"Maybe you're all here because this is the only place you fit in, maybe you're here because you don't have anywhere else to go,
maybe you're all here because deep down, you want to be here; the reason doesn't matter, what matters is that you're here."

-Sgt. Sarge of the former Project Freelancer Simulation Troop
Red Team, Blood Gulch and Valhalla divisions

Emerald Forrest

There are many ruins in the forrest, many of which harkened back to the great wars between humanity and the dark creatures of Grim. Nowadays the forrest on the outskirts of Vale was only utilized by Beacon Academy as a stomping ground for new students, getting an unorthodox lesson in teamwork while keeping the various monsters in check. Tonight however, was a bit different.

Four figures stealthily moved about the trees until they reached the old ruin of a citadel, perfectly nestled up against the side of a cliff. Once they were settled in for the night, the one with red eyes spoke.

"Why does it have to be tomorrow?" The others looked at him as the one with green eyes answered.

"Because it has to be done tomorrow and not a moment later."

"But Beacon's initiation is tomorrow!" complained the one with yellow eyes.

"I know, but it has to be done! You want our family to be together again don't you?" The four of them remained silent for a while before the yellow-eyed one broke the silence.

"Will we be able to do it?"

"If we can't," said the one with blue eyes, leaning against a pillar and eyeing the tree-line, "then we would be the most pathetic humans in existence won't we."

1 Hour 42 Minutes into Beacon Initiation

Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Blake, Jaune, Pyrrha, Lie Ren, and Nora rushed into the ruined clearing, keeping note of the enormous flying Nevermore above their heads. They all ducked away behind some pillars on both sides of the clearing as the raven-like Nevermore alighted upon the ruined citadel, blocking the path to the cliffs.

"Well that's just great," Yang remarked. Just then the Death Stalker that they all previously eluded emerged from the forrest edge, breaking some trees apart in the process.

"Oh God, run!" Jaune shouted and everyone started a mad dash to the stone bridge that would allow them to cross the ravine and approach the cliffs. Lie Ren saw the wings of the Nevermore extend before it began to flap.

"Nora, distract it!" Upon hearing Ren's order, Nora charged across the clearing, attracting the attention of the Nevermore. Dodging the over-large quills the creature flung at her, Nora then withdrew her weapon and fired high-explosive rounds at the giant blackbird, causing it to shriek and change course. She heard something and turned behind her to see the giant arachnid-like Death Stalker charging at her. Ren and Blake leaped in, swiping at the Death Stalker's face and forcing it back as Weiss came in and removed Nora from harms way. The eight of them were finally able to make it onto the bridge, where the scorpion was reluctant to follow. They were halfway across when the Nevermore came back around for a second attack.

But it never made it...

...and neither did the Death Stalker.

A wild stream of flame engulfed the Nevermore, making it cry out and fly upwards, avoiding the bridge, before plummeting into the ravine below.

"Holy cow, who did that?" demanded Nora as they all stopped in the middle of the bridge. Almost in answer to her question, another blast of fire shot over their heads and hit the Death Stalker, making it hiss and back away, writhing in pain.

"Well," said Ruby, "at least we don't have to worry about those things for a while."

"Yes, but I think we're still in trouble," said Blake, actually sounding worried.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ruby asked before a voice yelled out: "PYRO-RA!" Flames surged from the ruined temple, the wave of heat forcing everyone to jump back.

"Hey!" shouted Weiss, "watch it! You could actually kill someone with that!" To everyone's surprise, a harsh voice responded.

"Then back away and you won't get BURNED!" More fire streaked through the air.

"Everyone back up!" commanded Pyrrha, and they all obliged, stepping off the bridge on the side of the ravine they initially came from.

"Who is that?" asked a shaken up Jaune, "that can't be someone from Beacon right?"

"No," said Lie Ren, "this is definitely someone else."

"Yeah, but what kind of person can manipulate fire like that?" asked Yang, she looked around and shrugged. "Any ideas anyone?"

"Wait, look!" said Ruby, pointing across the bridge. Standing on the other end of the bridge was a figure, dressed in a hooded outfit, all colored bright red. His face was hidden by the hood along with a mask of some sort, but they could all see his eyes were a bright, gleaming, fiery red. He raised a hand and flame shot out, streaming over their heads again.

"What on earth?" Blake looked bewildered as she took in the strange figure. "What are you?"

"Unimportant!" snapped the young man, "You all know too much already! Time to end your lives!"

"VATRA ENOUGH!" a different voice rang out. Appearing near the top of the ruin on the other side, another figure in similar garb except colored blue looked down one scene with crossed arms, eyes a deep and piercing blue.

"Mizu!" the first figure, Vatra, shouted back, "they know too much!"

"You can't learn a craft even when you have the necessary tools. If all that they can do is see, then they can't understand. Now get up here, it's time!"

somewhere extremely different

Guys! I'm a Red too! I'm a Red! I don't even know this guy! Come on! Let me out!

Thanks for the support Grif, way to be a team player.

Hey, I gotta think about myself here.

There's no "I" in "team" Grif.

Oh yeah? Well there's no "you" either! So I guess if I'm not on the team and you're not on the team, then nobody's on the goddamn team. The team sucks!

What I can't figure out is why the Reds are still here. Tex already wiped out all the Blues. Why wouldn't they pull out?

As someone who has taken orders from Red Command for the last three years, trust me, its not surprising.

Cliffside Ruins outside of Beacon Academy

"Hey! Who are you?" demanded Weiss, angrily glaring at the new arrival.

"Me? I'm Mizu."

"Are you some freak faunus?"

"Of course I am, can't you see my big fluffy ears?" Mizu asked with an obvious air of sarcasm as the other one, Vatra, vanished into the ruins. "In any case, you lot should be on your way."

"I don't think so," said Yang.

"Yeah, you attacked us and it's obvious you're up to something fishy," Ruby added, standing next to her sister. Mizu gave an exasperated sigh.

"We that figures." He looked up at the sky for a moment, checking the position of the sun through the clouds. "Its either now or never, and we can't have any interruptions, so I guess I have no choice." He then raised his hands, making a triangle with his fingers.

A sound started up, almost below them, as though it was under the ground. But soon it was clear that the sound was really coming from the ravine in front of them. As the sound grew into a reverberating rushing sound, water erupted over the edge and onto the bridge in six different liquid columns. That wasn't the most shocking part however. As the water settled, the formless and near-transparent substance quickly morphed into six human-like silhouettes, almost identical to the one named Mizu.

"What on earth?" Pyrrha breathed. Lie Ren, Yang, and Blake just looked on with open mouths. Ruby and Weiss were both hoping they were imagining things. Jaune was shaking from head to toe. And Nora-

"Wow! Blue men! I really like your music!" Nevermind.

"Keep them busy," Mizu lazily ordered, and the water men lunged forward.

somewhere totally different

Okay, here they come.

Yeahah, I knew I could fix a teleporter. I guess these hands aren't just for manicuring after all.

OW, crap!

What's all that black stuff on your armor?

Just me? What the f#%?

Tucker, I am so glad to see you. Here. Let me help you clean your armor off, by rubbing you all over.

Ooh ooh, let me help!

Absolutely, Admiral Buttercrust.