Crossing The Bridge

Eight pairs of feet trudged through the underbrush of the thick forest. Their trail had led them miles away from any signs of civilization. It was something that was starting to get on the nerves of a few of them.

"Ruby, if we were going the right way, we would have found the cliffs by now!"

The red-caped fearless leader of the group turned around and stuck her tongue out at her partner. "I know where we're going, Weiss. Don't worry."

Yang called out from the back of the group. "It's been two days, Ruby. I think we've officially failed our 'first step'."

Blake glanced back at her own partner. "Hmm... I guess that means we won't be attending Beacon after all."

Yang held up her hand, staring at the little gold-colored Chess piece in the shape of a horse. "Well, then I suppose we won't need these... screw it, I'm keeping this."

Jaune, who was wandering around somewhere in the middle of the group with Pyrrha, just tossed his Chess piece over his shoulder. "Why did I even bother coming here when I was just going to get lost before my first class?"

Pyrrha patted Jaune on the shoulder. "Hey, cheer up. We'll find a way out of this."

Ren and Nora walked past them, with Ren speaking just loudly enough that everyone could hear. "And what if we don't? What if we find ourselves wandering aimlessly for weeks?"

From the front, Ruby called back in answer to his question. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

A moment later, they came out of the forest and on to a rocky plane. Not far away, they could see a massive gorge with a single bridge across it. They all stopped and stared in awe at the gorge.

Weiss wondered out loud. "I wonder if that bridge has seen use in the past hundred years."

Ruby shrugged. "I don't care. We'll cross it when we get to it. Fair enough?"

They all nodded in agreement, then started walking towards the bridge. When they reached it, an old man appeared and blocked their way. He stared at them with a look of overzealous derision. They returned with a wide variety of looks, ranging from Jaune's total terror and Nora's innocent amusement to Weiss' disgusted irritation and Blake's complete apathy.

The man spoke. "If you wish to cross this bridge, you must first answer three questions."

Weiss held up her hand. "Is that three questions for all of us, or three per person?"

He grinned evilly. "Each of you must answer three questions. And if you fail... you will be flung into this bottomless ravine."

The stage was set. They knew that it was their only way out, as they could even see the tall buildings of a city in the distance beyond the gorge. They had to answer the man's questions, then cross the bridge. The question now was... who would go first?

Nora stepped forward, bouncing excitedly. The man looked bemused. "You would dare to challenge my wit?"

Nora nodded enthusiastically. "Yup!"

Ren called after her. "Nora! NO!"

The man grinned again, looking very wicked. "I must warn you. None have passed my test. Do you really think a simpleton like you can answer all three of my questions?"

Nora bit her tongue, considering his words carefully. Ruby called out. "Don't do it, Nora!"

Nora nodded again. "Sure I'm sure!"

Weiss berated her. "You idiot! It's a trick! His questions will be unsolvable riddles!"

The man looked to Nora. "Very well, then. What... is your name?"

There was a moment of silence, and everyone realized with a hint of pain that Nora seemed to be thinking very hard about the question. Then she answered.

"Nora Valkyrie!" The man nodded, but before he could ask his next question Nora had started across the bridge, running like a madwoman. "THREE FOR THREE! I WIN AT LIFE!"

Weiss stared after the redhead. "You mean to tell me that those first two questions counted?" The man shrugged and nodded. Weiss threw her arms up in the air. "They were warnings!"

Ruby stepped forward proudly. "If Nora can do it, we all can."

"All right then, but I shall not make the same mistake." The man cleared his throat. "What... is your name?"

Yang shook her head. "If she gets this one wrong, she deserves what she gets."

Ruby nodded knowingly. "Ruby Rose!"

"What... is your favorite color?"

"Blue!"

Everyone, including the old man, stood in silence and waited to see Ruby be launched into the abyss. Nothing happened. The man shrugged. "What... is your voice actor's name?"

"Lindsay Tuggey!"

"Very well, you may pass." Ruby bowed politely and walked across.

Weiss snorted and stepped forward. "Well, this should be easy." She held up her hand to stop the man from asking his questions. "Just a guess. Weiss Schnee, the color white, and Kara Eberle. Suck it."

"You have to let me ask the questions first."

She growled. "Fine, but make it snappy."

"What... is your partner's name?"

"Wei-" Weiss stopped herself just in time. "Uh... Ruby Rose." She glanced behind her at the others, starting to wonder if this was a good idea.

"What... is your partner's weapon's name?"

Weiss froze. She had heard Ruby say her weapon's name before. She was sure of it. She just had to remember what it was. Her head spun, trying to come up with the answer. Then, like magic, it came to her.

"Crescent Rose!"

"What... is your fetish?"

Weiss gasped, and she heard Yang laughing out loud behind her. Getting angry, Weiss stomped the ground. "I do not have a fetish!"

With a high-pitched scream, Weiss was launched into the abyss. Everyone suddenly gasped in horror, but the man just shook his head. He reassured them. "Technically, since it's a bottomless pit, she'll be fine. Who's next?"

Blake stepped forward. "I might as well go next."

Yang grabbed her hand. "But Blake! Do you even have a fetish?"

Blake looked back and winked. "You just wait and see." Then she turned to face the man.

The questions began. "What... is the number for the cell block in which Princess Liea was kept?"

"One-one-three-eight."

"What... is Weiss Schnee's secret fetish?"

"Faunus with cat ears covered in salsa."

"What... was the exact time when this scene was written?"

"Six minutes after four in the morning, Atlantic Time, on the fourth of December, in the year two thousand and thirteen."

"Very good. You may pass."

Emboldened by previous victories, Pyrrha stepped forward. "I accept the challenge!"

"What... is your name?"

"Pyrrha Nikos."

"What... is your favorite color?"

"Blue. I mean re-"

Pyrrha was launched through the air and into the abyss. The man looked to Yang. She stepped forward, readying herself for the questions.

"What... is your name?"

"Yang Xiao Long!"

And she too was tossed into the ravine. Jaune was next, beginning to fear for his life.

"What... is your name?"

"Uh... Jaune Arc?"

"What... is your favorite color?"

"Yellow...?"

"What... is your quest?"

"To search for the Holy Grail." He flinched, suddenly realizing that he had answered without thinking, having gotten caught up in the moment.

"Very well, you may also pass."

And then it came down to Ren. But before the man could ask any questions, Velvet Scarlatina appeared from out of the forest. She ran up to the man and kicked him in the shin. He hopped around in pain, then fell into the ravine. She turned to Ren.

"Now then, shall we proceed."

Ren just shrugged. "Alright. Whatever."

The six survivors later regrouped in the city and found out that they were the only students to survive the entrance trial, let alone retrieve artifacts. Jaune and Velvet soon fell in love and got married and had seven children. And they all lived happily ever after.

"What'cha writing there?"

Velvet blushed profusely and covered up the pages of her notebook. "Nothing!"

Jaune shrugged and walked off. "Alright. If you say so."

Velvet waited until she was sure he had gone, then looked over her work. She frowned and erased a bit. "Seven... no, we'll have twelve."