Team NDGO was just hanging out in their dorm room for the day. The dorm was a lot bigger than the ones at Beacon. It was big enough for the beds to not only be separated, but enough for each one to have a waist high dresser next to them on the right. And the room had a TV set up, a mini fridge, and two desks.
Classes were starting next week as everyone slowly continued to come in from Vale. Each one of the girls decided to enjoy the day in their own way.
Nebula was actually studying a little bit. She sat at her desk with her pencil in her hand as she read her math textbook. She wore a plain white T-Shirt with a picture of a warrior standing triumphantly on a stone raising their battle ax in the air. She wore dark blue athletic shorts that stopped just above her knees. She twirled the pencil in her hands a little before writing down notes for the future.
Dew was laying on her bed with her laptop and with her red headphones on. She had a loose, light green tank top on, with a pair of black sweatpants. She was nodding her head slightly to the beat that played through her headphones. However she cringed a little at a certain point and paused the music. She then continued to edit the music so it didn't sound so bad.
Gwen was reading a fashion magazine that was laid out in front of her. She was wearing only a grey sweatshirt and black shorts that stopped halfway up her thighs. She was cleaning one of her daggers as she read her magazine. Keeping maintenance for her was pretty tedious as she had to clean daggers that took up an entire dress
Octavia was watching TV as she kept her feet up on her desk. She was wearing a blue tank top with blue joggers. She had the remote in her hand and was flipping through a bunch of channels. She was having trouble finding a show she liked.
Eventually Nebula gets a text on her scroll and picks it up and looks at it. As she read it she put her pencil down and closed her book. "All right girls," Nebula said as she stretched. Her team all looks at her. "Get dressed. Apparently we don't get to enjoy a lazy relaxing day."
"Why what's going on?" Octavia asked as she set feet off the desk. Nebula shakes the scroll.
"I got a text from our headmistress." That's when all girls straightened up. "She said we should bring our weapons and meet at the entrance of the school."
As each of the girls got there gear, Octavia asked a question. "Did Miss Nyx ever say why?" Nebula shook her head no. She went to her dresser and got her combat apparel and her weapon. She put her weapon in crossbow form an aimed downed the sights.
"Well maybe it's a mission," Dew said as she combed her hair. Spending most of the day in their room the girls didn't really care about their appearances.
"No she usually gives us details on the missions," Gwen said as she grabbed her daggers. "Maybe it's a reward?"
"A reward for what?" Octavia said with a slight chuckle. "I mean we were eliminated by a half-naked faunus, and a guy who was afraid of water."
"Yeah, not exactly reward worthy is it?" Nebula added on. The girls laughed and continued bantering with each other as they got their clothing and weapons. While they did have their own rocket lockers, they found it a lot more comfortable for them to have everything they own near them. That way it doesn't get stolen, or, even creepier, have a pervert take their stuff.
They got their weapons and exited their dorm room and began heading to the entrance of Shade. Along the way they saw another first year, a faunus bull by the name of Malcom.
"Hey Malcom," Dew said as she waved to the tall tank of a faunus. He gives the girls a small smile and waves back.
"Hey girls, where are you off to?" he asked.
"Headmistress Nyx asked for us to go to the entrance for some reason," Nebula explained. Malcom raised an eyebrow.
"Mission?" he asked. Gwen shook her head.
"No," the black haired girl said. "She didn't say."
"Huh, Well whatever it is you girls can handle it."
"You're damn right we can!" Octavia said with a confident smile. Malcolm chuckled.
"Always confident, that's what I like about you Octavia," Malcom said pointing to the red head, causing a smile.
"Say Malcom," Dew asked. "Did you really hurt a new guy?" Everyone stopped walking and turned to Malcom. He scratched the back of his head but still stood tall.
"You girls know I only give someone a pavement facial when they deserve it."
"But did he deserve it?" Nebula asked. "I mean he is just a new guy."
"Yeah but he's a fraud." There was venom in Malcom's voice when he said that. "He doesn't deserve to be here."
"How do you know that?" Octavia asked. Malcom scoffs.
"Trust me, you'll know him when you see him." Malcom shakes his head. "Anyway, you better not keep the headmistress waiting. I'll see you girls around."
"Bye Malcom!" they all said as they waved goodbye to the faunus. They continued heading to the entrance of the school. As they reached the stairs to go down to the entrance, they met with team BRNZ, minus their leader.
"Hey girls," Nolan said. Nolan was the dark-red head of team BRNZ. He had light skin and wore a simple white T-shirt with a blue vest that had a black hood attached to it and he had fingerless gloves and rolled up sleeves. He also wore ripped burgundy pants and black shoes. "Where are you headed to?"
"We're heading to the entrance of the school," Nebula explained. "Nyx wanted us to meet her there."
"You too?" Roy asked. Roy is a dark skin guy with dreadlock cornrows that had gold clasps at the end. He had a green vest that was buckled over a black T-shirt. He wore white pants that were rolled up to his knees and olive canvas sneakers. He also wore fingerless gloves. "We were told to meet her at the entrance as well."
"Hmm," Dew hummed. She then notice someone from team BRNZ was missing. "Where's Brawnz?"
"He said he would meet us there," May said. May was the sniper of team BRWNZ, which the team greatly needed as the guys were mostly melee fighters. She was light skinned with greyish blue eyes and wore a blacked lined beanie that covered her right eye and some of her dusky rose hair, however a few strands of hair did fall. She wore a red and white hoodie and red canvas sneakers. She also wore a black scarf that sat around her neck. "He was the one who sent us the message."
"So what do you think they need us for?" Gwen asked.
"I hope it's a double mission," Roy said. "There's usually a big payout for those."
"Is money ever not on your mind?" Nolan joked.
"Hey I'm just saying, the more money we got the more stuff we are able to get, which means more supplies for our next missions, or more fun stuff for us to do."
May giggles at her team's discussion and this doesn't go unnoticed by them.
"All right miss snipes-a-lot, what do you think it is?" Nolan asked with a smirk. May shrugs.
"I dunno," she started. "But I highly doubt it's a mission, after all we still have people coming back from Vale because of the festival."
"Oh yeah, speaking of the festival," Octavia said. "You guys remember that fraud that was caught faking his way into Beacon?"
"I heard," Nolan said. "I can't believe it was the leader of the team we faced in the festival."
"I can," May said. Everyone looks at her. "Well I mean, he may have been able to survive our match, but that's only because he had the girl with the hammer hit all of us at once."
"And let's not forget," Dew said. "They had Pyrrha Nikos on their team." Everyone could agree having a Mistralian champion did help the team.
"Still to be taken out by a fraud," Nolan said making a fist. "I can't believe that we lost by one."
"Yeah," Octavia said. "You'd think people would figure out he was a fraud by the way he would fight. I mean compared to his team, he was pretty basic." Most of the people laughed at this. The only two he didn't were Roy and Nebula.
Nebula could see where they were coming from, but she felt they were judging him too harshly. She saw their fight and saw how he communicated with his team, used every advantage they had and protected their disadvantages as well. She saw he was a leader, but still, a faker is a faker.
Roy however, saw it from a more logical point of view. He agreed that they were judging him a little harshly. He also saw the tactics he used but he also knew that the headmaster and other teachers obviously had to have known he was a fraud. It was simply impossible to fake your way into something like Beacon and not get kicked out, not unless the teachers and headmaster believed they belonged there.
As the two teams continued to discuss the fraud they eventually reach the stairs to the entrance of the school. They walk up the stairs and slowly see sunlight beam down on them, causing some of them to squint a little. Once they reach the top however, they were met with something that caught them all by surprise.
Headmistress Nyx was talking to someone on the outside. Outside, behind the arced glass doors was Brawnz. Not only that, but a blonde student with a hoodie and armor, wearing jeans, a sword, sneakers, and a mop of blonde hair was there as well. All of them recognized him. The three continued to discuss whatever it was they were discussing, but all of them had slight sweat as the hot sun beamed down on them.
All of the students looked in shock at the scene in front of them. Brawnz and Nyx were talking with the fraud of Beacon. May was the first who broke from her shock. She got a scowl on her face and marched outside. Soon everyone else broke from their shock and followed.
May pushed open the glass doors and marched up to them. All of them heard the door open and turned to May and the others. The blonde fraud had a scared look on his face and took a few steps back but Brawnz put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and a nod. Nyx had a small smile on her face.
"Perfect," Nyx said. "All of you are here."
"What is he doing here?" May said with venom in her voice. She of course pointed to Jaune.
"I am giving Mr. Arc a chance to join our school."
"You're what?!" Octavia said. "You… you're… him…" She kept fumbling words.
"You're letting this fraud into our school?" Nolan said. Jaune winced at fraud.
"Maybe you should listen when I talk Mr. Porfirio," Nyx shot back. "I said I am giving him the chance to join us. There is no guarantee."
"So you're giving him an initiation?" Roy asked.
"Precisely." She motioned to everyone present. "And all of you are going to help me with it."
"No," Dew said. "I'm not helping you with this… thing." Jaune could feel his heart stop with every insult they could think of.
"Yeah," May said. "Unless I'm shooting at him, I'm not wasting my precious time helping someone who faked their way into an academy."
"Well that's fine. I don't need all of you to help I'm pretty sure Jaune will do fine with just one person by his side."
"None of us said we were going," Octavia said. "What makes you think one of us is?"
"Because I am," Brawnz said. Everyone turned to the grey gradient haired guy, mouths open with shock. "I'm helping with his initiation." Silence fills the air. That was until May broke it.
"Brawnz, why?" Brawnz takes a deep breath.
"Because I think he deserves to come here."
"Why?!" Octavia shouted. "He is nothing but a faker! He took someone else's spot at Beacon by faking his transcript papers! He doesn't deserve to be a huntsman."
"Well I disagree," Nyx said. This caused everyone to look at the headmistress. "I have done my research on this boy. I would be proud to have him be one of my students."
"That doesn't exactly answer our question," Nolan said. "Why would you be proud to have him as a student?"
"A gut feeling," she said with a shrug. "But obviously you don't care to know why as you won't go with him. Unless of course, you changed your mind?" she stared at all of them for a few seconds. No one moved a muscle. She sighs. "I guess not."
However, as she said that, Roy walked forward. "Brawnz," he started. The leader raised his eyebrow to his teammate, who motioned him to come. Brawnz follows up and Roy whispers in his ear. Brawnz nods his head. Roy then nods his head.
"I'll join," Roy said, causing the rest of team BRNZ to stare aghast yet again. Nyx grew a small smile. Roy and Brawnz walked back over to Jaune and Nyx.
"Anyone else?" Nyx asked.
Nebula bit her lip, but took a deep breath and walked forward. This caused even more shock to spread to the students. Gwen let out a small sigh.
"Well I mean, since Nebula's already over there," She said as she began walking. This caused Jaune, Roy, Brawnz, Nebula, and Gwen to stare at the rest of their teammates. Nolan sighs.
"Fine, I give in," he said. he walks forward.
"Tch, I don't like it," Dew said. "But it's not like I have anything better to do." She walked forward.
Octavia just let out a low growl and walked forward. This lead May to be the only one left. She growls too.
"I am not happy with this," May said as she walked forward.
"Tough tits," Nyx said. "You're going to have to work with people you don't agree with. That's life hun." Nyx then walks forward and turns to the group. "All right, here's his initiation. I will be dropping you all somewhere in the desert nearby. Your job is to find a way back here."
"That's it?" Nolan said. "That doesn't seem so tough."
"Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention something. Nebula and Brawnz." The two leaders looked at her when their names were called. "For the rest of the initiation you are stripped as leaders. Jaune is the only leader."
This caused about two thirds of them to argue. The only ones who didn't were Jaune, Brawnz, and Nebula. Nyx put a hand up and this silenced everyone.
"I do not care about your opinions. Jaune is leader, that's final. Any other questions?"
"When do we start?" Octavia asked.
"Oh…" Nyx looked her watch and walked forward to the group. "I'd say in about… now."
"Now?" Jaune gulped. Nyx smiles and opens her hand palm up and blows something in everyone's faces. They all cough as they try to get whatever it was out of their system. However it is to no avail as soon all of them begin to feel sleepy.
Jaune could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. However he felt someone hold him up and whisper something in his ear.
"Good luck Mr. Arc. You are going to need it."
With those final words Jaune blacks out.
Jaune opened his eyes up with a groan. He then shuts them again as he was staring into the sun. He puts his hand out in front of him to block the bright sun and slowly opens his eyes. He sits up and shakes his head slightly. He then smacks his lip and sticks his tongue it in disgust, as he somehow got sand in it. He spits a little out and then finally gets enough strength to stand up.
He looks around him and notices a couple of things. One of them was that he was in the middle of the desert. The other observation was the other students that were with him were also knocked next to him. That meant he had to wake them up as soon as possible.
He ran over to where Brawnz was laying and knelt down beside him. He first started shaking him to wake him up. "Brawnz, wake up!" Jaune yelled. He slightly slapped him in the face which caused Brawnz to moan. He then opened his eyes. Jaune let out a satisfied sigh.
"Jaune?" Brawnz said as he held his head and sat up. "Where are we?"
"Initiation," Jaune said.
"Initiation?" Brawnz repeated he then looked around and saw the same thing Jaune saw. Nothing but desert. He groans. "Great. Well no point in staying here and roasting to death." Jaune helps the dark skin guy up.
"Are you okay? Any nausea, dizziness?" Jaune asked. Brawnz shakes his head no. "Okay, you mind waking up your team? I have to wake up Nebula." Brawnz nodded his headand went over to Nolan and kneeled down next to him. Meanwhile Jaune took a deep breath and went over to the purple haired leader of NDGO.
He kneels down and slowly shakes her. "Nebula?" he asked. He remembered her name from her teams fright with team SSSN. She only responds with a groan so he shakes her a little more violently. Eventually he notices her moving on her own and sets her down gently.
Nebula slowly opened her eyes and saw a black figure standing over her. she blinks the brightness of the sun out of her eyews and it reveals to be Jaune. She slowly sits up and looks around.
"Are you okay?" Jaune questioned. "Nausea, dizziness?" Nebula shakes her head.
"No, I think I'm fine," She responded. "Why are we in the desert?"
"It's my initiation." Nebula could hear that Jaune was blaming himself for them being dragged into the middle of the desert. "Sorry. Would you mind waking up your team? I want to look around some more."
"Why don't you help me?" Jaune scoffs and looks at her.
"They just got hit with sleeping powder, for an initiation for a guy they hate. You really want me to be the first thing they see?" Jaune knew how everyone felt about him. Hell he didn't even know if this girl in front of him would give him a chance.
Brawnz was able to Wake Roy up and helped his friend up. Meanwhile Nebula stood up with the help of Jaune. "Okay," Nebula said. "See if you can find supplies, I highly doubt Headmistress Nyx would put us in the middle of the desert without some supplies."
"Thanks for the tip," Jaune said with a small smile. With that, both of them began to their jobs.
A few minutes later Nebula and Brawnz were able to get all of their teammates awake. Meanwhile Jaune found two bags of gear and was digging in another sand dune.
"What the hell is he doing?" Octavia asked.
"I knew it, he is insane," Nolan said. As Nolan said that. Jaune seemed to be poulling on something. With a final tug Jaune let out a yelp and another bag popped out of the sand as he fell backwards. Brawnz begins walking toward Jaune.
"Or maybe he is seeing if Nyx left us supplies?" He said sarcastically to his team. He continued towards Jaune. He noticed Jaune was checking all three bags at the same time. He was biting part of his pointer finger as he did check.
"So, what do we have?" Brawnz asked as he reached Jaune. Jaune looked to Brawnz, waved, and then pointed to the first bag to his left.
"That one is full of supplies," Jaune said. "Ammo, dust rounds, a couple of grenades, a watch, sleeping bags for all of us, and extra gear. Surprised she was able to stuff all of that in there." The bag was very big but it was stuffed max in order to carry everything like that.
Jaune pointed to the next two and spoke. "These are all food for us. Dried beef, trail mix, soup and a cooker to go with it, canned meat and fruits, beans, and a lot of water. Alone it's enough food to last for about a week."
"And with all of us?"
Jaune was silent for a moment. "About two days, three max if we don't have three full meals a day." Brawnz think about the odds. They had no idea where they were, how far from Shade they were, and had no idea where to start heading.
"The odds aren't that good for us," Brawnz thought aloud.
"No, but I have a theory," Jaune said as he picked up one of the bags. Brawnz picked up the remaining two and they began walking back to the others. "We are either one to three days walk from Shade, or one to three days walk to a checkpoint with more food and supplies."
"All right then. What are you going to tell everyone? What's our plan?" Jaune felt his heart drop for a second.
"Why are you asking me?" he asked nervously.
"You heard Headmistress Nyx, Neb and I have no power, you're the leader here." Jaune gulped. He was able to command a team four when they all liked him, but how was he supposed to lead a group where all of them except for one hate him? "So… what's your plan Jaune?"
To be continued.