AN: Just a few things I need to address
Kleave guy: Only the helmet is chitin; the pauldrons and left gauntlet are from Indoril armor set, the Savior's hide is the Curiass, and Wraithguard is the right gauntlet. She isn't wearing greaves, and not even I know what her boots are.
Starhammer: Thank you for pointing that out. This is my first time uploading to this website, and I'm still learning the ins and outs.
To everyone else, thank you. I hope the story serves you well.
Today was not going the way Weiss planned.
When she arrived at Beacon, she had the next week planned to the smallest detail and a general outline of the next four years. She would find a partner that complimented her fighting style, form a team with synergistic semblances and a wide set of skills for every scenario, and drive them all to thrive in their classes. From there she would refine and expand their technique, win accolades for their performance, and become the most renowned team to ever step foot in beacon, leaving a mark on history that would last for eons; when future generations were told of the Schnee name, they would think not of a corrupt corporation, but of a noble and refined huntress!
So when the Headmaster gave the rules for initiation, it was as though a stone dropped into her gut.
Still, she hoped her glyphs would let her maneuver towards an ideal partner, like Ms. Nikos. After ten minutes, she still hoped she would get an above adequate partner. When twenty minutes passed, however, she was desperate for anyone, even tall, blonde, and scraggly from earlier.
She stole a glance at who she ended up with and wondered if he would've been better.
Ruby Rose may have dressed like a brute, covered in hides and lacking the grace to wear symmetrical gauntlets, but her tone, words, and mannerism betrayed her as a young girl, one who couldn't have been older then herself! "Question." Ruby's head snapped up, her face hidden beneath cloth and goggles. "How old are you? You sound a bit too young to attend Beacon."
"Oh. Um, I think I'm fifteen."
"...You think?"
Ruby put her fists to her hips. "Hey! These past couple of years have been rough! Sorry I lost track of time!" Her posture relaxed, and she continued with faint embarrassment. "But yeah, pretty sure I'm fifteen."
Weiss cupped her hands to her face, making sure to look away from her part - no. She admitted she was too young to be here, ergo she wasn't a prospective student, ergo she was not, could not be her partner. Still, Weiss needed to pass: she just had to grab the relic, head back, and leave the dolt to the wrath of the professors. And since said dolt already agreed to help, well, wouldn't it be a waste to turn down the offer?
"So you're a mage, right? Er, dust mage, I mean." Weiss gave Ruby a puzzled look.
"I am the heiress to the largest dust mining corporation on Remnant. Yes, I am familiar with dust and how to use it."
"That's so cool!" Weiss flinched, not expecting such glee from a figure draped in pelt. "Growing up, I always found that stuff neat." She paced with ever accumulating energy. "I mean, ever since I first saw Uncle Qrow swing a scythe, I knew what my weapon would be, but I dreamt of some kind of dust implementation. 'I would be Ruby Rose, Reaper Witch of Patch!' I used to think as a kid, but then I learned how finicky dust can be."
'Brothers, what is wrong with her?' Still, at least Weiss learned a bit of the stranger's past.; she grew up in a place she never heard of with a person she doesn't know. Okay, she didn't learn that much. "I'm guessing this 'Qrow' taught you to fight?"
Ruby scratched the back of her head. "Y-yeah. I mean, he did at first, but past the basics most of my style was self taught."
"Self taught?"
"Well, maybe a few tutors here or there, but otherwise yeah. You?" Well, no harm in divulging that information.
"I was taught by the finest tutors in Atlas on a variety of subjects; business, etiquette, language, and more. Yet on the subject of combat my greatest teacher was Winter, my sister." Ruby stopped, but Weiss kept talking with a small smile on her face. "She was the one who suggested I use a rapier, the one who taught me proper forms, and one of the reasons I choose to attend Beacon rather than Atlas."
When Weiss noticed Ruby no longer followed her, she huffed in irritation. "What is it this time?"
"Sorry. Just thought of something." She folded her hands in front of her and rocked on her heels. "When you said sister, I..." Weiss held her tongue, in spite of her rising irritation. Honestly, the two of them should've been at the temple by now. "Weiss. Did you meet a girl named 'Yang Xiao-Long?' Bright blonde hair that she cares for like her life depends on it? Emblem looks like a blazing heart? Likes punching things? Like, really likes punching things?"
Weiss wracked her brain but couldn't recall seeing someone like that. She did remember seeing a mop of blonde hair, but she didn't get the person's name. "I might have," she said carefully. "Why are you -"
"She's my sister." The words were a slap to the face, and it took every ounce of Weiss's willpower to stay stoic. The whole situation reeked of separated families, yet still, there was something wrong.
"Wait, You said your last name was-"
"Grrrrr..." The pair spun towards the growling bush, weapons drawn. Weiss checked her dust reserves, and found them full enough; even her ice dust hardly had a dent in it. She adjusted her stance, spun the barrel of Myrtenaster to lightning dust, and mentally rehearsed her plan of attack.
'Jab the Grimm, slash out the eyes. If it's a Beowolf, strike behind the knees, unless the head is open. If it's a Boarbatusk, then... what the-'
Out of idle curiosity, she glanced at Ruby only to fill her mind with questions. She did not stand tall and proud, but leaned forward like a predator about to strike. There was a slight bob of her heels; did no one teach her proper posture? And that weapon! It was an ugly, jagged hunk of black metal. The shaft itself was ridged, each crevice filled with a sharp crimson, like streams of blood flowing through obsidian. Both ends were spiked, though the one on top was larger by a hair. The only part that wasn't an edgy teenager's dream weapon was the blade itself; curved and shining like fine steel, it radiated power and demanded respect, not unlike some holy artifact. The juxtaposition between the blade and everything else was jarring, like finding a priceless work of art in a pig pen.
The bush shook again, and what crawled out had a black, furry body, a lupine shape, and burning eyes behind a bone mask. A Beowolf, though not an Alpha, by fortune's chance. Weiss went to strike-
Only to be beaten by Ruby Rose, who rushed in and bisected the Grimm in seconds. So quick was the strike, that Weiss could smell the Grimm's seared flesh. "Phew." The reaper reached under her goggles and wiped away some sweat. "Nice start, wouldn't you sa- behind you!"
Weiss turned and was face to face with another Beowulf. She stabbed it through the chest, dodged it's slash, and backflipped away. Before the fight could really get going, a ball of flame flew forth, setting the beast alight. It was followed by a crossbow bolt, and the Grimm was no more.
As it evaporated, Weiss Schnee's gaze met the goggles of her enigmatic acquaintance. Ruby Rose was looking at her scythe, weighing it alongside her options. "Hey Weiss, you think I should keep 'Crescent Rose' out or put it back? I don't know how many Grimm we're going to run into, and while I do love my sweetheart, it's hard to maneuver a forest while holding her." There was no reply. "Weiss?" Ruby asked in worry.
"How on Remnant did you do that?" Was her monotone reply.
"What, the scythe thing? That's just training-"
"No, you dolt!" Weiss spat out. "I meant the fire."
"...Dust?" Weiss knew that was a load of bull; if the uncertain tone of her answer didn't give it away, the lack of visible vials or pouches or gems or anything to store dust did. Sure, she could always not follow basic safety guidelines, but what civilized-
She gave another look at Ruby's attire, and realized 'civilized' wasn't a word to describe her.
"Dear Brothers, I hope the Headmaster can handle this situation."
"Ozpin?"
"Yes, Glynda?"
"Did Miss Rose use dust down there?"
Ozpin took a swig of his hot chocolate, and grimaced at the faint taste of dirt. "It's difficult to make out from here, but there's certainly a... signature in that flame not found in dust."
"So she's a maiden." Glynda's composure returned at the thought. Ms. Rose being a maiden wasn't a good thing, but it was manageable. It was familiar. It was a problem they could solve. "That would explain why she was hidden for so long, if someone was trying to protect her. And the googles? Clearly to hide the more visible effects."
At this, Ozpin shook his head,. "I'm sorry Glynda, but I've known of the maidens for years, I helped train generations of maidens. I would recognize their power if I saw it, and I of all people would know what it feels like." He gestured with the coffee mug in his hand towards the scroll. "What happened down there was not caused by a maiden, this I can assure you."
There was silence as the adults pondered the situation and it's implications. If a student had magic, then even in the best case scenario she would hunt them down, ever hungry for an advantage. And if it wasn't a maiden, if it was something new, something untested and uncatalogued, who knew how it would tip the scales? There was only one way to protect Ruby, and Glynda could feel the headache starting by thinking about it.
"Oz." Glynda rubbed her temples. "What did we just step into?"
"That remains to be seen, Glynda," He said as he stared at the scroll screen. "That remains to be seen."
'Okay, Ruby. No need to worry. It was just a destruction spell: throwing fire around is normal on Remnant. She definitely bought my dust explanation.' She looked at Weiss as she stepped forth with a force and fury that chilled Ruby to the bone. 'She did not buy my dust explanation.'
The pair were mostly silent during their trek through the forest, only speaking to each other in curt sentences. Considering the last time they had an extensive conversation, they were ambushed by Grimm - and boy, were those a sight she did not miss - there was merit to the quiet.
Yet Ruby was not down in the dumps; how could she be, breathing Remnant's crisp air once again? Two years of living in Vvardenfell, where half the land was choked with ash, did nothing to lessen her homesickness. Solstheim was better, when the cold wasn't bitter. At least if she ever found herself in Solitas she would know what to do. No, Remnant may have been her birthplace, but only Vale was her home!
...Home. She was going to see Dad and Qrow and Yang again. They were all going to hug and she'd apologize for leaving and tell them everything that happened! But, the truth was stranger than any fiction she could conjure; a tale of gods, wizards, and ancient prophecies that would sounded more like one of her bedtime stories than an explanation on where she was. Would they believe her?
She shook her head. She had proof of her claims, that was enough.
"I don't get it!" Weiss huffed. "We should be there already!"
"Be where?"
"The temple!" Weiss snapped "Where the relics are! The things I need to pass initiation!"
"And you weren't given directions?"
"Of course not, you dolt! What kind of huntress can't find their objective?" Ruby wanted to point and say 'you', but there was a time and place for jokes. Despite Weiss's prissy tone, she knew what to do next.
"Don't worry, Weiss! I've found more than my fair share of temples! Just leave it to me and you'll be there in no time!" As Weiss stared at her, Ruby's confidence dwindled. "My semblance can help me fly up in the air, and when I'm there, the temple should be easy to spot!"
"Can you actually give proper directions if you spot the temple?" Now this, this ticked the Rose off.
"Hey! I've spent the better part of my life outdoors. Dad taught me most of everything I know about orienteering! I can navigate any old forest with expert precision!" She relaxed her posture breathed out her rage. "Have some faith in me, Geez."
"Some fai-" Weiss stilled her tongue and held back whatever vitriol was about to spew from her mouth. She knew it was wise to accept the child's offer, no matter how her pride screamed otherwise. "Fine. Just hurry along."
Ruby beamed and took walked over to a gap in the canopy. "Okay okay okay. I need some space for this, so please step back." Weiss took one step back. Two. Three. "That's good! Now, time to find that table!"
"Temple."
"Sorry! Slip of the tongue."
Ruby dug into her pocket, making sure Weiss didn't see the hunk of carved gold on a string she pulled out. An amulet of levitation, perfect for hard to reach nooks and Telvanni towers alike. What she said earlier was no falsehood; when experimenting with her semblance she found it gave limited flight, enough to get through any fungal fortress in a pinch. Of course, no matter the aura burned she could not maintain lift long enough to scope out the land. Fortunately, Weiss did not know that. Ruby focused on the stored magic, drew out the entrapped spell, and launched into the sky.
On its own, the amulet would've cause a slow rise, but paired with her semblance the process was expedited. Red petals mixed with green leaves, and soon Ruby was above the treeline. She took a moment to appreciate the atmosphere, the fresh scent free from wood and foliage and the gentle yet firm wind buffeting her armor, before she scanned the horizon. In the middle of a ravine, bordered by a cliff on one side, was a ruined structure of carved gray stone. She knew this was their destination, since there wasn't anything else like it. With a glance upward, Ruby saw the sun face away from the cliff.
According to Weiss initiation started at around 8:00am, and she hadn't been out for more than a half an hour before Ruby ran into her. The sun was still rising, thus the Temple was east of there. With the temple located, Ruby looked for the most efficient path there; she was already up there, might as well find a way to save time. Though she didn't get far before she felt something fading in her, and all to soon for her liking.
Before she could do anything about it, her levitation spell ran its course, and Ruby fell.
*CRASH*
"I knew this would happen!" The dust hadn't even settled before the frosty heiress was upon her, as though she were waiting for the opportunity to berate and belittle. "What made you think staying up there for that long was worth running out of aura for? Or are you just that slow?" Now, Ruby liked to think she was a friendly sort, yet she was reaching the end of her rope.
"What's your problem?" The question burst forth after fermenting on the tip of her tongue most of the morning. "All I was trying to do was help you."
"Well, the help would be useless if you died along the way."
"I have plenty of aura-"
"Don't lie to me!" Weiss snapped through Ruby's ire. "You let your semblance fizzle out, you have no aura left!If it weren't for my glyph, you would've broken your legs." Sure enough, Ruby was lain upon a spinning glyph designed like a stylized, eight pointed snowflake. "You're welcome, by the way." As it spun, Ruby knew there was no way out of this. Not because Weiss was right; most of the aura consumed was in the initial ascent, with magic dealing with the rest. Still, she couldn't just tell the truth, not to her. Weiss looked like she needed significant evidence to believe a claim, and for something as out there as magic? Despite this, her pride burned within, and she chose to save it through deflecting Weiss's statement.
"In any case, the temple is eastwards. Despite my best efforts looking for a useful path, I couldn't find an easier way around." She placed a fist beneath her chin, and hummed; there had to be a quick way there, but one look at the overgrown foliage of the forest floor threw that plan out the window. And she couldn't just levitate and leave Weiss over here.
Over. Weiss.
An idea struck.
"Okay, so there are way too many plants to hack our way through."
Weiss nodded.
"And you want to get through initiation as fast as possible."
"As I've made clear by now."
"Well, the way I see it, we could spend hours going around, exhausting us and making ourselves prey to any Grimm we-"
"Get to the point, already."
"Have patience, grumpy pants. Er, skirt. Grumpy skirt." When the prim and proper heiress started growling, Ruby knew she was one verbal detour away from a piercing remark with a rapier. "Er, what I'm asking is if you could form a bunch of glyphs for us to hop over the trees. ."
"...Us?"
"I still want to find my sister." Ruby didn't know if her sister was here at initiation, but it was a good a place as any to start. Worst case scenario, she could get someone to point her in the direction of Patch and walk home.
Weiss held her hand beneath her chin and pondered the suggestion. "Hmm. It would consume quite a bit of aura..." Ruby cringed, readying herself for rejection. "But the plan has enough merit to warrant it." It took every ounce of Ruby's willpower to neither jump for joy nor squeal. For the first time since she arrived in the Emerald forest, things were finally going her way!
"Besides, you need to see a hospital." Her words hit like the cold of Solstheim with the swiftness of a bullet. When she remembered she had neither sickness nor injury, and the means to cure both, the feeling left only confusion in it's wake.
Lucky for her, Weiss was there to clear the air. "That isn't a healthy skin tone, you know." She pointed right at her leg, and a mild tear that exposed her thigh, light gray skin exposed to the elements.
'Oh. That.' Frankly, Ruby didn't expect to deal with that issue so soon, nor did she want to. In her need to deflect suspicion, at least for the moment, she conjured an excuse. "Oh this? Don't worry, it's a chronic condition. Had it for years now, don't even notice it much!" She had to give her speechcraft credit; not one word she spoke was a lie.
Weiss looked ready to argue, but when she couldn't get the words to leave her mouth she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine, don't listen to me. The professors will handle this later." With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a staircase of glyphs and hopped from one to another, Ruby in pursuit. Each glyph was firm, yet left a faint chill felt even through her thick boots.
As the duo climbed higher and higher, Ruby couldn't help but laugh. This didn't have the same feeling as her first time levitating, but it was it's own brand of fun. In fact, it reminded her of some of the old games she and Yang would play. Her smile faded for a moment. Yang was the last thing she saw before her disappearance, and the last thing she saw was her. Ruby remembered rivers of tears pouring from lilac eyes, and a voice normally strong and full of life sounding weak and uncertain. As a large shadow passed over her, she wondered how she could possibly make everything up to her sister.
"How about a cute lil' pony?"
Yang Xiao-Long held a white knight chess piece out to her partner, Blake Belladonna; the first person she saw in initiation, and what a sight she was. A black sleeveless coattails jacket over a white tank top that left some of her belly exposed. She wore white shorts and black leggings with what looked like a stylized plant on the outside, likely her emblem. Her left arm had a black sleeve unattached to anything, while her right had a long strip of cloth wrapped around it. Her boots had a slight heel to them, and everything was topped with a black bow.
The only color on the poor girl were her amber eyes.
Still, she smiled at Yang's little joke. Score one for team Xiao-Long! Really, initiation was going better than she hoped; the wind rushing through her hair as she flew over the Emerald Forest. The adrenaline pumping through her veins when fighting Grimm, especially those filthy Ursai. And to top it all off they wrapped up their objective without a hitch.
Really, this morning was the worst of today. She shuddered when she remembered the dream, at the fact she remembered the dream. She only remembered a handful of dreams for this long, and never were they cheerful. Even then, she wouldn't be half as nervous if it didn't come with an extra helping of cryptic prophesy. When was that ever a good sign?
"Welp!" She clapped her hands together, causing Blake to flinch from ten feet away. Did she put too much into that clap? "Time to head back."
As she started walking, Blake held up her hand. "Wait. Do you hear that?" Yang did not, in fact, hear anything. The winds were weak, there were no babbling brooks nearby, even the wildlife was silent.
At that moment, her face fell.
The wildlife was silent.
"Gaaahh! Oh God help me, I"m gonna die!" A girly scream shattered the stillness as a redheaded gladiator ran out of the forest, draped in brass and gold and brown with a skirt stained in the blood of her enemies. Well, that's what the announcers said about Pyrrha Nikos. Behind followed a monochrome mass of scorpion with a yellow orb on the tail, though there was something silver hanging off of that.
"Death Stalker!" Blake shouted as she rolled out of the way. Yang was a different story; a flick of her wrists and her golden bracelets shifted and expanded into a pair of boxy, open handed gauntlets. The massive Death Stalker was coated in bony plates and spikes, the marks of an elder Grimm. Smarter, stronger, and much more dangerous, she could smell the death from ten yards away.
All the more reason to rush in and help the champion.
It took only seconds for Yang to throw the first punch right in the Grimm's eye. The beast paused its advance, roaring in agony, yet only for a second. It's tail lashed out at the blonde, who deflected the strike and buried the stinger into the ground. It snipped with claws as large as a person and pinched Yang. Trapped, Yang struck once. Twice. Thrice. Still she was stuck. It took a streak of red edged in gold striking the scorpion's face for Yang to escape. The shield returned to Pyrrha, who caught it with the grace and agility expected of the Mistral Champion. With a blast from Ember Celica, Yang circled the Grimm and shot the beast in the eyes again, since it just loved the first one. Pain; the gift that keeps on giving.
"Okay. Nikos, how the hell did you get a Death Stalker mad at you. No, wait; dumb question." Numerous are the reasons for a Grimm to give chase; of them, "being alive" was somewhere in the top three. "How did you encounter a one in the first place?"
"My partner and I found a cave and - Jaune!" Pyrrha's eyes shot towards the stinger, and when they found no trace of the blond in jeans, they scanned the forest. It wasn't too hard to find him - his outfit blended in with the forest about as well as her outfit in a blizzard - and when she saw him hanging on a thick tree branch by his stomach, she released breath and tension alike.
Now, as for the beast that put him there...
Pyrrha shifted her weapon, Miló, into a hunting rifle, peered down the scope, and shot the Death Stalker. Irritated at the bullets it charged the pair, yet was stopped when it tripped over a ribbon. On one end was a chain scythe, jabbed straight into the ground. Holding the other was Blake Belladonna who, upon seeing the Grimm trip, yanked her ribbon and tore the weapon from the ground.
Yang knew the beast wasn't going to let them go, and adopted a combat stance while she reloaded Ember Celica. On her left stood Pyrrha, shield raised and spear at the ready. To her right, Blake crouched, ready to pounce on the Grimm, the sickle shifted into a katana. Yang gave a small smirk.
'Time to have some fun.'
"Hey, Renny?" A black haired man with a pink highlight perked up. "
Hmm?" He said as he studied his longtime friend.
"You think we should get in on the action?" The ginger pointed to the scuffle in the clearing. "Cause I sure want a swing at that!"
Ren stroked his chin, pondered his choices, and gave his reply. "They're handling themselves rather well, Nora. We would just get in the way if we tried to help now." When he saw his partner's downcast face, he felt the deluge of disappointment in his very soul, and sought to rectify it. "If it looks like they're in danger we'll step in. Otherwise, we would only waste our aura.."
"Speaking of danger," a third voice started, "a little help, please?!"
Stuck in the canopy was a blonde haired, blue eyed boy dressed with the cuirass and pauldrons of a knight, but with the black hoodie, jeans and sneakers of your average Joe. In his right hand was a sword, while his left held a shield. Yes, Jaune Arc was not a stunning example of a huntsman, but no one looks good hanging onto a tree by their gut.
Sensing his distress, Nora grabbed her hammer, wound up a swing, and struck the tree. It shook with strength enough for Jaune to lose his balance and land ass first onto the ground, bruising tailbone and ego alike. Still, his mother didn't raise him without manners.
"Thanks." He joined in watching the fight. "They really are something else, huh?"
Ren nodded his head. "Pyrrha's tournament record speaks for itself, but I'm surprised at the display from the others." "But they're nothing next to us! Right Ren?" A faint nod was his only response.
"Wait, what if you're on the same team as them?"
"Well, we'll just have to get them on our level! I have the perfect training regimen." Ren shuddered, and Jaune decided he didn't want to know why. "Hey, do you see that?" Nora pointed behind Jaune, up in the sky where a great big mass of death soared.
"Th-that's a big bird." He was thankful his voice didn't crack. "
Oh yeah, Nevermore are a dime a dozen," Nora waved off. "What I'm looking at are the people on it!" As Jaune paled. Ren sighed and gave his partner a stern look.
"Nora, we've been over this." His voice was layered with exhaustion. "Just because you wanted to ride an Ursa-"
"I totally could've if we found one!"
"-doesn't mean others have the desire or skills to do the same." He gestured to the Nevermore, its path leading it right above their heads. As it flew over, the trio heard strange sounds coming from it.
"WOOOO!"
"HOW DID YOU DRAG ME INTO THIS? WHY DID YOU DRAG ME INTO THIS!?"
The two males were flabbergasted, with Ren in particular refusing to meet Nora's smug grin.
"I stand corrected." He admitted.
