Chapter 2: Red Like Roses
After being told to make their way to the entrance of Emerald Forest, which was right outside of Beacon Academy, the anxious students wave around their weapons, prepping for what sure to be their partner and team formation exercise.
"Students," a stern voice begins, making her way to the front of the crowd, along with the white-haired headmaster. "I'm sure you've heard rumors regarding how Beacon Academy forms its teams."
Nodding, the students look at each other. Rumors ranged from a talking magical hat, drawings, going in alphabetical order, going by region, and even as far-fetched as trial by fire.
"In any case," Professor Goodwitch continues, smirk forming. "Allow us to bring an end to those rumors."
"As some of you may have noticed," the headmaster speaks up, cup of coffee at hand, "There are rows of platforms lined up behind me."
Gesturing at the plates, the petite blonde's smirk broadens as she takes out her scroll. Adjusting her glasses, she glances between her scroll and her students.
Taking a sip from his coffee, the headmaster places one hand behind his back, while the other balances his beverage. "Your mission, children," he starts again, smiling for the first time, "Is to simply stand on these platforms and let the rest fall into place."
Confused, the students look at each other.
"In other words," Professor Goodwitch interrupts, stepping forward, "You are to be launched off this cliff and will rely on your very own landing strategy to survive."
Gasps heard all around, the students smile nervously at each other.
Ruby, determined, furrows her brows, hand hovering above her weapon. Yang, on the hand, grins and presses her fists together.
"Additionally, the first person you make eye contact with shall be your partner for the next four years," Professor Ozpin inputs, taking a sip of his coffee. "So do make it count."
"And once you are partnered up," the petite blonde adds, peering over her lenses to survey the students, "Your mission is to retrieve one of the relics that Professor Ozpin planted."
"Simple enough?" the headmasters probes, seemingly enjoying the confounded looks on his students' faces. "But children please be wary," he warns, face stern. "Emerald Forest is known to inhabit the creatures of Grimm."
"So it's the best time time as any to put all your hard work into play," Professor Goodwitch encourages, smiling fondly at her first-years. "Show us what you're made of," she challenges, gesturing the students to stand atop a platform. "And hence, we begin!"
While some students were nervous yet excited, others were nervous and scared.
Putting on her aviators, Yang eagerly climbs atop a platform, ready to be launched off.
Ruby, on the other hand, takes a deep breath and gives an encouraging smile to the tall, blonde boy that she had met the day before. "You'll be fine," she eases, stepping atop a platform.
"R-r-right," the boy named Jaune replies, shoulders dropping.
"She's right, you know," a calm and soothing voice inputs, garnering the boy's attention. "You'll be fine."
Staring at the red-haired beauty, the boy gulps and scratches the back of his head, nervously.
Poised for battle, the red-haired beauty smiles at the boy. "Pyrrha Nikos," she greets, as the first batch of students are launched. Shortly, screams follow.
Feeling lightheaded, the boy awkwardly smiles at the beauty. "J-J-Jau-Jaune A-Ark," he manages to say, wincing when more screams echo in the open area.
"Jaune?" the girl asks, searching deep blues. "Jaune, are you okay?"
"What? Me?" Jaune repeats, adjusting his pose and plastering a fake smile on his face. "I'm cool," he lies, closing his eyes as more students are launched.
"Jaune . . . did you ever want to fly as a kid?" the beauty asks, smiling warmly at the boy, trying to comfort him.
Nodding, Jaune gulps. Peter Pan was one of his favorite books . . . when he was a baby.
"So think of it as a dream," Pyrrha comforts, as Jaune broadens his fake smile. "And like any dream you'll open your eyes and wake up, safe from harm."
"R-r-right."
"You'll be fine, Jaune," the red-haired beauty promises, internally wincing when the boy is launched. Not losing sight of the boy, the redhead is launched. Calmly, she glides through the air before taking out her spear and launching it. Piercing the top of the tallest tree in sight, she unlocks her semblance and uses her polarity to gravitate towards her weapon. Wrapping her hands around the spear, she lands atop a sturdy branch before pulling it out and locking it onto a certain blonde boy. Lunging her spear once more, she smiles when she accomplishes her task. Pulling out her shield, she makes her way through the forest and back to her spear and new friend.
Knowing she was due to launch any second from now, the black-haired girl stands calmly atop the platform, honey eyes locked onto a blonde who is laughing and shooting her gauntlets, using its recoil to propel her for a greater boost in the air. Personally, Blake was not fond of flying, but this strange, cheery blonde seemed to thrive on it. Losing sight of the blonde, the honey-eyed girl calculates the blonde's landing area.
"YEE-HAWWW!" an orange-haired girl exclaims, as she is launched. Sitting atop her hammer, the girl pumps her arm, laughing, as she flies off into the distance.
Launched, Blake quickly scopes the forest, trying to find a good landing spot. Pulling out her weapon, she fires it and uses its ribbon to swing herself onto a tree. Landing firmly on a branch, she jumps from tree to tree. Her mission: to find a partner whom she wouldn't mind having around for the next four years.
Spying on several of her peers from below, none of them grab her attention, so the black-haired girl threads forward. Ears perking, she hears gunfire and growls. Quickly, she sets out toward the commotion, stopping when she spots the strange blonde from before happily beating up a grimm.
"HYAH!" the blonde grunts, landing a sucker punch on an ursula three times her size.
Ursula flown a couple of feet in the air, the blonde blasts off the ground, jumping above the grimm and using her elbow power to shoot the ursula back to the ground. Still in the air, the blonde uses her gauntlets to shoot the ursula before landing swiftly on the ground herself. "Hmm," she hums, using her foot to check on the inconsolable grimm.
Howling in pain, the ursula calls forward the rest of its pack before dying.
Realizing that others were coming, the black-haired girl contemplates making an appearance. If she fought beside the other girl, they were going to be partners for the remainder of her time in Beacon. But before she could make up her mind, she raises a brow at the curious blonde who seems delighted that other grimm were coming. Once again, this strange girl was proving to be the polar opposite of who Blake was.
Smirking, the blonde welcomes the pack of beowolves by pressing her fists together. Aviators back on, she quickly begins kicking, punching, blasting, and absorbing their hits. Not too long after, her semblance kicks in. Golden hair gleaming in the sunlight and inferno eyes glistening, the blonde KO's the remaining beowolves. Sighing when the fight is over, the blonde rests one hand on her hip. "Now what?" she utters, contemplating which way to go. So far, she had not run into anybody nor heard anyone nearby.
Hearing some shuffling behind her, the honey-eyed girl spots a late-comer heading to the party. But before the lone ursula could surprise attack the blonde, the black-haired girl pulls out her gambol-shroud and shoots it in the back of the head.
Startled, the blonde turns around to find a collapsing ursula. Not too long after it hits the ground, a black-haired girl reveals herself, jumping atop the grimm's carcass. Smirking at the blonde, the black-haired girl puts her weapon away.
"I could've taken him," Yang remarks, causing the other girl to playfully roll her eyes.
Alone, the girl in the red hood wanders the forest. "YANG!" she calls out, anxiously looking around for certain blonde head. "YAAAAANG!" she calls out once more before hearing a blast. Yang, she says to herself, racing towards the sound.
Instead, the dark-haired girl clashes into someone.
"Watch it, you DOLT!" a girl whines, dusting herself off. "YOU."
Confused, Ruby looks around before realizing that the white-haired girl was referring to her. "Me?" she asks, pointing to herself. "What did I do?"
"I can't believe you have THE NERVE to even THINK that I would be your partner!"
"Woah! I don't know what you're talking about . . . "
"Hmph," the blue-eyed girl groans, crossing her arms across her chest. "As if someone from my background would associate herself with the likes of you," the girl continues harassing, as Ruby continues looking around the area, not sure what was happening. "Face it: You recognize the name, the face, and the reputation that I carry. So you schemed your way to me."
"Look lady, I don't know-"
"-I beg your pardon!" the white-haired girl cuts in, appalled. "You refer to me by my name, not some 'lady'."
"But I don't know your name . . . "
"Cut the act, scoundrel," the snobby presses, rolling her icy blue eyes. "You know exactly who I am."
"I'm so lost . . . " Ruby mutters, fidgeting with her fingers.
Raising a brow, the white-haired girl sighs. "Look," she starts, realizing that the dark-haired girl may not know who she was, after all, "Let's just pretend this didn't happen, ok?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not my partner," the white-haired girl states, head high. "And I refuse to be your victim."
"But-" Ruby starts before the girl starts walking away from her. Quickly, she catches up to the other girl, appearing in front of her, whilst leaving a trail of red petals in her wake.
Startled, the white-haired girl studies the slightly taller girl. "How did-How did you do that?" she asks, certain that she was the one to walk away, not the other way around.
"I'm fast," Ruby explains, grinning. "Like really fast," she gloats, unlocking her semblance and appearing ten feet away.
"Interesting, " the snobby girl comments before continuing on her way. "But not good enough."
Sighing, Ruby travels alongside the reluctant girl, who does not shy away from openly rejecting Ruby's attempts to make friends with her.
"No."
"-But."
"Nope."
"I-"
"No."
"B-
"NO. NO. NO."
Hands behind her head, the blonde and the black-haired girl continue exploring the forest in search of the relics.
Alert, the black-haired girl tries not to wiggle her ears as much, as they were hidden beneath her bow, and she did not want anyone to know that she was a Faunus.
"We'll be fine," Yang comforts, sensing the other girl's tenseness.
"What?"
"We'll be fine," Yang repeats, smiling at her new partner.
Small smile forming, the black-haired eases, realizing that there was more to the blonde than she had presumed. Yang, as she said her name was, was the opposite of her, yet despite her cool, relaxed exterior, she was maturer than she appeared. She was also very observant and attentive. Not at all what Blake thought a pretty blonde girl like her would be.
"You said your name was Blake, right?" Yang starts, starting up a conversation with the solemn girl. It had been a nice comfortable walk in silence, but Yang's curiosity was getting the better of her.
"That's right," Blake confirms, suddenly feeling nervous but masking it well.
"You're not from around here, are you, Blake?" Yang assumes, hands still resting behind her head.
"What makes you say that?" the black-haired girl challenges, suddenly defensive.
Brow raised, Yang shrugs. "You don't seem like the others," she explains, not breaking eye-contact. "You're different," she adds, now grinning.
"I'm guessing that's a compliment . . ." the honey-eyed girl assumes, frowning.
"And I'm guessing you're not fond of compliments," Yang retorts, looking up at the sky. "Noted."
Not being able to fight a smile, Blake clears her throat. "You've been here before," she states, recognizing Yang's scent.
"I have?"
"Yeah, I mean, I recognize the, um, forestry," Blake explains, mentally face-palming herself for her lame excuse. "So yeah, we've been here before."
"Now that I think about it," Yang starts, narrowing her gaze. "You're right."
Ears perking, Blake studies the pensive blonde. "I am?"
Nodding, the blonde points to a lavender-colored flower. "Nightshade," she explains, furrowing her brows. "They contain high levels of toxicity, so they are known to keep animals away," she reveals, as the other girl raises a brow. "They also like to keep to themselves," she adds, kneeling down to analyze the flower. "I remember seeing this little girl a while back."
"How do you know it's the same flower?" the black-haired girl asks, intrigued.
"Because this not so little but, rather, deadly girl claimed a victim," Yang explains, standing up and resting her hands behind her head. "I buried the sparrow over there," she reveals, gesturing to a mound of dirt, decorated with a lone yellow flower on its bed.
Soft smile playing on her lips, the honey-eyed girl licks her lips. "We should get back on track."
"Yeah," Yang agrees, keeping her thoughts to herself. The last time she was here, the other girl was nowhere to be seen. And despite being curious and wanting to question the other girl, Yang concludes that given the other girl's cold and melancholic exterior, she was better off letting it go. So instead, the blonde shrugs it off and picks up the pace.
After giving the other dark-haired girl the silent treatment, the light-haired girl perks up when she hears another human. Racing towards the newcomer, she stops dead in her tracks when the source of screaming looks down at her from a tree.
Speared into a tree trunk, Jaune waves at the girls. Heart accelerating, his blue eyes lock onto a fair-skinned, light-eyed girl. "Hi there, snow-angel," he greets, winking at the girl who looks away and locks eyes with Ruby.
"We're leaving," the cold-hearted girl proclaims, grabbing Ruby by the hood and dragging her away.
"Yay! She's mine!" Ruby gloats, waving her arms in victory, as Jaune sighs. "I knew you'd change your mind!" she adds, as the shorter girl groans and rolls her eyes.
Arriving at an old colosseum, the girls find several items, presumably the relics, laid out.
"We made it," Yang states, analyzing the pieces. Recognizing the relics as that as pieces of an old, medieval game, Yang reaches out to touch what she recalled was referred to as a rook.
"Hey," Blake greets, standing beside the blonde. "Which one should we pick?" she asks, wrinkling her nose. Yang smelled of lavender and rain.
"Hmm," Yang hums, eyes scanning their options before settling in on one. "How 'bout we take the pony?" she asks, grinning and reaching out to grab the knight.
"Sure," Blake complies, smiling back.
"In that case," Yang starts, picking up the relic, "Mission accomplished."
"Guess so," Blake agrees before frowning.
"What's wrong?" Yang asks, sensing a shift in the girl.
"I thought I heard someone scream," Blake answers, furrowing her brows and trying not to perk her ears.
Searching the area, Yang looks up at the sky and spots a flock of birds all leaving one particular area in the forest. "Grimm," she guesses, looking back the shorter girl. Hearing another scream, Yang and Blake look at each other before a louder scream is heard. "Sounds like a girl is in trouble," Yang states, as Blake nods at her.
"Go," Blake encourages, as Yang grins and presses her fists together.
"Nice!" Yang comments, happy to have a partner who understood her excitement. "But before that: Moment of truth," Yang starts, flexing and prepping for a battle. "Does my partner have my back?" she teases, winking.
"As if you need to ask," Blake replies, grinning back and pulling out her weapon. "Race you there?" she challenges before disappearing.
Scoffing, Yang's grin broadens. "Oh," she starts, putting on her aviators, "It's definitely on," she announces before taking off after her partner. Blake was the right choice.
Arriving, the redhead retrieves her spear.
Freed at last, Jaune falls down.
Lending the boy a hand, the redhead chuckles when Jaune avoids eye-contact with her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah . . . " Jaune answers, still avoiding eye-contact.
"Jaune," Pyrrha begins, pausing, "I am honored to have you as my partner."
"Why?"
"I sense you'll be a great leader," Pyrrha answers, as Jaune dusts himself off.
Scoffing, the boy picks up his weapon. "The only leader I'll ever be," he starts, growing frustrated, "Is being the leader of losers."
"Hey," Pyrrha starts, resting a hand on his shoulder, "It's barely our first day, Jaune," she comforts, smiling warmly at the boy, "Don't be too hard on yourself, ok?"
Sighing, Jaune nods. "Sure. Whatever," he states, walking away.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha call out, catching up to the blonde.
"Yeah?"
"How well do you know your history?"
"What do you mean?" Jaune asks, raising a brow as they walk through the forest.
"The story of man," Pyrrha calirfies, thoughts drifting elsewhere. "According to old religions, we were created by the Gods and gifted with free-will to do with the world as we please, while the Gods sit back and contemplate if we are worthy of salvation" she states, as Jaune frowns, aware of the folklore. "You see, the Gods left us to our own devices," she states, as Jaune nods. "We were created in their image. There's good and bad in each of us . . . and you, Jaune, I can tell you're good," she comforts, causing the boy to fluster. "I can tell you have a kind heart. You're hard on yourself, as we all should. But it's people like you that give mankind hope. Hope that the Gods will return to us and all will be right in the world."
Smiling lopsidedly at the beauty, Jaune clears his throat. "Thanks."
"Better?"
"Much," the boy answers before tripping over something. "OUCH!" he exclaims, hitting the ground. Getting up, he kicks the source of his fall, only to realize it was a tail. "Ah sh-"
Being cut off, Jaune screams at the top of his lungs as the death-stalker tries to sting him.
Shield at hand, Pyrrha scopes her environment. "Stay calm!" she exclaims, pulling out her spear.
"OKAAAAAY!" Jaune screams back, dangling from the death-stalker's stinger.
Gripping tightly to her shield, Pyrrha spiral throws it at the death-stalker who is quick to smack it away with its stinger.
Expecting this, the redhead lunges her spear, as soon as the deathstalker makes contact with her shield.
Timed perfectly, the spear lands on one of the grimm's legs.
Quickly, the strong girl, using her polarity, catches the shield in mid-air. Landing and rolling on the ground, she slides under the deathstalker and takes back her spear, whilst cutting off its leg. Now shooting up from the ground, the girl steers her shield to cover her. Face and body hidden behind the shield, the girl mimics the death-stalker's movements. "Give me a sec, Jaune," she assures her partner, not taking her eyes off of the grimm.
Moving slower than before, the deathstalker darts its stinger back and forth, trying to find a window to sting the girl.
Maneuvering the deathstalker to a nearby, old tree, Pyrrha smiles when the grimm puts itself in place. Gripping her shield tightly, she throws it at the trunk of the tree, slicing it. Afterward, she lunges her spear at the falling trunk, hitting it at its center. Afterward, she uses her semblance to move the trunk of the tree atop the deathstalker before letting it fall on it. "NOW, JAUNE!" she calls out, as the blonde lets go of the stinger and lands safely on the ground. Running towards the boy, Pyrrha steals Jaune's sword and rushes towards the deathstalker. Blade at hand, she slices off its head.
Screeching in pain, the creature turns to dust before fading away.
"Looks like we missed quite the party," a blonde girl announces, quickly followed by a black-haired girl. "Vomit boy, right?" she teases, as Jaune winces.
"Vomit boy?" Blake repeats, as Yang winks at her, giving her a knowing look.
"Motion sickness is a thing, ya know!" Jaune defends, as Pyrrha picks up her gear and laughs along the way.
"What's up?" Yang greets, eyeing the strong redhead. "Hey, I have to give you props: you are the quite the skilled fighter, Nikos," she comments, as the strong, golden-armor-clad girl lightly blushes from embarrassment.
"I'll have you know that Pyrrha Nikos is my partner," Jaune announces, grinning broadly.
"Tis true," Pyrrha agrees, smiling at the boy, "I made the cut."
"Congratulations," Blake remarks, garnering the attention. Feeling all eyes on her, the black-haired beauty looks away and down at the ground.
"That's Blake," Yang announces, gesturing at her partner. "She made the cut, too," she teases, grin forming. "Barely . . . "
Rolling her eyes, Blake elbows the playful blonde.
"HEY!" Yang yelps before smirking. "Isn't she lovely?" she asks the other pairing whilst massaging her arm. "Just lovely, isn't she."
"YANG!" a voice calls out. "YAAAAAANG!"
Recognizing the sound, the blonde perks up. "RUBY!" she calls back, opening her arms for an embrace.
Running up to her sister and hugging her, Ruby dangles in the air. "I'm so glad I found you!" Yang exclaims before letting go. "We heard a girl was in trouble," she says, causing a redhead to chuckle lightly.
Approaching the group of students, the icy-eyed girl slowly walks up to them, hiding behind the girl with the hoodie.
"This is my partner, Weiss," Ruby introduces, gesturing to a fair-skinned beauty in regal-looking attire.
"Weiss, as in Weiss Schnee?" Blake questions, narrowing her gaze on the short, light-haired beauty.
"The heiress?" Pyrrha adds, analyzing the delicate-looking girl. "Pleasure."
"Finally . . . " Weiss utters under breath. "Some recognition . . . "
"So you admit that your family is solely responsible for the mistreatment of Faunuses, as well other questionable labor practices that have resulted in a stain of the Schnee name?" Blake adds, balling up her fists.
"That is a rumor," Weiss defends, eyeing the black-haired beauty. "And like all rumors," she continues, face turning cold, "They are founded on lies."
"I'm pretty sure I'm not the one lying here," Blake rebuts, as Yang steps in between them.
"Blake," the blonde starts, breaking the tension, "Let's just agree to disagree," she suggests, smiling at her distracted partner.
Not breaking away from icy blues, Blake tenses when someone grabs her hand.
"Let it go," Yang eases, tightening her hold on her partner's hand. "You don't know anything about her, and she doesn't know anything about you, ok?" she comforts, smiling half-heartedly. "Fresh start for everyone," she says, now acknowledging everyone in the group.
"That's right," Ruby adds, speaking up. "Names don't matter here. We're all equal. We all want to right the wrongs in the world. So instead of creating disparities amongst us, we should focus on what brought us together," she continues, pulling out her weapon. "Like Professor Ozpin said, 'We are the protectors of Remnant', so we should work together and help each other grow into better people."
Sighing, Blake nods, as Yang lets go of her hand.
Winking at the black-haired girl, Yang turns to smile at her sister. Ruby had come a long way from the girl who had to have her big sister tuck her into bed, or the girl who would wait eagerly by the window until her big sister returned from school, so they could train together.
"I'm not like my family," Weiss states, voice soft. "I want you to know that."
"We're all individuals," Pyrrha presses, resting her hand on Jaune's shoulders. "It's up to us to create our legacy. Up to us to decide our destiny."
"That's right," Jaune agrees, nodding at his partner. "Names are just letters. But actions are stories. And who knows? Maybe, one of us will be remembered as a hero a hundred years from now."
"Like the Grimm Reaper," Pyrrha remarks, as everyone nods in agreement.
"No one knows her real name, but they all remember her as a hero . . . The Grimm Reaper," Ruby adds, smiling at her partner who smiles back.
Yawning and stretching, Yang notices an orange hue in the sky. "We should probably get back," she suggests, aware that grimm are more active at night, and that they have the advantage of seeing in the dark.
And so together, the new group of friends head back to Beacon Academy.