Entrance Exam Part 1

Blaze stood at the edge of a cliff, other students around him. The dark green of the Emerald Forest spanned underneath him, the trees so dense he couldn't see the forest floor. Glancing over to the girl with amber eyes Blaze remembered their awkward greeting from the other night.

The students had been sleeping on the floor of Beacon in sleeping bags. He had walked over to where Ruby and Yang sat.

"Look, it's only the first day," Yang was saying. "You have friends all around you. You just haven't met them yet."

"Hey guys!" Blaze said happily.

"Hey," Ruby said, staring at the ceiling. Jeeze he thought she seems so down. Yang looked at Blaze and shrugged as if to say 'you have any ideas?'

'Hey Blaze," Yang said as he sat down, "when are you gonna take those bandages off? You never covered your…mark before?" He glanced down as his arms, his wrists were still wrapped in tight white bandages.

"I…I'll take them off when I get my team. I want to make a good impression." To be honest, he had no idea why but was scared to take the bandages off. He knew the marking that sat on his wrist better then he knew the back of his hand and never had covered it. Was it just because he was in a new school, or was he worried someone would recognize it?

"Suit yourself," Yang said shrugging, "you really don't need them though."

"Yeah but…" Blaze said, but he didn't have a logical excuse.

Blaze heard the sound of a match. The dark haired girl from before was sitting, a newly lit candle beside her. She was wearing a black nightgown and was reading a book. The firelight seemed to catch her amber eyes alight, making them seem like flames themselves. She was beautiful. Blaze felt a slight heat rise to his checks. He had of course found girls at Signal to be pretty, and this wasn't the first time one had made him blush. Nonetheless, Blaze still found himself hoping she didn't have a boyfriend.

"That girl," Ruby said, "she helped us earlier."

"Let's go meet her!" Yang said leaping to her feet.

"No wait Yang!" Blaze stammered.

"Oh come on! Look at her, she's so your type! Besides, you were totally checking her out before."

"What! No I wasn't!" Ignoring him, Yang grabbed his arm and dragged him and Ruby over to the girl.

"Helloooo!" Yang said far too happily, letting go of Blaze's hand to wave. He glared at his sister and folded his arms over his chest.

"I believe you three may know each other," Yang continued.

"B…Blaze," Blaze stammered, holding his hand out. The girl ignored it. Awkwardly he slowly put his hand down.

"Aren't you that girl that exploded," the girl asked, not looking up from her book.

"Uh yeah!" Ruby said happily, "my name is Ruby, but you could just call me Creator Fa… Actually just call me Ruby."

"Okay…"

Blaze glared at Yang. "See!" he whispered, "If she wanted to talk she wouldn't be reading!" Yang only winked, which only made Blaze more nervous.

"Soo…what's your name?" Yang asked. With a sigh the dark haired girl responded.

"Blake," she said tiredly.

"Oh cool, that's a pretty name," Blaze said, knowing he probably sounded as awkward as he felt. Blake only glared at him.

"Well Blake, I'm Yang!" The blond said happily, "Ruby and Blaze's older sister." Then she elbowed Blaze.

"What!" he said angrily.

"Compliment her." Yang whispered, "girls love compliments." He looked over to see Blake staring at him with an annoyed expression. He knew that, he had flirted with girls before, but he usually planned what he was going to say beforehand, or at least made a few cheesy pickup lines or puns. Still, why did he feel so nervous?

"I uh…" he stammered, "I like your eyes, they're really cool. I don't' think I've ever seen that eye color."

"Thanks."

"Well… should uh…get to bed…"

"Nice night isn't it." Yang interrupted. Mentally Blaze face palmed.

"This is a nightmare," Blaze muttered under his breath. "Can we just leave? We rudely interrupted her, and I don't think she wants to talk."

Everyone ignored him.

"Yes it is, almost as lovely as this book…Which I will continue to read… as soon as you leave."

"Yeah this girl's a lost cause," Yang said. "Sorry Blaze, I tried. I don't think she's interested."

"Yeah thanks," he muttered under his breath, his face getting hot.

"What's it about?" Ruby asked.

"Hu?" Blake said looking up.

"Your book, does it have a name."

"Well…it's about a man with two souls, each fighting for control over his body." Blaze blinked in surprise, that plot sounded familiar. It sounded like one of the fairy tales his uncle used to tell him when he was younger, usually as bedtime story.

"Oh yeah… that's real lovely," Yang said sarcastically. Blaze was now staring at the book cover, not really listing. Why had he heard that story before? Did Qrow read the same book and then just told him? The huntsman didn't really strike Blake as the reading type. It didn't look like the book had any recognizable title or author name. Mabey a coincidence, it was a cool story plot. Qrow just probably made it up or something.

"As a girl," Ruby was saying, "I wanted to be just liked those heroes in those books. Someone who fought for what was right, and who protected people who couldn't protect themselves." A smile flickered over Blaze's face and he folded his arms over his chest, that's my sister.

"For years," Ozpin said, interrupting Blaze's memories as he joined the students on the cliff edge, "you have trained to become warriors. Today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." One platform away from him Weiss smirked and flipped her ponytail. Blaze groaned silently, how in the name of the gods did I happen to end up standing next to Miss Perfect? He thought, feeling annoyed. Her bodyguard stood in-between Weiss and Blaze, hands behind his back.

"Now," Glynda continued, "I'm sure many of you have heard the assignment about teams." Excitement rushed though Blaze, filling him with adrenaline. Are we getting our teams now? He thought.

"Well allow us to put an end to your confusion," Glynda continued. "Each of you will be given teammates. Today."

"Yes!" Blaze shouted, fist pumping the air. Weiss made a sound of disgust and rolled her eyes.

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

"What?" Blaze said blinking, "how does that make any sense?"

"What!" Ruby shouted.

"After you partner up," Ozpin said, "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."

"Jumping right into the action, sweet," Blaze said, smirking.

"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation. But our instructors will not intervene…" Ozpin continued, telling the students of a ruined temple, relics they were meant to collect there. When he was finished he looked around.

"Are there any question?" he asked.

"Yeah um…sir…" Jaune said from the end of the long line of students.

"Good. Take your positions." Blaze crouched down, bending his knees and standing in a wide stance. We're being launched off the cliff, so I need to have a flexible stance, but able to keep my flight path strait. The platform under the students began jerking upwards, sending them flying into the air. Blaze glanced over at the white haired bodyguard next to him; Weiss had already been launched. He was standing as he had been before, watching the flying students with an empty expression. Glancing down Blaze saw he was standing on a launch pad, and he clearly didn't know.

"Hey," Blaze said pointing down, "you might want to move." The boy looked down; a brief flash of surprise crossed his face before his platform launched him upwards, making him shout out a cry of alarm. Eash Blaze winced watching him fly; hopefully he can find out a way to land before…

Blaze was flung upwards. He cried out in alarm and wind rushed in his ears. A brief sense of panic shot though him. Gritting his teeth Blaze pulled out Silver Flame from its sheath. I don't have as much time to land as I'm used to, he thought. His moment of panic had shortened his already small time frame. He had to slow himself before it was too late to even try.

Holding his weapon in front of him, the boy fired, the knockback slowing his fall. Right as he neared the forest he slammed his sword tip into the nearest tree, expecting himself to spiral down. But, in his panic, he had pushed his sword in the soft tree wood far too hard. Blaze was jerked forward, the weapon flying out of his hand. With a cry he tumbled forward and slammed into the ground, rolling as he did.

He lay on his back, staring up the trees, trying to get his breath back. Silver Flame tumbled down and landed beside him. Blaze had been going slow enough so his aura wasn't too badly injured, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

"Not my most graceful landing," he grunted standing up.

After orienting himself Blaze started off in the direction Ozpin had directed, sliding Silver Flame into its sheath. Soon birds began chirping in the trees.

"Man, it's hard to believe this place is filled with Grimm. It's so peaceful," he said, putting his hands behind his head.

A few minutes passed and although he heard gunfire in the distance, Blaze hadn't seen a single Grimm.

"I thought this would be interesting," he muttered. He was just about to call out when he heard a Grimm's roar.

"Finally!" he smirked and ran towards the sound. "And I was wondering if I would get all the way there without needing to even fight!" As he ran towards the sound he heard what sounded like metal hitting Grimm armor, and a grunt of pain. Blaze peeked through the bushes and saw the lizard Faunus from the other day fighting two boarbatusks. One angry pig-like Grimm rolled and slammed into his back. The boy grunted and span around. As he did the second Grimm was preparing to charge.

"Look out!" Blaze shouted, leaping forward and pulling out his weapon. The charging Grimm slammed into the blade, Blaze grunted and pushed back, his hands gripping the sword hilt while the other pushed against the flat part of the blade. His feet slid on the grassy floor. Gritting his teeth, Blaze flung his sword to the side, pushing the boarbatusk with it. The Grimm fell to its side with a grunt. Before it could stand Blaze rushed over, pulled its tusk, rolling it over to reveal it's unprotected underbelly and slammed his blade into its body, firing off a few shots to make sure it was dead.

Standing he looked over so see the Faunus boy yanking his quarterstaff out of his fading Grimm, standing off its body as he did. As Blaze watched he twisted the two ends of the staff, which then pulled into itself and separated into two long knives. Awesome he thought. As the Faunus slid his knives into the sheaths on his upper arms, Blaze walked over and held out his hand.

"Hey, my name's Blaze. I guess were partners now right?" The Faunus looked at him up and down for a moment, appearing to measure him.

"Well," he said, "you're centennially not who I had in mind for a partner, but you'll work as long as you don't slow me down."

"uh...I" Blaze stammered, not quite sure how to respond. The Faunus grabbed his still outstretched hand and shook it.

"Umbra," he said simply. Then he turned and walked away. Blaze starred at him for a moment, and then followed, having the feeling that if he was too slow, he would be left behind.

The duo walked together for a short while in silence. Blaze looked at Umbra's back; I should get to know him, he thought - this was his new partner after all.

"Sooo…" Blaze said, "You seem pretty fast, that could be helpful in a fight. You're a Faunus right? I mean you do have a tail and…" Blaze trailed off. Umbra was glaring at him. Angrily he stormed towards Blaze and pushed him back into a tree. Before he could even react Umbra's knife was pressed to his throat. Blaze could feel the cold metal on his skin. His heart began to pound; Umbra was standing far too close, Blaze couldn't pull out his weapon. Panic creeped in, as the knife was pressed to his neck, not enough to draw blood, but enough to make Blaze freeze. Could he use his…no, bad idea, he was trying to keep that a secret. And in a dense wooded area like this? Bad idea.

"Listen carefully," Umbra said. "If you have any problem with Faunus or me being one, then for your safety I suggest you turn around right now and find a new partner."

"W…what?" Blaze stammered, "No! You got it all wrong! I don't have any problems with Faunus, I was just wondering. I thought it would be a good idea to know what type you were! Because you know, were partners! You just one of the first Faunus I ever met." Umbra starred at him for a few moments, then slowly took a step back, sheathing his blade. Blaze relaxed and rubbed his neck. Maybe I should get a new partner, he thought this guy's crazy!

"Lizard," Umbra said stepping away.

"Oh…" Blaze stammered, surprised at the sudden change of pace. "Um…what…type? I don't know a ton about Faunus, but I know you can have different types, like a panther or cat." Umbra sighed.

"You just love bringing up sensitive topics, don't you? I have no idea. I was adopted and before that no one had bothered to tell me. It's really a painful topic for me, so thanks for bringing it up."

"Oh…" Blaze stammered, "I…was adopted too." Umbra glanced at him in surprise.

"I…didn't know," he said. The two stared at each other for a few moments, not saying anything. Then Umbra turned and began to walk.

"We need to keep moving," he called over his shoulder.

"Oh right!" Blaze ran after. "so uh…can I ask you a question?"

"If I say yes will you shut up?"

"What?"

"Nothing, just get it over with."

"So…you're a Faunus, you can see in the dark right? 'Cuz that could be helpful."

"You really are just blatantly ignorant aren't you? Just because I'm a Faunus that doesn't mean I can see in the dark. Different Faunus had different enhanced senses. For instance I have increased speed and agility, as well as being able to easily sense any object over my head."

"Oh…that's cool. I had no idea that…"

A Beowolf jumped out in front of them and roared a challenge. Both boys pulled out their weapons, but a second Beowolf jumped behind them, then a third, fourth, fifth. Until the two were surrounded by a large pack the Grimm.

"That's all you got?" Blaze smirked.

"Don't be an idiot!" Umbra snapped. "We're outnumbered, and the trees are way too dense for a fight like this."

"Well then, what do you suggest we do?" At that moment a Beowolf twice the size of the others burst through the trees, its fangs gleaming. An alpha.

"Oooookay…" Blaze said looking around. "Follow my lead." A Grimm ran forward, Blaze slid and ducked under its swigging claw, rolled. Slamming his sword into the dirt Blaze pole vaulted over a second, and then he ran, without looking back. Umbra leapt in off a tree and ran in front of him.

"That was your plan!" he shouted.

"You have a better one!"

"I didn't want to use it but yeah." Umbra grabbed Blaze's hand and instantly the shadows around them seemed to shift. No, they were moving! Blaze watched in shock as the shadows of the trees, Grimm, and even their own rose into the air. Soon, a black fog floated around them, a fog made of shadow. Blaze stumbled, unable to see and Umbra yanked him to his feet, guiding him.

"I thought you said you couldn't see in the dark!"

"Shut up!"

Soon the two burst through the fog, Blaze let go of Umbra's hand and landed, gasping for breath.

"I…assume that was your…semblance," he panted.

"Yeah," Umbra said looking behind them, "I'll explain it later. But we have to get moving, that fog won't confuse them for very long." Blaze glanced back and nodded.

"Right," he said, straightening up.