The next morning, Django awoke to sunlight streaming directly on his face. He looked around and noticed he was awake before most of the other people were, and decided he might as well get ready with his head start. Making his way to the bathrooms, he showered and brushed his teeth before dressing into his new clothes. He wasn't sure when they would start their initiation, but decided it wouldn't hurt to retrieve his weapons. Before visiting Vale yesterday, he had stopped at the school forge to have his weapons upgraded. After leaving the tailor shop, he received a message on his Scroll from the swordsmith, a curt message simply telling him he had left the weapons in his assigned locker.

He found his locker, 623, and took out his new weapons. His two revolvers were upgraded, with a shinier design, more space for ammunition and better rounds. His right-hand revolver could also transform into a Kukri knife. His gauntlet weapons had also been updated, with sleeker designs, and his hidden gun (on his right hand) could fire five rounds. The dart shooter on his left-hand gauntlet was better-hidden, as was the potency of the darts themselves. All in all, an efficient and deadly arsenal.

He saw another person in the locker rooms about thirty minutes later. He was a dark-skinned boy wearing a black vest over a red buttoned-up shirt, with his vest graduating into a cape below the waist, and a black bowtie. He wore armored gloves, black pants, black combat boots with red highlights and a black fedora with a grey bird's feather on it. The guy saw him and greeted him.

"What's up? My name's Amas, what's yours?"

"Django."

They both shook hands, and both looked at each other with respect, as if they could tell how skilled the other was. Amas seemed nice enough, since he had opened the conversation. He seemed to favor similar clothing styles to Django, which served as a commonality between the two.

"So, you ready for initiation?" Amas asked him.

"Not entirely sure what to expect, to be honest."

"No one is, since it generally changes every year. But I heard were going to the Emerald Forest. Now that's gonna have a lot of Grimm."

"You don't say."

"Well, I gotta go, see ya later, man."

"See ya."

Amas walked off to the firing range, presumably to test his weapon. He had a cane that looked different from Ozpin's, but made him wonder if Koa had the same power as him.

After checking his gear, other students began filing in, most prominently a quiet boy in green robes and holding his black hair in a short ponytail with a loud red-head girl in a pink skirt and an armored cuirass with a small, heart-shaped opening on the chestpiece. They seemed to be talking about sloths, or something.

Ruby and Yang were also in the locker rooms, and Django overheard their conversation.

Yang said, "You seem awfully chipper this morning."

"Yep," Ruby replied, "No more awkward small-talk or getting-to-know-you stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." she pulled out a red device of some sort that she fawned over like it was her own child. It might have been.

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

"Ugh, you sound like dad! Okay first of all, what does meeting people have to do with fighting? And second of all, I don't need people to help me grow up… I drink milk."

"But what about when we form teams?" that surprised Django, who wasn't aware they would have to do so.

Ruby also seemed like she hadn't thought about that, "I-I don't know. I guess I'll be on your team, or something."

"Well….maybe you should try being on someone else's team?"

"My dear sister Yang, are you implying you do not wish to be on the same team as me?!"

"What, no! Of course I do. I just thought it might….I don't know….help you break out of your shell."

"What the - I don't need to break out of my shell! That's absolutely ridiculous!"

"Yeah….well….you just….uh….hey Django, you get it, right?"

They both looked at him, and he wasn't sure what to say. He had his own poor experience leading teams, but it did seem that Ruby was a little separate from everyone else. He decided to answer diplomatically.

"Well, making allies is important to surviving in combat, whether you like it or not. You can hope to get paired up with a friend, but if you get with someone you don't know, it would be best to at least try to get along with them."

"Yeah!" Yang said, "I mean, remember that Blake girl? She's more quiet than you are and she'll also have to work with other people."

"I guess so, but I still don't like it."

Suddenly, there was a loud thud sound to their right, and they saw Jaune, pinned to a locker by a red and yellow javelin through his hoodie. The girl who had thrown it pulled it out and apologised in a way that was probably genuine. Then, the intercom sounded:

"Would all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately. Repeat, all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."

Django, Ruby and Yang walked over to Jaune, who seemed pretty defeated, and Yang asked the first question.

"Havin' some trouble there, lady-killer?"

"I don't understand," Jaune responded, "My dad said all women look for is confidence. Where did I go wrong?" Django gave him a lift-up, which he quickly accepted.

"Snow angel probably wasn't the best start."

"Come on, guys! Let's go." Ruby said.


Beacon Cliff was a twenty minute walk from the Beacon complex itself, and it held quite the view. A massive forest stretched out for miles, with birds flying through the air, and the sun shining brilliantly. However, the forest boasted much more than scenic nature, judging by the distant roars that could be heard. Ozpin and Goodwitch were waiting for the students, and had them stand on their own stone slab. Django stood between Ruby and Jaune, and listened attentively to Ozpin's instructions.

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

Now Goodwitch spoke: "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."

Ruby groaned quietly, and Django become more excited. Ozpin continued:

"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."

Another groan from Ruby.

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

Ruby seemed to crack under the revelation, shouting "What?!"

"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."

This produced a nervous gulp from Jaune, a rush of excitement for the rest of the students, and a full realization of the severity of his situation to Django.

"You will be monitored and graded for 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, uh sir-" Jaune said.

"Good!" Ozpin interrupted, "Now, take your positions."

Everyone, except for Jaune, got into a crouched position, ready for deployment. He wasn't sure what would happen, but was expecting anything. Meanwhile, Jaune worked up the courage to ask his question.

"Uh, sir? I've got, um, a questions."

To his left, Django saw Weiss get catapulted by the slab she was standing on way into the air. So that's what's happening, is it? Django thought, One leap of faith?

Jaune went on, "So, this landing strategy thing, uh, wh-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"

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

"Oh, I see. So, like, do you hand out parachutes for us?"

The girl who had been talking about sloths earlier was launched into the air, shouting Woohoo! as she flew through the air.

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

"Uhuhh….yeah."

Before Yang was launched off, she winked at her sister, placed on her sunglasses and loaded her gauntlets. Ruby gave Django a smirk before vanishing in an instant. Knowing it was his turn, Django steeled his nerves, closed his eyes, and held his breath. Before he could hear the end of Jaune and Ozpin's conversation, he felt the ground vanish beneath his feet and the rush of air in his ears...