Blake Belladonna was a morning person, as loathe as she was to admit such things. Her regular sleep schedule often saw her falling asleep by eleven and waking up before five. That along with a few, dare she say, cat naps, kept her well rested and alert for the remainder of the day. But to all those that knew her, she assured them that she actually preferred to sleep in. To noon at the earliest.

When she was with the White Fang, it was useful for getting out of the tedious morning tasks. That, and dating the leader of that cell, often did wonders for her. It gave her ample time to read to her heart's content. Or, at least to read a little longer than she otherwise could have.

Unfortunately, today was not one of those days which she could put her extra time to good use with a good book. Instead, she had to spend it doing something she hated to do. Actually getting out of bed. At least her incredible ability to wake up early and be alert at such an early hour would help her well in preparing for what was most likely the most important day of her life so far.

It put a smile to her face to think that. She had always assumed that the most important days of her life would be surviving another attack carried out by her own organization. Or possibly, the day she had finally decided to leave the White Fang in favour of literally anything else. Now she had a chance to do something meaningful with her life. To do something which will train her body and educate her mind. Enough so that someday, she could make a future for the faunus that they all could be proud of.

Something her parents would be proud of.

Maybe even enough to forgive her for abandoning them.

Blake shook that idea from her head. There was no point in wallowing in self misery. She had an objective to complete. And it looked like Professor Goodwitch was not going to be going over the requirements again. It was a good thing that Blake had plenty of experience listening to and internalizing orders.

Find a partner, find and protect the civilian, don't get caught by the professors. A stealth operation, judging by the objectives. Of course, that could quickly change, if and when the professors and huntsmen caught up with her. Her partner will also inevitably cause a change in tactics, depending on who that person was. Blake quietly whispered a little prayer, hoping for someone quiet.

She knew Beacon's standard operating procedure. Groups of two that you stayed with for all four years. Every year the pair would be joined by a second one, forming rotating teams of four. It was a smart system. It gets the huntsmen-in-training to learn to rely on a partner, while also teaching them how to effectively communicate with other groups for larger tasks. It felt like something Adam would think of.

And with that less than happy final thought, Blake proceeded into the hastily put up changing room to wash up and get dressed. It was fairly empty inside, seeing at it was four fifty, judging by her scroll. It gave her good pickings of the shower stalls, as well as plenty of room to change and undo her bow, swapping the dark purple one she had slept in for a new black one, without being sighted by any passers-by.

"Hello!" Came a much too loud voice from behind. Almost reflexively, Blake's cat ears folded down. It was only a last second effort that she forced her upper ears to remain still in the face of that early morning shout.

Turning around, she saw a short redhead coming up to her, a massive smile on her face, waving her arm wildly. "Sorry, was I too loud?" The girl asked, in a shouted whisper.

How someone could both whisper and shout at the same time was beyond her, yet this girl seemed to have perfected the art of not being quiet.

"Yes, can you please keep it down? I may be awake, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to lose my hearing."

"Sorry 'bout that. Just didn't expect anybody to be up as early as me! Great to see I'm not the only early riser out here. And by early riser, I mean early riser! Did you see all those people curled up outside, sleeping the morning away? That's precious time that could be spent on anything else! Like eating! You think they're going to serve pancakes? With plenty of maple syrup of course, but that's a given. How do you eat pancakes without maple syrup!"

By the end of the girl's rant, she was waving her arms madly. It was only after she finished her heartfelt speech on pancakes and maple syrup, did she pause, remembering what she had forgotten to do. "Oh ya! I'm Nora. Welp, I'm going to take a quick shower, grab some food, then grab my Ren. Hope to see you around!"

And then she was in the shower.

Blake sighed. Maybe coming to Beacon was a mistake, if she had to deal with people so incessantly loud like Nora. Checking the sky, she could only spot a few clouds overhead. There was little wind, meaning that the chances of rain coming in the near future was dim.

She went to get food, a bowl of noodle soup with any protein she could want on top. Of course, tuna was the most logical option. And it looked to be very fresh. Not that canned stuff which she had been surviving on these past months. Taking it to an empty spot of the plaza, she sat down to dig in, enjoying the calming heat which came from the bowl and steaming food inside.

People were just starting to wake up now. There was still plenty of time before Initiation, but Blake could tell that the lines for food would become long enough that many would forgo the early morning meal in favour of arriving on time to the cliff. Sucking in a few loose strands of noodles, she tilted the bowl to her lips, drinking in the broth.

"I wonder who the civilian is going to be," she mused to herself, thinking back to what Professor Goodwitch had said. Her thoughts flickered to the girl claiming to be her daughter. With those sparklingly happy silver eyes and deep red hair. Then Blake half-chuckled at the thought. It was more likely to be a husband or a nephew than that girl. She was what, ten years old? What sane individual would let their daughter be the central focus to an entire Initiation?

And from what little they had spoken, Blake could tell Ruby was insightful, if not also intelligent. Would the headmaster trust the fate of this year's class of students to a little girl's whims?

Blake didn't think so.

Then a person walked by, carrying her own bowl of noodles with beef. Her entire focus was on that heaping bowl of food, with no attention paid anywhere else. Blake eyes widened. A recognition of who that person may be. They had the same hair colour and skin tone, but Blake could not be sure unless she saw her eyes. Leaning over to get a better look, the girl was lost in the emerging crowd of people rising to get their own food.

"No, it couldn't be," Blake said out loud. "She would still in in Menagerie. Last I saw, she was with the Fang there. Why would she be here, at Beacon?"

Unless it was to find her and bring her back. The thought worried her. Blake continued to look around, for any sight of the girl she had used to know. But no luck. Either the girl was a figment of her imagination, or she had hidden somewhere in the crowd.

There was no more time to think about it, however, as Blake stood up, following the signs to the cliff. It was still early, but for her Initiation had begun.

I honestly have no clue as to why I'm stalling on Initiation. It's right around the corner, but I'm enjoying these few hours before it starts. Hopefully soon though.

CaptainTacoBell - Thank you! Initiation is super soon!

JackTheSpades - Lots of stuff to think about! As for the question if Ruby knows she's adopted? I'm going to say... No. Momma-Glynda wants to wait until she is a little bit older to tell her the truth.

TiberiumSnow - Glad you enjoyed the fluff. Hoping to have plenty more of that in the future.

Ruble lubba dub dub - And more there shall be!

Midnightwolf64 - Thanks Midnight. Kid Ruby is so much fun to write.

Dragonqueen1993 - I know! It is the biggest twist in media history since Darth Vader! ;)

merendinoemiliano - Thank you.