Chapter 3 is here. I've had this done 3 days, but my editor took a little while to catch up. Don't blame him though, it's Thanksgiving Break. He's doing an awesome job. I really, really wanted to add an original scene this chapter, but couldn't find a to do that didn't feel contrived. I hope you like my take on it anyway. Going to try to stick to one chapter a week, even though I'm writing another fic right now. Nothing I can do about that.

Chapter 3: The First Step

Sunlight wormed its way through the curtains of the hall, alerting the sleeping students to the start of the new day. Feeling the light tugging at his eyelids, a raven-haired boy rose to a sitting position.

"Perhaps it's morning," he muttered absentmindedly.

"Of course it's morning!" a voice screeched.

His eyes opened to a pair of blue eyes framed by ginger hair staring at him. "Wake up Ren, you lazy butt!" the girl said, "It's time for initiation."

Ren's morning began like many others: dressing and eating while Nora chattered incessantly. It wasn't until partway through breakfast that Ren even tried to listen to the motormouth.

"Shouhh," Nora said through a massive bite of pancakes, "Can you believe we're already on our second day? And we haven't been kicked out yet. We'll be graduating before we know it!"

"That's great, Nora."

Later at their lockers, she was still talking. She had some sort of ridiculous plan for initiation.

"You know," she said, "Everyone's saying they form the teams during initiation."

"Nora, I don't plan on running off."

"I know that! But, what if they split us up? We should have some sort of signal. A secret signal, so we can find each other. Can you imitate a sloth?"

"Nora."

"Yes, Ren?"

Ren closed his locker. "What sound does a sloth make?"

She froze.

"Exactly," he said.

Her face promptly unfroze. "That's why it's perfect! The signal needs to be stealthy!"

Ren gave up. "C'mon Nora, let's go. For all we know they're having the initiation in the gym." They reached the door just as Ruby and Yang opened their own lockers.

"I wonder what they were arguing about," said Yang, strapping on her shotgun gauntlets.

"Well it can't be any dumber than what we were arguing about," said Ruby. "For the last time, why do you not want me on your team? Is it because you think I'm weak? Or embarrassing?"

Yang approached the loaded question with care. "It's not that I don't want you on my team; I think it will help you — break out of your shell a bit."

"Yang! The only shell I'm going to break is...is…no, that doesn't work. Still, why do you keep saying I'm introverted? That's completely—"

"Ridiculous!" Jaune muttered aloud, accidentally finishing Ruby's sentence. His face was buried in a complex map of Beacon's campus. "How could I have written down the wrong locker number? There's no way I walked this far."

"Jaune," said Ruby, "I think your locker was one floor up. Right at the end. Remember? Do you...need me to show you?"

Jaune flushed. "Nah," he assured, "I've got it covered. Thanks anyway."

Crap, he thought as he walked away. Relying on people, again. Ruby already showed me how to use the locker, was nice to me for no reason, and introduced me to Yang. What have I done for her? For anyone? OK, I helped her up, but anyone who's not an asshole would have done that. Common courtesy and all. Jaune stalked around the corner toward where he dearly hoped his locker was. Well, I'm not resigning myself to being useless. That's right. Look out world, Jaune Arc is coming for—

He stopped. Ahead a familiar white-haired girl was talking with someone. It's Weiss Schnee, he thought. And she's alone. OK, mostly alone, but still good. This is my chance to make a move. Swag mode activated.

Weiss ascended the stairs with deliberate grace and poise. This was her only opportunity to speak with Pyrrha before initiation began. Hardly the most ideal time, but it would have to do.

Pyrrha was pulling a spear and various pieces of armor out of her locker. Weiss casually paused as she walked by. Her red hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. "Pardon me," she asked, "but are you Pyrrha Nikos?"

"Yes," Pyrrha answered quietly, "that's me."

"Well, I'm Weiss Schnee." She placed her usual emphasis on her last name, expecting a reaction. Seeing none, she continued. "I was just wondering, have you given any thought to the matter of teams?"

Pyrrha smiled warmly. "Not really. I had planned to just let it play out. I don't have any close friends, so I don't mind which team I'm on."

"I see. But surely you must know there are many students eager to unite with such a strong and renowned fighter."

Pyrrha seemed disconcerted. "I hadn't thought of it that way," she said.

Dammit, Weiss thought, I shouldn't have said that. Now she'll think I'm a fan or a desperate nobody, trying to snatch her up for my team. Let's change tack.

"I was thinking," said Weiss as innocently as she could, "that we could be on a team together. I think we both have unique strengths; we'd form a formidable team."

"I think that sounds grand."

Sounds grand? Really? It does? That's it then. The strongest and the smartest girls in the school working together, we'll be unstoppable! Oh, I can just see it now, we'll be the greatest team in the history of Beacon!

"Great!" she answered, her expression revealing none of her maniacal plotting.

Jaune walked down the hallway, unobtrusively listening in on the girls' conversation. Seeing his chance, he leaned in. "You know what else is great?" he said. "Me. Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."

The other girl laughed, but Weiss seemed offended. "How dare you eavesdrop and interrupt our conversation?" she said. "Have you no respect at all?"

"It's OK, Weiss," said Pyrrha. "He was just making a joke." She turned to face him. "I'm Pyrrha. Nice to meet you Jaune."

"Yeah, yeah," he answered, completely ignoring her. "So Weiss—"

"You may address me as Miss Schnee," she retorted.

Jaune beamed. "Miss Schnee, I couldn't help but overhear your feelings for me yesterday."

Weiss dropped any pretense of civility. "How thick are you? That was a joke!"

"No, I understand. You don't want to be public with your feelings. I won't tell anyone. Anyway, to the point, you've been hearing a lot about teams, am I right?" I've been thinking you and I would make a pretty good one. Eh? Eh?"

Weiss' mouth opened, but Pyrrha spoke first. "Actually Jaune, I think the teams have four students each. And—"

"You don't say," Jaune said, giving Pyrrha a once-over. "Well, hot stuff, I'll save you a spot then. That is, if you're interested."

"Excuse me," said Weiss, "but do you even know who Pyrrha is?"

"Not in the slightest, Snow Angel."

Weiss looked frustrated. "She graduated at the top of her class at Sanctum Academy."

"Never heard of it."

She gritted her teeth. "She won the Mistral Region Tournaments four consecutive years."

"What?"

Weiss gesticulated wildly, shaking her finger at him. "Her face is on the cover of the disgusting breakfast cereal half the school ate this morning."

Jaune gasped. "You mean Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes? But they only do that for cartoon characters and athletes!"

"And you think you're qualified to ask her to be on your team?"

The message finally sunk into Jaune. He took a deep breath. "I...I guess not," he admitted.

"Actually Jaune," said Pyrrha, "I'd be happy to be on your team. I get the feeling you'd be a great leader."

If Jaune had lost an ounce of his ambition, it came rushing back. He took a step toward Weiss. "So Miss Schnee, I guess Pyrrha's on board for team Arc, are you too? Or do you consider yourself a better judge of leadership?"

Weiss took a step back. "That's a bit too close, Mr. Arc. Pyrrha, can you help me here?"

Immediately, Pyrrha pulled out a sleek golden spear and hurled it at Jaune, pinning him to the wall by his hoodie but leaving him unharmed. Jaune yelped as his breath was knocked out of him. "Hey!" he said. "What was that for?"

"I'm sorry Jaune, it's nothing personal. Weiss just needed some space. It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise."

A harsh clicking sound emanated from the dusty speakers on the walls. Throughout the school, students stopped to listen. "Attention first-year students," said the voice of Glynda Goodwitch. "Please make your way to the cliffs by way of the west gate. Your initiation will begin shortly."

Ruby and Yang were walking down the hall when they heard the announcement.

"Ooh, the cliffs," said Yang, strapping on a pair of brown aviator goggles. "Spicy. How much do you want to bet they're making us jump?"

"I'll take anything over awkwardly socializing," said Ruby.

The two girls spotted Jaune in a crumpled heap by the door.

"What happened, ladykiller?" teased Yang. "Let me guess, it involved our good friend Weiss?"

"Yeah."

"So you could say she — froze your heart?"

"Not funny."

Ruby walked over and pulled him to his feet. "It's OK Jaune," she said. "Yang's been waiting to use that silly pun. It's what she does, after all."

"I'm fine," he said. "At least only my pride was wounded that time."

"Well, there's no sense in moping. We wouldn't want you to be late for initiation."

Supported by Ruby, Jaune shambled outside, dreading the embarrassment he was sure he would soon face.

A blast of wind swept across the cliff, rustling the leaves of the forest far below. The students stared over the edge of the cliff nervously. Ozpin stepped to the front of the audience with a knowing smile on his face.

"Good morning students," he said. "I hope you all took advantage of your time to sleep. I wanted you all out here at the crack of dawn, but Professor Goodwitch stressed the importance of being rested."

He walked toward a line of metal plates positioned in a row at the edge of the cliff. "Please choose a plate and stand on it," he said.

The students eyed the plates with suspicion but complied, warily stepping onto them.

Oh crap, thought Jaune, edging onto his plate. I know exactly what's happening. They're going to launch us off the cliff. What else would these stupid metal rings be for? Are there parachutes? He'll probably give us parachutes, right? He wouldn't forget.

"Now," said Ozpin. "I have a few things to cover. I'm sure you've heard many rumors about the assignment of teams. Perhaps some of the more charismatic among you tried to recruit people for your so-called team. Regrettable, we have our own system for picking teams.."

There were cries of shock and frustration from the students. Jaune looked especially defeated.

"In a few minutes, you will be sent into the forest. Each team is made up of two sets of partners, which are matched based on some….secret criteria. However, your partner for the entirety of your time at Beacon is the first person you meet eyes with in the forest."

"What?" said Ruby. "How is that fair?"

"Yeah!" another boy said. "You're basically saying it's random!"

No no no, she thought. What if I can't find Yang?

"Lastly," said Ozpin, silencing the students, "you need to know your objective. After finding your partner, make your way to the Northern end of the forest and look for a temple. Naturally, you may encounter the forces of Grimm along the way. Your initiation is neither timed nor a competition, so collaborate with all your fellow students, not just your partner. Once you reach the temple, each pair should claim one of the artifacts there. As for what they are...it should be fairly obvious. Once you have it, return to the top of the cliffs. Any questions?"

"Uhm. Yes, uh, sir," Jaune said. "I was just wondering—"

"Good," interrupted Ozpin. "You should be wondering."

Jaune gulped as the first student was launched over the cliff. "Professor?" he asked. "Did I perhaps miss when you handed out parachutes?"

Ozpin sipped his coffee. "No," he said calmly. "You will need to improvise a landing strategy."

Landing strategy? What landing strategy? Slide on my shield like a sled? That is the worst ideaaaa —

Any shreds of a plan evaporated from his head as he was hurtled through the sky. "Help!" he yelled. "Help!"

Pyrrha fell through the treeline, holding her shield, Akoúo̱, in front to protect her from the stinging branches. Seeing a sturdy branch below, she landed directly on it, rolling and stabilizing against the trunk.

I made it, she thought, but what about—

"Helllllllp!"

—Jaune.

Pulling out her spear, Miló, she considered the distance and took aim at the plummeting boy. Miló leaped from her hand and whistled through the air towards its target.

Ruby was in trouble. The ground was rushing up to meet her, and her semblance was being its usual finicky self. After a moment she realized what to do. Expanding Crescent Rose, she hooked the blade over a branch, spinning off it and absorbing her momentum. She hit the ground running.

After a few minutes of seeing nothing but indistinguishable trees, she skidded to a halt. She began to grow slightly worried. What if I can't find Yang? What if I – no, don't think that, you'll find her. Just have to keep going.

"Yang!" she shouted. Nothing greeted her, not even an echo, not even a rustling of leaves. She wanted to flop down on the ground, but that would be pointless. There would be no friendly Jaune helping her to her feet this time. She would have to be strong and independent, just like she had always wanted to be. At least for now.

Continuing on again, she considered what to do. I should keep heading north. That's where we're supposed to go. If I find the artifacts and still haven't gotten a partner, there should be one person left. I'll just...hope that it's Yang.

She spotted a roughly northbound path and changed course to follow it. I have to admit it's probably won't, she thought. Yang Xiao-Long, the last person to find a partner? Unlikely. OK, who isn't likely to have a partner? There's Blake. I sort of know her. She's so mysterious, I don't think she's someone who would seek people out. Or Jaune, he's…nice. I'm sure he's got other stuff going for him. He wouldn't be a bad partner, except for—

A hulking beast arose from the brush, swiping its razor-sharp claws at Ruby and narrowly missing. The creature's cruel red eyes stared at her with menace.

—except for fighting Grimm, she thought. Jaune's probably lousy at that. And that's sort of the reason we're here.

The Grimm was an Ursa minor, not as massive as the major variety but equally deadly. Its squat body was heavily armored, and its four limbs were. Dodging another swipe, she leaped backward and pulled out Crescent Rose. She clicked open the magazine and loaded her heaviest shell. Do you want some?

Ruby planted her feet to absorb her weapon's recoil and took aim at the crouching beast. Right as she pulled the trigger, a white figure dashed into the space between them. Ruby would have missed the person except for the flash of light reflecting off their thin, piercing blade.

It was too late; she had already pulled the trigger. In desperation Ruby jerked the gun sideways, sending the explosive shell into the base of a rotten tree.

The weak old tree crumbled at its roots and toppled down on the Grimm. Fixated on the threats in front of it, it stood obliviously as the trunk crushed its body into the forest floor.

The girl Ruby had nearly killed silenced the struggling Ursa with a stab to its brain, then whirled to face her.

"You. Could. Have. Killed me!" Weiss hissed venomously. Ruby fell on her butt as the furious girl stalked over to her.

Ruby scrambled away. "But, I….uh, didn't?" she said.

The white-haired girl paced in circles, wringing her hands. "I can't believe this," she said. " A whiny, irresponsible, reckless twit as my partner. This will not do." Turning back around, she climbed over the fallen log and stomped away, taking out her frustration on the dry autumn leaves beneath her. Ruby hurried after her.

"Weiss," she said. "I'm sorry about almost hurting you, and about yesterday, too. But can we put that aside? We're supposed to be partners."

"Don't remind me," Weiss said. "And partners don't have to be friends. You certainly aren't mine. Now stop slowing me down. I intend to find those artifacts and forget this miserable day."

Ruby grew even more frustrated. In a swirl of rose petals, she appeared a few meters down the path. Weiss looked bewildered. "How did you—"

"See? I'm not slow. Don't worry Weiss, even if we're not friends, I promise I won't be a burden to you."

She dashed off into the forest. "I'll scout ahead," she explained.

Weiss watched as her partner traipsed through the bramble ahead. It's not that she's slow, Weiss thought. She just wastes so much time, when will she stop having fun and show some respect? For me, for the school. The thing is, I can't force her to do anything. What would Winter want me to do? Make the best of it, I'm sure. But why should I have to make the best of it? This is so not how I thought this would go.

Setting her face to a mask of grim determination as her sister did so often, she followed Ruby deeper into the wilderness.

I'm dead, thought Jaune. I'm not moving. There's no way I survived that fall. Goodbye world, sorry I was so stupid.

He wriggled his toes. Never mind.

Jaune opened his eyes. He was dangling high above the forest floor, his hoodie caught on something.

What a stroke of luck, he thought. It must have caught on a branch.

"Hello Jaune," someone said. "So about that team of yours."

Jaune looked down at Pyrrha, then looked up at the spear that had saved him.

Lucky, my ass.

And that brings us to the end of another chapter. I feel like I did some things right, but other things wrong, specifically the pacing. Next chapter will be some more development, like Pyrrha and Jaune, and also setup for the big showdown coming up. As usual, review or PM me with questions and follow if you like it. I appreciate it a lot. See you all in a week, and look out for my new fic, I'm writing the prologue right now and it might come out in a few weeks.