A/N: Beacon has just started and now its students are being put to the test. After getting to know some of the other students, Patrick still has doubts about being paired up in a team. Who will he be paired with, and can he learn to get along with them for his time here in Beacon?
Chapter 6: The Emerald Forest Part I
None of the students in the air showed any signs of panic. Even as they fall to their doom, there's nothing but bravery and confidence. They arrive above the Emerald forest. As they draw closer, they begin their own landing strategies.
Clawdia starts, by stretching one of her arms out, the blades on her weapon stuck onto the tree. Clawdia spins around and around the tree as she slowly lands closer to the ground and lands on her feet and one hand. "A Pur-fect landing." She says.
Peter doesn't have his weapon out. Instead, he has his hands out. Ready. He grabs the nearest branch of the tree. With several flips, he releases his grip and lands onto the ground undamaged.
Akira just has her eyes closed, her hand at the grip of the hilt of her sheathed blade. Once she's close... "First Sword Form: Galestorm!" She unleashes swift and powerful swings, with her Katana loaded with Wind Dust, powerful air slashes are launched. With the mixture of the power and speed she's demonstrating, the ability causes a recoil that's slowing her fall. Once she's close to the ground, Akira ceases the Galestorm. She stands straight and proud as she sheathes her sword then starts wandering into the woods.
Patrick's landing is his usual method. He activates the Dust Bracers with Gravity Dust and his fall starts to slow and he lands safely to the ground. The area he is in is calm and, other than the sounds of flying students from above, quiet...too quiet for comfort.
He starts walking into the Emerald Forest.
As he wonders, Ozpin's instructions echos in his head.
'You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, and returning to the top of the cliff'
"An Abandoned Temple..." Patrick thinks.
Peter runs through the woods. He has his Battle-ax ready for if he ever comes across any Grimm. But he keeps his spirits high as he tries to hope for a female partner. In his 'innocent' daydreaming, Peter becomes shortly interrupted when he runs into some unwelcome guests.
The Grimm, Beowolves, takes notice of him. The Beowolves growls as they stare at him with their burning red soulless eyes. Peter proudly smiles and positions himself to strike. "You think you can scare me? Bring it, pups."
The Beowolves come at him. Peter dodges its swiping attack then chops off its paw, and the Beowolf howls in pain.
Clawdia walks across the forest. Her cat ears perk for each direction she faces as she walks. "Meow, where is the temple?" Clawdia goes in one direction of the forest, but as time passed, she finds herself returning to this section area of the forest. "Oh. Must be a wrong turn." Clawdia then turns in a different direction. "Maybe hiss way?" She goes down that way. Like before, she finds herself back to where she had started. "Oh no. This is Claw-ful. I appear to be lost." Just then, there's a loud howl. Really startles Clawdia her body shakes as if there's fur sticking out. She turns to herself coming across Beowolves. "Oh haha, very funny. Two Dog Grimms ganging up against a Cat." She takes out her fist blades, positions herself to fight. "Mew two are in a litter-ally world of trouble."
The Beowolves growl as they approach to come after Clawdia. Suddenly, there's steel wire being wrapped around the Grimm. And in two seconds flat, they were killed and dissolve into dust.
Clawdia's cat ears perk in confusion. Behind the smoke of Grimm is a Maid. The Steel Wires recoil into her fist gloves. Then said maid stands properly and offers Claw-dia a warm smile. "Dear me. I did not expect company." Rayla says.
"A Maid?" Clawdia asks.
"Indeed." Rayla offers a curtsy. "I am Rayla Evergreen. It is a pleasure to serve you."
Akira is walking through the woods alone. Even though she isn't armed, her guard is still at a high. In the middle of the woods, Akira is on her tracks and looks up to the sky. "Hmm. I wonder who my partner is gonna be." She then rests a hand on the hilt of her Katana. "Hopefully it's one who also follows the way of the sword."
In her brief moment, one of her Fox Ears twitches. Akira's on the alert. She grabs hold of her Katana, positioned for battle. She remains within his stance as the bushes shake.
In an instant, a bunny rabbit comes right out of the bushes. Akira's expression softens seeing it's only a harmless woodland creature, and it hops away.
"Just a little critter." Akira sighs then turn and move on ahead, only she's come to a sudden halt when she finds herself in the face of an Ursa Grimm. Akira becomes surprised when it roars in her face. Akira leaps back several feet, drawing out her Katana. "You manage to slip by my senses. I admire your skill, but I will not fall before the Grimm!"
Peter is hacking away the Grimm that comes at him. The Grimm falls before him in only one or two strikes. With all the Grimm defeated, Peter continues onward. "Didn't even break a sweat."
A Saber Grimm growls, right before it gets destroyed by an Arrow. Patrick keeps his guard up. He looks to see another Saber and coming at him. He ducks dodge and the Grimm flies right over him. As soon as it lands, Patrick launches another arrow at it. This time a fire dust one, and the Grimm burn into flames and died.
Patrick sheathes his Bowblades and continues onward. "I still don't get why this trail would involve actual Grimm. What kind of a school is this?" Patrick then comes to a stop when he sees something before him.
Marlene has her Pistol Guns at point, then her guard softens realizing it's not a threat. At least, not a Grimm Threat. "Oh, Patrick. It's only you." Marlene says. She puts away her weapons. "I guess that means we're a team now."
Patrick looks grumpy. "Let's get one thing straight, I work alone."
"But, Professor Goodwitch said-"
Patrick starts walking away. "Not a chance. And if I were to be paired with someone, I'll take the next person I see." Just to his luck, Patrick looks behind the bushes before leaving, and behind that bush is Peter.
Peter is surprised to see him but greets him. "Hey, it's my old peeping buddy."
Patrick's steaming with rage while angrily glaring at Peter. Without saying a word, he turns and walks away, then grabs Marlene by the back. "By no means does this make us a team." He grumbles.
"Yea! we're partners!" Marlene says with excitement, then suddenly sounds confused. "Wait, what did he mean 'Peeping buddy'?"
"Shut up!" Patrick says, aggressively.
This just leaves Peter behind, alone and confused. "What did I say?"
What Patrick doesn't know is that Ozpin and Glydia are both monitoring him. Ozpin is observing his actions real close. Glydia, on the other hand, is having doubts. "Are you sure about him?"
"I'll admit he's rough no the edges, but we have to keep an eye on him and see if he is one of them," Ozpin says.
"He doesn't appear to possess the power. Then again, he's still at a young age." Glydia says.
"But who knows what he has been doing over the years, especially with Amber and her parents gone." Ozpin turns his attention back to Patrick on the screen. "He may not be able to naturally possess the Silver Eyes, but he'll still pose a great threat to our War. The only question is Whose?"
Patrick and Marlene make their way through the woods. "I believe I have an accurate idea of where the Temple might be."
"All right, I'll bite," Patrick says.
"Based on the measurements of the landscape, the density of the forest, and from the visible view from above, I believe the Temple is in this direction." Marlene leads the way and Patrick follows. Several feet later, they have reached a dead in. A large lake in the middle of the forest. Marlene looks side to side, it stretches as far as the eye can see. She then throws a rock in it. As soon as it splashes, several Piranha Grimm are jumping out snapping their jaws. "Well, this appears to be quite a predicament."
"Maybe for you." Patrick then activates the Dust Bracers, filling them with Ice Dust. He then removes his quiver and sets it to be equipped on his front. "Get on my back." Marlene doesn't hesitate as she hops on his back. "Hold on tight."
Patrick then sprints forward. As he steps on the lake, the water instantly freezes, creating a small ice step for each foot. Granting him the ability to run on water. Patrick moves fast, for the piranhas are snapping their jaws right behind him. Even Marlene screams at this whole moment.
Soon enough, Patrick makes it to the other side, with no damage at all. He drops Marlene from his back and reequips his Quiver the right way.
"That wasn't so bad," Marlene says.
"Yeah. Your screams were speaking volumes." Patrick says. "Let's get moving."
Peter is walking through the forest alone. Lost in his mind. "Man, what is up with that guy? ...Ah well, it's his loss...At least I hope my partner will be some cute girl...maybe with some big beautiful-"
Peter's sentence is cut short when he hears a loud crash. He turns to find an Ursa Grimm slammed against a pile of trees. The monster appears to be weak and staggering, but it still has a fighting spirit within it. Peter takes out his battle-ax. He charges towards the Grimm and finishes it off.
As the Grimm Dissolves, Peter turns to see the attacker coming out of the smoke. The man appears about the same height as Clawdia was, in a long-sleeve white shirt and sleeveless gray vest and black pants, wearing a black hat, with blue hair and dog ears.
Peter is surprised to see a student like him but suddenly becomes disappointed. "Aww, so much for a female partner."
Akira fights off against each of the Grimm that comes at her. The Beowolves Fall by her blade in one slash. Ursa's fight hard, Akira uses Second Sword Form: Lightning Sheer, against it. And the giant bear falls in three slashes. With the Grimm defeated, Akira takes a deep breath as she sheathes her sword.
"You are worthy opponents," Akira says. She bows before where the Grimm once stood. Akira is about to continue onward, but then two more Beowolves and an Ursa appears. Akira positions herself to strike but doesn't make a move when something unusual happens.
Akira's Fox Ears catches a beautiful melody. But she's not the only one. She notices the Ursa Grimm being drawn to it. At first, it was only confusion. Then subduedly. The Beowolves seemed unaffected, and Akira is most confused about what happens next: The Ursa attacks the Beowolves. The Beowolves didn't try to fight back, they only focused on Akira. But they never got the chance to lay a claw on her.
With the Beowolves defeated, the Ursa remains still as the song plays. Akira just stands confused, then she notices something coming from behind it. Selena is singing, her throat glowing as she does. Akira realizes what it is she's doing. While still singing, Selena gives Akira a direct look and gestures her hands to kill the Grimm. Akira looks back at the Grimm, then looks back at Selena and shook her head. Akira gestures towards Selena, silently telling her to cease singing, then soon positions herself to fight.
Selena silences her singing, and the Ursa returns to its senses. Akira fights the Grimm until she defeats it. Akira sheathes her weapon and Selena approaches before her. "You wanted the Ursa to attack you?"
"Indeed," Akira says. "While the Grimm are nothing but soulless monsters, there is still no honor in fighting an opponent that can't fight back."
"You're a strange one," Selena says.
"Most people don't understand the value of honor." Akira stands straight and bows before Selena. "I thank you for your assistance. I suppose this means we are now partners."
"It seems that way." Selena offers her hand. "My name's...Sherry. Sherry Farron."
Akira accepts her hand. "Akira Rhysenshi."
Patrick and Marlene make it through the woods. The Grimm stood in their ways, but Patrick cuts and shoots them down. Marlene's Dust Bullets have also made several numbers, but she's still lacking in combat experience.
As they wonder, Marlene starts to get tired. She stops hands on her knees, panting. "You're gonna get left behind," Patrick warns her, still moving.
"Can't you...can't you...slow down...for a bit?" Marlene says.
"If we don't get moving, the Grimm will come after us," Patrick says.
"I know that...but I'm not physically fit. I don't even have your kind of stamina." Marlene says.
"You've got enough to complain," Patrick says. Hearing that just upsets Marlene a bit. She suddenly has the energy to run up and catch up with Patrick.
"What's your problem? Ever since you came to Beacon, you've been really cold and mean." Marlene says.
Patrick stops and gives Marlene a close glare. "You got a problem with that?"
"I'm just saying you're not gonna make friends or be a good team member if you behave this way," Marlene says.
"I've learned that making friends is futile," Patrick says. "And I'm better working alone. I'm in for Beacon under personal reasons, and I'm not letting anyone get in my way."
Patrick continues forward. Marlen huffs in frustration and still follows him. About a minute later, Patrick and Marlene found an old temple. Most likely the place Ozpin had mentioned.
"This is it," Patrick says. Patrick slides down the hill. Marlene tries to but winds up more falling than sliding. Patrick and Marlene approach the temple. In it, several pillars are containing the relics.
Only the relics are pretty unusual for them. "The relics...are chess pieces?"
Patrick passes by the pillars, looking at each of the pieces. the white pieces he just walked by. But the dark ones, he observes them a little longer.
"Which ones do we take?" Marlene asks, looking at a Pawn Piece.
"I don't think it matters. Let's just pick one." Patrick says.
Patrick starts to slow until he stops at a Black Queen piece. As he stares at it, he feels lost in his mind. Marlene takes notice of this strange behavior. In Patrick's head, he can hear the sounds of Grimm and cries of fear...and apart from his past, he wishes he'd never want. Women screaming in fear and pain. Men wild. Even his own childish voice screaming, 'MOTHER'.
"PATRICK!" Patrick snaps out of it, looking at Marlene with a startled look. "You okay?"
"I-I...I'm fine." Patrick says.
Marlene still doesn't understand, but puts it aside and turns her attention to the Queen. "You want the Black Queen?"
Patrick turns his attention back to the piece. "Y-Yeah." He takes the Queen Piece. "Okay. Let's head for the cliff." Patrick and Marlene start heading out.
Meanwhile, Ozpin observes everything from the monitor. He raises an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hmm...Interesting." Ozpin swipes his scroll to the messages, and sends Qrow a message:
'In a Moment's Hesitation, he went for the Black Queen. Oz.'