Chapter 2: First steps
The week passed relatively fast. Gale had gotten used to the rhythm of things and had been schooled on the world. It had been interesting, Grimm, faunes, kingdoms, semblances it all sounded out of a tv show. Today was the day they finally started their adventure. They all stood in front of the bullhead they had already put their bags in. Gale waited while the girls to say their goodbyes to their dad. After that, they walked over to him.
"Hey, dad wants to talk with you," Yang said making him gulp. Yang had been wary of him when they first met but quickly warmed up to him. "Come on, he won't kill you... Probably."
"Yang! Stop scaring him!" Ruby scolded. She smiled at Gale calming him down a bit. "Don't worry!"
"If you say so..." He walked towards Taiyang, he hadn't felt fear like this in a long time.
'Demon slayer scared of a dad?' Hoji asked mockingly.
'Fuck yeah I am!' Gale said.
"Gale, I just wanted to say thank you for helping Ruby" Taiyang said.
"Of course sir," he said softly.
"Ruby has taken a real shine on you this last week."
"I-I didn't notice," Gale said gulping.
"Well, she has... I have never seen her so interested in a boy..." Venom dripped from the word boy making Gale pale up.
"She is a good girl... Please be nice to her... If you break her heart... Not even the headmaster will be able to save you..." Taiyang said before giving Gale a pat in the back. "Well, that's it! Go on!" Taiyang said flashing a smile at him. Gale slowly walked away back to the girls.
'Holy shit! He's even scarier than my brother!' Hoji said.
'I-I think I saw death in the eyes.' Gale replied a bit shaken.
"Oh... He gave you one of his dad talks?" Yang asked laughing.
"I-I guess" Gale replied.
"Well it seems he's looking out for Ruby," Yang said before hugging her much to Ruby's protests. "Seems he realized she has a crush on you!" She said.
"Yang! Stop! It's not true!" Ruby said trying to free herself.
"Well, you heard the man. If you hurt her you will wish you weren't born" Yang said with a smile even though Gale knew it was a serious threat.
"I-I get it..." Gale said wondering if he could go back to fighting demons. At least then it was less scary.
"Stop it both of you!" Ruby grumbled. She grabbed his hand pulling him into the bullhead. He felt eyes burning to the back of his skull.
'Holy shit! Is everyone in their family so scary!?' Hoji asked.
'God I hope I never find out.'
'It's not too late to run away' Hoji said.
'Run where? I mean at least now we have a roof over our heads. And besides, as long as nothing bad happens we are okay!'
"I'm sorry about that" Ruby said embarrassed. "They are really overprotective..." She was red Gale felt a bit bad for the girl so he chuckled.
"All okay. It's great you have family that worries for you." Gale said smiling. "Keep them close they are the ones that truly have your back."
"Yeah right!?" Yang said butting in. "We are just playing around!"
"Well death threats are hardly" before he could finish he felt a punch that took the wind out of his sails. "Yeah! We are playing Rubes! Nothing all okay!" Gale quickly said.
"Rubes?" Ruby asked confused.
"Aww, you're already on a nickname basis!" Yang said squeezing his shoulder.
'What did they feed this girl!?' Hoji asked horrified.
"Please Yang I want to live." Gale whimpered.
"Stop being a baby!" Yang said giving him a playful slap on the back. A playful slap that left him face-first on the ground.
"Are you okay!?" Ruby asked.
"Perfect! I just felt like sleeping in the ground!" Gale said sarcastically as Ruby helped him up. He looked around and saw people with weapons of all shapes and sizes.
'Wow... They might not be as good as mine but there's so much variety!' Hoji said delighted.
'Keep it in your pants please' Gale recorded.
"I can't believe my little sister is going to Beacon!" Yang said hugging Ruby. Gale felt a small hint of jealousy from inside him. He didn't remember his parents much and his grandfather was a teacher more than family never really showing much love to him.
"Please stop," Ruby said gasping for air.
"But I'm so proud of you!" Yang said.
"Its nothing," Ruby said.
"Being humble is good but take the praise when deserved," Gale said chuckling.
"Yeah! Exactly! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees!" Yang praised.
"I don't want to be the 'bee's knees', okay? I don't want to be any kind of knees! I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees." Ruby said making Gale chuckle a bit.
"Interesting goal," Gale said chuckling.
"Why are you so gloomy? Aren't you excited?" Yang asked.
"Of course I am! It's just that... I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything."
"I mean you are special. Look at your sister and I you beat us to the punch." Gale said jokingly.
"Well yeah! But... You're different! You... Well, you know" she said. According to Ozpin, the only ones that would know about Gale's predicament would be the Xiao Long family and members of staff.
"Yeah but you still beat Yang!" Gale said smiling. "I mean yeah she is easy to beat but you beat her!" He said with a smirk on his face. In the week he spent in the Xiao Long household he had sparred with Yang three times. Three times he had defeated her.
"Very funny!" Yang said gritting her teeth as she squeezed his shoulder again.
"Ahhh leniency! Please!" Gale said trying to get out of the death grip. The whole act made Ruby laugh, her worries seeming to vanish.
"Thanks... I really appreciate you both cheering me up." She said giving them a smile.
"A smile of a thousand volts!" Gale said giving her a thumbs up which earned him another death grip.
"Please! Stop! I have delicate shoulders! Mercy!" He said as he squirmed.
"Stop flirting with my little sister!" Yang said.
"It was just a compliment woman! I swear please stop!" Gale said trying to free himself.
"Oh no, mister! You aren't getting away!"
"Yang let go of him!" Ruby tried getting him out of the death grip. She got him off him and Gale breathed let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Ruby! I'll sing your songs of what an amazing person you are!" Gale said making Ruby blush.
"Stop flirting," Yang said trying to get a hold of him.
"I'm not! Please someone help!"
They disembarked and Gale was amazed. Beacon looked perfect, it was such an imposing building.
"Holy shit..." Said amazed only for Ruby to swiftly give him a karate chop. "Why?"
"Don't swear!" She scolded making Yang chuckle.
"Well, this might be a problem," Gale said chuckling.
"Why?"
"I swear like a sailor," he said laughing. "I just kept it down because... Well, I felt your dad would have cut my tongue." Gale said laughing.
"What makes you think I won't?" Ruby asked as Gale shrieked as he hid behind Yang.
"Is there a scary gene in your family!?" Gale asked. While Ruby looked cute glaring at him he was not risking it with what he had seen with Yang and Taiyang. Her focus quickly changed to the weapons. She looked in awe at the student's weapons.
"That kid's got a collapsible staff! And she's got a fire sword!" She said her eyes shining with excitement until Yang reeled her in.
"Easy there, little sister. They're just weapons!" Yang scolded.
"Just weapons'? They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us! Oh, they're so cool!" Ruby explained.
'She gets it!' Hoji squealed.
'Oh God what has she unleased...' Gale said letting out a sigh.
"Well, why can't you swoon over your own weapon?" Yang asked. "Don't you like it?"
"Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose! I just really like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people, but better." She said as she activated her scythe.
"And here I thought I was a cool guy," Gale said. "Then again I guess my katana is pretty boring."
'Pretty boring!? How dare you!? This is my masterpiece! My magnum opus! My...' Hoji kept ranting as Gale did the best he could to block him out.
"I-I didn't mean it like that! Your sword is pretty cool and you're cool and..." She stopped when she saw Gale grinning.
"Thank you Ruby for reinforcing my awesomeness," Gale said smirking as Yang groaned.
"You just had to compliment him... It will go to his head." Yang complained.
"Ruby, come on, why don't you go try and make some friends of your own?" Yang said pulling Ruby's hood over her head.
"But... why would I need friends if I have you and Gale?" She asked taking off her hood.
"Oh yeah I'm a friend," Gale said dramatically.
"And it better stay as friends if you want to live" Yang warned.
"Yang stop it! Stop threatening Gale!"
"Sorry, Rubes. Big sister duties" Yang said. Oh well, my friends are here bye!" Yang said sprinting out with a speed Gale had never seen before Ruby got spun around until she bumped into a bunch of suitcases. Gale turned to see who these suitcases belonged to.
It was a girl with white hair and a white dress. A scar on her face, honestly Gale thought she was very attractive but she was about to berate Ruby and the last thing he needed was Yang hanging him for letting someone berate Ruby.
"Oh I apologize," Gale said quickly getting between them and helping the girl pick the bags up.
"And who are you?" She asked shifting his attention to him.
"Oh, I'm Gale. I apologize I bumped into her and she dropped your bags." Gale said, the girl looked surprised but quickly gathered her bearings.
"It's not your fault. It's the dolt's fault!" She said turning back to Ruby.
"Oh nonsense my fault. I bumped into her. I apologize um..." He never caught her name.
"Weiss, Weiss Schnee." She said proudly as if Gale should recognize her name.
"Well, I apologize for the inconvenience. Weiss" he said calmly. She looked surprised at him. "Something wrong I said?"
"You act as if you don't recognize me," she said.
"Should I? Sorry I lived pretty secluded so I don't know much" Gale said.
"Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world." A girl added. Gale looked at the source of it and saw a girl with black hair and a bow.
"Finally some recognition!" Weiss huffed.
"Sorry, as I said until recently I hadn't really left the area around my house," Gale said lying straight to her face.
"Hmm I understand," Weiss said.
"The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners." The girl added making Weiss recoil. She looked surprised someone would bring that up.
" How dare- The nerve of... Ugh!" Weiss huffed as she left. But before she did she turned to Gale. "I appreciate the help even if that dolt caused this mess!" She said surprising Gale.
'A tsun-tsundere!!' Hoji sang.
'Totally' Gale said.
'Do you think she is going to be like 'I don't like you or anything!' Hoji said imitating her.
'Probably' Gale turned to Ruby and helped her up.
"Thank you for helping me with that" Ruby said embarrassed.
"Eh all good. Better me dealing with that than Yang leaving a crater where she stood." Gale said jokingly.
"She wouldn't," Ruby said.
"Wouldn't she?"
"Probably..." Ruby said making him chuckle. A blonde guy approached them smiling.
"Hi I'm, Jaune," he said a bit awkwardly.
"Aren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?" Ruby asked making Gale laugh loudly.
"All I'm saying is that motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on!" Jaune explained. He had decided to tag along with Gale and Ruby. Pretty quickly Gale realized he was a green as they came. He didn't really know how he got in.
"Look, I'm sorry! Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind." Ruby said laughing.
"How about blondie?" Gale asked smirking.
"Please don't" Jaune protested.
"Goldilocks?" Gale asked. Ruby elbowed Gale signaling him to shut up.
"Well, the name's Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue ladies love it!" He said. Gale approved of his confidence even if he couldn't back it.
"Do they?" Ruby asked not amused making Gale laugh.
"Who knows. I just know it's got nothing on Gale Greene" Gale said smirking. "Sorry Jaune you never stood a chance. Ask Ruby she totally digs me" Gale said before receiving a swift kick to the shin. "Ow, you little shrimp!" Gale said before receiving another kick. "The hell are those shoes made of cement!?"
"So how long have you two been together?" Jaune asked bringing them both to a halt. Ruby went red as she tried to come up with an answer.
"Oh, we aren't together. I just like teasing her." Gale said saving the situation. "As you see she is easily flustered."
They all walked for a bit more awkward silence settling in until Ruby spoke up.
"So... I got this thing," she said deploying her scythe barely missing Gale.
'She gets the fine art of weapon crafting.' Hoji said.
'Oh for fuck sake keep it quiet' Gale said.
"Whoa! Is that a scythe?" Jaune asked taken aback.
"It's also a customizable high-impact sniper rifle!" She said proudly. Gale realized she had totally lost Jaune.
"It's also a gun". Gale whispered in his ear.
" ohhh."
"So what've you got?" Ruby asked excitedly.
"I have this sword," he said unsheathing in. It looked like a normal sword.
'Anything nice to say about that sword?' Gale asked Hoji.
'Whoever made it knew how to make swords I guess' Hoji answered.
"Yeah, and I've got a shield, too!" He said as he showed them off.
"What do they do?" Ruby asked.
"The shield gets smaller, so when I get tired of carrying it, I can just... put it away..." Jaune explained as he sounded more bummed out as time passed.
'Oh look you two are incompetent at weaponsmithing.' Hoji said chuckling.
'A weapon without a wielder is an ornament. So it doesn't matter dipshit' Gale shot back.
"Wouldn't it weigh the same?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, it does..." Jaune said sadly.
"Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons, so... I guess I did go a little overboard when designing it." Ruby explained, Jaune went wide-eyed as he heard that.
"That might be the understatement of the century," Gale said laughing.
"You made that!?" Jaune asked surprised.
"Of course! All students at Signal forge their own weapons! Didn't you make yours?" Ruby asked surprised.
"It's a hand-me-down. My great-grandfather used it to fight in the war."
"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me!" Ruby said laughing. Gale gave her a quick karate chop and a glare.
"Cheer up Jaune, I didn't make my weapon either," Gale said throwing his arm around his shoulder. Jaune smiled a bit at that.
"Can I see it?" Jaune asked.
"Eh sure, it's just a simple sword," Gale said much to the distaste of Hoji.
"That's simple!?" Jaune asked. The tenwokiru ken or the sword that cut heavens. Was Hoji's best work. A sword made out of the finest materials. The hilt had two dragons coiling around it each one of them holding an orb in their mouth. The lower part of the sword inscribed with ancient phrases and it shined like a beacon in a dark night.
"I mean yeah it's just a sword. A bit tacky if you ask me." Gale said as he heard Hoji curse at him.
"Where did you get it?" Jaune asked.
"Grandpa gave it to me," he said spinning it around before sheathing it. "Anyways where are we supposed to go?"
"I was following you," Jaune said.
"I was following Ruby," Gale said before turning to her. Her face said it all.
"Shit... Of course, we're lost." Gale said.
"Swearing!" Ruby scolded.
It took them a while but they finally made it to where they should. Gale saw Yang motioning for them to come.
"Ruby, Gale I saved you a spot!" She said.
"See ya Jaune," Ruby said.
"Talk to you later" Gale added.
"How's your first day going, little sister?" Yang asked.
"You mean after you ditched her?" Gale said snorting.
"Well, not ditched. I left her with you and I trust you!" Yang said excusing herself.
"Yeah, I was lucky Gale took care of the problem."
"Are you being sarcastic?" Yang asked surprised.
"I wish! I tripped over some crabby girl's luggage, and then she yelled at me and Gale stepped in." Gale says Weiss approaching them as Ruby complained. He held his laughter at this.
"You!" Weiss said. Ruby shrieked as she jumped onto Gale's arms as he did his best to divert his view from Yang.
"Oh, God, it's happening again!" Ruby said.
"You're lucky your boyfriend has some manners!" She said.
"Not her boyfriend! I like living" Gale said as he felt Yang's gaze on him.
"It was an accident!" She said Weiss pulled out two brochures and handed them to Gale and Ruby. "What is this?"
"Lemme guess legal documentation that frees you from lawsuits from any injury," Gale asked calmly.
"Exactly!" Weiss said. "How did you know?"
"Been there done that" Gale said. "What were you carrying?"
"Dust," she said.
"Huh... I see... Why give me one though?"
"If you're going to hang around that... Child, then you'll need it." Weiss said Gale needed not to be told before he stood in front of Yang. The girl would break Weiss if she didn't shut up. "You really wanna start making things up to me?"
"Yeah..." Ruby said.
"Read this, and don't ever speak to me again," Weiss said. Yang tried to push past me but I didn't let her. She looked at him in the eyes almost as if saying it was okay. Gale relented and let her through.
"Look, uh, it sounds like you two just got off on the wrong foot. Why don't you start over and try to be friends, okay?" Yang said calmly, surprising Gale.
"Yeah! Great idea, sis!" Ruby said enthusiastically making Gale's heart melt.
'You are swooning' Hoji cooed.
'No, she is just cute and innocent. It's a nice change of pace.'
'From our cynicism?' Hoji asked.
'Yeah!'
"Hello, Weiss! I'm Ruby! Wanna hang out? We can go shopping for school supplies!" Ruby said giving her a big smile. Gale saw Weiss face and could see she wasn't amused.
"Yeah! And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, blond, and scraggly over there!" Weiss said faking excitement. Gale turned to see Jaune and laughed she was definitely bullshitting.
"Wow, really!?" Ruby asked hopeful.
"No," Weiss said glaring at her. Before the situation could get any worse Ozpin took the stage.
"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." Said as the students began to murmur.
'Wow captain positivity here' Hoji snickered.
'No shit.'
"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."
'That ended better than I expected.' Hoji said surprised.
'Yeah, I expected something along the lines of how much we suck and how most of us would probably die.' Gale said.
'He's not lord Farquad' Hoji said.
"You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed." Glynda said as people began to disperse.
"He seemed off," Ruby said.
"Yeah, no shit. He might as well have said we are all shit and we will probably die " Gale said laughing earning a kick to the shin. "Why!?"
"Stop swearing!" Ruby said pouting. Gale faltered for a second but recomposed himself.
"Fuck no," he said earning him another kick.
"It's like a big slumber party!" Yang said looking around. Gale didn't expect for everyone to sleep mixed in but it happened.
"I don't think Dad would approve of all the boys, though," Ruby said keeping her eyes to the ground.
"I know I do," Yang said purring.
"Yang I told you looking is free. Touching is a privilege" Gale said as he walked towards them shirtless. The girls turned to them. They stammered when they saw him. He had never gone around without a shirt and they never expected him to be so buff.
His abs were pretty toned his arms looked strong the girls had no words for it. The other thing they notice was multiple scars he had around his body with varying degrees of gravity. Some were small others looked really painful.
"I'm not a piece of meat girls," he said chuckling.
"Ah..." Ruby said blushing. Yang quickly covered her eyes. "Yang!?"
"You're too innocent to look at this" Yang said covering Ruby's eyes. Ruby did the best to get Yang off.
'You love this don't you?' Hoji asked.
'Fuck yeah I do!'
'Manwhore.'
'Shut up.' A card fell from Ruby's hands Yang quickly picked it up.
"What's this?" Yang asked curiously.
"A letter to the gang back at Signal. I promised to tell them all about Beacon and how things are going." Ruby said smiling.
"Well aren't you the popular one?" Gale asked jokingly.
"Aww that's so cute," Yang said. Out of nowhere, a pillow went flying to Gale's face. Confused he turned around to see who threw it. Some random guy seemed to be apologizing at a distance. Gale flipped him the bird earning another kick from Ruby.
"Shut up! I didn't get to take my friends with me to school! It's weird not knowing anyone here!" Ruby said a bit saddened.
"Well it's good to know I don't count as a person," Gale said sarcastically.
"I-I didn't mean it that way!" Ruby said worriedly.
"I know I'm just pulling your leg, Rubes," Gale said laughing.
"Yeah! I mean Gale isn't much but there's also Jaune! He seems like a nice guy." Yang said as Gale rolled his eyes.
"Har har Yang. Very funny." Gale said rolling his eyes.
"Pretty sure Weiss counts as a negative friend. I'm back to one" Ruby said in a dejected tone.
"I hope I am one," Gale said jokingly only for Yang to go give him a punch in the arm. Gale bit his tongue trying to not curse to the high heavens. "You... I hate you..." Gale said smiling.
"Love ya too Gale," Yang said smiling. "There's no such things as negative friends! You just made one friend and one enemy!"
"That doesn't help Yang" Gale deadpanned. Gale noticed Ruby looking intently at someone. It was the girl from earlier the one that explained who Weiss was.
"That girl..." Ruby said.
"You know her?" Yang asked.
"We don't know her we kinda saw her in the courtyard and she told me who a Schnee was" Gale explained.
"Well, now's your chance!" Yang said picking Ruby with one arm and dragging Gale with the other.
"Why am I getting dragged into this?" Gale asked.
"Moral support!" Yang said.
"My morale is pretty low around you Yang," Gale said which earned him a squeeze in his arm as he was dragged against his will.
"Hello" Yang sang. "I believe you two may know each other?" Yang asked putting Ruby in front of her.
"Weren't you the girl that bumped into Schnee?" The girl asked. She saw Gale and blushed a bit. "You're the one that distracted her correct."
"Yup," Gale said.
"I see..." She said going back to her book. Gale was about to leave but got pulled in by Yang again. Gale heard Yang and Ruby whispering to each other. It was clear Ruby wasn't the most socially adept person.
"So... What's your name?" Yang asked disturbing the girl again.
"Blake," she said without raising her eyes.
"Blake I apologize for interrupting. I'm here against my will" Gale said before getting a karate chop from Yang.
"I see that... No need to apologize" Blake said smiling.
"Well, Blake, I'm Yang, Ruby's older sister! And this is Gale! He's..." Yang said trying to find the word.
"Hostage?" Gale asked before receiving another chop.
"Anyways I like your bow" Yang complimented.
"Yeah... Very cute" Gale groaned.
"I appreciate the compliment." She told Gale who gave her a weak thumbs up.
'You are getting manhandled.'
'Shut up!'
'Maybe she is using this as an excuse to touch you' Hoji cooed.
'Shut up Hoji!'
"It goes great with your... pajamas!" Yang complimented.
"Thanks..." She said clearly irritated.
"Yang let me go please" Gale begged but she ignored him.
"Nice night, don't you think?" Yang says as Gale let's out a groan.
"She is trying to read let her be!" Gale said as he was swiftly thrown to the ground.
"Thank you, Gale. I appreciate how understanding you are" Blake said venom dripping from her voice.
"Yeah, this girl's a lost cause," Yang said in defeat letting Gale go.
"What's it about?" Ruby asked as Yang grabbed Gale again.
"Mercy!" He bellowed.
"Huh?" Blake asked surprised.
"Your book. Does it have a name?" Ruby asked.
"It's about a man with two souls, each fighting for control over his body," Blake explained.
'It sounds close to us!' Hoji said.
'Difference is we don't fight' Gale said.
'Yeah, we are a team!' Hoji mused.
'Against my will' Gale said.
'You love me shut up' Hoji said. Gale heard Yang give a snarky comment but he did not pay much attention to it.
"I love books. Yang used to read to me every night before bed. Stories of heroes and monsters... They're one of the reasons I want to be a Huntress!" Ruby said with a hopeful optimism. One Gale didn't believe still existed in the world.
"And why is that? Hoping you'll live happily ever after?" Blake asked laughing a bit.
"Well, I'm hoping we all will. As a girl, I wanted to be just like those heroes in the books. Someone who fought for what was right, and protected people who couldn't protect themselves!" She said, she sounded as if she wanted to be a superhero.
"That's... very ambitious for a child," Blake said her smile turning to a frown. "Unfortunately, the real world isn't the same as a fairy tale."
"Tell me about it" Gale muttered as he stood up stretching.
"Well, that's why we're here! To make it better." Ruby said giving her a bright smile that took her aback.
"Huh, maybe we should learn to be more optimistic from her" Gale said chucking.
"Oh, I am so proud of my baby sister!" Yang said picking Ruby up. She finally let Gale go. Blake offered to help him up which he graciously accepted.
"Thank you," Gale said giving her a smile.
"Those two are a handful," Blake said.
"You have no idea," Gale said rubbing his forehead. He quickly noticed how Blake was staring at his scars.
"Two liens the picture," he said sarcastically.
"I-I no it's not like that," she said.
"No worries kitty cat," Gale said jokingly.
"W-what!?" She asked surprised.
"I'm smarter than people give me credit for" Gale whispered to her.
"What gave it away?" She asked softly.
"The eyes, and the bow. I'm pretty sure bows don't normally twitch. No worries. Your secret is safe with me" he said giving her a warm smile. She smiled back and nodded. "Can you help me break them apart?" Gale asked.
"Well, Ruby, Yang, it's a pleasure to-" before Blake could finish Gale heard the stomp of some feet. He turned to see Weiss rapidly approaching.
'Of course!' Gale thought.
'Lady luck smiling down upon you' Hoji said.
"What in the world is going on over here?! Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep?" Weiss said angrily. Yang stood up to meet her gaze but before anything could brew Gale stepped in front of the two. "Hey! What-" before she could finish she went red as she lost her composure. "Can you put on a shirt?" She asked composing herself.
"Considering that stopped you both from fighting I think I will stay like this," Gale said smirking.
"Stay out of this!" Yang and Weiss said at the same time as Gale slowly stepped away.
"Shh! Guys, she's right! People are trying to sleep!" Ruby said Weiss turned her attention to her and glared daggers at her.
"Oh, now you're on my side!" Weiss said. Gale let out a sigh.
"Sleep well, Blake. See you at the initiation" Gale said.
"Likewise," she said giving him a smile. Gale retreaded to a quiet corner to let the girls bicker. He wondered what the initiation would be about.
Gale woke up rather early and slowly dragged himself to his feet. He yawned and decided to get ready. He lazily showered and put on his armor. He looked at himself in the mirror. He tried fixing his hair a bit to no avail. His black hair has grown beyond the point of control.
'Ready for today?' Hoji asked.
'How hard can it be?' Gale asked.
'Well, you have a point. I doubt there is anything that we can't handle.'
'I mean grimm can't be worse than demons.' Gale finished putting the last pieces of the armor. The armor was gray unlike a knights armor this one looked nimble and flexible. It had a white imprint on it of a snake. According to his grandfather, that was the family crest back when that was a thing.
Gale went to his locker and punched in the code pulling out his katana and loading up his guns. He saw Jaune walk past him towards wise. Curious he decided to follow him.
"So, Pyrrha, have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!" Weiss said raining praises on the red hair she was talking to.
'She's sucking up to someone?' Hoji asked surprised.
'She must be important.' Gale responded.
"Hmm... I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may." Pyrrha responded, it was clear to Gale she didn't enjoy this kind of attention. He felt a bit of pity for her.
"Well... I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together." Weiss said clearing it all up for Gale.
"Well, that sounds grand!" Pyrrha said trying her best to sound excited. Gale could almost see the schemes going around Weiss's head which made him chuckle.
"You know what else is great? Me. Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you." Jaune said leaving Gale stunned.
'Holy shit he is going straight for it!' Hoji said laughing.
'He's got balls of steel!' Gale said also laughing.
"Okay Romeo kick it down a notch," Gale said laughing while putting his hand on his shoulder. "Hi Weiss I see you're ready, " Gale said pointing at her rapier.
"Nice to meet you, Jaune and..." Pyrrha said not knowing his name.
"Gale, Gale Greene."
"So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day." He said pushing Pyrrha away.
"Sorry bout that," Gale said apologetically.
"Oh! It's no problem" Pyrrha responded.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Weiss said.
"Not my fault your sarcasm got you into this situation," Gale said.
"Ignore him," Jaune said blocking Gale.
"I'm not talking about that! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Weiss asked exasperated.
"Nope," Gale said.
"Not at all snow angel," Jaune said.
"This is Pyrrha." She said pointing at the red hair girl.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha said waving.
"Hey," Gale said nonchalantly.
"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum!" Weiss said.
"Never heard of it," Jaune said.
"Doesn't ring a bell" Gale said. Weiss scoffed and she stepped closer to Gale.
"She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row! A new record!" Weiss said.
"Still lost here," Gale said.
"The what?"
"She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" Weiss said.
"Okay, now I feel bad because none of these things sound familiar..." Gale said embarrassed.
"Oh, it's okay!" Pyrrha said.
"You really did live under a rock!" Weiss said.
"I lived in the middle of nowhere. This is like my first experience somewhere away from home." Gale said lying through his teeth.
"That's you!?" Jaune said finally understanding. "But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!" Gale chuckled at this.
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrha said.
"You sound pretty cool" Gale mused.
"Thank you," she said smiling.
"So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss asked.
"Me or him?" Gale asked.
"Him," she said pointing at Jaune.
"I guess not... Sorry..." Jaune said deflating a bit.
"Actually, Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader!" Pyrrha said surprising Gale.
"And here I thought it was the birth of a friendship," Gale said dramatically. "Guess I'm wrong."
"What? No I mean you'd also be a great leader." Pyrrha quickly corrected while Gale laughed.
"Just pulling your leg Achilles," Gale said smirking. They all looked at him confused.
"Achilles?" Pyrrha asked confused.
"Yeah, it's an old story from where I come from. The story goes that there was a legendary warrior named Achilles. A warrior with no equal, he was practically considered a demigod. But he had one weakness."
"Which one?" Jaune asked.
"The tendons on his foot. He got injured there one fateful battle and died" Gale explained.
"Why call me like that?" Pyrrha asked confused.
"From what Weiss said you are like him. An amazing warrior and besides your armor resembles his." Gale explained.
"Didn't you say you lived in the middle of nowhere?" Weiss asked.
"Yup. But we have our own community. It's not like I was alone."
"Oh, how is it called?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"Oh, we call ourselves the United States," Gale said, technically it wasn't a lie but the US was anything but small.
"Sounds like a nice place," Pyrrha said.
"Not gonna lie. I miss it a bit" Gale said.
"Maybe one day you can show me around?" Pyrrha asked.
"Sure! Who knows when that will be but of course I'll show you around." Gale said smiling.
'The thighs! The thighs! Gale those thighs!' Hoji hollered.
'Shut up I know! Keep it cool dipshit' Gale said.
"Sounds like Pyrrha's onboard for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quickly! Now, I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I could pull some strings, find a place for you. What do you say?" Jaune said getting a bit too close for comfort to Weiss.
"All right, that's a bit too close! Gale, a little help, please!?" Gale let out a sigh as he pulled out the crossbow and shot. The bolt went out with incredible speed and stuck Jaune to a nearby wall. He put it away as the girls looked incredulous.
"What?" Gale asked confused.
"Where are you carrying that!?" They both asked.
"In my pockets?" Gale answered unsure.
"That's impossible! How are you doing that!?" Weiss asked trying to find if it was an optical illusion.
"Family secret!" Gale said. "You won't find how by looking at me. But you're free to stare" he smirked as they both turned away. "I'll see you girls on the initiation! Good luck" he said waving at them. They quickly went their way as Gale laughed hard. It was so easy to tease people.
He saw Ruby and Yang talking and slowly approached them. He signaled Ruby to not make a sound as he slowly approached Yang. He stood behind her and grinned.
"Sup Yang!" He yelled as she shrieked. A fist connecting with his face planting him against a wall. "What the fuck Yang!?"
"Swear!" Ruby said as Gale groaned.
"That's what you get for scaring me!" She said
"A jumpscare deserves almost having your jaw punched off!?"
"Yeah!"
"You know what! I'm not even going to bother..." Gale said in defeat as he rubbed his chin. "What were you two talking about?" He asked rubbing his chin. Before she could answer a voice sounded from speakers.
"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately." Glynda said. Gale let out a groan.
"See you girls at the cliff," Gale said. "Gotta help Mr. Smooth talker over there," Gale said pointing at Jaune.
"Sure see ya!" Yang said smiling almost as if she hadn't just almost dislocated his jaw.
"Good luck!" Ruby said. Gale waved at them and walked to Jaune. He ripped out the crossbow bolt.
"There you go, smooth talker. Be careful next time" Gale said giving him a light smile.
"I don't understand. My dad said all women look for is confidence! Where did I go wrong?" Jaune said disappointedly, Gale gave him a hand and helped him up.
"There is a fine difference between being confident and being cocky. Girls like confidence, not cockiness." Gale explained. Jaune nodded and walked past Pyrrha head hung low. Gale walked up to Pyrrha.
"He'll be okay," Gale said chuckling.
"I hope so," Pyrrha said a bit worried.
"He'll be. Anyways, mind accompanying me to the cliff?" He asked dramatically bowing.
"Please don't," Pyrrha said embarrassed.
"Pulling your leg don't worry," Gale said laughing. "You're too easy!" Gale put her arm around her shoulder and laughed. "You know I think you and I will get along just fine," Gale said smiling.
They made their way to the platforms. Gale quickly noticed the envious glares of many guys they passed by. He smirked trying to rub it in.
"Seems I'm in a lot of people's shitlitst," Gale said laughing.
"What?" She asked surprised.
"Yeah, I mean hanging out with a cute girl. They are totally jealous!" Gale said laughing. Pyrrha went red as she avoided his gaze. "Can't be the first time you've heard it."
"True but it's the first time it felt genuine." She said smiling.
"Well, I'm happy I'm the first," Gale said laughing. "Anyways we better get on the platforms before crop lady has our heads," Gale said grabbing a spot. He saw Ruby two spots to his right.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest," Ozpin said Gale didn't really care. He just wanted to see why they were called to a cliff.
'They're going to throw you in the forest' Hoji said.
'Doubt it. I don't think they would be that cruel. Only grandad did bullshit like that.'
"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." Glynda said. He heard Ruby groan. For her good, he hoped she had someone she knew in her team. She wasn't the most socially adept after all.
"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 added it sounded simple enough. After all, he had yet to make any enemies. If anything most people seemed to like him.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years," Ozpin said Gale heard Ruby scream in shock. It was a pretty random way of forming teams. If anything it would cause more problems than it's worth. "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."
"Pretty inspiring!" Gale said as Glynda glared daggers at him.
"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 regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
"How are we getting down there?" Gale asked. Before Ozpin could answer he saw Weiss launch up to the sky.
"Oh... Oh, fuck no! I ain't being launch off a cliff again!" Gale said. Before he could step off his launchpad activated and sent him flying. "Fuck you Ozpin!" He yelled as he started falling.
"Told ya!" Hoji said materializing next to him.
"Not the fucking time Hoji!" Gale yelled. Gale stopped flailing and breathed in deeply. He slowly struck a pose. He hit the ground hard a crater forming. He stood up no worse for wear. It seemed that the stances his grandfather taught him would be useful here.
'What a nice guy' Hoji said slowly vanishing.
'Shut up Hoji!' Gale said. He knew he had to push in one direction and kill whatever stood in front of him.
Gale started walking, so far he had heard nothing, it was actually getting kind of boring. He was expecting to run into one of those grimm things but they had yet to appear. He heard some rustling in some nearby bushes he pulled out his revolver and shot at the bushes. A large wolf collapse it slowly disintegrated.
"That it? I expected them to-"
'Left!' Hoji yelled. Gale quickly unsheathed his sword and sliced the grimm in half. More grimm surrounded him Gale frowned.
"I thought they would be more... Intimidating." Gale said as he walked towards them.
From the cliff, Ozpin and Glynda watched the camera feed as Gale effortlessly killed everything in his way appearing even bored by the whole ordeal.
"He is something else" Glynda muttered as he gracefully moved, every single attack measured as if only making sure he used enough to kill the creature.
"His skill is not in doubt" Ozpin said. An alert ran in the system. Ozpin changed their camera and saw the body of three students mutilated.
"We have to get them out!" Glynda said.
"No, we would create unnecessary chaos. Let them continue. If we spot the creature we will send the professors to dispatch it.
"Ozpin three students are dead!"
"Which is a tragedy. But we cannot charge in blind. We need to get a visual before we act." Ozpin said his eyes narrowing. 'Is this your doing Salem?' He thought darkly.
Gale was bored, he had been killing so many of the grimm he was now just going through motions.
'We might want to move it' Hoji said.
"Yeah. This is kinda boring." Gale jumped on top of a tree and started moving towards the area where the artifacts should be. He saw an open field ice shards on the ground and what seemed like some feathers. "Boring! I missed it all!" Gale said groaning.
He walked towards the ruins and saw something he wasn't expecting. A chess piece. A black king, he picked it up trying to find if there was something special about the chess piece.
'It's just a chess piece' Hoji said exasperated. 'Hey look footprints! We should follow them!'
"I mean that is a good idea actually. I'm surprised!" Gale mocked.
'Oh fuck you!' Hoji said. Gale followed the tracks keeping a swift pace. He saw various forms he recognize. Weiss, Blake, Ruby, Yang, Pyrrha and Jaune plus two he didn't recognize.
"Oh hey Gale!" Ruby said waving at him.
"Seems like you guys had all the fun!" Gale said sarcastically.
"Gale, where is your teammate?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"Dunno. I didn't run into anyone" Gale explained. "Anyways you guys have to-" then Gale heard it. It sounded like a music box. It played a sweet melody. Gale's eyes grew wide.
"What's that?" Yang asked.
"Oh fuck" Gale said.
"Swear!" Ruby said.
"Not the fucking time Ruby" Gale said nervously. "Everyone get across the gap" he ordered.
"What's this all-" Weiss said but was interrupted.
"Now! No matter what you don't cross back!" He said seriously. Yang noticed it was serious. She had never seen him so serious about something.
"Lets move it" Yang said grabbing her sister. Hesitantly they all moved to the other side of the cliff. All except Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha move it" Gale said as the music grew louder.
"No! Let me help you" she said.
"Look I know they say you are strong and stuff but I rather not risk you" Gale explained.
"I'm not leaving!" She said stubbornly.
"Shit... Okay just keep your guard up." Gale ordered. Out of the trees two figures stepped out. One of them look like a porcelain doll its movements unnaturally stiff. Next to it a hunchback creature it had a straw hat and a veil over its head. His hands looked decayed and parts of the bone could be seen. It kept playing the accordion.
"What is that?" Pyrrha asked.
"A demon. Take care of the accordion guy. I'll keep the doll busy. Kill him but don't break the box okay?" Gale said, he saw Pyrrha's eyes widen in shock.
"A demon?"
"Yes, now do that please I'll take care of the doll." Gale slowly stepped forward, the player looked at Gale intently. A growl left his mouth as blood dripped from its mouth. It let out a blood-curdling scream as he started playing the accordion faster. "Now!" Pyrrha charged the creature as the porcelain's doll hands turn into blades and lunged at Gale.
"Oh fuck you!" Gale said as he shot the thing straight in the head. It stumbled backward and started shaking as two more hands with blades burst from its back. "I fucking hate it when they do that!"
The rest of them watched in horror and surprise as they saw Pyrrha and Gale cross swords with these creatures.
"We need to help them!" Ruby said as she saw how Gale kept up with four blades at a time.
"We would only get in the way" Weiss said.
"We can't just stand here!" Ruby said.
"We can and we will," Yang said seriously. "Gale told us he delt with things like this on a regular basis. The only one here who could actually help is Pyrrha." Ruby looked in dismay knowing it was true. Pyrrha seemed to be able to match the creature but it was obvious she was giving it her all.
"You know Pyrrha you got some nice legs" Gale said jokingly as he blocked the attack and sliced one of the arms off the doll.
"What!?" She asked embarrassed as she shot some bolts at the creature which roared and threw a fireball at her. "Are you flirting with me right now?"
"As opposed of another time?" Gale asked shooting various explosive arrows at the doll. Once they exploded Gale could see the creature cracking a white substance seeping out of it.
"Do you really thing now is the best time!?"
"I'm not known for my timing!" Gale said. He sliced two more arms off the creature.
"A bit forward don't you think?"
"Would you prefer I keep it to myself?"
Gale spun around his sword gaining a red hue as he sliced the creature's body in half. The creature slowly melted into a puddle of a white liquid.
Pyrrha on her side was having a bit of difficulty getting past its defenses.
"Hey ugly fuck! You looking for this!?" Gale asked waving his sword. The creature turned to him and growled. This gave Pyrrha enough time to get in close and slice the creature's head off. Blood squirted as the creature's body spasmed on the ground. Gale walked over to the severed head and sliced it making the body stop moving.
He turned around and saw the surprise in everyone's face. He would have a lot of explaining to do and he wasn't looking forward to it. Not one bit.
'Things are never dull are they?' Hoji mused.
'Nope, we are definitely a problem magnet...'
"Well that was..." Before Gale could finish speaking he heard an inhuman roar. "Oh come the fuck on!" He yelled. "Pyrrha bridge now! Keep them safe." She was about to protest but she saw the seriousness in his face.
"Okay. Stay safe" she said. The heavy footsteps and sound of trees being shattered rumbled as a giant jumped in the air. It looked like an ancient samurai an Aura of bloodlust around it. It slammed his Kanabo on top of Gale. Gale blocked the hit as the ground around him shattered.
"Of course it's a fucking berserker!" Gale yelled preparing for battle.
And Cut! Took a while but the new chapter is out! I hope you guys enjoy it! Remember to vote for your pairing of choice. Right now we got 2 votes for Weiss x Gale. UltimateMetroMan out!