Amethyst had just finished washing herself and was now walking with Blake toward the lockers where they had putted their weapons. Her equipment was in the locker 511 and she opened it to pick up her dear spear, Thunder Strike along with what looked like brass knuckles but with some little sharp claws-like appendices. To create them, Amethyst had taken inspiration from her friend Simba's own claws and only used it when an enemy was far too close.
Blake, for her part, picked up her weapon which was classified apparently as a 'Variant Ballistic Chain Scythe' which could transform into a katana and a gun. Amethyst then picked up the horn Simba gave her and attached it to her belt to not let it fall. She turned around when she heard Yang and Ruby's voices but then freeze when she saw Weiss Schnee not too far away talking with a tall and muscular red haired girl with a waist-length ponytail.
Amethyst wanted to know who this redhead was but seeing that she was talking with the SCHNEE brat, she decided to wait. But then she froze when Blake asked her something that caught her off guard "So who is 'Simba' ?" the brown haired girl turned around to look at her companion who was looking at her with a curious raise-brow. Internally she was panicking but tried to not show (or at least too much). Seeing the calm look the dark haired girl was giving her, Amethyst sighed before answering in a sad tone "Simba… is my best friend..."
"Oh… and where is he ?" Blake asked her gently as she putted a comforting hand on Amethyst's left shoulder. "In his home…he wanted to come with me but… he wasn't sure how he would be treated as he is not human..." She was technically not wrong but it wasn't the full truth either. "Is he a Faunus ?" Blake asked with curiosity but Amethyst shook her head "Can you keep a secret ?" Blinking in surprise at the unexpected request, Blake glanced around and seeing that no once was paying attention to them, she nodded.
Amethyst took a deep breath before saying "Simba is neither Human nor Faunus…" Blake frowned but let her talk "He is a..." Amethyst began to say before an announcement played on the intercom system and Glynda's voice came out of it "Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation ? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately !"
When Glynda stopped talking , Amethyst looked back at Blake with an apologetic look on her face as she said those words "I will tell you later..." the dark haired girl nodded even thought the curiosity was still shining in her amber eyes as the two of them made their way out of the locker room just as Ruby was supporting a blond boy, the one who vomited yesterday, who had a rather sad look on his face.
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Amethyst was standing on silver tiles along with Blake and many other students as ,in front of them, Professor Ozpin and Glynda were standing with the former holding a mug and the latter her tablet. " For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest !" Ozpin began to say in a loud tone so everyone could hear him before Glynda took over "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 !"
"What ? Oh…." Ruby awed in sadness as she stood a few feet away from Amethyst who glanced briefly at her with a sympathetic frown. Ruby was not really social and she was about to live with three other people until the end of her education. However, she quickly looked back at the Headmaster when he talked again "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..."
Amethyst glanced at Blake hopefully hoping that the two of them would become partners "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years !" Ozpin's next words seemed to have horrified Ruby because Amethyst could hear her shouting "Whaaaaaaaattt ?!" but then someone else, a girl by the voice, in the crowd said to her companion "See ? I told you-"
"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..." Ozpin had said the last part with a sinister look on his face which caused Amethyst to flinch slightly until a comforting hand from Blake calmed her down.
But then Ozpin started to talk again "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 ?" Amethyst then turned her head when she saw from the corner of her eyes a raised arm :it belonged to the blond boy from earlier and he seemed nervous as he asked "Yeah, um, sir ?"
However, Ozpin seemed to neither heard him or ignored him because he instantly replied by the positive " Good ! Now, take your positions !" "Good luck Blake !" Amethyst said to the dark haired girl beside her who gave her a slight smile as she replied back "I wish you the same..." then without warning, she felt herself launched in the air in high speed. In the air, she had a good look of the forest and before she could think more, she saw that she was coming closer to the ground and so closed her eyes waited for the perfect moment to do her landing positions.
It came when she was meter away from the ground and opening her eyes, she landed in a cat-like manner just like she had seen her friend Simba doing where they were together. Shaking her head to get rid of her bittersweet memories, the brown haired girl then went deeper into the forest with her weapons at the ready, unaware that her best friend was not too far from there.
Indeed, a few miles away, Simba was walking among the trees in silence. The Golden Lion wasn't really happy as he missed Amethyst. Sure it had not been long since the last time he saw her but still… She was the one who putted an end on his lonely life by becoming his friend… The first one he made on Remnant after 8 years ! Sighing, he then stopped near a river before looking at his reflection as he crouched down, losing himself in memories.
Back to Amethyst, she was still walking in the forest and she was becoming to worry as she didn't met anyone yet. To attend Beacon, she had to find a partner or else… Sighing, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks when she heard a loud growl echoing nearby and she turned her head to see that it was an Ursa, a Bear-Like Grimm who instantly roared at her. Amethyst instantly let out a deep battle cry and the dark Beast paused for a moment, looking at her with its red eyes.
Seeing this as an opportunity, Amethyst launched herself at the beast with another battle cry just as the Ursa regained its composure. Her spear pierced its face causing to reel back in pain and it made the mistake of standing on its hind-legs, exposing its chest. Amethyst grinned as she instantly threw her spear at the Grimm and the weapon passed through its chest, right where the heart should be. The Ursa then fell on the ground before dissipating. Amethyst smiled in triumph as she picked her spear before dashing away toward where Ozpin said the Relics where, hoping to find another lone person on the way as her partner.
At the same time, Professor Ozpin was watching the students with his Scroll at Beacon Cliff when Glynda Goodwitch approached him with her tablet " The last pair has been formed, sir… Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren… Poor boy…I can't possibly imagine those two getting along... Still, he's probably better off than Miss Nikos or Miss Aster… " she said the last part as her tablet showed Pyrrah Nikos and the blond boy's trek through the woods or Amethyst walking alone, while killing Grimm.
"Hmmmm..." was the only answer the Headmaster of Beacon let out as he was still looking at his Scroll. " I don't care what his transcripts say That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat !" Glynda said as she deactivated her tablet before walking away. But then she stopped to look back at Ozpin "I guess we'll find out soon enough... At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes… Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year ?" Only silence met her words "Professor Ozpin ?" she called out for him but in vain as he was too busy watching a video of one of the formed pairs :Ruby and Weiss.
Meanwhile, Amethyst soon stepped out into a clearing where we could a circular stone temple which seemed broken and decrepit but for the platforms around its inside were several black and gold objects. "It must be the relics !" Amethyst realized instantly and was about to come closer when she heard a familiar voice "Think this is it ?" the brown haired girl turned her head, hoping it was another alone person but to her sadness, it was Yang Xiao Long and… Blake. "They must be partners now..." Amethyst thought with sadness but despise this she approached them "Hey girls !"
"Amethyst ?! How did you get here already ? Who is your partner ?" Yang asked her with a smile as her lilac eyes was glancing around. Amethyst sighed in sadness as she replied in the same tone "I don't have a partner… I didn't encounter anyone…" Blake stepped closer before putting a comforting hand on her shoulder "I'm sorry…" "Its okay..." the brown haired girl replied back but it wasn't really convincing.
"Sorry to break the moment but I think we should take the relics..." Yang inquired as she watched the two sadly and Blake nodded before going after the blond but not before sending the brown haired girl a look full of pity. Amethyst, however, decided to follow them to at least take one of the relics so this trip wouldn't be in total vain.
The three girls watched the items on each pedetrals and Amethyst found them strangely familiars "Chess pieces ?" Blake asked with confusion as she eyed the relics "Some of them are missing... Looks like we weren't the first ones here…" Yang remarked as she studied the chess pieces. "Well...I guess we should pick one..." Blake commented as she and her partner stepped closer to chose a relic. Amethyst , for a moment, looked unsure if she should… After all, she didn't have a partner and from what Ozpin said, TEAMS of FOUR had to be formed…
Sighing, she finally decided to take a piece and then she picked up a piece which looked like the Black Queen, just as Yang picked up a golden knight "How about a cute little pony ?" the blond asked her partner who smirked back at her "Sure…" she said as the two of them walked toward each other to the center of the temple floor " That wasn't too hard !" Yang remarked as she looked at Blake who replied back with agreement "Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find..." then the two of them shared a smile.
A bit away from them was Amethyst who was a bit saddened that she didn't had a partner but then she heard something a scream echoing in the air "Some girl's in trouble ! Blake, did you hear that ?" Yang asked her partner who, however, was looking at something in the sky. Amethyst was about to ask her what he had when Yang spoke again "Blake, did you hear that ? What should we do ?"
Again no response… until they heard the faint-but-growing scream of "HEADS UUUUUUUPPPPP !" and Amethyst looked up toward where it came from only to see Ruby falling from the sky ?! The moment the red teen was about to hit the ground , the blond boy from earlier came flying through the air before crashing right into Ruby, knocking her off course and sending them both into a tree not far from where Blake, Yang and Amethyst were standing.
Ruby shook her head to get rid of the dizziness "Ohhhh… What was that ?" she asked out-loud when suddenly, we heard someone coughing from above and both Ruby and Amethyst looked up to see the blond boy from earlier hanging upside-down in a tree branch "Hey, Ruby..." "Did your sister just fall from the sky ?" Blake asked Yang while she was looking at the tree. The Blond was about to respond when suddenly several crashing noises were heard ahead of them before an Ursa came out, just as a pink blast of energy hit it right in the back causing it to crash to the ground, depositing its rider.
It was a fair-skinned young woman with orange hair and turquoise eyes who was wearing a white shirt with a pink heart design on the chest. Over the shirt, she wore a black hooded jacket, faded pink pants and matching shoes with black tape bound around them "Awwww... It's broken..." she commented sadly as she dashed into the Ursa's neck to observe the carcass just as another people approached. It was a guy this time who had long black hair that ended midway down his back with a magenta streak on the left side of his hair. His eyes surprisingly matched the streak in his hair.
He was wearing a dark green, diagonally-buttoned, long-sleeved tailcoat that was red on the inside, with black and gold trimming along with pink cuffs. The trimming went down the right side of his torso and looked like a black collar. With all this , he had in addition a black, long-sleeved shirt beneath the suit and light-tan pants with black shoes. He tied his hair back in a low ponytail. He stopped in front of the orange haired girl , panting as he leaned into the Ursa "Nora ! Please... Don't ever do that again..."
However, when he looked up, 'Nora' was nowhere in sight and might have run off and so looked around frantically. Amethyst too looked around until she spotted the girl in question in the temple, staring at one of the relics : a golden rook. Then she grabbed it and started to dance as she sang "I'm queen of the castle ! I'm queen of the castle !" However she quickly stopped when she heard the dark haired boy from earlier calling her name "Nora !" "Coming Ren !" then she skipped to him.
"Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa ?" Blake asked out-loud to Yang who again was unable to answer because a screech caused them to turn to their right to see a red-haired girl running at them with a gigantic Scorpion-like Grimm tailing her. While still running, she managed to dodge , albeit narrowly, its claws "Jaune !" the redhead called out and the blond boy from earlier called back what might be her name "Pyrrha !"
Ruby looked at the monster and with a "Whoa !" she started running off of the branch before landing on the ground with a roll as above her 'Jaune' whined helplessly "Ruby..." The red teen was standing up from the ground when someone called out for her "RUBY !" the 15 years old girl turned her head to see it was none other than her older sister "YANG !" she called out in excitement as she raised her arms to give her sister a hug but then someone appeared between the two preventing them from doing so and knocked them out in surprise "NORA !"
Amethyst chuckled in amusement until she saw Pyrrha still being chased by the Death Stalker who tried to reach her to no avail. But Amethyst wasn't the only one to look at the redhead as Blake asked out-loud to Yang (again) "Did she just run all the way here with a Death Stalker on her tail ?" However this time, the blond had enough as her hair erupted in a small burst of fire while her eyes became as red as blood " I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE ! CAN EVERYONE JUST CHILL OUT FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS AGAIN ?!" she yelled furiously.
As Yang cooled off, Ren ran toward a dizzy Nora while Blake and Ruby looked at the sky. The red teen tugged on her sister's sleeve before pointing up "Umm... Yang ?" Amethyst followed her young friend's finger and saw Weiss hanging on a talon which seemed as big as her that belonged to a Nevermore of all Creatures "How could you leave me ?!" the annoying Schnee Princess yelled to Ruby in anger and the red teen replied back loudly "I said 'jump' !"
"She's gonna fall..." Blake commented at she looked at the pale girl with a neutral expression. "I hope so… We won't have to deal with her anymore at least..." Amethyst muttered to herself but Blake sent her an amused look. "She'll be fine..." Ruby said back but then lost her confidence when Weiss fell from the talon "She's falling..." Ren commented with a deadpan expression. Amethyst looked at the scene with a hopeful expression but then it broke when Jaune caught the annoying brat in his arms… before falling on the ground face first. He was about to get up when Weiss suddenly landed right on top of him in a seating position.
Amethyst laughed at the sight and Weiss sent her a dangerous glare as she pulled herself off poor Jaune who was complaining about his back. But then the group looked back at Pyrrha who was still chased by the Death Stalker until she managed to land at their feet "Great ! The gang's all here ! Now we can die together !" Yang replied sarcastically as she readied her gauntlets. "Not if I can help it !" Ruby said as she letted out a battle cry before charging the Scorpion-like Grimm, ignoring her sister who was calling her back.
Ruby, still yelling, fired the Grimm with Crescent Rose and then charged at the oncoming Death Stalker. However when the two met, the Scorpion-Grimm swiped Ruby away, knocking her back.
"D-Do-Don't worry ! Totally fine !" she reassured everyone as she got up. The red teen then turned back to face the monster before shoting it right in the skull. Then she started to ran away from it ,sheathing her scythe as the Death Stalker went after her !
Seeing her friend in danger caused Amethyst to became angry and her arms started to glow purple as she threw her arms forward toward the Death Stalker with a battle cry of her own. Like before, a Lion-like figure bursted from her hands before charging the Scorpion-Grimm who looked away from Ruby to face this new threat. But just as the purple Lioness was a few feet away from the Grimm, it transformed into a spear which pierced the Death Stalker, going through it before appearing out of the base of its tail.
The Gigantic Scorpion screeched in pain before collapsing to never get up. Amethyst panted loudly with her hands on her knees, trying to breath until she heard Blake's voice asking her with awe "Amethyst ? Was it your Semblance ?" The brown haired girl looked at the group who looked back at her with wide eyes of shock and surprise before nodding. "It was amazing !" Yang commented as she punched her shoulder in a friendly manner "It was but its not over ! Watch out !" Ren shouted loudly in warning as he pointed at the Nevermore who was flying above them.
"Guys ? That thing's circling us ! What are we gonna do ?" Jaune asked everyone with alarm "Look, there's no sense in dilly-dallying ! Our objective is right in front of us !" Weiss remarked as she pointed at the relics "She's right ! Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the Cliffs !" Ruby said in agreement before nodding at Weiss "There's no point in fighting these things..."
"Run and live...that's an idea I can get behind !" Jaune commented in pure agreement and Amethyst watched as Ruby grabbed a gold knight like Yang and Blake before her while Jaune picked up a gold rook like Nora and Ren's before the two smiled at each other. "Time we left !" Ren inquired loudly to everyone and Ruby agreed "Right !" then she waved at the others with a 'let's go' before moving forward with everyone following her except for a smiling Yang and Blake when the latter approached her partner. Amethyst followed them but she couldn't help but feeling a bit sad as unlike the other present, she was without a partner and will probably be pulled out of Beacon.
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The group was making its way through the forest with the Nevermore still following them from the sky. However, they spreaded out when the gigantic Bird-like Grimm passed above them, concealing themselves behind some of the stone blocks with their allies as it perched on a high column, cawing. "Well, that's great !" Yang muttered in annoyance and Ren looked at Nora shouting "Nora ! Distract it !" Nora nodded at him before running out from her block to jump through the feather projectiles the Nevermore sent her way. Then the orange haired girl reached behind her before launching several shells from her grenade launcher and bursting into pink electricity when they hit the Nevermore which caused it to retreat.
The group then raced toward an ancient stone bridge but then Amethyst saw the Nevermore heading toward them "WATCH OUT !" she yelled out as she fired her weapon at him which caused the Nevermore to flied back with a caw of pain "Nice shot !" Pyrrha praised her and she nodded as the group went through the bridge but when they arrived on the other side, they were greeted by the Nevermore again.
"What are we gonna do ? Nothing is working on it !" Jaune asked the others who seemed at lost for word until an idea came through Amethyst's mind : a crazy one. She knew that if she did this, many things good or bad would happen but she had no choice. Looking at the eight, she took a deep breath before saying "Leave..." "What ?" Ruby asked with confusion and the others looked at the brown haired girl waiting for her to explain.
"I will stay here and take its attention away from you..." Amethyst began to say when Jaune exclaimed in disbelief "Are you mad ?!"
"Maybe… but if its the only way for you to escape … then I will do it…" the brown haired girl resumed with a firm expression on her face "You aren't going anywhere ! We came here together and we will leave together !" Ruby replied back as she stared at the older girl with a stern look (which was shocking for someone like her).
Amethyst looked at the others who seemed to agree with Ruby but then she remembered the horn Simba gave her and an idea came to her mind as she swiftly picked it up "What are you doing ?" Ren asked her with confusion as he stared at the horn. Amethyst glanced at him before replying "Calling someone..." then before anyone could ask her what she meant, she blew in the horn and a loud sound came out of it, echoing in the air until it reached the ears of a certain Golden Lion who instantly ran toward where it came from with a panicked expression on his face.
Amethyst blew one more time until Weiss grabbed her horn roughly "Are you trying to make us deaf ?!" "No ! I just called someone who can HELP us !" Amethyst retorted harshly as her purple eyes narrowed at the Schnee until Blake asked her "Who did you called ?" The brown haired girl looked at her before answering "Simba…"
"Simba ? Who is that ?" Ruby asked her with curiosity but it was Blake who responded "Her friend..." Amethyst smiled at her but then the Nevermore flied toward them with a caw but before it could reach them , a loud and cavernous roar was heard which caused everyone to froze in fear even the Dark Bird who stood there, looking around. "What was that ?!" Jaune asked his companions as he looked around frantically.
"I never heard anything like this before !" Blake replied in nervousness when she noticed the lack of fear on Amethyst as she looked more… happy ?! "Amethyst why are you smiling ? Do you know what it was ?" The brown haired girl looked at her before answering "It was Simba…" "Yeah right as if a Human could roar like that !" Weiss sneered arrogantly but then Amethyst glared at her "I never said Simba was human~"she cooed mischievously which caused many to look at her with confusion.
But before they could ask her, the same roar from earlier echoed again but this time closer and Ruby screamed in fright as she pointed at their left. They all turned their heads to see a GIGANTIC golden and red creature running toward them "SIMBA !" Amethyst cried out in pure joy when her friend stopped right in front of her, roaring at the Nevermore who took of flying, cawing in fright when suddenly the Golden Lion jumped into the air , grabbed the Dark Bird's talons between his fangs before violently throwing it back on the ground. The Nevermore didn't have time to get up when Simba pounced on it before biting its neck, killing it .
When he was sure the Bird was dead, Simba turned his head away from it to look at a certain brown haired girl who instantly rushed toward him with a joyful expression on her face. He purred when his human friend jumped on him and he let himself falling on his side as the two of them embraced each other. "Oh Simba I'm so happy to see you !" Amethyst cooed to him as she hugged his muzzle ignoring the gaping group behind her.
However when he was about to answer, someone interrupted him "That's your friend ?!" Blake asked her with bewilderment and the two friends looked away from each other to look at the group of stunned teenagers. "Yes…" "You weren't joking when you said your friend was neither human or Faunus..." Blake muttered to herself as her amber eyes glanced at Simba who looked nervous at the strange people before him.
"THAT'S AMAZING !" Ruby squealed as she suddenly appeared in front of Simba, looking up at him with stars in her silver eyes before looking at Amethyst with excitement "What is he ? Where does he come from ? When did you met ? How did he became your friend ?" the red teen asked rapidly "Hmmmm" Amethyst nervously thought about what to answer as she looked toward Yang with a distress look but she only got a smirk in answer.
Simba, however, laughed loudly which caught many of guards as they stared at him with shock but then it doubled when he said to Amethyst "She is a hyper-active one isn't she ?" Everyone, except for Amethyst, gasped when those words left his mouth and Weiss asked loudly in disbelief "You can talk ?!" Simba glanced at her, still laying on the ground before responding with a deadpan expression on his face "You can talk no ? Then why wouldn't I ?"
Weiss wanted to retort but then sighed as she had no answers for this.
A cough caught everyone's attention and they turned their heads toward Ren as he started speaking "Sorry to be THAT guy but shouldn't we be going on our way ?" "Right !" everyone, except Simba and Amethyst agreed but before they could leave; the brown haired girl realized something "Hey what about Simba ?" they all stopped to look at the Golden Lion "Maybe he could come with us… Professor Ozpin might let him stay because he saved us..." Pyrrha began to say and Weiss looked ready to object but was quickly stopped by Amethyst who gave her the most vicious glare she could, growling coldly those words "If you say ONE thing against my friend, I will make sure you stay in hospital for the next few months !"
The pale girl glared back at her but then huffed as she stormed away. Simba then looked at the closest teen to him, Yang before asking "Something happened between them ?" the blond shrugged but then Amethyst walked back to her friend before asking "Simba … would you mind giving me a ride ?" the Golden Lion smiled at her gently before crouching down "Hop on !" the brown haired girl didn't needed to be told twice and instantly jumped on her friend's back but just as Simba was about to get up.
"Can I ride you too ?" Ruby asked him with cute puppy eyes until Nora begged him in a whining tone "Yes ! I ran a ride too ! I'm too tirrreeeeeeeed !" Simba glanced at his friend who only smiled at him before sighing "Alright climb one… Another one of you ladies ?" he asked the last part for the other girls as Nora and Ruby climbed on his back "No thank you I prefer to walk..."Blake declined politely and Pyrrha did the same but Weiss on the other end "At least you have some manner unlike some people..." the pale girl muttered the last part with a glare toward Amethyst. "Look I don't know what happened between the two of you and I don't care but if you want a ride then you have to be cordial with my friend Understood ?" Simba inquired her sternly.
Weiss looked shocked by this but then she weakly nodded which caused Simba to loose his stern face to a welcoming one "Then climb on~" Weiss slowly did and was amazed by how soft his fur was. "Ready girls ?" Simba asked the ones on his back and they all nodded in the affirmative. He then rose on his full size before asking "Where were you going ?" "To the Cliffs" Pyrrha responded with a soft smile as she seemed to not fear him anymore.
"Well then come on before more Grimm appear !" the Golden Lion inquired as he walked away, followed by Pyrrha, Yang, Blake, Ren and Jaune. As she was riding her friend, Amethyst couldn't help but being nervous by what would happen now that some people knew about Simba and how the Professors of Beacon would react to him. But then she shook her head so she could put her head against the russet mane of her best friend, happy that he was here with her.
(To be continue…)