Hey!

Yes, this is another reboot. No, I don't know what's wrong with me. I wanted to make a big change to the story, but that would require almost a ground-up rewrite, so that's exactly what I'm doing! Specifically, I'm making one specific person the bad guy instead of trying to make one antagonist for each protagonist like I planned. It's easier on me that way, while simultaneously letting me just get to all the good stuff with this villain instead of introducing him eight chapters in.

Unlike all past reboots, none of the main four are being scrapped! Laura, Malina, Nyan, and Conáilte (this time he'll start off being called that instead of forcing me to go through nine chapters and change every instance of his name, which by the way I need to use copy-paste to put into the story as I don't have an accent a key), are all still up and kicking! In addition, the old story will stay up for your viewing pleasure! (Okay, but seriously, am I the only person who cringes at stuff I wrote literally a month ago and asks what I was thinking?) And of course, Mew Shadowfang is a huge help as ever.

So, enjoy!

Also, yes, I know I used this as the intro to the first chapter last time, but it's just too good not to use.

ATLAS: EXCIDIUM

Chapter I

THE FROZEN NORTH

BEACON ACADEMY has fallen. In the wake

of the VYTAL FESTIVAL'S devastating

conclusion, the four nations of Remnant

have lost contact with one another, and

tensions have escalated to levels perhaps

even beyond the GREAT WAR. The

creatures of GRIMM have free reign over

the most part of the world, due to

a severe drop in the numbers of active

huntsmen and huntresses. What few

remain have found much difficulty, and

even peril, in attempting to keep these

dark creatures at bay.

As ATLAS opens its doors to refugees from

Vale, its like-named warrior academy has

taken in former Beacon students, continuing

their training in a much more rigorous fashion

than before. Meanwhile, GENERAL IRONWOOD

is working with the best Atlesian scientists to

attempt to further accelerate the training

process in order to fill the gap and take back

what ground has been lost.

At the start of its new semester, Atlas Academy

and its instructors have decided to use the

initation process to simultaneously cripple

the local WHITE FANG presence. As the next

generation of heroes and heroines flies towards

their targets, the faunus terrorists are very much

aware of their plans...

Laura had never wanted this.

Here she sat, on an Atlesian airship, getting ready to drop as part of her initiation into a huntress academy. She was finally going to take her first step into a new world, one she would defend as long and hard as she could. She was starting down the path of doing what she always wanted.

The circumstances, however, made relishing this moment impossible.

Ever since the fall of Beacon, tensions between Valeans and Atlesians had been high, and while Atlas had tried to show good will when it extended invitations to ex-Beacon students and up-and-coming students from Vale, it was clear there would be some difficulty getting along. Laura, especially, had reason to be worried, with her faunus heritage so obvious to the beholder. Her wings wrapped around her arms as Laura got more and more worried. She jumped a small amount, however, when something tapped her shoulder.

"Oh, sorry." A voice to her right said. "Just shining it up."

Laura looked to the girl who had spoken to her, a brunette wearing a black sweater and leggings. Laura looked to what she'd been 'shining up,' seeing a steel-grey scoped rifle in the girl's lap.

"Is that a sniper rifle?" Laura asked, wings unfolding from around her arms. The girl smiled.

"Close, it's a marksman rifle actually. Not as strong, but it doesn't punish as much if you miss. Not that that's much of a problem for me, but I'd prefer to stay on the safe side."

"What if you need to get close?"

"Well, this rifle's good at medium to long range, but if someone gets right in my face, I use my semblance." The girl explained.

"What's your semblance?"

"For all intents and purposes, I'm a walking stun grenade."

"Oh! So you designed your weapon to go with your semblance?" The girl looked confused.

"I bought my weapon to work in tandem with my semblance, yes. Did you design yours?"

"Yup! Do you want to take a look?" The girl smiled.

"Sure. Never got your name, by the way."

"I'm Laura." The faunus answered as she reached for her weapon.

"Malina."

"Pleasure to meet you!" Laura presented her weapon to Malina. "Here it is!" Malina took the weapon, a golden khopesh, and turned it in her grip.

"Hm." Malina exhaled, somewhat disappointed. "It's nice, but anyone could just buy a sword like this." Laura smiled.

"Not one that does this!" She said, flipping a switch near the grip. The khopesh blade jutted forward, before flipping along the roll to become a handguard. In the place of the original blade, a rapier with the tip resembling an oversized hypodermic needle emerged. Malina looked at the weapon again, impressed.

"Huh. Haven't seen too many transforming weapons."

"Really? They're all over the place."

"In Beacon, maybe. People here generally prefer more to-the-point weapons. I say 'generally.'" Malina concluded as she looked to another student on the airship holding onto a miniature turbine.

"Well, if you're ever interested in a transforming weapon, just find me. I'd love to help!" Malina smiled.

"I'll remember that, thanks!"

"You're very welcome!"

A moment of silence passed before Malina spoke again.

"So, what kind of bird?"

"I'm sorry?" Laura asked, confused. Malina rephrased the question.

"You have wings. What kind of bird are they?" Laura sat up and extended her wings.

"Oh! I'm a whitehead faunus."

"Like the songbird?"

"Exactly!"

"So, do you whistle while you work?" Laura smiled.

"Yup, but probably not because of that." Malina turned away, embarrassed.

"Right, sorry."

"Oh, no, it's fine! You're not the first to ask."

"Thank you. I've never met a faunus before." Laura frowned.

"From what I've heard, most of the Atlesian ones are in the mines."

"Yeah. You don't... hate us, for that, do you?"

"Me? Of course not! It's sad, of course, but I don't really hate anyone! I just sometimes wish they could be better."

You sweet summer child... Malina thought to herself.

The conversation was ended as the airship intercom turned on.

"Alright, everyone, we are approaching the drop zone. Remember, first student you see when you land is your partner. First pair you and your partner run into is the other half of your team."

Another student on the airship yelled a response.

"Beacon did teams differently-"

"Yeah, well, this isn't Beacon kid. We don't have chess pieces to grab, we have a mission to complete." The pilot was quiet for a moment before continuing. "Alright, arriving in two minutes. Everyone have your gear ready."

Unbeknownst to the passengers or pilot of the airship, an anti-aircraft weapon with the white fang insignia was taking aim from the forest below.

"Remember, the objective is a White Fang factory that was recently discovered by the Atlas military. We are unsure of the contents, so remain cau-"

The pilot was interrupted as a shot hit the engine of the airship. While a small minority of airships had hard-light dust to protect them, this was no such ship, and as such, the airship began to lose altitude upon impact.

"Mayday! Mayday! Airship Golf Romeo India Foxtrot has been hit! I repeat-"

The passenger bay door opened as the pilot reiterated his distress call. Laura and Malina looked to each other and nodded.

The two ran towards the bay door and jumped.

A boy in a blue hoodie held onto the edge of the bay door as the airship neared the treetops.

"Oy gevalt..." he murmured as he leapt for the pathway.

He had hardly landed before he started running, and judging by what he heard, he wasn't the only person who had thought of this. Expected, considering they were entering a huntsman academy, and therefore at least should have been somewhat intelligent. What wasn't expected, however, was the sound of a motorcycle rapidly gaining on him. Before he could react, the rider grabbed him and placed him on the seat behind her.

"You didn't think you'd get ALL the fun, did you?" a female voice asked through the helmet.

"No, I just thought I'd get the job done so we all get back to the academy intact!" The boy yelled back.

"Aw, you're no fun." The girl lifted the visor on her helmet and turned to the boy. "Name's Nyan, by the way."

"Conáilte, and if I do say so myself, I'm decently fun when we don't have a job to do! Fun's what you do AFTER a mission, after you've survived!"

"Maybe for you, but I'm here for a good time, not a long time, baby!" Nyan yelled as she popped a wheelie and accelerated.

"Are you TRYING to get us killed? They'll here this for miles!"

"So?"

"So, I don't want to be in the general vicinity of an idiot who's going to wind up dead!" Conáilte yelled as he jumped off the motorcycle. The blue-hooded boy stood up and looked around, and saw two students emerge from the forest.

"Hey! Do you have a partner?" One of them asked.

"We're looking for another pair." The second added.

"Uh... no, sorry." Conáilte apologized.

"Oh, okay." The first one responded. "Hope you find a good partner!"

"Thanks!" That ship has sunk, unfortunately.

Conáilte gathered his bearings and walked in the direction of the factory.

Laura and Malina looked to each other after brushing themselves off.

"Partners?" Laura asked.

"Partners."

Laura looked around them. All she could see was an uncountable mess of identical trees. Laura shivered before she turned to Malina again.

"Which way do we go?"

Malina looked at her watch, holding it to her eye and pointing the hour hand towards the sun. She then pointed her finger in the direction of 8:45.

"Northeast. That way."

"Oh!" Laura gasped, impressed. "My partner's a master navigator!"

"Not really." Malina shrugged. "My father's a detective in the Atlas PD, and I've picked up a lot from him."

"Oh, that's incredible!"

Laura and Malina started heading northeast, but slowed as they heard other sets of footsteps.

"Get down!" Malina whispered. The two took cover in the underbrush as a group of White Fang soldiers passed through. Once they were gone, the two stood up again, and Malina gestured for quiet. The two continued, this time with much more stealth, before they reached a small clearing filled with noise.

Laura and Malina peeked into the clearing, and saw a girl with a motorcycle fighting numerous grunts. They stayed hidden as she dodged blows and countered with her own, most of them diagonal. A casual observer would place their bets on the motorcyclist, but Laura and Malina knew better.

"They're going to send reinforcements. There's no way they don't hear that." Laura unsheathed her weapon.

"The sooner the fight's done, the sooner she'll cut the engine or get somewhere else."

"So, go help her! I'll provide cover fire from here." Laura nodded to her partner, and extended her wings. Her takeoff was marginally faster than usual, and she got a hit on a grunt with her weapon's khopesh form before being noticed, stopping an attack the motorcyclist had missed.

"Hey, thanks for the save!" The girl cheered. Then she turned to more grunts. "Now, who's next?!"

The motorcyclist revved her engine and darted towards a small cluster of grunts, jumping off the vehicle and over the heads of the grunts as it collided with them. She landed in front of her ride, grabbing it by the handlebars before leaping at what remained of the cluster, swinging her weapon with sufficient force to send at least one of them several yards with each strike.

Meanwhile, Laura flew above and between grunts, slashing at them with the power of the additional speed, using the same to dodge incoming attacks. She landed near a group of three grunts, converting her weapon to its rapier form as she blocked an attack from a sword user. She used the attacker's force to move herself to his backside before jabbing him with her weapon's tip. Naturally, his armor prevented puncture, but the force still caused the soldier to fall forward in pain. Laura leapt over the other two's attacks, her wings giving her some extra height, dodging and parrying their attacks until she had whittled them both down.

One reason the two hadn't been outnumbered, however, was the fact that many were falling before they could get close to either. By the time any of them noticed the glint of her scope, it was too late, and Malina had already taken them down with a few quick, accurate shots.

As the last grunt fell, Malina emerged from the underbrush.

"We can't stay here. They have the numbers advantage, and rescue isn't an option until that anti-air is down."

"So now we have two objectives?" The motorcyclist wondered aloud.

"Not necessarily. It's likely connected to the factory itself. Once that goes down, triple-a shouldn't remain operational for very long." Malina answered.

"Malina's right. Do you have a partner?" Laura asked the motorcyclist.

"I had a partner, but he ditched me. Hey, there he is!"

Conáilte groaned as he realized he'd been spotted. I should've used my semblance back there.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing, ditching me in the woods? We're partners, remember?"

"How could I forget, you absolute lunatic?"

"Hey, settle down, you two!" Laura intervened.

"Fine." Conáilte conceded. Nyan began to mount her vehicle. "That motorcycle's going to give away our position."

"How am I gonna get to the factory?"

"You're gonna walk, like the rest of us. Might help you build some muscle, pencil legs. While we're at it, pick up a gun off one of these guys."

"Oh, a motorcycle's too loud, I should use a gun!" Nyan mocked.

"A gunshot here isn't going to attract nearly as much attention as a motorcycle."

"He's right." Malina chimed in. "At least while we're on the way there, we want to keep a low profile."

"But," Laura added, "maybe she can use the motorcycle once we get to the factory." Nyan smiled.

"Sounds good!" The motorcyclist responded as she removed her helmet, revealing a neon green pixie cut. "Oh, name's Nyan by the way."

"Nice to meet you! And you?" Laura asked the boy as Nyan went to look for a temporary weapon.

"Conáilte, who are you?"

"Laura, and this is Malina." The blonde gestured to her partner.

"Alright, so roll call's done. Nyan, hurry up so we can get moving." Conáilte rolled his eyes. "She isn't looking at EVERY SINGLE GUN, is she?" He muttered to no one in particular.

Nyan chose a firearm and ran to her team, and Conáilte spoke as they started walking to the factory.

"So, what do y'all think this little band's gonna be called?" Malina hummed with thought.

"I'm seeing LuMiNesCent or CLeMeNtine. Magnolia would be a bit of a stretch, but it could work. I'd put my money on LMNC, though."

"Yeah, the others sound kinda lame." Nyan agreed.

"So, Laura'd be the leader, huh?"

"Sounds likely."

"What?" Laura gasped. "I've never led anyone before! I can fight good-"

"Well." Conáilte corrected.

"I can fight pretty well, but leading?"

"Hey, relax, L!" Nyan comforted. "You'll do fine! You already helped Conáilte and I stop fighting for a second, you should be able to do it for the next few years."

"Nyan's right. I'm willing to give you a chance, and you should give yourself a chance too." Laura smiled.

"Thanks, guys. Maybe being on a team with all of you will be fun!"

"Yeah, at least you HAVE done some fighting." Nyan pointed out before turning to Conáilte. "We haven't seen YOU fight yet. Do you even have a weapon?"

"Yeah, I've got a gun." Conáilte replied, unholstering a pistol. Nyan couldn't resist the urge not to laugh, but quickly covered it.

"That's it?"

"Hey, don't underestimate pistols. They can be a pretty reliable weapon, especially in a pinch."

"Rounds?" Malina asked.

"Beg your pardon?"

"What kind of round?"

"12.7 by 40 SAP-HE." Malina smirked.

"Fancy. Why not a rifle with the same?"

"Easier to conceal, transport, and possibly dual-wield."

"You're still sacrificing some range." Malina contested.

"If I need to, I can use most standard-issue weapons just fine."

"Why not just start with those things?"

"I don't need to." Malina shrugged.

"It sounds like you know your salt." Nyan piped up.

"The force uses them every day."

"The police?"

"Yeah. My father's a detective."

"Oh!" Nyan gasped, impressed.

"Wait, hold up." Laura whispered to the group. The four crept to the hilltop, and saw the factory below. There was obviously some effort put towards keeping it hidden, but it was barely noticeable. Malina peered through her scope to recon the area.

"I see a few outside, but I think a decent number are out looking for the rest of us."

"How comfortable are you with trying to hit them from up here?" Conáilte asked.

"I could do it, but unless there's a distraction, they'd probably find me out by shot five at the latest."

"Alright, the rest of us need to get closer anyway."

"I'll cover the best I can, but if I get overwhelmed, I'll join you down there."

"Got it."

Laura frowned to herself.

I'm probably going to be the leader, but everyone else is doing the job for me. Are they sure I'm cut out to lead them? Am I?

"Now, Nyan, I know this might be a foreign concept to you, but where has she gone."

"NYYAAAAAN ZAAAAFFRRRRRRRRRRE!" The motorcyclist yelled as she sped down the path.

"Sonuvab-!"

"Nyan, wait!"

Conáilte sprinted down the hill as Laura took flight and Malina took aim. Nyan engaged the grunts, soon joined by Laura. Conáilte, meanwhile, was shooting the occasional grunt as he sprinted to the factory entrance. One grunt noticed him and began to pursue, so he entered the factory and went behind a pillar near the door. The grunt rushed in, and used the entryway as cover while he shot and Laura and Nyan, unaware of the presence about to knock him out with a swift blow to the head.

As Malina covered the two fighting outdoors, the motorcyclist turned towards a group of grunts, burning out before rushing them. As the grunts took aim, Nyan turned her motorcycle horizontally, sweeping the feet of the grunts and using the momentum to stand up. Once up, she threw her vehicle at another grunt, knocking him into the side of the factory with the back tire. Nyan pushed a button on her helmet, which made the bike right itself and drive towards its owner. Nyan mounted the cycle again and zoomed towards another group.

Meanwhile, Laura was much more evasive in her tactics, a task made easier with flight. After dodging one sword strike, she used her semblance, creating a soundwave from nothing but air, powerful enough to knock the soldiers to the ground and give herself a greater height advantage. Laura flew to the ground to slash at another white fang grunt, as a DMR round prevented yet another from doing the same to her. Laura flew towards a considerably large grunt, slashing his leg as she flew close to the ground. A few rounds hit the grunt as he unsheathed a sword of his own, but he didn't appear to be hurt. Instead, he jumped to Malina's position with two quick bounds.

Malina rolled backwards as he landed and swung, and fired two shots before juking another attack. Malina quickly reloaded her weapon, replacing the existing magazine with one labelled 'Ice.' She shot the large grunts foot, freezing it in place with a block of ice, followed by encasing his head in the same. As the larger grunt stumbled, at least to the degree that he could, Malina jumped at a tree, using it as a springboard to kick the larger grunt in the head, breaking the ice and knocking him to the ground unconscious.

Malina turned to see a few more grunts had found her position. As they took aim, however, she slammed her eyes shut, and the terrorists were met with a blinding light and ringing ears. By the time they had recovered, the girl was gone.

"Laura!" Malina called to her partner as she joined her on the ground.

"Malina! Are you alright?"

"Yes, but my position got overrun. Do you need me down here?"

"Yeah, but hopefully not for too much longer." Laura replied as she kept fighting. Malina shot the grunt giving her partner trouble a few times before she heard Nyan speed behind her, hitting another as she jumped with the bike. Malina repositioned herself closer to the factory, and peered in to see Conáilte attempting to ambush a small group within. As she took aim to give him a distraction, she heard their conversation.

"So, you have any idea what else we'll find here?"

"If we haven't found everything, I'd be surprised."

"I wouldn't. We've found something new in every room so far, and who's to say there isn't more?"

The conversation was interrupted as Malina shot a round at the third grunt in the room.

"Human!" One of the grunts yelled as they both raised their weapons. This, however, gave Conáilte a perfect opportunity, as he jumped down, used his weapon to smack one grunt across the back of the head, and shot the other in a similar location.

"Thanks for the distraction." Malina nodded in response. Before she could say anything, Conáilte stepped onto a shotgun, using the grunt it was resting on as a fulcrum, and caught it in mid-air before shooting a fourth grunt investigating the noise. "Right, now how do we bring this place down?"

"Look around. See if we can figure out where the weight's resting, then find something here that'll help us destroy it."

"Alright, I'll look for the tool." Conáilte volunteered.

"I'll look at the walls, and see if I can find any schematics." The two split up, and as Malina started examining each wall and pillar, Conáilte explored the next room. It was an observation deck, clearly, though no light was shining on whatever it was supposed to be observing.

"Well, let's see what you've been hiding here." Conáilte muttered to himself as he hit the lights. He recoiled, however, when he saw a giant, quadrupedal battle station, equipped with what had to be the biggest laser weapon he'd ever seen. It stood no less than 150 feet tall, as far as he could eyeball it.

"Well, let's hope THAT goes down with it." Conáilte looked again. "Freaking both of 'em."

Malina peered into every folder she could, digital or otherwise. The digital ones were, for the most part, nightmares to get through, and had managed to completely shut her out. None of it seemed like White Fang intel, however. Malina neared the end of the digital file list, and her eyes widened as she saw an unlocked file.

Got it, Malina thought as she viewed the building schematics. She jotted down some notes on the structure before copying the files to her scroll for evidence. Maybe Dad can crack these.

"Conáilte?" Malina called to her teammate.

"Yeah?" The boy responded, looking for something with good firepower.

"I think I've found a vulnerability."

"Go on."

"That girder right there is supporting a large amount of the ceiling and upstairs." Malina pointed to the subject. "That part would collapse, and probably bring the rest down with it."

"Good. What's your plan for how to bring it down?"

"I thought finding a tool was YOUR job."

"It IS, but the most firepower I've found here is a rocket launcher."

"Think that'll do the trick?"

"Maybe, but we'd have to make some serious progress first before this'll make a dent." Malina looked over the girder. After a second, she ran to the factory door.

"Laura, Nyan? Are you two busy?"

"Not at the moment, but more might be coming back."

"Alright. Laura, we'll need you in here."

"Okay. Nyan, you stay outside. Keep the white fang out."

"You betcha!" The green-haired motorcyclist chirped. Laura walked into the factory.

"Why do you need me?"

"I have an idea for how we're going to take the place down."

"What is it?"

"Laura, do you think you could cut through this girder with that sword?"

"What? The blade's not THAT big!"

"No, but you've got speed and flight. Go back and forth, like you're cutting something with a knife. You should only need to cut through half of it. Then, we've got something else for you to do."

"So, we DON'T need a tool, and I searched for no reason?"

"No. You mentioned something about rocket launchers. We're going to need a getaway after this."

"I saw a few ATVs." Conáilte remembered.

"So did I. That's going to be our ride. But I highly doubt they'll just let us get away after we take down the factory. Once we go, we're going to need some of those launchers, just in case."

"How many?"

"Two should be fine." Laura piped up. "If I'm going to be doing this, I'll be too exhausted to use a rocket launcher. You and Malina can cover us."

"Alright, but once the thing goes, you have to get on and get going quickly. We'll bring Nyan closer to the door, too." Malina nodded. "Let's get started. Not everyone's in as secure a position as we are, and the sooner the anti-air's down, the better."

"How will Atlas know the factory's down?"

"I'll take care of confirmation." Malina replied.

Laura took a deep breath and extended her wings.

Takeoff.

It took the better part of a half hour, but at last Laura had cut halfway through the girder. The blonde landed on the floor, stumbling a little as she did so and breathing heavily.

"Are you guys almost done in there? I'm gonna start getting tired soon!" Nyan yelled from outside.

"Getting there!" Conáilte yelled to his partner. "Alright, that's done. What was the next part?"

"Laura, do you think you can use your semblance?"

"I... I think so."

"Alright. Could you use the biggest burst you can on that girder? The top half, specifically. I'd say get onto the ATV first."

"Of course." Laura got onto the ATV, as Malina moved closer to the door and Conáilte sat in passenger, the latter two holding rocket launchers.

Laura took a deep breath as Malina called Nyan to the doorway. Then, with all the energy she could muster without risking loss of consciousness, she shook the air next to the girder, sliding the top out of position.

The building started crumbling immediately, as Malina boarded Nyan's motorcycle and Laura hit the gas. The two vehicles rushed away as the factory began to cave in, Malina capturing a picture on her scroll with her free hand.

"Confirmation sent. Once they see that, evac should be any minute."

"We got company!" Conáilte yelled as he took aim. Behind the two vehicles, Malina saw a prototype Paladin chasing the four.

They're almost angrier than I thought they'd be. Thought Laura. "Take it down!"

"Easier said than done!" Conáilte retaliated. "Malina, fire at the left leg, I'll take the right. We can't take it down, but we can SLOW it down."

"Got it!" Malina yelled as she took aim.

The two fired simultaneously, and the impact of both rockets caused the Paladin to trip. Nothing it couldn't recover from, of course, but enough of a slowdown to buy them some peace of mind.

Malina perked up and the team turned as her scroll-and a moment later, theirs- started playing a transmission.

"Students of Atlas Academy, this is General Ironwood. We have received confirmation of the factory's destruction, and have sent rescue teams to the area. You are the last initiation group to complete their objective, and as such, all student-designated dropships are available for evacuation purposes, regardless of location. Your objective now is to create distance between yourselves and large groups of White Fang troops. I hope to meet you all at the academy very shortly."

"Woo-hoo!" Nyan shouted. "We're home free!"

"Wait!" Laura yelled, feeling tremors. "What's that?"

The four looked behind them as the four battle stations Conáilte had seen emerged from the rubble, wandering into the forest before disappearing over the hillsides.

"...Yeah, I MAY have forgotten to tell you all about those."

"Guys." Malina called to her team. "The mech won't catch us on the move, but we can't risk stopping to get picked up."

"She's right," a dropship pilot announced through their scrolls as she flew overhead. "Unless more than one of you can fly, you're gonna have to deal with it before I can set down."

"Unless we jump!" Nyan yelled. "There's a gorge up ahead. Lower the ship into it, and we'll jump onto the boarding ramp. If you close it quick enough, the mech won't be able to grab it and fall down!"

"Huh. Well, it doesn't sound like we have many other options. Here goes nothing..." the dropship pilot flew past the four, descending into the gorge.

"Wait, Nyan! We can't make that!" Laura yelled to her teammate.

"Yeah we can, I do this kind of jump all the time! The only block's the mental one!"

Laura took a deep breath as she sped towards the gorge. The two vehicles experienced a bumpy landing, but were prevented from falling out from the dropship's liftoff thanks to the ramp's closing, which also blocked the team's sight of the falling Paladin. As the dropship leveled out, and the team gathered their bearings, all Laura could do was sigh.

And this is only initiation...

Laura looked around as the airship landed at Atlas Academy. Her home for the next four years. She still would have rather gone to Beacon, though, and not simply due to the warmer climate. Malina, however, was perfectly content; she was still within a few blocks of her house, and could navigate the nearby streets like the back of her hand. Nyan, per usual, emitted a boatload of energy as she skipped out of the dropship, wheeling her motorcycle beside her. Conáilte didn't seem to display any emotion, minus what hints his hunched posture could give.

The four entered the auditorium, waiting for the other evacuated students to trickle in. As they waited, Malina opened up her scroll and messaged her father.

/Sending some files. Found on main computer at recently destroyed factory. Care to look into them?/

\\I'll see what I can do. Thanks\\

Malina sent the files before putting away her scroll. She turned to her partner, noticing her look of worry.

"Hey, you'll do great. If what I saw in the forest is what you are outside it, you'll be a leader we can all be proud of." Laura unfolded her wings from around her arms.

"Thanks. I just... can't believe it."

The auditorium was filling up, and before long, all of the students had crowded in. Once they had, the speakers played a loud screech to get the attention of the student body. On stage was General Ironwood, stepping up to the microphone.

"As the world reels from the loss of Beacon Academy, it is with great pride that I congratulate you all for finding the strength to train and study at Atlas. This environment may be unfamiliar to many of you, and it may take some time for you all to become comfortable. Unfortunately, some of you may never be fully comfortable here." Laura frowned at the the thought of who precisely the general was talking about. "However, it is important to remember that the instructors here at Atlas Academy are always here for you. Have you any questions or concerns, barring classified information, please don't hesitate to ask." The general paused, looking over the crowd. "As we start this new semester here at Atlas, I would like to take the time to announce all of the new combat teams. Come onto the stage as your name is called." The general looked to a piece of paper in his hands. "Laura Thrush, Malina Aulnoy, Nyan Zaffre, and Conáilte Laoch."

The team was surprised for a moment, not expecting to be the first team announced, but nonetheless walked onto the stage, standing at attention as Ironwood spoke.

"Laura Thrush. Those who know you do so as a source of comfort. You care for acquaintances as friends, and friends as family. However, while you choose to see the best in others, you lack confidence in your own ability. Trust your team to guide you, but do not forget that as team leader, you must guide them in return."

Laura summoned as much boldness as she could muster as she responded, "Yes, sir!"

"Malina Aulnoy. You are wise and intelligent beyond your years, and can often be counted on as a voice of reason. However, it is important that you trust your team to want the best for you, and understand when retreat is a fair tactic. Let them watch over you as you them."

"Yes, sir." Malina responded, her confidence less forced than her partner's.

"Nyan Zaffre. The fears that often make people too afraid to help others always fail to stop you. You are incredibly courageous, and can be expected to do what no one else will. However, this bravery can betray you if left unchecked. Have your team's support, and trust their judgement. They may save your life as often and with as much passion as you save theirs."

"Yes sir!" Nyan replied excitedly.

"Conáilte Laoch. You are considered by those around you to be incredibly clever and down-to-earth, though your issues with empathy are not unknown to those around you, either. Be patient with your team. They may surprise you."

"Yes, sir." Conáilte responded. In Laura's mind, he sounded the most like an actual Atlesian soldier as he did so.

"The four of you have proven more than capable in a dangerous setting. In destroying the White Fang Factory, you have secured a place as one of the new combat teams at Atlas Academy. For the duration of your time here, you shall be collectively known as team LuMiNesCent, led by Laura Thrush. Good luck to you all."

The four responded in unison.

"Yes, sir!"

The dorm rooms of Atlas could not contrast more with Beacon's. Rather than the peach and red colors that would have lined the walls of the latter, the Atlas dorms were colored with greys and blues, with the window unable to be opened, being designed for vision and protection rather than appearance. A single desk, a chair, a dresser of four drawers, and four wire frame beds were the only pieces of furniture in the room, and no further decoration was present, unless one counted the carpet. The team looked around for a moment.

"Well, we've seen all there is." Conáilte said as he walked towards a bed and set his belongings on it.

"I call this one!" Nyan yelled as she ran to a bed and jumped onto it, though instead of bouncing as she had hoped, she stopped dead as she hit it.

"You're a moron."

"I'll take this one." Malina said, walking towards the one closest to the bathroom.

"Ah, crap, I should've taken that one." Malina smirked as she started unpacking. Laura walked to the one unclaimed, setting her luggage down at the foot of the bed.

"Should drawers go height order or rank order?"

"'Rank?' We're all students." Nyan replied.

"Rank within the team. Chain of command. If Laura is missing or unconscious or something, Malina is second in command, et cetera."

"The chain of command would be more symbolic, but I think height order works out better logistically." Malina voted, not looking away from the piles she was sorting.

"That's what I was thinking."

"Well, who's the tallest?" Conáilte looked at Malina.

"Malina, height?"

"Five six."

"Laura?"

"Four ten."

"Nyan?"

"Five two!"

"Five ten, top's mine." Conáilte grabbed his clothes and walked to the dresser. As he dumped in his clothes, which weren't plentiful enough for all of them fitting to be an issue, he turned to his leader. "So, what exactly is it?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your semblance. The one that brought the factory down."

"Oh! I basically create a sound from a certain place. Shake the air molecules. It lets me distract the enemies, or just knock them away."

"Huh."

"For that matter," Malina noted, "I think we should all get to know each others' semblances. It'll do a lot to help us get used to fighting together."

"Chain of command?"

"Sure." Malina nodded. "My semblance makes me a walking stun grenade, as I already told Laura. I have to close my eyes for a second to do it, though."

"Cool, that'll work well with mine."

"That being?"

"When I leave someone's sight, I can make them forget I was ever there. They'll remember everything the next time they see me, but until then, they didn't see nothing."

"There we go, we have a team strategy already!" Nyan cheered.

"Technically, it only consists of half the team." Conáilte corrected.

"It's a start." Laura defended. "Nyan? What's your semblance?" The motorcyclist smirked before jumping towards Laura, disappearing, and reappearing behind her leader an instant later.

"Oh, teleportation." Malina nodded with approval.

"Nope!"

"Invisibility?" Conáilte guessed.

"Not exactly." The hyperactive girl answered.

"What is it?" asked Laura.

"Basically, I put myself into another world, a parallel one. For every foot I move there, I move three here. When I feel I'm where I need to be, which is just instinct, I come back to this one. Usually use it to make jumps."

"Whoa."

"Oy, gevalt..."

"That's incredible, Nyan!" Laura cheered. Before Nyan could respond, the four heard a knock on the door. Laura opened it to see an Atlesian soldier standing at attention.

"Sorry to interrupt, but the General has summoned your team to the south building. Please, do not delay any longer than absolutely necessary." Laura looked to her teammates, a shared look of concern in all their faces. The four followed the soldier outside, and walked towards the south building. As they approached, they saw six other teams had met with General Ironwood, and three more joined after them. General Ironwood did a quick headcount before nodding and speaking quietly.

"All of you are to enter the elevator, and what I tell you all when we arrive is not to be shared with anyone. Understood?"

The forty students and the General entered a dark room. Miraculously, there seemed to be more than enough room for all of the students, even after considering many were huddling together. The general turned and pulled a switch, turning on the lights in the room, and the students gasped at what they saw.

There were forty pairs of what appeared to be medical capsules, each pair having one that contained a strange-looking automaton. The room was filled with whispers, some of confusion and some of fear, before the General gestured for their attention. As the students quieted down, the General began calmly.

"As was made public knowledge following the Fall of Beacon, P.E.N.N.Y. was Atlas' first successful model of a sentient synthetic being. She was capable of storing and producing an aura, just like all of you. However, what we did not disclose to the public was how we achieved this feat. In the process of creating P.E.N.N.Y., we discovered that aura could be stored within certain kinds of vessels, with the P.E.N.N.Y. unit containing one such vessel within."

The general scanned the room, noticing looks of shock, respect, and, as before, confusion and fear. He then continued.

"Atlas has made significant strides in the study of aura, and we have discovered a way to transfer it from one vessel, or person, to another. In the months since the Fall of Beacon, we have mass-produced the required machinery to perform aura transfer. What you see in this room is the fruits of our labors."

"I suppose you're all wondering what the automatons are. Before any of you ask, we are not transferring your aura into them. Rather, we are using them to transfer aura into all of you." One student raised her hand. "Yes?"

"Why not? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to build more P.E.N.N.Y. units?"

"Possibly, yes. However, the P.E.N.N.Y. who faught in the Vytal festival tournament cost billions of lien to produce. Replacing even half of you would require an entire three quarters of our military budget. This process is much cheaper, and could potentially be more effective." Another raised hand. "Yes?"

"Where did you get the aura?" The general frowned.

"Many huntsmen and huntresses, including those of young ages, are gravely wounded in missions every day. We have harvested the aura of some with no chance to survive, sometimes with permission and sometimes while they are comatose."

"Is this procedure risky?"

"Unfortunately, yes. The scientists have predicted a 10% chance of fatality among those who undergo the procedure. However, I would like to clarify that this does not necessarily mean any of you will die." The general looked to another hand. "Yes?"

"What if we don't want to do this?" The general smiled.

"I was wondering if somebody would ask that. While the decision does not have to be unanimous among the forty of you, it must be unanimous among your combat team. If any one of your teammates refuses to undergo the procedure, none of your team will receive it. Keep in mind, you will all have until this date next month to come to a decision." The general looked over the crowd again, this time his attention focused to Malina. "Yes?"

"If aura is a manifestation of one's soul, would gaining a second one alter our personality?"

"An apt question. We are unsure of whether this is the case across the board, but our first successful subject of the procedure claims to still have autonomy over their body, with the personality of the dual aura existing as a voice within their mind."

"And what about semblance?" A boy in the crowd asked.

"From what we've observed, you will each likely gain a new semblance, due to its connection to aura."

"So our semblances will be replaced?"

"No. Instead, you will each possess a dual semblance." The room was filled with chatter once again.

"We will give you all some time to come to a decision amongst your teams. Remember, none of this is shared with anyone outside this room. When you go through the procedure, the rest of the student body will believe you were sent on another mission. For your career's sake, make sure it stays that way. Am I clear?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

Team LMNC arrived at their dorm, not having spoken a word since they left the bunker. Even once they arrived, there was a minute of silence before Laura spoke up.

"So what now?"

"I say we do it!" yelled Nyan, startling Conáilte with her sudden burst of emotion.

"Of course you do, you don't comprehend risk." Conáilte chided.

"Hey!"

"Give me one reason you want to do this. Fun doesn't count."

"I want to become a better huntress. This makes a world of difference. Why are you against?"

"I'm not. I want to make sure you're making a decision that isn't as rash as your track record so far."

"I don't know guys." Laura chimed in. "10% is awfully high. I'm not sure..."

"Technically, that's still only per-person probability. Theoretically, it would be possible for all forty students to get through without a single death." Malina noted.

"I know, but it still has me worried. Conáilte? Why are you placing so much faith in this?"

"Well, for what Malina said, but also because it's our responsibility now."

"I beg your pardon?"

"We were offered this because they saw us being able to do more. To do the jobs no one else could. To have that opportunity and turn it down would be letting the whole world down." Laura frowned.

"But what if something happens to one of you? As your team leader, that'd be on me, or at least feel like it. I don't want to hold you all back, but I want to keep you all safe."

"Laura, what if something happens out there? That's not even a 'what if,' it's going to happen." Malina spoke calmly. "If we all go through with this, we'll be better prepared when it does." Laura lowered her head. "If you want to try and protect us, that's understandable. But the way I see it, you'll be doing that a lot better by going through with the procedure."

"...Okay." Laura said. She raised her head and looked to her team. "We're doing this. For all of you." Malina smiled.

"Thank you."

"Thanks, L!"

"Nice."

As the team finished unpacking, Laura walked up to Conáilte. She'd had the least time to talk to him out of any of them, and being team leader, wanted to make sure she was doing what she could for him, too.

"Hey, Conáilte. Need any help unpacking?"

"Nope, I'm all done. Got everything in the drawer."

"Oh." Laura paused a moment before trying again. "Are you from here?"

"Nah, Vale. Just out of the main city, but not Mountain Glenn out of it."

"Oh! Do you have any siblings?"

"Oldest of six."

"Whoa! I'm youngest of two."

"Where's the first?"

"She's helping clean up at Beacon. She was a third year when it happened, but once she's done there, she'll come here and start as a fourth."

"Huh. Hey, Laura?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think life is?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"General said you were an optimist. Not directly, but he said it. In one word, how would you define Being?" Laura thought for a moment.

"I don't know. I've... never really thought of that before." Conáilte nodded.

"Most people don't. Personally, I'd say 'suffering.'"

"Why would you say that?"

"Prove me wrong."

"If life is suffering, then why are people happy? Why do we come together?"

"Because the fact that life is suffering is a call to action. We all have to work to make it less of that. You use that as a spring board and tell yourself, 'I'm going to do this, because life is suffering and I want it to be better.' You have to accept that. Part of maturity, and part of doing the right thing. That's what makes a good person. And if there's any kind of person we need as our leader..." Conáilte turned to Laura. "It's that." Laura was silent for a moment.

"Thanks for the advice." Conáilte smirked.

"Yes, ma'am."

A computer screen was all that illuminated the room. It shone almost exclusively on a single man, sitting and staring at the screen, chin resting on his intertwined hands. On the screen were all of the new combat teams at Atlas academy. Underneath his mask, his eyes narrowed as he scanned over them.

"Do you suspect any prime candidates this year?" He asked calmly to another man, an elderly one standing to his side.

"You never quite know, sir."

"I am well aware, Mr. Persimmon. I am asking your opinion as to whether any of them show potential." Mr. Persimmon brought his finger to his chin.

"Team LuMiNesCent is likely to be one of the top teams. After all, they were the team responsible for destroying the factory. Speaking of which, sir, are we considering retaliation against them for that matter?"

"No. Nothing of value was lost. They didn't even harm the reasons behind that factory's existence in the first place. However, I believe with this radical new step on the school's part..."

"Will this upset our plans, sir?" The seated man turned to the elder.

"Not at all. We've been laying the proverbial bricks for years. A collection of small actions could prove troublesome, but I have reason to believe such a large step as this should still not be a threat." He turned back to the screen. "Though it is intriguing. Look over the camera footage tonight. Keep a note of all the individuals who accept the procedure."

"Yes, sir."

"After that, pick up the items we tasked our... associates to retrieve. There should be one at each of the next five drop-off addresses. Should any... complications arise, retrieve the items yourself. On their person or otherwise."

"Yes sir, Master Rosso." Mr. Rosso turned back to the screen.

"This is quite the turn of events, Mr. Persimmon. I hope for your assistance to use it to great advantage." Mr. Persimmon nodded and took his leave. Grigio Rosso looked at the screen for a moment longer.

"Now, what have we here?"

And thus completes the first chapter of the reboot!

Now, I made some allusions to the character's outfits within the text to spice up dialogue, but I'm going to use this AN to exposit character appearance just so I don't have to find a way to shoehorn a segment about their outfit into the story.

Laura: Blonde hair to her shoulders, blue eyes. She wears a pink sleeveless dress with a skirt to her kneecaps. She also wears gold-colored sandals.

Malina: Probably the only one I could manage to get away with in-text. As stated, she wears a black sweater, black leggings, and converse style sneakers. Brown hair to her lower back, and brown eyes.

Nyan: Green pixie cut was established, but not her green eyes, denim jacket, neon green gradient shirt, red scarf, green fingerless gloves, black boots and jean shorts. (Far and away the most stand-out appearance, which fits with her personality)

Conáilte: Blue hoodie, blue jeans, blue/grey/green sneakers. Brown hair parted on the left, and brown eyes.

Anyway, that's about it! Chapter 2 should be up within the next month (I'm not THAT busy), and I'll definitely try to upload more consistently. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all in the next chapter!