Entry 14

Ruby is as true to her word as she's ever been. It's been a day and I've already received a letter from Beacon. I am a little sad to write that I might have to hand over the title of 'Worst First Day at Beacon'. Apparently, she blew up. She mentioned that it had something to do with a girl named Weiss Schnee. Based on name alone, I can assume the explosion had more than a little to do with dust. I thought Ruby would be aware of the dangers of dust by now. Unfortunately, its usage is primarily taught in the final two years at Signal. The main reason is that most of the younger students need to focus on the basics of combat, along with getting familiar with their weapons. All of that needs to happen long before adding dust to their repertoire. I know Ruby has had all kinds of practice handling and shooting off dust rounds in Crescent Rose. Qrow made sure of it. I'm just not sure if he ever taught her with concentrated dust like in the classes, or just the rounds themselves. Either way, I'd wager that she now has a firm grasp on the subject.

She seems really upset about the whole thing though. Yang and I have been pushing her to meet more friends, and I bet she feels as if she's failed after day one. I know I did when I had my introduction to Raven and Summer. I was constantly reminded the difference between 'hitting on' girls and getting 'hit by' them. The first few weeks with STRQ were such a riot… I just hope Ruby doesn't have to go through that. With any luck, Weiss will end up on a different team. That way, if the arguments continue, the two of them will be able to settle it in a sparring ring.

Ruby also mentioned that the first day was ending with a giant sleepover in the cafeteria. I'm guessing that's where she wrote the letter. I say that because Yang was clearly bothering her while she wrote it, and I don't remember getting rooms until after being on a team. Ruby wrote, "I told Yang I was writing to my friends at Signal because she won't get off my case. She keeps making me try to talk with everyone. I've already talked with three people today! Isn't that enough for her?" No, Ruby. When working with the social butterfly that is Yang, you must be prepared for anything. Now that they are in the same class, it's only going to get worse.

The one good piece of news I got out of the letter is that she's excited to show everyone what she's made of at initiation. I'm sure she wants to prove herself after "causing a crater in the courtyard". I'm sure the physical damage won't be anything that Goodwitch won't be able to patch up. The damage to relationships though… I can relate to exactly how she feels.

I remember my initiation as if it were yesterday. We were to be dropped off in Forever Fall, and then navigate through the Grimm infested forest to a pickup location. Somewhere in between the two points was a campsite where we were tasked with collecting a colored bandana. Before we took one, we needed to have a partner picked out. Your partner was to be the first person you came into contact with. That rule seemed like a load of BS at the time, and it was. Everyone was upset when they heard it. There should be no way that a functioning team can be picked like that. But those were Ozpin's rules.

After receiving the ground rules at Beacon, I remember flying over the forest and taking in the sights. The whole area was beautiful, if not for the occasional Grimm walking through it. I was so immersed in all of the colors that I didn't realize the cane gently pushing on my back until I was already falling out of the bullhead. I remember turning at the last second to see Ozpin sipping on his mug, as usual, with the biggest grin I think I saw him wear throughout all of my time at school.

Wait. The girls had initiation today. I swear, if Ozpin pulled that shit with them he'll be a dead man. Especially if he didn't record their reactions…

Where was I… Ah yes, falling into the forest. I'll admit, I didn't have the most graceful landing strategy. That could be why it's the only part of the whole memory that's a bit blurry. I had leaves in my hair, and a few twigs caught in my spaulder, but no broken bones. So, I suppose it wasn't all that bad. Once I was down, I recall sprinting towards where I remember the campsite being from in the air. I'd guess that I was halfway there when I ran into a few Ursa that decided I looked like a chew toy. I managed to kill three of them, but the forth knocked me back into a few trees. Luckily, after crashing through one of the trunks, I landed on something soft. Unfortunately, that something soft wanted to kill me more than the Ursa.

To say that Raven was displeased with me being her partner would be putting it very, very lightly. She kept muttering how Qrow was supposed to meet her, and then yelling at me for interrupting that meeting. In my infinite wisdom as a teen, I apologized for separating her from her boyfriend. At the time, I thought it was luck. I had barely finished my apology when Raven's sword landed about an inch from my neck, and into the tree I was leaning on. Turns out, it was actually her being, unnaturally, unlucky.

That was the exact moment Qrow strolled around the corner with his usual sniggering. I was a little mortified when Summer followed suit from right behind him. Raven muttered some choice words at Qrow who responded with a simple "Sorry Sis." That's about the time I put two and two together on their relationship. From there, Raven pulled her sword out of the tree in such a way that it split in half. I'm sure it was to prove that I was given my one and only chance at life.

Since I was still alive, I took the opportunity to clear out all the nearby Grimm on the way to the campsite. I'm pretty sure the other three were a little surprised to see me manage it after my poor first impression. To be fair, I was attempting to show off a bit to diffuse the situation. If not for the exhaustion, I'd say I did a pretty good job. Eventually, we made it to the campsite where Qrow and Raven both grabbed a red bandana from one of the tents. Raven stung it up in her hair like a trophy, and I honestly don't remember her ever taking it off.

From the campsite, it was a quick jog to the pickup zone. The other three were in the bullhead when I heard a scream from the forest. The others couldn't hear it over the noise of the machine, and I didn't wait for them to. I ran off into the forest and found two hurt students with a giant Ursa looming over them. I tried fighting it off, but couldn't do much after all the energy I spent on the day. If anything, I managed to take the attention away from the other two. I honestly thought I was going to die when it pinned me against a tree. It bared it's teeth, but it's jaw never clamped down.

Instead, the Ursa groaned and fell at my feet. It might have been the nerves again, but that time Summer deserved to be called an angel. I guess that's why she chuckled instead of giving me a second black eye. The two of us helped the injured students to the pickup zone so they could get medical attention. One of them noticed my arm had taken a hit during the fight, and wrapped it in the orange bandana they had collected. Raven scoffed at me when I decided I would wear it like a trophy the same way she wore hers. It's kinda funny. I only replaced it when Qrow gave me the one he picked up that day. To think, it was to congratulate Raven and I getting together…

Still, that day will forever be one of the greatest of my life. I'd imagine it would sound silly to anyone else, but it was the day I was paired with some of my greatest friends. Sure, there were negatives. I almost died twice. One of those times coming from my own partner. The other, the reason for my nerves when it comes to Ursa. But I proved myself. Just like I know Ruby will.

Thinking on it, maybe Ruby being on a team with Weiss wouldn't be so bad. After all, Qrow and Raven started with sticks up their ass too.