Guess I'm back to an extent on here.
Some things are working, like notifications...
However issues such as stats are still broken going on two months not to mention there still other bugs and issues to sort out.
So I'm still in the middle of protesting of sorts.
So, not to ostracize, you, the readers, I've come up with a middle ground.
I will continuously update on Ao3 throughout the month if you want to keep updated on my stories and read them when they come out.
However, around the end of the month, I will have a massive dump of updates of whatever I've worked on, spacing out chapters if something had multiple releases in that time?
Sound reasonable enough?
Story upgraded as their will eventually be explicit material, which will only be on Ao3.
The noise was buzzing in the locker room.
It was highly annoying, and it made his ears twitch. It was too loud…
Amusingly, he could see Blake scowling with her ears curled against her head. He snickered as she glowered at him.
So he wasn't the only one suffering…
"Shut it or I'll shut it for you!" Blake glared at her partner in crime.
His eyes only glistened with bemusement, further agitating her. She scowled and rolled her eyes, knowing better than to take the bait.
He was playing her…
She didn't want to be pranked and punished before everyone…
Instead, Blake ignored him, returning to the matter at hand. Checking her Dust stores, scowling, recognizing she was running low. She would have liked more varieties, but beggars couldn't be choosers…
The only thing they were aware of for this exam was that they were to report to the Emerald Forest shortly.
However, this noise was different.
It was generated all around a singular person within the room—one who didn't seem all too comfortable to be receiving the attention heaped upon them.
A tall, slender, yet muscular frame as she slid bronze bracers onto her arms. A beautiful red hair that made his heart skip a beat. Shining emerald eyes. Perfect hips and bust accentuated by her armored bronze corset…
Naruto flushed, dragging his palm over his face…
Why couldn't he focus? Had he become Jiraiya?
Well, if he hadn't been so committed to Hinata…
He frowned. She wore a peculiar amount of armor for a Huntress.
It was uncommon, for sure. Most opted for maneuverability, but given where she was wearing armor, it didn't seem she was impeding her movement. She was only protecting her core and adding durability…
But it didn't explain the buzz around her by merely being present. And why she was uncomfortably ignoring it.
There was a lot of chatter. Perhaps he should listen, even if it was rather painful…
"Check it out…"
"Is that…"
"The Invincible Girl?"
"I hope I get paired with her!"
Naruto refrained from hissing. It was that kind of attention…
He loathed that kind of attention. It reminded him of the girls who fawned over Sasuke when they were younger…
Or his after he became the village hero and eventually the Hokage…
And he despised them.
He was thankful for less attention being drawn in their direction. After the incident on the airship and Weiss having called everyone's attention to them last night, he feared there would have been a target on their back.
But now, he didn't care.
He'd rather have a target on his back than watch this. There was a tinge of sympathy for her, especially seeing the sullen expression and sigh of resignation…
But it was outweighed by the sheer swell of rage.
Didn't help that a particular heiress was attempting to strike up a conversation with her. Apparently, trying to garner favor with her. That only annoyed him further, seeing that of all people, she was interested in her.
Trying to strike up a business accord of some kind with her. Most likely trying to form some sort of alliance…
Until a wayward blonde idiot bumbled toward them, accidentally bumping through two individuals, he should not have crossed. "Sorry! Excuse me!"
"The nerve!"
"Oh, you will rue this act!"
"Oh, not you again!" Weiss venomously spat, eyes narrowed as Jaune split between them, attempting to get to his locker. "Why are you here?"
Blankly glancing at Weiss, Jaune scratched his head, unaware of the murderous intent that followed him. He grinned, seeing who he was talking to, his confidence skyrocketing. "Um, this is my locker, you know. Oh, did you hear we're supposed to be teaming up with other potential candidates for this exam? So, how about you and…"
"Ugh, never!" Weiss grimaced and blanched from Jaune. "As if I would ever partner with someone like you! Now, if you excuse me, I was talking to someone… Oh my!"
"I said I was sorry!" Jaune squeaked as Miltia and Melanie grabbed him from behind, opening his locker.
"You will be!" Miltia snarled as Melanie booted Jaune, trying to shove Jaune into the locker, ignoring the scornful gaze they were receiving from the redhead.
"No, no, no! Not again!" Jaune screamed at the top of his lungs, doing everything he could to avoid being violently shoved into the locker. "This is like my last school all over again!"
"Well, it's about time to learn your place all over again!" Melanie scowled, eyes glistening with fury. "You shouldn't have bumped into… Oum, not this again!" *
Two metallic slams followed as Jaune fell onto her rear.
Engines roared beneath the lockers as screams filled them, and the Malachites banged against their constraints. "Will you ever get over Lady Brownings?! We're sorry!"
The lockers soared upwards as the ceiling opened, allowing the lockers to jettison from the room to the horror of all within.
A content, small figure happily whistled a silent tune that only she could hear within her own mind. She spun a parcel and bounced her head to her own beat, a manic glint in her eyes.
Their torment was endless satisfaction for her.
Jaune awkwardly stared up at his unsuspecting heroine. Blinking owlishly, unsure how to react.
But his eyes glistened, mesmerized by his new savior.
"Um, thank you? You save my butt! Who are you, some kind of Goddess?"
A cruel smirk graced her lips. A glint gleamed in her eyes.
This boy was amusing!
Her a Goddess!
Maybe of Chaos!
With a curtsy bow and gesture of her hand, Neo spun around without a care in the world.
And Weiss huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, what was interesting, I suppose… Now, as we were discussing…"
"Oh, yes…" Emerald eyes drifted away from the event, muscles relaxing as her hands shifted from the sword on her hip. "I guess…"
Tilting his head, watching as the blonde's eyes follow Neo like a puppy dog, now paying far more attention to that, Naruto bit his lip. "If I didn't know any better, I think little Miss Chaos may have garnered herself an unwanted follower."
Nodding in agreement, still looking at the ceiling with her mouth slightly agape at what happened, Blake shook her head. "Hope they get to the Emerald Forest in time… Would very much like to partner with them if we have to have a team at the end…"
"Feels like I'm being overlooked here!" Yang scrunched her eyes at Blake, locking Ember Celica firmly around her wrist and loading it, having already turned her attention back to her preparation. "Have some faith in them. Those two could last a round with me and Naruto in battle, so that'll be nothing for them!"
"And they lasted multiple rounds with us." Blake gave a toothy grin that made Naruto and Yang choke, and then the two glared at them for two separate reasons.
"Can you not bring that up?" Yang gritted her teeth, and her eyes flashed crimson at Blake.
Blake only smirked in amusement, seeing her curious reaction, and her ears twitched before simply waving it off. "There is nothing to worry about… But I am curious why you are getting so worked up over it."
"Because I don't want to hear about it!"
Blake's ears perked up, seeing Yang's reaction, and tilted her head owlishly before the faintest smiles adorned her lips. Her eyes glimmered with amusement.
She was making it too easy.
"Mah, knock it off, would ya?" Naruto rolled his eyes and glowered at Blake. "I know what you are doing…"
"Can't prove it." Blake grinned as her eyes glistened while Yang refrained from letting her temper flair. "Say, I remember you had a little thing for those with red hair…"
"No…"
"Want to introduce yourself to the girl with all the buzz?" Blake's catty smirk reached ear to ear as Naruto scowled at her while Yang fumed.
Naruto only facepalmed and sighed in exasperation before staring at Blake. "Why are you this way?"
"She seems nice. Someone you could take home to Ze for sure." Blake tilted her head and closed her eyes, knowing precisely what she was doing.
Hearing the grinding of Yang's teeth was so satisfying. The buxom blonde was just fun to play with…
Yet, this wasn't really about her.
It was about her.
And she needed him with someone she could trust…
Her ears perked, her eyes opening and shifting to the redhead. "It seems she is having a hard time with all the attention. Doesn't seem like she wants it either… Huh, I think I recognize her, hm?"
"Yeah, I do, too!" Ruby chimed, trying to keep the mood lively but noticing she recognized who the center of attention was. "Oh, I do! She is on all those Pumpkin Pete commercials! Think she's super famous for something if she's on Holovision! Don't watch often enough to know what for…"
Ruby's comment caught the attention of several of the nearby whispers. The said whispers drew Naruto's and Blake's attention, their ears twitching, paying close attention.
"Is she serious?"
"How can anyone not know?"
"What bumpkin wouldn't know who the Invincible Girl is?"
Ruby was oblivious, unable to decipher the chatter. Naruto repressed a growl, a scathing glare shot at the individuals. They recoiled, Blake soothingly rubbing his back to calm him.
Yang twitched at this action, wanting to call it out, but noticing other potential students stumbling from Naruto's stare, she scowled. What did they say to upset him?
And why was it always her that was next to him?
Why couldn't it be…
Shoving that thought aside, Yang placed her hand on her hips, eyes glancing over at the redhead for a brief moment. "Yeah, thought I recognized her. If I'm right, she was in some tournament and won. Think she got noticed due to how dominant her performance was. It excited me when I remembered hearing about it. Now that I think about it… I really wanted to test myself against someone like that back then. Now…"
"Interesting…" Naruto commented, eyes trailing on the so-called Invincible Girl.
He then smiled, noticing she left the Schnee heiress behind, who looked frustrated and upset by the lack of engagement. Likely not getting her way. "So she's someone to keep an eye on while we're here. Possibly be partnered with if able…"
"Must be if she's got company endorsements, as that doesn't happen often from what I hear." Yang placed her hand on her hip before hearing Glynda's voice over the intercom.
"Attention, all new hopeful Huntsmen and Huntresses. It's time to make your way to the Emerald Forest."
"Damn, wanted a chance to introduce you so you could worm your way into her heart," Blake snapped her fingers, earning a glare from Naruto and Yang before letting out a deep sigh. "Guess, time to make this a reality…"
"Time to show what we're made of!" Ruby fearlessly moved ahead as they headed to the locker room exit, easing the tension. "We've already been through a lot already. This will be nothing!"
"You aren't wrong…" Naruto chuckled, looking bemused. "After what we have just gone through…"
"This should be a piece of cake!"
The hills above the Emerald Forest were as vibrant. The evergreen forest was gorgeous.
However…
He stood stupefied, blinking as he watched others shoot into the air from the platforms they stood on.
This was the exam?
Getting launched into a forest filled with Grimm with a very loose rule set of collecting an item and bringing it back by the end of the day. And then there was the added rule of the first person you crossed paths with and met their gaze…
Would be your partner for the rest of your stay at Beacon.
And considering they separated everyone and Blake, or anyone he cared about being partnered with, had been launched ahead of him…
And he was next to the Schnee!
Naruto was not pleased.
His only chance was now the gleaming Neo, watching everyone with a laugh. If he could only…
"Oh, so, about this landing strategy…" A nervous voice echoed, drawing those remaining attention to Jaune as he glanced upon Ozpin as Weiss was flung into the air. "So um… How are we supposed to land? I didn't see anyone being given parachutes or anything…"
"Oum, no…" Naruto came to a sudden realization, feeling his world being flipped and launched into the sky.
And he had a gut feeling that Jaune was about to have a bad time.
Blake snarled, bouncing between trees before skidding to the ground.
Golden eyes scanned back towards the hills, searching for her target. She didn't want just anyone as her partner…
There was only one person she wanted.
She could live with whoever the rest of her team would be based on. However, it would be assigned. But if she was going to have to have a partner…
She couldn't have anyone else.
He was hers.
She wouldn't have anyone else after everything she dealt with. Not with Adam still out there. They would deal with him together…
So she could put her life back together and maybe…
Blake shook her head, bolting through the forest, staying in the shadows as she noticed others landing. She absently noticed Yang's landing, quipping as she did, and she rolled her eyes.
Of course, she would.
This was all excitement for her.
Blake scowled, moving ahead, being careful to conceal her presence. There were both Grimm and other potential students around. She only wanted to partner with one person…
This setup agitated her. They had purposely separated everyone, and he just happened to be at the end, and she was one of the first. So she had to try and conceal herself and meet up with him in the forest…
Not an issue, but it wasn't enjoyable!
Why did it have to be…
The trees and bushes rattled behind.
With a single slice of Gambol Shroud, her eyes narrowed as her blade bounced, and she was sent skidding back out of the bushes from a whirling blow. Her eyes narrowed as a black pig of Grimm finished rolling and landed on its pompous four legs.
She snarled.
A Boartusk.
Not a Grimm she could efficiently dispatch with a single strike due to the thick armor plating on its head and back. She would either need to outmaneuver it and get behind it to disable it to land a fatal blow or get from its underbelly…
Or land an exact strike. However, that wasn't likely.
Blake grinned as the Grimm charged, rolling out toward her recklessly.
Outmaneuvering opposition was her specialty.
Its roll was quickly upon her, but she could more than dodge and avoid its attack. It was a clumsy attack, and it could not follow up on it with a quick change of direction as she leapt to the side. With a simple change to Kusarigama form, she would take advantage of the moment the creature stopped its attack to change direction.
And caught its front left leg with the blade with the throw, pulling back, ripping through, and causing it to stumble and crash through the bush.
Blake didn't give it a second chance, lunging onto the Boartusk. Gambol Shroud snapped back into Wakizashi form and, with a precision strike, pierced the gap of armor between its skull and back plate, severing the spinal column.
The Boartusk's head fell from its body, and the smoke began to rise from the Grimm's decaying corpse.
Blake spat as she sheathed Gambol Shroud on her back, her eyes shimmering with discontent at the creature. She turned to continue with her search when her ears flattened. Drawing both her wakizashi and cleaver, she turned, hearing the growl, and knew it was coming.
Instead, she saw smoke as ice crystals burst around the fading corpse of the Beowolf that tried to sneak behind her.
And her eyes glistened with raw fury as they bored within an icy cold stare.
Two voices glistened with raw hatred as they spoke.
"You!"
"Nailed it!" Yang grinned, wiping her hands as she looked upon the Emerald Forest, eyes glimmering with exuberant energy. "Alright, time to start this party and find someone worthwhile to partner with!"
"Now, who is there I want to even team up with?" Yang pondered, glancing around before frowning. "Oum, I got carried away! That's no good! I told Dad I would take care of Ruby or ensure she was taken care of, so I either have to find her or make sure Naruto or Blake is with her!"
Roars caught her attention, and Yang groaned.
Now was not the time!
Of course, her flamboyant entry would get attention. She had anticipated it, wanting some Grimm to fight.
They were naturally attracted to human presence, after all. And having made the most noise, several finding immediately was something to be expected.
But she really needed to get out of here and find Ruby!
"Yo, Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear!" Yang yelled at the three Ursa that invaded her landing site, cracking her knuckles as she walked toward them menacingly. "Normally, I'm all about the fight, but this ain't the time! So, coming to find me, you will learn I was not just right!"
"So come get some!" Yang roared, pumping her fist back, engaging Ember Celica as she charged into the three confused Ursa.
It cost the first Ursa. Her fist collided with its face, sending it reeling, followed by several other rapid-fire jabs. Each punch exploded with a thunderous shockwave as her combustion rounds fired, bursting and sending the bear flying, crashing through a tree.
With Yang following behind with one final blast to its face, crushing its skull, cratering the ground with a vigorous shot. Standing back up, her fists cocked back as two roars bellowed behind her. She avoided the massive paw aimed to cleave her.
If this were two weeks ago, she would have taken the hit to feed her Burn. But she had learned quite a bit in such a short amount of time.
She counter-struck into the maw and knocked the first back with a heavy right as the other tried to bowl her over. The speed of the charge nearly caught her, sending her spinning.
"Oh, you son of…!" Yang growled, righting herself gracefully and landing on her feet. "I'm gonna knock you to next week!"
The Ursa was caught unaware as Yang jumped it. She took a few quick jabs into its belly as it turned, its roar silencing as she followed with an uppercut that caught its jaw, its head erupting in smoke as a round tore through it.
Spitting on the smoking corpse, she turned to the final Ursa as it growled, pawing viciously at the ground before it. Ready to charge.
"Oh, you wanna go!" Yang motioned her hands, beckoning it forward as she braced herself. "Come on! Come at me, you, big piece of…"
"Incoming!"
"What?" Yang's eyes shimmered before covering her eyes, dust, and smoke pluming before her. "Ah! Come on! What is this?"
"The Headmaster is insane!" A familiar voice echoed, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the scene before her.
A dead Ursa, crushed beneath the boots of a spikey hair blonde, glancing upon the hill they came upon lividly. "Did he seriously allow someone unprepared for this into the exam and then launch him?! How irresponsible is he?"
"Naruto!"
Blue eyes met lilac eyes as he turned.
And Naruto grinned as he stepped off the smoking Ursa corpse he had crushed from landing upon. "Huh? Oh, hey. Well, there is at least one positive in this… Got a partner I'm not against. But now we have a new problem…"
"That blonde kid has absolutely no credible skills and has been let loose in this forest."
Rose petals scattered through the forest.
A red and black blur appearing from them before bolting ahead, leaving more petals in its wake.
Along with a deafening cry of…
"No, no, no!"
Today was not going well for Ruby.
Everything seemed fine until they arrived on the hills before the Emerald Forest. Then, when Headmaster Ozpin gave out that statement, her heart sank.
The next four years of her life would be set in stone like that!
Ruby couldn't handle that!
She had to find someone she knew!
"Yang!" Ruby's called out, stopping momentarily, desperately for her sister or friends. "Where are you? Blake! Naruto! Oh, I'll take the others too, as at least I know them! Somewhat!"
After bursting ahead for another few bursts, Ruby wanted to scream in frustration. Fidgeting, spinning in every direction possible, she couldn't find anyone!
This was hopeless!
She should have paid attention to where everyone was when they were being sent into the air. Maybe then she could have found…
A growl caused her to leap forward before snapping Crescent Rose out of her case, transforming it into scythe form.
Rose grimaced, an entire pack of Beowolves having tracked her.
"Oh, I was being too loud," Ruby muttered, hanging her head before drawing Crescent Rose in front of her, smirking at the sight of the Grimm. "But don't think for a second I can't handle all of you! …Why is there more growling?"
Ruby's eyes gleamed, horrified to realize she was surrounded. It wasn't just a pack…
It was several packs!
And they had her surrounded!
"That's a lot of Beowolves!"
Her cry was met only by the lunge of the first Beowolf.
Only for a gash to rip through its stomach, Ruby having rushed past it, scythe held behind her.
It fell in half, turning to smoke as Ruby grinned, seeing several more leap toward her, transforming Crescent Rose into a sniper rifle. "Let me show you just what I'm made of!"
Two rounds fired, yet rose petals were scattered through and behind in a burst, with Ruby appearing behind them, Crescent Rose now in scythe form. With a slice, she cut into Beowolves, forcing them out of the rounds' paths she fired, continuing to travel, and hitting two more Beowolves behind in the skull.
Flickering between the Grimm, Ruby smirked.
This was too easy!
All her training with Uncle Qrow had paid off! She had already cut through half the packs and…
All the wind left her lungs.
Her eyes flickered.
Her aura crackled as he crashed into the ground, clutching her chest.
Ruby grimaced. She got cocky…
She let a Grimm get close and swat her in the chest. She could easily one-shot Beowolves, but she wasn't built like her sister. And her Aura capacity was even lower, so she couldn't take many hits…
"And I had to let a Beowolf hit me…" Ruby scowled, narrowing her eyes, petals building around her as the Beowolves surrounded her. "Oh, Yang won't let me hear the end of this if she hears about it… I am so through with all of you!"
Bursting into the sky, a wave of roses followed. Ruby surged toward the Grimm and caught those she didn't tear through Crescent Rose in her wake, a sonic burst following and lifting them into and through the trees like a storm. They were all caught in torrents and gales of debris before being sent through the forest.
And she skidded to the stop, watching trees fall onto where all the Grimm laid, eyes shimmering at what I did. "Wow… That's the second time I've done that. Didn't know my Petal Burst had that much force behind it."
Sighing, sheathing Crescent Rose, Ruby frowned and turned around. "Well, took care of that. But where is anyone? If I can't find someone I know…"
"Look out!"
"What?"
Silver eyes glimmered, shock filled within.
A Beowolf that had somehow survived the debris of Petal Burst had lunged at her and was almost upon her, jaws inches from her throat!
But had a javelin impaled in its stomach, keeping it pinned before a shield flew in, dissipating the Grimm with a single heave and lodged into a nearby tree.
Ruby stumbled, watching the corpse evaporate into smoke. A slender hand gripped the javelin embedded into the ground…
And silver eyes met emeralds.
He was dead!
There was no way he could survive this fall!
Well, he heard stories of people who survived such falls before…
But colliding with so many trees! There would be no way!
This was his death! He was doomed!
So why did he feel so weightless? And why did it feel like there was a gentle breeze on his face?
Did he already die and didn't feel it?
"Ah, why is my collar being yanked?" Jaune's eyes snapped open, and he gasped at seeing the Emerald Forest below. "Dear Oum! How? Am I flying?"
"Ow!" Jaune felt another tug on his collar before looking up, and his eyes shimmered at the sight before him.
It was her again!
Drifting above him, floating in the wind like a leaf in the sky with her parcel, was his savior from before.
And now, she held him by the collar of his shirt, manically grinning as they descended upon the forest.
Jaune had never seen such a heavenly sight before.