Chapter Text
"So what are we supposed to do now?" a tall male with slicked back shoulder length black hair asked as he neared the edge of the steep cliff he and his companions had found themselves.
"Not sure really. Hadn't thought of that since I was more focused on trying to get us away from that thing." a slightly shorter girl with wavy shoulder length dark brown hair replied snappily as she gestured to the Grimm in front of them. She took a moment to take stock of the situation. "Do you think we could jump it?"
"I would put that as a definite 'no'. It's about twice the height of any of us." a man with spiked shoulder length red hair pointed out.
"We could always try dodging to the side and let it run off the cliff?" the final member of the group, a girl with long bright orange hair suggested.
"Hmm... Actually that gives me an idea. Get ready to rush to the sides of this thing." the black hair man directed with a nod to the girl with dark brown hair. "Ready on your signal."
"Alright then let's give it a go. On the count of three." the girl replied.
"One." The group prepared themselves to dive side-wards.
"Two..." The Grimm huffed as it prepared to charge.
"Three!"
5 MONTHS EARLIER - City of Vale.
"Scarlet are you ready?" a voice called from downstairs.
"Almost Mum. I'll be down in a moment." Scarlet called in reply, grabbing her black beanie with a skull design and heading over to the full length mirror in her room.
She took a moment to look at her reflection. She had chosen to wear a vibrant scarlet red tshirt under a pale blue leather jacket, with black tight fitting pants. She had finished her outfit with a pair of black boots that had golden accents around the trim.
Looking back up at her face she saw her own electric blue eyes staring back. She reached up and carefully ran a hand through her dark brown hair, making sure not to catch the cat ears nestled on her head. Scarlet sighed, wiggling her cat ears before folding them back and gently pulling on the beanie she still held, making sure the skull design was at the front.
Once she was certain everything was in its place and that her ears were comfortable, Scarlet left her room and headed downstairs.
"I'm ready Mum." Scarlet announced as she reached the base of the stairs.
"I do wish you wouldn't hide under that hat of yours Scarlet..." Scarlet's mother sighed gently, before opening the front door. "But it's your own decision. Let's get going. Your father went ahead to make sure we got the table we booked."
Scarlet waked out onto the street as her mother closed and locked the front door to their home. The duo walked down the streets of Vale toward the restaurant that had been booked for dinner. Scarlet opened the door for her mother and they both entered the restaurant.
Glancing around at the various tables, Scarlet's mother quickly spotted Scarlet's father and the two quickly made their way over and sat down.
"I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long my dear." Scarlet's mother said to her husband as a waiter walked to the table to take their orders.
"Not long at all. In fact you have perfect timing seeing as the waiter is here." Scarlet's father replied with a smile, telling the waiter his order shortly afterwards.
Both Scarlet and her mother placed their orders and the family sat and discussed their days while the food was prepared.
The waiter returned shortly afterwards with their orders, placing them on the table before heading elsewhere.
Everyone tucked into their respective plates of food as the earlier topics of conversation flowed across the table.
As the night moved on, and dinner moved to dessert, Scarlet's father's expression turned somber as he looked from his wife to his daughter, before shifting his gaze to the fourth, empty chair at the table. He sighed, taking a sip of his drink before finally speaking.
"I trust you both remember the reason why we're here tonight?"
"Of course we do dad. It's the same reason we come here on this day every year." Scarlet replied.
"What has it been? 6 years since he left to join the White Fang?" Scarlet's mother queried, lowering her voice so as not to draw attention.
"6 years exactly." Scarlet's father confirmed. "And we have not heard a thing from him since they turned to more... violent methods."
The family finished their deserts in silence, with Scarlet's father only speaking to pay and thank the waiter for their meal.
They left the restaurant and began the short journey home in the cold early spring air.
As they approached the front door, Scarlet's father stopped quickly and motioned for everyone to wait.
"Something's not right... It's far too quiet."
Scarlet peered around her father and her eyes widened in shock. "Dad the front door's been broken open."
"I can see that Scarlet." her father replied quietly as he moved closer to the front door. "Both of you stay behind me. Once we are in, Scarlet I want you to run and get me my sword from the hallway closet."
Scarlet nodded, and got ready to run as they moved into the entrance of their home.
"Go Scarlet. Quick and quiet. Whoever broke in may still be here." Scarlet's mother instructed, taking a defensive position next to her husband.
Scarlet moved as silently as she could down the hallway until she reached the closet. She grabbed her father's sword, and had prepared to sprint back to her parents when the sound of glass shattering broke the silence. She heard her parents shout as sounds of a fight travelled down the hall. Fearing for her parents, Scarlet dashed back before stopping abruptly at the scene in front of her.
Her parents lay in a crumpled heap against the wall, and White Fang grunts stood around them.
Tears of both fear and anger welled in Scarlet's eyes as she unsheathed her father's sword.
"Get away from my parents!" Scarlet yelled, charging forwards and swinging the sword at the grunts.
Unfortunately for Scarlet, she had failed to check her surroundings, giving one of the White Fang grunts time to detonate a smoke bomb, leaving Scarlet unable to see as she blindly swung the sword she held around.
The distraction allowed the grunts to surround Scarlet, and as the smoke cleared she found herself cornered.
Taking a moment to think, Scarlet charged the grunt closest to her parents, using the momentum from the short distance to launch herself slightly into the air so she could vault over them. She quickly turned and struck the grunt as she landed as hard as she could with the hilt of the sword, stumbling slightly before she regained her footing.
The grunt took a step back, giving a sideways nod to signal the other grunts to attack.
Unprepared for the assault Scarlet quickly fell to the ground, landing roughly against the shattered glass that lay on the floor. She hissed in pain as she bought a hand to her left eye, pulling it back to see blood. The next thing she knew she was picked up and thrown across the room, slamming heavily against the wall. She felt her consciousness begin to fade quickly as she saw the White Fang grunts filter out the front door and escape into the night.
The last thing she heard was the sound of flapping wings, followed by quick footsteps before she finally passed out.
5 MONTHS LATER, 1 WEEK BEFORE INITIATION - Beacon Academy
"Are you sure you want to go ahead with this Scarlet?"
"I am Professor Ozpin." Scarlet replied, tearing her eyes away from the scar that ran across her left eye. "I may not have the skill and experience of the other students, but this is the only chance I have to get stronger."
"Getting stronger will only get you so far. Remember, mental strength is just as important as physical strength." Ozpin replied, taking a sip from his coffee cup. "Especially with the world as it is."
"I know. I just feel like I have a lot to make up for. Unlike the others that get to attend Beacon I haven't been to a combat school. Hell I don't even have my own weapon yet." Scarlet sighed, looking over at the nearby desk where there were multiple weapon blueprints. "I have the design for it all drawn out, I just don't know where to begin when it comes to making it."
"Well I'm sure that Mr Branwen can give you a hand when he comes to check on you tomorrow." Ozpin replied. "But for now, let's go over your plan for initiation."