Chapter Text
First Day
The airship flew over The Great Wall of Beacon. Five miles long and a mile tall, it protected the city of Beacon from the Grimm and starved them with the sense of security it gave the people.
Ruby stared awestruck at the seemingly impossible structure that protected the capital of The Vale Kingdom. Yang flinched her little sister's chin. “Careful. Don't drop your jaw.”
Ruby slapped her away and whined, “Stop it, Yang. I'm just… just…”
Yang giggled and side-hugged Ruby, joining in the amazement. “Yeah. Think about it. This is what Dad and Uncle Qrow fought for. What we'll be fighting for.”
They watched the city go by until they were instructed to return to their seats. The airship started to descend. A screen played the local broadcast as a news report came on.
“Good afternoon, Beacon,” a middle-aged man greeted, “Time for the midday reports. Last we reported the police were in the middle of a manhunt for local crime lord Roman Torchwick. Torchwick is one of Beacon's most active criminals and has enjoyed a number of leniencies under Vale's Bigger Fish doctrine. However, due to recent developments, the police are issuing an official request for Torchwick to come forth and turn himself in for questioning. Should he refuse, law enforcement will consider revoking his protected status of crime lord, thus making anyone who associates with him immediately subject to criminal prosecution. If you see Roman Torchwick and are in a reasonable position, please inform him of the request. Now on to other news with Lisa Lavender.”
The screen cut to a woman in a fine suit.
“Thank you, Cyril. In other news, a Faunus rights protest turned dark. While the protests started peacefully, eventually, more radical rhetoric started being heard from White Fang operatives within the crowd. The organization cited internal division within for the disruption, but local courts found the claim dubious as the organization has done nothing to facilitate the capture of The Demon Faunus Adam Taurus. The vile and violent terrorist leading the majority of anti-human violence. However, authorities have had no sightings or mentions of The Demon Faunus for the past two months, causing authorities to become nervous in anticipation for the worst. If you, or anyone you know, has information about Adam Taurus, please report it to the authorities post haste. Adam Taurus is incredibly hostile and dangerous.”
The feed cut out as the airship landed.
“Two months,” Ruby noted, “That's when the dust shop robberies started. Do you think they're connected?”
“Absolutely not.” Yang answered, “If half of what they say about Adam Taurus is true, then it's impossible that he would work with Torchwick. But never mind that, Ruby! Today is your first day of Beacon Academy! You should be celebrating!”
Ruby nodded, “Right, what should we do to celebrate?”
“Well…” Yang said nervously, “About the ‘we’ part. I've got something to do. So, how about you get a head start on it? On your own. Make some new friends.”
“What?” Rube was totally shocked at the suggestion, “What are you talking about, Yang? I won't know where to start.”
“I have faith in you.” Yang marched forth, leaving her sister behind.
Unfortunately, Ruby followed and jumped in front of her path. “Wait! You can’t be serious! You’re just abandoning me?”
Yang sighed before donning her smile, “Of course not! I just want you to… get to know the city.”
“What if the city has weirdos?”
“Great! You can teach them not to mess with the Patch Sisters!” Yang mock-jabbed Ruby, who only grew more flustered.
“Yang! I’m serious! I won’t know where to even begin!”
Yang pulled her sister into a hug and gestured to the city, “That’s easy! You got the mall and the park and the bakery,” Yang turned and pulled Ruby with her, “and the armory and the tailor and the butcher,” Yang spun more pointing into the direction, “and the blacksmith and the market and the tea shop,” Ruby cried in protest but Yang continue to turn around and around, “and the gunsmith and the armour and the bodega,” Yang was just twirling now with Ruby in tow shouting for mercy, “and the boutique and the theater and the shooting range” Yang was fully spinning as Ruby hung on for dear life, “and, of course, the arcade!”
Yang released Ruby and sent her flying like a cyclone. Ruby light frame glided across the ground as Yang retreated, shouting, “Okay! Have fun! I love you! Bye!”
Ruby couldn’t track as she spun. Dizziness turning to sickness. She would have become ill if not for her movement being stopped by a solid mass. A stack of luggage fell around and on her as she lay on the ground.
“What! Are you doing?” A voice screamed. A girl in white strided in a temper, “Do you not watch where you’re going? Do you not know the damage you could have caused?”
Ruby was still recovering her senses. She squeaked out, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” The loud girl screamed, “Sorry wouldn't undo the damage you could have done.”
“But there is no damage.” Ruby pleaded
The girl opened a case, “Yes, by the grace of the north star, but this is pure dust. Hand mined straight from the Schnee Quarry to ensure quality.”
“Isn't pure dust kind of… incredibly dangerous?”
“Only when idiots and klutzes are around, so right now, yes.”
“Klutz?” Ruby repeated, confused.
“Yes, klutzes, like you,” The girl pulled out a glass bottle that was sealed filled with bright red liquid like sand, “Idiotic dolts who don't appreciate quality.” She returned the bottle to the case, “Foolish nimrods who stumble through life slack jawed and empty minded.”
“Hey!” Ruby shouted back, done with the abuse, “You can't just insult me like that!”
Ruby stepped forward, pointing for emphasis when her hand knocked the case out of the mean girl's hand. Half a dozen glass bottles tumbled and hit the ground hard. Fortunately, most of them stayed in one piece. Unfortunately, one did not.
The explosion was blinding. Throwing the remaining luggage around and sending the dust bottles across the grounds. With one rolling to the foot of another young book pretending to read a book as she coolly watched the situation unfold.
The smoke dissipated. The mean girl stood there, arms crossed over her face, and a wall of pale white energy in front of her. Ruby was knocked to ground and covered in soot
“This!” The mean girl screeched, “This is what I was talking about! Idiots like you need to watch yourself.”
“Listen,” Ruby said, holding her nerve, “I don’t even know who you are, Little Miss Princess.”
“It’s Little Miss Heiress, actually,” The cool-mannered girl approached them, “Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. The number one manufacturer of munitions and developer of dust-based technology. Responsible for the advancement of more efficient renewable of spent dust and has, within the last twenty years, forwarded advancements into managing the waste byproducts of dust refinement. All while still pulling in a profit of billions of Lien.”
Weiss Schnee stood and basked in the praise, smiling proudly, “It’s nice to get some proper recognition.”
“The company is also known for its controversial labour practices,” The cool girl continued, “questionable business partner, and suspicious dealings with regulatory agencies across the kingdoms.”
Weiss's expression soured to a deep scowl. “We pay all of our workers fair wages for their labour.”
“Sure,” The cool girl said as she extended the dust bottle out. Weiss snatched the bottle and turned to march off. The rest of the luggage had be disappeared by a group of unnoticed men in vests and slacks who followed Weiss.
“Wait!” Ruby shouted, “I don't want to–”
She gave up halfway through her plea, “Oh well. Anyways, I'm Ruby.” She turned to the cool girl only to see her walking away. “Oh. Okay then. I'll… see you later?”
Ruby weakly waved before sinking down and collapsing onto the ground.
“This was a mistake.” She sighed to herself. She wanted to go back and finish her study at her home school of Signal. As she continued to mope, a shadow came over her. Ruby looked up to see a blond boy reaching his hand to her.
“Hey, I'm Juane Arc,” the boy introduced himself, “Need a hand?”
“Yeah. I'm Ruby Rose,” Ruby introduced herself to her first friend.