Chapter 3: Emerald Forest Frenzy

[Sorry for the wait, I had gotten a huge writers block and then was a little bit distracted with other things. I will try better to keep on top of this for the future.]

Ruby was awake at the crack of dawn… well to be more exact eight twenty. She got into her battle gear, and did a few warm up stretches. After a good luck wish from each of her team mates Ruby headed down the hall way. She arrived at the preparation room where from there they were escorted to the launching area. When they got out there Ruby noticed that the launching area had been modified to launch more people essentially. All the leaders stepped on their assigned pads, each ready for the start of the event. However Jaune was a little more disappointed for he thought that he had to only do this once.

Ruby noticed that there were camera's floating around; these obviously transmitted what was happening to the viewers. Then a screen started the count down, thus in accordance people prepared themselves the oncoming flinging action that was going to occur. The countdown seemed so slow even if it was only twenty seconds. Ruby just wanted it to start already. Thus once she noticed that it reached seven she braced herself.

The timer hit zero and immediately the platforms launch forward, but pulled back out from under the contestant's feet. Soaring through the air Ruby could see off into distant horizon. Even the glare of the sun shining through the clouds was amazing to look at. However Ruby's heart felt heavy as now she was in free fall and hurling down toward the forest below. Grabbing the Crescent Rose and opening it up, she used it to clamp down on the first branch that came within reach. With small little hops she was able to eventually reach the ground. Once she had reached the ground she gave the camera a thumb up, imagining that her team mates were cheering her on.

As fast as she could run Ruby ran off into the forest, looking for somebody she could possible know. Pushing through bushes and branches, making sure that no monsters were around. With the crunch of leaves and twigs Ruby advanced in the direction that she remembered the checkpoint being. Ruby even passed the spot where she and Weiss had met each other in the forest. There should be someone nearby, because usually people didn't land too far away from each other.

Just as she thought, Ruby ended up bumping into someone and landing on her butt. It took her a second to gather her thoughts again. But once she did she finally noticed who she bumped into. In fact the faint blue glow in the eyes was highly recognizable. It was the fourth year boy with the mechanical arms. In fact he looked terrifying from below.

"Don't slow me down," Traverse said.

Traverse then turned and started running off in what seemed to be a random direction. Ruby had to rush, just to stand and pat the dirt of her clothes. Then running off after the boy, who was now her team mate.

"Wait for me!" Ruby called out.

"We don't have time for waiting!" Traverse said out loud.

Up on the path ahead, ruby notices some Ursas all of them looking at the oncoming duo. Ruby reached for the Crescent Rose, ready for battle. However Traverse just ignored them and ran past them. A little thrown off by that action Ruby decided to follow him, because if she stopped she would no doubt loose him. In this forest, she could not afford to lose sight with her partner.

They soon reached a clearing, where the checkpoint was, and there were several pedestals. There was a large amount of them and each one had different colored gems, except for the other side which were copies, just like the chess pieces that they had during Ruby's initial test. Traverse on the other hand had already walked up and grabbed an ugly looking brown gem.

"blech, can we choose one of the nicer looking ones?" Ruby asked.

"No, this one was closer, there for less time to retrieve it," Traverse explained as he walked past Ruby.

Ruby then realized that this person was mainly focused on completing the task, not working with a team. However it makes sense because the first visit was to help you work with a team, so you should already know how to work together. So this was just a focus on being the fastest. However even if that was the case, she still had worries that leaving behind all those monster would make it difficult for others, even Jaune.

Yet Ruby didn't have too much time to think about it because again they we're speeding off now for the finish line. Running through the forest at the fastest speed possible. Briefly for a moment it looked like they had past another team making a move for the temple. They're weren't too much in the lead, could that be because the other upperclassmen were ignoring the Grimm also?

"Are you sure we should just ignore the monsters? What if they follow us to the finish line?" Ruby asked.

"The huntsmen would take care of them if they did," Traverse replied.

The duo came across the ruins, a memorable site from when Ruby was taking the very first exam here. Much of the damage was clearly visible from that event. Fallen columns and destroyed walls, which would make it much more difficult to reach the goal. They soon reached the edge of the path which dropped down to what seemed to be an endless pit.

"You have a means across?" Traverse questioned.

That was an interesting question, Ruby never thought about it. She could use the gun components in her Crescent Rose to propel herself, but there was no way she could bridge that gap just from propulsion. Even the first time she needed to be sling shot by her fellow team members to bridge the gap. So apparently she didn't have any means of getting across.

"Um… No I don't," she replied giving a sheepish laugh.

The senior class member opened a panel on his left mechanical arm and seemed to be making adjustments to something. After a few minutes he closed the panel. Then he got down on his knees.

"Get on my back, wrap your legs around my waist, and your arms around my neck," Traverse instructed.

"YAY a piggy back ride!" Ruby said childishly.

"JUST GET ON AND HOLD TIGHT!" Traverse exclaimed harshly.

"Fine you big grump," Ruby said as she got on just as instructed.

"Alright don't let go," Traverse said as he held up his mechanical arms.

There was a sound of pressure being release in a surprised pop and four cables shot out from the mechanical arms, two on each one. They cables latched onto the rock, and the cords grew taught shortly before the two were lifted off of the ground. At incredible speeds they flew towards the rock. So fast that Ruby was starting to feel sick to her stomach. Then there was a sudden stop as Traverse hit the wall landing feet first.

He found firm foot holds before releasing the grapples. Then unsheathing his metal claws from his mechanical arms he dug them into the rock. Then once again they were moving as he climbed his way up the rock at nominal speed. It was surprising how good he was at this. But then again he did have three more years of experience then Ruby had. Which made her glad that he was her team mate instead one of the first years.

The duo reached the top and Ruby got off of Traverse's back, still a little bit queasy feeling from all the sudden movement and direction changes. It was a wonder how he had gotten used to it in the first place. But no sooner after Ruby's head stopped spinning she realized her partner started moving without her, yet again.

"Wait up!" as she said as she followed the fourth year student.

As she was trying to catch up she realized that she had crossed the finish line. And immediately on a nearby screen it had put up on the score board that first place was taken by "Ruby Rose, Traverse Orin" listing both of their names in alphabetical order.

"We won!" Ruby exclaimed with exhausted huffs of breathing, throwing both her arms in the air.

Things were looking up for Ruby's debut to the Beacon Games leader week.