AN: Remember to save your work when you're typing something. Rewriting sucks.
Chapter 2: The Initiation
"Huh. It kinda does look like a Disney castle" Percy commented. The three demigods stood in front of the entrance of Beacon Academy with a few other students, waiting for the staff to officially open the doors. Like every first year student, they were admiring the view.
"Walt Disney Present: Ninjas on Ice. Where true love and a sharpened weapon is the solution to everyone problem." Piper said in a mock movie trailer voice.
Percy laughed and looked at Annabeth to her reaction to the castle. He thought that she would be jumping up and down, babbling out random architecture fun facts that would go over her head. Instead, she just narrowed her eyes at the castle design and frowned. "What's up Wise Girl?"
"The design is very familiar to me." Annabeth said lowly. "I'm sure I saw it on Olympus once. Apartment block 2, or 3 maybe. Near the edge of the city."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. The arches, the windows, the roof, it's the same design. It very unique and the only one of its kind on Olympus." Annabeth explained. "I believe we found out the first clue."
"Maybe the Headmaster could give us information on previous owners, former Headmasters, and the architect." Piper suggested.
Percy stifled down a laughter coming up and looked down. He could almost feel the girls eyes on him.
"What?" Annabeth asked,
"Do you know what the Headmaster name is?" Percy asked with a grin.
"No."
"Well his name is Ozpin, but a few people call him Oz." Percy said, chuckling.
"The Headmaster name is Oz?" Piper said giggling.
"And one of the teacher's name is Glynda Goodwitch" Annabeth said chuckling. "Gods, I hope we're not in a world where the Wizard of Oz story came from. I'm done if we see any flying monkeys."
"I just hope he's not a Dumbledore" Percy said suddenly.
Piper looked at him weirdly, while Annabeth just sighed. "What?"
"He better not try to recruit us in some secret war between good and evil, that nobody else knows about." Percy said seriously. "I swear, if he tries or we accidentally stumble into it, we're leaving."
"Percy doesn't like Dumbledore when we watched the movies. Hades, he didn't like half of the main cast."
"'Hey, there's a Dark Lord that tried to kill you a few times and you're destined to fight him. Hmm, should I teach you spells to make you more badass? Nah! I'm just going to give you history lessons'" Percy said in a very exaggerated old man tone.
"Gods, this is what happens you don't read the books, and watch the whole series. We're not having this conversation again" Annabeth said, glaring at Percy.
"If Chiron pulled half the shit he did, I would have left Camp years ago."
Piper looked at the couple amusingly. Banters like theses never seized to put a smile on her face. Love, adoration, joy and minor annoyance came off of them in waves. It was infectious and made her long for what they had. Since finding out her relationship with Jason was faked, the false memories and feelings she believed she had were slowly fading away. The attempt at restarting her relationship felt forced and unnatural, so that didn't help at all. Now only she only felt empty and it's impossible to start anything again with him. It didn't help that she the daughter of the love goddess and surrounded by love every day.
Piper shook her head to get rid of her train of thought and looked around. There were dozens of students loitering about, looking over their weapons, or just talking to their friends. Piper still couldn't believe that they were in another world and she's going to school. Monster Hunting school, but still. Is this suppose to be some sort of weird cosmic joke? Piper, like most demigods, never had a great time in school. Either monster attack, powers go haywire or just general bad luck that follows them. Although, Percy had the record for most expulsions. At least, fighting in monster attack and causing property damage, might be acceptable. Hades, they might get extra credit.
"Hey guys." a soft voice said from behind. The demigods turned around to see Yasmine, looking down, shifting from foot to foot. They lost track of her once they arrived when she left to put away her suitcases. The demigods were a bit worried that the girl seemed to wilt under any unknown attention, run off towards a large crowd.
"Oh hey there Yasmine. Everything settled?" Piper asked.
"Y-Yes. All I had to do was sign a few things and they'll place my suitcase in my assigned team dorm." Yasmine explained with a slight frown.
"I thought we have to some sort of initiation before we get teams." Annabeth said.
"I know. I'm a bit confused as well."
"Maybe our fight back in your town made initiation useless to us. We did defeat monsters that seasoned veterans would have trouble with." Piper offered.
"Hopefully, this won't bring any more attention towards us." Annabeth said. "Anyway we should get going, the doors are open and everyone is leaving."
The quartet followed the students through the entrance and Annabeth finally started to spout out architecture facts excitingly to Yasmine, who seem very receptive to it. While Annabeth was in Elysium, Percy and Piper were too nervous to even move a finger. It wouldn't a good first impression if he accidentally flooded a highly prestigious school. Again. Having no idea where they were going, they just followed the large mass of students into a large auditorium. It wasn't that special, Just an empty room with a raised stage. Glynda and a man with silver hair stood there, staring impassively at the students gathered.
Percy and Annabeth narrowed their eyes at the silver-haired man. "You feel that?" Percy asked.
"Yes." Annabeth agreed.
Piper looked at two confused. "What are you two talking about?"
"There some sort of... energy surrounding that man." Annabeth explained in Greek. Not wanting to confuse Yasmine and tip off anyone. "Percy and I have encountered people in the past that have been either blessed or cursed by the gods. I usually see a few of them on Olympus. They always have this aura around them, signifying their importance and status to other gods."
"And that man has it?"
"Maybe. I can't get a read. He's either both cursed and blessed. Either way, we may have found our second clue." Percy said. "He could be the link to whatever gods live here."
"We should keep a close eye on him. If we could sense this, we should assume that he could as well." Annabeth said.
"What are you guys talking about?" Yasmine asked. "I never heard that language before."
Annabeth looked at the Faunus apologetically. "Sorry, Yasmine. Sometimes we switch to our native language. We were just wondering whose that man is."
"Oh, that's the Headmaster." Yasmine said. Before she could say anything more, the Headmaster stepped up to the microphone, and everyone in the room quieted down.
"I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose – direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." Without another word, Ozpin walked away, leaving silence in his wake.
Glynda stepped up to microphone and added "You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready."
All around them the first year students started to leave, following volunteer upper year students to the ballroom.
"Nice speech. Could have been better. Maybe Chiron should give him tips." Percy commented.
"But the message is loud and clear." Annabeth said with a shrug.
Late evening, the Percy and Annabeth were sitting against the wall, while Piper left to mingle with their fellow students, and Yasmine went looking for extra pillows and blankets. Annabeth took the time to analyze a few of the students lounging about and talking to their friends. It was not what she expected. Everyone looked happy, excited and just in awe that they're in Beacon Academy. She just guessed that reality just hasn't settled in yet for them. From what Annabeth learned, there hasn't been any major victory against the Grimm in years. Settlement after settlements were falling and the main kingdom seem to be the only safe place.
"I'm confused." Annabeth spoke up.
"Have the world ended?" Percy said with a grin.
"I'm serious. Humanity back home caused hundreds of species to become extinct as their technology advances and population increases." Annabeth started. "From what I've seen of this world, they are a few decades to a century more advanced."
"Yeah, I guess. Where are you with this?"
"To put it simply, threats like the Grimm should have been wiped out years ago through natural human expansion, and population growth. Not to mention that their culture is dedicated to killing Grimm. Yet, humanity is losing. We know that the Grimm don't need to eat, they don't reproduce at all after hundreds of years of research, and from what Yasmine explained to me, the environment doesn't really affect them. Which lead me to think that-"
"There's somebody replenishing the Grimm numbers?" Percy finished.
"Yes, I believe so. It can't be a god. They love to brag and tell everyone what they have done. In legends, the creator of the Grimm was one of two brothers, yet almost the majority of the world think of them as myth. Also, the 'good' god would have sent help for his creation."
"So we're looking at an Echidna situation." Percy said with a scowl. Every time he thinks about the Mother of all Monsters, making him want to stab her again.
"Don't know, but that my only working theory. I need more information. But if I'm right, there's no point in fighting if the Grimm is never-ending." Annabeth said.
"So what? You want us to find the source and kill the god or monster creating them? Tall order." Percy said with a scoff.
"Well, the way our body has been changing, I'm pretty sure we'll be more god than human soon." Annabeth said.
"You noticed too?" Percy asked.
"I feel stronger, my mind is clearer, my dyslexia is gone, and my hand feels weird. Like something is trying to grow out of it." Annabeth described. She scooted closer to Percy and placed her head on his shoulder. Percy put an arm around her and squeezed.
"If I don't pay attention, everything I touch shocks me. I'm guessing the storm god in me is finally waking." Percy said.
"I don't know if we're just inheriting our parent's domains since there's no one here to take the role, or our parents have been holding most of the power of their domains, giving their children limited control."
"Whatever it is, I just hope I don't bleed gold by the end of the year." Percy said with a grimace. Unlike most, the idea of immortality still does not please him.
"Hopefully this change won't go that far. We'll get all the benefits without any of the- What the hell are you wearing?" Annabeth said with shock.
Percy looked up and his jaw dropped. Piper stood there, her face tinted red, wearing a slightly revealing nightdress and robes that really accented her curves.
"I don't know!" she blurted out in a panic. "I just had a thought that I wish I had pajamas before we sleep, and these... 'clothes' flashed on!" She looked around to see a few boys and even some girls, leering at her. She tightened her robes closer to her body, but that still left little to the imagination.
Annabeth seeing her discomfort, moved away from Percy and pulled her down between them. Their bodies covering her from other student eyes.
"Gods. I don't know how some of my siblings love this type of attention. I had to charmspeak a third of the male population here."
"Well if it makes you feel any better, you look amazing in that." Annabeth awkwardly tried to comfort. Girl talk was never her thing.
"Thanks." Piper said with a blush. "I just don't want my reputation to be that girl everyone thinks is easy."
"Then we'll kick anyone ass if they try or say anything." Percy said.
For the next two hours until sundown, the demigods had to ward off dozens of people trying to make a pass on them. One glare from Annabeth usually sends them running and few well-placed commands from Piper made them the center of attention. When Yasmine came back and joined them, she provided a blanket to Piper to cover herself. Some very suicidal students noticed the Faunus in the group, and couldn't help spitting out some rhetorics that gave them a few black eyes. Neither of the demigods noticed the dozens of Faunus students observing them, wondering about their amazing scent and witnessing their fierce defense of their Faunus friend. One specific one with a black bow made a note to observe them throughout the year.
The next day, Percy was up and doing his morning stretched on the cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest. The scene would be peaceful if it wasn't the chattering of students behind him, waiting on for the initiation to start. After a quick breakfast, the quartet left to get their armor and Yasmine's weapons. Both Annabeth and Percy promised that they'll attempt to make an enchanted collapsable armor set later. Back in Camp Half-Blood and Jupiter, it was common practice now to receive your own collapsible preferred weapon and armor, similar to Riptide. It made life easier for people on a quest or living in the mortal world. Some even went through a newly created rite of passage to create their own weapon and enchant it. Smiting and Enchanting classes were now popular classes and planned to be a mandatory class in the future, much to the Hephestus and Hecate kids delight. If Yasmine were to be placed on their team, they would help upgrade her weapons if they could.
Fortunately, Piper clothing situation improved when her risky night dress turned into a blue battle dress, after a mental command. After a few tests on changing into random outfits she could think of, Annabeth and Percy were now justifiably jealous that Piper practically didn't need to go shopping for the rest of her life now.
"Are you sure you guys want to do this without unlocking your Aura?" Yasmine asked again.
Percy put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Yeah, we're sure. Don't worry about us."
"We fought things far worse then the Grimm faced the other day." Annabeth said, stretching her arm above her head.
"Did anyone find out what the initiation going to be about?" Piper asked.
"The upper year students are pretty tight-lipped about it." Annabeth said with a scowl. "But I overheard a few bragging to their friends about their initiation. From what I gathered, it's practically what Glynda said. The first person you see is your partner for life. Two pairs make a team"
"So we might get stuck with some random person?" Percy said, clearly not liking the idea.
"Perhaps. We just need to find each other."
"How?"
Annabeth turned to Yasmine. "You said that we have powerful scents. Can you differentiate us?"
Yasmine nodded. "Yes. You kinda smell like books and paper, Percy smells like the sea, and Piper has a perfume aroma."
Annabeth looked back tot he Emerald forest, her eyes glazed over as her mind started putting together thousands of ideas and strategies to make sure the four stayed together. "Alright, here's what we'll do. Yasmine, you'll go and find Piper by following her scent and avoid everyone else. Can you do that?"
"I think so. But everyone here has been trained to be hunters. They might find me first." Yasmine said, looking very doubtful that she could achieve this.
"I'm hoping that nose and ears of yours will help you. I believe in you." Annabeth reassured with a smile.
"How about us?" Percy asked.
"You'll use your earthshaker powers to make the whole forest quake. The closer I am to you, the more powerful it should feel." Annabeth instructed.
"Risky plan." Percy said with a grimace.
Annabeth sighed. "I know. It could attract every curious hunter to you. It's all I can think of."
Percy stared at her for a moment before his eyes lit up. He took Riptide out of his pocket and uncapped it. Annabeth looked at him confused when he passed her the cap. "What are you-?"
"Sometimes when I use Riptide, I drop the cap." Percy said with an excited look. "It doesn't come back into my pocket as it does in Pen form, but I could feel the sword being tugged towards it. You keep that, avoid everyone else and I'll find you."
"That actually genius. Two great ideas in two days. You're on a roll." Annabeth said with a teasing tone before pecking him on the lip.
"Your weapon brings more questions than answers." Yasmine muttered, staring at the bronze sword. She shook her head, not letting herself get distracted by the magic sword and moved to one of the silver pads on the ground. "I think we have to step on these, everyone else is." The demigods look to the side to see a handful of students each standing on a pad and adjusting their weapons.
"Ahem?" Everyone in the room looked tot he side to see Ozpin drinking a cup of tea, with Glynda flaking him. "For years you have trained to be warriors, and today your abilities would be put to the test in the Emerald Forest."
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams." Glynda continued. "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today."
"What!?" A person far off to the side groaned.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well" Ozpin said next."
"Looks like your info is right." Percy muttered to Annabeth.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years. After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die."
"Man this guy sucks at motivational speeches." Piper commented, causing a few students to stifle a laugh.
"You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
"What do you think he meant by landing?" Percy asked. Even Annabeth looked confused. She looked down and tap her feet against the metal pad then looked to the side just in time to see someone gets launched into the air.
"Oh shit." Piper swore, then she was launched into the air.
"Aw man." Percy said before getting launched as well. For a few seconds, Percy panicked. Even after falling from extream hights over the years, he still hasn't gotten used to it. He was knocked out of his panicked thoughts as she heard Piper screams. Instinctively he reached a hand out to her, hoping that he could reach her. Then something odd happened. One large tendril of water shot out of his hand, wrapped around one of Piper's flailing arms and pulled her to him.
Creating water and controlling them are very different things to Percy. One will probably make him feel a bit fatigued if he controls them for too long, creating water would knock him out for a few hours. Something about the energy from the godly side of him is not powerful enough to create water out of nothing. The first time he achieved creating water was when he accidentally erupted Mount Saint Helen. Coincidently it was also the first time he set of an earthquake. To see that he could create this water tendril at ease, was surely a surprise.
Piper yelped in surprised as Percy wrapped on arm around her waist tightly. Percy quickly turned to the side and reached out towards Annabeth and Yasmine. Two separate tendrils of water shot out and pulled the pair closer. Focusing on the approaching ground, he tried to create as much updraft as he could. Control wind has never been his strongest powers. Hurricanes were easy and chaotic. Not a lot of thought had to be put to make those. But he wasn't Thalia or Jason. His control was very limited and he hoped that if his powers are more powerful, it should be enough to slow down their descent.
"Whatever you are doing, do it fast." Annabeth yelled over the rushing wind.
"I'm trying." Percy grunted, pushing more power. The normal tug in his gut clenched up painfully and felt like something was stabbing an ice pick in the back of his eyes. Massive gusts of winds pushed up against the quarter, slowing them down significantly but unfortunately, it wasn't powerful enough to make a softer landing. The four crashed into a large bush and into a small pile.
Annabeth rolled off of Yasmine and took a deep breath. "I'm going to feel that in the morning." Annabeth gasped out.
"I can't believe that worked." Percy's muffled voice said.
"Percy, you comfortable there?" Piper said in a strained voice.
"Yeah actually. What am I on top of?" he lifted his head up to looked into Piper's kaleidoscope eyes, then looked down. "Sorry."
"My everything hurts so I give you a pass for now." Piper said very amused at the look of horror and blush on Percy's face.
"I guess Percy is on the list." Annabeth said with a pained laugh. Piper snorted and pushed Percy off of her, ignoring his complaints.
"The list?" Yasmine asked, already standing up because of her Aura protecting her from the fall and healing any damages.
"Back at our...old school, Piper was part of a specific group. They're all very attractive and if a guy managed to get to second base with one of them, they go on the short list and get bragging rights. Kinda crude and usually the dumber ones ends up in the infirmary, cursed with permanent makeup." Annabeth explained.
"That's...interesting." Yasmine said, unsure how Piper felt about that.
"It's stupid. It made most of younger kids unwilling to make friends with other boys their age." Piper exclaimed.
"We should get moving." Percy interrupted before Piper could rant. "Grimm to kill, people to impress." Percy stood up, gritting his teeth as pain flared across his body. His muscles feel like lead and it took every strength he had not to fall over. He hoped that the would be a water source nearby to
"Who's partner, with who?" Annabeth asked.
"The first person I made eye contact with is Piper." Percy answered.
"Which means that I'm with Yasmine over here. Good. We didn't have to look for each other at all."
"Yeah. Since when you could create water? The last time you tried, you had a nose bleed." Piper asked.
"Don't know. It felt natural and I barely used any power. Now controlling the air, that was hard."
"I'm assuming, that was one of the hereditary gifts your people have," Yasmine stated, still shocked at what she saw. In the past, Yasmine has witnessed hunters using their semblance to control a small part of nature, but never with that much control. From what she learned years ago from the dozens of Hunter's guidebooks she read, Semblances that control any parts of nature was extremely rare, powerful, hard to control, and it would take years for a hunter to use them efficiently in a battle.
"Yep. Dear ole dad side of the family" Percy confirmed.
"We should head towards there." Annabeth said pointing opposite to where the sun is. "I think I saw some ruins there and I can kinda hear some gunshots. Have to be a battle or something." She looked over to Percy who was leaning against a tree breathing heavily. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I think so." Percy grunted out. "Just need water or something. I don't suppose you have ay ambrosia in your pockets."
Annabeth gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry. We haven't been out in the mortal world for almost a year."
"I think I could hear running water nearby." Yasmine said. "How would that help you?"
"I can use water to help energize and heal me." Percy revealed. If she were to be Annabeth partner for the next four years and hopefully his teammate, it didn't matter that she knew. It also helped that she didn't give him any bad vibes and seem very trustworthy.
"Control the wind, water and now having healing abilities. That's extraordinary." Yasmine said with slight awe.
Percy just shrugged. "Not a well used power but it comes in handy."
While the Emerald Forest looked beautiful and peaceful from a distance but up close, it was very creepy and foreboding. The three demigods each kept their guards up as their demigod senses yelled at them to run. Grimm came to them in waves, each disposed of easily and quickly. At some point, the Annabeth told Percy and Piper to lay off and let Yasmine kill a few. She noticed the camera hidden to trees and bushes and thought the Yasmine would be graded poorly if she didn't have a chance to show off her skills. However, just like the demigods, the young Faunus quickly made work with any Grimm that challenged her.
"Gods, she's like a Tornado with that." Percy commented as the three watched Yasmine take care of a group of Ursas. There was a strange white mist surrounding her that almost made her seem invisible and intangible.
"Kinda reminds me of you when you fight." Annabeth said, admiring the view. Yasmine style was very unique and similar to Percy's. She was always on the move, her feet gliding over the floor gracefully as she danced around the monsters. If the Grimm weren't there, Annabeth would have truly believed she was witnessing a dance recital.
"She has the soul of the sea in her. Truly unpredictable." Percy said with a smile.
"You sound like your dad." Annabeth joked.
Yasmine took care of the last Ursa by throwing one of her ax that embedded itself deep into its skull. She took a breath of relief and smiled. This was one of her best fights and a perfect example of her skills. She took them all down in record time, didn't get hit once, and made her new friends look at her with awe for the first time. Today was a good day.
"Well, that was cool." Piper said, giving Yasmine a high five.
"What was white mist surrounding you?" Annabeth asked.
Yasmine looked surprised at the question, "Oh, I wasn't aware I was using it. It's my Semblance. I call it Specter."
"Specter?"
"Like a ghost. I was about to call it Spirit Walk but Specter seem more appropriate. I can make my body intangible and invisible for a short time. The mist usually appears if I push more power through my Aura or something goes through me. Helps confuse a Grimm."
"Amazing. You would, in theory, make you nearly invincible in a fight." Annabeth said with awe.
Yasmine cheeks slightly redden "Well, I can't use it constantly. Turning invisible takes a lot of power and I could hold it for five minutes, and I have to hold my breath when I go through things. I try not to depend on them that much."
"That's unfortunate but smart. I've seen a lot of people that were dependent on their abilities which inevitably fails them." Annabeth said with a shrug. "We should get going. We're close to the ruins. Are ok to move Percy?"
Percy nodded and stretched his arms. There was a small pond that he visited during Yasmine fight which helped fill up his energy reserves. However, he learned that once he stepped out of the small pond, he didn't lose the burst of energy he usually gets for at least ten minutes. Another example that his powers are increasing.
They continued through the wood, coming across a few more Grimm that posed no challenge to the four. After the second hour, things were picking up as the rate of gunfire and explosion started to increase. To the three demigods, it made the sense and instincts scream at them to run away. It was bad enough that they're in a monster-infested forest, but it also sounds like there a warzone going on in the distance, and they're walking towards it. Percy looked to the side to see that neither of his companions was really worried. Annabeth seems more interested in doing practice moves with Yasmine weapon, and Piper was staring at her Dagger to look for glimpses into the future.
Finally, they made it to the temple ruins and were slightly disappointed that it was nothing special. It was literally a temple ruin with a pedestal holding multiple chess pieces. Both Piper and Percy thought that it would be like a video game with the final boss waiting for them protecting a loot box and their goal. Annabeth wanted to see what an 'Ancient' temple ruin would look like in this world but unfortunately, there wasn't much to look at. Just like it was advertised, there were chess pieces on a small pedestal. Percy and Annabeth decided to approach it first, while Piper and Yasmine scouted the area.
"Chess pieces. Two of each. Maybe if two different sets of partners pick the same piece, they become a team?" Annabeth speculated.
Percy shrugged and picked up two Queen pieces. He passed one to Annabeth and gave her a charming smile. "A Queen for the fair lady." Annabeth smiled at his antics and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hey, guys?" Piper called from the edge of a now destroyed bridge. "You should come and see this."
Percy grabbed the black chess piece, and the couple made their way to the partners. Yasmine was staring out in the distance with a worried expression, while Piper just looked impressed. Percy and Annabeth looked to the distance and see two groups of four fighting two massive Grimm. A massive version of the scorpions that they were accustomed to, and a huge bird.
"Um, should we help?" Yasmine asked nervously.
"Nah. I think they got it handled." Percy said with certainty. "Though looking at their individual fighting style is very interesting. Little Red over there has a giant scythe. Thanatos would die of love if he saw that."
"The blond stance with his shield and sword is atrocious." Annabeth said with slight disdain. "A first-year camper looked more advanced in comparison. How on Earth is he even here?"
"It looks like he's leading the other three." Piper pointed out. "Maybe he's good at strategy."
"Athena kids don't like leaders or strategists that can't defend themselves." Percy explained. "They get vicious at weak-willed leaders hiding behind people."
"We just frown upon those who can't pull their own weight. They pose a danger to their team." Annabeth defended.
The four continued to witness that battle of the two teams with slight awe. Annabeth was nearly drooling at the different types of weapons being used in the fight. A Sythe that turned into a high powered sniper rifle. Gauntlets that seemed to work similarly to shotguns. A katana that's also a pistol. There was an obvious theme here and it made Annabeth bustling with ideas.
"Damn!" Piper exclaimed, looking at the blond girl that was shooting blast point blank into the bird's mouth.
"These people don't play around." Percy commented.
"Well half of them have smiles on their faces. I think they're having fun." Yasmine said.
Annabeth then stood up and looked down to look around for the best path to their objective. "We should get moving. I don't want us to get in trouble for not helping or something. I see a path we could take to avoid a fight."
"If this guy is a Dumbledore, we'll probably lose points for not learning a life lesson or something." Percy muttered.
"Oh, would you give it a rest."
"Perseus Jackson, Piper Mclean, Yasmine Asan, and Annabeth Chase. The four of you retrieved the Black Queen pieces. From this day forth, you will work together as, Team PPYA(Papaya). Lead by Percy Jackson." The crowd cheered and Annabeth gave Piper and Yasmine a side hug. Yasmine was shaking with excitement and happiness while Percy just looked at Ozpin confused.
"Wait, like the fruit or the color?" Percy asked.
"Yes." Ozpin answered.
"Don't even know what a papaya even looks like" Percy muttered to himself as the new team moved away from the main stage after Glynda handed Annabeth a clipboard.
"Think of a saturated orange." Annabeth said while staring at the Headmaster. He seemed more...emotional now, then earlier on. Did he not expect that many students to advance this far, or was it just a ploy to keep people unbalance.
"Well then, we're officially legit now." Piper said as the left the auditorium.
"Hunter/Huntress in training." Percy added. "Artemis would swoon with pride."
"Glynda gave this to me before we left." Annabeth said holding up the clipboard. "I got our room number, a map of Vale and Beacon, a few forms to sign to get our stipends and something called a Scroll. We should head to the bank and create an account. The school would handle our ID. We have permission to conduct our business in Vale for the first two periods. I hope you can take anything of note for us, Yasmine."
Yasmine gave a determined nod and "Of course."
"Well then, I'm off to the library."
"I'll come with and help." Piper offered.
"I'll go check out our dorm. Make sure that my stuff made it safely."
"And I'll go...to the kitchen." They all gave him a look. "Hey! I'm tired, my back hurts, and I have an urge for some cookies. See ya nerds later." And with that Percy walked away, ignoring the ball of tissue that hit the back of his head.
It took him a while, but he found a fully stocked communal kitchen, near the dorms. Unfornantly, there was no snack and only raw ingredients. Shrugging his shoulder, Percy starting taking out the bowls and cups. Cookies would be the best housewarming treat and a nice way to get Yasmine to relax around her new team. Taking out the flour, sugar, eggs, and most importantly, blue dye, he got to work.
It didn't take long to finish the first batch of 24 cookies. The oven was probably powered by those energy crystals he heard about. Dust. What kinda name is that? Percy mused to himself. WIth a second batch cooking in the oven, Percy sat at on the table and read a tourist magazine while chomping on warm, soft blue cookies. Even though he didn't have a choice in coming to Remnant, he had to admit, exploring a new planet sounds awesome. Already he saw a new level of technology, weird monsters, cool weapons that made him a bit jealous, and now there are different kingdoms with their own special cultures to visit. Maybe this impromptu trip would be worth it.
Percy looked up to take another cookie, just to see the scythe-wielding girl from earlier, standing by the door. She looked at Percy warily, her eyes darting to the plate of cookies. He knew that look.
"Go ahead. I'm making three more batches." Percy said, giving the girl a smile. That seems to set of her off and she ran to the closest chair and started stuffing a handful into her mouth. Moaning at the taste.
"Huh. So that what it looks like from this side." Percy mused to himself.
"Wuh?" she asked, with a full mouth.
"Nothing. My name is Percy. And you are..."
The girl swallowed and gave a sheepish smile. "Oh, I know. I saw you at the ceremony. The leader of team PPYA. My name is Ruby Rose."
"...To be honest. I totally forgot the name." Percy admitted. "What a strange team name. Memorable I guess. What's your team name?"
"RWBY"
"They name a team after you?" Percy asked surprised. If so, he'll march to Ozpin office and demand a name change. Just to annoy Annabeth.
"No. It spelled, R-W-B-Y. I'm the team leader." she corrected.
Percy noted the tone she had when admitting her position. "Ah, you don't want to be the big boss, eh?"
"No." she admitted. "My partner is constantly annoyed around me and I think she hates that I'm the team leader, Blake barely try to talk to us, and I'm two years younger than everyone! And here I am ranting to some random guy, with amazing cookies, who probably annoyed with me too." Ruby exclaimed, taking another handful.
"Hey, don't worry about. I just have one of the one faces where people love telling how they feel, and threaten me...or tell their evil plans. Being a leader is stressful. Trust me. I know." Percy comforted.
"You do?"
"Yeah. I led armies and missions where unfortunately I had to make hard decisions that got people killed. Only idiots want to be in that position. Being the boss sucks." Percy said, but he noticed Ruby horrified expression and quickly added more. "But, you have your friends and your team to back you up. I wouldn't have survived this long without them. You have a team for a reason. Share your burdens with them too."
"But my own partner hates me." Ruby whined. "I don't know what to do."
Percy snorted. "Yeah. Been there."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah." Percy said with a fond smile. "Annabeth and I met when we were 12 years old, and she hated me. The two of us and another friend of ours had to go on mission to stop a weapon of mass destruction, that could casually destroy a continent, from going into the hand of an evil old guy trying to relive the 'bad old days', prevent a zombie apocalypse, and stop a war that would have wiped out humanity."
"...What?"
"Anyway, Annabeth felt like she deserved to lead the quest since she's been waiting her whole life, and to be honest, she's right. I didn't want to do it but had to anyway. But in the end, she put that aside, admitted that her hatred wasn't that wise and pretended to be angry to hide her true love for me. Now if I ask Annabeth to take my place in leading people, she'll laugh in my face." Percy said with a scowl.
"Can we go back to the zombies?"
"What I'm trying to say is, you've been the boss for barely a day. Anything could happen that could make your relationship a lot smoother. Don't worry. Wear them down with a smile."
"I get it." Ruby conceded. "Thanks, random guy with blue cookies. Um, why are they blue anyway?"
Percy looked deep into Ruby silver eyes. "Ruby Rose, if there's one thing you should remember for the rest of your life, this is it." Ruby nodded and prepared herself.
"Everything tastes better blue."
"...So Zombies. What's up with that?"
Percy stood up and walked to the oven. Maybe this would be a great time to make friends with other teams. Especially the adorkable scythe wielder. "Eh, it a long story of people with inflated ego threating the world and pushing charming, innocent bright kids, such as myself, into the middle. I'll tell it to you about it one day. But for now, we need more cookies. I'm thinking oatmeal next"
"Yes!" she gushed, and rushed to the counter with him.
AN: So...how do you like the team name? Not what you expected, huh? Anyway, sorry for the wait. Rewriting everything really puts a damper on motivation and I feel that I should have more into this chapter. Next chapter would probably be released in a month, so don't expect rapid releases. I like taking my time and plan out what I'm doing. Sorry for any grammar and spelling mistakes. I'll constantly update this chapter if I see any.
Next chapter we'll see Team PPYA exploring, planning and bonding.
Review, favorite and follow. Reading your reviews were a great help and gave me a few ideas.