Chapter 4: The World is Not Ready

I bolt awake as someone starts yelling "GOOD MORNING" across the room, accidently sending Velvet bouncing across the floor. She ends up in a grumbling heap and I instantly go over to help her up and apologize. When our eyes meet however, the memories of last night come flooding back and we both blush darkly. We both looked away and neither of us seemed willing to break the awkward silence. Thankfully Velvet was the first to speak, her words coming out stuttered. "U-um. So, last night… really happened, didn't it?" She asks. I blush even darker but manage to speak anyways. "Y-yes. It did. So, uh, are we actually…?" I start. I watched Velvet bow her head, but she nods. "W-well then. I suppose I should take you on a, uh, a date after all this is over. That's what couples do… right?" I ask. She nods again and I hold my hand out to her, which she shyly takes.

"Oooohhh, what did I miss last night that ended with this happening?" Rouge asks excitedly, popping out of nowhere and startling us both. I start to blush again as I notice her choice of nightwear, mainly consisting of baggy pajama bottoms covered in little cartoon tigers and a too-small tank-top. It really didn't leave a lot for the imagination. I start stuttering but am cut off as Law makes himself known by smacking Rouge in the back of the head with a pillow. "Leave em' alone Rou, they just woke up." He says, not even having time to react before Rouge drop-kicks him and starts childishly tugging on his cheeks.

Suddenly she stops before turning back to us, a large smile on her face. "Ah, we should probably go get ready for the initiation. It's going to start soon and we don't want to be late." She says, letting go of Law who just flops back down to the floor. He grumbles again before climbing to his feet and throwing on a shirt before heading towards the locker rooms, bag in hand. Rouge starts to follow after him before turning back to face us, an evil smile on her face.

"And don't think I've forgotten about that little moment a few minutes ago. I still want all the details after initiation." She says before cackling evilly and darting off in the direction of the lockers. "S-so, we should probably go get ready." I say, embarrassed. "Y-yeah." Velvet agrees, gripping the hem of her sandy brown nightgown lightly as she follows me to the lockers, where several kids are already preparing their gear.

I finish throwing on my black blazer-jacket over my long-sleeve purple blouse just as Velvet walks up to me, already geared up, minus a weapon of course. I look in the mirror to gauge my look and am pleased to say the least. Dark green jeans, black hiking boots, purple blouse and of course my black blazer-jacket emblazoned with my symbol all coming together to create my personal image.

"You look very nice." Velvet says, smiling as she looks me over appreciatively. I blush at her intense gaze but fight it back down as I reach in and grab Kronos, the dark green metal glinting in the light while the veins of purple energy pulsed lightly. "Um, excuse me. Might you be the one known as Phiona Neverwind?" A voice from beside me asks. I turn to see a red-haired girl approaching me with the Weiss girl from earlier in tow, looking noticeably irritated. I blush at the attention but answer nonetheless.

"Um, yes, that's me. Why do you ask?" I ask, trying to avoid the glare Weiss is giving me. The redhead's eyes start to sparkle as she gives me a smile. "Can I have your autograph please?" She asks, looking excited. "Pyrrha, what are you doing. Why would you want an autograph from this… ruffian?" Weiss asks, looking shocked. Velvet gives Weiss a glare at calling me a ruffian, but doesn't say anything.

Pyrrha looks horrified at Weiss's words before managing to calm herself, taking deep breaths before speaking. "This… is Phiona Neverwind. Champion of the Atlas Grand Coliseum for five years in a row, the greatest competition held between hunters and huntresses from across all four nations. Only the best of the best from each nation are invited. I've only been invited once since I became a huntress in training." She says, and I have to refrain from laughing at the dumbstruck look on Weiss' face. Pyrrha then turns back to me after grabbing a piece of paper and a pen and holding it out to me. "Please?" She asks. I chuckle before signing my name on the paper and handing it back to her.

She's about to say something else when the vomit boy from the Bullhead decides to join our little group. "You know what's really great. Me, Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you." Jaune says, leaning on the lockers. "You again." Weiss says, looking annoyed. "Nice to meet you Jaune." Pyrrha says before being pushed aside by Jaune. Poor girl. "Yeah, yeah. So, Weiss. I couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day." He says while Weiss merely buries her face in her hand. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." She says, irritation clear in her voice. "Don't worry. There's no need to be embarrassed. So I've been hearing rumors about teams and I think you and me would make a good one. What do you say?" Jaune asks, obviously ignorant of Weiss's growing frustration. I share a look with Velvet as it seems we're both on the same page of where this is going.

"Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each, so…" Pyrrha starts. "You don't say. Well, hot stuff, play your cards right and maybe you could end up on the winning team." Jaune says, though he's immediately cut off as Weiss places herself between Jaune and Pyrrha. "Jaune, is it? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Weiss asks, trying to look patient. "Not in the slightest, snow angel." He says bluntly. "This is Pyrrha." Weiss says. "Hello again." Pyrrha says. I glance over and see Ruby and Yang glancing in our direction, worried looks on their faces. I nudge Velvet and look over towards them, hoping she gets my silent signal. Thankfully she does and heads over towards them while I turn my attention back to the group at hand. A quick glance around shows that Rouge and Law are nowhere to be found, though I could've sworn I saw a flash of purple hair around the corner.

Weiss continues as though nothing happened. "Pyrrha here graduated top of her class here at Sanctum." She says. "Never heard of it." Jaune says flatly. "She's won the Mistral Regional Tournaments four years in a row. A new record." Weiss says. "The what?" Jaune says while I feel like banging my head against the lockers at his ignorance. Of course, unlike the Bullhead, I'm sure my horns would get stuck in these hollow lockers. Weiss is understandably angry, even going so far as to flail her arms as she starts yelling. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box." She yells. Jaune gasps before pointing a finger at Pyrrha. "That's you!? They only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters." He gushes.

BANG.

Pyrrha, Weiss, and Jaune look to see me hopelessly trying to dislodge my horns from the now impaled lockers, my tail flicking erratically. I pause only long enough to look at them sheepishly before going back to the task at hand.

Evil, evil lockers, thou shalt relinquish mine horns.

They slowly turn back to face each other before returning to their conversation, acting as though I wasn't even there. Oh sure, leave the poor girl with horns literally stuck in a locker door and continue talking. No worries. At least Velvet and Yang were kind enough to come over and try to pull me out. "Anyways, it was pretty cool. Though the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrha says, also ignoring me. And I gave you an autograph! "So, after hearing all this, do you really think you're in any position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss asks, causing Jaune to look downcast. "I guess not. Sorry." He says before Pyrrha approaches him. "Actually Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader." She says encouragingly. "Oh stop." He gushes again. "Seriously, please stop it. This kind of behavior should not be encouraged." Weiss says in a chastising tone.

Jaune then pulls a 180 and turns to Weiss, a smirk on his face. "Sounds like Pyrrha's onboard Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quick. Now I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I can pull some strings, find a place for you. What do you say?" Jaune asks, getting closer to Weiss, who backs up. "Ok, that's a little too close. Pyrrha, a little help please?" Weiss asks pleadingly, looking at Pyrrha. The next thing I know, Jaune is stuck to a pillar with Pyrrha's spear piercing his hoody. "I'm sorry." Says Pyrrha.

Suddenly, the intercom kicks on and Prof. Goodwitch's voice speaks picks up. "Would all first year students please report to Beacon cliff for initiation? Again, would all students please report to Beacon cliff for initiation?" She says before the intercom cuts out again. Weiss and Pyrrha immediately go to leave the locker room, pulling her spear out of the wall at the same time. "It was nice meeting you." She says as she leaves.

Thankfully, Yang and Velvet's combined efforts are finally able to maneuver my horns out of the twisted metal of the locker. I gently rub my horns and wince at the tinge of pain that shoots through my head. Velvet giggles at my expression and I glare at her, though I forgive her when she stands on her toes and plants a light kiss on one of my horns. Yang starts to say something but a groan from Jaune pulls her attention away.

She and Ruby go to help him up while a familiar purple-head suddenly pops into view. "Wow. That was something wasn't it." Rouge says quietly, looking in the direction that Weiss and Pyrrha went. I turn a glare in her direction and she holds up her hands in surrender, a peculiar pair of cuffs now adorning her wrists. "And where were you while I was caught in the crossfire?" I demanded. It was Law who spoke up. "We had to go hunt down our lockers because Rou forgot where they were." He says, also sporting six strange compact weapons on his back and hips.

Rouge smacks him on the back of the head, causing me to wince. "Don't tell her that. We should be going anyways, there's an initiation to do after all." She says before skipping out of the room, dragging a reluctant and slightly terrified Law behind her. Shaking my head, I turn and head over to where Velvet, Ruby, Yang, and Jaune are waiting. Yang immediately asks the question that apparently everyone was thinking. "What was that all about?" She asks. I shrug and start walking towards the cliffs, the others behind me.

"Who knows, I doubt I'll ever really understand what goes through that girl's head." I say, though inwardly I'm grinning.

Initiation, here we come.

I take my position on a launch pad as the rest of the potential students make their way out to the cliffs. Some look anxious, some look eager, and some look downright terrified. Jaune apparently happens to fall into the latter category. The students grow silent as Prof. Ozpin and Prof. Goodwitch make their way to the front of the group. Ozpin looks over the students before speaking.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors. Today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin says before Prof. Goodwitch takes over. "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." Prof. Goodwitch says. I hear Ruby despair slightly to my far left. It doesn't help that my plate is the second to last in the line, with Jaune being on the last one.

"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. That being said, the next person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next for years." Ozpin says. I cringe as I hear Ruby cry out and just barely make out someone saying 'See, I told you' further down the line. "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. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You fill 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 note that relic and your standing and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?" Ozpin asks.

Jaune hesitantly raises his hand. "Yeah, um, sir?" He starts. "Good, now, take your positions." Ozpin says, causing the students around me to start taking various launching positions. I myself crouch down and place one hand on Kronos's hilt and the other palm flat against the ground for maximum distance and velocity. Looking over, I see Jaune raising his hand in another attempt to ask his question while not bothering to take a launching position. "Um, sir, I've got a, um, a question." He says as they begin launching the students. "So this landing strategy thing, uh, what is it. You're, like, dropping us off or something." He asks. "No, you will be falling." Ozpin says, clearly amused. I watch as Rouge launches into the air, what looks like blue energy coursing around her as she disappears into the forest while Law merely flies off quietly.

"Oh, I, uh, see. So, did you, like, hand out parachutes for us?" He asks and I roll my eyes. "No, you will be using your own landing strategy." Ozpin says.

I look back at him and smile before my own launch pad activates, sending me hurdling into the sky. I hear Jaune's sounds of panic behind me and I laugh before looking down at the forest below me.

Let the games begin.