I walked up to Beacon with the other first-years for appearances, my black hood raised. Technically, it was a Sith color, but I was never fond of brown. Not like my Master would see me...
Underneath the cloak, I wore the same outfit I'd come to Remnant in (patched up, of course). My orange skin could pass for normal, as long as my face and lekku were hidden from view...
Over the last few weeks before school started, I'd been introduced to the staff. They were skeptical at first, but I'd warmed up to them. Professor Port and I exchanged stories, Professor Peach was always asking about alien plants, and Doctor Oobleck was curious about the history of my home-world and the Republic.
Ozpin and Goodwitch were the ones I found easiest to speak with. Ozpin reminded me of Master Yoda, Goodwitch reminding me of Master Obi-Wan.
"Okay." I smiled under my hood. "Just like the first day on Coruscant... Stay calm, Ahsoka."
I continued walking, then noticed a girl in a red hood being yelled at by a girl in white. From her insignias, I knew the girl in white was a Schnee. Spoiled little rich girl...
"Unbelievable! This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!"
"I'm really, really sorry!"
"You complete dolt! Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon? This isn't an ordinary combat school! It's not just sparring and practice, you know?! We're here to fight monsters, so watch where you're going!"
"Hey!" I marched over, angry. "Leave her alone." The girl in red looked relieved, the Schnee angry.
"Oh, now the hooded-girls are ganging up on me?"
"She's not ganging up on you. I am." I glared. "What's the matter with you?! It's your first day, and you're screaming at someone for accidentally bumping into you? It's not the end of the world."
I felt Red grab my arm in fear as the Schnee got angrier. This kid reminded me of some of the Younglings back home, like Katooni or Genobi... I looked back at the Schnee, trying to control my emotions. Maybe I could use the Force and make her go home and rethink her life (Master Obi-Wan told me a story about when he did that to someone).
"She could have killed me! Dust is volatile, and-"
"Hey!" Red finally had enough. "I said I was sorry, Princess! Leave her alone!" Okay, Red had bite.
"It's heiress, actually." A girl in black commented. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company: one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."
"Finally!" Weiss smirked. "Some recognition!"
"The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners." Black stated. Red snickered, and I let a small smirk out.
"What?!" Weiss asked. "How dare-?! The nerve of-!" Weiss stormed off, and Red sighed.
"I promise I'll make this up to you!" She called after the heiress. I stopped the girl in black from leaving.
"Thanks." I smiled under my hood. "I'm Ahsoka. You?"
"Blake." The girl replied. Red bounced over.
"I'm Ruby! Thanks!"
"No problem." Then, Blake left. I turned to see Ruby looking down, emotionally exhausted.
"Welcome to Beacon." Then, Ruby fell over. Was this a Remnant thing? I didn't know what to do, but a blonde boy beat me to it.
"Hey." The boy held a hand out to Ruby, smiling. "I'm Jaune."
"Ruby." Ruby took his hand, and he helped her up. Then, Ruby held back a laugh, silver eyes wide. "Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?" I laughed at that, and the two looked at me. Ruby beamed.
"Well, Jaune, this is Ahsoka." Ruby stated, eyes asking if we were friends. I nodded, giving her permission. "My friend!"
Jaune looked at me, holding a hand out. I shook it, and I saw their eyebrows raise at my skin tone, but they were kind enough to say nothing.
Good.
/\/\/\/\
We walked around, talking, and...
"All I'm saying is that motion sickness that is MUCH more common than people let on." Jaune was arguing with Ruby. I chuckled at their bickering, like an old married couple...
Or my Master and his Master. Maybe Master Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine, or Anakin and Senator Amidala, or R2 and 3PO...
"Look, I'm sorry." Ruby apologized, smirking. "Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind."
"Oh, yeah?" Jaune asked. "What if I called you Crater-Face?" I high-fived him for that.
"Hey!" Ruby complained. "That explosion was an accident!"
"Well, the name's Jaune Arc." Jaune corrected. "Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue! Ladies love it..."
"Do they?" Ruby didn't believe him, and neither did I. Sorry.
"They will." Jaune assured himself more than us. "Well, I hope they will. I mean, my mom always says... Uh, never mind..." I started laughing.
"Rule number one of picking-up girls, Jaune-y: don't mention your mother, at all!" Hey, I might have been a Jedi, but even I knew the flirting no-nos.
"So..." Ruby smirked. "I got this thing." The girl whipped out a huge red and black scythe. I whistled, impressed, while Jaune recoiled.
"Whoa!" Jaune exclaimed. "Is that a scythe?!"
"It's also a customizable, high-impact-velocity sniper-rifle."
"What?"
"It's also a gun."
"Oh." Jaune nodded. "That's cool." Ruby beamed.
"So, what've you got?" The girl asked. I reached for my belt, taking my two light-weapons off.
"Don't judge them, yet." I saw skepticism on Ruby's face. "These pack a punch." I activated my weapons, and the two stared in awe.
"Laser-induced plasma." Ruby noted, eyes wide. "Dust crystals?"
"Kyber." I corrected. "Very rare. Only people back home can get them." Just bits of the truth. "Not the best for sparring in class due to the fact that they'd dice everything they touched (I have models of Hardsteel for class), but they can block any kind of Dust-round or attack, and take a Grimm apart."
"Cool." Ruby smiled brightly. We'd get along. "Jaune?"
"Oh. Uh..." Jaune pulled an ordinary-looking sword out of its sheath. "I've got this sword." Ruby did her best to look impressed.
"Ooh."
"Yeah!" Jaune grabbed the sheath. "I've got a shield, too!" The sheath spread into a shield. Okay, not bad.
"So, what do they do?" Ruby asked. After a few moments of fumbling while the shield malfunctioned...
"The shield gets smaller, so when I get tired of carrying it, I can just..." Jaune placed the sheath back on his belt. "Put it away."
"But..." Ruby frowned. "Wouldn't it weigh the same?"
"Yeah, it does." Jaune deadpanned. I pat him on the back.
"Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons." Ruby stroked her scythe like a Loth-Cat. "I guess I did go a little overboard in designing her." New rule: don't touch Ruby's scythe. EVER! I backed off.
"Wait, you made that?" Jaune asked. Why was he so surprised?
"Of course! All students at Signal forge their own weapons! Didn't you make yours?"
"It's a hand-me-down." Jaune admitted, embarrassed. "My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war." I nodded in understanding, but Ruby not so much.
"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me." The girl stated. I elbowed her. "Well, I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days." I wasn't happy with her response, but I went with it.
"Yeah... The classics." Jaune looked down slightly. I shot a quick glare at Ruby, then tried to use my power in the Force to make someone choose a different topic of conversation.
"So, why'd you help me out back there, in the courtyard?" Ruby asked. I let Jaune go first.
"Why not?" He asked. "My mom always says strangers are just friends you haven't met, yet."
"Your mother sounds very wise." I nodded, smiling. "It just looked like you needed help. Isn't that what we're here to do? Help people?"
"Yeah." Ruby sighed. "You never told us your full name." Ruby had told us that her last name was Rose.
"My full name is Ahsoka Tano." I told them calmly. "It's a bit odd, huh?" Jaune shook his head.
"No, it's fine." Ruby agreed. "I just think it's a bit odd that we haven't seen your face, yet." Ruby gave a nervous laugh, avoiding eye-contact...
"I'm shy." I lied, clenching my fists in the safety of my hood. I liked that it closed and hid my whole body unless I chose to reach my arms out. "You'll see my face when I want you to."
"At least we can see your eyes." Jaune stated. "Blue. Very nice." I blushed under my hood.
"Hey, where are we going?" Ruby asked, frowning. We stopped short, our eyes widening.
"I don't know." Jaune admitted. "I was following you... You think there might be a directory? Maybe a food court? Some sort of recognizable landmark?" Ruby barely managed to hold back a laugh. "Is that a no?"
"That's a no."
"Come on." I sighed, smiling. "I know where to go."
Thank you, Goodwitch, for that tour of the grounds.
/\
I led them to the auditorium, Ruby ran off to meet some blonde girl, and I stayed with Jaune. I laughed as he perked up when Weiss called him cute, rolling my eyes.
"Sarcasm."
"I'll keep this brief." Professor Ozpin spoke into the microphone, frowning. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and where you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." Next, Goodwitch stepped forward and spoke into the microphone.
"You will gather in the ballroom tonight, tomorrow your initiation begins... Be ready." The woman warned. "You are dismissed."
"Well..." I crossed my arms. "That wasn't creepy or anything."
"Yeah..." Jaune raised an eyebrow, then he looked at me. "Was that girl really being sarcastic?"
I face-palmed, sighing.
"Oh, you innocent little flower..."
/\
We headed to the ballroom, and I laughed at Jaune's (bunny?) pajamas, the boy glaring.
"Never letting Mom pack my bags ever again... Well?" Jaune spun. "Do I pull them off?" I let out another snort of laughter.
"Sure?"
"You don't sound too confident." Jaune looked down. I shrugged, crossing my arms.
"At least you have pajamas. I forgot my bags, so they won't be here until tomorrow."
Translation: didn't go shopping yet.
/\
Jaune and I went to a corner of the ballroom...
"So, why hang out with me instead of Ruby?"
"Would you be all on your own if I left you?"
"Yeah-"
"I'm not ditching you, Jaune-y... Besides, you're funny. I haven't laughed this much since my... Older brother... Tried to walk across a tight-rope."
It's a long story.
My Master was an idiot.
Jaune laughed at that, and I smiled softly. This wouldn't be so bad, would it?
"So..." Jaune raised an eyebrow. "You gonna be wearing that hood all night?" I nodded, crossing my arms.
"Yep."
"And you trust me not to peek under it while you're asleep?"
"Yep."
"Then, I won't." Jaune leaned against the wall, and I beamed. I think I was really starting to trust him...
"Thanks."
"No problem."
/\/\/\/\
We woke up in the morning, got dressed, and went to the lockers. I had to endure watching Jaune try and fail to flirt with Weiss and some girl called Pyrrha Nikos, laughing as he was speared to a wall.
"Okay, sorry." I cringed as Jaune glared at me, Ruby supporting him as we made our way towards Beacon Cliff. "I just found the sight of you getting harpooned to a wall highly amusing."
"I don't blame you." Jaune sighed. I giggled again.
/\
We made it to the cliffs...
"For years, you have trained to become warriors." Professor Ozpin began, holding his mug of... What was in there? "Today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
"Now..." Goodwitch continued. "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates, today."
"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 work well. That being said, the first person you make eye-contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years. 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. You will be monitored and graded for the duration of 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. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately." Ozpin explained. "Are there any questions?"
"Isn't there an odd number?" I asked, frowning. "If we all make it... Where will the extra person go?"
"I'm glad you asked that. There will be one person on this assignment going solo. If he or she survives, then they will be placed in the team that suits them best. It will take a powerful Huntsman or Huntress to pull it off... Now, take your positions."
People began getting launched, and when I was catapulted into the air, I let out a short laugh.
As I flew over the Emerald Forest, I used the Force to slow my fall. I landed gently on the ground, looking around for signs of people.
"Powerful Huntress, huh?" I smirked. I'd show them powerful...
/\
I began walking, when I heard a piercing cry behind me. I turned to see a Gryphon hissing at me.
"Hi." The Gryphon lunged, and I whipped out my blades, igniting them and slicing. Both of the Grimm's wings were severed, and the beast cried out. I took that moment to remove its tongue. "You talk too much." The Gryphon charged, and I swiped my weapons, slicing its head off.
"That was awesome!" A voice exclaimed. I turned to see that Nora girl and Ren boy staring at me. "You totally owned that thing!"
"Um..." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment. "Thanks? Uh, I'll just be going-"
"Why?!" Nora asked. "Come on! We can head to the Temple together!" I wasn't getting out of this, was I? Suddenly, an Ursa Major burst from the underbrush, and Nora laughed. "I've got a really REALLY good idea!"
"Is she always like this?" I asked. Ren nodded.
"Regrettably." He replied. Nora suddenly leapt onto the Ursa Major's back, still giggling.
"Come on, slow-pokes!"
"We're not really gonna be riding that thing, are we?" I asked. Ren sighed.
/\
Fifteen minutes later...
"Aw." Nora pouted, looking at our fallen Ursa Major steed after we'd arrived at the Temple. "It's broken." Ren walked over, exhausted and in shock from what we'd done. I was exhilarated...
"Nora, please..." Ren pleaded. "Don't ever do that again." Then, Ren noticed that Nora was gone. The girl was currently dancing around with a large chess piece balanced on her head.
"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"
"Nora!" Ren shouted. Nora laughed nervously, saluting.
"Coming, Ren!" She exclaimed. Then, a girl ran in, being chased by a Death Stalker. I realized it was Pyrrha. As that was going on, I went over and grabbed a random tiny relic, which I assumed was for me as the solo Huntress. I ran back over to the others as...
"Ruby!" A blonde greeted Ruby. The girl in red smiled, getting ready to hug her sister.
"Yang!"
"Nora!" The ginge interrupted their little reunion. Ren got over there just as Yang had a break down.
"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! COULD EVERYONE CHILL OUT FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS AGAIN?!"
"Um..." Ruby pointed. "Yang?" We looked up.
"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?!" Weiss asked, hanging in to the claw of a Nevermore.
"I said jump." Ruby frowned. I did a face-palm.
"She's gonna fall." Blake stated. Ruby scoffed.
"She'll be fine."
"She's falling." Ren announced. Then, Pyrrha got knocked over to us.
"Great!" Yang commented. "The gang's all here! Now, we can die together!" Ruby looked back.
"Not if I can help it." With that, Ruby charged the Death Stalker. Yang quickly panicked.
"Ruby!" Yang shouted. "Wait!" We watched as Ruby was batted aside, and Yang forward. "Ruby!" The Nevermore launched its feathers, stopping Yang while pinning Ruby by her red hood. "Ruby, get out of there!" Ruby struggled to free her hood.
"I'm trying!" The Death Stalker raised its stinger. The two sisters panicked, Ruby's eyes widening.
"RUBY!" Yang shouted. I reached out, getting ready to use the Force, but a white figure darted forward and froze the Death Stalker's stinger, beginning to scold Ruby as everyone sighed in relief. Yang ran over to Ruby, hugging her.
"So happy you're okay!" Yang smiled. We regrouped, and...
"Guys..." Jaune frowned as he saw the Nevermore flying overhead. "That thing's circling back. What are we gonna do?" I shrugged.
"Look..." Weiss sighed. "There's no sense in dillydallying. Our objective is right in front of us."
"She's right." Ruby agreed. "Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things."
"Run and live." Jaune grinned. "That is an idea I can get behind." I noticed the Death Stalker escaping.
"It's time we left." Ren stated. Ruby nodded, serious.
"Right. Let's go."
/\
We started running toward Beacon Cliff, hiding from the Nevermore as it flew, having seen our heading. It just had to get between us and the cliffs, didn't it? Then, the Death Stalker caught up.
"Run!" Jaune yelled. I grudgingly obeyed, knowing I could kill both beasts with ease...
"Nora, distract it!" Ren exclaimed. Nora ran out, dodging feathers and firing grenades at the Nevermore, while Blake and Ren swooped in to save her from the Death Stalker. Weiss got Nora out of there while we held the scorpion off, then we ran for our lives.
The Death Stalker trapped us on the bridge (the Nevermore separating us from Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Jaune by breaking the bridge). I whipped out my weapons and started running at the scorpion, leaping up and stabbing the back, when Nora leapt into the fight, swinging her hammer. Blake went to help the other three as Nora and Jaune joined us. The Death Stalker made the bridge start to collapse...
"We gotta move!" Ren shouted. We lost half of our ground, and Ren charged, firing and dodging the stinger before grabbing it and firing at where the gold weapon connected to the tail. Then, he got thrown off and into a wall.
"Ren!" Nora exclaimed. I leapt off the back, trying to think.
Then, I raised my hands and focused, using the Force and willing the bridge to stay together...
Under Jaune's instruction, Nora finished the Death Stalker, and Ren stumbled over as the other four of us escaped the bridge. Then, Ren collapsed again. We looked up as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang attacked the Nevermore. They finally finished it when Ruby used her scythe to cut the bird's head off.
"Wow." Jaune gaped as we all stared.
/\/\/\/\
That night at the ceremony...
"Jaune Arc, Ahsoka Tano, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie." Professor Ozpin called us up, confirming it. "The five of you retrieved the White Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPAR." Nora hugged Ren. "Led by Jaune Arc."
"Led by?" Jaune asked, stunned. Ozpin nodded.
"Congratulations, young man." The headmaster commended. Pyrrha punched Jaune's arm, sending him falling. I helped him up, and the other four were placed on Team RWBY.
/\
After the ceremony, Ozpin and Goodwitch took me aside, looking serious.
"Will you tell them?" Ozpin asked. I looked down.
"I want them to get to know me for me, first." I replied. "Not for my face."
Ozpin looked ready to object, but Goodwitch placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded at me. I smiled, then turned and went to see my team.
That was... Interesting. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc.