The Cobalt Blues Ch. 2

Morning came bright and early for me the next day as I stirred from my slumber to find Lyn and Bakulah staring down at me curiously. I blinked for a moment rubbing my eyes to ensure I wasn't having some weird twisted dream.

"Can I help either of you with something?" I asked puzzled causing Lyn to giggle and snicker. "What?" Bakulah turned a bright red and looked away as I sat up to find that in my sleep I'd managed to cuddle with my own tail like a stuffed animal. Embarrassed, I immediately turned away from them, letting go of my tail and allowing it to droop naturally towards the ground before swinging my legs from my cot. "Ha ha…funny you two. Look…I have bad nightmares okay? Sometimes my tail helps to comfort me." I muttered before walking away. Lyn skipped happily after me before cutting me off.

"Aww don't be sore Calyx, we thought it was cute. Right sis?" I looked to Bakulah who crossed her arms.

"As if! It was childish and immature. It just stands to reason that someone like him would sleep with a stuffed animal."

"I don't sleep with a stuffed animal; I sleep with a biological, albeit soft, part of my body." I shot back causing her to blush again. Lyn just giggled again.

"Anyway, we were just waiting for you to wake up because we wanted to tell you that it's almost time for initiation! Traiko said he'd save us a spot in the dining hall, but he didn't want us to wake you up, he thought you'd be grumpy."

"Smart man." I sighed. "I'll get ready and meet you guys there."

"Oh it's okay, we'll wait for you." Lyn offered causing Bakulah to sigh softly.

"Suit yourself." I muttered as I slipped into the changing room to begin getting ready for the day. As I stood in the warm water of the shower I let it the cascade wash away my troubles and worries. The way the stress of yesterday just kind of slid off my shoulders was relieving to say the least, and I almost felt bad that the girls had decided to wait for me. After I toweled off my body I went to my locker, greeted by the sight of my selected uniform and weapons. Tugging on my tunic I looked at myself in the mirror. I know I didn't look too warrior-like with the sapphire colored garments that fit snuggly to my frame, but I always preferred comfort over durability. After all, the point of a fight was not to get hit, not to be able to get hit as often as you please. As such, I made sure my attire was focused on mobility. Light leather that wasn't too warm or hot and could bend as easily as I could, put a nice cloth cover over it for aesthetics and I was good to go. "Sorry about the wait guys." I said as I pushed my way out of the locker rooms to find that the two of them had also gotten ready.

"Don't worry about it." Lyn said with a grin. "We just finished getting ready too." I smiled at the bubbly girl. I was relieved that we'd met otherwise it'd be a much more lonely experience for me here at Beacon.

It didn't take long for us to find Traiko in the cafeteria. With the size of him and his armor he stood out like a sore thumb and when he waved to us, it may as well have been a rescue flare shot into the sky. Taking our seats I ate for the most part in silence. The twins babbled on with Traiko about how teams would be chosen and how the initiation would be run, but I was fairly confident I could handle anything. As I looked around I could see all of the other students making plans, discussing who they'd be partners with and what teams they wanted to be on. No one really seemed to be like me…bored and lonely. I would have loved to join in the conversation with the others, really I would have…but I knew I wasn't like them. They may deny it all they want, but nothing would change the ugly truth: I was a Faunis, and because of that I'd always be different from them. Our worlds weren't the same, at least not yet. Finishing my breakfast quickly I stood up to leave before Lyn noticed and leaving the conversation she followed after me.

"Are you alright Calyx?" She asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

She watched me with a frown as I placed my dishes in the receptacle before turning to leave the cafeteria, but she stepped in front of me quickly. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked softly.

"Of course not, why would you think that?"

"Because you haven't said but two words to me since this morning. Did it really bother you that much that we woke you up?" I shook my head.

"It's not that…it's just…I understand how things work okay? I appreciate you being nice and all, but you don't have to pretend okay? I'm a Faunis, I've always been one and I'll always be one, it's really not a big deal. I don't want you to feel like you've got to treat me special because of it."

She scoffed. "And what is it that makes you think I'm treating you special?" She asked.

I looked deep into her eyes. "Well for starters…you're speaking to me. That'd be one thing."

"Do you really find it so strange that there would be at least one human that actually wanted to be around you?" I sighed softly, I could see in her eyes that my answer would hurt her.

"To be honest…I'd find it strange that anyone would want to be around me, especially a human. I'll see you at initiation." I turned on my heels leaving the bubbly fan master to simply watch me leave.

As she watched her new friend leave Lyn bit her lip before returning back to the table. "Something wrong Lyn?" Traiko asked stuffing another spoonful of food into his mouth. Lyn nodded, her unusual chipper nature having faded.

"I think something's wrong with Calyx."

"Sis, you've only known him for a day." Bakulah pointed out, "Maybe he's always like this." Lyn watched as I left the cafeteria, her expression not changing.

"Maybe…but even if he is, that's not a good thing. I bet it has something to do with his leg."

Traiko looked at her fiercely. "Now I'm going to stop you there. No matter what you think is best, do not, under any circumstances, go prying into his leg. Some things are sensitive to people, and I can tell you now that that is one of them for Calyx."

"But…" Lyn stammered, "we can't just…just let him go like this…he needs us, as his friends it's our job to help him right?"

Traiko nodded sternly. "And the best way for us to help him is to stay clear of it. We can't just force him to talk, that'd only hurt his feelings more. We've got to be gentle about this."

"Besides who cares if he's all whiney and angsty anyway? There's no reason for us to go poking around in that crybaby's life." Bakulah chimed causing the other two to turn to look at her puzzled.

"Sis, that's harsh. Even for you! And the way you were staring at him while he was sleeping, don't think I didn't notice you blushing." Bakulah growled putting her sis in a headlock and giving her a noogie as she cried uncle.

"Look, maybe after the initiation things will be better." Traiko argued. "Until then, I vote we give him his space. I'm sure he knows if he needs us he can count on us…right?" Lyn looked at the exit where he'd left before whispering softly.

"I'm not so sure…"

I strolled down the halls, eagerly searching for some indication of where I was supposed to attend the initiation when I managed to stumble into the Headmaster. "Oh, Professor Ozpin! Please wait just a moment." He stopped to look at me before sipping his morning coffee.

"Ah good morning…Calyx is it?" I nodded.

"Yes sir, I have to say I'm impressed that you know me."

"I take the time to know all of my students." He said before taking another sip. "Did you need me for something?"

"Umm…yes sir, I wanted to ask, where will Initiation be held?" The Headmaster smiled to himself as he readjusted his wiry glasses before tilting his head to signal to follow him. As he turned and walked down the hallway I quickly kept pace.

"Tell my Calyx, how are you enjoying your stay at Beacon so far? Make any new friends?" He asked.

"Well…sort of, there are a few people who are nice to me, but I really wouldn't call them friends."

"And why's that?" Ozpin asked, his stride never faltering.

"Well sir…they really just seem interested in my leg." Ozpin looked at me puzzled.

"What about your leg?"

"Well…I lost it a long time ago through…"

"An accident. I'm aware."

"Then why are you asking about it?"

"You were the one who brought it up, not me." Ozpin replied sipping his coffee again. How much coffee did he even keep in that mug? Ozpin suddenly stopped in the hallway, causing me to stop with him. "Tell me Calyx…why do you think I invited you here to Beacon Academy?"

I shrugged, mulling the thought over for a moment. "Because you felt sorry for me?" I suggested. He stared at me intently.

"I invited you to the most prestigious school in all of Vale and you think I did so out of sympathy?" He asked. "I feel almost insulted."

"Sorry sir. I didn't mean to insult you."

"I invited you for the same reason I invited the other students. I saw potential in you. You're a strange case, don't get me wrong, but your leg is not the reason I invited you to join the academy." He sighed softly for a moment before taking another sip of his hot beverage.

"Then why…?"

"Listen Calyx…when you walk into a room, what do you think is the first thing people notice about you?"

"My…leg?" I asked, unsure where he was going with the question.

"Wrong. The first thing people notice about you is you. All of you. From the first expression on your face to the first words from your lips people are watching you, just as you are watching them. You're special Mr. Delsune, don't get me wrong, but you're not that special. Every student you meet has had hardships in their life: Faunis and Human. There's a saying that has been floating around since the past: 'Do not judge the path I choose to take, until you've made the choices I've had to make.' You may think your hardships are worse than everyone else's…but try to keep in mind, no matter how good you are, you can never succeed if you're alone." He turned away from me and continued strolling down the hallway as though he'd just told me my shoes were untied.

"But sir…"

"Hmm? More questions?" He asked curiously looking over his shoulder at me before I sighed and shook my head.

"Not about that. I'm just curious, what exactly will this initiation entail?" He smirked as he looked at me, his eyes gleaming in a way that denoted mischief.

"Now, now. No need to spoil the surprise so soon." He ended his sentence by slurping a bit more coffee from his mug and for the rest of the journey to the initiation grounds I remained silent.

As I stood looking over the cliff, I couldn't help but feel that Professor Ozpin was pulling some sort of practical joke on me. "Umm…Professor…are these platforms what I think they are?"

"That entirely depends…what do you think they are?"

"High-pressure spring loaded launch pads."

"Then yes." He replied with a smug grin as other students began to file past me. As the first one present I was to be the first one launched, I soon came to realize. But my thoughts were far from initiation now. I was thinking about the others that filed in. They all looked so…normal. They didn't look like they had any hardships in their life at all. When one girl with a black bow walked past me, I caught a whiff of her scent. Despite trying to conceal it with perfume, I immediately knew she was a Faunis, like me. But she kept it hidden somehow…I couldn't help but wonder what caused her to do that. Maybe the same reason I hid my leg.

"Hey Calyx." A familiar voice said to me, causing me to turn to see Traiko and the twins waving at me with a smile. "Ready for initiation." I opened my mouth to warn them but the Headmaster shot me a look that immediately silenced me.

"As ready as I'll ever be I suppose." I muttered shifting nervously as I attempted to find the best launching position. Lyn stood on the pad beside me followed by Traiko and Bakulah.

"Hi Calyx," Lyn whispered, "sorry if I upset you this morning about something." I quickly shook my head, my cheeks turning a bright red as I remembered the rather rude way I'd spoken to her earlier.

"N-no. Sorry Lyn, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that…listen…I know I've been rather cold…but when we meet up after initiation, or during it, or whatever, when we get time alone…I'll explain everything to you okay? But under one condition…"

"What's that?" She asked her stormy eyes glimmering like obsidian.

"I want to know your story too."

She blushed softly before nodding as the Headmaster began to speak. "For years you have trained to become warriors. Today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

"Now," Professor Goodwitch took over, "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." I looked at the others curiously. I couldn't help but hope that I'd be on the same team as one of the people I'd met the day before.

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon." With every word I could feel a nervous pressure building up in the pit of my stomach. "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." I could hear nervous murmurs from other students further down the line, signaling I was not the only one set on edge by the Headmaster's words. "That being said, first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." His words echoed in my head as the very concept sent me reeling.

He couldn't be serious! He just said it'd be best for us to be paired with someone who we worked well with, and now he's telling us our partners would be assigned by something as random as eye contact! I looked over to the man with the mace who'd bullied me the other day. I decided if I bumped into him I'd just cover my eyes and run in a random direction until I met someone…anyone…else.

"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." Die? That's a little bit extreme isn't it? I mean…we weren't going to be fighting Grimm…were we? "You will be monitored and graded for your duration of the 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 questions?" Only a few dozen. As one nervous looking blond kid began to speak up, he just continued on. "Good! Now, take your positions." I barely had time to adjust before being launched clear over the forest. As soon as the plate shifted I engaged my propulsion systems allowing me to gain a boosted launch speed. The further North I got launched the better I had decided. I was surprised when I saw Lyn wink at me as she fell past me, causing me to grin. So it was a competition was it?

Another crack from my greaves sent me spinning into a series of flips as I raced towards the earth at a blurring speed. Immediately I unfolded before engaging my propulsion systems to drive me further onward in small bursts, bouncing off of the rocky terrain before I finally landed with a smug thump, creating a small crater beneath my feet and brushing the dust off of me. Looking upward I caught a glimpse of the beautiful Lyn, twirling through the air with her fans as though she were some sort of graceful helicopter before she landed somewhere further ahead.

I couldn't even begin to count my blessings as I rushed to where she had landed only to find myself running straight into a nest of Beowolfs. Just my rotten luck. They turned on me snarling as they began to circle my position, leaping and hopping like some sort of demented imp as they licked their chops and snapped their jaws menacingly. The instant one rushed forward, I planted my hands behind me in a backwards cartwheel that allowed me to fire a round of grape shot through its lower jaw, blowing its head into a bloody red mist. As I leapt back to my feet I growled to the others. "Well come on then!" I roared, "Who else wants a taste?!" Immediately they all set upon me simultaneously. But I wouldn't let them all surround me so easily. With a blast I was propelled off the ground into a half-twist lay out, before grabbing on to the back spikes of one of the Beowolfs. As I swung downward I slammed my greaves hard into its spinal cord with a sickening crack before another cannon shot sent its mangled corpse slamming hard into two of its brethren. I managed to duck just in time as one of them swiped at me with its vicious claws and planting my hands to the ground I lashed out in a burro kick that blasted a hole in its chest cavity. But the more I slaughtered the more there seemed to be and after another five of them, fatigue began to take its toll.

"Hold on Calyx!" A voice called to me, and looking up I watched as a vicious bladed fan spun like a boomerang, easily slicing through the Beowolfs that had surrounded me before flying back to the lovely hand of Lyn who gracefully caught it. "Sorry I'm late," she giggled, "I thought it'd be a lot more dramatic if you'd come to find me so I just waited where I landed for you. When you didn't show up I got worried."

I smiled at her as I took the time to rush to her side just as an armored Ursa Major came crashing behind her. "Lyn!" I called out to her and with a great speed I scooped her up before leaping out of the things vicious reach. "Are you alright?" I asked her as she smiled brightly at me.

"Never better." She giggled just as the thing let out another vicious roar before charging at us. I immediately dropped to one knee as Lyn looked at me like I was insane. "Calyx? What are you doing?! Run!" I said nothing as my prosthetic's knee cap opened up firing a rocket powered dust grenade, right down the roaring Ursine's throat. It coughed on the thing trying hard not to choke on it, and just as it slipped into its esophagus a bright red explosion caused the thing's entire upper half to just disintegrate into nothingness. As its lower body collapsed Lyn looked up at me in shock as I got back to my feet.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly as I let her back down on her feet, the immediate threat having been vanquished.

"That was…amazing…" She whispered, unable to comprehend what just happened. I shrugged bashfully before heading north. "W-wait a minute." She said chasing after me. "We're partners now right?" She asked. "Since we're the first people we made eye contact with you know?"

"Yeah I suppose we are." I said with a smile. "I hope that's okay with you."

"Of course it is!" She said excitedly, "Now you get to keep your promise to me." I stopped for a moment before turning back to face her.

"Really? Is that what you've been thinking about this entire time?" I asked. She nodded emphatically. "Alright…fine…what do you want to know?"

She thought about it for a moment before beaming brightly. "What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" Her question stunned me for a moment.

"Ice cream?"I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah! Mine's strawberry, but the truth is I love all ice cream. I don't know why it's just so good. Although once, I had this licorice ice cream and that wasn't very delicious at all, so I guess I don't like all ice cream." I put a hand over her mouth to stop her stream of words.

"Let me get this straight. I give you an all access pass to ask me any question you want…and you want to know about ice cream?" Lyn nodded again a bright smile on her face. I almost laughed at the thought before running my hand through my shaggy red hair.

"Alright, you win. My favorite ice cream…probably pistachio." She giggled a bit. "What's so funny?" I demanded.

"It's just…I think the flavor of ice cream people like really represents someone. I figured you'd be the really straight laced type. Vanilla and nothing but. But the fact you said 'pistachio' just shows that there's a lot more to you than meets the eye you know? I'm kind of excited that we're partners cause that means I'll be the first person to see you on the inside." I chuckled a little.

"You got all that because I happen to enjoy ice cream with nuts in it?"

She just shrugged playfully. "We're all a little nutty on the inside." Lyn giggled and skipped a little ahead before turning back. "At any rate, we should probably get to the Northern Forest temple…don't you think?"

I nodded in agreement as we walked away from the large pile of corpses that began to burst into darkness behind us. Maybe Professor Ozpin was right, maybe she really wasn't interested in my leg. Working our way North I began to wonder what happened with Traiko and Bakulah.

Bakulah watched as with an explosive kick, Calyx was sent flying off ward. Her sister gave her a good luck smile before too being launched and next it would be Bakulah's turn. Taking her katar in hand she was launched at a surprising speed above the forest's canopy. As she dove forward to barely avoid a tree branch she raised her weapons and pushing a button send the blades flying outward to embed in trees beside her. As cords pulled taut, she began to slow her descent before another button summoned them back to her side quickly and she took off running in Calyx's direction. She didn't care what her sister or Traiko said about the Faunis, she knew something was off about him and she wouldn't rest until she found out what.

For her, that meant finding him before anyone else could and becoming his partner so that she could keep a close eye on him. But no sooner had she dashed into a clearing that a loud and heavy thud signaled the presence of the gigantic battle axe that Traiko carried on him, now firmly embedded in the ground. She stopped for a moment, puzzled as to its presence right before the large man rocketed past, grabbing hold of its handle and twirling around it to slow his fall, if only by a little bit. He shook his head to clear the dizziness he had from his spin before turning and seeing her. Lifting the visor of his helmet he smiled and waved to her, causing her to nervously wave back. Damn, of course she would run into someone else before she got the chance to find out what the Faunis was up to.

"Well, that was quick." Traiko chuckled. "Looks like we're partners huh Bakulah?" She muttered a reply causing him to frown.

"What disappointed that you're not with your sister? I saw her and Calyx flying in the same direction, maybe they'll meet up together. At least then you'll be able to know she's with someone decent right?" Bakulah felt a shudder run through her body.

"Damn it!" She snapped, running towards the direction her sister had soared in.

"W-wait! Where are you going?" Traiko called after her as he rushed to keep up. "Hey! If something's wrong would you just…damn it woman will you wait a moment?!" Bakulah surprised by his harsh tone came to a stop before looking at him.

"Look, no offense to you Traiko…I'm just…concerned about my sister when it comes to Calyx. She's very trusting and naieve…and I just don't want to see anyone get hurt okay?"

Traiko raised an eyebrow. "And you're worried about Calyx? Don't get me wrong here, but from what time I've spent with the guy, he doesn't seem to be the hurtful type. I mean hell, he's got more of a shell than a tortoise and socially speaking, he moves about half as fast. I really don't think he's someone you need to worry about."

Bakulah sighed softly. "I know…that's what worries me."

"I don't follow." He replied.

She bit her lip nervously and stopped for a moment. "Okay look, I know my sister seems like she's a really cheerful bimbo…but you don't understand, she's very…sensitive. If we're not careful…and Calyx says or does something that gets her worked up…things will be bad…really bad." Traiko wasn't sure how to respond as Bakulah turned away and once more began rushing through the forest. He sighed softly; of course he'd get thrown in with the weird ones.

Lyn giggled as she turned back to face me, walking backwards through the woods. "Okay Calyx…I've got another question, if you don't mind me asking." I smiled at her and nodded. "Why is it that you're being so open now huh? I mean, you were pretty cold this morning, and then when we all came to initiation you were so eager to let me get to know you. Why?"

I thought about it for a bit before letting out a sigh. "Truthfully, I was worried is all. I thought that if I opened up to you…or anyone really…that all you'd do is just dredge up painful memories. Or worse, that once you found out about me you'd get bored of me and I'd be back to being all alone again."

"Do you really think I'd be that mean?" She asked in surprise.

I blushed. "Well, no…that's not what I meant. For a very large amount of my life I spent it alone in a hospital bed. And even once my leg had healed, I spent most of my life shut away in my room working on my prosthetic. So, naturally I'm a little suspicious of others…especially humans." She stopped as I walked past her before she turned back to me.

"What do you mean 'especially humans'? Are you implying there is something wrong with being human?" I looked back at her still blushing before shaking my head.

"What? No, nothing like that. It's just that…humans tend to be pretty judgmental when it comes to Faunis…"

"Isn't that a bit judgmental to assume all humans are judgmental?"

I frowned biting my lip. "I've suddenly decided that I don't want to answer any more questions." I muttered before she stepped in front of me and cut me off.

"Oh no, you're not backing out that easily Calyx Delsune. I want you to tell me exactly what you think about humans." I felt my cheeks become flushed before I finally snapped.

"Humans are incredibly bigoted and selfish people who only care about themselves! It doesn't matter how nice or kind you are to them, they'll always stab you in the back if it suits them and that's why I don't trust anyone who is a human!" I clamped my hand over my mouth quickly. Why did I just say all that? How could I possibly have said that to Lyn? She looked at me hurt and turning away she sighed softly.

"Okay…fine…sorry that you feel that way." She whispered as she turned away from me and kept walking.

"No, wait Lyn! I didn't mean…"

"Yes you did Calyx. It's okay…I get that you don't trust me, that's fine."

"No I do trust you Lyn it's just…"

"Just other humans Calyx? Like Traiko, or my sister? We're not all like that jerk on the ship you know…some of us don't care what you are or who you were. We came to beacon to put the past behind us…not to let it blind our future." She turned away her blonde hair whipping in the wind before I chased after her and stopped her.

"Now hold on a second." She turned and swiped at me with one of her fans causing me to leap back in surprise as a small cut formed on my cheek. "Lyn?" I asked cautiously.

"Just…leave me alone Calyx. You've spoken your mind."

"Not yet I haven't. What's gotten into you Lyn? I mean…attacking me? That's very…un-you." She glared at me angrily before storming up to me.

"And what do you know about me huh?! You don't know a damned thing Calyx. So don't pretend like you do, or that you want to, or anything else. I can tell when you're pretending, and you're one of the biggest pretenders of them all." She snapped before turning on her heels slapping me in the face with her hair.

"Lyn…" I called out before she simply kept walking.

"And you can find yourself another partner, because clearly I can't be trusted." She snapped as she kept walking.

I raced after her before blasting off the ground to somersault in front of her before cutting off her path. "Now hold on a second! Look…I don't know why I said the things I said okay…but I want you to understand why I feel like that."

"It doesn't matter why. All that matters is that clearly that's what you think of me and your friends so that's all I need to know." She tried to walk past me but I just stood there.

"No. There's a lot more that you need to know, just let me explain, and I promise it'll all make sense to you okay?"

"I don't care." She snapped. "Get out of my way so I can find a partner who will actually be a decent human being."

"…human..?" I asked.

"That's not what I…"

"Is that it Lyn? Really? You're going off on me for not liking humans, when in reality it's because you don't like Faunis?! I can't believe this!" I put my hand to my forehead. "I should have known…I feel so stupid right now." I shook my head turning away from her.

"Now don't try to turn this on me Calyx!" She snapped before chasing after me. "You know that's not what I meant at all." I turned back at her and just shook my head.

"Look, you don't have to spare my feelings all right? Believe me you would still be far from the worst human that I've come across. To be honest of all humans I've met you're still in my top ten. But hey, if you want someone else for a partner, then be my guest. I hope you find the 'decent' human being you're looking for."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" I snapped back before a dark shadow loomed over us.

"I swear Calyx, I thought you were a pretty good guy, but I guess Bakulah was right when she said that you were nothing but a big jerk."

"Lyn…" I whispered looking up at the dark shape that was descending on us.

"No! Don't even try to change the subject, I don't care what you say you're not going to…"

"LYN!" I cried out as the giant Grimm vulture dove from the sky to snatch her off the ground. As its talons closed around her I immediately began to rush after the vile creature of darkness. She continued to struggle against the thing's grip as I ran as fast as I could after her, using my greaves to leap to the tree tops. With one final blast I found myself hurtling through the air after the creature, my fingertips moving ever closer to her outstretched hand.

To be continued…