Chapter 04: Before Initiation

The rest of the evening passed surprising quickly. Liz showed off all of her favorite spots she somehow managed to find with the day she when she was dropped off early. Heck she practically knew where everything was, after barely a full day of exploration! Various class rooms, all the training rooms, shortcuts to cafeteria, the auditorium and ballroom. Not to mention all the random scenic locations. It had started to bother Ozwald.

But as they walked he noticed that Faerien just absorbed all the information like a sponge. Apparently she was basically royalty, and had a ridiculously memory to boot. They got on the topic when she asked about how Liz could change her eye color. Fae proceeded to list every instance she witnessed the color change (and to what color) when he asked how she could remember all that in such detail.

"Well...I have a photographic memory. I remember pretty much everything I see. I might not notice details right away but I can remember them and pick them out. Like when Liz came up to me the second time was when I first 'noticed' her eye color change. The first time we ran into each other I didn't really catch it but, when she was about to leave she tapped my hand and they changed to a forest green color."

Liz grinned as she lead them to the ballroom. Her eyes were currently a pearly white color much to their confusion. Oz could have sworn they were normally a cool grey color. "So~~What do you guys think of Beacon? It's really pretty huh? Not as sandy as Shade, nicer than Haven and more comfortable than Atlas!"

Oz laughed as she turned and gave him a pouty glare. "What? I'm agreeing with you! Vale is the most neutral kingdom. Atlas is all military oriented. Minstrel and Vacuo have their own problems but Vale manages to pull off security without imposing upon the citizens. Sure it has a hand it everything incase of emergencies to facilitate a swift response but, it leaves the day to day to each business."

The silence that followed prompted Oz to look at the others and was surprised that he had their undivided attention. Well maybe not Liseran's undivided attention, as she was being her apparently 'normal' hyperactive self. Warren looked mildly interested and had stopped his whole, 'I will trail behind them group cause I am not with those guys' while Fae was totally engrossed in his explanation. "Erm, like...you do know about all that...right?"

When they replied with a chorus of no's, he shrugged and elaborated for them. "Ok so, my family owns a transportation and shipping company right? When a company reaches a certain 'size' or manages a certain percentage of the market in Vale, they have to conform to certain protocols and procedures. So like, if a city wide evacuation is called we are expected to be able to help by providing transports. So, per the regulations we maintain a few emergency use ships that are always empty and always ready to start the evac. By the time those ships are loaded with civilians, we will have unloaded the other transports filled with cargo and have them ready to transport more people. I mean certain protocols cover simpler things like transporting dust, but as long as we conform to the safety standards and help in emergencies the company is free to do what it wants."

"What happens when someone refuses to comply or conform?" The group looked over at Fae who seemed to be slightly embarrassed by the sudden attention. "I mean, it must have occurred at least once, correct?"

"Honestly, Vale does next to nothing. The only thing they really do is label them as non-compliant. But that means they have to remove their certification or can never get the certification to post it. That is a huge stigma within Vale because the procedures are there to help people if they need it, and to keep both the employees and the general populace safe. So if a company is refuses to comply, then general population looks at that company as a group that doesn't care about Vale or about their own workers. Meaning, less people want to deal with them and less people want to work for them." Finished Oz let the silence stretch, as each of the others mulled over his words. Well it seemed that what Warren and Fae were doing, Liz was once again off in her own-

"So your family owns a transportation company? Which one? Have they ever not complied? Ooooh, wait a minute! You are a local!" Liz whirled around and placed her hands on Oz's shoulders to look him dead in the eye. Surprised by the apparent seriousness of the situation, everyone stopped walking and watched. "Most importantly, where is the best place to get food in Vale?" There was a long silence as everyone stared at her, and tried to figure out if she was serious or not.

Ozwald burst out into hysterical laughter to the point where Liz had to step away so he could double over. Fae started to chuckle as Warren hid a smirk, while Liz start to pout at their reactions. "It was a serious question, jeez!" As the young man struggled to catch his breath through the chuckles he added, "No it is just, hehe, you were so earnest!" He grins as he brought his laughter under control. "I thought you were about to bring up a super serious topic." Feigning upset Liz continues to pout as she mutters loud enough for them to hear, "Food IS a serious topic. Can't do anything on an empty stomach."

"…"

That time, even Liseran burst into laughter.

-x-x-x-x-

The ballroom was divided, for the most part, down the middle of the room. Guys were on the left and girls on the right. After everyone either pulled a sleeping bag from their luggage, or acquired one from the staff, people started to pick places to sleep on either side. Since they were not specifically 'instructed' to sleep on separate sides of the room, a few of the more daring girls moved to the 'guys side' (led by Coco and Liseran) and the middle of the room turned into a mixed zone for friends and people who knew each other from before coming to Beacon. Warren propped his sleeping bag against the wall as he looked around the room. He found Jayde, and glared when he noticed the racist bastard once again trying to move his sleeping bag closer to the girl side as all nearby girls subtlety moved farther away. Irritated he made whispered under his breath, "CANA. If you can access the cameras in here, keep an eye on him. Just in case."

"With pleasure."

With that managed, he decided to find the others he encountered and glanced about the room. Ozwald was surrounded by girls. Coco finally released his arm and seemed to be done teasing him, as he was no longer red in the face. Fae disappeared somewhere into the girl side of the room and he couldn't pick her out. With an indifferent shrug, he figured that she probably turned in already. Liz was in the center of the room and surrounded by large audience. Them seemed entrapped by her tale as she gestured wildly with her hands before they all burst into laughter at whatever joke she just told them. Satisfied, he rolled over and was about to turn in when his scroll went off. Surprised he checked it, a message?

"Warren Marune.
This is Timberwolf. I sent your weapon to Beacon about an hour ago when I finished taking the measurements. I meant to let you know right away but got distracted with the preliminary alloy molding. I have a few ideas of a few different materials you might be able to use, but for now I'm going to try to get a solid example before I present you with the options. In any event, I stored your gear in locker number 0229. With Signal's relation to Beacon it was simple to have them registered it to your scroll. You should be able to ask any staff member to point you to the main locker room to pick it up." Warren leapt to his feet and went straight for the door. [Not that I don't trust him. But...that suit is my heritage. I HAVE to make sure nothing is wrong. And double check that he didn't mess with any settings.]

-x-x-x-x-

Ozwald blushed furiously once again. Aqua asked how he knew Coco so when he started to tell her. Overhearing the story Coco broke in and told them about the joke she made when he offered her a lift to the airship. Most of them laughed, Velvet looked up from her scroll and shot Coco a disappointed look, while Aqua tapped on his shoulder to give him a sympathetic smile. Hence his blush. He noticed Warren get up and start to cross the room. Apparently he wasn't the only one to notice as Velvet also stood up. "I have something to take care of."

"What is it?" Startled, Velvet looked at him with surprise evident in her body language. "My weapon got sent over from Signal. I was going to go collect it from the locker room." Curious if that was just a cover for a secret meeting with Warren, Oz shrugged as he stood up. "Would you like an escort? It'll give me a chance to pick a locker."

The fact that it also would be a convenient reason to get away from Coco, was a good motivator. She started to mumbled out a weak protest before she changed her mind and accepted. As they left the room they were stopped by an upperclassman who provided them with directions to the locker room. Apparently students took odd jobs around the school, and that included helping the first years. Once they were out of earshot of the others Ozwald inquired, "So is it just a coincidence that your weapon arrived shortly after Warren left the room?"

Velvet looked at him puzzled before she asked, "Warren left the ballroom?" With a look of confusion she slowly shook her head. "He also left his weapon at Signal so Timberwolf could take a look at it, so it probably got here around the same time. Oh, right. You probably don't know who that is...Timberwolf is a smith from outside the kingdoms, he came to Signal for a short visit. He just messaged me to let me know that he sent my weapon over about an hour ago, he just forgot to mention it. He probably sent Warren's over as well. Why did you ask it like...?"

Understanding dawned across her face before it was chased away with a blush, "Oh! You thought, we were going to meet up? We just met! I don't like him like that! Not that I like him at all! Oh! I don't hate him! He's nice and stood up for me and-"

Velvet continued to stumble across her explanation as she started to gesture more and more frantically before Ozwald couldn't take it anymore and broke down in hysterical laughter. Eventually she turned away and grumbled to herself, "I swear you are as bad as Coco." The comment sent him further into his fit of laughter as she huffed and waited for him to finish. Oz wiped away a tear as he held his gut, "Ah, hehe that was good. Heh-oooh, my stomach hurts. Ah, that was funny."

Velvet shot him a glare but to her misfortune, she still had a blush which ruined the effectiveness of her glare. [Though I am willing to bet that she doesn't have a very effective glare normally either.]

They approached the locker room and Oz opened the door for Velvet before bowing to her and in mock-seriousness stated, "Our destination M'lady." She stepped in and shrieked before she ran from the room with her hands over her eyes. Stunned Oz watched her run before he turned and looked in the room. About halfway down the room Warren stood frozen and stared back at him. Oz coughed and excused himself before he closed the door and chased down Velvet.

-x-x-x-x-

Warren absentmindedly rubbed his ears. [Maybe stripping down to my boxers in the middle of the locker room wasn't a good idea. Even if I felt the need to make sure he didn't mess with the deployment settings...] He secured the last piece of the frame back into the locker before he pulled on his t-shirt and pants. He reached for his hoodie when he heard a knock at the door. "Enter." Oz pushed the door open and stuck his head into the room. Once he confirmed that the Faunus was clothed he turned back out the door and called out to the embarrassed girl.

"See? Told you, nothing to worry about." Velvet tentatively stepped in and barely glanced Warren's direction before her face flushed scarlet. "Don't worry. I'm leaving now." A brief nod was in his direction was his only acknowledgement as started to look for her locker while Warren headed for the door.

"Oh. Before I forget, why'd you scream? Is that the closest to naked as you've ever seen a guy?" Velvet froze and didn't even turn to face him. She then shouted as she dashed off deeper in the locker room. "You're worse than Coco. The absolute WORST!" Oz frowned at him as Warren shrugged and shouted back, "Thank you~!" He then turned back to the other boy, offered him a sarcastic salute, and headed off to bed.

-x-x-x-x-

The next morning the perspective hunters were told to collect their weapons and head to the locker room. From there they would be lead to the Emerald Forest were the initiation would take place. The morning passed mostly without incident. Velvet avoided Warren like the plague, which eventually drew Coco's attention. As the teenagers left the locker room, Coco took the chance to corner Ozwald and interrogate him. "Ow ow, come on Coco! Let go of my arms! Owowowow!" Coco pulled his arms farther up his back as she leaned in and slowly repeated herself.

"It is quite simple Oz. Just tell me what happened last night when you escorted Velvet to the locker room. She's not avoiding you but she blushes every time she sees you. And yet she is completely ignoring Warren. Very rude, right? Velvet is never rude. So. What. Happened?"

With each of the last three words she tightened her grip which caused Ozwald to wince. "Ok I give! I'll talk!" She immediately released her grip as Oz started to rub his wrists, "Jeez Coco, we are probably going to fight something today. I need my arms." Coco started to advance on him her purse held threateningly. "Ok! So Warren's weapon also arrived last night and when Velvet and I walked in he was standing there in just his boxers removing some kind of armor that he had on. The armor he's wearing right now actually, wait why did he strip down if he can wear it atop his clothes? Arg, besides the point. Okay so, Velvet freaked out and he teased her about it! That's all!" Coco stopped as she considered his words. "Hm. Must have been a good view for her to react so badly."

"Not sure. I had already taken most of my armor back off if that helps any. I asked her if that was the closest to being naked that she'd ever seen a guy." The bored explanation came from Warren, apparently he heard their discussion and walked over. Or he had watched the whole time while Coco twisted Oz's arms behind his back. A scowl crossed Oswald's features at the the likelihood of the second possibility.

"I would have continued with, 'This time was a freebie, next time will cost you.' But she ran off screaming about how I was the worst."

A conflicted look between shock and awe found its way into Coco's expression before she shook her head. "Ok you pushed that a little too far. But it must have been hilarious. So! Don't do it again."

This brought the Faunus to a halt as he looked at her and cocked an eyebrow at her while she continued. "Velvet is my friend. So I expect you to apologize at some point. Or else."

Scoffing, Warren spread his arms in a mocking fashion as he retorted. "Or else what, Coco Adel? Incase you've forgotten I took down over half of the aura of one of OUR peers in a single strike. Did you also forget that Oz told you that the reason I was in the locker room was to check on the rest of my weapon?" Oz and Coco both came to a full stop as they stared at him. He beat Jayde without his entire weapon on hand? They noticed that he had several pieces of armor on. The separate segments of armor stood out quite noticeably. Each segment was thicker than most armor needed to be. The pieces around his chest and on his back were especially complex and had extensive coverage. If all the pieces could expand, he'd practically be in a full suit of armor. It was at that point the noticed that even his gauntlets were attached atop his clothing, while yesterday he had them under his sleeves.

"So again I ask-" Warren turned to them, his mocking nature disappeared and his tone dropped to a lethal seriousness, "Or. Else. What?" They stared each other down before Warren smirked, "Exactly." With that he turned and walked away. Coco fumed as she muttered to Oz before she turned away herself, "What an ass." Before Oz could reply Warren called out from across the crowd, "Stop staring at it then!"

Most conversations stopped, the volume that he spoke at distracted them from their personal talks. "If you can't keep your eyes off my ass I might publicly call you out on it! Oh, wait. I just did." Coco whirled about and glared at him as he disappeared around the other students with a superior smirk on his face. "He has a point you know." Coco's glare turned to surprise as Velvet walked up to them. "I didn't think about it last night but...he only fought Jayde with his gauntlets. He is called, 'The Black Armored Wolf', so it would make sense that his weapon is a full suit of armor. I'd imagine it would drain his aura faster than just the gauntlets but...Just imagine the amount of power he'll be able to put behind his attacks. It's terrifying to think about. If his semblance is anything offensive he might be able to go toe-toe with a fully licensed huntsmen already." Coco growled and stormed off. Apprehensively Velvet turned to Oz with a conflicted look on her face. "When I saw Coco picking on you, (she ignored his objection) I came over to stop her but ended up overhearing everything."

Her rabbit ears had drooped as she ran her hand across one of them self consciously. Oz patted her on the shoulder which made her start slightly as she looked back up to his easy grin. "I don't blame you. Coco was just looking out for a friend and I have a huge amount of respect for that. In any event, it looks like we are almost there. So for now we focus. This is what we trained for. This is the start of everything we want to achieve." He glanced over to her and let the seriousness drop as he added with a mischievous grin, "We will worry about the embarrassing stuff and how to plot our vengeful pranks later, deal?"

-x-x-x-x-

"Good morning students." Glynda started. She looked around at the 32 students assembled before her and professor Ozpin. "I hope you slept well and are properly prepared for you initiation. By now I am certain you have heard certain rumors about the assignment of teams. Well allow us to put those to rest. Each of you will be assigned teams. Today." There were a few mumbles but everyone stayed on their individual platforms spaced along the edge of the cliff.

Professor Ozpin spoke up, "These team members will be with you for your next four years at Beacon, so it is in your best interest to be paired with people that you can work well with." He paused and took a sip of his coffee as more murmurs of discontent broke out. A barely contained smirk of amusement was hidden by the mug as he added, "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after you have landed will be your partner for the next four years."

"WHAT!?"
"You gotta be-"
"No way!"
"Oh jeez."

Ozpin continued his explanation and blatantly ignored their protests. "Once paired you will make your way north through the forest. There you will find a ruin will several relics. You will take one, and only one, before you make your way to the top of the cliff. Once there you relic will be assessed, and you will be graded accordingly. You will encounter opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path...or you WILL die." Everyone went silent as they realized he was serious. This would be a live combat situation, from which they might not walk away from. Unnoticed by the students his slight grin had returned. [Oh, how I enjoy this.]

"Now I hope each of you have planned an appropriate landing strategy for your deployment. Any questions?" Several students raised their hands as Warren called out, "Can I-"

"Good! Begin." The first student was launched as Warren finished his question, "...go last." Ozpin looked at him as he sipped his drink. "Mr. Marune, why would you want that?"

Warren shrugged as one after another his classmates were launched from the top of the cliff. "If I get launched last I can keep an eye out for the people who made good impressions on me to try and land near them to increase our odds at being on the same team." Ozpin nodded and sipped his drink without comment as Liz spoke up.

"But at the same time, you also want the people next to you to be people you like as they are most likely to land near the same time and possibly the same place...but that depends on each person's landing strategy and how long they can maintain their air time." Liz smiled at Velvet and Fae on either side of her.

Ozpin nodded, "Good points both of you. But remember, even if you aim for the same location as someone else, the first few person who land can end up at the location that someone else lands. Resulting in an immediate pairing." Liz crouched with a grin before she was launched. "Should we avoid fighting other students?"

Everyone still on the cliff shot a nervous look at Warren. He rolled his eye as he added, "I would imagine Jayde would love to run into me in the forest, but if kicking his ass again results in me being expelled I'll...refrain from doing so. Within reason."

The few students that remained swiveled their gaze over to the headmaster which prompted a sigh from the man. "Like I said. Do not hesitate to destroy everything the obstructs your path. That being said, we are also monitoring each of you to evaluate your performance. Even if you end up fighting remember...the Grimm care not for your petty squabbles. Their only desire is to see to the deaths of each and every one of us." Warren nodded solemnly. His mood soured as his thoughts turned to fighting the Grimm. Those monsters that took everything from him. Next to him a boy he hadn't he hadn't been introduced to was launched.

War spoke, "CANA engage primary combat systems and mobility assist, while keeping all other systems disabled. Give timer on HUD until for 40% energy remaining." With that he was launched above the forest. As he soared through the air he considered were he saw people land. With a sigh he decided, [Screw it. Other than Jayde I don't care who I am paired with.] He fired several propulsion rounds to slow his descent as he angled for a tree. At the last moment he fired a couple of rounds in quick succession, before he dug his gauntlets into the tree trunk and cut gouges down the tree until he slowed to a stop. Time to get started.