Chapter 2: Of Monsters and Demons

Shinai sighed as he stepped forwards, purple eyes filled with quiet irritation, put out by the relative lack of sleep he managed to get the night prior, armored boots clunking against the tile floor of the locker room, barely audible over the raucous sound of the mob of students already occupying the room, said space near to capacity, milling about excitedly. The samurai stared down at the slip of paper held in his hands, a number and passcode printed neatly onto its surface.

"NO! Nonononono! There's not enough room!"

The eyes of the denizens closest to the door turned to it curiously, peeking around corners and the columns that dotted the room. Standing, looking panicked, was the teacher currently overseeing the students, her arms held up and waving side to side as she attempted to ward off whatever was coming in.

The question was answered quickly as the glint of dull red armor shone in the gap- the boy and his mech suit were currently leaning down to enter the already crowded room, uncaring of how much space it would be taking up.

"Then. Make. Room." The mech growled out, voice deep and distorted.

Shinai didn't give much mind to the situation, striding across the locker room to his designated space. He tapped a his code into the keypad, getting a satisfying 'beep' in return as its metal door sprung open (the locker itself as tall as he was). The samurai nodded to himself, taking a mental note of its positioning before letting the door swing back shut.

Oracle grinned at him, leaning against the wall next to his locker, formerly totally obscured by its door. She twirled her sunglasses around one finger, green eyes watching him carefully. Shinai stared back at her silently, an eyebrow raised in silent question.

"Alright, samurai. Hear me out,"

"If you have to say 'hear me out' then I already don't want to hear you out."

She opened her mouth to rebuke him when-

"Yeah, it's like if you say 'no offense, but-', like, I'm already offended." The tall blonde who had her boot thrown up on, Yang, weighed in, leaning towards the duo.

"Hey, stuff it, bimbo," Oracle shot back, green eyes challenging. "I thought you were too busy babysittin' little Rubes to play with the big girls?"

"I could ask the same, you country hick, only I know you don't have anybody that likes you enough to babysit them."

The two glared at each other for a moment- before their eyes brightened. The girls embraced.

"Long time no see, cowboy." Yang laughed, throwing an arm around the gunslinger's shoulder.

"Right back atcha, party girl."

Shinai didn't look impressed, turning to walk away. Oracle sighed and stepped quickly to him. "NO, wait! I was gonna say- listen... I... heard some rumors. Some good, some bad. Mostly that our teams are being selected today. So..."

"An alliance." The samurai guessed.

"Bingo."

He watched her for a moment, before shaking her head. "I make no promises."

Yang shrugged. "The less promises you make now, the less you have to apologize for later."

Oracle seethed in her direction, wide green eyes warning her. "I'm just sayin', darlin-"

Shinai was already walking away, giving her a non-committed 'hmph' before disappearing around the corner, his katana held tightly in hand.

The gunslinger watched him go before punching Yang's shoulder. "Who do you think you are?"

The blonde huntress held her hands up, looking none-too-shameful. "Hey, it's my job to check your ego at the door."

"Not co..." She growled. "Fine, darlin'. Where is your sister anyhow?"

"She's over here- oh, she would love to see you again! C'mon, let's gooo!" Without another word, Yang grabbed Oracle's arm and bodily dragged her away, pushing through the crowd of students with remarkable ease.

Daria leaned against her locker, staring out at the diminishing group of people filling the locker room blankly (the boy and his mech marching through more than likely having a great deal to do with it), spinning a ring blade around her finger reflexively as she waited for... well... she wasn't really sure what she was waiting for.

Her anxious reverie didn't last long though, as a crystal clear, and starkly familiar voice cut through the din.

"Daria? Daria Copper?"

The short teen turned to the voice, her eyes widening in shock. The woman was tall, with fair skin. Her red hair was pulled into a tall ponytail, a golden crown sitting on her head. She was clad in a strapless leather tunic, a short, red skirt, thigh-high gold and bronze boots, and elbow length black gloves; sparse golden armor ran across her form, more aesthetic than purposeful. A golden choker reaching from under her jaw to her clavicle clad her throat.

"Oh my gods, Pyrrha- it's- ahuh!" Daria trailed off awkwardly, a deep blush finding its way to her face, simultaneously fighting to meet the taller huntress' gaze, and avoid it.

Pyrrha put her a hand up, smiling. "You're alright, Daria. I wasn't aware that you were attending Beacon."

"Nope, yep, that's me... attending Beacon... just like you are... y'know, didn't really think to mention it on my way out of Sanctum, because... yep. You're so much more popular than I am.

Pyrrha's smile thinned slightly. "I'm... sorry if you felt that way. I had always thought we were close friends."

Daria's blush deepened, though now in embarrassment, and she sucked a breath in, holding it stubbornly as she nodded shortly, refusing to talk.

The red-headed huntress moved to speak again, when a new voice cut in.

"Well, well, well, Ms. Nikos,"

Daria turned to the new voice. It was a slight, pale girl, a stark white ponytail trailing down her back, and eyes a startlingly pale shade of blue, nearly white. A scar ran down her left eye, carving through her brow and down towards her cheekbone. She was wearing a white jacket, a white dress with a short skirt, and white, heeled boots, the tops coming up to right beneath her calves.

She stood tall next to Nikos, despite the height discrepancy, angular chin held proudly high in the air.. "Pyrrha, have you put any thought into whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!"

Pyrrha hummed, looking from her old classmate to the new girl. "...I'm not quite sure. Truthfully, I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may."

The girl shifted on her feet, eyeing the warrior carefully. "Well, I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together."

"Well, that sounds great, Weiss."

The aforementioned Weiss grinned maliciously, turning away from the two Sanctum graduates, tapping her fingers together as she inwardly plotted a plan. "Great!"

"You know what else is great? Me. Jaune Arc," The boy from the transport ship, the one who had thrown up onto Yang's boot, gave a painful attempt at a flourishing bow. "Nice to meet you."

The pale huntress' face fell into a scowl. "You again?"

Pyrrha leaned out from behind Weiss, waving to the blonde hunter. "Nice to meet you, Jaune."

Jaune nodded absentmindedly. "Mmhm, yeah, yeah," He pushed Pyrrha aside, posing next to Weiss. "So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

"Don't worry! No need to be embarrassed! So, been hearing rumors about teams. I was thinking you and me would make a good one. What do you say?"

Pyrrha leaned back around Jaune, raising her hand slightly. "Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each, so-"

The blonde swordsman turned from Weiss to the redheaded huntress. "You don't say? Well, hot stuff, play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team."

The shorter huntress stepped between them, delicate eyebrow raised in irritation. "Jaune, you said? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"Not in the slightest, snow angel."

"This is Pyrrha."

The aforementioned girl waved amiably at Jaune again. "Hello again!"

"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum!" Weiss finished.

"Never heard of it." Jaune said.

"She's won the Mistral Region Tournament four years in a row! A new record!"

"The what now?"

"She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!"

Jaune gasped dramatically. "That's you?! But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"

Pyrrha shrugged. "Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you."

Weiss stepped between the two again. "So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?"

Jaune hung his head. "I… guess not… sorry."

Nikos tilted her head. "Actually, Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader."

Arc's head snapped back to attention, and he waved her off bashfully. "D'oh, stop it."

"Seriously," Weiss said. "Please stop it. This kind of behavior should not be encouraged!"

Jaune grinned cockily. "Sounds like Pyrrha's on board for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quick! Now, I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I could pull some strings, find a place for you. What do you say?" He leaned towards Weiss.

"Truly, a mark on charming kind, yes?" A new voice cut in. Daria blinked in mild shock as she zoned back into the conversation, looking over her shoulder-

To where Rainier was standing between her and Pyrrha, arms thrown casually over the huntress' shoulders. Daria's eyes lit up in recognition, while Pyrrha cocked her head to the side curiously.

Weiss frowned in distaste, leaning back to get a better look at him- before her eyes reached his lazily wagging tail, a slight scowl finding its way to her delicate features. "And can we help you?"

Rainier caught the look, pale yellow eyes darkening in irritation- before brightening in recognition. He stepped back, giving a dramatic bow, one hand folded in front of him as the other extended to the side. "Rainier Platina of Vacuo, formerly of Oasis Academy, son of Leonardo and Camilla Platina, brother to the White Wolf of Vacuo. How do you do?"

The pale huntress' scowl slowly faded as he prattled on, leaning back again, looking his form up and down with newfound interest, almost reassessing him. "Oh. Well," She cleared her throat, straightening up formally. "I am Weiss Schnee, heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy repellant on Remnant." She gave him a slight curtsy back.

"Oh, I know," He smiled at her. "My family bought from yours, once upon a time."

She blinked in surprise. "Oh! Well- of course, if your family had the sense to do so."

His smile didn't fade, head cocking to the side slightly. "...Once upon a time," He didn't give her a chance to react before turning his attention back to Daria and Pyrrha. "My, my! It's a fine day, full of opportunity!"

Jaune blinked at him. "I'm... lost. Who are you, exactly?"

With surprising speed, the faunus was to the blonde swordsman's side quickly, arm thrown over his shoulder, jostling his classmate enthusiastically. "My friend, if you'd been paying attention, I'd just discussed it with Miss Schnee over there! But you- you must be Mr. Arc, then! I've heard of your family before, though only in passing."

Daria gave him a concerned look. "You're... very excited today."

His grin tilted slightly, into one of vicious excitement rather than enthusiasm. "...Because I know what we're doing."

"Okay, don't be creepy like that."

The Vacuoan winked at her as he turned on his heel, marching towards the exit. "I'll see you at the cliffs, my friends!"

The quartet watched him go, blinking in unison with matching faces of confusion. Finally, Jaune blinked himself out of his trance, shaking his head and clearing his throat as he sidled up closer to Weiss. "That... was weird. Aaanyways, enough about him, though! Back to me, and Team Jaune. Whattaya say, Snow Angel?"

Weiss leaned away from him. "Alright, that's a bit too close! Pyrrha, a little help, please?"

Pyrrha grabbed the red spear off of her back, and pushed it forwards. It shot out of her hand, stabbing through the cloth on Jaune's shoulder and propelling him across the room, impaling into the wall and letting him hang limply, blue eyes dazed from the attack. The huntress cupped a hand around her mouth. "I'm sorry!"

There was the crackle of the school's loudspeakers activating, and Glynda Goodwitch's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Would all first-year students, please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation, please? Again, all first-year students, report to Beacon Cliff immediately."

Weiss and Pyrrha made their way towards the exit together, Nikos grabbing her spear as she passed Jaune, letting him drop to the floor. "It was nice meeting you!" She called out as she walked away, voice legitimately cheery.

"Likewise." He muttered, slumping down in his seated position, bravado draining from him quickly.

Daria stalled as she passed him, before sighing, patting his shoulder. "I'm with ya, buddy. I'm with ya."

He sighed again. "Thanks."

The wind whistled peacefully as he it flowed over the top of the verdant green forest, leavings rustling quietly in response. It seemed far less inviting to the students standing several dozen meters above said top-of-the-forest, the massive trees managing to look small from their elevated position. The first-year students spread out over the cliff's shear edge, nervously looking down to the ground below. Each student was placed onto a stone podium, spread a few feet apart from each other- enough room for a frighteningly large assortment of activities

Ozpin stood at the edge in front of them with utmost calmness, cane held in one hand and a cup of hot cocoa in the other, watching his students casually as he sipped away at his drink. Beside him, Glynda was standing far more stiffly, green eyes locked carefully onto each student in view at the moment.

Shinai rested his hand onto his katana's handle, the breeze pulling at his loose clothing as he looked over the top of Daria's head at his headmaster.

Daria herself was standing uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot as she clutched her ringblades tightly in her hands, brown eyes locked onto Ozpin's as she waited anxiously for him to speak.

To Shinai's other side was the boy in red armor, one massive foot of his mech on the podium. He was currently halfway out of the porthole where the head of the mech would be, looking distinctly bored as he traced random designs onto his suit's shoulders.

To his left was Lance, leaning against his greatsword, unsheathed from his back, chewing on a piece of gum casually as he looked at his fellow students- flashing winks and cheeky grins to those who met his gaze, his free hand working restlessly to keep his hair impeccably in place as the wind continuously disturbed it.

Further down the line was Oracle and Rainier, standing side by side. The duo met gazes for a moment, looking each other up and down, before exchanging simultaneous 'not bad' head nods.

Finally, Ozpin removed the mug from his lips, clearing his throat to gain the students' attentions. "For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Glynda stepped forwards. "Now, 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."

The crowd of kids burst out into a murmur of excitement, promises and plans filling the air as the cliff hummed with the hubbub.

Ozpin sipped at his mug. "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 can work well."

Lance leaned around the boy in the mech suit, and Shinai, locking eyes with Daria and nodding- by himself, at least. He let out a sharp whistle and barked out warningly: "I will repeat! Dibs on the short one!"

"That being said," Ozpin continued. "The first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

"Stupid friggin'..." The swordsman muttered, scuffing his podium irritatedly with his boot.

Now the students had gone more seriously noisy, suspicious and assessing eyes roaming to each of their classmates as they sized up their potential options.

The short red-clad girl looked to Yang with a shocked face. "What?!" She yelled out, in more of a squeak of panic than anything else.

Ozpin sipped at his mug again. "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."

The boy in the armor zoned back into the talk, frowning. "Wait, wha?" He asked to nobody in particular, blinking as if he was sure he'd misheard something.

"You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your 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. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and we will grade you appropriately. Are there any more questions?"

Jaune lifted his hand. "Yeah, um, sir?"

Ozpin sipped his mug. "Good. Now take your positions."

Shinai bent his knees slightly, letting out a slow exhalation of breath as he clutched his katana tightly in hand, purple eyes flitting about the forest as he searched for a perfect place to land.

Daria, for her part, simply frowned in confusion, looking to her classmates for guidance, before finally settling on Shinai, the samurai's eyes flitting over to her curiously before locking back onto the forest. Slowly, she copied his form, looking back and forth between him, the forest, and Ozpin.

Lance grinned and swept his hair back one last time, crouching low onto his podium as he shifted his greatsword to rest over his shoulder, craning his neck to the sides with satisfying pops

"Uh, sir?" Jaune persisted. "I've got, um… a question,"

And then Weiss' platform sent her careening off into the forest, a shocked yell following her as she disappeared into the distance.

"So, this landing… strategy thing… uh, wha- what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"

Oracle laughed giddily as she was flung away, one hand holding her aviators to her face as she flipped through the air wildly.

"No. You will be falling." Ozpin answered absentmindedly, blowing on his drink slightly.

Rainier let out a yell of exhilaration as he vaulted off into the forest of leaves, cackling as gunshots fired him, the white form of his track suit reaching far deeper into the forest than his contemporaries.

The boy yelped as he watched his classmates disappear, dropping back into his mech and letting the helmet find its place again- just in time, as his podium activated, the heavy suit swinging and flipping through the air unevenly.

"Oh," Jaune said. "Uh-huh, I see… so, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"

Shinai leapt with the activation of his podium, vaulting high into the air as he kept his form, purple eyes narrowed against the high winds.

"No," The professor answered. "You will be using your own landing strategy."

Daria's eyes widened as her brain caught up to the events at hand, vaulting out into the forest with a shocked scream following behind her.

"Uh-huh… yeah," Jaune replied, not grasping the concept. A loud 'woo-hoo' and the flash of yellow of Yang shot across his vision as he continued to look at Ozpin, nodding blankly.. "So what exactly is a landing strategyYYY!"

His question bled into screams of terror as he launched off into the air, flipping head over heels wildly.

Ozpin continued to sip at his drink as he watched the last of the students disappear. He turned to Glynda with a smile and a cocked eyebrow. "Shall we?"

Shinai twirled in the air as he flew, katana sliding from its sheathe, before-

Poof.

He disappeared into a cloud of dark, purple smoke, stalling in the air. Moments later, he reappeared, in another cloud of smoke, suspended in one of the great trees of the Emerald Forest, spinning on his heel as he landed, razor sharp katana clearing out a space for him as he cut a perfect circle of branches and leaves away.

Oracle continued to laugh as she continued to fly through the forest, getting closer and closer to the treetops- before firing at the ground beneath her. The shot sent her higher into the air, but managed to slow her speed to workable levels, freefalling down to the forest floor below, a cheeky grin planted on her face as she descended.

She fired at one of the massive trunks of the trees as she broke through the canopy, sending herself careening further into the depths of the forest. Finally, she hit the ground roughly, rolling across the dirt before popping back to her feet peachily.

The gunslinger bowed to no one in particular before looking around, pulling her sunglasses down to rest on the tip of her nose. She raised a red eyebrow at a collection of foliage falling to the ground, twigs bouncing against the dirt.

"That's either a sexy samurai callin' my name, or a grimm ready to bite my head off." She stared at the spot for a moment in deliberation- and then shrugged nonchalantly, beginning her walk towards whatever it was.

Lance continued to whoop and holler as he fell towards the treetops, shifting in the air as he spun vertically, massive greatsword cutting through the trees with ease as he rocketed towards the forest floor. Deftly spinning the blade through the air, he lifted it- and caught it onto a perfectly sized branch, its hook wrapping around the bark as he pirouetted around it.

His momentum sufficiently slowed, he pulled his sword free, leaping through the air again as he continued to swing the hulking blade, vaulting directly towards one of the great trees. He slammed the blade into the tree's trunk, using it to halt his momentum entirely. He gripped the long handle with both hands, flipping himself upwards to stand on the giant blade.

Lance put his hand above his eyes, peering into the forest. After a moment, he threw his head back and let out a roar of a 'cheehoo!' as he continued to race into the depths of the forest.

Rainier hummed to himself, breaking through the canopy of trees with hardly a sound, deftly swiveling and dodging around the branches soaring his way, hands reaching up to grab onto one momentarily before releasing, his momentum not ceasing as he swung away. Finally, he let go, letting himself fall further towards the ground for a few meters.

Then his robotic kneecap parted, the leg's plates shifting further towards the thigh or ankle, revealing the oversized barrel of a revolver, the length of his shin. He turned so that he was flying backwards, and the cannon fired, massive shell falling to the ground as the force of the shot continued to propel him further into the forest.

At the last moment, he turned, silver claws ripping into the tree he'd been moments from colliding into. The cannon fired again, sending him soaring off once again, bouncing from tree to tree as he swiftly raced his way through the Emerald Forest.

Daria's mind ran in overtime as she got frighteningly close to the top of the forest frighteningly quickly, brown eyes widened in panic as she ran through idea after idea to not splatter against the forest floor.

The short teen waited until she couldn't wait anymore, a hefty tree branch screaming towards her face. Her blades held up in front of her, she slammed them into the branch, and flexed her core, kicking her feet up and letting the momentum drag her blades through the tree's bark, doing a full 360 degrees around the tree limb, and slowing her momentum drastically. Still though, she freefell towards the earth with no real way of cushioning the fall, holding her arms in front of her face as tree limbs and leaves slapped against her on her way down.

She rolled as she slammed down into the ground, sending her several feet further into the forest, head ringing from the sudden impact. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs as she shakily climbed to her feet, regaining her bearings.

A thunderous slam echoed through the forest, getting the diminutive huntress to jump in shock, wheeling about for the source of the sound. After a moment, the sound blared out again, this time with more force. The Emerald Forest went silent for a few moments... before the cacophonous sound of wood splintering and shattering shattered the silence.

Daria's eyes widened as she turned on her heel- right to watch one of the hulking trees of the forest come crashing down towards her. At the last moment, she dove to the side, narrowly avoiding being squished under the trunk of the tree, diving face first into the dirt. She groaned as a massive cloud of dust rose into the air, obscuring her vision as she pushed herself to her feet.

Her eyes widened as something else crashed into the forest floor- but not nearly as violent, and much more controlled. Her hands gripped her ringblades tightly as she whirled to face the sound, ready for a fight.

"Hm? What's this?"

There was the sound of mechanical gears and parts shifting.

She slowly dropped her guard, peering through the dust cloud in confusion.

There was a horribly tense beat of silence as her eyes narrowed. And then-

"Hello!"

Daria's face fell in dumbfoundment as the boy in the mech marched through the cloud, grinning toothily at her as he waved, currently perched on top of his mech.

"Name's Nash!" He greeted happily, voice a much higher, friendlier tone than when he was piloting his mech. "This is Phalanx. I guess this means we're partners now!"

She stared at him blankly for a moment, mind whirring to catch up with her. She let out a sigh, falling backwards into the dirt, face devoid of any emotion other than the feeling of being absolutely done with the day.