Welcome To Beacon Pt. 1

"Hm. Not looking forward to the next four years. Nope, not at all." Cinder commented as she was staring out the window of the bullhead. Coming in view, was Beacon Academy in all its glory. The view making oneself wonder if it was an island floating in the sky, powered by some ancient artifact.

In other news, last night there was an incident of a robbery taking place here in Vale." The news reporter voice caught Cinder's attention as she went ahead and gaze at the monitor in the middle of the ship on the ceiling, standing a few feet behind other patrons as they watched the news.

The suspects at had were no other than members of the notorious and radical Faunus group known as the Blood Fang. What was once a peaceful protest group turned into a group of thieves and murderers. Authorities are calling for their heads and have posted wanted posters of them all over Vale, warning citizens to be on the lookout and contact the police if they witness any suspicious activity.

'The Blood Fang. Ever since that peaceful protest rally that quickly turned into massacre, they completely changed their ways of peace and became terrorists that want nothing more than the extinction of human life. Not that I can blame because of us humans but it's not like it'll change anything.' Cinder thought.

The Faunus were seen as second-class citizens or as outcasts all because they were different, having animal features as part of their biology. It's not like it's their fault for being born that way, you can't choose how to be born, if we could then things would be completely different. But the reality is that humans see Faunus as freaks of nature.

Some seem that as normal, others seem them as pets that need to be put in their place, but most of them seem in fear because they don't understand what they don't know. They'll believe what others tell them or if someone from a reliable source that'll tell them the truth about them and that's the problem.

Not many humans will think for themselves about how different the Faunus or try to understand them, and it's thanks to ignorance, pride, and unfair treatment that the Blood Fang has become what they are now.

"At this rate, things will never change between them. One day, all of this is going end up badly. With just the right amount of tragedy, bloodshed, and destruction… it's going to start a war between Faunus and Humans and once that happens… no one will win."

"I agree."

Cinder turned her head to the voice that agreed with her opinion. Turning her head, she just saw a body next to her wearing a tattered cloak that covered all but their legs, only showing the boots.

"Excuse me?"

"About your opinion on the war between humans and Faunus that will inevitably break out. If it happens, both sides will be fighting each other and forgetting about the Grimm who are attracted to negative emotions and there's no telling who they might attract. Whether they could be a Beowolf, a Nevermore or worse-case scenario, a Wyvern." The man said.

"That's very specific. Speaking from experience?" Cinder asked.

"….Something like that. Let's just say that I've broken free from my chains and now on a journey to become my own master." The mysterious man said as he turned around with his back facing her. "After all, everyone has the ability to carve their own paths." He said cryptically before walking away leaving Cinder pondering about his words.

'Our own paths huh.' She thought to herself before hearing the bell rang through the ship announcing that it will be landing soon. Pushing her previous thoughts aside, Cinder went ahead to her seat and waited for the ship to land.

After landing and finally within view of the academy, Cinder slowly made her way towards the said building all while looking around at the students, ranging from freshman to seniors along with the weapons they had. It was also a bit windy, as she had to keep pushing her bangs away from her face.

"So many students, and so many weapons." She commented as she kept walking. "I can observe them later. First things first, get to the auditorium and then find somewhere peaceful and quiet for th—mmph!" Cinder was interrupted when a hat flew into her face.

Grabbing it roughly, she was about to incinerate the thing when she looked inside and saw an emblem on it, a jack-o-lantern.

'This must belong to someone, probably flew off their head when the wind started blowing out of nowhere.' Cinder thought.

She then heard shuffling in front of her, as she looked up and saw a girl with multi-color hair ranging from half pink to half brown with white streaks on the side, looking around with a panicked expression. Her eyes darting all over nervously as she was looking for something but also as if she was afraid to talk to someone.

Cinder looked down at the hat and figured that it must belong to her. She made her way over to the girl who had her back turned and was holding her hand above her eyes trying to sharpen her vision.

Giving her a quick tap on the shoulder, the petite girl let out a small shriek and started shaking as she slowly turned around and gaze at Cinder who was a bit startled at the former's reaction.

"Um… I believe this is yours." Cinder said as she slowly held the hat in front of the girl, whose eyes widened in shock before immediately grabbing the hat out of her hands and pulled it to her chest, humming happily and nuzzling the hat as if someone had finally retrieve something they've lost for so long, leaving Cinder to observed her appearance.

She had on a black and white scheme color. She was wearing a sleeveless black blouse with white frills on the chest and collar, and a ribbon hanging on the front of the collar, the blouse was also exposing her midriff. There were medium length black armbands on both of her wrists. Along with the blouse, she wore a knee-length skirt fastened with a white belt, white legwarmers and black shoes with a mitsudomoe emblem on the soles.

Cinder was brought out of her thoughts when she heard whimpering and she looked down and saw the said girl shaking in anxiety.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare at you, it was rude of me." She apologized but the girl immediately shook her head. The latter turn around confusing the amber eyed teen, before facing her once more and put hand into the hat all while shaking. Slowly but surely, the girl raised her hand and pulled it out of the fabric revealing that she was holding an ice cream bar. Shakingly, she held it out towards Cinder who gently grabbed it from her.

Cinder inspected the said product and was surprised that the ice cream bar was legit and real and not just a prop. "That's a neat trick. Are you-!?" She paused as she realized the girl was no longer in front of her and was gone. She looked around to see where she went but couldn't find her.

'She vanished. Judging from her body language and anxiety, it was clear that she didn't want to be near anyone but she didn't leave right away.' Cinder thought looking at the ice cream bar back in her hand.

"I guess this is her way of saying thank you." Even though it was the afternoon, it's not like she had a freezer that could keep it cool and she doubt she would be in the dorms until later on within the week. Not wanting it to go to waste, she went ahead and opened the bar before taking a bite. Humming in satisfaction at the taste

"Delightful." She commented and went back to heading towards the academy. Unaware from afar that there was someone up in a tree that had viewed the entire interaction.

"All of these people, all their expressions with laughter and joy, their heads filled with dreams and ambitions and yet, they are so blissfully unaware of the real danger that awaits them." A teen stated as she continued observing the crowd in front of her. She was a young woman with medium brown skin and red eyes, with mint-green hair styled into a ponytail. Underneath her white short-sleeve jacket, she was wearing a short olive-crop top with torn brown chaps and belt, beneath them were dark green pants and plain dark brown flat shoes, she also had white gloves.

"The question is, will they ever be ready for the real world?"

"Hey Emerald, you done monologuing up there?" A voice interrupted.

The said girl was brought out of her thoughts when she gazed down at the person who called out to her. A pale young man with grey eyes and grey hair, partially slicked back while unkempt at the front. He was wearing a slate gray and black two-tone partial-zip jacket with the collar zipped all the way up, dark orange pants and a pair of black boots.

"Come on, you don't wanna be late to our very first school ceremony now do you?" He asked, as the girl jumped down from her perch and aimed an annoyed glare at him.

"It's a waste of time, and energy Mercury. Do you think any of these lost lambs want to hear anything from the staff?"

"Well, it is a ceremony for the new students and that's us, so… yeah." The grey-haired teen answered.

"Why do you even want to go?" Emerald asked while folding her arms near her chest. "We both know that you'll just sleep through it anyway."

"Because if I'm going, so are you. Plus, I get to see all the ladies in the auditorium and if I'm lucky, I might even get a date on the first day." Mercury said as a thought bubble appeared with him swooning all the ladies in his arms.

Sadly, his thoughts were short lived as Emerald popped it with her finger.

"There's a lady standing in front of you right now." She said with a hand on her hip.

"You don't count."

"Ugh, you are so annoying."

"But you love it." Mercury teased as Emerald was clutching the air as if she wanted to choke the latter right there.

"Ugh, forget it. Let's just get to this stupid ceremony." Emerald groaned, as they made their way to the auditorium.

As she was in the auditorium, Cinder was stationed near the wall far from the crowd of students that packed the place. She wasn't really much of a social person, not because she wasn't comfortable around them but more of that she only interacted with a few people all her life, which revolved around her adoptive father Rhodes, and a few others. It was a very small circle.

'No need to start a conversation if you have nothing to say.' She thought as she leaned back against the wall with her hands behind her waist. She was gazing at the crowd all around her, seeing a glimpse of white hair and possibly familiar faces but she didn't think too much about it.

She sighed to herself and decided to reach into her jacket and took out a small book with a red journal. She decided to read to pass the time until the ceremony started.

Tug* *Tug*

"Hm." Turning her head, she was wondering who tug her jacket and was in surprise when she saw that it was the same girl from earlier. She was not shaking as much as earlier but she was looking down at the ground while holding her jacket.

"Oh, it's you, the timid girl from earlier." Cinder said earning a small flinch from the said girl who only looked down and nodded her head rapidly. She then let go of the former and then started tapping her index fingers together, opening her mouth and then closely it immediately like she was trying to say something but didn't know what to say.

Cinder wondered what the girl wanted to ask, but then remembered the ice cream from earlier.

"Are you wondering about earlier, if I liked the ice cream bar you gave me?" She asked as the petite girl looked up at her in shock and then grabbed her right arm, gazing at her with such intensity like she was waiting for something.

"If you must know, it was good." She answered, which caused a smile to form on the petite's face as she also started clapping her hands together. She then pointed to the journal.

"Hm, do you want my journal?" She asked, wondering what the petite girl was trying to do. The latter slowly nodded her head and then made a gesture with her hands, holding out her right hand and then using her left to mimic a pencil and started air writing above it.

"Oh! You want to say something to me?" Cinder realized as the petite girl nodded her head.

'Must be a mute. Either lost her ability to speak or was born with it.' Cinder guessed, wondering how this girl was able to get in the preliminary exam for Beacon but she's not one for judgment. Reaching into her jacket, she was about to pull out another journal but was interrupted.

"Well, hello there."

A voice spoke causing Cinder to stop and the multi-colored hair girl to let out a small squeal of surprise before she went ahead and hid behind the closest thing to her which was the former.

"Nice going Mercury, you scared her."

"Sorry, it's not like I was expecting a pipsqueak to appear before me." Mercury said gesturing towards the petite girl who eyes widened at the name and then puffed her cheeks and glared back at him.

""Haaah…. And here I was hoping to just cruise in and pick up some chicks before my bigtime debut." He sighed.

"Oh no, how terrible. I'm sure they'll be fine." Emerald started in a sarcastic tone before giving him an annoyed stare.

"Of course you say that, then again that's what happens when you have a jealous childhood friend." Mercury said with sly smile on his lips.

"We're not childhood friends, and I'm not jealous." Emerald retorted.

"Sure, you aren't." Mercury teased.

" Mercury, I swear to Oum that I will choke you in front of all these people and dump your body in the forest to be eaten by the Grimm." Emerald threatened.

"But if you do that, you'll be so lonely without me. Face Emerald, we're like two peas in a pod, forever bound together by the hands of fate for all eterni- gah!" Mercury was interrupted as Emerald immediately did what she said and started choking him.

'And here I was hoping for some peace and quiet.' Cinder sighed mentally wondering why all of a sudden, she was getting into shenanigans. She looked over to the petite girl and saw her slowly nodding her head in approval as if Mercury was getting what he deserved.

She then decided to break it up, not wanting to be an accessory to murder.

"Hey!" Cinder shouted, breaking up the small interaction. Emerald had her legs wrapped around Mercury's waist and her arms around his neck trying to squeeze the life out of him while he was reaching up for air. Both of them turning their heads to amber eyed teen.

"Hate to break your lovers spat but how about we save this stuff till after our exams are finished." Cinder ordered as Emerald clicked her teeth and let go of her hostage.

"We're not lovers, more like forced acquaintances." Emerald said with a scowl.

"Uh huh." Cinder voiced, not believing Emerald one bit.

"Phew. Thank you, I thought I was going die for real this time." Mercury said in relief.

"Don't worry about it, but please mindful of your wording towards those around you. One day it might get you killed." Cinder warned.

"Noted." Mercury said with finger guns pointing at her. "May I know the name of the fair maiden that rescued this hipster from clutches of the death?"

"Cinder Fall." She said with a glare, wondering if the boy was just asking for death.

"Mercury Black, slaver of evil, wooer of women." The said boy introduced himself.

"And I regret this already." Cinder then turned to the mint-haired girl as the latter let out an annoyed huff.

"Emerald Sustrai, that's all you need to know." They all then turned back to the petite teen of the group who immediately got shy as all eyes were on her. Cinder then remembered that she wanted to write, so she handed her the green journal and a pen, allowing Neo to quickly grab it and immediately write her name, then turned it around and showed it to them.

"Neo Politan." They read as the said girl nodded her head shyly while also twisting her right foot back and forth.

"Like the ice cream bar?" Mercury asked, then took another look at Neo and then at her name. "Huh, now looking at you, it kinda makes sense."

"May I have everyone's attention." All of them looked towards the stage where they saw Salem standing with her hands clasped together in front of a microphone and Hazel was beside her with his crossed and his eyes closed.

I shall keep this brief and short. All you students have traveled from your homes to come here, each of you from different parts of the world in search of knowledge and experience. Honing your craft and obtaining new skills, dedicating your lives to protecting people. But right now, I see many minds full of energy needing purpose, direction, and guidance. Every adventure, every journey, every path you take needs a first step and the first step is always the hardest to take. Now whether that first leads you to success or ruin is fully up to you." Salem announced to them before leaving the stage, an ominous feeling was left hanging in the air until Hazel stepped up and spoke into the microphone.

"All you will be sleeping in the ballroom tonight, tomorrow your initiation will begin at 8 Am sharp. Be ready for tomorrow and come prepared. Dismissed." Hazel finished as he and Salem both left the stage and out of the ballroom.

"Well, that was… inspirational." Mercury commented.

"And generic." Emerald added.

"Welp, I'm off to grab some grub. Kind of hungry after all that walking."

"You ate before we got here."

"And? I'm still hungry. I wonder if they have any calzones." Mercury thought as he walked away.

"Guess that means I'm off too, need to make sure that idiot doesn't eat everything, later." Emerald gave them a wave before walking off in the same direction.

'And off they go, leaving just me and—' Cinder was caught off her thoughts when she realized that there was no more weight pressed against her. Looking down, she noticed that the said girl from earlier had disappeared once again.

'Never mind.' She sighed before making her way out the auditorium, deciding to scope the layout of the academy and wanting to know where everything is.

All the students were gathered in the ballroom as the nightfall came, some sleeping in for tomorrow while others stayed awake conversing with their peers.

Cinder was among those that were still awake, away from the crowd as she was in the corner of the hall writing down in her journal, with a candle lit beside her providing her a source of light. She was simply going over how her day went and how she had examined the entire layout of Beacon, or at least what she could find.

She then heard the sounds of feet shuffling along the floor, looking up she saw Neo once again and Cinder couldn't help but wonder if this girl was attached to her or if she was a safety blanket of some sorts.

"We meet again, Neo. I suppose you want some company?" Cinder guessed as Neo slowly nodded her head while holding tightly to the hat she carried. "Well, go ahead, I'm not stopping you."

Neo eyes lit up in happiness as she dropped her sleeping bag beside Cinder and laid down on it. She then took out the green journal that Cinder had given her and held in it front her.

"You can keep it." Cinder said as Neo tilted her head in confusion. "You look like someone that doesn't speak much because you don't want to or you can't, so I figured why not give you a book to express your thoughts and feelings."

Neo eyes widened at her blunt response and her expression to that of a pout, lifting her hands lightly smacking Cinder's shoulder.

'Guess I hit the mark.' Cinder thought, not even bothered by Neo's tiny hands and continue to write in her journal.

"Having fun?" Mercury asked as he and Emerald came upon the two. The former wearing grey shorts and a short sleeve shirt while the latter had on white shorts and a shirt that expose her midriff.

"Mind if we cut in?" He asked as Cinder just nodded her head knowing that she wasn't going to be alone. Mercury sat on one side while Emerald sat beside him. "So, what you doing?"

"Writing." Cinder answered as Neo stopped her smacking and sat closer to Cinder.

"About what? A letter or something?"

"No, just a hobby of mine. Nothing more, nothing less." Cinder answered bluntly.

"Sounds like a boring hobby if you ask me." Mercury said earning a glare in return.

"I wasn't asking."

"So, does anyone have any idea of what our exams gonna be like tomorrow?" The silver-haired teen asked, not wanting to irritate Cinder any further.

"Who knows, if anything it'll probably be demonstrating on our skills in that forest that's a few clicks from here." Emerald answered as she curled up and wrapped her arms around her knees. "Seeing how well we fight and take on Grimm."

"Yeah, that sounds like something my father would do."

"Your father was a huntsman?"

"No, but he was one hell of a mentor. Wanted to make sure I was well-prepared for the real world and that I didn't get myself killed." Mercury sighed as he laid on his back with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. "Old man was harsh but he cared for my well-being, and taught me everything to know about fighting."

'Sounds like a good father.' Cinder thought as she couldn't help but think back to her own adoptive father and smiled at the memories that she made with him when she was younger.

"Well, at least you're somewhat prepared for this but I don't know about the rest of people." Emerald started as she gazed around the room looking at all the new students. "All these kids here think that attending one of the best schools in the world would help become a Huntsman or Huntress, but they don't know what's really out there."

"Not yet at least." Cinder started earning their attention. "It's true that they don't really know what's out there but they're just freshman. They haven't seen the dark side of the world yet, though I can't say that applies to everyone. Some of them are lucky to be blissfully unaware while others aren't so lucky and had to experience the harsh reality of the world at a young age."

Hearing her words, the others couldn't help but agree with that as some have had seen the reality of the world at first hand.

"I guess you're not as blind as thought." Emerald voiced, gazing at Cinder with a look of interest.

"I agree. You sound like you've have some experience and seen some dark shit in your life." Mercury added as Neo slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"I have." Cinder answered before feeling weight against her arm, turning her head as she saw Neo struggling to keep her eyes open, the latter also raised her hand to her lips to stifle her yawns.

"We should get some sleep." She signaled as closed her book.

"What, that's it, no monologue, no backstory for us?" Mercury joked.

"I don't know you well enough to tell you about my past." Cinder stated as she nudged Neo off her arm, allowing the latter to go to her own bag and lay down.

"Touche." Mercury agreed. "Welp, see you in the morning." He turned over with his back facing them and went to sleep instantly. Neo gave them a small wave before hugging her pillow to her chest and was lulled in the dream world.

As Cinder was about to join them, she noticed that Emerald was still gazing at her with intense stare.

"Do you have something to say?" She asked as Emerald continued staring at her before the latter shook her head and sighed.

"No…. Just thinking about something." Emerald stated in a cryptic tone as she turned over and had her back facing Cinder. "Sleep tight."

Cinder stared at Emerald's back for a few more moments before shaking her head and grabbed the candle holder beside her. Lifting it up to her lips and gently blew out the flame as darkness entered her field of vision. Setting it aside and laid down on her own sleeping bag and joining the group in the realm of dreams.