A/N: OK, so I am posting this chapter a day early, since I am going to be on a business trip for the next five days, so I don't want to miss my designated posting date of Thursday.

Second, THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! Chapter 07 received the most reviews of any one of my other chapters, and I am MOST grateful. You guys have no idea how much they raised my spirits. So thank you all for following/favoriting/reviewing. And everyone else for reading my story as it is.

This chapter covers initiation day. And is nearing the end of what I would like to dub, The Prologue Arc. Where I finish getting everything squared away in the background (Even if you haven't seen most of it, due to it being away from Mato, or my love of using Flashbacks to cover dates that were seemingly 'skipped'.) and get everyone settled into Beacon and their new teams.

On that note, do tell me what you all think of the pairings and teams I have settled on.

And NO, the partner pairings does NOT mean they will be in a relationship pairing. If I felt like it, I could romantically pair ANYONE with ANYONE. They can even be a civilian for all I care. So don't get ahead of yourselves. XD

The only confirmed pairings to date are still Blake with Jaune, and Ruby with Weiss.

And even with this, it will be awhile before romance kicks in.

That being said, ENJOY INITIATION!

Beacon - Lockers

April 2nd, 2014 - Early Morning

"..."

"Agreed, last night was without doubt a blast. And we only got to see a fraction of this school. A big fraction mind you, but a fraction nonetheless."

"It is impressive. My own school back in Mistral was no where near the size of this one. I guess it is just more proof that this is the best school for hunters and huntresses to train at."

"..."

"We are going to be here for four years Neo. No need to get angsty. We have plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny of our new home. Although I must admit, the Requisitions and Supply store we ran into last night is a definite first stop once we get our new dorm rooms."

Neo jumped up excitedly at the reminder of the 'school store' as she dubbed it last night.

Even Pyrrha, the only one still preparing her gear, stopped for a moment to nod in contemplation. "That is true. I never would have thought that the school had its own mini supermarket of all things. From furniture to dust, metallurgy materials and tools, even food and cooking equipment was present. It is a one stop shop for anything we might need."

"Except clothes. Seriously, one would think they would have a section with clothes beyond school uniforms. Or at the very least materials to craft our own clothes... Actually, that brings up a very important point that I somehow have ignored." Mato turned to her two friends with a very serious expression. "Why is it that everyone wears such flamboyantly colored clothing… And no one wears any real armor? I mean, honestly, Pyrrha, you are the first I have found with any real armor. Seriously, last night, I think I caught sight of maybe ten people with armor. From barely present, like that blond kid in the jeans. To relatively acceptable, like that big girl in the crimson plate mail."

"It is because of the different fighting styles. I believe that armor can only be a plus to people, even with aura. After all, it is an extra layer of defense, and when is that not a good idea? But unlike soldiers, hunters have many varying combat styles. In many of their cases, armor just weighs them down, or impedes their range of movement. That said, I am certain that a lot of our fellow first year students don't have armor simply because they haven't thought to use it, or haven't felt the need."

Neo nodded at that before replying. "..."

"That is also a factor Neo. Although almost everyone here has been trained at proper schools that prepare them for Beacon. Very few of them have actual experience. For most of the people here, myself included, we will be facing Grimm for the first time at this school. Which means we haven't gotten to know just how bad or scary things can get. I am sure that making proper defensive gear and techniques will be one of the main things to learn in our first year."

Mato nodded with Neo this time. "Point. Although I question the validity of that, when our school store doesn't have any materials to make such gear. Besides metal. And even leather would be an upgrade to a few of the people here."

Finally, Pyrrha was almost done getting ready. Not that any of them were in a hurry. There wasn't a single other student in the locker rooms yet. They were quite early. Even if they were the last ones to go to sleep the night before. "Then let me send the question back to you two."

Mato just sported a grin that matched the redheads. "In my case, my coat, gloves and boots are actually incredibly tough leather. Treated several times with some kind of dust mixture that makes it as strong as tempered steel, yet as flexible as soft leather. It cost a moderately sized fortune, but I don't have to worry about anything piercing or slashing through them for the most part. It does little to stop blunt damage, but I am resistant to that anyway. And Neo here has done the same thing for ALL her clothing and umbrella. Actually, she has gone even farther in regards to the umbrella, what with the dust engraving on it, that helps block the effects of other dust attacks, and reduce the force behind any kind of blow." Mato shakes her head at this point. "Neo, I just realized how loose we are with money… We could literally be wearing pure gold at this point, and it would probably be cheaper."

Neo just shrugs, "..."

"Just because we stole it from criminals and scum does not change the fact that we are way too loose with it."

Neo tilts her head this time, like a curious puppy, "..."

"No. I can't say that I have checked the bank accounts lately."

"..."

Mato's eyes widen a bit at Neo's cheerful statement. "Wow… really?"

Neo merely nodded. A small smile on her face. Too small considering the magnitude of her revelation of their financial status.

"Well then… I guess I should apologize. I didn't realize how little this was in comparison. And when did you start investing?"

"..."

"...I can honestly say that I would have never expected you to be the one to say and act on that."

Pyrrha decided to jump back into the conversation at this point. "Why? It's true we can't be huntresses for our entire lives. So I think Neo is being smart. Investing for future retirement. Also, I am done here, want to head to the dining hall for some breakfast?"

Neo nodded vigorously. She had smelt pancakes earlier, and could barely restrain herself from leaving Mato and Pyrrha alone in the lockers to gorge on the divine treat. She quickly grabbed hold of both of them and teleported them to the dining hall entrance. The two passengers hadn't finished getting their bearings when they found Neo was already in line, far away from her two friends.

Mato could only shake her head with a wry grin as Pyrrha chuckled demurely. "Let us go before she eats all the pancakes."

Beacon - Cliffs overlooking Emerald Forest

April 2nd, 2014 - Late Morning

"For years you have trained to become warriors, and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Neo rolled her eyes at Ozpin. "..."

"Shush Neo."

"Now, I am sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of team. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates… Today."

Mato chuckled at that jewel from Glynda.

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing, will be your partner for the next four years." This time Mato couldn't help but laugh out loud a little alongside Neo's snickering. Even Pyrrha shook her head at Ozpin. Or was she shaking her head at Mato and Neo who were taking joy at having found out their new headmaster and professor were apparently like minded trolls? Or both? "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."

At that last bit, especially with the deadly seriousness in his voice, quite a few of the students shuffled around. Pyrrha had been right, this would be the first time facing the monsters that lived in the shadows.

"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 one, and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and we will grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

At this point, when Ozpin ended, a hand popped out, Mato recognized the blond boy with the jeans and minimal armor plating. Ozpin just rolled with it as if he hadn't done so. "Good! Now, take your positions." That was the last straw, Neo and Mato both collapsed on the floor laughing at that masterful stroke from their future new trolling friend. Pyrrha just once again shook her head as she got in position. Quite a few of their fellow school mates were looking at the laughing pair incredulously. Even Ruby was doing the same while shaking her head at technically being related to the pair.

Some of them had a more… negative look of the clearly mentally unstable pair.

Only Jaune did neither. Instead his hand remained up and made another attempt at getting his question answered. "Um. Sir. I've got a.. question." At this moment, the first student was launched out into the forest. A certain short, white haired albino with a rapier. Whose movement was tracked by a pair of hungry silver eyes the whole way. "So this landing strategy.. thing. What is it? Are you like, dropping us off or something?"

"No. You will be falling."

And with that, Mato died. Or she would have if it had been anyone else. As it was, she was launched into the forest, while in a pseudo fetal position, holding her stomach from the comedy gold that was their new headmaster. And to think she had felt negatively about him yesterday.

Mato continued laughing the entire way down. Even after she crashed and smashed through multiple trees and made a small trench in the ground from her landing, she remained giggling and holding her stomach, the pain barely registering. She soon got herself under enough control to stand while Neo slowly drifted down to her on her umbrella. The perfect Mary Poppins floating down to help a child in need of mental health.

'I wonder how the instructors are going to take it when they see the video of me flying through the air and crashing through the trees in the fetal position, laughing the entire way.' That thought brought further giggles to the already healed pseudo immortal. She turned and looked at Neo who had floated down gently with her umbrella, right besides her. "Well then partner, you get a good look of the temple from up high?"

Neo nodded before grinning devilishly. "..."

That sent Mato into outright laughter again. "I had JUST thought that myself." She shook her head to compose herself. "Well then, since you purposely teleported up high to get a good look at the temple. Let us go and be the first ones there."

Neo just grabbed Mato's outstretched hand before they both shattered. Leaving the encircling Grimm confused as to where their prey had vanished to.

Jaune was currently reviewing the entirety of his life in slow motion. He felt he should be scared, but that kinda disappeared after the first few seconds of flight when he realized he was going to die. There was no point denying it. He wasn't properly trained like his fellow peers. He was strong, sure, years of self-training and beatings from his sisters saw to that, but he was far from skilled. And sadly, skill was what he needed to survive the insane initiation.

No, Jaune wasn't scared, he wasn't even angry anymore. After cursing himself for having forged his way into Beacon, for convincing himself that this was a good idea, even after his parents and sisters said otherwise. Well, his mother and sisters. His dad was the one who helped him forge the papers and slip out of the protective, restrictive cage that was his female relatives love had entrapped him in. He even tried bargaining with Monty Oum himself to let him go back and deny accepting his father's 'gift'.

Then Jaune became depressed. He had come here because he wanted to be a hero, like the rest of his family. He came here because being a hunter was what he believed to be the greatest way to do that. To show his sisters and mothers that he was a man, and that he could stand on his own two legs and find a wife. Oh, great, more depressing thoughts. Forget wife, he would never feel the touch of a woman not related to him. No hand-holding, no cuddling, no kissing, no anything. And he had even became friends with a couple of girls. Ruby and Yang, although both of them felt too much like an extra pair of siblings for him to consider them. 'Wow, I am on a roll, just keep piling the depressing thoughts. The faces of my family at my funeral. How will they react to the news?"

This all happened within the span of him being launched, till he was just above the treeline. Then he closed his eyes in acceptance. He was going to die, nothing could stop that. So he relaxed his body, turned around to face the sky and put his hands behind his head. Waiting to hit the floor and die.

…

…...

CRASH!

…

…

...huh?

…

'That was much fluffier than I thought the ground would feel like... and I am feeling pain… I'm not dead?'

Jaune opened his eyes suddenly, staring into a pair of amber orbs that were approaching him. They and the hand attached to the same body both froze suddenly. Jaune realized that she, a very beautiful raven haired girl with a big bow nestled atop her head, was reaching out towards him. But not in the manner of one trying to help one up.

'AH! She was reaching to check my pulse… Wow… that is a depressing thought. And here I thought I had passed that stage. WELL SCREW THAT! I AM ALIVE!'

Jaune smiled up to his partner for the next four years, if they passed and survived the rest of initiation. It was such a gloriously pure and happy smile, that Blake Belladonna actually shivered a bit. An unknown emotion coursing through her. Here was someone clearly insane enough to fall in such a position, that it looked like they were relaxing at a beach resort, land on an alpha beowulf, and smile at her like she was an angel when she came to check if the insane boy was alive.

Could it be that he was actually strong, and she had lucked out with her future partner? "Hey partner. Name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue." Nope, must have been her imagination.

'Remember your training Weiss. Head up. Shoulders back. Right foot forward... Not that forward! Slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and! NOW!'

Creating a force glyph beneath her, the white themed fencer quickly shot forward towards the alpha beowulf before her. Intending on taking down the head in hopes that the rest of the pack would retreat in fear.

Sadly, even with the increased speed her glyph granted her, the alpha proved it earned its spot in the Grimm hierarchy. Quickly ducking to its right to avoid to avoid the fatal thrust, Myrtenaster glanced off its left shoulder armor. Quick as it was to counter with a horizontal swipe of its right arm, Weiss was still faster. A quick leap over the offending limb, a glyph to propel herself over the beast, and Weiss found herself in the alpha's blindspot. Right behind it, with it's furry unarmored back inviting Myrtenaster in. Weiss felt it would be uncouth to deny such an open invitation.

The Grimm didn't even have the chance to turn around as it found itself staring at the sharpened point of the rapier protruding from its chest. The fiery glow in its eyes was already fading by the time Weiss wrenched her blade free.

Not wanting to waste any time and leave herself unprotected, Weiss quickly got back into her stance and faced the rest of its pack.

Only to freeze, her eyes widening in complete shock.

There was no more pack. While she had been dealing with the alpha, somehow the rest of the pack found a way to simultaneously get themselves decapitated.

Weiss shook her head, 'Come on Weiss! That is stupid. Clearly someone else is he-'

Her thoughts were interrupted by a slow clapping behind her. She quickly spun around and faced the offender. Startled sapphire blue eyes met amused silver ones.

"Nice job. I get the feeling, we are going to be the greatest partners ever."

"Boop"

Ren chuckled. "Hello Nora."

Dove just stood there, panting. He had been fighting the group of beowulfs for close to an hour now, and he was exhausted. From the moment he stepped into the forest he had been set upon. Honestly, he felt that he would die. That feeling was only further boosted with the appearance of the Ursa pair.

But he didn't.

No, Dove survived.

NO, he had been saved.

By an angel armored in ice. Her short platinum blonde hair, cut to right above her nape. Split on the front so that her right eye was hidden from sight, surely a beautiful pale sky blue like the left one. Beneath the carapace of ice she encased herself in, he caught sight of a black tank top, cropped dark blue denim jacket, same colored and detailed pants. And a pair of black steel toe boots.

As far as Dove was concerned at that moment. It was the most beautiful and attractive clothing he had seen in his life.

She turned to him and spoke, a clear voice. Sharp and filled with authority, but tempered by clear kindness and concern. Clearly the voice of an angel. "You okay there?"

"..."

"What do you mean, 'what are we doing again?'. We decided since we had finished so quickly, we would do the humanitarian thing, and cause havoc a bit east of the temple. To attract as much Grimm away from the other initiates as possible."

"..."

"'Stupid idea!?' YOUR THE ONE WHO SUGGESTED IT!"

"..."

"Point. I did agree to it and am the one making most of the noise. So how about we agree to it being a combined responsibility, and continue killing the horde we attracted?"

Neo huffed and prepared to dash back into the horde, before stopping and looking up. "..."

Mato glanced at the sky where Neo was pointing at, "...That is a big bird…"

Neo suddenly grinned maliciously. "..."

Mato had to do a double take while still firing at the mass of darkness that continued to pour out of the forest. She was using her Rock Cannon in its default form and the Seven Shots pistol. To avoid missing and possibly hitting something she didn't want to. "Neo, as per usual, you astound me with your insanity. Quickly, grab hold of me and take us up there."

Neo grabbed Mato, just as Mato made her weapons fade away, teleporting them on top of the Giant Nevermore that had just launched a rain of feathers into their small clearing.

The Nevermore hovered over the same point, flapping its huge wings to keep it in place, attempting to locate its prey. That suddenly became the least of its concerns as it felt a huge overbearing presence on top of its own head.

It was incredibly malicious, yet cold.

Even before the hooded figure hoped unto its beak, those dark concentric sapphires staring into its own red orbs, the Nevermore knew it was at the mercy of this apex predator.

It didn't resist when the figure pointed its jagged and cruel looking weapon at it.

It was futile to try.

Glynda watched through her scroll at the scene caused by the fastest pair. Both had been the first to pair up, the first to retrieve their relics, and would have been the first to return… If they hadn't apparently decided to purposely attract a horde of Grimm. The video had captured their voices, explaining that they were going out to help out the other teams by 'bringing the heat away from them'.

Glynda couldn't help but think positively of the pair. Even if she thought they were being insanely stupid. A couple hours and a couple hundred Grimm later, she realized that they were in fact insane.

And also possibly the strongest pair that had been formed. Most other pairs were able to get a relic and return during that time frame thanks to the efforts of those two. That was how effective of a distraction they were being. Add to that they were BORED, if their expressions were anything to go by.

Add that not a single Grimm had made it more than five meters into their designated kill-zone, a clearing no more than twenty meters in diameter, not the quick and agile Beowulf, not the sturdy Ursa, not the armored Boarbatusk, not the sneaky King Taijitu.

And now a Giant Elder Nevermore was added to that list. The Grimm weren't even trying to attack the pair anymore. Glynda had seen many things in her career as a huntress, a creature of Grimm frozen in fear, much less dozens of them, was not one of them.

Was it normal that Glynda was both curious, as well as frightened at what those two were capable off? Was it abnormal that she was curious, as well as frightened of what those two were?

Glynda didn't have the answer, even as she watched the Grimm run away, the purple flame above the black clothed one's eye disappear, quickly followed by both of them shattering, obviously teleporting away.

As she looked up from her scroll to a similar sound of shattering glass, and the appearance of the pair of huntress-in-training that had popped up before her and Ozpin, she wondered if she would find the answer before their four years were over.

Beacon - Auditorium

April 2nd, 2014 - Early Evening

"Cardin Winchester, Melanie Malachite, Russel Thrush, and Sky Lark. You four retrieved the Black Bishop pieces. And will hence be known as Team CRML (Caramel). Lead by… Melanie Malachite!"

A round of applause shook the auditorium as the eighth team finished its inauguration. Mato was standing in a group with Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Pyrrha, Jaune and his silent partner which he introduced as Blake, and finally of course, Neo. Mato liked Blake, quiet girl that she was, she seemed nice and competent. Which was something that poor Jaune needed. Mato had known the child for only about an hour now, and she could tell, that hardened though his body may be, he would have been another name on the list of dead if not for his partner.

Mato's enthusiasm for the inauguration died a bit at that reminder. There had been ninety students who went into that forest, in three waves. Only forty-eight could pass. Only forty-four did. Despite their claim, the instructors had intervened when the initiates were near death, to save and extract them… but many still perished, either before they could be saved, or on the way to medical help. Ozpin had read out the list of sixteen names, sixteen people who died attempting to become hunters or huntresses. Sixteen more who died trying to help the world against the very real threat that was Grimm.

Mato was shaken out of her thoughts as Jaune and Blake were called up to the stage, to stand besides a tall asian man in green with magenta eyes. And a shorter girl in hot pink, with bright orange hair. "Jaune Arc, Blake Belladonna, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie. You four retrieved the White Rook pieces, and will hence be known as Team JNBR (Juniper). Lead by… Jaune Arc!"

Mato chuckled a bit as she saw Jaune stutter and look shocked. Even as Blake placed her hand on his shoulder to calm him with one of the warmest smiles she had seen. Actually, that was the first expression she had seen on Blake, period, but it convinced Mato that they were going to be a good pair. Ren and Nora were in the midst of their own celebration. Or rather Nora was hanging off of Ren while Ren nodded to Jaune and Blake. Quite an interesting match up. She couldn't wait to find out her own teammates.

She knew that Ruby, Weiss, Yang and Pyrrha were going to be a team, since they both had the White Knight pieces, but no one had shown themselves to have the other Black Queen piece that Mato choose. Even as she got lost in her thoughts again at the significance of such a choice, Ruby and her team was called up.

"Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, and Pyrrha Nikos. You four retrieved the White Knight pieces. And will hence be known as Team RWPY (Ruby). Lead by... Ruby Rose!"

Mato joined in on the applause as she watched Yang crush her sister in a hug, with Pyrrha trying to stop her partner from murdering her sister. Mato just shook her head, realizing that Ursa hugs were clearly a family thing. She noticed that Weiss seemed… confused. That was the best word for it, considering she sported emotions of happiness, sadness, rejection, as well as what seemed like… desire? as she looked over at her new team leader, and partner…

Mato's eyes widened in shock. Unconsciously mirroring Winter's a few feet away. 'By Oum's sodding balls… Ruby, that is too fast! Forget your semblance. How, in the name of Monty himself, did you already get to the point that she is unconsciously wanting you, when it hasn't even been a single day!'

Mato just shook her head at her adopted niece's actions. And the fact that both Winter and herself now owed the red cloaked girl lien from failed bets. Maybe not just yet, since Ruby hadn't succeeded OFFICIALLY, but Mato knew it was only a matter of time.

She was pulled along by Neo to the stage as she continued to shake her head at her unbelievable acquaintances in this world. Even those in the 'other side' hadn't been this unique and diverse.

She had just collected herself when Ozpin called out the names of the final team. "Kuroi Mato, Neopolitan, Winter Snow, and Dove Bronzewing. You four retrieved the Black Queen pieces. And will hence be known as.. Team MDNS (Madness). Lead by… Kuroi Mato!"

Mato was shocked, for many reasons. One, Winter was in her team, so she only really had to get to know her partner, Dove. Two, unlike the other ten teams, her own was NOT named after a color or something that could be interpreted as such. Three, what in Oum's name was wrong with Ozpin to name a team, Madness!?

Based on the expressions of shock on Dove, he was probably thinking along the same lines. Neo was copying that Nora girl from earlier and hanging off of Mato's neck… which was hard considering that Neo was only slightly shorter than herself. She probably loved the team name, which Mato agreed is a great one, even if it was entirely confusing as to its selection. Winter was smiling. She was probably happy to be together with two friends.

Or to have an excuse to get near Weiss without triggering suspicions from anyone else, since Ruby and Yang were related to Mato.

They departed from the stage as Ozpin started closing the ceremony, stating that it would be an interesting year.

A/N: And with that, INITIATION IS OVER! BEACON LIFE STARTS!

That is not to say the day is over. Nope, next chapter will still start on the same day as initiation. What with them going to their dorms, getting to know each other. Etcetera etcetera.

Now, I know that I CLEARLY didn't put much thought into the team names for Ruby and Juniper… but in my defense, I actually did. I spent hours and the teams and pairings. Since the only pairings I knew I was going to partner together were Mato with Neo, Blake with Jaune, and Nora with Ren… It wasn't until later that the teams were selected. I had juggled ALL of them for a bit. I ended up deciding that I didn't want Pyrrha in Jaune's team no matter what, and I didn't want Blake in Yang's team. I threw a few of old CRDL's team around trying to match things around… but I decided to only take Dove out of their team when his letter allowed me to create MDNS. Kuroi Mato, Dove Bronzewing, Neopolitan, and Winter Snow(Schnee). Once I had MDNS down… well, the other's just kinda fell into place. Weiss and Ruby's scene was too good not to partner them together. So I now needed Pyrrha with someone to put together with, that I could put her away from Jaune, but not be the team leader. (I simply don't see Pyrrha as a good team leader, and I feel Ozpin would agree with me.) So I partnered her with Yang and put her on Ruby's team. After hours trying to come up with a name, I settled on Rupee. Realized that not using a color was a bad thing. And changed it to Ruby. Once I decided on that, Juniper was easy. For the same reason. CRML actually took me a bit of time. I had originally settled on CRMS first… But didn't like it for some reason… Then I was out shopping, and bought some Caramel Popcorn. INSPIRATION! I choose Melanie as the leader instead of Cardin by the way, so that I can have her try to reign in his racism. Sky and Russel are cowards, more Sky than Russel, but still. So I figured they were only bullies thanks to Cardin. So if I take Cardin away from the leadership position, I can probably get away with the bullying problem easily. (It hasn't been, but it has been fun working on their team.)

Explanations (Excuses) aside, if any of you have different names for Ruby and Juniper, please send them to me as a PM or a review, and I will be more than happy to change them if I agree with you all. I want to keep to the color theme. I want MDNS to be the only exception to that list.

Also, yes, Ruby is dangerous, in EVERY sense of the word. And Winter is torn from trying to protect her sister from her savior and friend. To wishing said sister happiness with that same someone that she knows will treat her well, and is more than capable of protecting her.

Anyway, as per usual, please Review! Give me your thoughts, ideas, criticisms. Etcetera!

And swing by CushionySiren3's profile and his stories as a thank you to him allowing me to use his OC teams and professors in my own story as background characters to fill in the spots.