Log 001: White like Roses

Beacon Academy - 25 years Before The Fall

"Ozpin, explain now!" Raven screams as team STRQ enter Ozpin's office. "You lied to us! How dare you?"

Ozpin stares emotionless. The sight of young hunters stricken by despair. But they're young, so much yet to see, even after the missions they have done. One never stops learning, and they are just starting.

"Everyone has their secrets to protect, right miss Bandit?"

Raven grits her teeth as Tai and Summer look at the Branwens in shock. Qrow tries to avoid meeting them in the eyes. Ozpin finally stands up from his chair. He starts to walk slowly towards the disruptive children. Team STRQ straightens up, preparing for anything, just like they have been taught.

"But since we're here dancing with the truth, I must implore you to understand that I was going to tell you this eventually once you graduated, but…"

"But what? Wait until we're indoctrinated into your lies?!" Raven shouts.

"But until you were mature enough to understand why." Ozpin sighs as he finally can reach them at an arm's length. "This supposed lie is the reality that keeps everyone, you, safe. The bandits, the Faunus, the shopkeepers. Everyone is safe."

Tai, Summer and Qrow stare at each other, thinking. Raven is furious, shocked as to how stoic and robotic Ozpin sounds.

"The enemy is easily attracted and most aren't strong enough to protect themselves, your bandit clan almost was wiped out because you thought you could deal with that, and then you got here to gather strength as you walk with your tails between your legs in desperation. What you discovered is a sacrifice to protect everyone."

Silence reigns. Ozpin feels relief as he sees team STRQ thinking about what he's saying, everything seems to go accordingly.

"How many?" Ozpin looks at the shy hooded Summer, trembling to speak. She's a good kid, maybe too good.

"How many have to die to keep this up, professor?"


Beacon Academy - 1 year Before The Fall

"Miss Belladonna, I'm glad you could make it to the interview, it isn't often we get students from outside the cities and towns."

Blake Belladonna thinks. To Ozpin is clear what she wants to avoid, she's an ex White Fang, her parents run the Menagerie Colony. Ozpin is more curious about how much she actually knows.

"We checked your papers, and everything seems alright, you can join this semester with the rest of the students next week. However, there's one thing I want to know. Why did you decide to come here?"

"To become a huntress." Blake responds like she practiced multiple times on her travels to Beacon, the language is a bit hard for her, but has been able to manage with people either finding her accent enduring or annoying; more importantly for her is to be able to get into Beacon Academy for her safety.

Ozpin grins kindly, "But why a huntress? To some is a simple job, to others is to contain the Grimm as we have successfully done in the four kingdoms, to others is a stepping stone for something greater, and to others is to become heroes of humanity and Faunus. So let me ask again, why?"

Blake stares, Ozpin knows more than what he shows. Ozpin is one of the few who have protected faunus' rights to be treated fairly. Blake believes in him, but there's an unease that she can't pin point.

Blake looks determined at Ozpin. "The Grimm isn't the only menace, there's so much injustice. I want to discover the truth about the Grimm and the power of the huntress to end those injustices. To unite everyone against the Grimm." Ozpin smiles at Blake's response.

"Very well Miss Belladonna, welcome to Beacon Academy."


Beacon Academy - Present

The screams of agonizing pain claim over the sound of buildings crumbling in Beacon. Cardin stares in horror as he sees both friends and civilians be consumed by the Grimm and the White Fang onslaught. He runs and fights to get him and the survivors to safety. What once was the kingdom of example, where, even if injustices existed, they were so little and dealt so quickly that everyone lived peacefully, perfect to avoid negative emotions. Now it's only ruins. The chaos, the Atlas ships falling, and even more ancient Grimm appearing, Cardin is left alone after the evacuation ships cannot fit him in. He's trembling in fear.

"It's all that Faunus scum! It's their fault!" Screams in agony. He walks, fighting Grimm as best he can.

"The rumors are true, it must be, Faunus are the reason why Grimm exists, they come from them, they turn into them!" Cardin repeats to himself as he continues fighting. It seems to never end.

His maze breaks. He has nothing, he never was anything, aiming his emptiness towards others. Cardin wanted to become a Hunter to be someone important. The memory of his jealousy towards others, especially that weakling Jaune that somehow was able to bring people to him, fills him as the feeling of every tooth and claw sinking into his skin makes him regret everything. He slowly falls, as the grim dark beasts overwhelm him.

In his dying breath, he notices his skin becoming pitch black, white spikes coming out of his scars. He then looks around. Only Faunus' bodies, alive people and Grimm remain in the ruins of Beacon Academy. Then it hits him. He was the true monster of this world, loving the lie that he was better than those pesky Faunus, a child of light to fight the shadow of the Grimm. The only thing that Cardin was left thinking as his cries turned into a scarlet scar was.-

That humans turn into Grimm when they die.


Log 001 End.