OOOOOKKKK! So that concludes the pre school year arc and me reviewing everything I had previously written… seriously kids… get a Beta… it's so hard to find these mistakes on your own because you KNOW what' supposed to be there so your mind compensates and you miss so many words and spelling mistakes and typos….
Get a Beta… think about the children
Chapter eight: The Teams
"Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester!" The audience applauded the new teams creation. Ozpin walked to each of them, congratulating them on their successful initiation as well as team creation.
We were all packed into the same hall that had hosted the first speech of the school year. All teams and initiates had been accounted for and, other than a few cut and bruises, most of them were in a superb shape.
I kept reminding myself of that as my left side strained under the bandages. Glynda had insisted we get somewhat patched up.
The carrier had arrived a few moments after the last Nevermore had fallen. Assaulted by questions, neither Kokuran or myself had the strength or will to answer, I was glad when Glynda stormed out of the small airship to shoo the eight trainees on board.
She looked at us both, commenting on how pitiful a state we were in. We could only nod in agreement.
The ride back to Beacon was mostly quite, a few healers tended to our wounds as the rest of the recruits calmed down from the events. Kokuran nearly threw the head medic out of the ship, when he suggested we skip out on the Initiation's closing speech.
It took a great deal of negotiating with Ms. Goodwitch for her to allow us to go and the result had been that, while the other recruits got to change and wash, we had to be bandaged up.
Kokuran had his top gear, or what was left of it, stripped and his entire torso covered in bandage along with his right eye and most of his head. My bandages we mostly to stop the bleeding from cuts and bruises. My leather coat had been discarded and the rest of my gear had serious tears.
If we were honest with ourselves, we should not have been there at the ceremony. Battered and beaten like we were , a few hours of aura treatment by the school infirmary would've put us back on our feet... but we HAD to be there. It was our pride that ordered it.
I winced again and grunted as Blake accidentally bumped into me. Her bow twitched at the sound I made and she gave me an apologetic look I just waved away. My eyes were drawn to the center of the stage again when four familiar faces stepped forward.
"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos and Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR." Ozpin smiled at the four before continuing " Led by Jaune Arc" The thunderous applause only served to confuse the young boy more. He had clearly not expected this. Ozpin had chosen well though... He had led his team with great success and skill against the Death Stalker.
I heard Kokuran cough and groan to my left as he was trying to repress his laughter. I looked back to the stage to find Jaune had somehow fallen on his ass. I chuckled too before joining my friend in groaning. The four girls to our left walked towards the center of the stage as JNPR walked towards us. I caught Jaune's attention, signaling him to stay after the speech. He nodded.
" And finally: Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby Rose!" The surprise on Weiss's face was only equaled by the one on Ruby's. Yang quickly swooped in to hug her sister.
Ozpin turned to the crowd to conclude his speech "For old teammates and new alike, I would like you to remember, in this coming year, that, though we are mighty on our own. Only together can we achievement greatness... And one last thing"
He gestured to both of us and we slowly walked into the spotlight. Gasps were heard as the crowd realized what state we were in.
"Sky DeWinter and Kokuran Hollow, though they have not been assigned to teams like you all were, are , from this day forward, to be considered students of Beacon and treated with the same respect you would have any other." A murmur washed over the crowd, un-teamed students were unheard of.
The headmaster raised his hand and silence fell on the assembly "Just remember that they are here for a reason and that they too have proven themselves" The main monitors displayed our taking down the second Nevermore.
"I am grateful you all stayed" Ozpin addressed the members of RWBY and JNPR.
The hall had been cleared of its audience and only Glynda, Ozpin, Team RWBY and Team JNPR along with Kokuran and myself remained.
"You are without a doubt aware of the capabilities of these two young men." Both team nodded and Glynda used her scroll to send them new information.
Ozpin turned around and took a sip of his coffee before continuing "Good! I will need your help then. One them will be unofficially assigned to each team... I expect you to treat them as a teammate and no different any of the four core members. Can you do this" Again all eight nodded in agreement.
Eyes turned to us in expectation. I turned to my friend and smiled "You reached the clearing first... you get to pick" Kokuran seemed to ponder for a moment before pointing to the all girl team.
I shook my head in defeat, Weiss would kill him before the end of the first semester. I turned to my new teammate. Jaune seemed ecstatic at the idea of having me in his team. Pyrrha seemed uncertain, her eyes kept on scanning me over and over and I felt suddenly very self conscious, shifting in place. Nora was already asking me my preferences in terms of pancakes and Ren just stood there quietly.
I turned to the last member of my team and inspected him. His calm demeanor masked his almost perfect posture and I was suddenly struck by the image of staring down a cobra.
I heard angry shouting to my left as I saw Weiss, crimson red, yelling at Yang to stop touching Kokuran's bandaged abs.
I shook my head before making my way towards the two teachers "By the way... How is bedding going to wo-" My legs suddenly gave out and I, thankfully, blacked out before hitting the floor.