RWBY: LUCID

The train hissed to a stop, its magnetic hum quieting as the doors slid open.

Jaune glanced up at the digital display above the cabin door. "Stop 7: Academy Station." That was his cue.

He rose with his bag slung over one shoulder, checking twice that he had everything before stepping out into the open air of the platform.

The orange-haired girl and her pink-streaked friend got off too, blending into the flow of students heading in the same direction. A small current of navy blazers and mixed attire all subtly funneled toward one wide, tree-lined road.

Jaune joined the crowd without hesitation.

His phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket.

Fishing it out, he thumbed the screen and saw a message from Ruby.

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[Ruby]: Hey!! Where r u? Class starts in 15!! 😱

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Jaune smiled faintly. Her energy was strong even over text.

He tapped out a quick reply as he walked.

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[Jaune]: Just got off the train. I'll be there in 5.

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He slipped the phone back into his pocket. The route from the station to Beacon was a gentle slope, flanked on both sides by landscaped hedges and polished stone walkways. Ahead, the massive academy stood, proud and tall.

Jaune remarked at it quietly. It was going to take a while to get used to its grandeur.

Students were starting to spread out now, some chatting in small groups, others walking briskly ahead.

The pair from earlier—pancake girl and Renny—drifted further up the path, blending into the crowd ahead.

Jaune focused on the looming gates of Beacon Academy coming into full view.

There, standing just outside the entrance, was Ruby and someone else.

Even from a distance, the girl beside her was striking.

She had long, flowing hair that shone like molten gold in the sunlight. Thick curls cascaded past her shoulders and down her back. Her skin was like smooth alabaster, flawless and pure. Her posture radiated confidence. She exuded the ease of someone who knew how to own a room… or a campus entrance, Jaune supposed.

Her figure was impossible to ignore. Curvaceous and athletic, with a narrow waist, wide hips, and a bust that made Jaune's brain short-circuit for a second. She wore a form-fitting long-sleeved jacket in amber and brown over a yellow tank top that left no ambiguity to her assets.

A pair of snug black pants and tall boots finished the look—stylish, bold, and somehow effortless.

She looked like model who belonged on a poster, or at the center of a crowd.

Jaune blinked and looked away before he got caught staring. He adjusted the strap of his bag again and picked up the pace.

'Okay... yeah. Definitely not from Ansel anymore.'

He raised a hand in greeting as he approached.

Ruby beckoned her hand to him.

"Jaune! Over here!"

He jogged the last few steps and came to a stop in front of them, catching his breath with a crooked grin. "Hey, Ruby."

She smiled wide, then turned slightly to gesture to the blonde beside her. "This is my sister, Yang!"

Jaune blinked. Sister?

Yang extended a hand, the golden bracelets on her wrist catching the morning light. "Yang Xiao Long," she said with a wink. "Pleasure to meet ya. You're the new transfer student right?"

Jaune swallowed a lump in his throat as he took her hand. It was warm and surprisingly firm.

"Yep, that's me, Jaune Arc," he replied, managing not to trip over his words. "Short and smooth. Nice to meet you."

Somehow, miraculously, his voice didn't crack.

Thank the gods.

"What, no 'ladies love it,' this time?" Ruby teased with a smirk.

Jaune coughed into his hand awkwardly.

"'Jaune Arc,' huh?" Yang repeated, tilting her head slightly. "Ice to meet you. Heheh. Get it? Ice to meet you, because we're breaking the ice by introducing ourselves?"

Ruby groaned immediately. "Yang—"

"What? Meeting someone new is snow-joke!" Yang said with mock innocence.

Jaune couldn't help it—he laughed.

"That was awful," he said, grinning despite himself.

Yang shrugged. "Tough crowd."

Ruby looked between the two of them, then shook her head. "This is what I live with."

As the banter settled, Jaune's thoughts briefly returned to Ruby's introduction.

'Sister? But… they don't even share the same last name.'

He didn't ask, of course. It wasn't his business.

But the thought stuck in his head as they turned toward the school entrance together. Something about it tugged at his curiosity.

Still, if there was anything weird going on in their family, neither of them showed it. The energy between them felt easy and lived-in. Like they'd been through a lot together.

He would know, seven sisters and all.

Jaune adjusted his bag and walked alongside them, still feeling the ghost of Yang's handshake in his palm.

'Alright. Made it to school. Met an actual bombshell. Didn't die of embarrassment. Good start.'

He hoped the rest of the day would go just as smoothly.

The trio passed through the main gates of Beacon walking into the shade that the morning sun was casting. Long shadows stretched over the stone path ahead and the grounds were already lively with students milling about, chatting, heading to class, or lounging beneath trees.

The energy was busy, but not chaotic.

"You're from Ansel, huh?" Yang asked, shooting Jaune a sideways glance as they walked. "Never been there. What's it like?"

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck. "Busy and quiet, depending on the area. It's a small city—lots of old buildings. Not many tall ones, but still a few. Weirdly enough, a ton of bakeries. And… not much else, really."

He shrugged. "Pretty different from Vale, honestly."

"Hmm, sounds interesting but..." Ruby drew out the word with a grin, "Vale's got everything. Cafes, parks, gaming lounges, the best smoothie shops in the kingdom…"

"And don't forget Signal Tower," Yang added."Best place to watch fireworks—or make out with someone. Not that I ever did that," she said, tone dripping with exaggerated innocence.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yang..." She trailed off, then smirked like a devilish thought had crossed her mind."Hehe, Yang talks a big game, but she hasn't had any—"

Yang clamped a hand over Ruby's mouth, her smile tightening.

"That's enough out of her, don't you think?"

Jaune smiled, amused at their dynamic. "Guess I've got a lot to explore. Any recommendations for someone new to the city?"

Yang removed her hand and shrugged. "Oh yeah. Arcades, the boardwalk, some killer food trucks near the harbor. Depends what you're into."

"I was kind of a homebody back in high school," Jaune admitted. "Didn't really hang out much. Just kept my head down and got through it."

Yang tilted her head. "Not a lot of friends?"

He hesitated. "Not really close ones. Just classmates. We talked, but… that was about it."

There was a beat of quiet before Ruby filled it with her usual brightness.

"Well, you've got us now," she said, beaming. "We're way cooler than classmates. Actually, we're kinda similar in that regard."

"Really? You seem like a social butterfly to me," Jaune said. "I mean, you were even assigned to show me around."

Ruby winced.

Yang smirked. "Truth is, it wasn't Ruby who got assigned to you."

"It wasn't?"

"Nope." Yang popped the p. "It was me. But I figured since Rubes hadn't made many friends in her two weeks here, this would be a good chance for her to stretch her wings—low stakes and all."

"Oh," Jaune nodded. "So you passed it off to her to help her socialize? Not bad. You could make a great manager."

Ruby scoffed. "Please. You should see what else she gets away with at home. I do all the work while she runs off doing who knows what."

Yang gave a theatrical shrug but didn't deny it.

"Well, I'm glad it was you, Ruby. Now we're old pals. Friends for life," Jaune said with a grin.

"Aw, shucks, Jaune." She gave him a playful punch on the arm.

It hurt a lot more than he expected, but he kept his face neutral.

"You girls play any video games? RPGs, fighters, that kind of stuff?"

Ruby's eyes lit up. "Yes! I love Soul Fighter. That new RPG? Have you tried it?"

"Oh yeah, it's great. But lately I've been into a strategy game."

Yang perked up. "How about racing games?"

"Sometimes."

"Then I've got to show you my ride," she said, pulling out her scroll. With a flick, she turned the screen toward him.

The picture showed a sleek yellow-and-black motorcycle parked in a garage. It looked like something out of a futuristic action movie—streamlined frame, reinforced wheels, and glowing trim accents.

Jaune leaned in. "Whoa. That's yours?"

"Yep. Her name's Bumblebee," Yang said proudly. "Got my license last year. She's my baby."

"That's seriously cool," he said, genuinely impressed.

Yang flashed a mischievous grin. "Maybe I'll take you for a ride sometime."

He blinked, caught off guard.

Then she added smoothly, "—on the bike."

Jaune choked on his words, heat creeping into his face. "R-right. Yeah. Sure."

Ruby facepalmed. "Yang, seriously?"

"What? He walked into that one."

Jaune chuckled. "Guess I did."

They reached the central hall, Beacon's spires rising high above them as the morning bell rang in the distance signifying that they had to get to class.