Merry Christmas... no wait it's a little too late for that. Happy Boxing day! I hope you got lots of nice presents. My cousin bought a Reborn button for me. Isn't she so sweet? Ok anyways, just a heads up. There will be no update on Friday this week as I am going out station for a holiday and I wont be back till Sunday. Actually, I wanted to do a double update but I couldn't finish the chapter in time. I was up till nearly 3 last night, which is really late for a person who sleeps at 10p.m. every night and had to wake up at 8 this morning to update this. Urgh im so tired D:

BTW take note that i didn't do ANY proof reading in this one so if there's mistakes in it please tell me or just ignore it XD

Today is the day, yes. Yesterday was only child's play, the real challenge starts now. Training commences today.

Standing there in neat rows the trainees stood there listening to their instructor's briefing under the bright morning sun, and then they were order to gather in front of large mechanisms that were lined up. For their first training session, they were about to learn the basics of the basics. Balance, which is the vital key in using the 3D maneuver gear. If you can't master it, you'd end up as titan food. Each trainee was asked to fix on a gear loop attachment to our belts. We each took turns to try to keep our balance as they lifted and dangled us in midair. Everyone struggled to keep up straight, it sounds easy but it's not as we humans are only used to moving around in 2D.

We were each given and asked to fasten a pair of hook attachment to our belts on our harnesses.

Alice's POV.

I stood there in the crowd watching as my fellow trainee mates struggled to keep up right while being dangled in midair, I could tell by the faces that it wasn't easy. The next batch of trainees were called to the front, Nicholas and Tanya being one of those few.

"Good luck." I said to the both of them.

"I don't need luck." Tanya said with a confident smirk.

"If she doesn't need it then I'll just take her share of it, thanks." Nicholas said as he came from behind. "Now I really think that I can do it. I-I mean, urgh…. What am I saying?"

The both of them headed off to the front and fasten carabiners to each hooks, after giving the ok sign, they were slowly raised up. They were a little wobbly at first but they managed to regain their balance , it was pretty obvious that they were doing better than the others. Then, they were let down.

"That was amazing!" I said to Tanya as she came over.

"Hmph, of course."

"How did I do?" Nicholas asked.

"You did great!" Nicholas faced turned bright crimson as I said that.

I heard my name being called out along with Julie's.

"Guess it's my turn." I said as I waved to them.

"Wait Alice." Nicholas said as he grabbed hold of my hand just as I was about to leave.

I turned around, noticing what he had just done, Nicholas quickly released his grip on my hand.

"Just wanted to say good luck."

"Thanks. I'm going to need that."

It's finally my turn.

I let out a small sigh.

"Let's do our best!" Julie said as she ran up to me.

"Yeah, good luck."

"You too."

We both waved our temporary goodbyes as we went our separate ways, I stood there as they were attaching the carabiners to my waist. Looking at the large crowd which I did not notice while I was standing amongst them. Their eyes were focus on me, I was starting to feel nervous. If I slipped up, I'm going to be the laughing stock. I'd be too embarrassed to show my face. Just thinking about it quickened my heart beat by tenfold. I slapped my cheeks and shook my head.

No, no, no. Now's not the time to be thinking about this kind of things, I need to focus.

I took a deep breath and gave a thumbs up as a signal that I was ready. My fellow trainee nodded as he slowly cranked the lever causing my feet to depart from the ground. I panicked a little. My footing from the ground was gone and my body was levitating.

Don't look down!

I put both hands out to balance myself. I started to wobble, I moved my legs to gain more balance and tried shifting my weight. I was doing it, I was really doing it. Well that is until a small gust of wind tipped me.

Don't freak out! Don't freak out!

Despite repeating those lines mentally to myself, I was seriously freaking out. I waved my hands around as an attempt to regain balance but it was futile. Slowly I felt myself falling backwards, instincts made me close my eyes. When I opened them, I found myself in an upside down world. Literally…

(still in her POV)

"Cheer up Alice." Julie said as she comforted me.

"She's right, there's no point in sulking." Nicholas said.

"I want to dig up a hole so that I can hide in it forever." My words were muffling as my face was buried in the table.

"I'm sure you can do it tomorrow." Julie patted my head.

I looked up a little, I saw a few people staring at me while snickering. I buried my face once more.

"They're laughing at me…"

"Well, of course. You were the only one who couldn't do it." Tanya said.

"Tanya, your frankness hurts."

"Gosh, that's why you're so useless."

"Yeah… I'm useless…"

"Urgh! I had enough!" Tanya slammed her hands against the table as she got up. "I'm sick and tired of looking at you. If you want to die than just die! If you think you can't do it then just leave this place!" She grabbed her tray and walked off.

"Take that back!" Julie shouted and waved her fist angrily as she got up from her seat.

"It's alright Julie. She has a point." I said.

"I don't get why you're so nice to her." She said as she slumped back into her seat. "She's a show off and likes to bad mouth people."

"Eh? You think so?" I said.

"Don't you?" Julie asked.

"I think she's actually pretty nice, she's just frank and honest."

"Too honest." Julie scoffed.

"She's just bad with words."

"You're really too nice." Julie said.

"That's not true. Everyone has their good and bad sides."

"Even if you say that, I just don't like her."

"I'm sure one day you'll come to like her. You'll see."

"I don't think that's possible."

"I don't mean to kill the mood. I'm glad you're cheered up and all but what are you going to do about tomorrow?" Jaune asked. (Le Jaune appears out of nowhere. Almost forgot that he existed.)

"I don't know…" I said.

"Jaune! Why did you have to go and say that?" Julie scolded. "You see now she's depress again!"

"I-I'm sorry!"

A few minutes later... yes it's still Alice's POV.

After the last bell that honed that dinner time was over. We walked back to our dormitory

"Don't think too much about it, just relax. I'm sure you'll do fine."

"I hope so…"

"I don't get it though. Why couldn't you do it."

Hearing those words started to make me feel depress again.

"I-I don't mean it in a bad way. I was just wondering what went wrong. Could it be that something's wrong with your equipment?"

"No, they checked it. They said nothing was wrong with it."

"Well let's not talk about it anymore. Think positive! You can do it!"

"I really don't know…"

"Don't say that! Believe in yourself a little."

When we reached our dorms, I talked a bit more with a few friends. Once, the last bell of the day rang. We all prepared ourselves to go to bed. I laid there in bed, Tanya was already fast asleep beside me. I couldn't sleep, I kept thinking about tomorrow. If I couldn't do it, I'll have to leave.

I'm starting to think that I don't belong here. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a soldier.

Was my resolve really that weak?

An hour or so passed and I still couldn't sleep, my eyes were wide open. My thoughts had been keeping me awake. I threw the covers off myself, I decided to take a little walk. I grabbed my sweater and quietly snuck out. Autumn was drawing near, it was still pretty hot in the days but nights were cold. My breathed into my hands to keep them warm. The moon was hidden behind some clouds and the sound of crickets crying out in the night. The world felt so still.

Why can't I do it? Maybe I'm lacking something but what?

"Alice!"

A voice called out so suddenly that it made me jump, I turned around to find Nicholas standing there.

"You scared me. I thought it was the instructor. What are you doing here? You'll get in trouble if you get caught."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Me too."

"You worried about tomorrow?"

"Yeah…"

"Don't worry about it, you're going to do fine."

"That's what everyone keeps saying but honestly I don't know if I can really do it."

"Don't be so negative. I have confidence that you can do it."

Confidence?

That's when it hit me, I started thinking about what Tanya had said. What I'm lacking was not skill but confidence! Deep down in my heart I never once thought that I could do it. Maybe that's what's wrong!

"You're a genius Nicholas!"

"I didn't do anything." He said as he scratched his head. "Wait why am I a genius?"

"I think I figured it out."

"I don't know what it is but I'm glad that you cheered up."

"Hehe. Oh yeah, you said you couldn't sleep either. Is something bothering you?"

"Oh, not really."

"You can tell me anything."

"No it's really no big deal."

"Don't worry, I'll listen to whatever you say no matter how small it is."

"It's nothing. Just that I was wondering how my mom and sisters were doing."

"Oh yeah, you have a big family don't you?"

"Yeah an older sister and 3 younger, two of them are twins."

"Eh~ That sounds nice. What are they like?"

"Let's see, the twins are 7 and they fight a lot. The other is very mature and the oldest is a lazy person who does nothing but sleep."

"That sounds nice, your home must be lively."

"Yeah it is." He said it with a smile.

"You really love them don't you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you looked really happy when you were talking about them."

"I-I was?"

"Uh huh."

"I'm sorry."

"Eh? What for?"

"I was making you think about your parents wasn't I?"

"Ah no, don't be. It's true that it was hard but I met a lot of great people too."

"I'm sorry, I was thinking that I was glad that everything happened because if it wasn't for all of that I wasn't able to meet you."

"You're right. I guess there were lots of good things that came from it. Well, it's getting late I better get back."

"Me too. Good night."

"Night."

The next morning everyone was asked to assemble at the same spot, this time to witness one specific trainee.

"Alice Berux! Are you prepared?" The instructor shouted in a loud voice.

"Yes!" She answered.

Slowly she was lifted up, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Closing her eyes she chant to herself.

I can do this, I know I can. If I don't believe in myself who will?

She opened her eyes to find herself floating in midair without a cinch.

Thanks for reading this week's chapter, it really makes me happy seeing people read it. Honestly, at the start I wasn't expecting a lot of views but it has truly shocked me to see that I have so many favorites and followers. I hope everyone continues to support me in the coming year. :3