Ashley couldn't believe her eyes. It was the Beast Queen herself, the First Beastmaster that ever lived, GrandBeastmaster Mei Yin Li. She read her notes and read the legends and stories of her in the various tombs of ancient Beastmasters she's explored and here she was standing in front of her.
Ashley grabbed a stick and shakily poked Mei in the boob.
"What are you doing?" Mei deadpanned.
"Holy crap your not actually a vengeful ghost trying to kill me in a blind rage!" Ashley said in shock.
"No Ms. Dunes im not a vengeful spirit unlike our ancient brethren, I'm perfectly alive and healthy as you can see." Mei sighed.
"Oh my god I have so much to ask you!" Ashley flustered.
"How are you still alive and still look to be in your early 30's, how old are you exactly?!"
"Were you really the first?!"
"Did you really train all the BeastMasters?!"
"Did you know Edmund before he became a mutant Psychopath?!"
"Ms Dunes." Mei said calmly.
"How many BeastMasters were there, are there any still alive besides us?!"
"Was it true we were the guardians to the people of the ark system?!"
"How many creatures did each BeastMaster have?!"
"Ms Dunes."
"How long has our Order been around?!"
"How did you train Beastmasters?!"
"Are you actually a lesbian?!"
"MS DUNES!" Mei snapped.
Ashley stopped in her tracks.
"Please stop talking. Said Mei. "and also that last question isn't true that part about my time with Diana got lost in translation." She muttered.
"Uh right sorry." Ashley said sheepishly.
The rest of the students came rushing in.
"Professor Dunes did you find Pyr-" Jaune started but stopped upon seeing "Uh who is that?" He asked staying on guard.
"Kids this here is a living legend, she's the Grandbeastmaster Mei Yin Li." Ashley said excitedly. "She's the FIRST BeastMaster."
"I thought you were the only one left." Said Weiss.
"I thought so too but yet here stands an ancient legend, and she still looks 32." Ashley exclaimed. "But seriously how old are you?"
"Ms. Dunes please stop asking me about my age." Mei deadpanned.
"right sorry."
"Since you all know of my existence I suppose I have no choice but tag along with you," Mei sighed. "Beacon was the name of your academy correct?"
"Yep and I'm Ruby Rose I'm really happy to meet another BeastMaster can I see your Dino's some time." Ruby said happily.
"Rose..." Mei whispered. She glared at her silver eyes. "Silver eyes..." she growled to herself.
Ruby slowly reeled back from the scary glare Mei was giving her.
"Are you ok?" Ashley asked Mei.
"Hm...oh yes I'm fine," Mei assured her. "we should probably get you children back to beacon."
"Right, you got any flying mounts with you?" Ashley asked. "The bullheads we came here on were shot down, and the pilots were killed and I doubt Amber can carry everyone."
Mei turned around and whistled. After a moment of silence a giant Nevermore That had grey face plate, a yellow body, and shining white eyes flew down to their area.
The students stated in awe of how Mei managed to calm and tame such a big Grimm under the radar.
"If recall correctly the biggest flying mount you managed to tame was a Quetzal Correct?" Mei said giving a small smile.
"Well...uh..I..er...it's not a competition you know." Ashley mumbled crossing her arms.
This cause a couple of the students to snicker.
"Well this Nevermore should hold about 9 of you Ms. Dunes Amber can carry you and 3 others correct?"
"Yeah." Ashley said with a nod.
"Good then lead the way back for me and Yingzi." Mei said.
timeskip.*
Ruby was behind Ashley on Amber who happened to be carrying both Nora and Jaune.
Ashley was lost in thought however.
why was Mei giving Ruby such a dirty look?* she thought. *could there be a connection between Ruby and Autumn?*
Autumn...why am I thinking about that mad woman, I killed her back in aberration 2 years ago...now that I think about it they both had silver eyes...and Autumns last name was Rose.*
"Professor Dunes?" Ruby suddenly asked.
"Huh-what is it Ruby?" Ashley responded snapping out of deep thought.
"Do you think Ms. Li hates me?" She asked.
"What makes you say that Ruby?" Ashley said looking back over to her.
"when I introduced myself to her she gave me a terrifying glare." Asked Ruby.
"She's probably just a little on edge after that fight with the Feds." Ashley tried to assure her. "I'm sure it'll pass eventually."
Ruby just nodded and kept quiet.
when I get a chance with Mei alone I'm gonna ask what the hell is going on.* Ashley thought as she looked forward to see Beacon coming into view.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." groaned Jaune from Ambers grip.
"Don't even think about it Jaune i will drop you right here!" Yelled Ashley.
Jaune just covered his mouth to prevent himself vomiting.
Glynda and Ozpin were running up weapons ready upon seeing the nevermore but became at ease upon seeing it was Ashley on the griffin.
"Ms Dunes are the children ok?" Glynda asked with concern.
"yeah there all fine we happened to get ambushed by the Feds."
Ozpin looked upon the nevermore.
"Why is this one colored different then your other animals?" He asked.
"Because it's not mine." She stated.
"WHAT?!" Glynda shouted.
"It's hers." Ashley said pointing at Mei Yin Li who was jumping down from the Nevermore.
"Glynda, Ozpin, meet them first BeastMaster that ever lived, Grandmaster Mei Yin Li." Ashley said excitedly.
"But I thought you said you were the last one." Said Glynda.
"Apparently not she's been hiding for Lord knows how long?"
"5'230 years." Mei stated calmly.
"Wait are you actually claiming to be over 5,000 years old?!" Said Weiss finding Meis statement to be unreal.
"I'm 7,852 years old to be exact." Mei deadpanned.
"That's not possible your saying your immortal?!" Weiss bagged beginning to think this woman was insane.
"Not exactly child My inability to age is due to eternal life." Mei stated. "I can still be killed like any other normal human being."
"And if you find what I am saying so hard to believe, take Ms. Dunes for an example, she is immortal in a way." She slowly gestured to Ashley.
"Well I wouldn't say my dying and coming back thing isn't exactly immortality, it's more of a video game, only well you know...more painful." Ashley chuckled.
"Video game???" Mei asked confused.
"Video games you know they're like a uh interactive movie."
"What is a movie?" Mei asked raising a brow.
Everyone looked to Ashley with concern for Mei.
"Hey don't look at me I just met her." Ashley protested.
timeskip to Ozpins Office 9pm.*
"So Ms. Li although I have very little knowledge of the BeastMasters, I still am honored to have you stay at my academy till further notice." Ozpin said politely.
"I am honored that you would have here Headmaster." Mei bowed.
"Professor Dunes could you please show Ms. Li where you and your friends are sleeping?" Asked Glynda.
"Sure thing Glynda." Ashley smiled.
Charlie then hopped on Glynda's shoulder and began begging.
"*sigh* very well Charlie, but just one." She said as she tossed him a little doggy treat.
Charlie greedily grabbed it and munched it up and nuzzled her as a way of saying thanks.
"Huh Charlie really likes you doesn't he?" Exclaimed Ashley. "He's usually that friendly with other people."
how strange. Mei thought. *A first tame only shows that kind of affection to their master...unless-
"Come on Mei I'll show you where we're holed up." Ashley said as Charlie hopped on her shoulder.
"Ah yes of course," Mei replied snapping out of deep thought. "Lead the way Ms. Dunes.
"Oh and Ashley," Glynda said. "You still need to clean the fountain."
"Oh...right, the fountain." Ashley said rubbing the back of her neck.
As the doors closed and the elevator descended Ashley looked over to Mei.
"So..." Ashley said breaking the silence.
"Hm?" Mei responded keeping her gaze straight forward.
"Back at the forest you kinda gave Ruby a terrifying look, can I know what that was all about?" Ashley said crossing her arms.
"..."
"Look I know I've been asking you countless questions since I met you back in the emerald forest but please could you just answer this o-
"Ashley...during your time in Aberration...how much did Autumn Rose tell you about her people?" Mei suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"Wait how'd you know-
Mei just gave Ashley an unamused look.
"Oh right you were watching me." Ashley said feeing stupid.
"Well Autumn kept preaching to me about how her people would return to glory and rule the universe, but I didn't really bother listening to that fuckin lunatic, she was hellbent on destroying the entire ARK system."
"come to think of it she never told me what her people were called to begin with." Ashley said scratching her chin.
"Silverbloods." Mei stated.
"What?"
"They're known as Silverbloods," Mei Repeated. "You can tell them apart from others due to their signature Silver eyes."
"Wait the race that wiped out the beastmasters, are you saying that it was them?"
Mei simply stared foward.
"...god was Autumn their...leader?" Ashley asked the Grandmaster.
"Yes." Mei replied.
"But why did they kill us all off?" She asked.
"Ashley I promise to answer your questions but only when we're in a more secluded place can I trust you to wait until then?" Said Mei.
"...yeah, but I'm gonna hold you to it." Ashley said as the doors open.
"...did you kill her?" Mei asked suddenly.
"Huh?"
"When you chased Autumn Rose into the ancient temple within the core of Aberration, I was unable to follow...please tell me...DID YOU KILL HER?"
Ashley had a flashback to her plunging the aberrant blade into Autumns chest.
As she laid on the floor dying she chuckled as the temple was collapsing from the blade being removed from its pedestal.
"This is only the beginning Ashley Dunes." She smirked at the blonde BeastMaster.
Ashley stared in slight confusion at the dying madwoman. But she didn't have time to ask her anything as debris fell on Autumn giving Ashley the hint to get the hell out of there.
After the flashback Ashley looked to Mei.
"Yeah, I did."
Mei stated for a moment before she silently nodded.
"I certainly hope so." She said to herself.
"Come on Mei our sleeping quarters are just outside the classroom." Ashley said leading her out.
meanwhile in an unknown location.*
A woman in black hooded robes looked upon the city of Vale from a distance.
"So...this is where you've been hiding her Summer?" She smiled.
She looked at the empty vial in her hand.
she suddenly had a flashback many centuries ago.
"I am not afraid of you." A wounded female BeastMaster said boldly guarding an alchemy table.
"Is that so..." the woman Chuckled. "YOU SHOULD BE."
"If You want my life's work you'll have to go through me SilverBlood!!!" hollered the BeastMaster.
"Well if you insist." She smiled before plunging her fist through the beastmaster's chest and then grabbing the vial off her alchemy table.
She then pulled out through the BeastMaster letting her body fall to the floor.
"The ability to defy death, is now mine." She smirked as she left her body to rot.
As the flashback ended the woman smiled.
"I believe I should be thanking you Kay." She smirked as she dropped the vial and walked off.