Black Paladin

Chapter 4: New Schools, and 'Landing strategies'

Shortly after my acceptance to Beacon. I get a scroll message.

Obsidian Vulcain, you are formally required to return to Spartum for your court martial hearing. You insubordination and desertion require summary punishment.

Office of Justice

Spartum

I realize I have a listed scroll number. That is unacceptable. I go to the nearest convenience store and buy a new scroll. Fortunately I have enough money saved up to do a little shopping.

I decided slightly scorched, very ragged and almost shredded at the ends wasn't a good look. I went around, and eventually I found a tailor, one in the sketchy side of town. I had strangely rectangular cuts of soft grey/black material that couldn't have been Grimm fur, and I wanted the questions kept to a minimum. After a week I came back, and he had 1 finely tailored suit, 6 identical outfits, all dual layered like before. This time however, that weren't thrown together by yours truly, and a sewing machine, this time they were sturdy, and looked nice. Some shoes with shaped plates, more fitted, both formal, and reinforced for my hunting shoes. Overall I looked cool, and for the first time, my outfit didn't pinch at the shoulders, and legs, which was splendid. These also had minor wind dust infusion, which was expensive, but highly worth it, as they increased my speed quite a bit. After a quick infusion with my aura, I was ready for Beacon.

With new outfits and a place near the airpad, I was ready for Beacon. I brought up my accounts, and I realised I hadn't exactly paid for a ticket from Spartum, and smiled. I cashed out some of that, and I really wanted a night out. See the sights. I asked the lady at the front desk, and she handed me an address. Near my new tailor actually. As I got there, and walked up, I saw a short girl in red, standing before the carnage going on inside.

Before my mind finished concocting a statement, the blonde from earlier lept from the building. As she landed, I couldn't help but say, "So, rematch?"

She stood fast, ready, as I laugh. "Yang? Is that you?" We both turn to the small girl in red.

"Oh hey sis." She responds.

"What are you doing here?" The girl in red asks.

As Yang sighs, she responds, "It's a long story."

"Bye." I say walking away from the now destroyed bar, and the man with the smoking fist indent in his suit.

This town is fun.

The first day of Beacon started normally. I got up, got on the airship. As I was walking off the platform, I see something explode off in the distance. I have to wonder if it is Yang, as most things can explode when on fire.

As I get closer, I see the girl in red from almost a week ago, laying back on the floor, and walk up, then a new highly fearful boy helps her up. "Hey... I'm Jaune."

"Ruby." She, presumably Ruby begins.

"Hey again Red." I say walking up, startling both of them.

They both stare at me, looking expectant. "What's your name." Jaune adds to his stare.

"Name's Obsidian" I say, "Or as of recently, Obi."

"Cool." Ruby says. She reaches behind her, and whips out a 6' something scythe, "So I got this."

"Nice segway." I say, causing a faint blush, I draw Diva, and Balta. "I got these."

"Ooooh, what do they do." Ruby asks.

"Well, Diva," I activate, and toss diva, catching her as a pistol, "Does this."

I morph her back, and uncombine Balta, into Flaros and Glacem, "And these two are dust cannons."

"This is also a customizable high-impact sniper rifle." Ruby says. I smile, another weapon enthusiast.

"I have this sword." Jaune says, "and this scabbard is also a shield."

"Cool." Ruby says, as I nod.

"So why were you throwing up on the airship." Ruby asks, with another incredible segway.

"Bye." I say, and Jaune begin to explain his motion sickness. Huh, for some reason I thought aura prevented that.

I walk down the big sidewalk toward the tower, and find the auditorium, and stand just before the stage, off to the left. As Ozpin begins his speech, I can feel a negative emotion flowing off of him, but I can't seem to identify it, leaving me disorientated. "I'll... keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." Well. That was deep?

Glynda Goodwitch took the stage, "You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

I take my bag from the floor, and walk behind the swarm of students into a large ballroom, and set up my cot, using my tent as a makeshift pillow, and vary rapidly fall asleep.

I walk past a multitude of people, in all manner of preparation for the day. I get to my locker, and put my tent inside, as I didn't exactly put my weapons away. Who do you take me for?

I walk back through the locker room, and see Ruby and Yang arguing. As I walk up I can hear the tail end of Ruby's argument, "..I drink Milk."

"I fail to see the relevance." I say walking up. Startling both of them, I am not silent, yet somehow I keep getting that reaction.

After a moment, Yang was about respond, then Jaune walks directly into me. As I turn to help him up, he is already gone, as I turn, he is flirting with a girl in a white dress. She looks disgusted, as am I. I men come on, you just met her!

I walk up just in time to hear, "This is Pyrrha."

"Hello again!" Pyrrha says, waving

"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum!"

Jaune says, "Never heard of it." How...what?

"She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row! A new record!"

Jaune asks, "The what?" How dense is this boy?

The girl in white begins waving her arms rapidly in anger, "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" I pause, I don't recognize that brand.

Jaune gasps, "That's you?! But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"

Pyrrha blushes, "Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you."

The girl in white demands, "So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?"

Jaune says dejectedly, "I guess not... Sorry…"

Pyrrha says, "Actually, Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader!"

Jaune brightens, "D'oh, stop it!"

White seems to understand the situation, "Seriously, please stop it. This kind of behavior should not be encouraged!"

I walk over to Jaune, as he turns over to the girl in white, and physically lift him and take him 6 steps from the girl in white and Pyrrha. "Jaune." I say, dropping him to the floor. "Please, as your friend, or at least someone who doesn't want to see you impaled or White's sword, stop embarrassing yourself. If you like…" I turn and wave to the girl in white, "What even is her name?"

"Weiss." Jaune says.

"First, Stop with the pickup lines." I say, "Do you really think those will work?"

"My dad said that all girls look for is confidence." Jaune says.

"Confidence requires having skill to back up your mouth. Try this, tone down the…" I wave to him. "That."

"You just gestured to all of me." Jaune says.

"Yes, that. Think, you got into this school, so I assume you can do that, if your overabundance of confidence doesn't work, what will?" I say, leading him.

"Subtlety?" Jaune says.

"Exactly, Weiss thinks you are a helpless shlub. Prove her wrong. Train, become the best Hunter you can, do whatever you can to improve, and instead of these massive sweeping gestures, do something quieter. Small compliments, for dates, do group things. Friends, then whatever the hell you're shooting for." I say, and Jaune seems to have a breakthrough.

"Ok." He says, looking thoughtful.

"Secondly, burn your bunny one piece. If I ever see it again, I will."

Now he laughs, "Ok."

"Good. Now we have a final test to complete." I hold out my hand, and help him up, hopefully having helped Jaune.

He walks past Weiss, without a dumb comment. Something that makes Weiss looks to me in shock, Pyrrha smile, and I feel like I have helped someone today.

As I walk past Pyrrha asks, "What did you say?"

"I have some experience with people like Weiss. She will ignore him unless he shows a level of skill or talent that makes him worthy of her time. As she though you apparently are." I say.

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asks, softly.

"Well I have heard about the Mistral Region Tournaments, but having never seen it, I can't say if those were victoryies worth respecting. During the audition fight for this school, I faced 3 people. One was a brute, but with training, could be a force of nature. Today? He was a slow, easily outmaneuvered brute, with a slightly interesting weapon. Another that depended on one very specific style of fighting, but when you deviated from her plan, even a little, she fell apart. Lastly, the blond over there, who while a power fighter, was fast, skilled, and had what I presume was a Semblance that compliments her style extremely well, allowing her to channel both fire, and force into her blows, creating, especially as she weakens, an unstoppable force. With training, she could be one, if not the most dangerous person alive. Dust save us if she learns to willingly expel energy in plumes of fire, she would be a monster." I say. "You could have faced people like the first and second, without ever facing someone who can challenge you. Or you could be like the second, and have a style that allows you to stonewall, and wear down opponents, without much skill involved. Now I doubt you are, but it is a possibility, as both blunt fighters made it into this school."

She looks thoughtful. "You consider people not how they seem, but how they are with how they could be?"

"Exactly." I say, waving. "Nice to meet you Pyrrha. I hope we can spar some time."

I walk away, leafing a confused, but happy young women behind.

Ozpin speaks, seaming more alive today, "For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Glynda steps up, and speaks, "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."

"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." Ozpin says.

Groaning from my right seems aggravated.

Ozpin continues, "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

Someone, I think it is Ruby, yells, "Whaaaat?!"

The pinkett to my left yells, "See? I told you-!" To the boy in green.

"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 through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will 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 grade that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

I hear Jaune stutter, "Yeah, um, sir?"

Ozpin steps, "Good! Now, take your positions."

Pinkett crouches low, and green beyond her get out his weapons, Yang raises her fists, Ruby readies. Jaune is visible, standing still.

Jaune continues to try and ask, "Uh, sir? I've got, um... a question. So, this landing... strategy thing... Uh, wha-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?" While missing the line of people to his right being launched into the forest.

"No. You will be falling." Ozpin says, as I get launched into the forest.

I curl into a roll, and as I feel the trees get closer, I outstretch, and use my control of the clothes to lightly soar downward. I orient myself north, and draw Diva. Time for some unnecessary violence.

I can here Grimm roar, and weapons fire around me. I walk calmly through the forest, and encounter a lone Beowulf, I morph Diva, and fire, killing it. I wait for others, and am highly disappointed when none show up. I follow the sounds of yelling, and find another Grimm or two disintegrating.

I move past another couple trees, and find a clearing. I hear a scream. It turn let and see more forest, and to my right, a stone something. Ruins, north? I think I am in the right place. I walk toward it, and when I get there, Yang and a girl in…tilt head… faunis in black. I walk over, "Hi Yang. Yang's Partner."

"Blake. Obi." Yang introduces us. I nod. She nods.

"Great. Two silent types." Yang says.

I walk over, and see chess pieces. I look for one, and… there. I take the black king. I hear a yell, and walk back over.

Aa I walk back over, I head Blake ask, "Did your sister just fall from the sky?

Yang mutters, "I…"

Before she can continue, several crashing sounds come from the forest, and I level Diva. When an Ursa comes out, claws swiping, I am about to fire, when a pink blast of energy hits it in the back and it crashes to the ground. Then I can see the pinkett from earlier standing on it's back.

"YEEEE-HAAAAW!" She calls, rolling off of the creature's back, then jumps and groans, saddened, "Awwww... It's broken." She goes and pets the neck of the fallen Ursa. This girl scares me.

The guy with her earlier demands, "Nora! Please... Don't ever do that again." he looks over and notices Nora has run off again, and looks around frantically.

Nora calls, suddenly behind us, "Oooohh... I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"

Ren walks even with us, and calls, "Nora!"

Nora skips over, calling "Coming, Ren!"

Blake asks, "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?"

Yang mutters again, "I…"

A screech is heard from their right, and Pyrrha runs out of the trees, a Deathstalker hot on her tail. Pyrrha narrowly dodges its giant claws and keeps on running.

Pyrrha calls, "Jaune!"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune says from his place in the tree.

Ruby jumps off of the tree, sees the deathstalker, and calls, "Whoa!"

Jaune turns to Ruby, just as Yang does, and they call "Ruby!"

Ruby yells, "Yang!" and runs over to give her sister a hug.

Nora appears between them, yelling, "Nora!"

The Deathstalker continues to follow Pyrrha as she runs towards us.

Blake asks, "Did she just run all the way here with a Death Stalker on her tail?"

Yang catches fire, and demands, "I can't take it anymore! Can everyone just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?!"

Ruby pulls Yang's sleeve, "Umm... Yang?" then points up.

We all look, and it looks like Weiss is hanging from a Giant Nevermore's talon.

Weiss calls down to Ruby, "How could you leave me?!"

Ruby shouts up at Weiss, "I said "jump"!"

Blake says, "She's gonna fall."

Ruby says, "She'll be fine."

Ren says, "She's falling."

I toss 3 knifes in the path she is falling, she lands on the flats of the knives and stops.

Jaune leaps out of the tree to catch try and catch Weiss, but since I am holding her with my knives, he simple leap from a tree, however in an uncharacteristic display of skill, he rolls, and then stand up, to Yang, Blake, and Ruby holding score cards. 6, 5, and 9 respectively.

The Death Stalker is still hunting Pyrrha, but she manages to land on her side with us.

Yang says, "Great! The gang's all here! Now we can die together!"

Ruby says, lifting her scythe, "Not if I can help it!" Before disappearing in a cloud of rose petals.

Yang calls, "Ruby, wait!"

Ruby charges the Deathstalker, and she gets backhanded by its claw, and falls away. She stands again, and fires a few more times, before running. The Never lets loose a hail of feathers, and one catches Ruby's cape as she is running away. Yang and I are about to rush over, when a white blur speeds past us, and as Ruby is about to be struck by the stinger of the Deathstalker, a wall of ice appears, capturing the stinger, and allowing them both to get to safety.

As they get back, Yang says, "So happy you're okay!"

Jaune interrupts the sisterly reunion, "Guys? That thing's circling back! What are we gonna do?"

Weiss ever rational, "Look, there's no sense in dilly-dallying. Our objective is right in front of us." We all turn to look at the relics.

Ruby says, "She's right. Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the Cliffs." as she nods to Weiss, "There's no point in fighting these things."

Jaune simplifies, "Run and live - that's an idea I can get behind!"

Ruby and Jaune go over and get relics. The Death Stalker continues to fight its bonds, cracking the ice a little in the process.

Ren calls, "Time we left!"

Ruby calls down, "Right. Let's go!" Waving us all over the hill.

As I get to the top of the hill, I draw Balta, preparing for the fight to come.

An: So I said back in chapter 1 that my chapters would be about 2500 words, well after several chapters exceeding that, (One by almost double) I decided that maybe 3000 is better.

See you next time-V.