F3: Alright everyone welcome to chapter 3 and we are going to dive right in. Before I begin I'll take care of the disclaimers. As usual RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth respectively but I only own the OC characters and this plot. I forgot to mention this earlier but this an AU fic. With that done Let's Rev It Up!
Volume 1-3: Partners.
=RWBY=
Overhead of the Emerald Forest was quiet and peaceful as a small bird came flying to find a place to rest its wings. However a moment later a white blur came rushing past it making the bird fly away from it.
"Sorry!" Star shouted out a quick apology before getting her staff out switching to its gun mode as she aimed her grappling hook toward a nearby tree. Once she was focused she fired the grappling hook as the blades opened, and the hook grabbed hold of the tree. Then with one push of a button it propelled Star toward the tree landing safely on the ground.
She brushed herself off from the landing making sure everything was intact. "That was too easy." She said to herself.
She heard a yell coming from the east of her as she saw Jaune flying awkwardly twisting around in the air. A moment later she heard a gunshot in the opposite direction as a jet propelled spear soared above her heading directly toward Jaune.
Nothing happened for a moment until she heard a faint shout "Thank you!" Jaune shouted.
Internally Star was relieved that Jaune didn't get turned into a corpse but also wondered who the weapon belonged to.
"Well whoever's weapon that was is going to go get it and more than likely will be partners." Star said to herself.
"As for me I'll need to find me a partner so I better start searching." She said to herself as she began walking into the forest.
=RWBY=
Meanwhile in another part of the forest Ruby had just landed without much issue and began search for her partner more likely trying to find Yang.
"Yang! Yang!" Ruby called out but getting no answer.
"Okay Ruby don't panic you're going to be fine. I mean I'm sure not all the good ones have been taken. I hope." Ruby said worryingly. However before she could take another step a growl came from in front of her as she quickly folded her weapon out to its scythe mode.
Two beady orange eyes peered at her from the bushes in front of her but soon more followed. About six pairs of eyes were now staring at Ruby as if sizing her up as their next meal.
Ruby gulped nervously as the one in the middle stepped out. Ruby prepared her weapon pulling the hammer back which loaded a dust bullet in the chamber of her gun.
The grimm appeared before her is a Beowolf but this one was larger than any other as even on four legs stood about two heads taller than Ruby. It has black furred skin with bones over it to allow defense. On its head is a bone mask with dark red lines going along the edges of the eyes around the mouth and ends at the nose. It has razor sharp claws on both feet along with fangs in its mouth.
"Oh boy." Ruby said nervously.
"More than likely this one is an alpha and the others are staying back because it wants me for lunch... I feel so loved." Ruby thought as the Alpha Beowolf began to circle. Ruby did the same thing as the two stared each other down waiting for the other to make a move.
Then suddenly the Beowolf jumped at her with its claws trying to get a piece of her but Ruby used her semblance just in time to avoid it as she was wrapped in her cloak leaving behind a trail of red roses in her mist.
She managed to get up to a tree and began to fire at the grimm. However her shots only seemed to bounce off the grimms head having no effect. Switching tactic Ruby used her semblance again to charge at the grimm.
The Beowolf saw this and prepared to strike at young girl as it jumped at her again with its claws. Just before the Beowolf could slash at her Ruby managed to split into three not only avoiding the grimm but also able to get behind it as she reformed. She then reeled her weapon back and with a twist of her hips twirled toward the grimm as a top with her weapon slicing anything she could hit.
Unfortunately the Beowolf wasn't fast enough to avoid her and was struck in the back with Ruby's scythe now embedded into its back. It tried to shake her off but she held on and then preceded to fire shots into the back of its head each one landing a direct hit. She fired one more shot and the grimms head jerked suddenly as the grimm fell motionless disappearing in in a puff of black smoke.
"Phew that was a workout. Okay who's..." She said looking at the other Beowolves only to find that none was there.
"Huh? Where'd they go?" She asked herself however what she didn't know was that a Bewolf was in her blind spot and jumped at Ruby. Ruby looked behind her and noticed the grimm but it was already near her with its claws extended. However just before it could get to her a black blur came down on top of the grimm and stabbed it directly on the back of the neck killing it instantly.
Ruby noticed the girl immediately thanks to the black bow she wore "Blake... is that you?" She asked as silver eyes met amber.
Blake was now in her normal attire which consists of a black buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath this is a white, sleeveless, high necked, crop undershirt and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg.
She also wears black low-heeled boots and full stockings with a color gradation of black to purple at her ankles. Her emblem which is that of three shadows is visible on the outside of both thighs just below her shorts in white. On her left arm is a detached sleeve with a silver cuff around her bicep and black ribbons are wrapped around both forearms. A small, loose scarf is wrapped around her neck and a gray magnetic backpack is strapped to her back, hidden by her hair.
Her weapon is that of a ballistic chain scythe with a black ribbon on the hilt as she sheathed her weapon behind her back.
"Thanks for that." Ruby thanked.
"You need to be more careful of your surroundings. Never know when you could get ambushed." Blake said.
Ruby rubbed the back of her head "Right... I'll remember that." She said nervously.
Blake looked at Ruby for a moment as if in thought until Ruby got her attention.
"Hey you okay their Blake?" She asked as Blake got out of her train of thought.
"Oh right sorry I guess I kinda zoned out there for a minute. C'mon we better get to the temple." Blake said.
"Lead the way partner." Ruby said as she followed behind Blake.
=RWBY=
Meanwhile Star had just finished clearing some smaller grimm without much issue and yet she still couldn't find a partner.
"Ten minutes of me walking alone and still no sign of anyone. Maybe they were thrown deeper into the forest. Just my luck." She groaned but what she didn't know that something was coming at her very fast.
"Get out of the way!" A voice shouted from above which caught Star attention.
"Huh? Now what was that?" She questioned.
"Move move move move! Please!" The voice said but sounds much closer.
"Wait does it mean... ME!" Star realized but as she was about to move away a purple blur slammed directly into her face first kicking up dust.
Star coughed a little thanks to the dust around her as the dust cleared away.
"Okay." She coughed
"That wasn't pleasant." She added then noticed a girl knocked out next to her.
"Was she the one that rammed into me?" She thought as she carefully examined the girl.
"Doesn't look like anything broken. Her aura must've taken some of the damage." She said as the girl began to stir then sitting up rubbing her head.
"Man... ugh talk about a head popper. That one stung." The girl said.
"You okay. Nothing broken?" Star asked as bright pink met sapphire.
The girl smiled "Yeah I'm alright. Names Iona Basil." Iona introduced.
"Straight to the point huh?" Star thought internally relieved that the girl was okay
"Star Azure. Nice to meet you." She introduced before noticing Iona's eyes were looking elsewhere with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Um... what are you looking at?" She asked nervously.
Iona let out a little squeal "Those ears are so adorable!" She squealed.
"Wait what... ears?" Star before feeling the top of the head and realizing that her ribbon is gone revealing her fox ears. Even though Star's skin is almost pale Iona swore her skin got a lot lighter.
"Oh no. Oh no. It must've come loose when we bumped heads." Star said quickly as she began looking around for her missing ribbon.
Iona then realized what happened and started to help her. She then looked up at the tree they were standing next and spotting a frilled silver ribbon on a branch about ten feet above them.
"Is that it up their?" Iona asked pointing it out to Star. Star look to where she was pointing seeing her ribbon on the branch.
"Yeah that's it but it's too high to reach." Star said
"Plus using my grapping hook will cause the branch to snap and the ribbon to be blown away by the wind." She thought.
What Star didn't know was the Iona was already thinking of a way to get to the ribbon without damaging it.
Then an idea came to her "Well it's worth a shot." Iona said simply.
"What's worth a shot?" Star asked.
"You wait here. One ribbon coming up." Iona said as she got down on one knee and slammed her right hand to the ground. Almost instantly her semblance activated in which a pillar stone came underneath her and slowly ascend upward. After about a minute Iona reached the ribbon without issue and gently removed it from the branch it was attached to.
Then with a turn of her right hand counter clockwise with stone pillar began to descend to ground as if nothing had happened.
Iona got up from her position with the ribbon in hand "Here you go. One ribbon." Iona said as Star took it from her hand and ties her hair again hiding her fox ears.
"Um... thanks." Star said nervously waiting for Iona to say something.
"Here it comes. The ridicule..." Star thought internally.
"Anytime partner." Iona smiled.
"The nice gesture... wait WHAT!?" Star thought and turned to meet Iona's gaze.
"Wait you're not afraid of me?" Star asked which seemed to confuse Iona.
"Should I be?" She asked back.
"Uhh...I'm a faunus. You know a third rate citizen, a beast. Something that deserves to be ridiculed, disrespected, and treated like an animal." Star replied.
Iona didn't say anything at first but what surprised Star the most was that Iona just smiled at her.
"So you're a faunus. You're still a human being right." Iona added.
"Um... yeah." Star added.
"Then there you go. So what if you got ears..." Iona began.
"And a tail." Star quickly added.
"And a tail. To me I don't care rather your Faunus or a human. You're still a person no matter how different you are." Iona replied. Star for her part was completely shocked at the thought that her own partner didn't mind her being a Faunus but only saw her as herself.
"So we are going to find that temple or what?" Iona asked.
"Yeah." Star said then a question came to mind.
"Hold on a minute. If you were just now landing; what took you so long to get into the forest?" Star asked.
Iona laughed nervously rubbing the back of her head. "Funny thing about that." Iona said.
[Ten Minutes Earlier-Beacon Cliffside]
Ozpin and Glynda were monitoring the first years making sure that all the pairing had been as Ozpin watched Ruby and Blake were paired up.
"It seems most of them have been paired. All except Ms. Azure." Glynda said as she watch Star take down three Beowolves.
"I agree. Did we make sure all the first years were launched?" Ozpin asked but his question was answered by the pounding of metal. They look behind themselves and saw Iona Basil hadn't take off yet and was currently using her foot to pound away at the launch device.
"Work! You! Piece! Of! Junk!" She said with each stomp until she'd finally gave up and sat on it cross legged, arms folded underneath her bust and pouting look on her face.
"It seems that one hasn't been fixed properly." He said glancing over to Glynda.
"Now how am I going to get into the forest?" Iona questioned.
"You could always walk." Glynda said.
"If I have to." Iona sighed in defeat. However before she get up from her seated position she heard a sound coming from the metal device as something clicked.
"That doesn't sound..." Before she could finish she as immediately launched into the air.
"GOOD!" She shouted her voice echoing as she was launched.
The two professors stood there for a moment "Glynda make sure to have a repair man sent out to fix number eleven." Ozpin said.
"I'll make a note of it." Glynda added.
[Present Time]
Star heard what Iona said "So that's why you didn't land immediately like the rest." Star replied.
"Yeah. Kinda embarrassing if you ask me." Iona said.
Star chuckled a little bit "Well better go looking for that temple then." Star added as the two went to search for the temple.
=RWBY=
After landing Yang was currently walking around looking for her little sister Ruby but she was quickly starting to grow bored of the silence.
"Hello! Ruby! Anyone! Getting bored here!" Yang called out but getting no answer.
"Take about boring." She said to herself until she heard a rustle in the bushes.
"Ruby?" She said heading toward the bushes.
"Ruby you over here." She said peering past the bushes only to receive a roar from an Ursa behind it.
"Nope." Yang said as she jumped away from a claw that tried to slash at her.
The grimm is large about twice Yang's size and it had black fur with bones sticking out its back. It is more bulky around the forearms and hind legs. It has sharp claws and a bone mask with red veins and bright yellow eyes.
"You guys wouldn't happen to see a girl in a red cloak would you?" She asked casually.
The pair of Ursas roared as they went to charge at her. With a flick of her wrists her bracelets activated. Her weapon covered her entire wrist as it wrapped around her lower wrist as a barrel popped out on the side and dust rounds were seen underneath wrapped around her wrists.
As they charged Yang reeled her right hand back into a fist and once the grimm got close she punched the grimm which fired a blast at the grimm sending the grimm back a ways. The other grimm charged at her as Yang rolled away from the attack then quickly delivering an uppercut to it sending it toward its buddy.
"You could've just said no." She said as the first Ursa charged at her and swiped at her. Yang easily dodged it easily.
"C'mon you guys couldn't hit the side of a..." Yang said but something came in her line of sight which was a small strand of hair that fell to the ground.
There are a few things that you don't mess with about Yang. One was her sister Ruby, another was her bike that she has, and the third a big thing was her hair.
Yangs closed her for a moment the anger boiling up inside her.
"You... MONSTERS!" She roared as her lilac colored eyes suddenly became a menacing red color as she brought her fists together which triggered her semblance. Her hair flared to life as she propelled herself at the Ursas as she delivered a series of combo punches at the first Ursa pummeling it until it evaporated into black smoke.
She then turned to the second Ursa who roared at her "What you want some too?!" She shouted readying to pummel the other one.
The Ursa was about to charge that is until a shot rang out behind it as it suddenly became frozen in ice.
"Huh?" Yang said then suddenly someone cut the ice down the middle as the ice shattered and the grimm evaporated.
Yang saw who did it as lilac eyes met pale blue. "I could've taken him." Yang said as her semblance wore off.
"Sure you would." The girl said as she sheathed her gunblade.
"Names Yang." She says to her new partner.
"Weiss Louve." Weiss introduced.
"Well we better get moving. Better get to the temple." Yang added as the two headed toward the direction of the temple unknowing to them that a large black feather floated down behind them.
=RWBY=
Meanwhile Ruby and Blake were going trying to find their way to the temple but not having much luck at the moment.
"I think we're lost." Ruby said.
"Yeah, cause I think we past that same tree ten minutes ago." Blake pointed out looking toward a tree that she'd marked earlier.
Ruby only groaned "We've been going in circles the whole time."
"If only we can get a better look above." Blake said looking above them to the tree line.
Ruby only hummed to herself as she got an idea "I think I know how we can get a better view." Ruby added.
"Okay what is it?" Blake asked as Ruby grabbed a hold of her.
"You might want to hold on to me." Ruby suggested.
"What are you..." Blake began but it was too late as Ruby semblance triggered wrapping both her and Blake in her cloak heading upward to the tree line leaving behind a trail of red petals behind.
When they got to above the tree line Ruby got a good view while Blake was making sure her bow hadn't come undone.
"We can get a better view from up here." Ruby said as the two surveyed their surroundings.
Blake noticed toward the mountains seeing the top of a pillar "I think the temples that way." Blake pointed out.
"That'll take a while to get there. There has to be a faster way." Ruby said and noticed a grimm that was flying about.
The grimm has large black wings and sharp talons. It has black feather along its body and tail feathers. On its head just above the beak its bone mask the red lines going around and across the face with dark red eyes looking about for its next target.
"Hm... that could work." Ruby said pointing to the grimm.
Blake looked at the grimm then back at her partner then back at the grimm.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about what's going to happen next." She thought hoping whatever Ruby had planned work or they might be visiting an early grave.
F3: And cut! That's a wrap on this chapter. Before you readers go screaming that I didn't include the others by this point. If I did this chapter would take longer than expected but don't worry by his time Jaune and Pyrrha have been paired up including Ren and Nora. If you guys like this chapter let me know in the comments. Also don't forget to hit the follow or favorite before you review. With that this has been Fireuser3 and I'm out.
