Yang Xiao Long scream as a pack of beowolves jumped at her, scraping at her face. Her neck. Her back. They were everywhere. There were just so many of them. Her heart was pounding, and her lungs felt like they were on fire. As did the rest of her.
How long had she been fighting for? One hour? Two? Less than that? More? Time seized to have meaning when faced with such overwhelming odds.
It was too much. There were too many. Was this what it was like? Is that why her dad cried when she told him she wanted to be a huntress? She was out of ammo. No, she still had one pack left. It had fallen on the ground in the last bout. It was only a few steps away.
"Argh!" She cried out, as she felt a small nevermore bite into her forearm. With a punch, she could feel its neck crack before the beast disappeared in smoke and ash.
"Yang!" She heard her partner call out, followed by three rhythmic gunshots, taking out a creep about to lunge at her.
She turned to Pyrrha with a tired smile. "Thanks babe. Just… just help me get over there. I dropped a clip."
"Don't tell anybody about this," she responded, holding out her hand towards Yang's fallen ammunition. A black light surrounded it, flying into the air and into her awaiting grasp.
"New trick. Think you can teach me that?"
Pyrrha chuckled, "I don't think I can teach someone else a semblance, but I'm open to trying if you are."
There was no more time to talk as they were surrounded once more. They just kept on coming. Where had the school kept all of them? Yang ducked under a blow and lunged, taking out the Grimm before it touched the ground.
She checked her scroll. "Not enough," she grimaced. She had been wearing her aura too thick.
Yang cursed herself. She had thought she trained that habit out of herself. It had to be the numbers of opponents. There was nothing else that could psyche her out as much as this had been.
"Fourty-nine!" She called out.
"Sixty-one!" Pyrrha responded as she threw her spear through an awaiting Beowolf.
There was a loud pink explosion followed by a cheer. "One hundred and five!" Came an excited reply. A short redhead wielding a massive hammer.
"I think they were talking about aura levels, not Grimm kills, Nora."
"Aww man!" Nora replied, "I thought I was leading by a mile. Guess I'll have to try harder!"
Two more people joined the fray, giving Yang and Pyrrha some much needed space.
"Ilia! I demand nourishment! Feed your queen!" Nora shouted as she swung her hammer into a beowolf's jaw.
"I am not zapping you with my whip!" Ilia replied.
Yang jumped forward, taking a hit meant for Ilia. A paw swipe landed on her wrist as she blocked. Silently thanking her father for his advice on having her Ember Celica act as both weapon and shield, she dove under the beast, shooting it in the belly with well placed shots.
A growl.
Yang rolled, missing another strike for her head. Then a nevermore's divebomb into her shield. Taking a quick look she scowled. It was cracked. Paying no more mind, she flipped up. A well-placed kick to the animal's knee shattered it. A punch finished it off.
She looked over. None of the other three were doing that much better than she was, all being pushed back, closer and closer to the cliff face.
And as they were pushed back, she could see more and more students. All fighting. All panting or hiding behind their comrades. Some were carrying others to safety. Without a word, many of them had begun forming a defensive line.
The battle was moving so fast, yet it was a flash of memory which brought a grin to her lips. In an instant, she could tell who had gone to the huntsman schools and who didn't. They're formation was textbook. Drilled into each and every person who went to a huntsman school in Vale until it became muscle memory. She doubted many of them realized what they were doing.
She almost chuckled. Who knew her schooling would be so helpful so soon.
But she had no time to think or reminisce. Not when she heard the cry of Ilia as her aura shattered.
"Ilia!" Cried Nora.
"I got her!" Without a second thought, she ran ahead, barrelling through the Grimm in her path.
With one hand, she scooped up the scratched-up girl and ran as fast as she could back to safety. She heard gunfire behind her and the sounds of dying Grimm.
"There's too many of them!" Someone cried out.
Their formation was smaller now. All the fallen, those too injured to continue fighting, or unable to continue from fear, were stuck between a cliff and their peers.
Yang's heart was beating erratically. Her eyes were wild. Was this what it was like to truly fight Grimm?
Was this what she had signed up for?
"Enough!" Like a clap of thunder, the world seemed to silence in the wake of that voice.
Everything was silent. If just for an instant. And then it all came crashing back down. Huntsmen. Huntsmen everywhere. Taking out Grimm at speeds which Yang could barely comprehend. Teamwork between pairs of partners who had fought together for years, if not decades, was apparent in them all. Even among groups larger than two. They all fought together as if they had done so for years.
Yang's eyes were wide as she fell to her knees in exhaustion.
Was this the difference between a student and a professional huntsman?
They were all fighting fiercely, coming in from the sides. Giving the students room to breath as they battled back the creatures of darkness. It was a sight to behold. No matter where she looked, she could see experts of the craft. She did not know where to look. And yet her eyes could not even blink for fear she would miss any of the action.
It was remarkable. It was awe inspiring.
And all too soon, it was at an end.
Not a single Grimm was left. Someone ran up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright? Any injuries?"
Yang shook her head. "No, and still have some aura left."
Yang could feel something pulse within her. The woman in front of her continued to stare, then stepped back with a sigh. "Alright. I see no broken bones, but you have a sprained wrist under that cracked gauntlet. You'll be feeling it when your adrenaline wears off."
Yang nodded as the huntress turned and ran to the next person, placing her hand on their shoulder as well, staring deeply into them.
Her head dropped down. She was exhausted.
But it was over.
Initiation was finally done.
She was left wondering if she had actually passed.
So, I actually did write one last Initiation chapter. I'm glad I did. I think it turned out pretty well. I was inspired after binge-watching all of She-Ra Princesses of Power. I know it's a different fandom, but I kinda need to gush a little bit about how much I loved this final season. It was pretty great. Though, I wish it was split into two seasons so the pacing would be a bit better. But my fave ship has sailed and it was an incredible moment. Loved it. Everything is awesome.
Now that that is overwith, what did you guys think of this little bit of action? Can Ruby plan an Initiation or what!
C3l3st14 - Is corporal punishment alive and well in Remnant? Glynda is definitely one angry mamma.
merendinoemeliano - How did the fight go? I know it was a pretty short chapter, but I do need the practice. Any tips or tricks you have would be awesome!
Darknight2124 - Ooh boy. Glynda is angry. And glad you are happy with getting more chapters!
Kivuntappaja - I was initially thinking about havin a chapter or two for each pairing to get their pins, but I felt like it would be much too repetitive. Better to have just some smaller interactions and then maybe have the characters reference it later on in the future. And as for Pyrrha's semblance grabbing some pins, none of the Initi-ees actually knew what the civilian was going to give them when captured, so it would be kind of hard for her to grab them. Also, I can definitely see Cardin and his possy stealing pins from others.
FEV Grim - Ruby may just cry if she heard that.
Midnightwolf64 - Even I thought a no-Grimm Initiation would be way too easy. :P
Heavyarms150 - THANK YOU! I could not remember that word for the life of me. It was pissing me off for such a long time and I just went with what I could think of.
YuukiAsuna-Chan - Because who hasn't tried that trick before? ;)