Guess who's back, back again, call a friend.
Lol, so my laptop had a major issue which made it so that I couldn't use it for quite some time. Now that's fixed, let's get on to Chapter 4 of Golden Snow, now renamed to Golden Ice.
Well, let's get on to the reviews:
Essiter1987: Yeah, I wanted a way for the two to meet during Initiation, so that was how I chose to have the two pair up. Her competitiveness will play a major role and will be one of her flaws.
SuperSaiyajin4Vegeta: No, it isn't. It's something I made up to introduce Pyrrha's likes and dislike.
WOWw: Thanks for the compliment. The teams will have a change, but the pairs will remain the same. Ren and Nora are going to have a small change in their back story to showcase the changes in the world.
Well, let's start:
Initiation was something many Hunter hopefuls looked forward to. It was one of the last roadblocks towards their ultimate goal of defending humanity. It was because of this goal that the prestigious academies had kept Initiation procedure a secret. Though the graduating students did give tips to those in the lower academies in hopes of preparing them.
Students preparing to go to Haven Academy had to improve their combat skills. Those who had aimed for Shade had to focus on their survival skills while Atlas Academy hopefuls had to be good at following orders, though they were also told to be good at disobeying orders as well.
However there wasn't any tips available for Beacon Academy. Mainly because the students couldn't give any tips about their Initiation. It encompassed such a large field that it seemed useless to give any tips.
That didn't deter most of the students who did go over the basics well before the time for the Initiation to start.
This did made Glynda's heart swell with pride on seeing the future of humanity and faunus work hard enough to reach their goal. However, while it was a noble duty, it wasn't something she wanted her daughter to do. Most had presumed that Qrow would have led her towards the path of a Hunter, but to the shock of many, not Glynda though, Qrow had recommended that Sparrow look towards the medical field. It was also good that her Semblance was focused more towards healing than being on the offensive side of things. Sparrow's birth was also something that changed Qrow as a whole. Before she had begun to date Qrow, she had always seen him as a rather standoffish fellow, someone who would rather stay with his team than mingle with the crowd. During one of a duo team missions, she had learnt that it was mainly due to his Semblance that he didn't do that. His Semblance was a passive Semblance, bringing about bad luck wherever he went. It was the root cause of his drinking issues during the last two years of Beacon. It was during this time that the two began to date and his general demeanour began to lighten. It did dip a little when Raven left the group after giving birth to Yang and after the death of Summer, but it was still an improvement from his previous mental state.
"C'mon, smile for us." She frowned as she heard that. Turning her head, she saw one Cardin Winchester who was teasing a Faunus student. While the Winchesters weren't that physically impressive, they did hold a seat in the council and were one of the old money in Vale. This had led many Winchesters to be enrolled into Beacon Academy. Some of them were honourable, people whom many would stand beside and fight. Sadly, most of them were in it for the glory, had no goal of protecting humanity and were racists as well.
"Smile, it's the only thing you're good for." He said as he shoved the faunus student down again as he was starting to get up. It seemed that he was racist as well. She did wonder why Ozpin allowed them to enrol into Beacon, but alas.
She had moved to intervene when there was a sudden gust of air and a person came lurching forward. "RASHID KICK!" She heard someone yell and Cardin get launched away from the student.
"Hey, what the hell?" Cardin yelled as the now present Beacon hopeful was standing in front of the Faunus student, helping them stand up. "What's the big idea?"
"Well, I was just helping a fellow student," The person said as he lazily stood in between Cardin and the Faunus student who had rushed away to perhaps call his friends. To the untrained eye, it seemed as if he was just tempting fate, seeing that Cardin was taller than him, but to Glynda, she saw what made the newcomer confident. While his pose was relaxed, his hand was suspiciously close to the bag he had on his back. Perhaps to get his weapon, but from the looks of his get up, he had several gauntlets that were present on his arms and leg. Perhaps he was going to reach for his dust.
"It was just tough love, dude." Cardin retorted, "I was just preparing him for the real world."
"Heh, if that's the case, then I, Rashid of the Turbulent Winds, would gladly introduce you to the real world as well," Rashid said as he walked off, "I would love to knock the silver spoon out of your mouth soon enough."
Cardin stood up with rage on his face, "I am sooo going to knock the words out of your mouth!" He screamed and rushed at the student, only to be knocked aside by another student who sported a mop of yellow hair and white armour. "Now who's here!" He moaned as he cradled his head as it had made contact with the floor with a resounding 'thonk'.
"Before you bully someone, think about who are around you." The student said as he motioned towards everyone else who were staring at the Winchester. The boy just growled and wandered off.
Rashid smiled as he turned to look at the new comer. "Hey man, thanks for the assist." He said as the two shook hands. "I'm Rashid of the Turbulent Winds." He introduced himself.
"No problem." It was at this point when Glynda realized that the student had the insignia of the Arc-Schnee, meaning that this was Jaune Arc-Schnee. "The name's Jaune Arc-Schnee." He introduced himself as well.
"Wicked." Rashid said as he then walked away, "Catch you later dude, have to practice for the Initiation."
"Same." Jaune said as he walked away as well, moving towards the cliff sides to mentally prepare himself.
Glynda smiled. Perhaps the future of Remnant was in good hands.
(Cliffsides)
Ruby took a short glance at the several platforms that were present on the ground. They seemed to be spring loaded, intent on launching stuff, or people, into the sky. But the question remained why though.
Her sister, on the other hand, was standing on the platform, not afraid of the mechanism that laid underneath. She was pestering Weiss into giving some tips against Blake as the cat Faunus was now a rival, as per Yang's claims. "C'mon, at least some hints?" She begged the white haired girl, who just shook her head.
"I won't be spilling any secrets, Yang." Weiss replied, "Perhaps the best way to learn her weakness is to be on her team." She offered which sparked a light in Yang's eyes as they began to burn brightly, hair lighting on fire as well.
"THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!" She screamed as she rushed off to find the Belladonna, leaving the two new friends to be with each other.
"So Ruby, any idea on what should our call signs be?" Weiss asked as she moved closer to her, startling the young Rose.
"Huh?" She yelped at the sudden appearance of Weiss. "Call sign?"
"Of course, we need a way to communicate with each other just so we can be a pair." She said with a smile on her face. This prompted Ruby to think of something as she really wanted to be paired up with Weiss for her time in Beacon. She gave a quick glance to the other platforms, especially with one which had a Panda faunus glaring at a Spider faunus. On another platform, there was a student who was wearing a karate gi, meditating and ignoring the noises around him.
"Well, we can have a specific phrase?" She questioned. It was something her and Yang used when they were kids to find each other whenever they were lost in the forest.
Weiss hummed at that, thinking of something to random that the two would know it was them. It was at that point when Jaune arrived as well. "I'm not late, am I?" He asked.
Weiss and Ruby shook their head. "What took you so long?"
"Well, there was someone bullying a faunus so I had to stop them." Jaune replied. He always tried to help the faunus and that often resulted in him getting physical.
Weiss looked alarmed, "Are you hurt?" She asked as she grabbed Jaune's face and tried to search for any injuries.
"Well, not really." He said as he forced his head away from the grasp of his sister, "I was just assisting another dude who was standing up against the bully." He then adopted a frowning demeanour, "Though you won't like who I stopped."
It was then when Weiss groaned in annoyance, "Don't tell me it's that idiot." She knew who it was.
"Yup, it's Cardin." At this, Weiss face palmed in annoyance.
"Um, who's Cardin?" Ruby piped in, confused at the new person she now knew not to associate herself with.
"Cardin is a Winchester, meaning that he got admitted to Beacon because he has connections in the Vale Council most likely." Weiss told her, "Furthermore, he's a major racist."
"Huh!?" Ruby asked, horrified at how there was a racist at Beacon.
"Well, due to the Faunus Rights Movement and the several laws in place to remove discrimination, the Winchesters, who were prominent wine manufacturers back in the day, lost most of their labours as they were mainly underpaid Faunus who were either bought into slavery or were born into it." The Arc-Schnee explained, "So when they had to give them up, they were angry at those who supported Faunus Rights."
Ruby nodded and made sure to stay away from the Winchester.
"And the fact that he flirted with Weiss during one of the fund-raisers." Jaune added with a smirk that lit a fire in Weiss' eyes and made her shake her fist at her brother.
"Don't you dare tell anyone that!" She said with a huff as she brought down her fist on his head.
"OW, YOU MNADE MNE BITE MNY TONGUE!" Jaune said as tears formed in his eyes.
"Don't want any nasty rumors popping up again." She said as she huffed.
"What rumors?" Ruby asked as she gave Jaune a once over. She knew that Jaune wasn't actually hurt and was just teasing his sister. It was something she did as well to Yang.
"Well, the Winchesters also have their own Dust Magazine, the Ye Old Dust News, which also is basically a way for them to propagate rumours." She explained, "Most of them are just to paint them in a good light, or to target many small shops that also sell Dust and get them out of business." She looked at Ruby as she frowned even more, "After I rejected his advances several times during the fund-raiser, the magazine spread a rumour that I was dating that filthy idiot and was engaged to him. It got to the point where my mother had to go on television to disprove that one, making the Winchester's raise their prices and reduce the salary of their workers."
Ruby gasped at the treatment of the workers, "They did that?" She asked, horrified.
Weiss nodded, "Yup, it was even on the news," She said, "Though they reverted back to the original prices after some time, but they did not change the salary." She had disdain in her eyes. "And what's more, that oaf is still trying to 'woo' me." She said with visible anger in her eyes.
"So that's why you want to make sure that we're a pair?" Ruby asked.
"Well, it's a part of the reason." Weiss replied, "I really wanna be paired up with you, and I also want to make sure that I don't associate with him."
They would have talked more, but they heard a cough and the rushing of feet. Turning their heads, they saw the headmaster, Ozpin, walking down the path. This prompted most of the students to gather around. "Greetings." Ozpin said as he then took a sip from his mug. "Today, you all will be taking part in Beacon's esteemed Initiation. And from this Initiation, teams will be formed that will stay together during your education here." Peering over the massive forest, he took another sip, "You all will be launched into the Emerald Forest at random intervals and will have to come up with your own landing strategy. From there, the first person you make eye contact with will be your partner for the duration of your stay at Beacon."
This prompted the two new friends to look at each other and shake their heads.
"Furthermore, you will also need to find a relic that is present in the forest. If you do complete the two requirements, you will be welcomed to stay and complete your education in Beacon. If you fail, you will have to attempt it again next year." He ended with a grim look on his face and then he walked off, leaving Glynda in his place to oversee that the students were properly on the platforms.
"So, how about animal calls?" Ruby questioned as she walked with Weiss to their designated platform number, something they were informed of via their Scrolls. Jaune had to walk away from them as his platform was on the other side.
"That could work, but we don't know what types of animals live in the Emerald Forest, apart from the Grimm." She replied.
"Well, I have a rough idea of the animals." Ruby replied, "Like I know sloths don't live here, so we can do sloth noises." She reasoned.
"NO YOU CAN'T DO IT!" The two heard a girl scream as an orange haired girl came up. "Me and Ren are doing sloth noises so you better choose something else." She looked at the confused duo before palming her own forehead, "Oops, silly me. My name is Nora, Nora Valkyrie," She said as she pointed to herself, "And this here is my best friend Ren, we have been together, but not together together, forever." She introduced herself and her friend whom she pulled out of no where.
The new person had black hair with a streak of pink. He looked really tired, but seeing the hyperactive Nora, it made sense.
"So anyways, don't choose sloth, it'll seriously mess up our combo." Nora said as she whisked Ren away.
"Sorry about that." He said as he was dragged away, not bothered by the strength of the smaller girl.
"That was something." Weiss commented to which Ruby nodded.
(Platforms)
Jaune did a quick recheck of his weapon and the dust he had before he spotted Cardin, who was now sporting a black eye. Cardin also spotted Jaune and got a dangerous look in his eyes.
"YOU!" He screamed as he thundered his way towards him. Jaune grimaced at the volume and the fact that all the attention was on them. "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!" He yelled as he right into Jaune's personal space.
Jaune frowned as he pushed the Winchester away from him. "What's your problem?" He asked. "It's your fault that you have that black eye."
Cardin growled again as he grabbed Jaune's shirt to pull him closer. "I'll make sure you won't enjoy your stay at Beacon or anywhere else."
Suddenly Cardin was pulled away from Jaune as he was lifted up and thrown away by the back of his shirt. Jaune looked to see it was Pyrrha who had thrown Cardin away. "I believe we haven't started our Initiation yet." She said with a smile, yet the venom in her voice could be felt.
Cardin got up and gave the two a stink eye, leaving the area and going back to his platform. Pyrrha turned to Jaune with a smile, "You know him?" She asked.
Jaune nodded, "Unfortunately yes." He replied, "He's an all around douchebag." He said.
Pyrrha nodded at that, "Well, let's hope that we pair up during the Initiation." She said with a smile.
Jaune smiled at that, "Well, I'd like that. But we need a way to ensure that we are partners." He said to which Pyrrha smiled even more.
"Don't worry about that, I've got it all covered." She said as she walked off to her designated platform.
After a few minutes of waiting, they heard the Headmistress, Glynda, speak, "Attention students, please stay on your platforms and be ready to get launched at a moment's notice." She said as the first batch of platforms were released, launching the students into the Emerald Forest.
'Okay, this is it' Jaune thought to himself as he heard another batch of students get launched up. He turned his head to sneak a glance at Pyrrha, who was also launched up. 'There she goes.'
"WOAH!" To his surprise, he was launched left arm first as well, something that wasn't possible as the platform he was on wasn't even activated. He peeked a glance at his sword, noting how it was covered in a black aura. He also was following a wrong path. His platform was seemingly positioned to launch him towards the east side of the Emerald Forest, however, he was moving towards the west side, to be more specific, towards the location where Pyrrha was currently being launched at.
For some reason, he was gaining speed as well. Keeping his eyes somewhat close to counter the winds against his face, he saw a figure up ahead. With her red hair waving in the wind and her right hand covered in the same black aura, he knew it was Pyrrha.
Soon the two were together in the sky before Pyrrha suddenly grabbed Jaune and pulled him towards her as the two began to descend. Spiralling head first towards the ground, Jaune brought out his shield and used it to cover the two of them, which was a good thing as the two landed with a huge crash and dust covering the two.
Slowly Jaune opened his eyes to see Pyrrha standing above him with her hand stretched, smile on her face, "So, partners?" She asked cheekily.
Jaune chuckled as he grabbed her hand and stood up, "Yup, partners." He agreed and the two started to plan for Initiation.
(With Weiss)
She could only look in shock as her brother was launched way too early. Though her shock turned to laughter as he was then cradled by Pyrrha. Perhaps Jaune had charmed the Invincible Woman and that had caused Pyrrha to actively work towards making sure that Jaune was her partner.
Perhaps she could use her Semblance to make sure that she paired up with Ruby. But the question remained as to how. Maybe using it as a sign. Well, she did pick up a plethora of tricks from her mother during the time she was training.
She didn't have time to think on it for much longer as she was launched as well.
(With Glynda)
The headmistress of Beacon could do nothing but look at the young Arc-Schnee siblings with interest. One had gained the interest of Pyrrha Nikos, the Champion from Mistral, while the other was good friends with her niece, Ruby, and was planning to be her partner as well.
All in all, it was shaping up to be an interesting year.
Chapter 4 is done and we are finally making way into the Initiation. Things will be interesting so wait and see what happens in the 5th chapter of Golden Ice.
Waiting for your reviews as well.
