Teru and Piltz finally managed to find the auditorium after a while of walking on their own, giving enough time for Teru to calm down after the meeting with a certain white-haired girl
"Finally! This place is so big it's almost impossible to find anything!" Piltz complained
"W-Well, at least we managed to get here in time…" Teru tried to look at the bright side of things
The two girls walked around the crowd of people, getting around the near front of the stage, being now near a girl with blonde hair
"Hey." the blonde girl greeted them
"O-oh, h-hi." Teru stuttered
"Hi." Piltz didn't even look at her when she answered
The girl blinked at their reactions and then shrugged, deciding to ignore this for now.
After a while of them just waiting and doing nothing Piltz was starting to get annoyed at how much time this was taking. Teru didn't mind, all of this was actually giving her enough time to think and prepare herself for whatever could come, however, the shy girl got her attention grabbed when she heard the name of someone she knew
"Hey, Ruby! Over here! I saved you a spot!" the blonde from before yelled while looking back and waving
Teru turned around, trying to find the other person she knew in this entire place. She felt like having her around would probably help her not get too nervous thanks to the familiarity of knowing her for one night… Well, it was better than nothing.
"How's your first day going, little sister?" the blonde asked making Teru turn towards her and see that Ruby was already there, that girl was surprisingly fast
"You mean after you abandoned me and I exploded?" Ruby asked annoyed
"Yikes, meltdown already?"
"No, I literally exploded a hole in front of the school! And there was some fire, and I think some ice…?"
"...Are you being sarcastic?"
"I wish! I tripped over some crabby girl's luggage, and then she started yelling at me, and then I sneezed, and then I exploded, and then she yelled more at me, and I felt really really bad, and I just wanted her to stop yelling at me-"
"That sounds like what happened to me…" Teru said, making Ruby turn to her "E-except the exploding part…"
"Teru! It's nice to see you again. So, you met Weiss too…" Ruby said, sounding tired just saying her name
"Y-yeah, but I didn't get her name… S-she is… uh…" Teru tried to find the right words
"A complete prick." Piltz completed for her
"You know these girls?" the blonde asked
"Ah! Yes, I do! This is Teru, she is the hero girl who helped me when I fought some thieves in the store!" Ruby said while pulling Teru and showing her off, making the girl blush
"Really? An actual hero here? That's super cool!" the blonde said, moving her hand for a handshake "I'm Yang, Ruby's older sister!"
"H-hi… I-I'm Teru b-but she already told you…" Teru stuttered a lot and shook Yang's hand "And t-the girl that's walking with me i-is Piltz… She's also a hero…"
"That's me." Piltz raised one hand while walking up to them
"Hello Piltz, nice to meet you. Sorry for kind of ignoring you for most of this conversation." Ruby said a little awkwardly
"Don't go apologizing for stupid stuff like that." Piltz told her making Ruby deflate a little
"Sorry…"
"You're just like Teru…" Piltz sighed
"These two really aren't good with new people." Yang giggled a little while Teru had frozen while trying to figure out what to say
"Hey, you!" a familiar voice was heard
The sudden appearance of that certain person made Teru hide behind Piltz and made Ruby jump into her sister's arms. Piltz turned around to see what caused this panic and then scowled, it was Weiss…
"Ah! It's happening again!" Ruby yelled
"Oh, quiet. You're lucky we weren't blown off the cliff thanks to what you did!" Weiss told Ruby
"Oh my Oum, you actually did explode…" Yang said genuinely surprised
"It was an accident!" Ruby yelled while getting off Yang's arms and having a pamphlet shoved on her face, not only her but Teru too "What's this?"
"'Dust for dummies'?" Teru read as she grabbed the pamphlet
"I do apologize for the way I reacted, I admit that it was… a little uncalled for, especially for you." Weiss said while giving Teru a small glance "However, you must also be more careful with where you walk, and on what you sneeze. So to make it up to me, you should read this and never speak to me again."
Weiss continued talking without stop, rambling about Schnee Company policies and how they weren't responsible for injuries caused by dust and that people should read the pamphlets to understand how to properly use dust. Piltz grabbed the pamphlet from Teru's hand and began reading it a little, getting annoyed by it and stepping up to the Schnee
"You're idea of apologizing is calling someone dumb and telling them to make it up to you? Are you stupid? That doesn't count as an apology!" Piltz told her, shoving her pamphlet on her chest
"What did you just call me!?" Weiss yelled glaring at Piltz
"Stupid. What? Is the dust you carry around filling up your ears?"
"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that!?"
"Someone who hates your type of annoying spoiled brat!"
"I am not spoiled!"
The two girls kept glaring at each other, pressing their chests against each other as if trying to push the other around, they looked like they were ready to kill each other
"Okay, you two calm down." Yang got herself between the two, pushing them away from each other "It seems you four just started out on the wrong foot. How about trying again?"
"That's a great idea, sis!" Ruby said
"That doesn't sound like a good idea…" Teru said
Ruby took a step forward, clearing her throat and throwing her pamphlet away
"Hello, Weiss. I'm Ruby! Wanna hang out? We can go shopping for school supplies! You can come with us too, Teru." Ruby said while trying to shake Weiss' hand, Teru just gave Ruby an uncertain look
"Oh yes, and then we can paint our nails, buy new clothes, and talk about cute boys, like tall, blonde, and scraggly over there!" Weiss said in an overly excited way and pointed at a random blonde boy
"Really!?" Ruby looked excited
Weiss however just gave Ruby a deadpan look before answering her
"No."
Their attention stopped being on fighting amongst each other by the sound of a microphone being turned on, making them turn towards the stage, seeing Ozpin and Glynda on top of it
"I'll... keep this brief." Ozpin began "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, and direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."
When Ozpin finished that he turned around and left, making Glynda take the microphone this time
"You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed." Glynda said and then left herself
"He seemed kinda… off." Yang said
"It was like he wasn't even there." Piltz said while frowning
"I'm a natural blonde, you know!" the random blonde boy from before said to Weiss making her let out an evaporated sigh and put a hand on her face
"Weird…" Teru said while looking at the stage, she felt something strange about Ozpin for some reason…
—
It was now nighttime, and everyone was in the ballroom as ordered, there were lots of sleeping bags around and everyone was in their pajamas. Teru was in a corner on her own, looking inside her backpack and checking on her robotic shrimp friend
"H-hey, Villon, are you okay?"
"I'm alright. How about you? You seem more nervous than usual." Villon said
"Y-yeah, it's just… There are a lot of people here, and I don't know who the other heroes that Unilord told me about… I-I mean, I already found Lady Black but…" Teru began to ramble
"I see, well, I can inform you of the other heroes if you wish," Villon said while flying slightly out of her bag
"T-thank you…"
"Let me see…" Villon began analyzing the room and took notice of two people in particular, one was a petite person who seemed to be getting hit on by some boys, trying to get away from them as quickly as possible, and the other was a boy with clear white hair who was wearing a crop top and painting something in a small canvas "Found them."
"That was quick…"
"Meng Long and La Toile. Those are the heroes that are also here among the students. That is all the information in allowed to disclose." Villon explained
"I-it doesn't help a lot but thank you, Shrimpy." Teru smiled
"No problem, Shy. But, don't you think you should go and make some friends?"
"Y-you mean socialize?"
"Indeed. You are in a new school, a school for training huntsmen no less, so getting to know people here will make you more understanding of how things work in their line of work."
"O-okay… I guess I'll go and talk to Ruby-"
"That won't do. You need to talk with new people."
"But I'm horrible at that!" Teru tried to tell but it came off as a slightly louder whisper
"And you won't get better unless you try." Villon would smile if he had a mouth. He began to look around for people for Teru to interact too, someone who looked easy to be friends with… He ended up choosing a girl with orange hair near a boy with black hair that had one singular pink strand "How about that girl?"
"Uh… I suppose I can try…" Teru gulped
Villon went back inside her backpack while Teru got up, took a deep breath, and walked up to said girl. She began to get less and less sure about this with each step she took, when she finally got close enough to talk she decided to start with a normal starter
"H-h-hello…" Teru whispered, almost being impossible to hear
The ginger girl sprang up, turning around to look at Teru, causing the girl to flinch and take a step back
"Hi there! I'm Nora!" the girl presented herself, giving Teru a big smile
"A-a-ah…" Teru began to blush quite a lot, she didn't think she would get this far "I-I'm T-T-Teru…"
"T-T-Teru? That's a weird name." Nora said
"It's just Teru, Nora." the boy explained
"Ah! Yeah, that makes more sense. Thanks, Ren!" Nora made an expression of realization before grabbing Teru's hand and beginning to shake it super fast "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"S-so energetic!" Teru thought with wide eyes "N-nice to meet you too."
"So, how are you? Do you like pancakes? Where are you from? Oh, and this is my friend, Ren!" Nora began saying, Ren waved when he mentioned "We have been together since we were small, but not "together" together, you know, it's not like that. But he is very cool! Anyway, it's very nice to meet you! Wait, I already said that…"
Teru was not being able to keep up with her, that girl had way too much energy for her! This was a bad idea! A very very bad idea!
Villon watched everything from the bag and also agreed that this may have been a mistake, it took an entirety of twenty minutes before Teru was freed from Nora and waved back at her, walking back to her sleeping bag, completely exhausted…
"So, how did it go?" Villon asked
"She said we were friends so… I guess well…" Teru said before falling face-first into her sleeping bag, having completely used up her social battery
Villon shook his head and quickly flew off her bag to put her inside the sleeping bag so she would be more comfortable while sleeping. Well, at least now Tery had two friends who were huntsmen
—
The next day, Teru and Piltz were checking their respective lockers, getting their stuff for the initiation that was close to beginning
"Do you know what this initiation is?" Teru asked
"No idea. But Unilord did tell me that the students will be distributed into teams. She also said that we shouldn't worry because she made sure we would be on the same team as the other heroes." Piltz explained while putting on a black jacket
"I-isn't that cheating?" Teru asked worried
"It's not cheating if it's allowed." Piltz answered
"I guess that makes sense…"
"So, Pyrrha, have you given thought to whose team you'd like to o be on?" Weiss said as she walked up to her locker, along with a redhead "I'm sure everyone must be eager to be on the same team as an important figure such as yourself."
"Of course our locker is next to her…" Piltz groaned annoyed
"I'm not quite sure. I was planning on just letting the chips fall where they may." Pyrrha said with a small smile
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could be on a team together." Weiss suggested
"Well, that sounds grand." Pyrrha beamed
"Great!" Weiss celebrated
"Oh, how I wish you two end up on separate teams just to see the look on your face." Piltz said while closing her locker
"Oh, you're here." Weiss grimaced while turning to the girl with black hair
"That's the same reaction I had when I saw you." Piltz deadpanned
"A-also, I'm here…" Teru said
"Hello." Pyrrha greeted
"What was your name again? I don't think I caught it?" Weiss asked
"It's Piltz Dunant." Piltz answered
"Well, Puke."
"Piltz."
"That's what I said." Weiss smirked "I don't think you truly know who you are messing with, so I let your little disrespect pass."
"Oh, but Miss Sneeze."
"Schnee."
"That's what I said." Piltz now smirked "I do know who you are, there heiress of some super-rich company, right? The thing is, I don't care, you still haven't done anything to gain my respect after your little stunt yesterday, so I'll keep my "disrespect" until then."
The two growled as they glared at each other, small bolts of lightning coming out of their eyes and clashing against each other
"Uh…" Teru didn't know what to do about that, and apparently, Pyrrha was on the same boat "H-hello, I'm Teru."
"Hello again. I'm Pyrrha." Pyrrha presented herself to Teru
"N-nice to meet you, Miss Pyrrha."
"No need to be so formal, just Pyrrha is fine."
"U-uh… W-well, then it's great to meet you, Pyrrha." Teru had a small smile, this girl was rather nice to talk too
"I feel the same way." Pyrrha smiled, making Teru blush and look away
"Wait, why am I reacting like this?" Teru wondered
"You know what else is great?" a random person said while getting between the two duos "Me, Jaune Arc, nice to meet you."
The two girls that were fighting immediately stopped and turned around slowly to look at who had just talked to them, their faces slightly contorting in disgust
"You again!?"
"Who!?"
"Hello, nice to meet you, Jaune." Pyrrha approached
"H-hey…" Teru approached right behind her
"Yeah yeah." Jaune pushed the two girls away and focused on Weiss "So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness for me the other day~."
"Oh, you got to be kidding me…" Weiss groaned
"Oh look, the princess has a knight in shining armor for her." Piltz said while trying to keep herself from laughing
"Quiet you!"
"Don't worry! No need to be embarrassed! So, I've been hearing rumors about teams! And I was thinking that you and I would make a good team. What do you say?" Jaune said while doing a small pose that he probably thought was seductive, Weiss looked at him with a mixture of anger and disgust
"Actually, I heard that the students will be separated into teams of four each, so…" Pyrrha began, getting Jaune's attention
"You don't say." Jaune says as he then advances to Pyrrha "Well hot stuff, play your cards right, and maybe you will be on the winning team."
Pyrrha giggled slightly, but then Jaune moved back, trying to get Piltz into his imaginary harem
"That goes for you too, dollface." Jaune said putting a hand on her shoulder
"I'm trained to attack if threatened. Call me that again or touch me again and I'll feel really threatened." Piltz told him
"Message received." Jaune said letting go of her
"Alright, stop! Jaune, is it? Do you know who is this girl you flirted with?" Weiss said while pointing at Pyrrha, using the broadest definition of flirting possible
"Not in the slightest, snow angel." Jaune said
"Am I being ignored?" Teru blinked, not knowing how to feel about being the only one left out of this conversation
"This is Pyrrha!" Weiss yelled
"Hello again!"
"She graduated top of her class at Sanctum!"
"I don't know what that is." Jaune said
Weiss looked at Piltz who just shrugged and then at Teru who flinched a little
"I-I also don't know…"
"Grr!" Weiss groaned "She won the Mistral Region Tournament four times in a row! A new record!"
"The what?" Jaune was still clueless
"She was the top choice to become a hero for the region. Well, before coming here to become a huntress." Piltz said, she knew of Pyrrha mostly because of that, she never really bothered to look more into it after that
"There's a process to choose heroes?" Jaune asked confused
"She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" Weiss yelled as she began to move her arms up and down frantically
"That's you!" Jaune gasped surprised
"That's what makes him recognize her?" Teru thought while sweatdropping
"But they only do that for cartoon characters and star athletes!" Jaune continued shocked
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. Sadly, the cereal isn't good for you." Pyrrha said
"So, after hearing all of that, do you think you think you're in a position to ask her to be your teammate?" Weiss asked
"Are you?" Piltz shot back
"Of course I am!" Weiss screeched
"Well… I guess not… Sorry." Jaune looked down dejected
"Actually, I think you'd make a great leader, Jaune." Pyrrha said while putting a hand on his shoulder
"D'oh, stop it!" Jaune immediately got back his confidence
"Yeah, stop it. This type of behavior shouldn't be encouraged." Weiss frowned and crossed her arms
"Sounds like Pyrrha's on board for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quickly! Now, I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I could pull some strings, and find a place for you. What do you say?" Jaune said while smirking at the ice princess
"Are you saying you want to cheat on the test to get with her in front of all of us? Are you stupid?" Piltz lifted an eyebrow
"W-wait, I wasn't-"
"And you're too close now. Pyrrha, a little help here?" Weiss said
Pyrrha nodded and grabbed a red spear, throwing it at Jaune, stabbing his shirt, and sending him flying away screaming
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha apologized
And right after that, a voice came from the intercom system, that voice being Glynda's
"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first-year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
The girls heard that and began to make their way there, with Piltz and Weiss giving each other small death glares the whole way, passing through Jaune with Pyrrha grabbing her spear back and making the blonde boy fall on the ground
"It was nice meeting you!" Pyrrha said
"B-bye Jaune." Teru waved at him
"Likewise…"
Teru then walked up to Piltz and pulled her away, taking a different path than Weiss and Pyrrha just so a fight wouldn't happen. The two heroes now making their way on their own
"S-so, Piltz… Why do you hate Weiss exactly?" Teru decided to ask, trying to make some small talk… She wasn't very good at it
"Because she is a rich spoiled brat who thinks she can go around insulting everyone without consequences, calling people idiots, and snapping at everyone for the smallest of things. I despise people like that!" Piltz explained while crossing her arms beneath her bust
"I-isn't that how you act?" Teru asked confused
"Of course not! Why would you think that? Are you stupid!?" Piltz yelled at her
"SORRY!"
—
At the Beacon Cliff, the students were now all in a single file line, all standing side by side with each other, with Teru being right beside Piltz, and to her side two people that she could swear Villon said something about yesterday. Standing right in front of this line were Ozpin, who was holding a mug, and Glynda Goodwitch
"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." Ozpin said, making Teru rather nervous
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of "teams." Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates... today." Glynda told them making now Ruby nervous
"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." Ozpin explained making both Ruby and Teru even more nervous "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
Teru and Ruby widened their eyes in shock. Just like that!? They would only need to look at someone and then they would be with them for four years!?
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die." Ozpin explained, making Teru and Jaune scared "You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
Jaune raised his hand
"Yeah, uh, sir…"
"Great. Now, get in position." Ozpin said with a smile
"Huh?" Teru said and looked at the others, seeing all of them making some poses
"Prepare yourself, Teru," Piltz told her
"Yeah, you can be caught lacking in these types of situations." the person with white hair said "Also, nice to meet you. My name is L'Arc Materia Renoir, but you can just call me Renoir. Also, know and La Toile."
"Hello, I'm Ming Ming Li, and also the hero Meng Long. It's a pleasure to meet you." a girl with black hair said while waving at Teru
"Y-You two are heroes too!? W-well, I'm Teru, hero name, S-Shy!" Teru presented herself
"Piltz, hero name, Lady Black." Piltz said while counting down from three on her fingers "And now."
"Eh?" Teru was confused
But suddenly the four of them were launched off the cliff thanks to the platform springing them away, with Teru and Li screaming in terror as they flew away. Ozpin, however, just smiled and took another sip of his coffee.