Chapter 4 - Entering the Emerald Forest
As we woke up in the morning, (I'm really not a morning person.) we had to wash up and get ready for our official orientation into Beacon. I had put on my shirt, my cargo pants, my socks and combat boots, then my all important jean jacket. (I like the color black, but doesn't make me a gothic person.) Grabbing and sheathing Shinigami Destroyer, I was ready. Well, that isn't very accurate, I still wasn't fully dressed. I'd almost forgotten my gloves. I grabbed them and examined my right one, which had a slash made by a knife that had cut through my glove to my skin. Putting them both on, I was officially ready. Sai was fully dressed in his casual clothing, (To which I've completely fucking forgotten. Sorry Sai, forgive me brother.) and his all purpose trench coat.
"Alright, looks like we're all set. You ready to go, Damion." Sai asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be. Today is the day we get launched into the emerald forest for our initiation. Yeah, this should be fun." I say, walking out of the room.
"Yeah, it should be. I still don't get you sometimes." Sai said, walking after me, scratching his head a bit.
"Don't bother trying. You'll only hurt yourself." I said, heading down for breakfast.
After we left, a weird girl with orange hair started singing as her friend woke up.
"Wake up, lazy-butt. It's morning, it's morning, it's morning, it's morning." She sung happily popping up all around the place.
Then they appeared in the bathroom. Her friend was brushing his teeth, while she kept talking.
"I can't believe that we've been at Beacon for a full 24 hours. Not that I thought we'd get kicked out or anything. I mean, you're the perfect student and I, well, I'm me! But it's just crazy, ya know?" She says, before the scene changes.
Now, they were back in the ballroom and her friend is tying up what I'm assuming was his sleeping bag.
"We've been friends for soooo long. What are the odds of us still being together? Well, not together, together. Not that I'm not saying you aren't handsome, you ARE handsome, but that'd just be weird, right?" She asked, before the scene changes again.
Then they were in the cafeteria eating pancakes. Her friend was cutting into his as she kept talking.
"Right, what was I thinking?" She said with a chuckle and a pancake in her mouth.
*To me and Sai*
"Damn, does she ever stop talking?" Sai asked.
"No idea, but I don't want to worry about it. What I do have on my mind is passing this initiation."
*Back to them*
"But I do hope we end up on the same team together." She said as she somehow slurped her pancake into her mouth. "We should come up with some sort of plan to make sure we end up on the same team together. What if we bribe the headmaster? No, that won't work, he has a school." She said before the scene changed again.
Now they are in the locker room and her friend is getting his weapons.
"I know, we'll have some sort of signal. Like a distress signal, a secret signal, so we can find each other in the forest." She said moving quickly about him. "Can you imitate a sloth?" She asked, pointing at him and appearing on his right side.
"Nora." He said calmly.
"Yes Ren?" She said as she appeared on his left side now.
Ren put his weapons up his sleeves.
"I don't think sloths make a lot of noise." Ren said to her.
Nora then began to look around, but what he said didn't discourage her at all.
"That's why it's perfect. Then no one will find out that we're working together." She said happily.
"Come on, Nora, let's go." Ren said closing his locker and leaving the locker room.
"But not together, together." Nora said with a chuckling as she followed Ren out.
Ruby, Yang, Sai, Selene, Serena and I were still in the locker room getting out things together.
"So, I wonder how they're gonna send us down to the forest." I say as I get Shinigami Killer out of my locker.
"I've wondered that myself. When we land, who will you try to find first?" Sai asked, getting his chains.
"Well, first I'm going to find Selene. Then after that, maybe I'll try to find you or Yang." I say sheathing my blade and strapping it on my back.
"You really have a thing for Yang, huh?" Sai asks.
"Well yeah, who wouldn't? She's pretty and sweet." I answer
"Damion, I don't need your help. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Selene argued, getting her bladed tonfa out of her locker, which she called Rose Thorn.
"So? That doesn't mean that you're not my little sister. You're still my sister whether you like it or not." I say, chuckling a bit.
*To Yang and Ruby*
"I wonder what they're all excited about." Ruby said, opening her locker to get Crescent Rose.
"Who knows?" Yang said in reply. "So, you seem awfully chipper this morning." Yang said, happily.
Ruby chuckled a bit, for her sister noticing her new mood.
"Yup, no more awkward small talk or getting-to-know-you stuff." She said as she grabbed Crescent Rose from her locker. "Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She said cradling her beloved scythe as if it were a baby.
"Well, remember Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation. If you wanna grow up, you're gonna have meet new people and learn to work together." Yang said./
"Ugh, you sound like dad." Ruby said, aggravated. "First of all: what does meeting people have to do with fighting and secondly: I don't need people to help me grow up, I drink milk." Ruby said folding her arms across her chest.
*Back to me, Sai, Serena, and Selene*
"Um, she does know that's not what Yang meant, right?" Sai asked.
"It's Ruby Rose, don't question it." I answered.
Serena and Selene just looked at Ruby as if she were stupid.
"Well, now, I think we ought to get going." I suggested.
"Yeah, that's probably for the best." Selene said.
*Back to Ruby and Yang*
"What about when we form teams?" Yang asked.
"Maybe you should be on someone else's team." Yang said, starting to play with her hair. "That Damion guy is nice. It'd be good if he and I were on the same team."
"My dearest sister, Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?" Ruby asked.
"Oh no, of course I do. I just thought, I don't know, maybe it would help you break out of your shell." Yang said nervously.
"What the, I don't need to break out of my shell! That's absolutely..." Ruby started saying.
"Ridiculous!" Jaune said, walking by Ruby and Yang as he came in out of nowhere, holding a map. "I know I didn't put my gear in locker 636 yesterday, I would have remembered having to count that high. Ugh, why does this have to happen today?" Jaune whined as he walk by a girl wearing Spartan like armor (Not like from Halo) and Weiss.
"So, Pyrrah, have you given any thought as to whose team you want to be on?" Weiss asked. "I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong well-known individual such as yourself."
"Hmm, I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may." Pyrrah responded.
"I was thinking, maybe we could be on a team together." Weiss said.
"That would be grand." Pyrrah responded, but it sounded like she had very little interest in that.
"(This will be perfect. The smartest girl in class, combined with the strongest girl in class. Together, we will be unstoppable. We'll be popular, we'll be celebrities. We'll get perfect grades. Nothing can come between us now.)" Weiss thought deviously in her mind.
"You know what else is great? Me, Jaune Arc, nice to meet you." He said, trying to be suave.
*To me, Sai and our sisters*
"You know, this just really hurts to watch." I say, about to leave.
"No, don't leave yet, it's just starting to get good." Sai said, holding onto my shoulder.
*Back to Jaune, Pyrrha and Weiss*
"You again?" Weiss said in disgust.
Pyrrha then zoomed in front of Weiss.
"Nice to meet you Jaune." Pyrrha said, waving.
Jaune pushed her aside to get to Weiss.
"Yeah, yeah, so Weiss couldn't help but overhear you fondness of me the other day." He said, flexing is his left arm as if he were muscular.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Weiss said in annoyance to Jaune's very presence.
"Don't worry, no need to be embarrassed. So, I've been hear rumors about teams and I thought you and I would make a good one. What do you say?" Jaune asked.
"Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each. So..." Pyrrha started saying.
"You don't say." Jaune said, moving away from Weiss and going to Pyrrha.
To me, Sai and our sisters*
"Well, at least he's being smart enough with keeping his options open." I say, still irritated by his lack of considering his standpoint.
"I guess you could say that." Selene said, looking on.
*Back to them*
"Well, hot stuff. Play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team." Jaune said confidently.
Weiss quickly got in between them.
"Jaune, is it? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Weiss asked out of pure curiosity.
"Not in the slightest, Snow Angel." Jaune responded.
"This is Pyrrha." Weiss announced
"Hello again." Pyrrha said.
"Pyrrha graduated at the top of her class at Sanctum." Weiss briefly explained.
"Never heard of it." Jaune said.
"She's won the Mistral regional tournament four years in a row. A new record." Weiss said, giving him more information.
*To us*
"That's very impressive. I've one the Global Martial Arts tournaments four times in a row myself." I said, smiling at Pyrrha and at the light of her accomplishments.
*Back to them*
"The what?" Jaune said in absolute confused.
"She's on the cover of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box." Weiss said, getting greatly irritated at Jaune's lingering stupidity.
After she said that, he gasped and knew who she was. Then like a crazed fan-girl.
"That's you?" Jaune asked, pointing to her. "They only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters."
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrah explained.
"So, after hearing all of this, do you honestly think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss asked.
"No, I guess not. Sorry." He said, sinking in disappointment.
*To us*
"Well, I guess every dog has his day. Today's just not his day. Am I right?" Sai said, nudging my shoulder.
I quietly got angry at the joke Sai was getting at, but that didn't stop my fist from connecting with his face. My punch sent him to the other side of the locker room and the only thing that stopped him was a locker and a wall.
"Jeez, could you be more annoying?! Especially on a day like today?!" I shouted.
*Back to them*
"Actually, Jaune I think you'd make a great leader." Pyrrah said, encouraging him.
"Oh, stop it." Jaune said in a girly manner.
"Seriously, stop it. This kind of behavior should not be encouraged." Weiss said, trying to sound profound.
"Looks like Pyrrah's on board for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quick. Now, I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I can pull some strings. Find a place for you. What do you say?" Jaune asked getting closer to Weiss.
"Alright, that's a little too close." Weiss said, backing away from Jaune a bit. "Pyrrah, a little help please."
Jaune then turned around and Pyrrah had thrown her spear at him. It caught his hoodie and tacked him to a nearby locker.
"I'm sorry." She said, not wanting to do that.
"Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation." A voice over the intercom announced.
Selene, Serena, Sai, and I left for the cliff as soon as we heard the announcement. Yang and Ruby stayed behind to help Jaune.
*At Beacon Cliff*
"For years you have trained to become warriors. Today your skills will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin said.
"Now, I'm pretty sure all 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 bluntly.
This was much to Ruby's displeasure. So she whined.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So, it will be in your best interest to pair with someone with whom you work well." Ozpin explained.
Again this was to Ruby's displeasure.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with will be your partner for the next four years." Ozpin explained
Ruby was in disbelief.
"What?!" She screamed.
"See? I told you." Nora said to Ren.
"After you've partnered up make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Don't hesitate to destroy everything in your path or you will die." Ozpin said.
This had Jaune chuckle nervously and wish he wasn't there. Ren understood completely as Nora only smiled at him.
"You will be monitored and graded for 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. You will guard that item as well as your standing and grade you appropriately." Ozpin explained. "Are there any questions?"
"Yeah, um, sir..." Jaune started.
"Good. Now, take your positions." Ozpin said, cutting him off.
Everyone took their positions and was ready to be launched.
"Alright, finally some damn action." Sai said, getting down on one knee, chains readied.
"No kidding, it's been way too boring here." Selene said, getting in a racers position, tonfa in hands.
"You got that right." Serena said, getting into a seated position with her fans in her hands.
"Um, sir, I have a question." Jaune said as Weiss was launched. "This landing strategy thing, what is it? Are you gonna be dropping us off or something?" Jaune asked as more people was being launched into the forest.
"No, you will be falling." Ozpin answered.
Then someone else was launched. (I don't exactly know the names of everyone in the show. Don't catch a hissy fit.)
"Oh, I see. So, did you hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune asked as Nora was then launched.
"Jaune, that's why it's called a landing strategy, make it up as you go along." Sai said as he was launched.I did a two punch to one kick combination and took a mental alertness karate stance.
"Let's fuck shit up!" I shouted as I was launched into the forest.
Serena blew a kiss to Selene before she was launched. This caused Selene to blush before she was launched quickly after. Yang winked at Ruby, then put on her sunglasses before she got launched. Ruby soon followed.
"What exactly is a landing strategy?!" Jaune screamed as he was launched into the forest last.
Ozpin only watched us fly into the forest and sipped his coffee or tea or whatever he has in that damn cup./p