Chapter 5: 5- Flying to school
Ron and Gaster were waiting at the station, still a bit disgruntled from how things turned out yesterday, and were discussing their recent developments.
[Ron]: So, how do you feel after unlocking your Aura?
[Gaster]: I feel like I could take on protecting the Monster Kingdom alone this time and win. But I still need to test the limits of my Aura and explore its many uses. Ozpin mentioned that my Aura is special.
Gaster demonstrated by covering one of his hands in a black Aura and the other in a red Aura. Each of his hands had a unique aura color, which surprised Ron, especially since Gaster wasn't taking notes for once.
[Ron]: And what about your Semblance? Any idea what it might be?
[Gaster]: I haven't unlocked it yet. By the way, Ron, could you lend me some more pens? I ran out of ink.
[Ron]: I gave you ten last night!
[Gaster]: I know, but I've already used them all. There's just so much to document.
[Ron]: (sighs) Fine, I'll give you more pens, but you've got to pace yourself. We still have to figure out what kind of world we're dealing with here.
Gaster eyed Ron suspiciously, his gaze sharp.
[Gaster]: Didn't you tell me about this world's knowledge when we first met? You even explained some of its history.
Ron looked taken aback for a moment before his expression shifted to one of shock. He placed a hand on his forehead as if trying to piece something together.
[Ron]: Now that you mention it, I've been feeling strange about recent events. Something's off... different from the original.
Gaster leaned in, intrigued.
[Gaster]: Like what?
[Ron]: The woman on the plane, for starters. She wasn't supposed to be that strong, at least not from what I remember. It's like everything's been... altered. I can't recall most of what's going to happen or the key figures, but there's one thing I'm certain of—Ruby, that girl we met, she's crucial. She's important to saving this world.
Gaster mulled over Ron's words, his expression thoughtful.
[Gaster]: So, the world's been changed, and your knowledge is no longer reliable. That complicates things. But if Ruby is as important as you say, we'll need to keep a close eye on her. This could be more dangerous than we initially thought.
Ron, still grappling with the implications of their conversation, looked at Gaster with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
[Ron]: Wait a minute. Don't you hate humanity? After everything that happened in the war, you had nothing but disdain for them.
Gaster's gaze softened, the memories of his past flashing briefly in his eyes.
[Gaster]: That was in the past, Ron. I won't deny that I once held a deep hatred for humanity, for what they did during the war, for the pain and suffering they caused. But... things changed when I met my sons. They showed me a different side of life, a different way of seeing the world.
Ron listened intently, sensing a shift in Gaster's demeanor.
[Gaster]: I may never fully forgive humanity for what they did, but I've come to realize that not all humans are the same. Some of them, especially the ones in this world, possess qualities I rarely saw before. As I look into their souls, I see things like ''bravery'', ''courage'', ''kindness'', ''determination'', and ''hope''. These are things that were once so rare, but now... now I see them in the souls of hundreds of children here.
Ron was taken aback by Gaster's words, seeing a side of him he hadn't fully understood before.
[Ron]: So... you've changed. You're not the same Gaster who held onto that hatred.
Gaster nodded, a sense of resolution in his eyes.
[Gaster]: I've had to adapt, Ron. If I clung to that hatred, it would have consumed me. My sons taught me that there's more to life than vengeance and bitterness. And now, in this world, I see that there are humans worth protecting, worth fighting for. Ruby, and others like her, they embody something pure, something worth preserving.
Ron slowly nodded, processing this new perspective.
[Gaster]: Now tell me about your Aura and Semblance, taking notes is important.
Gaster said as he summoned a couple of hands that held notebooks and pens that Ron gave him.
Ron chuckled softly, watching Gaster's hands eagerly preparing to take notes.
[Ron]: well see for yourself.
Gaster's eyes narrowed with curiosity as he observed Ron's Aura in action. The difference between their Auras was immediately apparent. While Gaster's Aura seemed to envelop his limbs like a protective shroud, Ron's Aura had a more defined and aggressive form. It coated his hand like a gauntlet, with sharp, claw-like extensions at the fingertips that gleamed menacingly.
[Gaster]: Interesting... Your Aura manifests as a weapon in itself. Those claws—they look like they're meant for offense, not just defense.
He summoned another set of hands, each holding different colored pens to mark distinct details in his notes.
[Ron]: Yeah, it's pretty wild. When I first unlocked it, I thought it was just a weird quirk. But as I experimented, I realized that my Aura can adapt to my intentions. If I'm focused on attacking, these claws form naturally. If I'm defending, it's more like a shield.
Gaster's pens flew across the pages, capturing every nuance.
[Gaster]: Adaptive Aura response based on intent. That's rare. Most Auras are passive unless actively manipulated, but yours seems to react instinctively. It's almost like it's alive, responding to your needs in real-time.
[Ron]: I know, it's weird. It even tried to stab me once at night when I was having a bad dream. Anyway, the Bullhead's arrived. Let's get aboard before Ozpin adds more to our records.
Gaster quickly finished jotting down the final notes and closed his notebooks. The two of them made their way to the waiting Bullhead, which was already preparing for departure. As they approached, the heavy metal doors of the aircraft slid open, welcoming them inside.
Ron and Gaster boarded the Bullhead, both eager to leave the station. As they stepped inside, they noticed Ruby already on board, engaged in an embrace with a blonde girl. The blonde girl's face lit up with joy as she wrapped her arms around Ruby.
[Blond Girl]: Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is coming to Beacon with me! This is the best day ever!
Ruby, looking a bit embarrassed and out of breath, tried to ease her sister's enthusiasm.
[Ruby]: Please, stop.
Gaster was looking in interest and Ron was helping a guy with a bottle of medicine and then joined Gaster in looking at the sisters
[Blonde Girl]: But I'm so proud of you!
[Ruby]: Really, Sis, it was nothing.
Gaster watched with curiosity, intrigued by the family dynamics, while Ron helped a fellow passenger with a bottle of medicine before joining Gaster to observe the scene.
The contrast between the two sisters caught Ron and Gaster's attention. Ruby, with her black hair and silver eyes, and her sister, with her blonde hair and purple eyes, appeared quite different from each other. Their distinct appearances made their familial connection all the more interesting.
[Gaster]: (whispering to Ron) Interesting. They don't look like they'd be related at first glance.
[Ron]: (nodding) Yeah, the difference is striking. I wonder if there's more to their story, Also, try to ignore the few looks of hostility I can see, I can see you ready to summon a blaster.
Gaster nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the surrounding passengers.
[Blonde Girl]: What do you mean? It was incredible! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees!
[Ruby]: I don't want to be the bee's knees, okay? I don't want to be any kind of knees. I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees.
[Blonde Girl]: What's with you? Aren't you excited
[Ruby]: Of course I'm excited... I just... I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything. I just want to fit in and prove that I belong there, you know?
The blonde girl walked closer to Ruby and put her arm around her shoulder.
[Blonde Girl]: But you are special
Their conversation was cut short as the TV overhead flickered on, catching everyone's attention. The news anchor's voice filled the cabin.
[News Reporter]:... The robbery was led by the 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 changed to show a new face.
[Lisa]: Thank you, Cyril. In other news, this Saturday, a Faunus civil rights protest took a dark turn when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. What was intended to be a peaceful demonstration...
Before the report could continue, the TV cut off, and a hologram flickered to life. It was Glynda Goodwitch, a stern yet graceful figure.
[Glynda]: Hello and welcome to Beacon Academy.
[Blonde Girl]: Who is that?
[Gaster]: That's Glynda Goodwitch, one of the professors at Beacon. She oversees fighting class at the academy
[Glynda]: My name is Glynda Goodwitch, and I am here to welcome you to Beacon Academy.
As Glynda continued with her welcome message, outlining the values and expectations of Beacon Academy, Ron and Gaster exchanged glances. Their expressions were a mix of impatience and resignation. The allure of Beacon was overshadowed by their current predicament—they were essentially blackmailed by Ozpin, who had leveraged their past actions to force their enrollment.
As Glynda's message wrapped up, students eagerly rushed to the windows, captivated by the breathtaking view that Beacon Academy offered. The sprawling academy perched on the cliffs, surrounded by a majestic landscape of forests and distant mountains, was a sight to behold.
[Gaster]: I hope that one day, monsters can see this view as well.
[Ron]: Well, I guess this is the beginning of our first adventure.
[Chapter end]