Three months had passed since the Dust shop incident in Vale—the night Ruby Rose had taken on a gang of armed criminals and crossed paths with the infamous Roman Torchwick. The memory of it still stirred excitement in her chest, but today wasn't about that. Today was something much bigger.
Today was the first day of her life at Beacon Academy.
Inside a cozy home on the island of Patch, Ruby stumbled around her bedroom, frantically trying to cram all her belongings into a suitcase that was clearly too small for her enthusiasm.
"Okay, weapon polish? Check! Extra ammo canisters? Check! Scythe schematics? Duh, check! Cookies for the ride—wait, where are my cookies?!"
She spun in place, nearly tripping over her own cape as she rifled through drawers. Her red hood snagged on the corner of her bed, sending her tumbling onto the floor with a yelp. A few seconds passed.
"I'm okay!" She called to no one in particular.
Downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and morning toast filled the air. A tall man stood at the counter, his silver armor polished but relaxed under a simple wool cloak, a longsword leaning casually against the wall by the door.
Arthur Pendragon, once known across the kingdoms as the Dragon of Vale, a legendary Huntsman and knight without peer—was now simply a doting father trying not to chuckle at the clamor from above.
Soon enough, Ruby thudded her way down the stairs, dragging a suitcase that wheezed under the strain of whatever she'd packed inside.
"Morning, Dad!" she beamed, hair a little messy, cloak askew, but eyes alight with excitement.
Arthur turned with a warm smile. "You look like you're ready to take on the world."
"Beacon won't know what hit it!"
He took the suitcase from her with one arm—effortlessly—and slung her duffel bag over his shoulder. "Let's get going. Wouldn't want to keep the future of Remnant waiting."
They stepped outside into the crisp morning air of Patch. Birds chirped lazily in the trees, and the ocean breeze rolled in with the scent of salt and serenity. Arthur opened the back of their vehicle and began loading her things while Ruby climbed into the front seat, bouncing with anticipation.
But before they could hit the road, they had one more stop to make.
____________________________________________________________________
Just down the road sat a cozy home with a porch overlooking the woods. As Arthur pulled up the driveway, the front door swung open with the energy of a small explosion.
Yang Xiao Long, golden-haired and bright-eyed, bounded down the steps and wrapped Ruby in a bone-crushing hug the moment she stepped out.
"RUBY! You didn't forget me, right? You weren't gonna leave without your favorite partner-in-chaos?"
"Yang—can't—breathe!" Ruby gasped, flailing slightly in her grip.
Yang grinned and released her, slinging a travel bag over her shoulder with practiced ease. "You look ready. Nervous?"
"Excited!" Ruby beamed. "Also maybe a little nervous."
The two continued to chat amongst themselves
From the porch, Taiyang Xiao Long stepped out to greet them. Broad-shouldered and blonde like his daughter, he gave off the calm, composed aura of a seasoned warrior who had traded the battlefield for the classroom.
"Arthur," Taiyang called with a smile.
"Tai," Arthur nodded back.
The two Huntsmen met with a firm handshake, the kind that only years of friendship and shared danger could forge.
"Can't believe they're off to Beacon already," Taiyang said. "Time really does fly."
Arthur chuckled. "It feels like yesterday they were chasing Beowolves off with training swords."
"Yeah, and now one's a prodigy and the other's… well, Yang." Taiyang gave his daughter a fond look.
"I heard that!" Yang said, sticking her tongue out before turning to him with a quick hug. "I'll make you proud, Dad."
"You already do."
As Ruby and Yang climbed into the car, Taiyang stepped closer to Arthur, his voice dropping just slightly.
"You sure about letting her go now? Sixteen's young."
Arthur looked toward the girls in the car, then back at his old friend. "She's ready. She proved that the night of the Dust shop attack. Ozpin agrees."
Taiyang nodded, then glanced at Arthur. "You know, I might be a Huntsman, but I've traded the field for the classroom. These days, I leave the epic stuff to guys like you."
"You never needed to chase dragons to be a hero, Tai. You're raising one," Arthur said with a small grin.
That got a laugh from Taiyang. "Coming from you, I'll take it."
Arthur gave a short nod and moved to the car. The engine purred to life as he backed out of the driveway. Taiyang raised a hand in farewell as the car disappeared down the road.
"Beacon's not ready for those two," he murmured with a smile.
~Intermission Brought to you by Chibi Ruby and Yang having fun talking in the car!~
The road curved along the cliffs of Patch, eventually bringing them to the docking platform at the coast. Towering above the sea, a sleek Vale airship waited like a bird of steel and glass, its engines humming softly as students bustled aboard with suitcases, weapons, and wide-eyed wonder.
Ruby pressed her hands to the window as they pulled up. "Whoa… it's even bigger than I thought."
Arthur chuckled from the driver's seat. "Beacon doesn't do anything halfway."
The vehicle came to a stop, and the doors clicked open. Ruby and Yang stepped out onto the platform, joined by dozens of other aspiring Huntsmen and Huntresses-in-training. The excitement in the air was almost tangible—buzzing like electricity on a stormy day.
Arthur pulled Ruby's bags from the back and set them down beside her. For a moment, father and daughter stood facing each other in the middle of all the chaos.
"You sure you've got everything?" he asked.
Ruby nodded, her silver eyes shining. "Yeah. I've got Crescent Rose, cookies, ammo… and Yang."
Arthur gave a soft laugh and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're going to do great. Just remember who you are, and what you stand for. You're my daughter, Ruby. You've got more than just a weapon—you've got a heart full of fire."
Ruby gave him a sudden hug, holding tight. "I'll make you proud."
"You already have."
Yang gave Arthur a small bow of respect. "Thanks for the ride, Sir Pendragon."
"No need for titles, Yang. Just take care of each other."
"We always do."
With that, the two girls picked up their bags and made their way toward the ramp. Ruby turned back one last time and waved. Arthur stood at the edge of the platform, the sea breeze ruffling his cloak, a proud but wistful look in his eyes.
Then the ramp hissed closed, and the ship began to rise.
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Inside the airship, students gathered near windows or sat on benches, marveling at the view as the vessel glided smoothly into the sky, leaving Patch behind and heading toward Vale's mainland—and the towering cliffs of Beacon Academy beyond.
Ruby stood at the window, hands and face pressed to the glass, her excitement bubbling over.
"Look at all this! We're flying! I mean, I've flown before but this is, like—super flying!"
Yang leaned against the frame beside her, arms crossed, smirking. "Still can't believe they let you in early."
"Hey, don't hate on the prodigy."
"I'm not! I'm proud. But I'm totally keeping an eye on you, rookie."
Ruby elbowed her. "Bring it on, hotshot."
As they laughed, the airship's display screen flickered to life with a buzzing static pop. A news broadcast filled the screen, the anchorwoman reading off the latest headline:
"—the Salvanni crime family continues to tighten its grip on Vale's underworld. Reports suggest the elusive Roman Torchwick has struck again, his latest heist targeting a Dust caravan just outside the city. Law enforcement remains baffled—"
Ruby leaned closer. "Ugh. That guy again."
Yang raised an eyebrow. "Think he'll ever quit?"
"Not unless someone makes him."
Before more could be said, the news suddenly cut off, replaced by a sharp transition and the composed face of Professor Glynda Goodwitch.
She adjusted her glasses and addressed the camera with her usual precision.
"Greetings, students. I am Glynda Goodwitch, Headmistress Ozpin's assistant and professor at Beacon Academy. We are pleased to welcome you to a new year at our prestigious institution. Please remain seated as we make our approach, and be prepared for docking procedures in approximately fifteen minutes."
The screen faded to the school's emblem, accompanied by gentle orchestral music. The moment of drama passed, the cabin resumed its chatter.
Meanwhile, toward the back of the ship, one student was not enjoying the ride.
A boy with scruffy blonde hair and mismatched armor leaned over the bench with a pained expression, a pale green tinge creeping into his cheeks.
Jaune Arc, hopeful hero and self-proclaimed noble warrior… was losing a very personal battle with motion sickness.
"I-I don't think I'm gonna make it…" he groaned.
A nearby student offered a concerned look. "You okay, man?"
Jaune held up a weak thumbs up. "Yup. Just… emotionally moved… by the altitude…"
Yang watched him with amused curiosity. "Well, he's having a good first impression."
Ruby giggled. "Should we help?"
Yang smirked. "Let's… let him tough it out for a bit. Builds character."
The ship soared higher, the clouds parting slowly like a curtain being drawn back on the greatest stage of them all.
And then they saw it.
Beacon Academy.
It rose from the edge of a towering cliffside like something out of a storybook—a grand citadel of learning and light. Its white spires reached toward the heavens, kissed by sunlight and framed by the clear blue sky. Vast towers stood sentinel across the grounds, their tips gleaming with gold filigree, while massive stone archways stretched between buildings like bridges suspended in the clouds.
The campus was an architectural masterpiece—equal parts fortress and temple. Trees dotted the emerald courtyards far below, and glimmering waterfalls spilled gently down the cliffs into the forest beyond. Birds wheeled through the air around the towers, adding motion to the serenity.
From this height, Beacon felt eternal—a beacon of hope, true to its name, standing proud against the unknown darkness of the world.
Ruby stepped forward and pressed her hands to the window again, eyes wide with awe.
"…Wow."
Yang grinned, watching her. "Now that's a school."
"It's like a dream," Ruby whispered.
"Better get ready, dreamer. We're gonna be walking those halls real soon."
The cabin buzzed with excitement. First years scrambled to grab their things, chatter rising as the ship began to level out for descent.
Toward the back, Jaune groaned from his seat. "Why is everything spinning? We haven't even landed yet…"
But Ruby hardly heard him. Her eyes were locked on Beacon.
A place of heroes.
A place of legends.
And now, a place for her.