Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 60

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Before Emerald could say anything more, the world shook as an explosion reached their ears. Emerald's weapons flashed in her hands as she turned northwards, a mushroom cloud forming. Her mind whirled. Was Beacon under attack?

"Ah," Professor Ozpin remarked with a tone that bordered on amusement. "I see that the rest of your classmates have arrived. They shall be a lively batch this year, I think."

She hesitantly lowered her weapons. "You aren't alarmed?" And what did he mean by lively?

"If it was a true attack, I would know," Professor Ozpin tittered. "I shall be off to prepare for later, Miss Wayland. I recommend you head off for the Amphitheatre."

And so, Ozpin walked off, his cane clattering against the floor. Emerald stowed her weapons away as she turned back to the slowly dissipating mushroom cloud. Huffing, her legs moved. The halls and pathways of Beacon were slowly starting to get populated. She could see who were freshmen and who weren't. The latter walked with expressions that she likened to fish taken out of water. Beacon was impressive, sure. But Solitas was far more impressive than what the academy had. She kept to herself, not exactly desiring to stand out in a crowd nor did she have the energy to socialize. In a sea of conflicting fashions, she was just another student.

Just a normal, average student.

Her path led her into the Amphitheatre, a massive circular building with wide columns on the outside and a decorated wooden hall in the inside. Banners of Beacon and Vale was all around, the largest of which was hung over a podium. The hall was already starting to fill up, students whispering and murmuring to each other excitedly. Emerald did not bother to look at them, finding a nice isolated corner for her to stand by. She crossed her arms, her back leaning against the cold wall.

That was until a voice decided to speak up next to her.

"Trying to hide too, are you?" A soft voice spoke up. Emerald turned and saw a girl with black hair and bright amber eyes standing next to her. She wore a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath, a white sleeveless undershirt and tight shorts. The most striking feature about her however were the cat ears atop her head as well as scars on her face.

First, there was Neon then Illia. Now, this girl. Emerald wondered what was about her that attracted faunus to go near her. She pushed those thoughts aside as she shook her head.

"No, I'm just uncomfortable with crowds," Emerald expressed. Well, mostly. Her habits as a thief allowed her to enter crowds with ease. But she wasn't here to rob people. She was here to be a student, she thought. And having friends wasn't really a requirement to it. She just wanted to do her time here and come back to Solitas.

The other girl's lips curled into what Emerald felt was her being sympathetic. She turned away from Emerald and towards the crowd. Her gaze landed on a pair of girls, the first a loud blonde mercilessly nuzzling a much younger girl. "Our classmates look like fun," she remarked.

"Right," Emerald drawled. "Fun."

Her idea of fun was spending time by herself. The hall was getting too crowded and noisy. She just wanted to go home now. As if sensing her unwillingness to talk further, the faunus girl kept quiet. She leaned back, giving Emerald the silence she craved. By doing that, Emerald felt she could get along with this girl. She could imagine Neon feeling betrayed that she had swapped one cat faunus for another.

This willingness to respect her space netted the girl an introduction. "Emerald Wayland," Emerald introduced herself.

There seemed to be a glimmer in the faunus's eyes. "Blake Belladonna," she replied. That name seemed familiar to Emerald. Alexander had wanted her to know important names, considering she was apart of a genteel class.

"Belladonna..." Emerald tested. "Are you...?"

"Yes," Blake said simply. "I am."

Nice, Emerald thought.

It seemed she wasn't the only hotshot here.

Before she could say more, the crowd went quiet as a an electronic buzzing echoed around. At her side, Blake cringed, her cat ears twitching from the noise. It was then, a familiar man in green strode up to the podium. At his side, a blonde woman stood tall and quiet. Professor Ozpin cleared his throat as he spoke into the microphone.

"I'll keep this brief," he began.

Emerald leaned forward to listen in.

"You have travelled here today in search of knowledge; to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people," the Professor droned, one hand tight on his cane. Emerald disagreed with that. She was only here because it would make her father happy. But if that was what the Professor wanted to think, she wasn't going to go correct him.

"But I look amongst you...and all I see is wasted energy," Ozpin continued. Emerald raised an eyebrow at that. Other students did so as well.

"In need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time in this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you; to take the first step." Ozpin finished, letting his words sink in before he clattered off to the side. The blonde woman at his side stepped up, talking after him. As she droned on, Emerald thought about Ozpin's speech.

That...was something. In her mind, he just sounded displeased by something.

"Did you get any of that?" Emerald asked, turning to Blake. Blake however was no longer there. Her lips curled.

What was it with faunus having the strangest quirks?

Much later, Emerald settled on a quiet corner. They had done nothing for the rest of the day, other than milling about and introducing themselves to one another. Emerald had vanished as soon as she could, finding a nice and cosy spot that allowed her a higher view in the hall.

Already, she could figure out who were going to be a drain of her energy and who would not. Notably, the loud blonde and her chatter box of a sibling. They weren't particularly quiet either, laughing and arguing at the same time. Was this what having siblings was like? If so, she was glad not to have any. Having a younger sibling would just mean she would have other responsibilities. She would have to look out for them, make sure they didn't get into dumb and stupid situations.

Emerald paused.

Technically, she was the young sibling to Alexander, being a cousin and all.

The thought of being problematic to him made her heart drop to her stomach. She shook her head. No, she wasn't going to be a headache to her father. No way, not in a million years. She was going to be a good girl and make sure that his already stressful life would not be added with her stupidity. After everything he had done for her, who was she to cause him trouble?

She sighed. She sat atop a crate she had found and placed her sleeping bad next to it. Emerald wondered how he was doing. How Illia and Neon was doing. Despite her blanket, she felt cold. She curled up into a ball, her eyes lifeless and still. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be back in Solitas. What was she doing here? To be a hero? Her? A street urchin?

Impossible.

Alone with her thoughts, Emerald Sustrai did not find sleep.

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The following morning, Emerald hated every single second of it.

First, she had eyebags. And that made her look grumpy. And looking grump just made her even more grumpy. Secondly, she had walked into the Locker Room intent on just getting a shower to freshen up and change into new clothes. She did not expect to find herself a rambling white-haired girl following her around, droning on and on about things she could give less a damn about.

The white-haired girl seemed to be prowling about like a predator looking for her prey when her eyes landed upon Emerald. She knew she was in danger the very moment the Schnee opened her mouth. And of course she was a Schnee.

"Good Morning," Weiss Schnee introduced herself to Emerald despite the tanned girl not really wanting to talk to anyone. She was shorter than Emerald, clad in thigh-length strapless dress and a bell-sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as her dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar. She looked like a walking talking snowflake, if a snowflake was taken and turned into a human. "You are Emerald Wayland, yes?" 

"Yes," Emerald replied, hoping that her aloofness would scare Weiss off. She considered using her semblance on the Schnee but using a little trickery on the little sister of Winter did not seem like the politest thing to do even if she was an imperious little bint. 

"Unity has made our kingdom stronger, better, and richer than most," Weiss continued, taking it as her cue to continue. "So, it only makes sense for us Solitans to band together! Furthermore, your cousin and my sister are engaged. We too are members of a refined and better sort of class and are practically family! If you and I form a team, we would be absolutely formidable!"

Emerald stared at Weiss, preening and smiling. Despite that so-called familial relationship, Emerald hadn't met Weiss formally. Sure, she knew that the girl had launched an opera career and Alex had wanted to introduce them both but Emerald enjoyed the distinction of keeping a low profile, disliking formal functions, and staying in events only for the food and drink. 

"...Okay?" Emerald responded, the disinterest plain on her face. Weiss however nodded. "Excellent! Thank you for seeing the wisdom in my words!"

"I did not agre-" Emerald tried but Weiss had already marched off, accosting another girl with bright red hair and fitting bronze armour. Said girl looked increasingly uncomfortable the more Weiss talked. Emerald sighed. Better to clear up the air and inform the Schnee that she in fact did not want to be in a team with her especially more so when her opinion was not asked.

"So, Pyrrha, have you given any thought on whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to u-" Weiss yapped imperiously, the redhead she was talking to squirming more and more. Emerald walked up, clearing her throat. "Excuse me, Weiss?"

Weiss halted, annoyance flickering on her face before realizing that it was her. Her demeanour changed immediately. "Ah, yes. Hello, Emerald," Weiss greeted her accommodatingly. "What is it?"

Emerald bit back her annoyance. She did not grant the girl the right to use her name freely and easily. "I don't want to be in a team with you," Emerald said, bluntly.

"What? Why?" Weiss blinked, offended.

"You assumed that I wanted to be in a team with you," Emerald explained. She gave the redhead a quick glance then turned back to Weiss. "And she looks like she doesn't want to be in a team with you either,"

"You want to be in a team with me, don't you Pyrrha?" Weiss squawked, turning to the redhead in question.

"I....uh," Pyrrha stammered awkwardly, raising her hands. The intensity in Weiss's gaze broke her. "....Sure?"

Weiss preened in victory. She turned back to Emerald, haughty. "You are the one that makes assumptions, Emerald. Who wouldn't want to be in a team with me, Weiss Schnee?" She crossed her arms, smirking. "With my brains and Pyrrha's brawn, we will be a formidable team. And with you with us, we will be unstoppable."

Emerald's eye twitched. "Are you deaf? I do not wan-"

"I do!" a male voice inserted. The girls blinked as a tall blonde boy suddenly appeared, leaning against the lockers. He wore a black short-sleeved hoodie with detached reddish-orange sleeves. Over it, a white diamond-shaped chest plate.

"Hello, ladies~~" the blonde winked. "I heard you were forming teams? Well, I'm available." He met Emerald's gaze and smirked. "Jaunce Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue and the ladies love it."

Emerald stared dumbfoundedly at this mop of blonde hair. "Do they?" she asked bluntly, crossing her arms.

"Oh yeah. Hell yeah," Jaune asserted confidently.

'Those ladies must have no sense of taste', Emerald thought.

"You dolt!" Weiss called out, her arms crossed. "Do you have any idea who she is? Who we are?"

Jaune blinked, eyeing the three girls then shook his head. "I do know beautiful girls when I see them," he blinked. Emerald felt herself wanting to gag. Weiss mustered a look of utter disgust. Pyrrha...smiled?

What?

"Tsk," Weiss clicked her tongue. "That is Emerald Wayland. She is Alexander Wayland's cousin, the CEO of Royal and Imperial!" She then motioned to Pyrrha, "That is Pyrhha Nikos, top of her class at Sanctum and champion to both Mistral and Vale's Regional Tournaments four years in a row!"

"Hello," Pyrrha mustered, smiling eagerly at the blonde who...blinked.

"Never heard of you," Jaune admitted.

"...You...don't?" Pyrrha whispered.

"Nope!" Jaune smiled readily, apologetic. He turned to Emerald, still smiling. "I have heard of Royal and Imperial though. You were the guys that made all those movies, right?"

"....Sure," Emerald said bluntly. "That's not what we all do."

"Regardless, what makes you think you deserve to be in our team, huh?" Weiss strode forward, hands on her hips. "I am the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, Emerald is cousin to Alexander Wayland, and Pyrrha is a champion. Who are you to us, hm?"

"Well, I think he's rather charming," Pyrrha said with a laugh.

"Well!" Jaune crossed his arms, scoffing. "I am Jaune Arc."

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Weiss challenged.

"Oh yeah," Jaune nodded confidently. "It means I am the man who's going to be yours, snow angel."

Weiss gazed upon Jaune as if he was the lowest form of life on the planet.

Emerald already walked off, taking advantage of their argument.

Pyrrha could only look on Jaune, fascinated.

+++

Emerald huffed as she found a corner to sit.

They were set to go to a platform of sorts. It seemed that she arrived early, per usual. She ran a hand through her hair, wondering if it was too late for her to call her father and return home. Her classmates were going to be the rough rowdy sort and she did not know how to deal with that information.

If she was going to be in a team with anyone, it was going to be with that faunus girl, Blake. She was quiet, respectful of her boundaries, and Emerald already had experience in dealing with faunus friends. What was one more for the pile?

"Ugh!" a girlish voice yelled out in frustration. It seemed that she wasn't the only one having a hard time adjusting. Stomping forward and puting, Emerald's gaze landed upon the girl from yesterday, the one getting squeezed by the loud blonde. She sat on the metal concrete, hugging her red and black painted weapon.

"Having a hard time?" Emerald could not help but comment.

"You tell me!" the girl squeaked. "I can't believe my own sister would not want to be in a team with me!"

"Oh, the utter betrayal," Emerald commented sarcastically.

"I know right!" the girl continued, huffing. "Go break out of your shell. Pffft! I do not have to break out of my shell, thank you very much! I am nice, warm, and comfortable in it!"

"Mood," Emerald commented again, amusement bubbling in her chest.

"Ugh, big sisters are the worst!" the girl complained, hugging her weapon some more. "She's so bossy and bright and....and...!"

Emerald shook her head. "Do you need a hug?" she asked.

"No?" the girl blinked. "Um...no, uh, no thank you. I am fine." she declared as she stood up to her full height which was not much. She wore a black dress consisting of a long-sleeved blouse with a high collar and red trim on the sleeves. Her most striking feature was the red hood flowing freely against the wind. Her face was small, a little baby fat here and there. Her hair was black with red streaks and her eyes, a shining sort of silver. The girl started to fidget, her cheeks reddening at the attention she got from Emerald. 

"So uh....I got this scyth-" she started, only to get interrupted as a loud cheery voice spoke up from behind. 

"Ruuuuubyyyy~~~!" The blonde sun called out, earning a look of utter mortification from the girl as a rough pair of hands wrapped behind her, as well as a sizeable mound atop her head. She was tall, spectacularly so. She wore a tan jacket croptop with an exposed midriff with golden brown piping and short, puffy sleeves and black cuffs. A confident grin was on her lips and her lilac eyes spoke of mischief as she nuzzled the girl. "There you are~~!"

"Yanggg!" Ruby squeaked and protested. "I'm making a friend!" 

"Oho?" Yang smirked. "I let you go for two seconds and you're already making three friends in one day!" 

She wiped away at her face with a single gloved hand, crying. "Oh, they grow up so fast!" 

As Emerald watched the exchange, she could not help but feel amused at their antics. Despite Ruby's earlier words, she really did not dislike her sister as she vehemently spat. Yang turned from mock crying and onto Emerald. Her eyes seemed to be sizing her up. 

"Soooo, Ruby wants to be friends with you?" Yang said, rubbing her chin in speculation. 

"Apparently," Emerald commented. "I don't mind. She seems like an earnest girl. She tried to show me something before you came?" 

"The most earnest!" she squeaked, finally freeing herself from Yang's bosom embrace. She took in a breath before she stood up and clicked on something. The thing which she held expanded, gears shifting as a large crescent scythe formed. It was like its wielder, rose red with black trim. Despite her small size, Ruby held it with utter mastery, twisting it in her hands before slamming its butt against the metal floor. 

​"Crescent Rose! My baby!" Ruby declared proudly, tapping the black metal gently. "It can cut, it can transform into a sniper rifle andddd so much more!" 

"So much more?" Emerald asked, amused. 

"It's going to be a secret~~!" Ruby grinned with infectious energy. She giggled rambunctiously as she hugged the massive polearm. "Oh, I just can't wait to test it out!"  

"Those upgrades better be worth it, sis," Yang shook her head. 

"Of course they would be!" Ruby declared grandly. "I promise you, by the end of it, I will show up in the Royal and Imperial catalogue!" 

Emerald blinked. The catalogue was a little program meant to showcase talent and artistry from all over Remnant. Prospecting weapon designers showed off their creations and were chosen by Alexander Wayland himself to be featured in a month long magazine. Out of hundreds of submissions, only five would be chosen. 

"I will win that cash prize! And I will meet Mister Wayland again!" Ruby declared with an utter fire that Emerald was convinced it would come true. 

"What would you do with half a million lien anyway?" Yang asked, crossing her arms. "Buy weapon upgrades?"

"Oh Yang! Do you think so little of me?" Ruby shook her head. "I want ALL the weapon upgrades!"

She huffed, giggling like a little girl. "We already met, once! And it was a star crossed meeting! He told me to do my best and I will!" 

"You broke into the launch facility and got their soldier guys after you! Dad was worried!" Yang not so subtly reminded her. 

"But he was soooo nice though!" Ruby whined, clutching Crescent Rose. "And....and....handsome....and charming-"

​Yang rolled her eyes. "Here we go again," she scoffed. Despite her words, Emerald saw the amusement on her face. Emerald thought for the moment to reveal that he was in fact engaged but she really didn't feel like giving her bad news. 

"The name's Yang, by the way. Yang Xiao Long," Yang fully introduced herself to Emerald. "And that's my sister, Ruby Rose," 

Said sister was still giggling and smiling to herself, imagining a life with the man of her dreams. 

"Charming," Emerald snorted. She turned to Yang. "Not the same name?" 

"Nah," Yang waved off. "She's my half-sister, actually. But what kind of person lets half of blood come in the way of a good relationship?" 

"That's admirable, at least," Emerald nodded. "The name's Emerald. Emerald Wayland." 

Ruby paused, her eyes set on Emerald. 

"YOU'RE A WAYLAND?" she shrieked. 

Emerald's lips curled. 

Beacon was going to a long four years. 

She could only hope it wasn't going to be too eventful.

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A/N: Updoot scritches. 

Again, a thousand apologies for lateness. Pre finals had just finished and I had taken a break by eating the most unhealthy foods. Regular scheduled updoots shall return, hopefully.