Team ALLY

Chapter 2: Beacon of Hope

One Year Later...

My older brother was accepted into Beacon, and I was invited to join him after we prevented Grimm from overtaking the small village of Lavandeville. It's a small farmer's village located next to the southern edge of our land, just across the lavender field.

Me and Leo are relaxing on the airship. I was finally able to forge my weapon. It's a scythe/assault rifle that folds out into a glider to assist my levitation. My duster jacket has a special harness where it clips onto the back. My shoulders and arms are plated with armor, the symbol from my necklace on the right side of my trench. Leo, of course, still refuses to cut that unruly mane of his. "Beacon, where our father and his father before learned to fight."

"Big shoes to fill, Aries." I look around the ship to see the people we'd be learning with. I see a blonde girl crushing a girl in a red hood, what looks like the heiress to the Schnee dust company, a girl with yellow hair and a black shortsword, a girl with a bo staff taking a snooze by the window in the sunlight, a hyperactive girl talking the ear off a guy with a pink stripe in his hair, Pyrrha Nikos, an already accomplished huntress in training; and some guy ralphing. I put up my hood to hide my face and walk around. I end up finding an opening and fold up my scythe and hook it to my back. The heads fold down and transform, releasing the winds folded up inside. I jump out and a couple dust powered jets pop out and light up. I fly past the ship and look past to see the girl with the staff giving me an inquisitive look. I grin and dive down. I pop up under the ship and hold it right under her observation deck I sneak back on and put the scythe away. I walk over and tap her on the shoulder and catch her staff right across the right side of the head.

I wake up to the most disgusting smell. I look over and see someone's boot laid to the left side of my head. I leap up and cover my face with my hood. Not because I'm shy but because I'm trying to create a mask to vent the noxious fumes.

"Thanks again."

"No problem good lookin'"  The blonde puts the boot on and walks away to rejoin the girl in the red hood. I regain my composure to feel someone putting me in a crushing hug. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I look down and recognize her as the girl sitting by the window. "Nah, it's fine. But I can't breathe." She releases me and nervously scratches her head. "Sorry. My name is Lilac, Lilac Flora."

"Aries Paladin."

"Paladin? Like, THE Paladins?"

"Yes, those would have been my ancestors."

"Carrying on the tradition?"

"It's more than tradition, it's an honor and a privilege."

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Sorry about trying to spook you."

"No that was awesome! What was that?"

"My scythe, it doubles as an assault rifle, and flight mechanism."

"Well, hopefully we're together. I wouldn't imagine fighting a guy with your abilities. Makes me half scared to know what your semblance is." Before we know it, we've landed at Beacon.

I decide to take a walk and enjoy the scenery. I find a peaceful spot and sit down to meditate. Time flies by and before I know it it's time to head to the assembly. I get up only to be run over by a couple people from the airship. I collect myself and put up my hood. The girl in the red hood grabs my shoulder. I turn around to face her. "I'm sorry, we're just in a big hurry! We don't know how to get to inauguration!"

"Take a breath, just follow me." We start running and make it just in time. The hooded girl runs and joins the blonde from the airship and I join Leo. I look over and see a familiar faunus. "Hey fishnet. She looks over and seems shocked to see us. "What are you two doing here!"

"Fulfilling our purpose, following our ancestral path, standing and waiting on some blowhard professor to give a speech?" Leo answers sarcastically. She glares at him. "Blake, She looks over at me and I smile. My eyes go amber. "Don't worry, it's not my place. Your secret is safe." she smiles and my eyes go brown. "I see you still haven't curbed the eye thing."

"Don't really see how I could. Kinda part of the package deal with being able to be a mind invader." Ozpin takes the stage and starts his speech.

"I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge--to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose – direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."

We're dismissed and I decide to explore the building. I find a garden where Lilac is admiring the plants. I decide to take a moment to meditate quietly. I close my eyes and relax. I suddenly see flashes. A lavender field, a burning house, my parents at the feet of a scorpion faunus. Without realizing it I'd started screaming. I feel someone shaking me and my eyes pop open. I'm staring into Lilac's eyes. "You okay? You started screaming out of nowhere."

"Just some old demons rearing their ugly head." I put up my hood and walk away, the images starting to go back to the deep recesses of my mind.