The Emerald Forest

Weiss deflects the swipe from a Beowolf with her Myrtenaster and getting pushed back into the middle of the circle of Grimm. She holds out her sword as she goes through her dueling motions and practices.

Remember your training, Weiss. She thinks to herself. Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward — not that forward! — slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and... Now!

Weiss dashes forward towards the Beowolf in front of her, just when Ruby suddenly appears between the two in a blur of rose petals and swings her scythe, striking the Beowolf.

"Gotcha!" Ruby exclaims.

Weiss widens her eyes and she screams as she quickly stops, swinging the rapier to the side and creating a line of fire that sets a nearby tree ablaze, followed by the rest of the forest around the clearing. Ruby, distracted by Weiss' mistake, is distracted when the Beowolf scratches at her weapon, knocking her into the heiress.

"Hey, watch it!" Ruby complains.

"Excuse me!" Weiss exclaims, "You attacked out of turn! I could have killed you!"

"You'll have to try a lot harder than that..." Ruby declares.

Ash growls as with a single swipe of his sword, The Beowolves are all cut in half. The speed of the swing creates a massive gust of wind that knocks Weiss and Ruby down, along with putting out the fire.

"Whoa!" Ruby exclaims in awe.

"Focus on the fight." Ash chastises as he sheaths his sword.

"Well perhaps if she had exercised even the slightest amount of caution with the placement of her strikes, I wouldn't have set the forest on fire!" Weiss shouts.

Ruby scoffs.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruby asks.

"I'm just surprised someone who talks so much would communicate so little during an encounter!" Weiss retorts.

"Well, I'm sorry you need my help to win a fight." Ruby argues, "I'm just fine on my own!"

"Well, congratulations on being the strongest child to sneak your way into Beacon." Weiss replies, "Bravo!"

Weiss begins to walk off and Ruby, with an agitated shriek, extents Crescent Rose, slices a tree down to the stump, collapses it, and follows her partner as the tree crashes behind her. Ash sighs as he follows them, now able to walk, albeit slowly, without support.

"It's definitely this way." Weiss turns around, "I mean... this way! It's definitely this way."

Weiss stops in front of Ash and Ruby.

"Alright, it's official: We passed it." Weiss declares.

"Weiss, why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?" Ruby asks.

"Because I know exactly where we're going!" Weiss claims, "We're going... to... the forest temple!"

Ruby and Ash sigh.

"Oh, stop it!" Weiss orders, "Neither of you know where we are!"

"Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything." Ruby argues.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Weiss asks.

"It means you're a big, stupid jerk and I hate you!" Ruby rants.

"Just keep moving!" Weiss dismisses.

"Oh, just keep moving! Hurry up! Waaaah! Watch where you're going!" Ruby mocks Weiss, "Why are you so bossy?"

"I'm not bossy!" Weiss declares, "Don't say things like that!"

"Stop treating me like a kid!" Ruby demands.

"Stop acting like a kid!" Weiss retorts.

"Well, stop acting like you're perfect!" Ruby counters.

"I'm. Not. Perfect!" Weiss declares, "Not yet... But I'm still leagues better than you."

Weiss continues to walk away.

"You don't even know me..." Ruby says to herself.

Ash puts his hand on her shoulder, causing Ruby to look up at him.

"Don't worry about it." Ash says, "For now, focus on getting through this initiation. Everything else can wait."

Ash walks in front of Weiss.

"We're going the wrong way." Ash states.

"How would you know?!" Weiss asks.

"Last year, I dropped out of Beacon due to a... personal matter." Ash states.

"You did this initiation before?" Ruby asks.

Ash nods.

"I've never been to this part of the forest before, but the temple is further from the cliffside." Ash points to Beacon Cliff, which is barely visible in the distance.

Ash takes out his sword and points it towards the sun.

"The temple is this way." Ash turns and points his sword in the direction.

What triggered Ash's silver eyes? It was mention first chapter. The full story will be posted as a prequel fan fic and a more in depth explanation will be soon.