Author's Note:
Alrighty, and we're back! Sorry it took me so long to update, but that wisdom tooth removal is a doozey! Im still a good bit out of it, but was dying of boredom and felt like writing again! Hope that the wait wasn't too long!
Our little reaper seems to be having a fun start to her test. At least her partner could've been worse- but maybe this will be a good chance for them to actually talk? Maybe not- we'll just have to see! As for the landings of the other students- don't worry about it. This story ism ostly about Ruby anyways, so if it ever becomes important i'll bring up their landings as well. You can mostly just assume they're all pretty much as canon as it can get though. Until the next chapter ladies and gents-
Opinions and criticisms always welcome! Hope you enjoy!
Approaching the testing site, Ruby noticed that she was on of the first to arrive. In her haste she must've moved a lot faster than she realized. Seeing Professor Ozpin standing nearby with Glynda, she opted to approach them and give a small greeting. Upon nearing them, Ozpin looked over and noticed Ruby approaching. He had a scroll in one hand and his cane in the other. Seeming to have been discussing something with his assistant, and stopping to offer Ruby a polite greeting. Other students were slowly gathering around the testing area behind them as the shy reaper gave Ozpin a small smile and wave.
"H-hi, my name's-"
"Ruby Rose."
As Ruby tried to introduce herself, Ozpin seemed to already know who she was from first sight. This took her slightly by surprise as she awkwardly stumbled over her words. "Ah- uhm- yes! I'm uh- that's me." She muttered, a small tint of pink showing on her cheeks as she tried to maintain her composure. Looking up at the man, she felt a sense of safety, like she did with her uncle any time they went out on any of their hunts. It made her visibly relax a bit as she maintained eye contact. Still a bit curious as to why he knew her name right away-
"You…have silver eyes. I see…well, I suppose that Qrow hasn't asked me for this favor for no good reason. I do hope that you perform well in this trial, we always need more talented huntresses with great potential."
The older man's tone was unwavering. The only thing that seemed to pique his interest was Ruby's…eye color? What on earth would that matter? Either way, Ruby simply raised an eyebrow curiously and tried to think of a response. Giving a quiet and confused "Uhm…" as the rest of the students filed into the testing area. This seemed to gain Ozpin's attention as he looked over to the students as they conversed with each other. Nodding to Glynda as he turned away from Ruby and began to make his way over towards the cliff edge. Glynda calling for all the students to gather nearby.
"Uh- wait-! You know my uncle?! You're one of the people he gave his recommendation to?!" Ruby exclaimed, making Ozpin chuckle slightly and offer her a small wave farewell.
"Questions for later Miss Rose, for now, I suggest you prepare yourself for what's to come."
The older man stopped nearby the cliff's edge, next to what appeared to be a long line of pads. As the students gathered near him, he began his speech. Ruby sank into the crowd, noticing Jaune and a few of the others staring intently at Ozpin. She made sure not to get too close to anyone for now as she still wasn't in the best of moods after breakfast. Not long after the last student settled into the pack standing before Ozpin, he began to speak.
"This, will be your first test here at Beacon Academy. Unlike the others though, this will be to decide where you will be placed for your time here. You will all be expected to work diligently to fight off any Grimm forces in the Emerald Forest, search for the ancient ruins within, and retrieve an artifact before returning."
"That sounds awesome!"
"Piece of cake!"
"Oh yeah we're gonna ace this test easy!"
Students' voices were echoing out in small cheers as Ozpin paused, making him smile slightly as he put the scroll in his hand away and held his hand behind his back. Taking on a slightly more serious face, he spoke up.
"This will be no easy task, the dangers of the Grimm are many, and not everyone will succeed at this by themselves. For that, we have implemented a simple rule. Upon launching off of these pads-" He motioned to the pads lined up beside him with his cane. "You will be paired up with the first student you come into contact with."
Immediately, cries of disapproval started to break out from a few students, not enjoying the idea of being stuck with someone they didn't like for the rest of their time at Beacon. Ruby herself wanted to complain as well, but she was a rather quiet natured person when not around her Uncle Qrow. She simply put her hood up for the time being and let out an exasperated sigh. "Well I really hope I don't get stuck with anyone like that bully from the cafeteria.." She thought to herself.
"Make no mistake, this will be dangerous. No teachers will be there to help you, you will be on your own, you will be expected to make your own decisions, and you will be expected to navigate the forest on your own as well. If you do not take this seriously, you will die." Ozpin said flatly, making all of the students quiet down and seem to become a good bit more serious. He then motioned to the launch pads beside him and spoke one last time. "If you are ready to proceed, then let's not waste any more time shall we?"
With that, the students all got onto a pad. Ruby noticed Jaune standing on the pad next to her, Yvette seemed to be to her other side. Jaune looking incredibly nervous, piped up to the Professor as people were settling into place.
"U-uhm, Professor? I have a uh…question. How are we supposed to get down there exactly? Are you supposed to be giving us parachutes or-?"
"No, you will be falling. It is up to you to use your own landing strategy."
"Ah- ahaha, right, so by landing strategy do you mean-"
Before Jaune had another chance to speak, students were already being launched off of the cliff in order. His turn was growing closer by the moment. Nora and Ren flew off just moments ago, Pyrrah just took off in a streak, a few random students let out cries of excitement as they were sent careening into the skies, and before he knew it he was instantly sent at high speeds, screaming into the sky and his voice fading into the distance. "AAAAHHHHHEEEGghhhhhh-!"
Seeing Jaune being sent off like that, Ruby realized that she needed to prepare herself. Looking around and focusing, she noticed Yvette putting on a pair of sunglasses and offering Ruby a wide grin right before being hauled into the air by the pad below her feet. With that, Ruby was off! Wind whipping past her head and distant screams and cheers of various students as they flew into the forests below. She immediately felt the sense of weightlessness, and felt a good bit more relaxed now. Being away from all of the people, she let herself settle into a state of mind she usually fell into during her and Qrow's hunting expeditions.
"Alright, landing strategy, easy enough…weapons…? No, Uncle Qrow said not to use my sweetheart, so I didn't even think to bring it this time! Semblance it is then..!" The little reaper thought to herself, taking in a deep breath as the forest's canopy grew closer. Everything seemed to slow down as she took off into a flurry of rose petals. Flowing through the air like a fish swimming through a stream. She zigged and zagged until finally, she reached a safe branch nearest to the forest floor. Hopping down, she landed on her feet and stretched a bit. Feeling relieved to finally be out in the wilds again. Putting her hood back up over her head seeing as the wind took it off, Ruby took off at a modest pace to where she could tell a small clearing was.
Swerving to avoid branches, bounding off of rocks, practically ricocheting off of trees, and leaping over a bramble or two- Ruby had wasted almost no energy to quickly arrive at her desired location. She didn't know these forests too well, but the lighting ahead showed her that her intuition wasn't too far off. Though her eyes were focused on a shadowy figure that seemed t be skulking off into the forest on the other side of the clearing she had arrived at. Having made almost no noise at all while moving, she didn't alert the creature, but it did bother her to let it skulk off like that. A faint trail of shadows following in the creature's wake let her know that it was a Grimm. Likely a Beowolf with how it was postured. Sighing and shaking her head at the thought of having to hunt the creature down or run into it later, she took off like a streak of red lightning. Her movements fluid and making early no noticeable prints as she avoided obstacles.
"That beowolf couldn't have gotten far, where on Remnant did it go-?" Ruby thought to herself, her train of thought interrupted as she heard an explosion rocking the area very nearby her. Immediately stopping in her tracks, Ruby redirected only slightly towards the sound of combat. Upon nearing the treeline, she saw what looked like Weiss, in full combat with a rather large pack of Beowolves. Having just incinerated two of them with that explosion a moment ago it seemed-
Ruby sat in wait, thinking about what she should do, she was conflicted about being teamed up with this girl if she tried to help, but she didn't want to just make her fight all of these by herself. What should she do here..? While lost in her train of thought, Ruby noticed that Beowolf she had been looking for, stalking in the shadows of the trees behind Weiss. The rest of the pack seemed to surround her in a semi-circle. Backing the heiress towards their packmate lying in wait nearby. Ruby's eyes nearly turned into saucers at the realization that Weiss was about to be ambushed. Making her bite down on her finger in frustration as she immediately sprang into action. Activating her semblance, time seemed to slow as Weiss stabbed the ground with her rapier. Shards of ice tore through the ground and impaled a few of the Grimm infront of her, and the one hiding behind her was now midair. Moments away from clawing the girl's throat, Weiss seemed to notice something behind her as she began to turn around for a moment, then- nothing? A streak of red was all she saw as she glanced behind her, the ice shards having scared off the remaining Grimm as she stood up. She seemed confused until noticing a small trail of rose petals falling to the ground.
Following the trail with her eyes, Weiss saw something that nearly terrified her. A small figure clad in black and red, wearing a hooded cloak, with one hand seeming to be impaled into a rather large Beowolf's chest. The heiress simply froze in place for a moment, then raised her rapier cautiously. Speaking up as she faced the figure that had just dropped the Beowolf to the side. The creature slumping into a heap at the figure's feet. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Hearing Weiss' question, Ruby almost forgot to answer as she rubbed her hand with a leaf to try and get the Grimm's blood off of it. Having tried, and failed, to get it all off, she settled for having a majority of her hand clean as she turned to the cautious heiress behind her. Speaking up, she sounded a bit more unfriendly than she intended, but her mood was still rather foul after this morning. "I guess this means you're my partner then…"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Weiss seemed to lower her guard a bit. She lowered her rapier as she spoke, a confused tone in her voice as she squinted to see the figure slightly cloaked in the shadows of the trees.
"Ruby? What on earth are you doing without a weapon? How did you-?"
"Not really important- I just saw this big guy trying to sneak up on you and didn't want you to get hurt. I wasn't really expecting to run into anyone any time soon." Ruby responded flatly,shaking the hand she had impaled the Grimm with to make sure nothing was broken. She knew she could handle a few lesser Grimm without weapons, but shoving her hand through a Beowolf's chest wasn't exactly something she did very often or for fun. Seeing that everything was in working order, the little reaper took her hood off and offered Weiss a small wave. As she did, dark mist flowed off of her hand as the Grimm's blood began to dissolve into the air. Giving the girl a somewhat malevolent look, but her small warm smile she put on made the scene a bit more unsettling. "Nice to meet you, partner. Sorry about the uh…rough introduction-"
With that, Weiss sheathed her rapier and let out a sigh. "Honestly, one minute you disappear and the next you're watching my back without me even knowing you're here. You're really one strange person." Her sentence making Ruby awkwardly laugh and walk out of the shadow of the tree, giving Weiss a good look at the girl in red. She noticed many things, from gothic designs on her clothes, to the slightly unkempt hair adorning her head, but the main thing that seemed to pique her curiosity was the one blaring issue in this situation-
"Where on earth is your weapon?"
Upon hearing that, Ruby perked up, trying to think of some way to explain her lack of a weapon to her new partner. "Ah- uhm, I uh- I'm not sure what you mean- you saw it im sure! It was the uh..thing…" She trailed off pathetically, failing to even make somewhat of a good excuse. This caused Weiss to raise an eyebrow as if to say "Really?" before speaking up again.
"Maybe i'm seeing things, but I could've sworn that I just saw you take down a rather large Beowolf with your bare hands- granted that's not impossible to do, but typically that's something only a strength-based hunter could do after training for years with bare handed combat. You don't exactly look like the burly or bruiser type to me- so please, explain to me where your weapon is-"
With that, Weiss put one hand on her hip and sat there expectantly, looking Ruby over as the girl shrank under her gaze. This seemed to throw Ruby off a bit, but after a bit of looking around and slinking back into the shadows, Ruby came back with a couple of rather sharp looking white plates adorned with red markings.
"Grimm plates..? Where did you even get those?" Weiss asked, looking rather unimpressed and unconvinced as she looked the plates in Ruby's hands over. The plates were rather sharp, looking to be broken off of a larger plate. Though she wasn't entirely sure how old they were. Grimm bone plates never do seem to age after the death of the Grimm so long as they are removed beforehand, but these looked particularly small. Like they were only meant to be about the size of Ruby's hands.
"Y-yeah, I collect them from the Grimm that I beat, and they make really good weapons to use against the weaker ones even if just in the form of a small plate like these. I have a real weapon like you, but I uh…forgot to bring it? S-so I'm just using these to try and make it through this part?" The little redhead said with an unsure tone. Shrugging innocently at her new partner and offering a wry smile. The cute look nearly made Weiss feel bad for grilling the girl so hard, but she wasn't a fool. She kept up her serious front and glared at Ruby.
"Forgot your weapon? How do you forget a weapon as a junior huntress?! I've heard of forgetting a book on the way to class, but you don't just 'forget' a weapon!" She snapped at Ruby, causing the girl to shrink back again as the heiress pinched the bridge of her nose and let out an annoyed sigh. "Okay, weapon aside, do you at least have an idea of where we're supposed to be going?"
At that, Ruby perked up a bit, and nodded her head while putting the Grimm plates into her bag. She really just broke them off of the plates on the now dissipating Beowolf's arms, but nobody needed to know that. "Mhm! I actually saw the ruins as I was flying down towards the forest! It was only for a second, but I know which way to go to get there! I think…!" She exclaimed somewhat sure of herself. With that, Weiss let out a sigh and motioned for Ruby to lead the way, seeing as she had no clue where to go herself. She wanted to grill the girl more, but knew they'd be here all night if she didn't let it slide for now.
"If you get us lost, you're gonna regret it-"
"Don't worry, I never get lost! Just takes me a minute to get my bearings!"
"Ugh…"
And with that, the pair made their way into the forest again, thankfully in the right direction…Ruby hoped.