The First Step
Ash rolls his turtleneck's sleeve down to cover the scroll watch he just put on. He places an earpiece in his ear and taps it.
"Kismet, you up?" Ash asks.
"For you, sir, always~" Kismet says as Ash rolls his eyes.
"Until further notice, I'd like to keep all my files on my personal server." Ash orders.
"Don't want Providence to know what you're up to?" Kismet asks in a teasing voice, "That's against the rules~"
Ash ignore her and puts on his harness and holsters his pistol under his right shoulder. He places his spare magazines on the other side. Ash grabs a couple Gravity Dust grenades and places them on his belt. He then grabs his coat and puts it on and places his sword on a magnetic plate on the back of the coat. Ash holds a golden necklace with a circular pendant that has a star engraved into it. He rubs his thumb along the star and it glows cyan.
"So, you seem awfully chipper this morning!" Ash hears Yang say.
Ash puts the necklace in a pocket on the inside of his coat then zips it up.
"Yep!" Ruby agrees with Yang, "No more awkward small talk or 'getting-to-know-you' stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking."
Ruby strokes Crescent Rose while sighing.
"Well, remember, Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation." Yang states, "If you wanna grow up, you're gonna have to meet new people and learn to work together."
Ruby groans in frustration
"You sound like Dad!" Ruby complains, as she shoves her weapon into the 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!"
"A single stick breaks," Ash states, closing his locker as he walks to them, "but a bundle of sticks is strong. And growing up refers to your mental state just as much as it does your physical."
Ash internally berates himself for his hypocrisy but keeps his external self stoic.
"But what about when we form teams?" Yang asks.
"Um, I don't know," Ruby admits, "I... I'll just be on one of your teams or something..."
"I won't be on a team." Ash states.
"Why?" Ruby and Yang ask.
"Special arrangement with Ozpin." Ash answers, "My circumstances are unique."
"How so?" Yang asks.
Ash's expression visibly darkens.
"I don't want to talk about it." Ash answers before walking back to his locker.
"Oh..." Ruby says, "Okay..."
"Maybe you should try being on someone else's team?" Yang asks as she strokes her hair.
"My dear sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?" Ruby accuses.
"What? No! Of course I do!" Yang responds, "I just thought... I don't know, maybe it would help you... break out of your shell!"
"What the-?!" Ruby shouts, "I don't need to 'break out of my shell'! That's absolutely-"
"Ridiculous!" Jaune interrupts, walking between the three of them, "There's no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday! I would've remembered having to count that high! Why does this have to happen today?"
Jaune passes Weiss and Pyrrha Nikos as they ready themselves at their lockers. Ash pulls out a red bandanna with a torn edge from his locker.
"So, Pyrrha, have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on?" Weiss asks, "I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!"
Ash stares at the bandanna for a moment.
"Hmm... I'm not quite sure." Pyrrha answers, "I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may."
Ash wraps the bandanna around his left bicep.
"Well..." Weiss says, "I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together.
Ash then grabs a brown leather book.
"Well, that sounds grand!" Pyrrha replies.
Ash opens the book up to page near the end of the book.
"Great!" Weiss responds.
Ash silently reads a small prayer from the book.
"You know what else is great?" Jaune asks, coming between them, "Me. Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."
Ash closes the book then puts it back into his locker.
"You again?" Weiss asks.
Ash closes his locker again and locks it.
"Nice to meet you, Jaune!" Pyrrha says.
"Yeah, yeah." Jaune pushes Pyrrha to the side, "So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day."
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Weiss says.
"Don't worry!" Jaune assures, "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?"
"Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each, so-" Pyrrha informs.
"You don't say." Jaune comments, "Well, hot stuff, play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team."
"Jaune, is it?" Weiss asks getting between them, "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
"Not in the slightest, snow angel." Jaune answers.
"This is Pyrrha." Weiss introduces.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha greets.
"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum!" Weiss explains.
"Never heard of it." Jaune states.
"She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row!" Weiss continues, "A new record!"
"The what?" Jaune asks.
"She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" Weiss exclaims, waving her arms in anger.
"That's you?!" Jaune asks, "But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"
"Yeah, it was pretty cool." Pyrrha says, "Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you."
"So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss asks.
"I guess not..." Jaune admits, "Sorry..."
"Actually, Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader!" Pyrrha encourages.
"D'oh, stop it!" Jaune says.
"Seriously, please stop it." Weiss requests, "This kind of behavior should not be encouraged!"
"Sounds like Pyrrha's on board for Team Jaune." Jaune states, "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?"
"All right, that's a bit too close!" Weiss says, "Pyrrha, a little help, please?!"
Pyrrha throws her spear. It snags Jaune's hood and carries him across the room.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha apologizes.
Ash catches Miló as Jaune goes flying, causing him to drop before he can hit the wall.
"Careful Miss Nikos." Ash warns, "You could hurt someone."
He tosses the spear back to Pyrrha. An announcement the plays on the intercom system.
"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation?" Professor Goodwitch orders, "Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
"It was nice meeting you!" Pyrrha says as she leaves.
"Likewise..." Jaune says.
"Having some trouble there, lady-killer?" Yang asks as she and Ruby approach.
"I don't understand." Jaune comments, "My dad said all women look for is confidence! Where did I go wrong?"
Ruby helps lift Jaune up.
"'Snow Angel' probably wasn't the best start." Yang comments.
"Come on, Jaune, let's go." Ruby says as she supports Jaune.
The students gather at Beacon Cliff. Ash puts his hands in his pocket and closes his eyes as Ozpin begins speaking.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin states.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of 'teams.'" Professor Goodwitch informs, "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today."
"What?" Ruby responds, "Ohhh..."
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon." Ozpin explains, "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."
Ruby groans.
"That being said," Ozpin continues, "the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
"Whaaaat?!" Ruby shouts.
"See?" Nora asks, "I told you-!"
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." Ozpin continues, "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die."
Jaune laughs nervously and then gulps loudly.
"You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene." Ozpin explains, "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 asks as he raises his hand.
"Good!" Ozpin ignores Jaune, "Now, take your positions."
Everyone gets ready. Ash opens his eyes and unfolds his arms, Nora crouches low, Ren wields his weapons, Yang raises her fists, Ruby readies her body, and Jaune is still raising his hand. Weiss is launched first.
"Uh, sir? I've got, um... a question." Jaune states, "So, this landing... strategy thing... Uh, wha-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"
"No." Ozpin answers, "You will be falling."
"Oh, uh, I see..." Jaune says, "So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"
"No." Ozpin answers, "You will be using your own 'landing strategy.'"
Nora and Ren are launched next.
"Uh-huh... Yeah." Jaune says.
At her turn, Yang winks at Ruby, puts on a pair of aviators, and flies off with a "Woo-hoooooooo!" before joined by Ruby.
"So, what exactly is a landing strategYYY!..." Jaune is launched as he speaks.
Ash is launched next. He closes his eyes as he flies through the sky. Ash's eyes open suddenly. His silver irises glow and a white shock wave is made, clearing the path in front of him. Ash's eyes widen as he realizes how close he is to the ground. He quickly grabs one of his grenades and throws it at the ground. He lands in the anti-gravity field and floats until the grenade deactivates. Ash groans as he falls to one knee, his body not used to drastic shifts in gravity in such a short period of time.
'Damn it.' Ash thinks to himself.
Ash slowly rises and draws his blade. He begins walking forward using his deactivated sword as a cane.
Ozpin and Glynda watch Ash's landing.
"Ash has certainly improved his usage of Silver Eyes." Glynda comments.
"Indeed." Ozpin agrees, "But he's far from mastering it."
"His last landing strategy was far more effective." Glynda notes.
"Ash has done this test before." Ozpin adds, "He's likely trying to complete it a different way for personal reasons."
"Personal reason?" Glynda repeats.
"Just as we're testing him, he's testing himself." Ozpin states.
Ash eventually comes across Weiss and Ruby.
"Oh look it's your boyfriend." Weiss says, sarcastically.
"Ash is not my boyfriend." Ruby states.
She then notices Ash using his sword as a cane.
"Are you okay?!" Ruby asks.
"How'd you hurt yourself?" Weiss asks, annoyed.
"Shut up, Schnee." Ash growls, "I tried a new landing strategy, it didn't work out very well."
Weiss begins walking ahead as Ruby helps support Ash.
"What's the hurry?" Ruby asks.
"I will not let my mission be delayed because you're too slow and he's injured!" Weiss says, "I swear, if I get a bad grade because of your— What the...?"
Ruby uses her semblance to appear next to Weiss.
"I'm not slow, see?" Ruby states, "You don't have to worry about me!"
"When did...?" Weiss begins as she looks back towards Ash.
"Weiss, just because I don't exactly know how to deal with people doesn't mean I don't know how to deal with monsters!" Ruby says as she puts and arm around Weiss' shoulder, "You're about to see a whole different side of me today, Weiss, and after it's all over, you're going to be like, 'Wow! That Ruby girl is really, really cool... and I wanna be her friend!'"
Ruby disappears in a cloud of rose petals, which Weiss waves away from her face just as she hears crackling and rustling in the bushes around her.
"You may be fast, but you still excel at wasting time!" Weiss shouts after her.
Ash catches up to Weiss and glares at her before continuing onward.
"Ruby?" Weiss asks, "Ruby...?"
A Beowolf growls behind Weiss, causing her to turn around.
"Ruby!" Weiss shouts.
The Beowolf roars.
One of the many changes that I considered when rebooting this story was Ash's Semblance, but as last chapter showed; I ultimately decided against it.
I'm also working on the first chapter of the Providence anthology story which will have a bit of world building that you might want to see. It's not required and all important details will be included in this story in later chapters.