The Beacon

It's been a Month and a half since Ryder planed for his weapon. It's also been 2 Months since he started training and arrived on Remnant. Things have been intense. His training was kicked into high gear, especially now that he had his weapon. Speaking of which Ruby helped him build his weapon, or well weapons, and when he got them, he couldn't be more prepared. His weapons are a pair of Gloves/Gauntlets and Boots, the gloves/gauntlets make it up to his forearms and his boots were almost like hiking boots but made of metal. He almost felt like a Spartan from Halo. His gloves and boots could channel each type of Dust for different effects. He took a few days trying to figure that out and also creating attacks and techniques he could use with his weapons. He found out he can use Wind Dust to basically double jump or do something that resembles a Force Push from Star Wars. With Fire he could launch fire balls at his targets or use it to boost his physical attacks like a punch or a kick. His hands could also function like flame throwers which is cool. With Lightning dust, he can do a lot. Lightning also can taze someone or launch bolts of lightning at a person. That's about all he can do with the most basic forms of Dust crystals. His gloves/gauntlets also have an added grappling hook for extra traversal abilities. He even picked a name for them, Vanguard. The name just made sense to him, so he went with Vanguard. 

Despite getting his weapon and his training getting harder, he also learned more about the Rose-Xiao Long Family. Raven Branwen, Qrow Branwen and Summer Rose. Raven is Yang's mom while Summer is Ruby's mom. Raven had abandoned Taiyang and Yang years ago and soon after, Summer stepped in to help raise Yang. Taiyang and Summer eventually fell in love with one another and soon had Ruby. But Tai couldn't catch a break as Summer would leave for a mission and never return. Taiyang lost both of his wives while Yang and Ruby lost their mothers. Ryder felt bad for them, his family back on Earth never really suffered many tragedies. He just never suffered any real major tragedy. He couldn't understand how they feel and he didn't try to pretend he did. But, he guesses a tragedy is being so far away from home with potentially no way back. That's one of the reasons he's becoming a Huntsmen, to hopefully find a way home. 

He had sent an application to Beacon Academy with the help of Taiyang. It did take some time, but he was accepted, and he was happy. Beacon was basically college in this world, so he was just proud that he was one step closer to becoming something more than just some helpless Earthling. However, they knew that others wouldn't believe Ryder's origin, so they all agreed to keep Ryder's other worldly origin a secret and covered it up with Amnesia. Ryder wasn't happy with lying, but he then remembered he was hiding his problems from them. He hates keeping secrets, but he's just too scared to say anything. His anxiety always gets the best of him. He can dwell on his problems later. Earlier today, Ruby got involved in a scuffle with a Criminal named Roman Torchwick. From what Ryder understands, Roman has evaded the Government of Vale and other governments many times. He's a highly infamous criminal. 

Another thing that emerged from this incident was that Ruby was accepted into Beacon 2 years early. Apparently, she got to talk to the headmaster of Beacon Academy. When news reached Yang and Taiyang, they were proud of her. Ryder was a bit on the fence as Ruby was only just 15, he was worried that it would be too early to throw her into this kind of environment. But he had faith that she'd be fine. She's a highly skilled fighter who wields a freaking scythe that turns into a sniper rifle. Speaking of weapons, he managed to create various techniques to use, and he honestly can't wait to use them. Currently, he was on a large airship heading to Beacon. He was actively wearing his weapons. His gloves and boots given an orange and white paint job. He as also wearing an orange hoodie, unzipped of course. He had a white shirt underneath but he wore all black combat jeans and had a belt that had various pouches holding additional Dust vials for his gauntlets and boots. His hair was short and his face was cleanly shaven. He looked out the window of the airship but kept his distance from it. He is taken out of his thoughts when Yang hugs Ruby, nearly crushing her. 

"Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me!" Yang cheers. "This is the best day ever!" 

"Please stop." Ruby gasps from the tight embrace. 

Ryder lets out a brief chuckle. Yang let's go of Ruby and the silver eyed girl catches her breathe. 

"But I'm so proud of you." Claims Yang. 

"Really sis, it was nothing." Ruby downplayed. 

"Fighting a Criminal known to evade authorities isn't nothing, Ruby." Ryder adds. 

"Exactly! It was incredible! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees." Yang said, still happy with Ruby's presence. 

"I don't want to be the "bee's Knees", okay? I don't want to be any kind of knees! I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees." Ruby argued, just wanting to be normal and treated like everyone else. 

"Being normal is okay, but just ignoring your achievements isn't. Aren't you excited?" asks Ryder. 

"Of course I'm excited... I just..." Ruby pauses before sighing. "I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything." she explains. 

Yang closed the distance and hugged her sister. 

"But you are special." Yang said. "Right Ryder?" 

"Totally." 

Ruby just smiles and rolls her eyes. their attention was moved to the holographic screen showing a report from the VNN, Vale News Network. It was about the recent robbery that Ruby dealt with. The man taking center stage was none other than Roman Torchwick. A picture of his mug shot was even shown. It basically just informs everyone that Roman keeps evading capture and that if anyone knows his whereabouts to contact the authorities. The usual. Ryder never really watched the news back on Earth. Sure, he googled it from time to time, but all that did was feed his anxiety, so he stopped. Damn Twitter making it worse. However, what came next caught Ryder's attention. A photo was shown of animal-eared humans holding signs saying, "WE ARE NOT ANIMALS!". These were Faunus. They're like humans but with either animal ears, tails to animal appendages like wings or what not. Faunus were heavily looked down upon by society, mainly humanity, because they're different. Ryder scowls at this as his visible hatred of the situation is obvious. Ruby notices his scowl and knows what he's thinking about. 

Ruby and Yang know how Ryder views the Faunus situation. Ryder is a Pro Faunus supporter despite not having met one before. He's very vocal about it. 

"In other news, this Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. The once peaceful organization has now disrupted-" said the news anchor before they were cut off. 

The White Fang is a notorious terrorist organization. That's all Ryder really knows about them. Taiyang did tell him that the organization was once peaceful but turned dark for some reason. Ryder guessed leadership change. A noble goal can always turn evil under the right leadership. A hologram of a blonde-haired woman who almost looked like a witch minus the hat. 

"Hello, and welcome to Beacon." the woman greets. 

"Who's that?" asks Yang. 

"My name is Glynda Goodwitch." 

"Oh." 

"You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious Academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world." Glynda explains. 

Her hologram then disappears. Ryder thought about her words. Peace. That's nothing but a farce. Peace never lasts long. You may claim to have established peace but there will always be people who want conflict. It's a cruel but honest truth. Ruby and Yang look out the window and are amazed by the view. Ryder walks over and admires it. This marks the beginning of his journey. It's ruined by a boy running past them, about to vomit. 

"Well, I guess the view isn't for everyone." Yang comments. 

"It was a nice moment while it lasted." Ruby asks, trying to be optimistic. 

The ship they were on approaches Beacon which is on the other side of a large body of water.