I believe that my cousin, Rapunzel, once said the words I can't believe I did this. I could see what could make someone say that, now.

"I can't believe I did this." I muttered. I was walking up the pathway to Beacon, wearing my new armor with my new weapons at my belt. I wore a pair of jeans and black combat boots with a thick-strapped teal sleeveless shirt. I had a silver necklace with a snowflake, and a silver armored-belt. At my belt were two silver cylinders that were really the hilts for blades of teal, laser-induced plasma. The hilts could combine to make a staff, and morph into twin guns. All of the modes could be set to lethal and nonlethal. I'd let my hair down into a braid, a blue ribbon intertwined with my blonde hair. It may have seemed simple, but I bet my mother would have passed out to see me in such an outfit.

"Unbelievable!" A voice shocked me out of my trance. I noticed a girl in white yelling at a little girl in red. Why was I reminded of Anna? "This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!"

"I'm really, really sorry!"

"You complete dolt! Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon? This isn't an ordinary combat school! It's not just sparring and practice, you know?! We're here to fight monsters, so watch where you're going!"

"Hey!" Red finally had enough. "I said I was sorry, Princess!"

"It's heiress, actually." A girl in black commented. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company: one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

"Finally! Some recognition!"

"The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners." The girl in black stated. Red snickered, and I let a small giggle out. I quickly stopped, reminding myself of the danger my emotions could bring.

"What?! How dare-?! The nerve of-!" The Schnee glared at Black, but Black didn't back down, so she just snatched the Dust away. Thank God that Goodwitch had the sense to tell me about Dust... The girl fell over, looking depressed.

"Welcome to Beacon." She sighed. A boy with blonde hair and blue eyes looked at me, both of us having the same idea. I nodded, saying he could go first. The boy smiled, going over to help the girl up. Giving them a few minutes, I eventually walked over and held out a hand (taking a deep breath and praying to God that I wouldn't freeze anyone).

"Hi, I'm Elsa." I greeted, smiling. Red shook my hand first.

"I'm Ruby."

"Jaune." The boy shook my hand. I nodded, noting both names. Okay, I could do this...

/\/\/\/\

We started walking around, and I soon realized that I had chosen the right people to spend time with. I hadn't smiled that much in ages...

"All I'm saying is that motion sickness that is MUCH more common than people let on." Jaune was arguing with Ruby. I smiled at their bickering, like an old married couple...

"Look, I'm sorry." Ruby apologized, smirking. "Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind."

"Oh, yeah?" Jaune asked. "What if I called you Crater-Face?" I let out a small laugh at that, and Jaune beamed.

"Hey!" Ruby complained. "That explosion was an accident!"

"Well, the name's Jaune Arc." Jaune corrected. "Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue! Ladies love it..."

"Do they?" Ruby didn't believe him. Jaune turned red.

"They will." Jaune assured himself more than us. "Well, I hope they will. I mean, my mom always says... Uh, never mind..." I had to control my urge to laugh. Despite what Ozpin said, I would keep my emotions in check. Conceal, don't feel...

"So..." Ruby smirked. "I got this thing." The girl whipped out a huge red and black scythe. Jaune and I recoiled, our eyes wide. Amazing...

"Whoa!" Jaune exclaimed. "Is that a scythe?!"

"It's also a customizable, high-impact-velocity sniper-rifle."

"What?"

"It's also a gun." Ruby loaded a Dust-round. What..?

"Oh." Jaune nodded. "That's cool." Ruby beamed.

"So, what've you got?" The girl asked. I smiled deviously.

"Surprise."

"Aw... Jaune?"

"Oh. Uh..." Jaune pulled an ordinary-looking sword out of its sheath. "I've got this sword." Ruby did her best to look impressed, but I smiled at the familiarity of such a simple weapon. Ruby smiled.

"Ooh."

"Yeah!" Jaune grabbed the sheath. "I've got a shield, too!" The sheath spread into a shield.

"So, what do they do?" Ruby asked. After a few moments of fumbling while the shield malfunctioned...

"The shield gets smaller, so when I get tired of carrying it, I can just..." Jaune placed the sheath back on his belt. "Put it away."

"But..." Ruby frowned. "Wouldn't it weigh the same?"

"Yeah, it does." Jaune deadpanned. I pat him on the back.

"Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons." Ruby stroked her scythe like a cat. "I guess I did go a little overboard in designing her." Her? New rule: don't touch Ruby's scythe.

"Wait, you made that?" Jaune asked. I was also surprised.

"Of course! All students at Signal forge their own weapons! Didn't you make yours?"

"It's a hand-me-down." Jaune admitted, embarrassed. "My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war." I nodded in understanding, but Ruby not so much.

"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me." The girl stated. I mentally face-palmed. "Well, I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days." I wasn't happy with her response, but I went with it.

"Yeah... The classics." Jaune looked down slightly. I shot a quick glare at Ruby, then placed a hand on Jaune's shoulder.

"A weapon like that speaks volumes of your capabilities in combat, Jaune." I gave a small smile. "It also seems perfect for you."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"So, why'd you help me out back there, in the courtyard?" Ruby asked. Jaune smiled.

"Why not?" He asked. "My mom always says strangers are just friends you haven't met, yet."

"Hmm..." I considered those words. Would I be able to make friends? To connect with people after all these years?

"Hey, where are we going?" Ruby asked, frowning. We stopped short, eyes widening.

"I don't know." Jaune admitted. "I was following you... You think there might be a directory? Maybe a food court? Some sort of recognizable landmark?" Ruby barely managed to hold back a laugh. "Is that a no?"

"That's a no."

/\/\/\/\

We finally made it to the auditorium. Ruby ran off to meet some blonde girl, and I stayed with Jaune. I laughed as he perked up when Weiss called him cute, rolling my eyes.

"I believe that was sarcasm."

"Aw. Can't you let a boy dream?"

"No."

"I'll keep this brief." Professor Ozpin spoke into the microphone, frowning. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and where you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." Next, Professor Goodwitch stepped forward and spoke into the microphone.

"You will gather in the ballroom tonight, tomorrow your initiation begins... Be ready." The woman warned. "You are dismissed."

/\/\/\/\

We headed to the ballroom, and I laughed at Jaune's bunny pajamas, the boy blushing.

"Never letting Mom pack my bags ever again... Well?" Jaune spun, trying to pull off a cool pose. "Do I pull it off?"

"Yes?"

"You don't sound too confident." Jaune looked down. I laughed. "Wow... Um, I've never heard you laugh before." I quickly restrained myself. "What's wrong? You have a nice laugh."

"Oh, I... I'm going to go and change." I bid Jaune a goodnight and left the room as fast as I could.

/\/\/\/\

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I had changed into a pale blue t-shirt and pants, and once again the weight of what had happened crashed down on me. I was on another world, with powers I hadn't the slightest control over, surrounded by strangers. I was going to become a warrior of light, a Huntress. I'd have to get accustomed to people, again...

"Excuse me." A girl with red hair and green eyes (in purple pajamas like mine) walked over. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yes." I looked up. "Just tired, that's all."

"Ah, I see." The girl seemed to be waiting for something, and a bit nervous. I raised an eyebrow.

"Is something wrong?"

"You do not recognize me?"

"Should I?"

"Oh, thank God." The girl looked relieved. "This must mean that you have never heard of me. My name is Pyrrha Nikos." The girl held out a hand, and I shook it. "I'm sorry, it's just rare to find someone who does not know of me."

"I know the feeling... Elsa Arendelle."

"Hiya!" A girl with orange hair bounced over. "I'm Nora! I couldn't help but notice that YOU'RE PYRRHA NIKOS! I'M A HUGE FAN!"

"Here we go, again." Pyrrha rolled her eyes slightly, but smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Nora."

"It's nice to meet you! Ooh! Who are you?!" Nora was looking at me, now. I was stunned by the shocking resemblance to Anna, from the pink accents of her pajamas, stature, energy, turquoise eyes, and orange hair... I shook out of it and gave a small smile.

"Elsa."

"Hi, Elsa! Ooh! I love your hair! It's white, kinda like a Schnee's. Your eyes are blue, also like a Schnee's! OH! Are you a Schnee?! Why doesn't anybody know that you exist?! Is it a crazy government conspiracy?! I KNEW IT!"

"Um..." I didn't know what to say. Nora ran off.

"REN! REN! I WAS RIGHT!"

"What just happened?" Pyrrha asked. I shook my head.

"I have absolutely no idea."

/\/\/\/\

I woke up in the morning, went to the bathroom, got dressed, and went down to breakfast. I walked into the cafeteria, considering who I should sit with. There was Ruby with the blonde girl, Pyrrha and Weiss, Nora with some boy, and Jaune. Seeing as how Jaune was the only one without a companion, I went over and sat next to him.

"Good morning!" I greeted, smiling. Jaune looked up, stunned.

"Are you sitting at the right table?"

"Why?"

"I think I've graduated from pathetic to loser. Quick, go sit with someone else and preserve your social status!"

"What social status?" I asked. "I'm sitting next to you, and that's that." Jaune slowly grinned.

"Thank you, Elsa."

"It's no problem."

/\/\/\/\

After breakfast, we went down to our lockers to retrieve our weapons. I took my weapons out and placed them at my belt, then watched as Jaune tried (and failed) to flirt with Pyrrha and Weiss. After Pyrrha had harpooned Jaune to a wall, I walked over.

"Sorry about him." I tried to protect Jaune's social status. "When he gets nervous, he flirts. It's all in good fun."

"Good fun?" Weiss scoffed. "I'm ready to report an assault! Does he have any idea as to who he was talking to?"

"Evidently not." I was beginning to dislike this girl. "Jaune really is a nice boy. Just give him a chance at being friends when he's less nervous. It's worth it." Pyrrha nodded, smiling, but Weiss scowled.

"I doubt that."

"Do you have something to say about my friend?" I asked, trying to control my emotions. The air grew cold.

"He's a menace, and a bumbling idiot!"

"Well, you're an uptight brat!"

"How dare you?! Do you have any idea as to who I am?!"

"Don't worry about who you are, Heiress! Worry about who I am!"

"Please, please." Pyrrha tried to break up the fight. "Maybe you both just got off on the wrong hand. Weiss, Elsa-"

"You know her?!" Weiss asked. Pyrrha nodded.

"Indeed, and she seems to be a good judge of character. I believe that Jaune is worth a chance."

"Well, you're the only ones." Weiss stormed off, and I looked at Pyrrha.

"Thank you."

"It's no problem." Pyrrha walked over and unpinned Jaune from the wall, smiling. "It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise." Jaune sighed. Pyrrha departed, and Ruby helped Jaune up. I walked over, and the blonde girl I kept seeing held her hand out.

"Yang Xiao-Long. Good job, standing up to that Ice Bitch for Vomit Boy."

"Elsa Arendelle. Thank you."

/\/\/\/\

Later, we stood on launching platforms at Beacon Cliff.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors." Professor Ozpin began, holding his mug of... What was in there? "Today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

"Now..." Goodwitch continued. "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates, today."

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you work well. That being said, the first person you make eye-contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years. After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately." Ozpin explained. "Are there any questions?"

"Is there not an odd number?" I asked, frowning. "If we all make it... Where will the extra person go?"

"I'm glad you asked that. There will be one person on this assignment going solo. If he or she survives, then they will be tagged into the team that suits them best. It will take a powerful Huntsman or Huntress to pull it off... Now, take your positions." People began getting launched, and when I was catapulted into the air, I let out a short laugh. I always wanted to fly...

/\/\/\/\

As I flew over the Emerald Forest, I used my new Winter Maiden powers (such as flight) to slow my fall. I landed gently on the ground, looking around for signs of people.

"Powerful Huntress?" I asked no one in particular. Then, I started walking.

/\/\/\/\

As I walked through the woods, I heard noises all around me. Gunfire, howls, roars, screams. Nothing crossed my path. I was a bit disappointed, having wanted to test my skill. Sure, I'd been trained by Ozpin and Goodwitch before the year had started, but this was real. I wanted to see what I could do...

"YA-HOO!" A voice crowed. I stopped short just in time to avoid being trampled by a rampaging Ursa Major. On its back were Nora and the boy shed eaten breakfast with, Nora looking like she was on a mission and couldn't be more enthusiastic, the boy looking terrified.

"What..?" I shook out of it. Then, seeing no other alternative, I followed the Grimm riders.

/\/\/\/\

"Aw." Nora pouted, looking at the fallen Ursa Major after we'd arrived at the Temple, sad. "It's broken." Her companion walked over, exhausted and in shock.

"Nora, please..." He pleaded. "Don't ever do that again." Then, the boy noticed that Nora was gone. The girl was currently dancing around with a large chess piece balanced on her head.

"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"

"Nora!" Nora's partner shouted. Nora laughed nervously, saluting.

"Coming, Ren!" She exclaimed. Then, a girl ran in, being chased by a Death Stalker. I realized it was Pyrrha. I went over and grabbed a random tiny relic, which I assumed was for me as the solo. I ran back over to the others as...

"Ruby!" Yang greeted the red reaper. Ruby smiled.

"Yang!"

"Nora!" The orange-haired girl interrupted their reunion. Nora's partner got over there just as Yang had a break down.

"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! COULD EVERYONE CHILL OUT FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS AGAIN?!"

"Um..." Ruby pointed. "Yang?" We looked up.

"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?!" A pale girl in white asked, hanging in to the claw of a Nevermore. Weiss.

"I said jump." Ruby frowned. I shook my head, sighing.

"She's gonna fall." A girl with a black bow stated. Ruby scoffed.

"She'll be fine."

"She's falling." Ren announced. Then, Pyrrha got knocked over to us.

"Great!" Yang commented. "The gang's all here! Now, we can die together!" Ruby looked back.

"Not if I can help it." With that, Ruby charged the Death Stalker. Yang quickly panicked.

"Ruby!" Yang shouted. "Wait!" We watched as Ruby was batted aside, and Yang forward. "Ruby!" The Nevermore launched its feathers, stopping Yang while pinning Ruby by her red hood. "Ruby, get out of there!" Ruby struggled to free her hood.

"I'm trying!" The Death Stalker raised its stinger. The two panicked, Ruby's eyes widening.

"RUBY!" Yang shouted. I readied to raise my hands and intervene, but a white figure darted forward and froze the Death Stalker's stinger, beginning to scold Ruby as everyone sighed in relief. For once, I thanked God for Weiss.

/\/\/\/\

Yang ran over to Ruby, hugging her.

"So happy you're okay!" Yang smiled. I raised an eyebrow. Were they related?

"Guys..." Jaune frowned as he saw the Nevermore flying overhead. "That thing's circling back. What are we gonna do?"

"Look..." Weiss sighed. "There's no sense in dillydallying. Our objective is right in front of us."

"She's right." Ruby agreed. "Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things."

"Run and live." Jaune grinned. "That is an idea I can get behind." I noticed the Death Stalker escaping.

"It's time we left." Ren stated. Ruby nodded, serious.

"Right. Let's go."

/\/\/\/\

We started running toward Beacon Cliff, hiding from the Nevermore as it flew, having seen our heading. It just had to get between us and the cliffs, didn't it? Then, the Death Stalker caught up.

"Run!" Jaune yelled. I obeyed, not willing to lose my life just yet.

"Nora, distract it!" Ren exclaimed. Nora ran out, dodging feathers and firing grenades at the Nevermore, while Blake and Ren swooped in to save her from the Death Stalker. Weiss got Nora out of there while we held the scorpion off, then we ran for our lives.

/\/\/\/\

The Death Stalker trapped us on the bridge (the Nevermore separating us from Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Jaune by breaking the bridge). I whipped out my weapons and started firing at the scorpion, when Nora leapt into the fight, swinging her hammer. Blake went to help the other three as Nora and Jaune joined us. The Death Stalker made the bridge start to collapse...

"We gotta move!" Ren shouted. We lost half of our ground, and Ren charged, firing and dodging the stinger before grabbing it and firing at where the gold weapon connected to the tail. Then, he got thrown off and into a wall.

"Ren!" Nora exclaimed. Under Jaune's instruction, Nora finished the Death Stalker, and Ren stumbled over as the other four of us escaped the bridge. Then, Ren collapsed again. We looked up as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang attacked the Nevermore. They finally finished it when Ruby used her scythe to cut the bird's head off.

"Wow." Jaune gaped as we all stared.

"Amazing." I smiled brightly.

/\/\/\/\

That night at the ceremony...

"Jaune Arc, Elsa Arendelle, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie." Professor Ozpin called us up, confirming it. "The five of you retrieved the White Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPER." Nora hugged Ren. "Led by Jaune Arc."

"Led by?" Jaune asked. Ozpin smiled.

"Congratulations, young man." He grinned. Pyrrha punched him in the arm good-naturedly, only to knock him over. I kneeled and held out a hand, helping Jaune up, smiling.

"I look forward to leading alongside you." I winked. "Captain Arc." Jaune turned red and laughed. I beamed, and we walked over to join our teammates.

I'm sorry it took so long to update! I sorta lost this story for a while!

Before I go, I'd just like to give a shoutout to someone who's followed me here from my previous channel! You know who you are, and just know it's great to see you here!

I own nothing! Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks!