Amethyst was sitting with all her new friends in the auditorium as Professor Ozpin was announcing the Teams. Earlier, he and Professor Glynda had welcomed them once they reached the Cliffs but had been shocked to see Simba among them. Of course, the two had pulled out their weapons, ready to fight but were stopped by the teenagers who instantly pulled themselves between Simba and the armed Teachers before explaining what happened earlier.
Ozpin had instantly apologize for his behavior but Glynda had still eyed Simba with distrust and suspicion, not even excusing herself. The Headmaster had then inquired Simba to come with them and the Lion nodded, unsure if he should talk to those strangers. The Golden Lion had been forced to wait until he was called and while being reluctant, he accepted after Amethyst gave him the cute puppy eyes.
"Russel Thrush ,Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing , Sky Lark..." Ozpin called out as the auditorium's screen showed each of boys profiles while they lined up for the applauding audience to see. The Headmaster then resumed his talk " The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces... From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester !" Applause were heard again as four other students took their places just as their faces appeared on the screen.
"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie ! The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces... From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR !" Ozpin announced as he looked at the audience who cheered the new team as Nora hugged Ren with a laugh. However, Amethyst was completely caught of guard at what Ozpin said next "Led by... Jaune Arc ! Congratulations, young man !"
A grinning Pyrrha have her Leader friendly shoulder bump but the Blond boy was knocked over before falling on his butt before the eyes of a laughing audience. Amethyst then saw the next Team being announced and looked at them with happiness "And finally: Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long… The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces... From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY ! Led by... Ruby Rose !"
Amethyst was surprised by Ozpin's choice and she wasn't the only one as Weiss was looking to her right with equal surprise while Ruby seemed completely in shock at being chosen as Team Leader before being hugged by her big sister "I'm so proud of you !" Amethyst heard the blond said to the red teen but then Ozpin started to talk again "Before leaving, I have one more thing to say ! Miss Aster come forward !"
Blinking in shock, Amethyst got up up from her seat before approaching the Headmaster with a nervous look on her face "Miss Aster… You didn't encounter anyone to be your partner and while you did pick up the Black Queen piece, I should tell you to leave Beacon..." the brown haired girl looked down in sadness and she could sensed the pity coming from both Team JNPR and RWBY. "However, it would be foolish of me to get rid of someone as skilled as you… and who possess one of the strangest Semblance I ever seen..." Ozpin added as on the screen, we could see a video of her fighting with Grimm and her using her Semblance to kill the Death Stalker.
Amethyst shyly glanced around and could see the amazement shining in some of the students' eyes as some were directly looking at her with respect. "So it is with a great pleasure that I made you a one girl team : Team ASTR !" Amethyst's purple eyes started to water as all around her, the other students clapped enthusiastically for her and among them Team JNPR and RWBY.
"Miss Aster… Can you bring your big friend here please ?" Ozpin suddenly asked which caused Amethyst to froze dead in her happiness as she slowly turned around to face him.
"Professor are you sure its a good idea ? It will be the first time he would face so many people..." Amethyst began to say before being interrupted by Glynda herself who instantly looked at the Headmaster with disapproval "Professor are you seriously considering letting this… Creature coming here ?!" Amethyst was ready to retort to defend Simba but Ozpin beat her to it as he looked at the Deputy Headmistress "Glynda, this Creature as you said could have killed our students if it wanted to but instead saved them ! Beside it is friend with Miss Aster here so I'm sure she is capable of handling it..."
"He is a 'he' not an 'it' !" Amethyst couldn't retain to retort in exasperation as her purple eyes narrowed at them. Glynda seemed ready to scowl her but Ozpin waved his hand at her before looking at the brown haired girl "My apologizes… now could you bring him here please ?" Amethyst nodded and rushed out of the auditorium leaving behind curious people.
"Professor you shouldn't worry about Simba… He sure look scary but he is nice..." Pyrrha remarked as she looked over at the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress "And he does have some manners..." Weiss added in her usual cold tone with her arms crossed. "And he is so soft !" Ruby squealed as she remembered the ride she got. "Yeah ! As soft as a plushy !" Nora added which caused the two to high-five with each other.
But then everyone turned their heads when Amethyst entered the auditorium again. The brown haired girl looked at everyone present before turning around to face whoever it was "Come on big boy ! I promise everything will be alright~" everyone had noticed the tone she used and some were becoming even more curious of this 'friend'. "Are you sure ?" a strong but soft voice asked her back but being hidden by the doors, no one could see him even if both Team RWBY and JNPR knew who it was. "Yes and if someone dare to insult, I will make sure they won't get out of the infirmary for the next few months !" the last parts was said in a dangerous tone which sent chills down everyone's spines.
Then the brown haired girl stepped back from the doors still smiling "Come on… Everything will be fine..." she whispered softy and after a few seconds of silence, the large doors opened revealing Simba to everyone who gasped in shock as their eyes locked on him. Nervous, the Golden Lion looked back at his friend who gave him an encouraging smile as she gestured with her hand to follow her.
Sighing, Simba slowly went after after his friend and as he walked , he could hear whispers from the people gathered in this strange place and when he glanced around, he could see the amazement in some of their eyes… and even some fear. Amethyst too looked at the audience and was internally glad that no one seemed to show disgust to her big friend but was still sad when she saw fear in some of their eyes.
She leaded him in front of Professor Ozpin and Glynda who were watching her friend with calm and interest. Glynda seemed to have lost the distrust she felt earlier when she saw how nervous he was as he stood before them, his red eyes glancing around at the people present. "Come on climb on the stage so everyone can see you both !" Ozpin gently inquired as he too noticed the nervousness in the Lion's stage.
Amethyst gave her friend a reassuring smile before the two of them climbed on the stage which was surprisingly strong enough to hold her Golden friend before facing the crowd whose eyes were now glued on them both. "Miss Aster… Can you present your big friend here to everyone ?" Glynda inquired with a hint of nervousness as she glanced at the Lion standing in front of her. Amethyst gulped in hesitation but then she felt something gently pushing her forward and when she turned around, she saw it was Simba who was gesturing with his head to go ahead with a gentle smile.
Feeling better, Amethyst then faced the crowd again "Everyone… It is with great pride and pleasure that I introduce you all to my best friend : Simba the Golden Lion !" she said the last part as she looked back at her friend who smiled at her warmly before looking at the audience and nodding at them. Everyone, except both team JNPR and RWBY, stared back at him with gaping mouth ,surprised that he could understand them.
"How did you met him ?" one student, a girl, asked her from the crowd and everyone looked back at Amethyst who responded with a smile "He saved my life from Beowolves weeks ago… He could have left me to die but… instead he healed me and protected me… He had been nothing to me but kind and for that, I'm happy to call him my friend~"
Simba looked back at her before opening his mouth to reply back "I should be the one to be proud to have you as a friend Ame~" A loud gasp escaped the crowd and even Glynda seemed shocked "You can talk ?!" they asked him at once and he winced at the loud noise "Owww my ears… Amethyst doesn't this sound like 'Deja vu' to you ?" Simba asked his friend with a smirk and she looked back at him with amusement.
"Well… Simba was it ?" Ozpin asked the Lion who nodded at him respectfully "How come you didn't tell us yourself who you are ?" Simba shrugged as he replied "You didn't asked..." The deadpan expression Ozpin made at this answer caused everyone to laugh and even Glynda had to put a hand on her mouth to prevent herself from laughing. After a few seconds, Ozpin coughed his throat and everyone became silent again as he spoke "Well… Mr. Simba..." "Just Simba please 'Mister' make me sound old..." the Golden Lion inquired the Headmaster which caused another set of giggles from the crowd. "Alright Simba… I want to ask you if you are willing to become Beacon's new Mascot..." Blinking, the Golden Lion looked at the old man in front of him with a serious frown before asking "And what would I have to gain from this ?"
"You will have the possibility to stay at Beacon with Miss Aster here… From what I saw,it would be difficult to separate you both..." Ozpin had said the last part with a hint of amusement which caused the Golden Lion to chuckle "I accept… with some conditions..." "What are they ?" the Headmaster asked him with a interested raise-brow "First of all, the possibility to go out to hunt whenever I need to and second… I want the possibility for both me and Amethyst to go out at night..." the last part intrigued the Headmaster who asked back with a frown "Why ?"
"For stargazing particularly..." Simba responded calmly before looking at his friend adding "I know you enjoy it..." Amethyst smiled back at him warmly, nodding her head. Glynda then came closer before looking at the Golden Lion with a stern look on her face "Even if we accept those conditions, how can we be sure you wouldn't hurt or eat one of the students ?" Simba looked at her with a calm expression on his face as he responded back "As long as your students don't try to attack me nor my friend I won't touch them… as for eating them… Well, let just say you won't like why I never wanted to try Humans or Faunus..."
"Do tell..." Glynda inquired him with a raise-brow as she crossed her arms "First of all, because you are all far too small for me to feed on and second…Why would I eat Humans when by my best friend is one ?" a cheeky grin appeared on his face at the last words and whispers of agreement could be heard from the crowd. "What about Faunus ?" A girl with dog ears asked from her place with a fearful tone. " The same first reason that Humans…" it wasn't the truth but it wasn't a lie either. The dog-eared girl seemed to relax at those words but then Glynda spoke again "You might now eat the students but how can I be sure they will be safe around you ?"
Amethyst grew a smile on her face as she looked at her friend "Simba could you laid down please ?" Blinking at the unexpected request, the Golden Lion however did what his friend wanted and crouched down on the stage. Amethyst smiled at him before looking at Glynda " Professor can you come closer please ?" The blond teacher seemed unsure but after a nod from Ozpin, she stepped closer to the Lion who only looked at her as she approached him.
"What now Miss Aster ?" Glynda asked the brown haired girl who smiled gently at her as she responded calmly "Caress his mane…" The Deputy Headmistress looked at her as if she had two heads but hesitantly did. The second her hand touched the Lion's russet mane, Glynda was shocked at how soft it was to the touch but then she slowly started to caress. She instantly froze when a deep rumble came from the Lion's throat "Is.. Is he purring ?!" she asked the brown haired girl with disbelief, ins-consciously caressing Simba's mane.
"Yes… He might look big and scary but he is nothing but a big softy~" Amethyst said as she grinned at her Golden friend who sent her a glare "No I'm not !" he replied back but Amethyst's grin widened as she stepped closer to caress the fur of his face which caused him to purr even louder. Around them, the crowd was speechless at the sight of such a big creature… purring like a domestic cat and some girls (among them Nora, Yang, Ruby and surprisingly Weiss) even cooed at the scene.
"You see Professor ? Simba doesn't look so scary anymore~" Amethyst remarked to Glynda who was watching the scene with a soft smile on her usually stern face "No he is not…" The Golden Lion then looked at the Blond Teacher with a smile she had no choice but to return. Amethyst then stopped caressing her friend's mane to step away from him as she looked at Professor Ozpin with a mischievous grin.
"Simba ?" Amethyst called out to her friend in a sweet tone "Yes Ame ?" the Golden Lion asked her back with a raise-brow, internally worried of the grin she had on her face "I want you to roar as loud as you can !" Team RWBY and JNPR (except Ren and Jaune) instantly looked excited as around them, the crowd was curious. "Are you sure ? I don't want to scare anyone..." Simba replied back to his friend in an unsure tone " Yes come on Big Boy… Gave them your biggest roar !" Amethyst encouraged him and seeing this Simba knew he had no choice.
Alright then… but you might want to cover your ears !" The Golden Lion inquired as he went back on his full size and took a deep breath before opening his mouth to let out a thunderous roar which caused everyone to cover their ears because of how loud and deep it was. The roar was so loud that the habitants of the large city of Vale could hear it.
When Simba stopped, he watched with amusement as the student slowly pulled their hands away from their ears while looking at him with pure amazement before cheering. "Really impressive ! I never head anything roaring like this !" Glynda remarked with some admiration and the Golden Lion nodded at her with a smile.
Ozpin, for his part, staid where he was looking at Amethyst who hugged Simba's head with affection as the Lion purred at the action. "It looks like things are shaping up to be an... interesting year..." the Headmaster commented softy to himself.
Then Glynda told everyone to head straight to bed as tomorrow school will begun and the students left the auditorium, chatting with each other in excitement while the blond Headmistress lef Simba and Amethyst to where they will sleep from now on. Amethyst, for her part, was overjoyed : she had been allowed to join Beacon ! Even better, Simba was coming with her ! Fate seemed to smile at her as she walked side by side with the Lion she grew to love.
(To be continue…)