"Once more… Must we go through this song and dance?"
"I tire. This wait… Is agonizing… I want what is rightfully mine."
"The creatures of light pollute our world…"
"Putrid beings of darkness mar its image!"
"Now our champion stands to rightfully restore balance and right the wrongs done to us…"
"Children… Oh, my children…"
"Take back what is ours."
"Oh," Brown eyes shone with amusement. "You came to watch?"
"Mah, course I did." Naruto scowled, feeling disrespected as the man didn't even glance in his direction.
Just paid attention to the little screen in his hand.
While drinking his piping hot cup of cocoa…
He wanted cocoa…
"Why wouldn't I?" Naruto crossed his arms, gazing upon the forest. "Whoever passes are my students, aren't they? Gotta learn what they can do."
"He's correct. He should be present to evaluate the students' performances and, if need be, intervene if something unexpected arises." Glynda's emerald gaze passed over Naruto, the slimmest nod given.
Naruto couldn't help but grin.
Was that a sign of respect?
From her?
He'd take that!
"Very well." Ozpin nodded nonchalantly, his entire focus on the screen in his hand. "Patch him in so he can watch."
"We have feeds all over following each potential student," Glynda mentioned, having a scroll feed out, observing the switching camera on her feed before scrolling over a small section of names. "It'll take a moment, but we can patch you right in…"
"Mah, no need." Naruto shook his head, strolling toward the cliff with a broad grin. "Rather get a first-hand account if you don't mind. This fancy tech is cool and all… But I like seeing with my own eyes."
Clones popped into existence, leaping across the forest with alarming speed, causing Glynda to blanch.
She then glowered. "You do realize your presence could be considered interference."
"I'll hang back and stay out of the way. This is their test," Naruto waved, his grin never waving. "But if I have to intervene, I better be out there, no? So see ya!"
With a twitch, watching Naruto leap into the forest, Glynda's gaze burrowed into the back of Oz's skull.
He only chuckled. "He is a peculiar one…"
"I never thought I would find someone as infuriating as Qrow…" Glynda pushed her glasses on the bridge of her nose. "Yet be the polar opposite of him… You expect me to deal with him?"
"If worse comes to worse, yes." Oz sighed, his gaze falling upon the forest with a frown. "I do hope it doesn't come to that… I would like to see him return home where he belongs… But if not…"
"I believe you are the correct person to guide him through his journey here."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is amazing!"
Her heart skipped a beat.
She couldn't believe this was finally happening.
She finally had the chance to prove herself!
"Yeah!" Ruby cried in exhilaration, the wind whipping around her.
This was nothing!
She moved faster than this all the time!
Her eyes darted left to right, examining the forest beneath her.
Looking for a safe landing zone.
Eyes dialed onto the perfect spot.
Crescent Rose slid off her back and morphed from its sheathed state, turning a rifle.
She needed to slow her momentum, and the kickback was more than enough…
She was so light her Aura had to absorb the feedback…
Even as she fired to slow her momentum, Ruby squinted, a foul taste left in her mouth, hearing her father and Yang's voice in her mind.
Always telling her to bulk more…
Why was Uncle Qrow the only one saying she was fine the way she was?
She just… Had her mother's build.
She wasn't gonna get much bigger, even in a couple of years.
Several more shots, her movements were slowed and directed to the spot she sighted.
Roses swarmed around her as Crescent Rose snapped into its scythe form. Catching it on the width of one of the tallest evergreen trees of the forest, whipping herself toward her goal, Ruby skidded into the clearing gracefully.
Her eyes darted side to side, tracking movement through the green bushes…
Tree leaves that were still so vivid and full of life for this time of year.
Odd…
Oh right… Emerald Forest… Evergreen.
Ruby exhaled, carefully forging ahead.
Scanning for signs of anyone.
She hoped someone would be nearby…
A partner in this endeavor… Someone she could trust…
She lost track of Yang when she sent in the air. Blake too.
Those were the only two people she really knew. She could only hope one of them ended up as her partner…
"Wished Naruto wasn't a teacher…" Ruby muttered, her heart skipping a beat.
Then her face flushed, and she shook her head and laughed. "Eh, what am I thinking? No, no, no!"
"He seems pretty cool, though," Ruby scratched her head, looking around the forest and squinted. "Okay, where is everyone? Or anything, for that matter? Thought this forest was full of…"
A rustle of leaves.
A growl.
Followed by several more.
Six in total.
One Alpha.
"Ask, and you shall receive, I guess!" Ruby spun around, Crescent Rose firmly taken in hand as a rifle as she leaped off the ground.
Eye lined down the barrel of scope.
Locked directly on the lunging Beowolf's skull, crosshairs right between the eyes.
"Bingo."
Its head splattered into misty smoke on contact with the high-caliber round.
Landing in a kneeling crouch, her rifle morphing into a scythe at her side, silver eyes sparkle lit was a passionate flame within.
Roses fluttered around her being.
Eyes focused and swiveling between her targets, waiting patiently.
The smaller Beowolves leapt off their hind legs, charging headlong toward their prey, the alpha stalking behind, carefully observing.
For her to disperse into a swirl of roses. Bursting between them, the offsetting pressure in the air knocking them off balance.
A wicked curve of the scythe's head reaping cleanly through one of the wolf's bodies as Ruby's body reformed.
Shifting Crescent Rose back into a rifle form, she took a clean shot at the back of one's skull before the Beowolf could react.
With a burst of roses, she dispersed once more, and with two heavy slashes, she stood in front of the Alpha, her cape flowing behind her majestically…
As the bullet penetrated the last of the runts' skulls, the rest of the pack turned to smoke.
"Want to dance, big boy?" Ruby smirked before grimacing. "Oh, yuck! I've been spending too much time with Yang!"
"What's the problem with that?!"
Ruby's eyes widened.
She felt the resonating thud and heard the crack of a familiar sound as several burning rounds stunned the large Grimm.
A yellow blur flipped from the trees, fist cocked back, blow striking true on the Beowolf's muzzle, driving it into the ground with a resounding and earth-shattering thud.
And as the smoke rose, a cocky grin flashed before her eyes. "I can recognize those rounds from anywhere! Don't you worry. The cavalry has arrived with a Yang!"
Ruby's heart fluttered.
Relieved at the sight of her sister…
Elated she had someone she could…
Ruby twitched.
Why did she have to be like this?!
"Stop using your name as a pun!"
Yang retorted with a raucous laughter, unable to contain it as she fluffed her sister's hair. "Never! It's perfect!"
"Now come on. Let's get our relic and show everyone we're the best around."
Why had everything gone so horribly since she had arrived here?
Ugh?
Digging her heels into the dirt, coming to a complete stop, icy blue eyes gleaned through the green fauna around her.
White hair whipped in a ponytail as she trained her gaze, carefully monitoring her surroundings.
Grimm were in the area. She had to take precautions…
She softly traced the scarring along her eye. She took a deep, frosted breath.
Her eyes shimmered her vow to her strengthened.
Weiss scowled.
Despite the signs of frosting, the green grass, and leaves coated in a thin layer of misty ice, there weren't signs of any loss of pigmentation.
An evergreen forest?
"I understand why it earns the name Emerald Forest." Weiss mused, strolling forward, taking note of the task at hand.
She needed to collect an artifact and return it within the time frame.
Simple enough.
Her scowl deepened.
A partner.
She had to trust someone?
Weiss scoffed.
Who could she trust?
Her eyes glimmered sullenly.
Who was ever allowed to be close enough to her?
Outside of her sister and her brother… Okay, not him… She was always alone.
Any friend was work-related.
For business.
Not of choice.
She exhaled…
She didn't exactly help matters either…
Scolding that girl who accidentally ran into her…
Whether she liked it or not, she was at fault for the Dust explosion!
Stupid! I know better than to shake a vial of Dust! What was I thinking?
Then there was that girl who told her off…
And that Faunus Instructor !
She wasn't even aware Beacon had hired one!
That would have factored into her decision to come here!
Well, it mildly made a difference…
Weiss exhaled.
She still would have chosen Beacon.
It was the best Academy for her in particular.
Highly rated in academics.
Consistent top finishes in the Vytal tournament for years and touted Huntsman…
And most important…
The distance from home meant he couldn't interfere.
"Could be worse… Weiss muttered, softly combing her hand through her ponytail. "But why a Faunus instructor? Ugh! That's gonna be such an issue to overcome…"
She closed her eyes and inhaled.
She needed to relax and focus.
Not think about any of this.
She had a job to do.
He was doing his job, despite his lack of professionalism…
"He seemed sincerely committed to his job," Weiss muttered, eyes glimmering before huffing indignantly. "But what was her problem? She acted like I did something to her personally! ...It's not like I did any of those things…"
"Ah!" A gust swirled around her, nearly lifting her off her feet.
A terrible shriek followed.
She gracefully twirled and flipped out of the landing path of a flying Grimm as it was seconds from snatching her.
Her saber drawn tightly in her grasp. "A Griffon? Don't they usually come in…"
A second shriek diverted her attention to above.
One diving from above, claws outstretched to shred her.
Crashing into an icy blue array of a seal like a brick wall with a wave of Weiss' off hand. "Not making a snack out of me."
As the seal melted and Grimm flew back into the sky, her eyes shimmered as she flicked the trigger of her saber, the chamber revolving and sliding into place.
A luminous seal array like that of a clock spread around her feet with a tint of a very faint yellow shade…
The same luminous aura engulfed her, taking count of the Grimm.
It was a flock of five Griffon.
She needed every second she could afford.
With a wave of both hands, an array of seals scattered around her. Hovering off the ground at precarious angles.
Allowing to rapidly leap and gain height on the unsuspecting Grimm.
A single slash of saber was all that was needed.
She built Myrtenaster with her own hands and knew how durable it was.
An unarmored Grimm's neck?
Cut through it like butter.
The Grimm's screeched and shrieked, attempting to slash and avenge their fallen comrade.
But a golden flash was all they struck through, icy seal arrays forming a crystal prison.
Her reflexes in this state were too much for them.
No wasted movement… Must be precise…
Griffon's had the aerial advantage. A natural advantage in maneuverability she could never manage…
Physically stronger.
She needed to keep them pinned down to a single point.
Caught in her trap.
A golden light flickered between the Grimm, bouncing between the array of seals. The Grimm, unable to react, swiped fruitlessly.
One slash.
More smoke plumed.
Another dead Grimm lifelessly plummeted to the earth below.
Until none remained, the last body plummeting as Weiss gracefully landed in step, sheathing Myrtenaster on her belt.
"Too easy." Weiss scoffed as her sigils evaporated in the air before gently clutching her temple. "Tch. I wasn't putting that much of a strain on my Aura. Gotta love feedback headaches…"
"Just have to get more practice in," Weiss muttered, rubbing her temple and continuing her trek.
Before a rush of wind nearly swept her off her feet.
"What, no?" Weiss braced herself, her eyes shivering at the sensation, and rapidly unsheathing her saber. "I counted…"
To see a ribbon rope around a wing of a Griffon, dragging it to the earth.
Before a black shadow swept past it, severing its head from its body.
"Five?" Weiss muttered the last of her sentence; her gaze focused on who assisted her.
Only to squint as black hair fluttered as the blade had shifted to that form and connected to her sword in her left as she sheathed the weapon on her back.
"You?"
Golden eyes bored into icy blues.
"There were eight, not five, meine Prinzessin ." Blake snarled disdainfully. "I kept the other three off… So you could do your little trick. That one managed to slip away."
"What is your problem with me?" Weiss snapped. "If it is about how our company has wronged your family somehow, I'm sorry. I don't have any power over that. That isn't…"
"Does the name Belladonna mean anything to you?" Blake pointedly asked, her eyes dilated as she spoke.
Weiss flinched from her tone…
That fierce look.
There was a story behind it, and she didn't understand!
She furrowed her brow.
The name…
"Am I supposed to know it?" Weiss frowned, crossing her arms. "My father has made many allies and enemies in his time running the SDC… for better or worse… I can hardly keep track of people he meets regularly. How am I supposed to know any one of their names? He even trivializes the heads of that vile organization of… Faunus… "
Blake scornfully huffed. Rolled her eyes and turned. She was about to walk when her eyes shimmered and gazed back at Weiss. "Then how about the name Amitola?"
"Huh?" Weiss stuttered over her words, eyes widening. "That name… She… I remember her… Attended the same prep school as I . Two years older than me… Expelled for attacking students once it was revealed she was a Faunus… The same day… I was frightened after all the things I heard about Faunus…"
"The mines caved in because of the Dust explosion…" Blake hissed, turning away.
However, her fist clenched, and her anger boiled.
She could barely contain it to but a low whisper. "You had nothing to fear… It is us who have been mistreated…"
"Huh?" Weiss heard her mutter but couldn't understand everything said under her breath. "What was that…"
"Nothing." Blake shook her head. "Let's move. The more time we waste, the less likely we will pass this exam. …Any issue we have with one another is rendered moot if we do not succeed today. I do not plan on failing, understand? "
Shrinking back at the intensity in her voice, nearly taken aback by it, an uneasy calm settled over Weiss.
She understood that level of determination.
It was much like hers.
A confident smirk graced her lips.
Perhaps this could work…
"Works for me." Weiss strode forward with an assured swagger. "Just stay out of my way. I know what I'm doing. They said North-East. I'll get us there in no…"
"That's South-West." Blake blandly interrupted, scrunching her nose.
"Eh!" Weiss stumbled. "No, that would lead back…"
"You got turned around and lost your sense of direction." Blake exhaled, already exhausted by her presence. "You don't get outside often… This clearly isn't something you are good at, so leave this to me. I've been doing this for years… I'm in my element while you live in your castle, meine Prinzessin."
"I am not a Princess!" Weiss riposted vehemently. "And I don't live in a castle! I…"
"Sure looks like one," Blake apathetically waved, walking away.
"Gah! You are frustrating!" Weiss stomped, trailing after the girl whose name she still hadn't learned yet, seething.
Yet beneath her incensed fury, she couldn't help but wonder…
Why did she have such passionate distaste for her and her family?
Something wasn't right.
He couldn't shake the feeling.
He didn't know what it was, but something was off.
He couldn't point out what it was coming from.
Nothing stood out.
The local wildlife wasn't acting strange.
There were no telltale signs of any peculiar movements or strange beasts…
Besides the tells of large clumsy creatures.
Figured those were Grimm.
Naruto scowled.
Fauna was spooked by them, from what he gathered from reading and what he was noticing…
They paid no mind to any living creature but people?
That was peculiar.
But the wildlife was calm…
Tranquil.
"What is this feeling?" Naruto murmured, squinting at the traces of fading tracks he found. "A Grimm was here… A pack of them. But why do they end here?"
Naruto frowned.
If they had come upon a group of students, he would have expected to see their tracks and run into one of his clones.
But there was nothing of that sort.
So what would cause a Grimm to suddenly lash out and fight back?
The faint buzzing brushed his ears.
Like the bumbling of a bee.
Followed by a lash far harsher than any sting.
Naruto leapt back, opening his stance and preparing for a second attack. His hand tingled, causing him to scowl and clench his hand several times.
That hurt more than anticipated.
What was this thing made out of?
A droplet of shallow crimson stained his cheek. He smudged and wiped the cut of blood with his off hand before spitting in disgust.
His eyes carefully monitored where he tracked the offender after he struck it.
It wasn't as if it had vanished…
It had simply fallen into the tall grass and was hidden within it.
Fast enough to catch him once and strong enough to draw blood?
And it hurt for him to hit?
What was worse of all…
Was that it was tiny.
His eyes narrowed as a clear picture took shape.
A small, humanoid creature fluttered from the grass, dazed from his blow…
Basked in an ethereal green glow.
"What is that?" Naruto muttered in awe.
He didn't know much about the material, but his first thought went to fairies.
The size and shape were correct, considering it was smaller than his hand and humanoid in figure…
But everything else was wrong!
Besides the grassy hair and glowing green eyes of energy, it had longer, ganglier arms and legs than a human of its proportions would have. Needle-like fingers with similar proportions to match the arms…
And it seemed to be made of wood and stone?
Naruto glowered.
It reminded him of a miniature of Gaea with four wings…
" A fae? "
Naruto blinked.
Where did that voice come from?
Wait… It sounded like…
"My scroll?" Naruto noticed his scroll was active on the holster purchased for it. "It can act like comms, too?! Oz, what is this?"
"One of the original inhabitants of this world created by Gaea and her sisters…" Oz communicated over the scroll. "This is a Wood Nymph… One of the natural Fae of the Emerald Forest. I've never seen them aggressive toward anything other than Grimm before…"
"Well, ain't that lovely!" Naruto snapped as the Nymph rapidly darted towards him.
Its speed would have been blinding…
If he was anyone else.
Instead, he snatched it from the air, clutching it with his fist. "Gotcha, you little… Okay, little stronger than anticipated!"
It struggled in his grasp. Wiggling to free itself from the prison he caught it in. "Hold still, would ya! Trying to figure things out! Why are you attacking me…"
It glared at him with seething intent. With no way out…
"It bit me!" Naruto threw it down with a heavy thud. "Well, okay… Should have expected that… Dumb on my part."
" We have an issue !" Glynda's voice registered over the scroll. " We need to evacuate all students from the forest now! I have several sightings of Fae, and they are all acting aggressive! The students won't be able to handle this kind of threat! Fae aren't like Grimm! "
"Mah, what does that mean?" Naruto scowled, watching the Fae slowly rise again before noticing something peculiar.
The damage he had inflicted with his hit and indent he had by throwing it into the ground…
Were recovering with contact to the ground.
"They can regenerate?" Naruto stomped the Nymph into the ground, keeping it down.
" Long as they have contact with their element… They can regenerate indefinitely. " Oz informed Naruto over the scroll. " Glynda… Suspend the test and call everyone here now. We need to recall everyone now… I'm going in. "
"Regenerate indefinitely…" Naruto frowned, watching the Nymph beneath his foot struggle. "So if I remove it from its element…"
Kicking the Fae off the ground, a small stream of flames poured from Naruto's mouth and engulfed it.
The shriek was horrific.
But he watched in mere seconds as the tiny creature crumbled to ashes and dust, plummeting back to the earth…
A smoldering pile of flames.
"Set them on fire and keep 'em airborne long enough for them to cook. Got it." Naruto closed his eyes, relaxing momentarily, letting the message pass to his nearby clones.
"Got to thank Fukasaku… Didn't know I could do that…" Naruto's eyes snapped open, pushing forward at the tree tops, searching for nearby students, relaying his plan. "I'll deal with the Fae and the evacuation!"
"I think I got something for 'em!"
"I've never seen these things before! What are these?!"
"Stay behind me!" A young woman with vibrant flowing red hair tied in a high ponytail held a bronzed Dipylon shield in her left, held before them defensively.
And in her right, a xiphos sword carefully pointed and ready to strike. "Raise your shield, keep your stance wider, and keep it chest level! You want to protect your torso and head at all times!"
"I'm trying!" A tall, lanky blonde protested, holding a large heater shield before him, bracing himself. "This thing is speedy and… Umf!"
"Jaune!" The redhead cried out, seeing the flash of motion as he was struck and knocked over, his shield and sword falling out of his grasp. "Are you okay!"
"That hurt more than anything I've been hit before in my life!" Jaune coughed and groaned, gasping for air as he held his chest. "I felt that should have killed me! And why does it feel like I broke something I've never broken before! "
"If I didn't just awaken your Aura, it would have!" The red-head eyes darted, observing for movement, ignoring the look of despair on Jaune's face. "Your Aura broke on that hit! The next hit will kill you! Pick up your shield, Jaune! You can't let it hit you!"
Gritting and baring his teeth, Jaune picked himself up, shield in hand.
This day couldn't have gone any worse.
He wanted to prove himself…
Show everyone he could be something…
Something more…
Yet here he was…
In peril…
Putting someone else's life in danger.
He thought he could make it as a Huntsman?
"Jaune!"
His head lifted up.
All he could see was a flicker of green light.
It was so fast.
Too quick for him to react.
So this was it, huh?
How everything was to end for him?
Killed by the most diminutive creature imaginable?
Yeah, sounded right.
A flash of bronze and red swiftly crossed his eyes.
A firm thud hit the ground.
The creature lay in the grass…
Xiphos cleaved through the top portion of the tiny creature's torso.
He was still alive.
"That should have cleaved it in two!"
"Well, you got it, Pyrrha." Jaune exhaled in relief, seeing the raw fury building in the red-head's face. "That's what matters. That thing was so fast I didn't know you could hit it…"
"It was…" Pyrrha removed the Xiphos blade from its body, her head dropping in a sulking manner. "It took longer than I imagined for me to adjust to such speed… I apologize… I should have been better."
"What?! No!" Jaune was taken aback, shaking his head. "How could it ever be your fault? I held you back and…"
"Because I wasn't good enough!" Pyrrha sharply snapped before becoming horrified with her response, solemnly sulking again. "Please accept my sincere apologies. I… Didn't mean that. It's just…"
"Um… Pyrrha…" Jaune interrupted, tensed as he looked down, flickering green light rising up. "How is it not dead?"
"What?!" Pyrrha's eyes shimmered before reacting, driving it back to the ground with his sword, lopping its head clean off. "There! That should…"
"More!" Pyrrha raised her shield just in time as several buzzes caught her ear, the thud knocking her down to a knee.
She gnashed her teeth, seeing two more of the flying fairies.
Her eyes glistened with anticipation…
She could handle this…
She knew she could…
But with Jaune here…
"Jaune, I need you to run." Pyrrha softly spoke, "Leave these to me… But get out…"
"You expect me to leave you here?" Jaune retorted, looking at the situation. "We can both get out of here…"
"I expect you to listen and…"
Pyrrha's words were cut short as the earth rumbled and shook around them.
The leaves of trees fluttered and fell.
Heavy thunderous steps marched toward them.
From behind.
Her head snapped, and her eyes widened.
"What is that?"
"Is that a Treant?" Jaune stumbled back, looking back between the fairies and the giant tree. "First fairies, now this? What is going on?!"
Pyrrha trembled.
Her understanding of the situation wasn't any better.
These were fairytale creatures that were always helpful in the old tales.
Yet here they stood…
Attacking them.
"Katon: Gōkakyū!"
A boisterous voice shouted as flames ruptured and engulfed around the formidable figure.
Its torturous cry resonated and vibrated through them as the flames smoldered and turned its skin to charcoal.
Only for a blonde Faunus she recognized land in front of it.
A strange yet vivid orb of Aura swirling violently in his palm, thrusting upwards into it.
"Rasengan!"
The audible crack was deafening.
She felt the impact reverberate within her chest!
The creaking and groaning as superheated word shards scattered and a swirling gale swept everyone off their feet…
The Treant launched airborne, sending it far past the tree tops, still smoking and burning into ashes…
Flaking apart…
Pyrrha's eyes shimmered.
That was how!
With a snap out of her back pouch, her Xiphos sword morphed into a rifle as she loaded specialized rounds into it.
The fairies were nimble…
They were faster than her…
But caught off guard and in shock, they could hardly react.
And even with their reactions…
She could adjust her aim mid-flight.
They burst into flames on contact. Their hollow screams caused her to flinch.
They felt pain…
These were sentient creatures?
Pyrrha grimaced.
Then why…
"Don't let them stay on the ground!" Naruto picked up the regenerating Fae she had dealt with earlier, using a tiny flicker of flame from his mouth, and tossed it high in the air. "Just give them a few moments in the air, and they'll cook! Can't regenerate if they ain't touching the ground!"
"Get out of here!" Jaune picked up the flaming Nymphs and, with an impressive heave, launched them as high as he could before shaking his hand. "Ow, ow! Still don't regret it… But ow!"
"Whatever works…" Naruto nodded, amused. "Gotta get ya out of here… More of these things around. They weren't expected…"
" This is an emergency broadcast. All students within the Emerald Forest are to hereby evacuate immediately! The initiation test has been temporarily suspended! I repeat… "
"Just a tad late…" Naruto muttered, his ears flattening straight behind him. "That should have come out a little sooner, just saying…"
"Thank you," Pyrrha politely bowed. "The situation… Was rougher than I expected… I never thought…"
"This wasn't a problem we were anticipating to happen, so you couldn't have prepared for it!" Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Hell, the fact you caught onto their weakness after just a display of what I was doing was impressive! You got my attention!"
Pyrrha's eyes glistened.
A warm smile graced her lips as her expression lifted.
To hear that she had the attention of the newly instated Combat Instructor…
"Do you… Perhaps need help?" Pyrrha asked, hoping she could glean more experience from the situation. "If this is an evacuation, that means this is happening everywhere… I can assist
"Nah," Naruto waved her off and shook his head with a brilliant and beaming smile. "But thanks for the offer. You should preserve your energy for what comes next. I can handle this."
"This kind of situation is my specialty."
"We seem to be making good time! I think that's the place!"
"Of course we are?" Yang guffawed, cocking her fist confidently, glancing down off the cliffside at a small ruin. "Who do you think working with, huh, Rubes? Was there ever a doubt we find our way here?!"
"You always claim to get lost on your way to the grocery store… Something about losing track of time, hm?" Ruby shot a sly grin at her sister.
Yang choked on her saliva as Ruby giggled.
Which earned her a rough smack upside the head. "You are the worst! Stop following me everywhere!"
"You're the one hanging out and flirting with all those guys!" Ruby winced, rubbing the back of her head. "I just wanted to know why you were always so late!"
"Gals, too!" Yang corrected, wagging her finger, before crossing her arms. "Heh, none of them were worth my time anyway. Can't hang with me. …No one can."
"Uh-huh…" Ruby squinted before snickering. "They couldn't stand your puns, could they?"
"My puns are Flamonenal!"
"That was terrible!"
"You don't have taste!" Yang pouted, crossing her arms over her ample chest.
The sisters cracked broad smiles and joined merrily in laughter, Yang playfully shoving her sister's shoulder. "Come on. Let's jump down. We're almost there."
"Pretty high fall from here." Ruby motioned towards the ruins. "I can make it, no problem. You keep eating this kind of impact with your Aura, and you'll pay if something hits you hard enough to break it."
"Ain't nothing out here dangerous enough to threaten me." Yang waved off Ruby's concern. "You know the damage I can take and dish back out! It'll be fine! What's the worst that can happen?!"
" This is an emergency broadcast. All students within the Emerald Forest are to hereby evacuate immediately! The initiation test has been temporarily suspended! I repeat… "
"That!" Ruby withdrew her scroll upon hearing the echoing message of Professor Goodwich's voice over it. "That is the worst thing that can happen."
"Really?! " Yang squinted in disbelief before stomping, the ground shaking as she did. "We're right here, about to grab the… Oum, what happened?! What idiot got hurt so badly that the test had to be suspended?!"
"Um, Yang?" Ruby muttered, her attention drawn to rustling behind them…
The ground continued to rumble.
"Seriously! Did someone sneak in, and they didn't catch it? Ugh! Why did this have to happen?!"
"Yang…" Ruby reached for her sister, stumbling back at the sight.
"What?!" Yang felt Ruby's hand brush her shoulder.
She saw the look of pure disbelief on her sister's face as she rigidly glanced behind them. "You remember those fairy tales Dad told us…"
"Those things aren't supposed to exist, right?"
"What do you…" Yang started before her eyes flickered, and she stumbled back. "Okay, that's new! Don't think I've seen a Grimm become a walking tree before!"
"You think this gonna be like the movies where they lead us to victory, Rubes?"
Their trip here was silent.
She wanted to say something…
Approach her new partner somehow.
Figure out how she ticked. Get around this distrust she had of her.
Weiss exhaled.
She couldn't blame her. It was earned…
She was well aware that her family didn't have the greatest reputation.
The practices…
Questionable.
Her father…
She was here for a reason…
But now she stood here within these ruins, squinting at the chess pieces on the platforms before them.
This was what they left for them to recover?
Well, it was a test of abilities…
"We made it here quickly." Weiss glanced over the pedestals. "In fact, I think we might be the first here. We have our choice…"
"Seems to be the case." Blake stood amongst the ruins, taking in the structure, eyes hovering over a particular piece before huffing and looking away. "...I don't really care for chess… You can choose a piece."
"Is that so?" Weiss pursed her lips, stepping toward the white rook piece, reaching toward it.
Her hand hesitated momentarily before she let it drop.
Head slumped as her shoulders faded back. "Live in a castle, huh?"
"What the holdup?" Blake glowered, arms crossed. "Take the piece, and let's get out…"
"Was someone you loved in the mines when they exploded?" Weiss remorsefully whispered, reaching up and clutching her heart.
Taken by surprise by the sorrowful tone and expression, Blake exhaled.
She wanted to wait…
This wasn't the place for this…
Her eyes flickered.
A colder demeanor took hold as she looked down upon her partner.
"No."
"Then what is it?!" Weiss cried, frustrated as tears began to build in her eyes. "What could it possibly be that…"
"So many of my brothers and sisters have been harmed by your father's negligence." Blake coldly interrupted, staring daggers into Weiss. "Two in particular that have left their scars on me and won't let go."
"Brothers and sisters?" Weiss squinted, confused, before a knowing expression drooped and stepped back. "Wait…"
"Yes, brothers and sisters…" Blake closed her eyes, slowly reaching toward her bow, exhaling as she pulled it accessible to the audible gasp.
"For you see, I've been a member of White Fang since my conception, Schnee. " Blake's ears flicked freely as a gentle breeze blew by. "Or at least was… Until it radicalized."
"You… You…" Weiss clutched her chest, stumbling backward.
Her eyes shimmering fearfully.
"What, meine Prinzessin?" Blake mocked before exhaling. "Has your father's lies affected you too? About how we're the problem?"
"You don't know half of what I've been through!" Weiss snapped, her eyes misting and filled with unbridled rage. "What your people have put me through! Do you have any idea?"
"Do you have any of what your father put us through?!" Blake retorted with venom. "Always a diligent student of the law! Using it to his advantage at every point to save every Lien he could! Cutting corners whenever possible, his workers suffering the most… Especially his Faunus workers…"
Weiss flinched, shrinking back.
She knew all too well her father was a penny pincher…
How successful their business had become since he took over for her Grandfather long before she was born…
She only heard stories about how caring of an individual he was…
"Exploited us. Refused to give in to our demands for a living wage. Safe working conditions! We all wanted that!" Blake snarled before exhaling and turning away. "And all he ever did was look down upon us callously, unwilling to budge… Until he was forced to close the mines when they blew up and took my friend's parents… Ilia Amitola. Recognize the name? "
Weiss shivered.
She remembered the protest when she was little…
How upset her father was during them…
How they were costing him a fortune…
But that name…
Weiss sulkingly hung her head.
She knew it.
"One of my few friends at school…"
Blake glowered and scoffed. "So you remember…"
"Of course I do," Weiss spat, leering into Blake's gaze. "Do you think it is easy being who I am? Everyone who wanted to be my friend just wanted something from me… So I ignored them all… All except…
"Ilia." Blake finished, looking away. "Before I left the White Fang… She still talked about you…"
Weiss' eyes shimmered.
Her breath held in her throat.
She wanted to hear more…
"Always said that despite her hatred for humans…" Blake closed her eyes and grimaced. "There was one she still liked… And of all people, it was a Schnee."
"So, care to prove to me why she always said that?" Blake glanced back towards Weiss before waving her hand around. "We're both here. That means something… That we're trying to prove something…"
"I want to see just what you are here for." Blake reached toward a pedestal, snapping forth a White Knight piece and pocketing it into her pouch. "Let's get out of here."
A long, deafening silence reigned.
Weiss remained unmoving, her gaze fixated on the ruin's floor.
At first sullen, before straightening to a cold and calculated expression.
Blake twitched awkwardly.
What was she thinking…
"What did you come here for?"
"That's why you are holding us up?" Blake scowled, "That's simple… I'm here to stop running away."
"What?" Weiss stuttered and stumbled.
"To find belief in a cause I once believed in. To give justice to the people that need it the most. To deliver aid to those who need it. To fight for what is right and save those in need." Blake announced passionately. "That is why I am…"
" This is an emergency broadcast. All students within the Emerald Forest are to hereby evacuate immediately! The initiation test has been temporarily suspended! I repeat… "
Blake's eyes narrowed.
They were canceling the exam?
She carefully clutched the piece in her pouch.
Hopefully, that would be good enough…
"That can't be good…" Weiss winced, withdrawing her scroll. "What could have…
"AH! No, no, no! Get away from me, you little demons!"
"Look out below!"
"What is that?" Blake squinted before snapping her head up.
To see two falling figures streamlining towards the ruins…
One gracefully landed in stride with rose petals scattered around her.
The other buckled at her knees and rolled to absorb the impact of landing, standing straight up into a sprint. "Nail it!"
"What are those around you?!" Weiss shrieked, her eyes darting back and forth, seeing tiny flickers of green light. "Are those fairies! Get off me!"
With a precision thrust with her saber, her eyes narrowed…
It dodged so fluidly, flying back up in the air mockingly.
Was it laughing at her?!
" They're Fae, Ms. Schnee. " Ozpin's voice connected over the scrolls. " Stay calm and collect. You will need to focus… You are surrounded right now. "
"What?!" Blake snarled, scanning the area wildly. "How? Why didn't I catch a scent?"
"Because they're part of the forest! They blend in! You couldn't have!" Naruto's voice echoed over. "These things are tough! Can't kill them with weapons or Aura! They'll keep regenerating the moment they make contact with the ground!"
"That's why nothing I've done has worked!" Yang roared, wiping smudges from her face, her eyes burning red. "Noticed my combustion rounds hurt 'em, but they won't stay down!"
" Indeed. You have to keep them off the ground. The earth is the source of the power… Their life force. Separate them from that for a significant amount of time while inflicting severe damage with elemental damage; they can't regenerate. " Oz relayed the information.
"So we get them off the ground and then emulate them, is what I'm hearing." Blake's eyes darted wildly, drawing her twin blades, keeping the eager Fae at bay.
" That's the plan! Dust 'em! " Naruto conveyed his message, causing Blake to sigh, mentally seeing the grin on his face. " Be right there. "
"Okay, that one earned some respect!" Yang grinned, ducking and weaving between the Nymphs. "My problem is I keep swatting these buggers out of the air! I can set them on fire all day, but if the ground heals them…"
"Leave it to me!" Weiss held out Myrentaster before her, sigils forming as several Nymphs crashed into them at high velocity. "I can keep them from making contact!"
"You also have the most Dust here!" Blake retorted. "If these things need to take elemental damage, we need to lure them into a trap and trigger it all at once. Save time and resources! Do you have anything like a Gravity or Vacuum-like glyph to trap them and keep them pinned?"
"I can do both…" Weiss ducked as a scythe flew by her head, knocking a Nymph out of the sky. "Watch where you are swinging that! But thank you!"
"Sorry! So many!" Ruby winced before grimacing. "Gah, never thought I would say this, but Crescent Rose is useless here! I can't hit these things without it! It's just not the weapon for this! And they're too quick for sniper rounds!"
"Never thought I would have to punch such a small, fast-moving target, so we're in the same boat!" Yang agreed as the ground shook before she grinned. "Now there's something we can fight!"
"You're kidding me…" Weiss muttered, watching several Treants walk out of the forest.
"Weiss, now!" Blake cried out, roots breaking forth underneath them, forcing all four to dodge. "Could use some red Dust if you have some too!"
Icy glyph platforms formed so they could land and keep off the ground.
Weiss scowled, tossing over a small vial of red Dust. "Here… Let's do this."
A green glyph formed before her as the Nymphs swarmed all around, buzzing excitedly.
Energetically.
"Ruby, draw their attention! Bring them to the glyph!" Blake called out before pointing over to Yang. "You! Keep the big ones off us! We'll deal with them once the small ones are taken care of!"
"Aiy, aiy!" Ruby saluted and burst forward, darting between the fairies.
"Name's Yang, by the way…" Yang muttered, rolling her eyes before grinning and cracking her knuckles. "But I do like a challenge… Bring it Tree Beards! Let's see what ya got!"
"She's a little too excited to be bait…" Weiss muttered before shaking her head, carefully keeping track of the blurring motion of roses. "Okay, a speedster… Can see why she was brought here early…"
"Now!" She activated the Glyph just after Ruby passed over, sucking in all the Nymphs that followed.
Drawing them into the seal that was hovering just above the ground.
It worked. Now, all she had to do…
"What are you doing?" Weiss cried as Blake landed in the wind tunnel she trapped all the nymphs in, noticing her hand on the trigger of her weapon. "Wait… Don't!"
Her eyes flickered in horror as she fell to the earth.
Watching the flaming vortex consume the nymphs, burning them to a crisp…
Reduced to cinders, unable to regenerate.
"You idiot!" Weiss screamed, "Why did you shoot your round…"
"I didn't." Blake's voice came from directly behind her.
Weiss wheeled around, attempting to slap black, fueled by indignant rage.
Only to slap… Something physical…
That dispersed into shadows.
"That's my Semblance." Blake squinted, standing to the side of Weiss. "I needed to get within the glyph to activate it. Was just planning on it being a bomb, but a fire tornado works out much better. Nice work."
"Gals!" Yang's voice echoed before she leapt beside them. "There's even more!"
Blake's ears flattened.
Weiss' face faltered.
Ruby looked terrified.
Treants continued to march out of the forest with dozens of Nymphs floating beside them.
"Oum, save us…" Weiss prayed, staring at the sheer number of Fae standing before them. "Why are there so many…"
"Because they were never threatening until today." A familiar voice came, and a light green sphere landed beside them. "They co-existed peacefully… Have protected Beacon and Vale from the Grimm since their foundation… I only can theorize as to why this may have changed."
"Professor?" All four stumbled at seeing the Headmaster.
"You beat me here?" A second voice echoed before landing in a crouch, standing in a ready stance facing the horde of Fae. "I didn't expect that one! Got some surprises in ya, old man!"
"But I leave them to you. I've got this." Naruto closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, standing perfectly still.
Letting everything flow naturally through him.
"Using your full power?" Oz questioned, noticing the minute changes, sensing the change.
Scanning, seeing if there would be a reaction.
If he was correct…
"Heh, ironically, no…" Naruto slowly opened his eyes, refraining from smirking.
Didn't want to come off as arrogant.
Didn't like using that power if he didn't have to…
Never felt earned…
"Interesting," Ozpin noted, keeping close observation of the situation.
Making an interesting note.
That all the Fae had stopped in their tracks.
And their attention had been drawn squarely onto Naruto.
Showing fear.
"They look… Afraid." Ruby mentioned, glancing at each of the Fae. "What's going on? Why the sudden change?"
"Maybe they regained their senses?" Weiss added, "The Professor did say they protected Beacon and Vale before. Maybe something was agitating them, and now it is gone?"
"Huh?" Naruto squinted. "Hey, wait, I can feel all their presence now… They all have natural energy within them… Explains why it hurt like hell to hit them."
"My children… Come home… We shall march another day."
"Gaea?" Naruto glanced around, searching for the origin of the voice. "Where the hell is she? Why does it feel like she is everywhere?
"Because she is…" Oz frowned, his intent focused on Naruto.
If he was hearing her voice while no one else was…
Meant he was connected to the ley lines.
Drawing energy from the world itself.
Interesting.
"What do you mean…" Naruto began before shivering, feeling Gaea's presence.
"My champion… You will understand… We must… This is our world…"
Naruto glowered.
Her words…
That was a lot to unpack.
What did she plan on doing?
"Don't run!" Yang screamed, watching the Fae retreat into the forest, fading into the shadows as if they were never there. "Oh, you can pick a fight with us just fine! Soon as our instructor and Professor get here and we get a chance to see them in action, you all bail! Boo!"
"It's for the best," Ozpin exhaled, looking like he had seen better days. "Perhaps now we can resume the exam… Ms. Belladonna, you and your partner have collected your relic, have you not?"
"Uh, yes." Blake nodded.
"Very good. You and Ms. Schnee will not have to restart the exam." Oz nodded before his gaze fell upon Ruby and Yang. "As for you two… Ms. Rose, Ms. Xiao Long… Seeing that you made it here just as the incident occurred and would have undoubtedly picked up your relic… You may choose your relic. You will not have to restart the exam."
"Really!" Ruby's eyes sparkled while Yang was taken aback, but a broad grin replaced her expression quickly.
"Yes, really." Ozpin chuckled. "Go.
"Score!" Yang pumped her fist. "Pick one out, Rubes! I'm fine with whatever."
Releasing his form, Naruto's eyebrow raised as he watched Ruby jump to the ruins to make her selection.
He was going to let them finish.
That was… Generous.
Then again…
Naruto smirked.
They held their own and did make it this far already.
And he really wanted to see Ruby in his class.
Could go either way on her sister.
"I made my choice!" Ruby announced, jogging back over.
"The White Knight." Ozpin repressed another chuckle. "Interesting… Very well."
His gaze fell upon all four girls, briefly falling upon Naruto.
A smile formed, and he shook his head.
"So this is how it is meant to play out."
This ceremony…
Was a little grand for his tastes.
Naruto knew it was meant to be special for those accepted into the Academy. It just still felt so…
Extravagant.
Welcomed by all their peers.
By their parents in the crowd…
Fans and media?
What were Huntsman and Huntresses to the ordinary people?
Movie Stars like Koyuki?!
"And we have reached the finale." Ozpin's voice echoed over the loudspeaker as he spoke from the podium. "The final four candidates and the only four to reach the goal and pass the exam before it had to be temporarily suspended. Who even was able to assist their instructor in handling the incident."
"Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long." Ozpin introduced them while four images appeared on the wide-screen monitor above.
Stepping on the stage with all intention and cheer focused on them, all four soaked it in various ways.
Ruby was flushed with nervous embarrassment and attempted to hide it behind laughter.
Weiss strode forward smoothly, calmly, and efficiently. The noise completely unaffecting her as if she had dealt with such crowd noises before…
Blake was silent and seemed annoyed. Her ears curled and folded on her head to block everything out.
Yang soaked it all in, her boisterous confidence rising, begging for more with a motion of her hands.
Naruto blanched and palmed his face.
Unfortunately, he knew he would have done that just a few short years ago…
And under some circumstances, he could see himself doing just that…
All four stood in front of Ozpin, who turned to face them, still standing before the podium. "The four of you each selected the White Knight pieces. … Each with interesting reasoning…"
Naruto scowled.
He had muttered that part of the speaker, but he had caught it clear as day being here on the stage with the rest of the instructors, professors, and doctors.
He almost seemed…
Amused?
"Due to the choices you made, you will now work together for the rest of your time here and be known as Team RWBY," Ozpin announced, standing at attention, looking quite pleased with himself. "Led by…"
"Blake Belladonna."
A moment of silence hushed the crowd.
Golden eyes dilated, focused intently on their smiling headmaster.
Cheers then reigned from the crowd as they congratulated the new team and their leader.
Blake refrained from scowling, even as Ruby jumped in front of her excitedly. "Congratulations! I think they made the right choice! "
"Can't complain," Yang shrugged, hand on hip, half-heartedly smiling. "So, let's start this year with a Yang, leader!"
"Yang, that was cadaverific!"
"Yours was worse, Rubes! Do better!"
Blake exhaled at the two's playful exchange.
They were going to be the cause of a lot of her headaches…
And her…
"Don't think this means I trust you," Weiss glowered, coldly boring her gaze into Blake's. "But if we can keep things civil… Of the other two choices… I'll accept you as the leader. Do not let this faith go unwarranted."
"Same," Blake calmly met Weiss' gaze. "I am willing to compromise to make this team work… Because I know you aren't your father… Now prove it to me."
Icy blue eyes flickered.
With a huff and a turn, she strode away, with both Ruby and Yang confused, their argument with one another ending.
"What did we miss?"
"Oh, one last announcement," Oz spoke over the loudspeaker, still standing at the podium, motioning for the crowd to settle. "I would like to applaud our newest instructor, Uzumaki Naruto. His analysis and immediate reaction allowed us to swiftly take control of the situation in the Emerald Forest faster than anticipated. Without his actions, things could have been drastically different today. He is a shining example of what all Huntsman and Huntresses should strive to be."
Naruto's ears perked while he squinted.
Why was he being mentioned?
Was he being… Acclaimed?
Naruto scowled.
What was Oz's goal here?
"In fact, I hear his first course will be quite enlightening." The wryest smile crept on the corner of Oz's lips as he closed his eyes.
Naruto's eyes flickered.
How did he know what he was prepping for?
He had only been searching for…
"So with that, I bid everyone adieu. May all have a wonderful year."
"And may you find your guiding light this semester."
Amazing how you conquered me
Chained me in servility
And made me see
The world the way you told me to
But I was young, and didn't have a
Way to know the truth
Born to live your legacy
Existing just to fill your needs
A casualty of this so-called "family"
That you have turned into a travesty
But I don't intend to suffer any longer
Here's where your dominion falls apart
I'm shattering the mirror
That kept me split in pieces
That stood between my mind and my heart
This is where I'll start
I'm not your pet
Not another thing you own
I was not born guilty of your crimes
Your riches and your influence
Can't hold me anymore
I won't be possessed
Burdened by your royal test
I will not surrender
This life is mine!
Volume 1
End
This chapter took a bit more than I thought.
I seriously thought I was gonna have to split it into three parts.
But instead I let stay as is...
Not much to say.
I'll let you do the talking.
Did you enjoy this first Volume?
Anything surprise you?
What are you expecting for the next Volume?
I do want to thank everyone for the support so far.
It has made writing this first Volume easier.
Hope you are having a good day and if not, at hopefully this makes your day just a little brighter.
Until the next time,
Peace my friends.