Chapter 6
Steel’s P.O.V.Once I was ready to leave Menagerie after dark, Adam walked me to the airstrip, in a considerably better mood than before. Before I got on the ship to Vale, he placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him.
“Be careful,” he said. “I can’t lose you like we lost Blake.” I shook my head.
“Adam, Blake was a coward,” I said. “She was afraid to hurt people.” I took his hand and placed it on my collarbone. “I went through this with you. I know what humans can do, and will do.” I frowned. “They don’t deserve mercy.” He hugged me, and I hugged him back. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Steel!” Sienna yelled from the ship. I looked up at Adam.
“I have to go.” He nodded and pressed his lips to my forehead. I smiled at him and ran up the ramp to where Sienna was standing. She stared up at me, hiding a smirk. “What?” She shook her head.
“Nothing.” She gestured for me to follow her farther into the ship. “You two have been through a lot together.” I nodded. We sat down on either side of the ship. “Just a reminder, no one can know who you are.” I nodded.
“One small problem,” I told her. “Blake left during their mission earlier, and we have a hunch we know where she’s headed.” Sienna nodded.
“Not a problem. You’re a master at going undercover.” She smirked. “I have a feeling it won’t come as a challenge to you to lie to Blake.” I smirked and nodded.
As we landed in Vale, a few miles away from where I would board the ship heading to Beacon Academy, Sienna placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry about Blake,” she said. “You’ll figure something out.” I nodded and walked off the ship with her. “Remember, your name is Aria Layn. You were homeschooled before you enrolled to Beacon, and you’ve never interacted with the White Fang.” I nodded. “The ship for Beacon leaves in an hour, and it’s a couple miles south of here. You should be able to ask around to find it.” I nodded again. Sienna stopped me and looked me in the eye. “Be careful, Steel. I’m not sure how long Adam would last if he lost you too.”
Sienna was right. As soon as I asked someone where the ship to Vale was, I knew exactly how to get there. As I sat by a window of the ship, a girl with black hair with red tips walked over to the window, talking to a girl with blonde hair.
“What’s with you?” the yellow girl asked the red one. “Aren’t you excited?” The red girl nodded.
“Of course I’m excited! I just . . .” She sighed. “I got moved ahead two years. I don’t want people to think I’m special or anything.” The yellow girl gave the red girl a one-armed hug.
“But you are special.” I stood up and walked over.
“Hi,” I said. They looked at me.
“Hi there!” the yellow girl said. “What’s your name?” I smiled.
“I’m Aria,” I replied. “Aria Layn. You?”
“I’m Yang. This is my sister Ruby.” I waved at Ruby.
“You’re a faunus,” Ruby said, in awe. I looked at the floor, clutching my arm, and nodded.
“That’s awesome!” Yang said. I looked at her, surprised. “Are those wolf ears?” I held back a grimace and nodded.
“Do you have fangs?” Ruby asked in the most monotone voice I’d ever heard. I chuckled lightly.
“I wouldn’t call them fangs, but, uh . . .” Ruby smiled. “But yeah, I have claws, ears, a tail, and super sharp canines.” Ruby seemed like a giddy little schoolgirl, which I guess she technically was.
“Sorry. I couldn’t help but overhear you earlier,” I told her. “You got moved ahead two years? You’re only fifteen?” She looked at the ground and nodded. “That’s awesome.” I looked up at the TV screen, which held a picture of Roman Torchwick, a partner of the White Fang.
“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 scene changed to a woman next to a picture of faunus holding protest signs. The picture changed to the symbol of the White Fang.
“Thank you, Cyril. 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…” I looked at the floor as a woman with blonde hair and glasses replaced the newscast.
“Hello, and welcome to Beacon,” the hologram said.
“Who’s that?” Yang asked.
“My name is Glynda Goodwitch.” I smirked.
“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." The hologram disappeared, and the three of us looked out the window.
“Beacon’s our home now,” Yang said. I looked away, hiding an angry scowl. I looked behind us as a boy with blonde hair ran to the back of the ship, groaning.
“Well,” I said, “I guess the view isn’t for everybody.” As Beacon came into view, I smirked.
“Wow!” Ruby exclaimed as we walked down the ramp. Yang nodded.
“The view from Vale’s got nothing on this.” Ruby looked around at the different people (mostly humans, who would stop and stare at a wolf faunus, might I add).
“Sis!” Ruby exclaimed. “That kid’s got a collapsible staff! And she’s got a fire sword!” She went to walk away, but Yang grabbed her hood and pulled her back. I laughed.
“Easy there, Little Sis,” she said. “They’re just weapons.” Ruby looked offended.
“‘Just weapons’? They’re an extension of ourselves! They’re a part of us!” She continued looking around. “Oh, they’re so cool.” I scoffed.
“Well, why can't you swoon over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it?” She nodded and pulled out her scythe.
“Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose! I just really like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people, but better…” I could relate to that. Yang pushed Ruby’s hood over her head.
“Ruby, come on, why don't you go try and make some friends of your own?” Ruby pulled her hood off.
“But . . . why would I need friends when I have you?” I looked at the ground. Yang chuckled awkwardly.
“Well . . .” A group of people showed up around Yang. “Actually, my friends are here. Gotta go catch up. ‘Kay, see ya’, bye!” I stood there next to Ruby, watching them leave, and chuckled lightly.
“Wait, where are you going?!” Ruby exclaimed after Yang. “Are we supposed to go to our dorms? Where are our dorms? Do we have dorms?” She looked at the ground. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” She fell backward, sending suitcases flying everywhere. I laughed.
“What are you doing?!” someone yelled. I looked up at who it was and saw red. I resisted the urge to punch her in the face as Ruby stood up and muttered, “Sorry.” The girl shook her head.
“Sorry?” she asked. “Do you have any idea the damage you could’ve caused?” I rolled my eyes as Ruby struggled for words. “Give me that!” She grabbed a suitcase from Ruby’s hands and opened it. “This is Dust - mined and purified from the Schnee quarry.” I gritted my teeth as I thought of that place.
“Uuuuuuhh . . .” Ruby drawled.
“What are you, brain-dead?” The girl held out a vial of red Dust and shut the case. “Dust! Fire, water, lightning, energy!” Ruby struggled to speak.
“I . . . I know . . .”
“Are you even listening to me? Is any of this sinking in? What do you have to say for yourself?” Ruby sneezed, making dust go everywhere, leaving me on the ground.
“Unbelievable!” The girl exclaimed, covered in soot. “This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!”
“I’m really, really sorry,” Ruby stammered as I stood up off the ground.
“Ugh, you complete dolt! What are you even doing here? Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?” I gritted my teeth again.
“Well, I . . . I,” Ruby stuttered.
“This isn't your ordinary combat school. It's not just sparring and practice, you know! We're here to fight monsters, so... watch where you're going!” Ruby looked at the girl angrily.
“Hey, I said I was sorry, princess.” I smirked.
“It’s heiress, actually,” someone said. We looked over to see a girl with black hair, gold eyes, and a giant black bow on top of her head: Blake Belladonna. “Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world." Blake looked at me, knowing what I was thinking. Weiss smiled smugly.
“Finally, some recognition.” I rolled my eyes.
“The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners,” Blake added. I smirked, and Weiss frowned.
“Wha- How dare- The nerve of... Ugh!” She grabbed the bottle of Dust from Blake and stormed away.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you!” Ruby called after Weiss as Blake motioned for me to follow her.
“What’re you doing here?” she asked. I looked at her.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
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