Ash woke up early in the morning, early enough to see the sun rising to start the day as he made his way out of the large room and into the hallways of Beacon.
The place was very large, the size of a castle if he'd say so, and he'd spent the better part of an hour exploring it. Eventually he stumbled upon a room he assumed to be a dining hall, and while he was unkindled and never needed food to keep him going through his journey, he took what he could get.
And he did just that. He sat down at one of the empty tables and removed his helm, frowning at the dormant abyssal tendrils that crept up it's pointed form.
Maybe he could fish out that old repair kit from Lordran, he hadn't ever needed to in Lothric since he could warp from the get-go, and going to Andre was much easier. But now? Perhaps he had a use for the old thing.
Ash swiftly ate his obtained food and left before most of the students even arrived, wandering the hallways in search of a secluded place to work his equipment.
Eventually he found the student armory and sat down on a bench, laying his bottomless box on the seat beside him.
Ash reached in and retrieved his Repairbox, setting it aside next to his bottomless box and once again reaching in. This time, he retrieved an ornate silver pendant, an ancient object that he had claimed during his trip to the land of Oolacile, and a vital tool in his hand at the defeat of Manus.
"Perhaps this old thing will prove to be useful once more." He mused to himself as he removed his hat, setting it on the bench and grasping the pendant.
Ash activated the tool, a flash of golden lights exploding outwards from the pendant and doing wonders for his gear.
His cape was no longer damp with abyss, and the tendrils all over his armor had significantly retreated, one more usage of the pendant should be enough to completely wash away the taint on his armor.
Ash used it once more, and his prized armor shined a silver glow as it was restored to it's former glory. His helmet was a smooth construct made of fine metals that deflected bladed strikes with it's round shape, and his gauntlet similarly shined like it had just been forged.
His cape was back to a deep crimson color and although he preferred the royal blue associated with Artorias, he couldn't help but grin as the rich color was returned to it.
He deposited the pendant into his bottomless storage and began mending any imperfections on his clothing with his Repairbox. After he was finished he deposited the Repairbox into his bottomless box, and returned said box to it's place on his hip.
Just as he finished putting his stuff away, a large group of students showed up in the room. Ash easily picked out the ones he knew of, like Ruby, Yang, Jaune, Weiss, and Blake. There were also a few he didn't know.
There was a boy with black hair and a pink streak running through it, a girl with ginger hair dressed in white and pink, and a curious red haired girl who dressed in a bronze colored battle armor.
Yang and Ruby approached an assortment of lockers across from where I was seated upon the bench.
"Goodmorning Yang, Ruby." Ash greeted the two as the girls walked up to their lockers and gave a friendly smile.
"Hi!" Ruby waves and turns to input the code to her locker.
"You're looking... Sharp." Yang grinned, making Ash groan at the horrible pun.
The boy with black hair walked by accompanied by the girl with ginger hair, the girl practically bouncing up and down with energy as she spoke feverishly to the boy.
"Wonder what those two were so worked up about." Ruby wondered absently and opened up her locker, revealing the red structure of Crescent Rose.
"Oh, who knows... So! You seem awfully chipper this morning." Yang turns to speak to Ruby.
"Yup! No more awkward small talk or 'getting to know you' stuff." Ruby nods and reaches her hands in her locker.
"Today I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She pulls out the collapsed scythe and rubs a hand against it lovingly, as if holding a baby.
Yang crosses her arms "Well, remember Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation." Yang shifts her hands onto her hips. "If you want to grow up, you're going to have to meet new people and learn to work together."
"Ugh, you sound like dad!" Ruby groans and replaces her weapon into her locker. "Okay, first of all what does meeting new people have to do with fighting? And secondly, I don't need people to help me grow up."
Ruby places crosses her arms with a look of pride adorning her features. "I drink milk!"
"What does milk have to do with anything?" Ash interjects, his head tilted to the side like a confused dog.
"I- Be quiet!" Ruby groans out.
"But what about when we form teams?" Yang asks, spreading her arms out from her body.
"Uhm, I don't know, I-I'll just be on your team or something..." Ruby turns around with her arms a crossed
He was unaware that there would be teams, and he felt a little annoyed that he couldn't fight solo anymore. And it's not because he's afraid that he'd accidentally harm his team, he was apart of a legion who exclusively wielded greatswords as large as themselves, afterall.
He was much more concerned with the fact that he would know nothing about these people, and it would take a very long time to bring himself to trust them.
"Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation?" Requested the voice of Glynda Goodwitch.
Ash stood and gave his sword a small flourish, unintentionally cleaving a bench in half before sheathing his sword and looking around for any eyewitnesses in a panic.
Thankfully, everyone had already departed for initiation, and not a soul was there to witness his accidental vandalism.
...
Ash stood off to the side of the cliff overlooking the vibrant forest below, observing his surroundings wistfully.
The rest of the students were stood in random order upon square metal plates waiting instructions for their long-awaited initiation.
"For years you have trained to become warriors. And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin finally addressed the waiting students, standing straight with his signature mug in hand.
"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." Professor Goodwitch clarified.
Ash's heart sank, he thought he'd have much more time to build relations with the student populous before he had to choose his team. But maybe it wasn't all bad, hopefully he wouldn't have to work with these people for very long.
"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 work well." Ozpin further explained the team system, causing Ash to sigh heavily as he was presented the news.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." Ozpin continued to lower Ash's hopes for an acceptable outcome, it was getting ridiculous at this point.
"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."
Ash was surprised to say the least, he didnt expect that Ozpin was sending children into a forest filled to the brim with monsters. He supposed it wouldn't be a big deal for him, but what of the other students? Would they survive?
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation. But our instructors will not intervene"
Ash tuned out the rest of his speaking, something about an abandoned temple and relics. He was far more intrigued with how this world worked, so far he knew that there was no curse, and the only threat to humanity is the creatures that claw at the walls.
He supposed that this form of training was far less brutal and unforgiving than the training of the Legion, and for that he was thankful. Thankful not for himself, but thankful that no person would ever have to experience the declining Age of Fire ever again.
"Are there any questions?" Ozpin asked.
"Yeah, um, sir-" Jaune raised his hand and started to speak, only to be cut off by Ozpin.
"Good! Now, take your positions."
The students started to adopt their stances and ready their weapons.
"Uh, sir? I've got a question." Jaune raised his hand yet again.
The metal plate under Weiss Schnee shot upwards, catapulting the girl into the air as Ash sputtered in shock.
Was the pad faulty, will she die? What is to happen to the rest of them? How are they going to survive the fall?
Ash stared with wide eyes as the rest of the students were shot off into the air one by one.
"So, this landing strategy thing, uh, w-what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?" Jaune asked, somehow oblivious to his fellow students catapulting into the air.
"No. You will be falling." Said Ozpin.
"Oh, I see. So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"
Jaune's time was running out, there were about four students between him and the most recent launch.
"No. You will be using your own landing strategy. Ozpin answered, slight amusement in his voice.
"Uhhuh... Yeah"
Ruby and Yang were shot off into the air, Jaune was the last one left on the pads.
"So, um, what exactly is a landing strateGYY-!" Jaune yelled out as he was catapulted into the sky.
Ozpin watched the students fly off while taking a sip out of his mug.
"Mr Cinerous, would you please step atop one of the launch pads?" Professor Goodwitch asked, gesturing to the launch pads which were now in a dormat position.
"Yes... of course." Ash said nervously as he made his way over to one of the metal squared and stood on it.
He drew his sword and held it with both hands in a reverse grip, readying himself for take-off.
"Safe travels, Ash." Ozpin laughed and sipped from his mug.
Ash was catapulted into the air, the winds howling as his body tears it's way through the skies.
Ash soon reaches the apex of his launch, and he panics as he begins plummeting down towards Remnant. He can't pull out a staff and use Spook, he might drop it by accident, and the spell might not even protect him.
He could use the recoil from a Pyromancy, but he'd need the power of a Chaos Pyromancy, and it would set the forest ablaze.
The only thing he could use is...
Ash spotted a large creature lumbering through the forest below, and he positioned himself into a plunging attack. He hoped to the flames that this would work.
Ash fell upon the creature like a meteor, his sword stabbing deep into it's skull and evaporating it into dust in an instant. Thankfully, an instant was all he needed for his momentum to drastically decrease and for him to safely drop onto the ground.
He heard a growl from behind him, that bear-like thing wasn't alone.
He rolled out of the way of a vertical slam, and then hopped over a swipe aimed for his previously low position.
Ash leapt at his opponent, stabbing his sword deep into it's shoulder and using his weight to slice the arm in half.
The creature roared in defiance, standing up on two back legs before bringing itself down for a devastating attack.
Ash moved under the creature and held his sword up to the air, grinning as the creature accidentally speared itself on the blade of Ash's greatsword.
Ash sheathed his sword and dusted himself off. Ozpin said to head north, right? Ash pulled out his beat-up compass and pointed himself towards the north.
This would probably take a long time.
...
