RWBY: REBN – Season 1
Episode 3: The First Step
We open with someone's eyes opening and closing, before completely waking up fully. A perky redheaded girl named Nora Valkyrie is shown as this person completely wakes up.
Now completely awake, we see a guy named Lie Ren (or more normally called Ren), going through the morning, preparing for the upcoming initiation. While this happens we see Nora talking to Ren, despite his lack of response.
"Wake up, lazy butt." Nora remarked to Ren.
"It's morning! It's morning! It's morning! It's morning!" Nora sang as Ren woke up from his sleeping bag.
"Wow… how can you be so perky this early in the morning." Ren thought, despite expecting this occurrence.
The scene then changes to a bathroom as Ren brushes his teeth and Nora still continues to talk.
"I can't believe 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'm… well, I'm me. But it's just crazy, you know?" Nora continued talking.
"We still have to do the initiation, there was no way they could have kicked us out this early." Ren mentally responded.
The next scene is back at the ballroom, where the two are readying themselves. Nora is brushing her hair and still chattering while Ren is tightening the strings on his sleeping bag.
"We've been friends for soooooo long! What are the odds we'd still be together? Well, not "together-together…" Not that I'm saying that you're not handsome; you are handsome, but that'd just be weird, right?" Nora blabbed.
"We have been together for years Nora, we have grown… close during that time. And if I wasn't handsome I wouldn't get these looks from some of the girls here." Ren thought thinking of the implications of being "together-together" with Nora.
The following scene shows the duo in the cafeteria, in the middle of eating their breakfast, Nora having a pancake hanging from her mouth as she is still talking.
"Right! What was I thinking? But still, I hope we end up on the same team together!" Nora said with her mouth full. "Ooohhhh! We should come up with some sort of plan, to make sure we end up on the same team together! What if we bride the headmaster? No, that won't work. He has the school!" Nora babbled.
"First of all Nora, what did we say about talking with your mouth full? Second of all there is a way we can get on the same team together if we make sure we are the right place at the right time." Ren thought to himself.
The two finally end up in the locker room, getting their weapons ready for the initiation.
"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! Can you imitate a sloth?" Nora remarked.
"Nora?" Ren spoke up.
"Yes, Ren?" Nora replied.
"I don't think sloths make a lot of noise." Ren noted.
"That's why it's perfect! No one will suspect we're working together!" Nora said, thinking for a moment.
"Come on Nora, let's go." Ren smiled as the two finish getting ready.
"Not "together-together." Nora added.
As Ren and Nora head out we see Ruby and Yang as they are busy readying themselves.
"Wonder what those two are so worked up about." Ruby commented noticing Ren and Nora.
"Oh, who knows? So, you seem awfully chipper this morning!" Yang stated.
"Yep! No more awkward small talk or "getting-to-know-you" stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." Ruby explained as she strokes Crescent Rose.
"Remember, Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation. Like I told you on the ship, if you want to grow up, you're gonna have to meet new people and learn to work together." Yang reminded.
"Uggh, you sound like Uncle Tai!" Ruby responded in frustration. "Okay first of all, what do meeting new people have to do with fighting? And secondly, I don't need people to help me grow up! I drink milk!" Ruby defended herself.
"But what about when we form teams?" Yang reminded.
"Um, I don't know, I…. I'll just be on your team or something…." Ruby replied, with her nerves reawakening.
"Maybe you should try being on someone else's team?" Yang suggested.
"My dear cousin Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?" Ruby interrogated, one eyebrow raised.
"What? No! Of course I do! I just thought… I don't know maybe it would help you break out of your shell." Yang reasoned with Ruby.
"What the-?! I don't need to "break out of my shell!" That's absolutely-" Ruby was about to say.
"Ridiculous!" Jaune finished. "There's no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday! I would've remembered having to count that high! Why does this have to happen today?"
Passing the lockers we see Weiss Schnee and the same red haired girl in a Spartan warrior outfit named Pyrrha Nikos ready themselves at their lockers.
"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 mentioned.
"Hmm… I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may." Pyrrha admitted.
"Well… I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together." Weiss suggested taking advantage of Pyrrha's lack of assertiveness.
"Well, that sounds grand!" Pyrrha agreed.
"Excellent!" Weiss remarked, rubbing her hands together.
"Great." Pyrrha also stated.
"You know what else is great, me." Jaune interrupted. "Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."
"You again?" Weiss scoffed.
"Nice to meet you, Jaune!" Pyrrha introduced.
"So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness of me the other day." Jaune commented.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Weiss spoke up.
"Don't worry! No need to be embarrassed! So, been hearing rumors about teams! I was thinking you and me would make a good one! What do you say?" Jaune offered.
"Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each so-" Pyrrha chimed in.
"You don't say. Well, play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team." Jaune reminded.
"Jaune. Is it." Weiss stated coldly. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
After taking a closer look at the red-haired girl, he quickly recognized who she is and what she has done.
"You're Pyrrha Nikos." Jaune gasped.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha remarked.
"You are on the box of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box." Jaune stated in enthusiasm. "But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters."
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrha said as she smiled a bit at Jaune.
"Really, this girl had graduated at the top of her class in Sanctum Academy and won the Mistral Regional Games four years in a row, setting a new record. Yet you only mention that she was on the box of unhealthy cereal." Weiss called into question. "So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?"
"I guess not… Sorry.." Jaune stated in defeat.
"Actually, Jaune, I think you'd make a great leader!" Pyrrha complimented.
"D'oh, stop it!" Jaune brightened up, slightly blushing.
"Seriously, please stop it. This kind of behavior should not be encouraged." Weiss embarked, cringing at what is happening.
"Sounds like Pyrrha's on board for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quick! 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 inquired.
"All right, that's enough! Pyrrha, a little help, please?!" Weiss called out.
Jaune looks back just in time as he sees a rocket powered spear strike his hoodie and pin him to the wall.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha apologized.
"This Jaune guy, barely recognized me. This is definitely going to be an interesting year." Pyrrha thought to herself.
While Jaune was hanging on the wall, a guy with brown hair, blue eyes, and silver armor looked at Jaune and frowned. He shook his head and swore at him under his breath before leaving the area.
Suddenly an announcement by Glynda plays on the intercom.
"Would all first-years students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately." Glynda announced.
Hearing the announcements, the teens head out with Pyrrha grabbing her spear and dropping Jaune to the ground.
"It was nice meeting you!" Pyrrha said before leading out.
"Likewise…" Jaune responded in a daze.
"Having some trouble there, lady – killer?" Yang chimed in.
"I don't understand. My dad said all women look for is confidence! Where did I go wrong?" Jaune lamented as he is pulled up by Ruby.
"Ice Queen" probably wasn't the best start." Yang quipped.
"Come on, Jaune, let's go." Ruby remarked as the three left the locker room.
The scene then transitions to the Beacon Cliff, overlooking the Emerald Forest, where Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren, and various other students are standing on tiles in front of Professor Ozpin and Glynda.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin explained.
"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 added.
"What? Ohhh.." Ruby realized.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." Glynda mentioned as Ruby groaned.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." Ozpin pointed out.
Whaaaaaat!" Ruby internally screamed.
"After you're 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." Ozpin warned. "In this forest you will encounter bears, wolves, moose, and some low level Grimm such as Newborns and Beowolves."
"Oh shit, what did I get myself into." Jaune thought to himself.
"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?" Ozpin summarized.
"Yeah, um, sir?" Jaune tried to ask.
"Good! Now take your positions." Ozpin instructed as all the students strike a pose on their tile.
"Uh, sir? I've got, um… a question." Jaune stated still raising his hand. "So this landing….. strategy thing…. Uh, wha- what is it? You're, like, dropping us off or something?"
"No. You will be falling." Ozpin answered bluntly as students started to be launched.
"Oh, uh, I see… So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune hoped.
"No. You will be using your own "landing strategy." Ozpin said.
"Uh-huh… Yeah." Jaune realized as Ren and Nora was launched followed by Ruby and Yang.
"So, what exactly is a landing strateg-YYY…!" Jaune questioned as he was launched.
Just like that all of the students are in the air as Ozpin and Glynda watched them making their way to the forest. Nonchalantly, Ozpin takes a sip of his drink and then the scene cuts to black, ending the episode.
A/N: So here is the introduction to the popular duo: Ren and Nora. Not much will be changed with them but they changes that are there are notable. For one since Ren is seen as the quiet one (more so than Blake), there will be moments where we will see his internal thoughts and will be given more dialogue that will give him more character. So he will have a character in all of the seasons rather than just in the canon volume 4 and volume 7. For Nora I will showcase her more compassionate/serious side to help balance out her more zany, off the wall moments. And the biggest change is to have Ren and Nora interact with OTHER PEOPLE. Believe or not characters can still be in a romantic relationship and still have strong platonic friendships. Like how team RWBY is Ruby and Weiss/ Blake and Yang with very few exceptions, team JNPR is Jaune and Pyrrha/ Ren and Nora with hardly any exceptions. I mean Nora only had one meaningful line with Pyrrha and Ren didn't talk to her at all. I would see Ren being close with Blake, Jaune, and Pyrrha (and maybe Weiss). While I would see Nora being close with Pyrrha, Jaune, Ruby (and maybe Yang). One other big arc I have for them is to confront their codependent tendencies and how it keeps them from having an honest relationship out of fear of losing their oldest support system. Stay tuned for that in season 7. Anyway what do you think about the episode? Reviews are much appreciated. Until next time.