Ruby stood before her open locker, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat radiating from her. Unlike the others, she wasn't searching for a weapon; she was the weapon. A deep sense of unease settled in her stomach as she thought about what she had to do. The others carried their swords, their guns, their shields-each one a symbol of their skill and readiness. Ruby's hands were empty, a quiet testament to a terrifying power she was meant to unleash.
The demon within her, a silent passenger since the experiments, stirred with a faint, predatory hum. It was a part of her, a living weapon she was forced to wield. She hated it, loathed the power it held, but there was no escaping it. She had to use it to survive the initiation, to prove herself worthy of being a huntress.
Closing the locker, Ruby took a shaky breath, the cold metal against her fingers grounding her. She could feel the stares of the other students, their confusion at her lack of a weapon. She ignored them, focusing on the path ahead. The time for hesitation was over. She would have to confront the beast within, to let it loose, to become the very thing she feared.
Her thoughts were interrupted by quiet whispers of the other students around her.
With a sigh, she pulled on her black leggings, followed by her black, waist-cinching corset. She then slipped on a black undershirt, and over it. Finally, she donned her signature red cloak, the hood a symbol of her strength and resilience.
As she looked around, she saw her classmates preparing as well. Some were excitedly chatting, others were silently focusing on their gear. Alex was meticulously checking her weapons, her expression a mix of nervousness and determination. Yang, already in her combat gear, was stretching, her blonde hair a vibrant beacon in the crowd.
A weird pang of loneliness hit Ruby. The girl she once was, the one who craved friends and companionship, was long gone. Now, all that mattered was the mission, the promise she made to herself.
The promise to Dr. Merlot, of being his finest and feared hunter.
This was the promise that had been seared into Ruby's mind, a vow she had made to the man who had torn her world apart. Dr. Merlot, the twisted scientist who had subjected her to unspeakable experiments, had instilled in her a single, unwavering purpose: to become his ultimate weapon.
The promise was a heavy weight on her shoulders, a constant reminder of the darkness she carried within her. It was the reason she trained relentlessly, pushing her body to its limits. It was why she was so cold, so distant, so unwilling to let anyone get close. The promise was her burden, her curse, and her only reason for being.
Dr. Merlot had given her a new life, a new purpose, and a new name-not Ruby Rose, but "The Reaper." He had told her that the world was a battlefield and she was his finest soldier. She had no choice but to believe him, for the monster he had created within her was a testament to his words. The promise was a cage, but it was also her only sanctuary, the only thing that kept the demon at bay.
"Are you ready?"
Ruby blinked, her thoughts abruptly pulled back from the swirling chaos in her mind. She turned to find Alex and Yang standing beside her, a look of shared anticipation on their faces. "Huh?" she managed, surprised that she hadn't noticed them approach. Her mind had been so consumed by the promise to Dr. Merlot, by the weight of her past, that the present had slipped away.
"The other students are already leaving for the cliff edge of the Emerald Forest," Yang said, her voice a calm anchor in Ruby's mental storm.
"Oh...already?" Ruby shook her head to clear it. "Alright, let's get going then."
Yang's brow furrowed. "You're going out there without a weapon? Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
A flicker of annoyance crossed Ruby's face. She didn't need a weapon to be a threat. Her own body was a finely tuned instrument of destruction, a product of the very experiments that had forged her. "I don't need one," she said, her voice clipped, a clear dismissal of the concern. "Let's just get going." She turned and followed the flow of students.
Alex let out a long sigh, her gaze fixed on Ruby's retreating figure. She shook her head, a hint of frustration in the gesture, and turned to Yang. "Sorry about that," she said, a quiet apology for her friend's distant behavior.
Yang, however, simply shook her head in understanding. A faint smile touched her lips as she watched Ruby disappear into the crowd. "Don't worry about it," she replied, her voice filled with an easygoing warmth. "Let's just go catch up to her."
With that, the two of them quickened their pace, falling in step with the other students as they made their way toward the cliff's edge, intent on keeping up with the mysterious and aloof girl in the red cloak.
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The first-year students stood in neat, side-by-side lines, their anticipation of a palpable energy in the air. At the front of the formation were the two professors: Ozpin, with his calm and observant demeanor, and his colleague, Glynda, who stood with an air of dignified authority. The two addressed the assembled students, their voices carrying clearly over the soft rustling of leaves.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest," Ozpin began, his voice a steady and reassuring presence.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignments of teams," Glynda added, her gaze sweeping over the students. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today."
A wave of excited whispers rippled through the crowd. Students turned to each other, their faces alight with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Alex and Yang were no exception, their voices a low, animated murmur as they discussed the possibilities.
Ruby, however, remained indifferent. Her face was a mask of cool composure, her focus elsewhere. Teams held little appeal for her. Yet, a practical part of her mind knew that if she were to survive four years at this school, she would need to cooperate with others.
Her gaze swept over the sea of faces, and her eyes suddenly landed on the girl in white from the day before. The girl, poised and ready, had her weapon hilt in hand, a silent promise of the power she held. Her face was a mirror of Ruby's own indifference, a cool and composed expression that, for some inexplicable reason, made Ruby's heart skip a beat.
What the hell is wrong with me? Ruby thought, a jolt of confusion running through her. There was something about that girl, something in her cold, determined gaze, that stirred a feeling within Ruby. It wasn't the beast, the familiar, dark energy that lived within her. This was something else entirely, something new and unsettling.
Ozpin's voice once again cut through the air, pulling Ruby's attention away from the girl in white. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."
Ruby blinked, her gaze shifting back to the professors.
"That being said," Ozpin continued, a subtle smirk playing on his lips, "the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
A chorus of shocked gasps and murmurs rippled through the students. Glynda then chimed in, her voice sharp and commanding. "After you have partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die."
A nervous laugh escaped a young blonde boy standing next to Ruby, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement at the gravity of her words.
Ozpin took a leisurely sip from a mug he held in his hand before continuing. "You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation. But our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
The blonde girl next to Ruby began to raise her hand, but Ozpin cut him off with a definitive tone. "Good! Now, take your position."
Without a moment's hesitation, the students moved onto the launch platforms. A wave of nervous energy passed through the crowd as they prepared their weapons and assumed their battle stances.
"Um...sir?" a tentative voice piped up from the crowd. Ruby turned to see the blonde girl, with her hand half-raised, a nervous look on her face. "I've got...uh...a question."
She was just about to ask when the first student was launched from the platform-the girl in white, Weiss Schnee, who shot into the air with a graceful, icy precision.
The girl, undeterred, continued, "So...this landing strategy thing...um...what is it? You're like...dropping us off? Or something?"
Ozpin's gaze settled on her. "Jessica Arc, was it?" Jessica nodded, anxiously awaiting an answer.
"To answer your question, no, you will be falling," Ozpin replied, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
A few more students were launched from the cliffside, disappearing into the vast expanse of the Emerald Forest below.
Jessica scratched her head, a confused frown on her face. "Oh, I see...so, like...did you hand out parachutes for us?"
Another student, a boy in green battle gear, was launched before Ozpin could respond. Ozpin simply shook her head. "No. You will be using your own landing strategy."
Jessica's eyes widened, a look of dawning terror on her face. "Oh..." was all she could manage.
Beside Ruby, Yang turned, giving both her and Alex a confident wink before pulling on her shades. A moment later, she was launched into the air, a blur of blonde hair and yellow armor.
Alex offered Ruby a quick, reassuring smile before she, too, was launched, disappearing in a flash of silver and white.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby cracked her knuckles and her neck, the familiar pre-battle ritual a calming presence. Then, she was launched, a powerful force sending her soaring through the air, the ground quickly becoming a distant memory.
Jessica swallowed a lump in her throat, a look of pure dread on her face. "So...um...what exactly is a landing strate-" she sentence was cut short as she was launched, her panicked scream echoing as she plummeted toward the forest.
Ozpin stood calmly, sipping his coffee as he watched the new generation of warriors begin their journey.