Prologue - The Beginnings

When I was young, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Living in Atlas with my brother and mother made it all that more difficult. I was always the youngest in the family, with my older brother, Cobalt, to make sure I stayed in line... Never causing trouble by accident or getting in the way of our mothers' drunken outbursts.

Over the years, I began to notice that Cobalt was always a little off, obsessed with viruses and diseases across Remnant... How it affected people with aura, semblances, or without either. He was often prone to sudden fits of rage, or just "out of it", and began to slowly ignore myself and our mother as he would enter a trance of studying a particular virus, or a particular historical event in a book or broadcast.

Our mother noticed this and turned to him with her drunken outbursts, blaming him for ruining the family reputation even further. Being nobility of Atlas, I didn't see a problem... We had private tutors up until we joined highschool with other noble children, and rarely left our penthouse before that.

Cobalt had changed so gradually that, myself being around him every day, that I hadn't noticed how different he had truly become. His addiction towards researching viruses and disease got worse after our mother began targeting him... Eventually his obsession was noticed by some Atlesian scientists and had given him a scholarship to one of their primary institutes following his graduation.

After that, he began sending letters every couple days... Then weeks... Then months... And eventually it was silence altogether. My drunk of a mother was later taken away by Atlesian police following one particular outburst that damaged an officials' car, after she blamed me that her "precious child" stopped communicating with us... Don't know how she could talk about Cobalt like that, especially after the physical torment she brought down on us during her drinking sessions.

I was under the watchful gaze of some Atlas military officials for a week until they could contact a family member. If not, I would have been placed into one of the few adoption centres in Atlas. Quite a number of orphans because of Grimm or small conflicts with bandits- and the desperate Faunus beneath our floating city- But eventually, they managed to contact an aunt of mine... Well, aunt-twice-removed, but still my aunt in a way.

Years followed after I was taken in by my aunt, and years more until she allowed me to enter a combat school. At that point, I was thirteen, can't really remember how long ago it was that my brother left and I was taken in by my aunt, but I must have been no older than five.

Then again, I never understood why she really let me join, being an uptight noble and viewing combat as a career for the "lesser class" and the "Faunus freaks"... But I suppose being able to brag to her noble friends that her niece was going to become a "defender of Atlas" was one part of it.

Didn't matter too much to me though, being seen as a bastard and unwanted by my family after the faculty and students discovered my records. Must have been from a student who had a mother or father in the Atlas military, or in law enforcement. Never had friends after that, but plenty of casual connections from those who had nothing against a bastard or a poor reputation.

After three years, I decided to apply early to Beacon academy in Vale. A few faculty "tried" to convince me to attend the academy in Atlas, appropriately named "Atlas Academy", but I didn't have an interest in becoming a soldier or a specialist, as was common after going through that school.

After waiting a few weeks I was eventually accepted. My grades were acceptable, and my combat records showed that I could handle my own against my fellow students, or against a few weak grimm. Nothing too impressive for a person studying in a combat school, but good enough that I could apply straight to Beacon without any pre-initiation test.

. . .

Now that I'm here on the Vale airship... Things are certainly less impressive than I expected. But that can be expected when you're going from the most advanced kingdom on Remnant to... This.

Looking outside, I can see the expanse of the city below us. Walls in the distance keeping the Grimm out of reach of the city, and plenty of vibrant districts to keep the population from releasing too much negativity. I can understand the design. Simple, peaceful, efficient. A good design for maintenance of the city, and disaster coordination.

Looking away from the window and my admiration for the city, I look back towards the other passengers of the airship, I notice two... Particular figures only a few feet away, standing in the middle of the passenger corridor no less.

One has vibrant yellow hair, and is a walking fashion disaster... I can't really say anything about myself though. Militarism throughout Atlas certainly leaves a weird fashion mentality on oneself... The second one however, is wearing a vibrant red and black skirt, with a red cape.

Interested to see how this is going to turn out- I keep listening, while glancing around to keep it from being... Too weird.

"Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me!" says the yellow one, as she tosses herself at Little Red in a hug, "This is the best day, ever!"

"Pleash shtop." She replies, obviously embarrassed by the hug and outburst.

"But I'm so proud of you!" the yellow one replies, shaking in pride and joy.

"Really, sis, it was nothing." She replies in exasperation...

At this point, they really got my attention. What does she mean it was 'nothing'? Getting into Beacon is certainly no small feat. I only got in by having decent grades, and good combat reports.

"What do you mean? It was incredible!" she says in encouragement, "Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bees-knees!"

"I don't want to be the bees-knees!" Red says back, getting annoyed at this point, "I don't want to be any kind of knees. I want to be a normal girl, with normal knees."

Smirking at this, yellow keeps on trying to encourage little red... I would grab popcorn if I could. Maybe a soda. This is certainly more entertaining than just watching outside as we slowly move towards Beacon.

"What's with you?" yellow replies, "Aren't you excited?!"

"Of course I'm excited!" red says in a shy outburst, "I just... I got put ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything..."

This one... This one is humble, that's for sure. But two years?! That's impressive, and definitely something special.

Yellow walks around beside red and puts her arm over her shoulders supportively, "But you are special."

Just as I was turning back to look out the window, I hear someone turn on the CCTS-Screen as a news anchor appears on screen in front of a destroyed Dust store. "The robbery was led by nefarious criminal, Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you, Lisa."

The screen then changes to a woman with white hair in a black suit, "In other news, this Saturday's Faunus civil rights protest turned dark, when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony".

More of the White Fang... Once peaceful protesters, now modern terrorists... How far they've fallen. Now they do nothing but spread fear and hatred, and certainly don't help the wider Faunus population... Do I disdain them? Yes. Is it because they're Faunus? No.

Looking back up at the screen, I continue to listen to the news anchor on her report, "The once peaceful organisation has now disrupted multiple peaceful protests, deteriorating the reputation of Faunus across Remnant. In further news, strange violent outbursts have been seen across hospit-"

The news anchor is cut off, and is soon replaced by a strict-appearing woman, often seen with the Headmaster of Beacon.

"Hello, and welcome to Beacon" the holographic recording says towards myself and fellow initiates of Beacon.

"Who's that?" Yellow asks out loud, no one giving a reply, or a glance in her direction.

"My name is Glynda Goodwitch" the hologram claims, almost in a reply to the question.

"Oh." Yellow says again, this time getting an annoyed glance from a few of the initiates around her.

"You are among the privileged few who have received the honour of being selected to attend this prestigious academy," she says with a hint of pride in her voice, "our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future huntsman and huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it."

Glancing around, many of the students puffing out their chests in pride, and yellow and red smiling at the confidence provided by this holographic Glynda Goodwitch.

"You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now, it is our turn to provide you with knowledge and the training to protect our world." with that final statement, the hologram disappears as Beacon comes into view.

Many gasps come from the initiates throughout the airship, in awe of the magnificence of Beacon... The massive height and width of the academy can be seen from the distance of our airship, and impenetrable fortress by the looks of it.

Seeing a man in yellow running towards a trashcan and vomiting, yellow and red trying to avoid said vomit, and the other students simply stepping away and watching Beacon come closer and closer...

My journey at Beacon begins.