"Being realistic is the most common path to mediocrity."

-Will Smith

Days Till Competition: 1

"Nick?"

"Sure."

"Are you okay?"

"No thanks."

"Uh... Nick?" Ruby put a hand on Blake's shoulder.

"Give it a rest Blake. He's been like this ever since he woke up.

"I know but it worries me." Yang stood up and took off her gauntlets.

"Well there's nothing we can do to help him. Let's go turn in our weapons." Blake nodded and stood up, walking up next to me.

"Were going to turn in your stuff okay?"

"I'm not hungry." Blake sighed and walked off with her team, leaving me pacing in the locker room.

Everyone was woken up at eight that morning and taken to the locker rooms to turn in our weapons. As soon as I had woken up I had been driving myself insane over what I was going to do for the competition. I still liked the idea of setting fire to the supplies but it assumed that one: I could get fire, and two: I could get to the supplies in time.

I had thought over this so many times I had it engraved in my brain. I really hoped that today would go by fast because I couldn't stand this.

I looked around the locker room and saw that everyone had already walked off to turn in their weapons. I looked over to where I had put my stuff only to find that my stuff was gone. I didn't remember watching team RWBY leave but then again I was so absorbed in thought that I didn't remember much of anything from this morning. I hoped that team RWBY had gotten my stuff and I walked off to find them.

After a while I finally managed to find team RWBY standing in a long line with their weapons and mine. I walked up and got my stuff from Blake.

"Sorry I spaced guys, the competition has me going insane." Ruby gave me a concerned look.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine once tomorrow comes around. I'm the most stressed the day before an event."

"Alright..." Blake put a hand on my shoulder.

"Just be sure to let us know if you need any help. Okay?"

"Alright, so anyway, I assume this is the line so we can turn in our weapons?"

"Yup, tomorrow we'll get out weapons in the morning."

"So they really don't want us practicing with the weapons were given?"

"I guess not. After all this allows the school to see how well we can adapt." I shrugged and we continued to stand in line until we got to the front. I handed in my weapons along with my contacts and waited for team RWBY to do the same. Once we had everything turned in team RWBY decided to go practice with other weapons one last time.

"Want to join us?"

"No thanks Ruby, I need to relax today. The last thing I need is to get myself worked up before the competition." I walked away from the group and wandered around the school aimlessly. Eventually I found myself outside the entrance to the school. I breathed in the fresh air and sat on one of the benches. I pulled out my scroll and checked the time.

"Ugh. Only ten..." I basically had eleven hours to kill before it was time to go to sleep. I wouldn't be doing anything physical because I would rather not wake up sore on the morning of the competition.

I stood up and continued to walk around Beacon. I saw some people wandering around who were just as bored as I was. Others were dashing around, trying to get some last minute planning or practicing in. I thought about working with my semblance some more but decided against it. The work I had been doing so far hadn't actually been much help.

I had worked with water, fire, and air. From what I could tell, I had to come in contact with what I wanted to control in order for me to control it. I could just look at a pool of water and make it explode. Other than that I hadn't been able to learn anything.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the chess piece. I had made sure that I kept it on me at all times though I was still confused by it. I kept thinking over the images I had seen but they still didn't make sense. I put it back in my pocket and continued to aimlessly wander.

I continued wandering right up until lunch time. I walked into the cafeteria and grabbed my lunch. I didn't see any of team RWBY but I saw Summer flagging me down so I walked over and sat down next to her.

"How's it going Nick?"

"Extremely boring."

"Same for us. We have nothing to do." Natalie jumped up and was about to say something when the other three shouted.

"NO!"

"Uhh..." Luna looked at me and shook her head.

"Don't ask."

"Ok?"

"Anyway!" Violate turned to me. "Were you planning anything today?"

"Sadly, no."

"I see." We ate in silence until we all finished our lunches.

"Alright." I stood up. "I'm going to go wander again." I walked away from the group and went back to wandering the school. I eventually found myself out of Beacon cliff.

I looked out over the forest and sighed. Tomorrow I would be in there somewhere, Fight tons of other students. I sat in the grass and enjoyed the view. There weren't very many people on the cliff so it was pretty quiet and very peaceful. I leaned back and laid in the grass with my eyes closed. After a few minutes I quickly fell asleep.

"Hey, dude." I yawned and opened my eyes.

"Yes?"

"It's getting late. You should head in soon."

"Alright, thanks." I stood up and stretched. I checked my scroll and saw that it was five thirty. I shrugged and walked inside. Thanks to that nap I didn't have to spend the entire day bored.

I walked to the cafeteria, grabbed some food, found team RWBY, and sat down next to Blake.

"Hey Nick, how's it going?" Blake asked.

"Good. I can't wait for tomorrow."

"Neither can I!" Ruby looked like she was going to explode with excitement.

For the rest of dinner we all talked with excitement about tomorrow. I had no doubt that it was going to be amazing.

Once we finished our dinners we walked back up to the dorm and got ready for bed. I happily got into bed next to Blake and we all went to sleep eager for the next day.

Days Till Competition: 0

I practically jumped out of bed the morning of the competition. Team RWBY and I quickly got showered and dressed. I made sure my chess piece was in my pocket and we all walked down to the locker room. I grabbed my armor (which was only a chest plate) and we all went to receive our weapons.

Once we were there Weiss stopped us.

"Alright Nick, time to go."

"What?"

"Well we can't let you see our weapons! It's not good form to just hand you opponent information." Blake frowned.

"Weiss..."

"It's okay Blake. Weiss has a good point. I'll see you guys out there!" I gave Blake a hug and joined the line of people.

Once I got to the front I was asked for my name.

"Why do you need my ID?" I asked as I handed over my scroll.

"We randomize the weapons in advance so we can make sure the weapons are as evenly distributed as possible since some people have more than one weapon." I was handed back my scroll along with a giant two sided battle axe that was taller than I was.

"Shit."

"Good luck with that. Now head to the cliff so you can be taken to your starting place" I gave a weak smile and dragged the axe behind me out to the cliff. Once I was out there I saw a ship with Ozpin aboard. I dragged the axe onto it and the ship took off.

"Hello professor."

"Hello Nick. How do you like your new weapon?" I sighed.

"Not my idea of fun but I'll make it work." Ozpin nodded and took a sip of his coffee.

"Good attitude. I assume you have it?" I pulled out the crystal chess piece and Ozpin nodded. "Good." I put it back into my pocket and felt the ship start to descend already.

"I assume you're not going to tell me what I need it for?"

"You are correct." I sighed and felt the ship stop just above the trees.

"Alright." Ozpin gestured with his cane out to the forest. "It's time for the competition. Dont move from your landing spot until you hear the bell. Once you do good luck." I nodded and walked to the edge of the ship and hefted the axe onto my shoulder. I took a glance at Ozpin who sipped his coffee.

"Thanks professor." And with that, I jumped into the forest below.