Natsu stood with his twin waiting for Ruby to finish getting her supplies for initiation when he overheard the conversation of two other first year students.
"We should come up with a signal, a secret signal so we can find each other in the forest. Can you imitate a sloth?" A rather energetic girl with orange hair, bright blue eyes and wearing a white short mid sleeved shirt with black shoulders and collar with a heat shaped cutout just above her cleavage, a pair of pink gloves and skirt, white boots and a chest harness made of metal asked a rather tired looking boy with long black hair with a magenta strip held in a ponytail, pink eyes and wearing a high collared green and black tailcoat with pink cuffs, white pants, and black flat shoes.
The question made Natsu raise an eyebrow. He had seen sloths both in his first life and his current one, and while they were what one might call 'cute' they weren't very loud so using one as a signal wouldn't make much sense unless you were calling someone with dog Faunus levels of hearing (A, N. seriously go on youtube and look up 'what does a sloth say' by AnimalistToo the things are adorable).
"Nora?" the green wearing boy asked.
"Yes Ren?" The newly named Nora asked in turn.
"I don't think sloths make a lot of noise." He told the girl with a small grin as he put away his weapons- dual bladed pistils colored an emerald green.
Nora seemed to have a revelation, "That's why it's perfect! No one will suspect we're working together."
"Come on Nora," Ren said closing his rocket propelled locker, "let's go."
"But not together, together." Nora giggled following her friend.
"Wonder what those two are so worked up about." Ruby said.
"Oh who knows?" Yang asked rhetorically. I do. "So you seem awfully chipper this morning."
"Hmm, yep no more awkward small talk or getting to know you stuff. Today I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." Ruby said as she took out the last thing in her locker, her weapon Crescent Rose and started cooing over it like it was a baby.
Geez, we really got to get Ruby over her weapon fetish, maybe get her a boyfriend… or girlfriend. Natsu thought, he could never really get a read on his sister in that sense. He never smelled any arousal coming off of her, nor did he feel any change in the fire aspect of her soul that represented her lust and sexual attraction. Heck for all he knew she was asexual.
"You know that initiation is not just you right?" Natsu asked her. "In order to grow you have to meet and work with others, no one is an island."
"Augh, you sound like dad!" Ruby complained as she threw Crescent Rose back into her locker. "First of all, what does meeting new people have to do with fighting? And second, I don't need people to help me grow up- I drink milk." She stated, as if that settled that.
"That's not what I meant when I said you had to grow Ruby-" Before he could continue Yang cut in. "But what about when we form teams?"
"I don't know," Ruby didn't sound so sure now "I'll just be on one of your guys' teams I guess."
"Um, maybe you could try being on someone else's team…" Yang asked nervously as she fixed her hair.
"My dearest sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?"
"That's not what she meant Rubes," Natsu cut in, "but maybe it would be better for you if you teamed up with someone else, it would help you break out of your shell."
"Wha-! I don't need to break out of my shell!" She yelled defensively. "That's absolutely-"
"Ridicules!" Huh, nice timing Jaune. Walking past them was Jaune Arc, saying something about his locker placement.
"I think that's our cue to end this discussion and get going." Natsu tried.
"Ohh no, don't think this is over!" Ruby tried to stop him but he already slipped away, leaving Yang to deal with Ruby's pint sized fury.
However before he could make it outside he ran into another duo of girls, both of which he recognized.
One was the heiress he met the other day Weiss Schnee, the other was Pyrrha Nikos a girl with red hair and green eyes, wearing a gold crown on her forehead, a wide gold choker on her neck, a brown and gold armored corset that showed a fair amount of her considerable cleavage, mid-thigh high armored boots with two inches of pump heel, a deep brown skirt with a thick red cloth rapped around it and held in place by a thin brown belt, and finished off with long brown gloves that almost went to her shoulders the left one topped with a metal bracer on her forearm.
He had met her at an inter kingdom tournament for lower combat academies, which while not as famous or watched as the Vytal Festival and other upper academy tournaments, or even the Minstral reginal, it still attracted its fair share of fighters. The past two years he had convinced his Uncle Qrow to take him to participate without his father's – or his sister's- knowledge.
It was there that he met Pyrrha as an opponent, and became the only one to beat the 'Goddess of Victory' which is what earned him the title 'Fire Dragon' both for his surname and his cough* Semblance*.
They also might have gotten a bit drunk this last year and slept together… all night… every night… for the whole week of the tournament… but only this past year, not the first one, the first one they spent most of their time together fighting and talking… while they continued to fight eachother.
While nowhere near Erza's level in combat, she was more than skilled enough to hold her own against his sealed power for long periods of time, though if he ever unsealed his power she wouldn't last a second. Still it was very impressive that she was able to do as well as she did, it was only thanks to his experience with fighting strong and skilled opponents that let him win their matches. The people she fought in Minstral could never give her much of a challenge so fighting Natsu was very different for her. In terms of skill, Natsu beat her out, in terms of Aura- while he was sealed- she beat him out, so they were an evenish match.
From the looks of it Weiss was trying to convince Pryrrha to be on a team with her without sounding despite. And now she's wearing the evil face of doom tm… and here comes Jaune… Okay time to step in. Why is he so focused on Weiss anyway?
"Hey Pyrrha! I didn't know you were coming to Beacon too!" He called out to his friend.
"Natsu it's good to see you." She told him, pulling him into a hug which he happily returned. Maybe I won't need to go into Vale after all.
"Excuse me, who do you think you are talking to her like that? Don't you know who she is?" Weiss rudely asked.
"Sure, this is Pyrrha Nikos a beautiful, kickass redhead who's the only one who can match me in a fight."
"Wait match you?! That means you're the Fire Dragon, the only one to ever beat Pyrrha in a tournament." Weiss said shocked. "My apologies, I didn't recognize you. I'm Weiss Schnee, an honor to make your acquaintance." She told him with a small curtsy.
"Uh, we met yesterday remember? You bitched out my little sister."
Weiss had the decency to look embarrassed, "Yes, well that was just a misunderstanding I assure you."
"Right, well I think it's time to get to the cliff. You coming Pyrrha?"
"Sure." She said, falling in step beside him, "So, your little sisters here? I thought you said she had another two years before she could attend."
"Yeah apparently she caught the eye of the headmaster after beating some underpaid guys to a pulp and trying to shoot down an aircraft full of explosives, so here she is."
"… I feel like you're leaving out some key parts of this story…"
"For years you have trained to become warriors, and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin told the gathered students on the Cliffside, each one standing on their own metal square with the Beacon crest on it.
Here Glinda picked up, "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors of teams. Allow me to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates, today." Here Natsu heard Ruby moan a little.
Again Ozpin took over, "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so it is your best interest to team up with someone with whom you can work well. That being said the first person you make eye contact with upon landing will be your partner for the next for years" I think I just heard Ruby's world shatter.
"See? I told you." Nora spoke to Ren.
"After you've partnered up," Ozpin continued, "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."
Jaune gulped.
"You will be monitored and graded for the deration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene" Meaning if you're about to die, don't expect anyone to save you. "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?"
"Yeah um sir?" Jaune tried to ask.
"Good. Now take your positions." Everyone but Jaune did so, still trying to ask his question.
Weiss was launched into the forest.
"So this, landing strategy thing. How is that going to work exactly? Are you dropping us off or something?" Two more people were now airborn.
"No. You will be falling." Another student was sent through the air.
"Huh, I see. So did you hand out parachutes for us?" Nora was next.
"No you will be using your own landing strategy." Another two gone.
"Uh huh, yeah." There went Yang and Ruby, Natsu and Jaune being the last ones on the cliff.
"So what exactly is a landing stateggggaaayyyayyayayy!?" Jaune called even as he was launched off the cliff.
Here Natsu decided to speak up, "I get the feeling he's not used to long drops."
"Indeed."
Laughing softly at the headmasters nonchalance, Natsu was sent into the air following the rest of the students.
Right I know I said the fighting would start this chapter, but I'm trying to make this a one chapter one episode kind of this, at least for now.
Anyway yeah, Natsu knows Pyrrha and can beat her in a fight if only just. And they slept together. Before anyone asks yes she will be in the harem (sorry Jaune) but for now she will just be a friend with benefits. Like I said, Natsu will be getting with Blake first, then Pyrrha.
My spring break just started so I may be getting in some more chapters this week if nothing unexpected comes up.
Remember more Reviews the more effort I put into updating faster.
Wingd Knight out.