ruby said as the men nearby loaded the cart back up.

"Sorry?" She repeated in disbelief. "Do you have any idea what damage could have been done?" She snagged one of the bags from the ground. "Give me that! This is purified Dust, from Schnee Quarry. You know, fire, lightning, water and energy! Are you stupid or something?" There was something that smelled funny in the air but Ruby couldn't put her finger on it. Whatever it was made her nose itchy. Before she could sneeze or do anything, a hand reached out and snatched the vial. "Wha? Hey!" The girl screamed.

The boy who picked it up was rather plain looking if it wasn't for his shaggy green hair and green eyes brighter still than Glasses. He was wearing a green jump suit with the hood down, a backpack on his back, white gloves with a blue ring around the wrists with the same style on his feet. He twisted the vial in his hands then tossed it back to her. "Your lid was loose."

Weiss caught it, stunned. "I'm sorry about it."

"Just take care of your stuff better." He said.

Weiss nodded and looked back. "You know, aren't you a little young to be here at Beacon? How did you get here?"

"I, uh…" Ruby tried to say something but couldn't.

"Exactly. This isn't your standard combat school where we practice sparring. This is the real deal."

"Maybe if you let her speak, she might have an answer." The boy said, looking at them both with concern.

Weiss thought on it for a moment and looked back. "Alright. Talk."

"I'm here because I want to make a difference. Fight Grimm, save people, the whole business. It's all I wanted to do as a kid."

Weiss was a little surprised by that but sighed. "That's what I thought. Not a thought on the now. What you're doing."

"I said I was sorry, you princess!"

"Heiress actually." They all looked to see another girl with long black hair and amber eyes wearing a white sleeveless vest exposing some of her midriff. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the global Schnee Dust Company."

"Finally! Some recognition…"

"The world's greatest energy producer. And, infamous for its controversial labor practices and questionable business partners."

"Oh! The nerve of…" Weiss stomped off, the two men wheeling the carts behind her.

"I'll make it up to you!" Ruby called out but Weiss was either too far away to hear or was ignoring her. "Thanks…" The black haired girl had vanished into thin air. Where did she go?

"She's fast. Don't usually see someone that good at climbing trees." The green-haired boy stated, looking into the treeline. Ruby blinked, trying to see but couldn't. Oh well.

"Thanks for the help! What's your name?" Ruby held out a hand. The boy took it and shook it. Ruby blinked. If his grip was anything, he was really strong.

"Midoriya Izuku. Please just call me Midoriya." Midoriya said, giving an earnest smile which Ruby gave back.

Just then, the blonde who vomited everywhere came running up to them. "Hey. I heard a commotion earlier. Anyone needing help?"

Both of them stared at the blonde. "No, we got it resolved now."

The blonde sighed. "Oh well. Want to find the Auditorium?"

Midoriya nodded. "Follow me." He started walking away, the blonde and Ruby following behind.

"You seem to know where you're going." Ruby commented after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"I've been here for a few weeks now. Needed special wound care after an attack."

"Ah, I see. Grimm?" Midoriya nodded. "I hope you showed them what's what like wham, bam!"

Midoriya and the blonde chuckled. "Sure did!" He looked to the blonde. "What's your name?"

"Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue. Ladies love it." He said, puffing his chest out.

"Do they?" Ruby and Midoriya asked together, though Midoriya sounded more curious compared to Ruby's sarcasm.

"At least, I hope so. I mean, Mom says that all the time and… oh, never mind. Gods." Jaune's earlier confidence was gone and he just looked embarrassed now.

The walk continued on, even more awkward than earlier. Time to try out tried and true. "So anyway, I got this." Ruby unstrapped the red box from her dress and pressing a button on the side. It unfurled, the scythe point sticking into the ground.

Jaune stepped back and Midoriya jumped back, both looking startled, Midoriya more than Jaune. "Is that a scythe?"

"Yup! It's also a customizable high impact sniper rifle."

"What?" Jaune asked.

"She's saying it's a gun." Both looked to Midoriya who was opening his backpack and pulling out a notebook, writing something down. "Something so big shouldn't be easy to move but that sharp tip can be used for anchoring the barrel for the weapon. But it would only work for open spaces, not for if cover is needed like under a bush. Somethinglikethatwouldrequirespeedmeaningyoulikelyhaveaspeedquirkbutifyouhadnoenergy,coulditbeused…" Both of them stared at Midoriya as he muttered under his breath, his hand never stopping.

"Midoriya!" Jaune shouted, startling Midoriya from his train of thought.

"Oh no, I did it again, didn't I?"

"If you mean muttering and looking like a madman, then yes, that again." Ruby folded her scythe back up. His talk about speed and Quirk, whatever that meant, was creeping her out a little so she decided to change the subject. "Enough about me. What weapons do you two have?"

Jaune pulled out a sword. "I got this. It's a hand-me-down from the War. I also got this shield too. It can compact itself for space."

"But wouldn't it weight the same?" Ruby asked. Jaune nodded, looking dejected.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I've often been told I overdid it with Crescent Rose."

"Wait, you made that?" Midoriya asked, shocked.

"Yup! All the students at Signal Academy make their own weapons and learn how to maintain them."

"My sword isn't exactly new. It got used during the Great War." Jaune said, sounding defeated.

"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me. I like that! Few people appreciate the classics these days." Ruby said, smiling even wider than before.

"Yeah. Sorry I couldn't help out earlier."

"Ah, don't worry about it." Ruby then looked to Midoriya. "Midoriya, do you have the layout of the Academy grounds? I lost mine in the wash. Can you tell me where the food court is at, for example? I'm starving."

"Food court! Where?" The trio were startled when the boy wearing orange armor ran past them into the Academy, looking around frantically.

"Seems you're not the only hungry one." Midoriya said, sweatdropping at the sight. By now, they had reached the Auditorium and everyone was already there. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the chamber.

"Ruby! Over here, saved you a spot." Yang stood up on her toes, waving Ruby down. She was alone, thank goodness.

"Oh, that's my sister. Gotta go, see you after the ceremony!" She then ran over before either boy could respond.

"So. How's your first day going?" Yang asked, teasingly.

"You mean since you ditched me and I exploded?"

"Yikes, meltdown already?" Yang asked, thinking that Ruby was simply exaggerating.

"No, I literally got exploded from the verbal smackdown. I'd never met anyone who could so closely resemble ice and still explode like that."

"I hope you're joking." Yang said, crossing her arms under her rather large bust.

"I wish, I…"

"You!" The same crabby girl, Weiss, was standing next to them. "Get out of here. You nearly blew a hole through Beacon."

"Oh Gods! Not again!" Ruby said, jumping into Yang's arms.

"Oh Gods, you really exploded." Yang said, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ruby let herself down. "Look, I said it before so I'll say it again. I'm sorry. What more do you want from me?"

Weiss produced a pamphlet and waved it around. "The Schnee Dust Company is not responsible for any injuries or damages sustainable…" Ruby tried to keep up, but it was so boring!

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Ruby asked, rubbing her ears.

Weiss slammed it into Ruby's chest. "Read it. Never speak to me again." And stomped off.

"I see what you mean, Rubes. Geez." Yang said, her eyes following Weiss. There was a loud coughing. The speech was about to begin.

"I'll be brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, or power, or any other reason. Either way, you are here now. Under our tutelage, you will hone your craft and find new skills, and once that's done, you will dedicate your life to serving the people of Remnant. And yet, when I see each and every face here, I see great potential going to waste. You assume knowledge for the sake of knowledge will be enough, but we can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take that first step to finding your purpose. Dismissed." The students started murmuring amongst each other after hearing those words. What a way to be greeted.

Once he stepped off, his deputy Glynda stepped up. "You will gather in the ball room tonight, tomorrow your initiation begins. Good luck." Then she left too.

The crowds started dispersing as Ruby and Yang stared at the platform. "That wasn't right. He seemed… off." Yang said.

The next thing Ruby knew, it was night time and they were all in their pajamas. Ruby had on the only pajamas she had, a red tank top with red poka dot pants. Yang, on the other hand, had short shorts and a yellow tank top. "Whatcha doing, Ruby?" Yang asked, laying next to her.

"Writing a letter to Dad and Qrow. It's just hard, Yang. I don't know any of these people here."

"Okay. Please tell them I miss them. Man, this is like a big slumber party!"

"Yes. Dad wouldn't approve of all the boys here."

"I know I do." Yang gave a little purr and licking of her lips as she saw the boys flexing their muscles to the girls nearby, some of them swooning over them already. Then Jaune entered, Midoriya next to him. Yang cringed when she saw the baby blue onesie that Jaune was wearing but blinked when she saw Midoriya in only a white shirt and green shorts. "Who's that?"

Ruby looked up. "That's Midoriya Izuku. I met him while I got blown up. He stopped it from getting any worse than it did."

Yang smacked Ruby with a pillow. "And you didn't tell me that you knew such a hunk? Ruby, I'm offended."

"Yang!" Ruby cried, her cheeks burning up.

"Sorry. I'm just glad that you're making friends at last."

"Yeah, but they're still strangers to me."

"What about that Jaune guy? Or Midoriya? Jaune seemed, nice? Yes, there we go! Two new friends, that's a 200% increase already!"

"Except Weiss balances both of them out." Ruby grumbled.

"Hey, you made two friends and one enemy. That just happens. Besides, it's only been the first day. There's lots of potential friends here. You just need to look. You might even find yourself a boy who sticks around~"

"Yang!" Ruby smacked her again, causing Yang to laugh. Both of them looked over to hear screams coming from the bathroom and candidates around were gagging before the door slammed shut and the coughing started to die down. What's that about? Yang then returned her focus to the crowd, same as Ruby now. It didn't long for Ruby to notice two people who Ruby has wondered about. "That boy. That girl."

"You know them?"

"Not really. The boy was very distant when we all got onto the Aerial Bus and the girl saw what happened a little while ago but left before I could say anything to her." What Ruby hadn't expected was for Yang to stand up and grab Ruby by the arm. "Yang, what are you…"

"No time like the present." No matter how much Ruby pulled, Yang held on and pulled them to the pair. The girl was wearing a bow on her head, the same one she wore earlier in the day and a white kimono and was reading a book. The boy next to her held a sword in hand and was sharpening it with a rag. He was not quite as muscular as Midoriya, but damn, he was fine in Yang's eyes. He was wearing a simple blue shirt and khaki pants. Both of them looked up when they heard Ruby's protests. "Hellooo." Yang said when she reached them.

Yang smirked, though, when she saw the boy's reaction to their entrance. His green eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing before he shut it again, calming down. "Like what you see?" Yang asked in a sultry manner. Ruby mumbled her name, embarrassed.

The boy looked annoyed by that remark. "If you mean being flirty and looking like the sun is going to blind me, then yes. I like it." The had finished his work and set the rag aside.

"What's that?" Ruby asked before Percy could put it up.

He just sighed and held it up. "This is my sword, Riptide." Ruby reached out for it but Percy held it back. "It's very sharp, you'll cut yourself."

"I know how to handle swords." Ruby exclaimed but the boy ignored her, setting the blade aside.

"Well, you're fun." Yang said sarcastically before turning to the girl. "I believe you two know each other."

The girl with the bow looked at Ruby with a questioning look. "Aren't you the girl who got chewed out by the Schnee heiress."

"Uh, yeah. My name is Ruby or you can call me… you know what? Just Ruby works."

"Uh huh." Blake looked back down at her book.

Yang whispers in her ear, "What are you doing?"

"I don't know. I'm grasping at straws here. Please help." They both look to the girl with rather creepy smiles. "So, what's your name?"

"Blake."

"Well, hello, Ms. Blake. My name is Yang, Ruby's big sis. Say, I love your bow."

"Thanks." Blake replied, the word coming out almost as a hiss.

"It goes well with your pajamas." Yang added. Blake didn't even look up from that but the boy had a hand on his mouth to try and stop himself from laughing. So, he is human after all, Yang thought to herself.

"Nice night, don't you think?" Ruby tried resuming the conversation again.

By the point, Blake looks up once more. "Yes. It is. Almost as good as this book here." A pause as the sisters stared at Blake. "That I want to continue reading." Another pause. "Once you're gone."

"Yeah, they're both lost causes. Come on, Ruby." Yang grabbed her arm.

Ruby noticed the book for the first time, particularly how old it looked. "Your book." All three looked to Ruby with mild surprise. "What's it about?"

"Well, alright. It's about a man with two souls each fighting for control over the shared body."

"Yeesh. That sounds lovely." Yang said, looking disturbed.

"I absolutely love books," Ruby started, "Yang used to read them to me every night before bed. Stories of heroes and monsters, they're one of the reasons I want to be a Huntress."

Blake chuckled and the boy looked at Ruby with mild interest now. "Why is that? Hoping you'll get to live happily ever after?"

"Well, I'm hoping we all will. As a girl, I wanted to be just like the heroes in those stories. Someone who fought for what was right and protected people who can't protect themselves."

"That sounds very ambitious, for a child. Unfortunately, the real world isn't the same as a fairy tale."

"That's why we're here. To make it all better." Ruby said, full of conviction. Blake blinked at that, taken aback. Yang was grinning widely until they heard a loud "Ha!" It came from the boy who was beginning to lay himself down.

"You're a special case." He said, a cynical smile beginning to form. "Those sorts of stories are meant to show who the best of us really are, but it's rarely what the truth is. Either the hero turns to be a self-serving prick, the monster comes back in the second round, whatever. They will always come back and you will always fight them until you give in. Then someone new will step in to do the fight. A battle going on and on for eternity. Are you okay with that?"

Ruby and Yang were shaking slightly. Even Blake seemed startled by that. "I don't know what you're asking."

"I'm asking if you know what you're getting yourself into. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Then why are you here?" Yang asked, feeling her anger rising but her eyes stayed purple.

The boy shrugged. "Because that's what I'm good at." He stared at Ruby. "Ruby? Do you understand?"

Ruby stared at him, petrified. It was his eyes she feared. It felt like staring down at a predator ready to attack. She took a shaky breath. "I do. And I'll do it anyway. People are always worth saving."

The boy sighed, his intense aura disappearing. "Okay. I'm glad to hear you got your ducks in a row." He gave another smile now, a more gentle one even if it was rather forced. "Sorry about that scare. Ruby? Yang? I'm Percy Jackson."

"Hi, Percy." Ruby waved, an awkward smile brewing.

"It was nice to talk to you." Blake said. Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of stomping steps.

"What is going on here! Who's making all this blasted noise!" A familiar screecher stomped up to them. "Can't you tell we're all trying to get some sleep?" She paused as she and Yang made eye contact.

"Oh no! Not you again!" They said in unison. Seriously, how did they do that?

Ruby shushed them both. "Please. She's right. People are trying to sleep." The two looked out. Sure enough, the entire body was awake and they looked pissed.

Weiss sighed. "So you're on my side now."

"I was always on your side!" Ruby shot back.

"Why are you always yelling at my sister? She's just trying to help."

Weiss screamed back, "She's going to be a hazard to my health."

"Please just shut up already!" Someone in the crowd shouted. None of them knew who it was, but it was enough to get them to quiet down.

"Thank goodness." Blake said, picking her candle and blowing out the light.

"Good night."

"Good night."