A/N: Well, this is a much shorter chapter than the first. However, I really wanted this one to end at relatively the same the spot as the show did here. Next chapter will have alot more going on, so I wanted to make sure I didn't bog this one down with too much and also wanted to get another chapter out as quick as I could to keep people interested.
A quick thanks to both FORD B and thepudz for there reviews. Even short reviews warm my heart and keep me wanting to write! They're what I absolutely missed most about this site.
Now, let's get rolling with chapter 2!
"So, just to recap..." Dylan said, retrieving his scimitars from his assigned locker. "Your family is straight up loaded."
Athena let out an exasperated sigh as she strap Inferno Vanguard to her wrist. "Yes, Dylan. My family is very wealthy."
"And yet you turned down a recommendation so you could get in the old fashioned way?" Dylan attached his sheathes to his back, making sure they were firmly in place.
"Yep. That's pretty much the gist of it." The redhead took a swig from her nearby water bottle. "Look, my mother's company specializes in Dust-infused clothing. Highly sought after by Hunters and schools alike. So, just about every Academy was willing to just let me in, if it meant getting on my mother's good side."
"I guess that's true." Dylan took a seat on the nearby bench to adjust his boots. "This coat was pretty expensive, but it helps augment my Semblance, since it's infused with Ice Dust. Guess I never really paid attention to the brand."
"I didn't want a free ride." She looked at her gloved hand and clenched a fist. "Even the clothes I'm wearing aren't something my mother gave me. I made them myself."
"Seriously? No offense, but I didn't take you for the seamstress type."
Athena shook her head as the two of them began top head out of the locker room. "None taken. I just... Picked up on a few things, being the daughter of a clothing CEO. I even figured out how to weave dust into them. The vest and gloves are infused with fire dust."
"Fire, huh? Something to do with your Semblance?"
"Yep. See, I can- WHOA!" Athena suddenly cried out and stumbled over as a spear suddenly cut through her path, pinning a blonde haired student to a nearby wall.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" A voice called out, one belonging to a redheaded Goddess of a girl, who Athena recognized as Pyrrha Nikos.
"Aaaaah, i-it's fine. Just... Watch where you're aiming." The girl said, accepting a hand offered by Pyrrha that pulled her to her feet.
"I didn't see you coming around the corner. That was entirely my mistake." Pyrrha explained.
"Nearly turned her to a kebab. 'Mistake' is putting it a bit lightly. OW!" Dylan cried out as Ruby appeared behind him.
"Be nice, Dylan! She said she was sorry." Ruby chastised the boy.
Dylan rubbed the back of his head. "What is with you and your sister abusing me?!"
"Hey, what can I say? You make a good punching bag!" Yang appeared and slammed a fist into her open palm. "Besides, if we didn't pick on you, then THAT'S when you'd know we were mad."
"Oh, Athena. There you are." Another voice joined in on the conversation. Athena glanced over Pyrrha's shoulder to see Weiss, and any smile she may have had dropped.
"Oh, uh, hey Weiss."
"We didn't get a chance to speak properly after the opening ceremony yesterday. How is-"
However, fate once again intervened as the loudspeaker in the locker room came to life. "Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation. Again, all first year students, please report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
"Ooooh, sounds like there's no time to chat now, Weiss. Let's catch up another time."
"Hey, wa-"
No sooner had the words left Athena's mouth had she made a beeline for the exit, heading for the cliff.
Dylan followed closely behind her.
"Wow, you REALLY don't wanna talk to her. Huh?"
"I would think that much is obvious." Athena began power walking to put as much distance between herself and the Schnee heir as possible."
"You never did explain to me what your beef with her is."
"It's less about my beef with her, and more about her family's beef with mine."
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked.
"That much should be pretty obvious. Solaris Industries is the Schnee Dust Company's largest competitor." Athena explained as Beacon Cliff came into view. "And because of that... They'll do anything to see it torn down."
"For years, you have trained to become warriors." Ozpin spoke to the students gathered on the cliff. "And today, your skills will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
Each student stood on square platform on the cliff's edge, marked with the Embalm of Beacon Academy. Athena stood on the leftmost platform, with Dylan to her right followed by Ravyn and Cynthia.
"Now," Goodwitch spoke up as Ozpin trailed off. "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams."
Here we go. Athena thought to herself, adjusting the straps of her weapon.
"Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates..." The woman trailed of for a moment, clearly for dramatic pause. "Today."
That's what I was afraid of. Athena looked over the rest of her classmates, mentally noting which would make ideal teammates.
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of you time here at Beacon." Ozpin picked up the explanation. "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."
"Pssst. Hey Athena."
Athena glanced to her right to see Dylan trying to get her attention.
"You and me?" He mouthed the words.
She thought for a moment, before smiling and giving a nod.
"That being said," Ozpin continued. "The first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
Aaaaaand there's the kicker.
"What!?" Athena heard a voice, which she believed belonged to Ruby cry out at this news.
However, Ozpin wasted no time in continuing his explanation. "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 your path. Or you will die."
No problems there. I got some aggression I need to work out.
"You will be monitored and graded for 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 and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing and grade you appropriately."
Sounds like a standard fetch quest.
"Are there any questions?" Ozpin finally asked. Athena swore she heard a rather nervous voice speak up, but it was a bit too far away to understand. "Good! Now, take your positions."
Athena crouched down and placed her right hand on her platform, intending to fire her weapon at the peak of the platform's launch to gain as much distance as possible. She glanced at Dylan as he put his hands on the handles of his swords. He looked back at her and grinned. "See ya on the other side, partner."
Athena chuckled. "Yeah, right back at ya."
Athena was the first to be launched, firing her weapon at the last second to gain altitude, succeeding in gain quite a bit of distance.
Dylan followed shortly after, kicking off the platform to gain some distance of his own. He unsheathed his weapon, intending to use a hidden feature of them to glide through the air, but he found himself being dragged quickly to the ground not long after he felt something wrap around his ankles. He looked down to see Ravyn, who had tethered two whips to his ankles and was quickly dragging them both to the ground.
"WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUU-"
Cynthia was the next to be launched, pulling a black and purple sword from the sheathe on her back and splitting it in two before quickly changing both blades into two bladed tonfas. She pulled the triggers on them just as the platform reach it's highest point, firing two explosive shots from the ends and gaining massive altitude.
As more and more students were flung into the air, Athena looked around, but could find no trace of Dylan.
Great. Must've flung myself too far. Well, there's plenty of people I DON'T hate at this school. As long as I don't end up with the pink chipmunk or Weiss, I should be alright.
The girl braced herself as the foliage of the trees came closer and closer. And, oddly enough, a high pitched screaming became louder and louder.
Athena finally breached the treeline, quickly aiming herself at a tree and burying her blade into the side of it, spiraling down the trunk and firing her weapon for some distance at the last second.
She performed a quick roll before jumping to her feet and quickly surveying her surroundings. Luckily, it appeared she had landed in a Grimm-free area. But that hardly mattered. She was still in the enemy's territory.
And the trial of the Emerald Forest had begun.