Not All Fun and Games
Percy's breaths came in heaving and labored gasps as she sprinted through the thinning tree line of the forest she had found herself in when she came to this world. Behind her came the heavy crashing and thudding of trees being toppled by the massive monsters chasing her. When she had been told by Hermes that she wouldn't have to worry about not finding something to fight and that this world was filled with monsters Percy really hadn't expected quite this intensity. For the last three days Percy had done nothing but fight these strange black and white creatures that stalked this world. Truly she had lost count of the number of them she had killed in her desperate attempts to escape this forest and find some form of refuge. Other than some incredibly short naps all of which were interrupted by having to fight for her life Percy had not slept. It felt like a repeat of her desperate battle to stave off Kronos that had taken place in her city or at least that was the closest approximation she had for the level of exhaustion she now felt. The only reason that she was still able to keep going was the blessing of the river styx; she was sure that without her nigh invincibility she would be dead by now.
At the moment she was being chased by two of the monsters that inhabited this world both absolutely massive and their shapes vaguely reminded Percy of mammoths from her home world. When she had first entered this world Percy almost immediately was set upon by one of the wolf like monsters that seemed to swarm this forest and due to being naked and without any weapon Percy had resorted to beating the stupid thing to death with her own hands. While it had been agile its reactions were poor and thanks to her invulnerable skin she was able to climb the creature and pound its head in as it crashed through the trees. Percy could honestly say that there were few things she had done in her life that felt as brutal as that moment had, she could only thank the gods that this game was designed so that the monsters seemed to dissolve after death because she did not want to think about that crushed head anymore. The monsters seemed to be inexhaustible; no matter where she ran or how many she killed more seemed to find her. It had only taken a few of these encounters for Percy to realize she needed a weapon and fast. It wasn't until she was fighting a hulking bear-like creature at the base of a small stream that her desperation had her call to the water with her powers for a weapon. In a flash as that bear thing charged at her she suddenly found a trident made of ice in her hands and could feel the desperate tugging in her gut that signaled the use of her powers. She had wasted no time spearing this monster through the roof of its mouth as it had reared up and roared. Since that moment Percy had taken to forming these trident-like icicle spears as she had needed even having pulled one form collecting water in the air around her.
Unfortunately the beasts currently chasing her were heavily armored and she had yet to see an opening or weakness to properly get her weapon through their armored hides. Just before these mammoth things had started chasing her Percy had felt a massive body of water calling to her; all of her senses were pulling her to it. It had to be an ocean because nothing else was felt so clearly to Percy from such a distance. Unfortunately as she got closer to this body of water the trees were getting thinner and thinner allowing the ground quaking footsteps of the monsters behind her to grow closer and closer without the trees slowing them. Just as she caught a glimpse of the beach ahead of her Percy felt all of her senses screaming at her to get out of the way of something. With a giant leap forward Percy just barely dodged the sweeping tusks of the thing behind her. While still flying forward Percy grabbed onto one of the low lying limbs of a tree above her and quickly pulled herself up and launched off of the branch just as the creature swung its head back the other way taking out the tree that Percy had been on. Rolling with the fall of her leap Percy now pulled out all the stops with her sprint desperately trying to reach the ocean in front of her. Unfortunately the thick dunes of the beach started slowing her down as she ran on them, her feet burning from the feeling of the sun cooked sand on her bare feet. She knew instinctively that she wasn't going to make it in time so instead she decided to so something risky and that would undoubtedly if her friends were there to witness it have lead to her being called reckless and stupid. As she had been running from these things she noticed that they really didn't know the meaning of the word stop. They plowed through anything in their way without a care for how big of a tree or rock it was and she was hoping to use that to her advantage. Just as the closest one was upon her she bent backwards suddenly in a way she was sure would have broken her old body's back. She could feel the rush of displaced air as giant tusks sweeped above her and before she had a chance to chicken out she lunged forward to grasp the bony protrusions. The force that her body was swung up with knocked all the air from her chest but she quickly and awkwardly scrambled off the tusks in an almost frog like leap and landed on top of the things head. Just as she gripped desperately onto the head of this thing and its wide ears she could feel it trying to stop or turn to get to her in some way only for the one behind it to crash into it and both of them started skidding in the sand with her on top heading further down the beach. Percy had the oddest sensation that she was getting a perspective of what it was like to be a part of a trainwreck as she felt the monster below her sliding forward. Just as the sliding started to slow Percy leaped off the head she was on desperately trying to get to the water that was maybe only twenty feet from her now. Just as she leaped she felt another sudden swing of the tusk slam into her legs sending her spinning like a top as she flew forward. Percy was thanking her styx blessing once again as she dizzily stood on the beach staggering to the water's edge.
She knew what her plan was, it was the same plan she had used all those years ago against the god of war when she had gone on her first quest and she already felt the clenching of her gut and the building pressure of the sea so close to Percy as she started running into the now rapidly expanding beach in front of her. The mammoth monsters behind her hadn't been slowed by their skidding collision long and they foolishly followed her further into the sand that normally would have water upon it. Just as the monsters were getting too close for comfort Percy felt the intense pressure letting her know that it was time and she let go of the ocean she was holding back. Feeling the massive wall of water she had built up behind her she roared with the water now thrumming beside her filling her with a comforting power she had missed. It was enough of a relief that it even held back the oddity of hearing a far more feminine sound come from her than she was really used to. Let it be known that the difference in Percy's powers from when she was twelve to now when she was sixteen was truly massive and the absolutely massive wall of water behind her was a testament to that. Just before the wall hit Percy doubled down on the deep tugging she felt in her gut whenever she used her powers and the front of the wall of water formed seemingly endless trident heads made from ice that then smashed and stabbed into the large being just in front of her.
Once the large wave smashed into her enemies and started to recede back all that was left were the slowly dissolving bodies of the mammoth-like creatures now resting in waist high water; she could see cracks in their armor and deep laceration all over their bodies. Percy let herself fall back into the comforting water gasping for air as she floated gently on the water. Percy closed her eyes desperately taking in the feeling of the ocean around her. Percy had been riding on an empty tank for hours now and the strength the ocean was seeping back into her was so relieving that she was almost worried about how good it felt. She wasn't sure how long she laid in the ocean because the second her eyes had closed she had started to drift away but judging by still dissolving monster bodies next to her it must have just been a short moment. Percy crawled her way back to her feet looking for what had caught her attention only to be shocked to see another person. There on the beach coming out of the forest was a man. She couldn't see in exact detail but he was incredibly tall and seemed to have dark hair and some type of large weapon on his shoulder. Percy tood stunned staring dumbly at the man, her feet now having risen up so that she was standing on the water using her powers to buoy her up only to be startled by his sudden yell.
"Hey, duck!" His voice had a low raspy quality to it even as he yelled.
Percy in her stunned state did not react and suddenly she felt as if a car had smashed into her from behind and she found herself flipping end over end across the water like a skipping stone if skipping stones did front flips. Just as she started skidding on the sand she was able to get an idea of her situation. A giant black bird the size of a mini van with a bone armored head and gleaming red eyes had smashed into her from behind and was now trying to impale her with its claws. Percy rolled desperately to the left, hand already forming the familiar trident of ice, just barely dodging the swipe of the talons. She quickly lunged forward with her trident clashing with the bird's beak that was trying to strike at her face. Just as she was starting to lose in her struggle of brute strength against the bird above her she yanked desperately on the place in her gut that her powers came from and felt a small wave of water fly towards her and she directed the water to slam into the bird above her. The wave smashed into the side of the bird causing it to let up in its bid to stab her with its beak but before it could move Percy flash froze the water on the bird freezing its side to the beach and just as the giant bird thing started to tug at the ice Percy took the opportunity to lunge forward and up to spear the creature in its eye. Panting for a moment in the sudden lack of action Percy's attention was drawn to the sounds of gunshots echoing loudly on the beach. The same man from earlier was swiftly slicing and shooting his way through a small hoard of the wolf like monsters she had fought before. Percy quickly jogged forward to the man excited beyond all belief that she finally had found another person. He casually beheaded the last wolf thing as she stopped about twenty feet from him suddenly remembering her nakedness. Percy really didn't know what to do about being naked and decided that she could worry about it later when she wasn't stranded in the wilderness and instead spoke up.
"Hello…" Percy cringed at her awkward and fading greeting but had no idea how you were supposed to start off a conversation in her situation.
"Hey there tiny, what are you doing naked and fending off grimm all the way out here? If you're from Beacon then man the hazing has gotten way worse than when I went there." as he said this he took off his jacket and handed it to Percy. Percy, grateful, took the large jacket and quickly covered herself before falling to the sand on her knees. He sat down on the sand grabbing a flask from behind his back drinking from it. He had a casual stance with his arms balanced on his knees as his giant sword gun thing was now folded and strapped to his back.
As Percy started to respond she felt the godly influence that she was warned about meant to help her fake amnesia. It was like a cloud swept across her mind and had her change her words on the fly. "uh-I, ah, i don't really know. I kinda just woke up in the forest and I've been trying to find anything ever since." It was an odd experience Percy could feel the lost expression on her face as she said those words.
"You just woke up out here? Where are you from? You look a little young to be a beacon student anyway and I don't think they've reported anyone missing." as he asked this his eyebrow was raised in a questioning way as he scratched lightly at his scruffy face.
Unbidden again the words came from Percy's mouth. "I really don't know anything, I don't have any idea where I am. I don't know who I am. I'm really, really confused about what's happening." Percy had a moment to appreciate whatever power was causing her to speak because there was a genuine mix of confusion, fear and frustration in both her voice and in how her expression tightened. Heck Percy could even feel tears starting to form at the edges of her eyes which was a truly odd experience to both feel a breakdown and yet be so distanced from it.
"Woah, hey there Tiny, no need for the waterworks." he said with a hint of panic in his voice. "Are you sure you don't remember anything? You were tearing through grim pretty well there you must have had someone train you right?"
Percy got the idea from his response that he was genuinely trying to help and she couldn't blame him for being confused but this was way out of her league so she let the godly magic handle the talking as she felt the tears pouring out and her body grab a handful of her hair in 'distress'. "I-I can't remember anything like that. I just woke up in the forest and I've just been fighting constantly since. I just fight, I don't know how, I just do." as Percy said this she could feel her new rabbit ears start to droop above her head.
The man's expression went from concerned to outright panic at the sight of the crying girl in front of him and he quickly started to reassure her. "Don't worry about it, I'll help you get out of Forever Fall and I know someone who might be able to figure out more about your past." He reached out with a comforting hand to pat her head as she looked down miserably. "Here just let me make a call, okay i'll get us a ride out of here."
Percy couldn't help widening her eyes in wonder at the sight of the communication device the man pulled out of his pocket. It seemed similar to modern phones from her world but it was thin and almost like a pane of glass. The man started talking to someone on the line but Percy could only hear his side of the conversation.
"Oh yeah i found it alright, and i don't think anyone could have guessed what was riling up all those grimm." As he said this he glanced at her and she noted the name 'grim' she was pretty sure he had called the monsters that earlier. "Man i'm not fully convinced im not drunk and just hallucinating this right now" He continued. This statement caught Percy off guard and she felt herself tilting her head in confusion. "Yeah yeah i'll cut to the chase, I found a young faunus girl out here just in time to see her take down two goliaths and then brawl toe to toe with a nevermore the size of a bullhead cab. Thing is, she claims she can't remember how she got here, she doesn't even seem to remember who she is." This last part was clueing Percy into the idea that maybe only some of the monsters were called grim and that her fighting them might have been a larger deal than she thought. "Nah my flask is still three quarters full no way im that drunk, i checked." This statement actually saddened Percy quite a bit. She was really hoping that this man had some water on him because she was exhausted and very very thirsty. Something that the man heard caused him to pause and look back at her as he said. "Yeah, let me ask her." Percy watched as he lowered the phone down to his chest before he asked "Do you know how long it's been since you woke up in the forest Tiny?"
Percy was really not appreciating being called tiny by this man, even if he was giant that didn't mean he could call her small. "I woke up about three days ago. I've been fighting and running since then." I answered back.
He raised the phone back to his ear clearly returning to talking to whoever was on the line. "Yeah it matches up, she said she woke up in the forest three days ago and has been fighting her way through it ever since. Look, we're on a beach on the south east side of the forest I'll see about getting a signal on my scroll going. If you can get us a bullhead out here I think we'd both appreciate it." He gave her another quick glance over before replying again. "No injuries that i can tell but i'll bet she is hungry and thirsty as hell so if you could bring something over im sure she'd appreciate it. Oh! And a set of clothes too. She's on the small side so maybe fourteen or fifteen years old. I'll see you in a few." As he hung up she felt pathetically grateful to him even with his constant remarks about her height, three days of intensive fighting had her stomach clenching tightly in hunger and the back of her throat was incredibly parched.
This time when she spoke she could feel the fog leave her mind leaving her questions to just herself. "Um, what exactly is a 'Bullhead'? And which ones are grimm and which are the goliath and nevermores?" Percy asked, pointing to the dissolving grim corpses near her to indicate the last part of her question.
The man's eyebrow lifted even further with her question giving Percy the impression that perhaps these were things most people would normally know. "Well a bullhead is an aircraft designed to fly people around wherever they need to go and help hold off the grim." He took another swig from his flask before continuing."All the creatures you were fighting were grim but each type of grim has a name so the large tusk wielding ones you were fighting earlier are called goliaths but the bird that you took down was called a nevermore." he finished looking at her strangely his head tilted slightly. "Have you… ever heard of grimm before?" he asked hesitantly as if there was an odd weight to the question.
Percy pulled her knees up to her chest hugging them to hold her balance sitting on the sand before answering. "Uh, no i've been fighting them but i didn't really know what to call them. I just called them something based on whatever animal it was like." Percy paused for a moment gathering all her thoughts on the grim she had fought so far. "I've fought ones that look like wolves lots of times, some that looked like bears, a giant snake like one, and a massive scorpion one, but I had to run from that one cause I couldn't get through its bony plates."
The man in front of her gave an appreciative low whistle. "Dang Tiny you've been tearing through the whole menagerie of em'. The wolf ones you saw are called Beowolf, the bear ones are called Ursa, that snake one was King Taijitu and finally the scorpion as a Death Stalker. I wouldn't feel too bad about running from a Death Stalker. Their weakest part is their stomach but good luck ever flipping one, hah!" As he finished his run down of the types of grimm he started poking at his scroll thing.
Percy's head spun a little with the new information and she took a moment to just sort all the new info. After a moment of silence Percy finally spoke up "Hey mister what's your name, I really want to thank you for helping me out. I've been ready to drop dead since yesterday morning."
"The names Qrow, kid" as he said this he placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair just between her ears. "And don't worry about it, I'm glad to help. You know I've got a niece who's just about your age who just joined Beacon actually."
"Um, what's Beacon? Some type of school? And what is a faunus, I overheard you call me that earlier." Percy asked, stretching out her legs and finally deciding that sitting criss cross was going to work better in the sand.
Sighing and putting away his scroll Qrow raised a hand and scratched the back of his head before saying "Yeesh, i'm just gonna assume you've got no idea about anything if you don't even know your own race." After his statement Percy felt dumbstruck, it hadn't occurred to her that she would ever be a different race but then she did now have bunny ears on her head. Even as she was still processing this Qrow continued "Beacon is a school for hunters and huntresses training to kill and eliminate grimm. They're a constant attack on humanity and we only have a few cities or settlements without grimm destroying them and it's thanks to hunters and huntresses constantly fighting to hold them back." Qrow seemed to slide into a bit of a lecture easily. Percy could actually kind of see him being a teacher of some sort if it wasn't for the constant drinking. "Faunus and Humans are the two main races in this world with as far as i know humans being a bit of the majority. Quite a few years ago there was a large war between humans and faunus due to faunus not being treated as equals and they eventually won their right to be equal citizens. Of course people are stupid so even though things have come pretty far since then there are still some who are racist assholes. Look i'll be honest with you it really doesn't feel right for me to be telling you about faunus in too much detail cause I'm a human myself but don't worry, once we get to Beacon I'm sure we can find someone who is a lot more suitable than me to tell you about it."
Percy was out of her depth here. She really couldn't tell what exactly he meant but had a worry that this was going to be a bigger issue for her than he had hinted at. Just as Percy was going to ask another round of questions of Qrow a low roaring noise cut through the air coming from the distance. Seeing a large dark shape in the far distance Percy leapt to action immediately with a deep tug in her gut instantly six ice tridents formed behind her ready for attack. Frantic waving form Qrow caught her attention just as the object started coming into better view. "Woah, woah there killer that's our ride. No need to go full warrior-bunny on it." As Qrow called out Percy could now make out the metal hull and propellers of the giant aircraft. Percy let her trident melt into the sand watching as the aircraft came closer and closer before watching as it slowed it propellers rotated upwards turning forward moment into upward moment and drifting to a hover low down on the beach the winds it produced pushing sand flying causing Percy and Qrow to cover their eyes and Percy had to grab a better hold of Qrows jacket around her. To Percy's surprise the side of the bullhead actually opened as it hovered just above the beach. Inside there stood a tall blonde haired woman who was holding a riding crop of all things. Qrow quickly stood taking a last swig from his flask before placing a hand on her back and leading her towards the waiting vehicle. Qrow quickly hopped inside and Percy was about to do the same before the blonde woman inside reached out and offered her a hand. Percy was expecting help up and took the offer but was actually hoisted into the aircraft with one pull by the woman. Percy took a mental note that she was stronger than she looked which was a little scary because Percy had already thought she looked strong. After being brought into the plane-helicopter hybrid they went over to a series of seats facing each other with Percy and the blonde woman seated facing Qrow. Just as we sat down the blonde woman shouted back to the pilot and the door started to close. When it closed the near deafening sound of the aircraft's engines and blades faded to a quiet hum.
Percy was worried there would be an awkward silence but just before she could try to shove her foot in her mouth in an attempt to break the moment of quiet Qrow spoke up "Tiny, this here is Glynda Goodwitch the combat instructor at Beacon Academy the hunter school I was telling you about. I guess old Oz wanted to send some heavy firepower in case we had gotten caught up with some more grimm."
Glynda straightened her glasses on her face with her arms crossed. Percy got the since that she was a very no nonsense type person so Percy was going to do her ebay to not get in her way which has always been a very sore point for her when it came to teachers. "It's a good thing that he had sent me; we actually had reports of potential Goliaths in the area and extra fire power in that case wouldn't have been remiss no matter how good a hunter you are Qrow." She responded in a bit of a stern tone confirming many of Percy's ideas as to her character.
With her comment Qrow started to let out a wheezing laugh, actually doubling over in his seat pointing at Glynda before wheezing out, "You're a little late about taking out the goliaths miss combat instructor," with a gesture of his hand towards Percy he continued. "Tiny here already wiped them out."
Glynda's annoyed expression which had formed with Qrow's laughter suddenly turned to her and Percy had the feel of being under a microscope. Quickly attempting to defuse the anger Percy spoke up, "I'm sorry Miss Glynda if i did something wrong it was just that those big elephant grimm had been chasing me for a while and they were getting very close to getting me." Percy had no idea what exactly her killing those goliaths entailed but wanted to cover all bases in case she wasn't supposed to have killed them.
At her hurried apology Qrow was driven to more wheezing laughter, nearly doubling over leaving Percy to the mercy of Glynda, who seeing Percy's genuine worry quickly schooled her face into a more kind expression before placing a light hand on Percy's shoulder. "Don't worry young one you did nothing wrong it's just very surprising to hear of someone so young killing a Goliath they are incredibly resilient grimm with strong defenses. I'm curious to know how you took one down." Glynda questioned.
Qrow piped up at this, "actually she took down two and it looked like hydrokinesis to me"
At both of them now looking at her imploringly Percy spoke up, "Um i can call on water to help me in lots of different ways and i felt the ocean up ahead so i rushed to it hoping to form a large wave to stop the goliaths. While i was in the forest i learned to make a weapon from water so i filled the wave with them as it hit the grimm." As Percy was explaining this she noticed an odd black fuzziness starting to come into the edges of her vision. Looking up Percy could see the concerned mouth of Glynda moving in her vision but couldn't actually hear any sound before the encroaching darkness took up her vision and she felt herself falling in her seat.
Glynda quickly looked over the small faunus girl for any injuries before Qrow spoke up "Eh makes sense she would pass out if what she told me was true." After saying this he took another drink from his flask before kicking up his feet into an empty seat.
Glynda looked up sharply "And what exactly do you mean by that you drunk?" She spat with derision coating her words.
Qrow sighed deeply, his hand starting to massage his closed eyes. "Well to be honest I kinda dismissed it at first because it just seemed like an obvious exaggeration. She told me she had been fighting grimm pretty much non-stop for three day but now that I think about it I don't even know if a girl like her could lie."
"Three days!" Glynda's outraged expression was mixed with both disbelief and worry as she laid out the small girl across the seats letting her head rest in her lap. "That's ridiculous, if it wasn't for you corroborating her story about the goliaths I wouldn't have even believed that."
"Hey look normally i wouldn't really put much faith in it cause lord knows kids like to brag but Tiny here doesn't even know what a faunus is. When i said she had no memory i really meant it she's like a blank slate. Well other than fighting that is you should have seen her tear apart those grimm honestly it kinda reminded me of watching you fight." Qrow watched as a stunned Glynda Goodwitch considered the small faunus girl in her lap.
"If what you say is true I can already tell that Ozpin is going to do something ridiculous like invite her to join the school." Glynda's expression was tightened with extreme annoyance at the thought of what was to come.
Qrow gave a low chortle "Of course Oz would. A crazy skilled fighter appearing out of nowhere with a powerful semblance and what must be a monstrous amount of aura to last as long as she did? There's no question, as soon as he vets her himself he'll probably offer her a home at Beacon right away."
A short flight later they arrived at Beacon. Glynda carefully scooped up their new grimm slaughtering mystery and told Qrow she was taking her to the infirmary and that she would see him at Ozpin's office. Percy's vision fussily came back to her to the sensation of being carried gently in someone's arms. Just as Percy was about to startle she heard a voice. "I can't believe you're awake again already. Well you have nothing to worry about here; you're in the halls of Beacon now and I'm taking you to the infirmary so please just rest."
Percy was mildly surprised to hear Glynda's voice and to see that she was being carried by the tall woman but seeing her exasperated look Percy just nodded her head and laid back into her arms taking the opportunity to look around. There were numerous people milling about wearing a school uniform watching curiously as Glynda walked down the hall but Percy could tell that they hurried out of her way furthering her thought that Glynda must have been a stern teacher. The halls of Beacon were a strange sight to behold; they held the style of almost a mansion with grand stone and high archway mixed with things like lockers and students hurrying to class. It left Percy a little mystified at finally having a look at the civilization of this world. Just as they arrived at a hallway intersection Percy's danger sense went into overdrive and she leapt from Glynda's arm tugging on her gut to form a large wall of ice in front of Glynda and herself as well as placing herself in the way of the on coming projectile only to hear a loud thump and a high pitched 'owwie' come from the otherside of the wall. Just as Percy paused in confusion at the odd noise that came from what she thought was a large projectile she felt herself being lifted into the air as if her gravity had been reversed. In a split moment later she found herself back in Glynda's arms and her wall quickly disassembling and being swept out a nearby window by a glowing purple power.
"I believe that I have told you numerous times about running so quickly in the halls Miss Rose," Glynda straightened her glasses before turning her stern look from the girl in bright red on the other side of the wall to now looking at Percy. "And i believe i told you to rest young lady"
"I'm sorry Miss Glynda I thought it was an attack!" - "I'm sorry Miss Goodwitch, I was in a hurry to get to class!" Both Percy and the new girl spoke up quickly with hints of panic. After speaking in almost sync the two girls stared at each other taking in their odd appearances one held in the arm of Glynda Goodwitch with monochromatic hair and large bunny ears on top of her head and the other with black hair and red tips dressed in a school outfit.
Glynda continued to walk down the hall after giving a short lecture to the girl who Percy had now discovered was named Ruby Rose. As she walked Percy really couldn't stand the silence and decided to risk the harsh glare of Glynda in order to start a conversation. "Um Miss Glynda, that girl from earlier was really, really fast. I almost didn't even notice her coming."
Luckily for Percy, Glynda didn't scold her for speaking and instead she gave a small exasperated sigh."Yes, Miss Rose has a semblance that allows her to move at extreme speeds. Now if only she would work on better containing her ability instead of using it to bowl over unsuspecting victims." Percy nodded at this new information and noted the new terms 'semblance' she would have to ask about later and couldn't help the yawn that escaped her mouth. At her yawn Glynda raised a sardonic eyebrow at her a Percy flushed at the gently scolding gaze deciding to close her eyes in the hopes of appeasing the teacher. Despite Percy's wishes the closing of her eye was all her body needed to start falling into a deep sleep her last glimpse being a small sign hanging from the ceiling displaying 'Infirmary Ahead'.