Vist-97: I'm glad you enjoyed my story! I will be adding bios to my profile, but they will be updated with information as it's revealed throughout the story. That's just how I work. Also, thanks for the story recommendation, I'll check it out!

sparkydragon98: Don't apologise, I got a good chuckle out of it! It happens to all of us!

Hey man, I can relate to having a bad memory! Yeah, Weiss and Storm's reunion was pretty much the same as the original version, other than a few words being changed. But I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I am a lot like Forrest too. I let things happen, let my friends screw up and laugh and spit sarcasm at them afterwards. I'm such a great friend, aren't I? I'm still not sure about pairing Forrest and Blake, but we'll see.

Glad you're excited to see Lav again! Interesting that you don't like Robin as much, though I can understand why. He was kinda the generic edgy teammate that hates people and only thinks about being the best. However, this version of Robin... let's just say he's very different from the previous version.


As Forrest let out a yawn, he looked around the ballroom, taking in the sights. He saw the sleeping forms of a large number of potential students, two of them being his sisters.

'Well, better wake them up,' he thought. 'It's almost time to get ready.'

He reached over and nudged Ruby gently. She groaned before slowly opening her eyes. She sat up and looked over at her brother.

"Morning, Forrest," she greeted.

"Morning," Forrest replied. "Hope you slept well last night. Initiation's coming up and we need to give it our all."

"Right," Ruby said. "So, first priority…" Her stomach rumbled, interrupting her. "...Breakfast."

Forrest then turned to look at Yang, hearing her incoherently mumble in her sleep. He reached over and nudged her as he did to Ruby. Yang, however, didn't wake up. Instead, she turned in the direction of Forrest… and kneed him in the face in her sleep. He sprawled backwards, holding his bleeding nose. Ruby gasped at the sight, crouching next to him.

"Forrest, are you okay?" Ruby asked.

"Seems like it's gonna be one of those mornings…" he muttered in reply, sitting up.

"Wake up, lazy bud!" a voice enthusiastically yelled on the other side of the ballroom.

Forrest and Ruby looked over to see a boy and a girl.

The girl had orange, shoulder-length hair and turquoise eyes. Her choice of clothing was a collared black vest with red and light blue clothing underneath. On top was a white, sleeveless top that formed a tiny heart shape on her chest with white detached sleeves on both arms and pink fingerless gloves, a pink, thigh-length skirt and white boots with pink laces and soles. She also had armour from her shoulders to her waist, although not full armour.

As she danced around the boy, singing "It's morning~" over and over, he sighed.

The boy had long black hair tied into a ponytail with a magenta streak on the left side of his hair, matching his eyes. He was wearing a dark green, diagonally-buttoned, long-sleeved tailcoat that was red on the inside, with black and gold trimming and pink cuffs. Underneath was a black, long-sleeved shirt, light-tan pants and black shoes.

"Well, at least I'm better off than him," Forrest said, pointing to the boy.

Forrest heard a yawn from next to him. He turned to see Yang sitting up, stretching her arms. She looked at her two siblings with a smile.

"Morning, Ruby. Morning, Forrest," she said. Her smile was replaced with a face of confusion. "What happened to your nose?"

Forrest sighed before replying.

"I tripped."


As the three siblings were in the locker room, continuing to prepare for initiation, the orange-haired girl continued her rambling.

"I know! We'll have some sort of signal! Like a distress signal!" She gasped. "A secret signal so we can find each other in the forest! Can you imitate a sloth?"

"Nora?" the black-haired boy finally responded.

"Yes, Ren?" the orange-haired girl, now identified as Nora, answered.

"I don't think sloths make a lot of noise," Ren calmly replied.

'Wow,' Forrest thought, 'he is the definition of patience.'

"That's why it's perfect!" Nora exclaimed after a moment of thinking. "No one will suspect we're working together!"

"Come on, Nora, let's go," Ren said, smiling and shutting his locker.

"But not 'together-together'," Nora replied, giggling.

As the two headed out, Ren walking and Nora skipping, they passed the three siblings.

"Wonder what those two are so worked up about?" Ruby inquired.

"Oh, who knows?" Yang replied. "So, you seem awfully chipper this morning!"

"Yep!" Ruby happily confirmed. "No more awkward small talk or 'getting-to-know-you' stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She stroked Crescent Rose as she sighed.

"Well, remember, Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation." Yang reminded. "If you wanna grow up, you're gonna have to meet new people and learn to work together."

Ruby groaned in frustration.

"You sound like Dad!" she exclaimed, shoving her weapon into her locker. "Okay. First of all: What does meeting new people have to do with fighting? And secondly: I don't need people to help me grow up! I drink milk!"

"Yeah, like a rebel" Forrest replied sarcastically.

"But what about when we form teams?" Yang asked.

"Um, I don't know…" Ruby nervously answered. "I… I'll just be on your team or Forrest's team or something…"

"Maybe you should try being on someone else's team?" Yang suggested, stroking her hair.

"That sounds like a good idea," Forrest agreed.

"My dear sister Yang and my dear brother Forrest, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?" Ruby demanded with an accusing look.

Forrest waved his hands in front of him in protest.

"N-no! Not at all!" he defended. "We just... uh..."

He gave Yang a look, as if to say "help me!"

"Well, we just thought…" Yang attempted to continue, "I don't know, maybe it would help you… break out of your shell."

"What the-?!" Ruby exclaimed. "I don't need to 'break out of my shell'! That's absolutely-"

"Ridiculous!" someone unintentionally finished Ruby's sentence.

A confused looking Jaune walked between the siblings, holding a map.

"There's no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "I would've remembered having to count that high! Why does this have to happen today?"

"Well, he seems like he's off to a bad start, today." Ruby observed.

"Yeah…" Yang agreed. She then looked around, noticing something else. "Hey, where's Forrest?"

Ruby looked around and saw him walking around a corner. She followed after him a hurry.

"Hey, wait!" Yang called out to her, before letting out a groan of annoyance when her call was in vain.

"Heh, siblings, am I right?" a male voice asked.

Yang turned around to see a boy pulling two large mallets out of his locker.

The boy had orange hair and brown eyes. His outfit was very simple; an orange hoodie over a black t-shirt, a red handkerchief around his neck, grey cargo shorts and orange sneakers.

"Yeah, siblings…" Yang replied. She reached her hand out to the boy. "The name's Yang, nice to meet you."

The boy grabbed it and shook it.

"I'm Lav, and, uh, same." the boy replied. The two pulled their hands back. "So, your first time here at Beacon?"

"Yep. Yours?" Yang answered.

"Uh huh." Lav uttered. "Are you excited for initiation?"

"Yeah, definitely!" Yang exclaimed. "Finally, a chance for some action!" She emphasised by slamming her fists together. "What about you?"

"Yep, definitely," Lav replied. "I've been excited since yesterday."

He then reached into the pocket on the front of his hoodie, pulling out a lollipop. He unwrapped it and stuck it in his mouth. He pulled out another one and held it towards Yang.

"Lollipop?" the boy offered.

"No thanks," Yang declined.

Lav shrugged and put it back in his pocket.

"So, I wonder how teams are going to be formed?" Yang inquired.

"Actually, I have a theory-" Lav started, but was interrupted by an announcement on the intercoms.

"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation?" Glynda's voice played over the speakers. "Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."

"-that will either be proven or disproven today," Lav finished.

"Well, I should probably go get my brother and sister," Yang said. "It was nice meeting you."

"Same to you," Lav replied.

Lav waved to the blond girl and watched as she walked off before making his way out of the locker room.


Meanwhile, in another part of the locker room, Ruby finally managed to catch up to Forrest.

"Hey, you shouldn't wander off like that," Ruby said to him.

"Sorry, felt like exploring," he replied.

"Well, the announcement said we have to go to Beacon Cliff," Ruby reminded. "Initiation is about to start."

"Oh, right," Forrest realised. "Then let's get going quickly."

As the two turned around, Forrest bumped into someone, falling on the ground. The person he bumped into, however, was still standing.

This person was a boy with black hair and blue eyes. His outfit was a cyan trenchcoat over a black shirt, a black belt, dark grey pants and black boots.

"You okay?" the boy asked, offering Forrest a hand.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Forrest apologised as the boy helped him up.

"It's fine," the boy assured with a smile. "My name's Robin, by the way."

"I'm Forrest," the green-haired boy replied.

"I'm Ruby," his sister added.

"Nice to meet you both," Robin said.

He opened up the locker next to him and pulled out a pair of metal gloves. He put them on his hands before closing the locker.

"Well, initiation starts today, so I hope you're both ready," Robin reminded.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Forrest said.

"So am I," Ruby agreed.

"Good, let's give it our all," Robin said with a confident smile. "C'mon, let's go."

The three then left for the cliff together.


Later, near the edge of Beacon Cliff, overlooking a forest, several students stood on silver tiles. Professors Ozpin and Goodwitch were standing in front of them, the former holding a mug and the latter holding a tablet.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest," Ozpin said.

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

"What?" Ruby uttered, whimpering.

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon," Ozpin continued. "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."

Ruby let out another whine.

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

"Whaaaat?!" Ruby cried.

"See? I told you!" Nora exclaimed to Ren.

"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest," Ozpin continued. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die."

Jaune laughed nervously and then gulped loudly.

"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. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

"Yeah, um, sir?" Jaune said, raising his hand.

"Good!" Ozpin ignored him. "Now, take your positions."

Everyone moved their bodies into various positions on their tiles as they prepared to be launched. Jaune, however, was still raising his hand.

"Uh, sir? I've got, um... a question," he said.

Down the line, the tile under Weiss activated, springing her through the air and into the forest. More platforms activated down the line.

"So, this landing... strategy thing... Uh, wha-what is it?" Jaune inquired. "You're, like, dropping us off or something?"

"No. You will be falling," Ozpin answered bluntly.

"Oh, uh, I see... So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune continued asking.

"No. You will be using your own landing strategy."

"Uh huh... Yeah."

As Yang's turn came around, she winked at her younger sister and brother and put on a pair of aviator shades. Her tile activated and she flew off with a "Woo-hoooooooo!".

"Good luck," Forrest said to Ruby before he was launched, a second before his sister joined him.

Jaune failed to notice the tile below him about to activate.

"So, what exactly is a landing strategYYY!" his question devolved into a helpless scream as he was launched into the air, flailing about.

Ozpin turned and watched, sipping from his mug.


Over the Emerald Forest, a bird slowly flew along unprepared for what happened next. A certain red-cloaked girl slammed into it, sending a burst of feathers everywhere.

"Birdie, no!" Ruby cried as she continues falling.

As she finally got her bearings, she aimed Crescent Rose ahead of her and fired off several shots, slowing her descent. The weapon then converted into its scythe form as she used the blade to catch a tree branch, swinging off of it.

Weiss, armed with her rapier, summoned a Glyph underneath her, stopping her fall before she jumped off of it.

Forrest pulled out his weapon, converting it into its spear form. He threw it into a tree branch, the blade piercing into it and the hande upright. As he fell, Forrest grabbed onto the handle, using the blade to swing around the branch and launch off, dropping to the ground.

Ren spun in the air, thrusting the blades of his weapons into a tree trunk and spiralling down to the ground. He dusted his clothes and started his walk before hearing a distant boom. He looked up and saw Yang rocketing through the sky.

"Woo hoo!" she screamed, firing her shot-gauntlets and propelling herself through the sky. "Yeah!" She continued cheering. "Alley-oop!" Soaring over the treetops, Yang continued spinning and laughing with each shot, crashing through the leaves of a tree, before jumping off of two trunks and tumbling to the ground, rolling. "Nailed it!" She continued running.

Nearby, someone else was rocketing through the air as well. Lav was holding the handles of his mallets and standing on their heads, which had rockets built into them. He switched them off and proceeded to fall to the ground. He then pointed the rockets towards the ground and at the right moment, activated them again, slowing his descent until he was a few inches above the ground. He deactivated them once again and dropped to the ground, putting his mallets on his back as he started walking... somewhere.


As Forrest continued through the... well... forest, he turned to the sound of someone crashing through the trees. He looked up to see a red-haired girl land on a tree branch, aiming around with what looks to be a rifle. As a scream rang out, Forrest looked up to see Jaune, still flailing like a madman as he plummeted towards the ground. He then saw the red-haired girl aiming her weapon, which had transformed into a spear, towards Jaune. He watched in awe as she threw it, pinning Jaune to a tree.

"Thank you!" Jaune yelled out in the distance.

"I'm sorry!" the red-haired girl shouted back.

'Huh, wonder what she's apologising for?' Forrest thought. 'Oh well. Maybe I should see if she'll partner with me.'

He began to walk over in her direction until he heard movement in the bushes behind him, making him stop. When he focused his Semblance, he could still hear the rustling, but he couldn't sense anyone. That could only mean...

'Grimm,' he thought.

He turned and pulled out his weapon in its crossbow form. He aimed towards the bushes and fired a bolt just as Beowolf leapt out. The bolt hit it in the eye and it screeched out in pain. As it prepared to fight back, it was too late as Forrest's weapon converted into a spear and, with one swing, Forrest decapitated the creature. He turned as he heard two more Beowolves emerge. He took aim and threw his spear into the head of one of the monsters. He backflipped as the remaining Beowolf swiped at him, narrowly avoiding its paw. He tried to run over to his weapon, but the Beowolf continued its pursuit, swiping at him repeatedly. He kicked the Beowolf in the face, distracting it while he ran over to his weapon, pulling it out of the dead Beowolf's head. However, as he turned around to continue fighting, he barely managed to duck in time as the Beowolf's corpse flew over him. He looked back to where the corpse came from, seeing a familiar face.

"Oh hey, it's you," Forrest greeted. "Robin, right?"

"Yep," Robin returned with a two-finger salute. "So, we're partners now."

"I guess so," Forrest confirmed.

"Cool," Robin said with a smile. "So, if I remember correctly, the temple is this way."

Robin began walking, presumably in the direction of the temple.

"Alright, let's go," Forrest replied as he followed him.


Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I wasn't sure how to continue.

So, Lav and Robin have entered the fray, and they are pretty different from the last version of the story. Lav is still lazy, but he doesn't have an alternate personality any more. Meanwhile, Robin is nothing like he was before. Rather than being asocial and edgy, he's actually friendly.

I hope the dialogue seemed natural. I'm not too sure.

But anyway, be sure to leave your thoughts in a review, because I always love to hear feedback!

And as always, have a great day!