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I threw up on a blonde's shoes. I was dizzy. The movement of the airship sent my stomach lurching. We landed and I managed to make my way to a trash can. I lost it. I bottomed out. There was nothing I could do as my stomach betrayed me.

The flow of students came and went around me.

By the time I recovered myself I was alone. There was nobody around. Come on Jaune. Get it together. You're supposed to be a hero. I started making my way down the path. I found a girl with red tipped black hair laying in a crater.

"Welcome to Beacon," she muttered to herself but I overheard.

"Hey," I greeted awkwardly. I rubbed my neck with my left hand. Then I offered her my right to pull her to her feet. "I'm Jaune," I introduced myself.

"Ruby," she looked away and took my hand. I pulled her to her feet. She snorted. "Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?"

"Yes…" I confessed. "All I'm saying is motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on."

She snorted again and we started walking through the walled courtyards of Beacon academy. "Look, sorry, vomit boy was the first thing that came to mind."

"Oh yeah? What if I called you a crater face?" I shot back.

"Hey, that explosion was an accident."

"Well the name is Jaune Arc. Short sweet. Rolls off the tongue. Ladies love it."

"Do they?" She had to wonder.

"They will." I tried. "Well, I hope they will. My mom always says… never mind." I trailed off.

"Ha, so uh I got this thing." She pulled an enormous scythe from her back.

"Woah is that a scythe?!" I exclaimed.

"It's also a customizable high impact sniper rifle."

"Uh what?"

"It's also a gun."

"Oh. That's cool."

"So what do you have?"

"Oh… uh…" I showed her my sword and shield and how the sword fit into the scabbard which also turned into my shield. "I have this sword. I have a shield too."

"Ooh," she hummed. "What do they do?"

"Oh the sheath turns into my shield so when I get tired of carrying it I can put it on my belt."

"But don't they still weigh the same."

"Yeah. They uh do." I muttered mostly to myself.

"Well hahaha I'm a bit of a dork when it comes to weapons. I guess I went a little overboard designing it." She decided.

"Wait. You made that." I pointed at the sniper rifle scythe.

"Yeah. All students at signal make their own weapons. Didn't you make yours?"

"Oh no. It's a bit of a family heirloom. My father used it during the war."

"Well I like it. Not many people have an appreciation for the classics."

"Yeah. Yeah! The classics," I agreed.

"So why'd you help me out there. In the courtyard."

"Eh why not?" I dismissed. "My mom always says strangers are friends you haven't met yet."

"Hm. Hey where are we going?" SHe asked.

"I was following you," I pointed out. "Do you think there might be a directory? Maybe a food court?"

She snorted.

"Is that a 'no?'" I asked.

"Yeah. That's a 'no.'"

We came across an auditorium packed with students in the central courtyard.

"Ruby! Over here! I saved you a spot!" A blonde with lilac eyes called out to the girl on my right.

"Oh. I have to go. I'll see you after the ceremony," Ruby decided.

"Wait!" I called to late. "Great. Where am I going to find another cute, quirky girl to talk to?" I asked myself.

I shuffled aimlessly for a moment looking around pretty lost among the throng. I didn't exactly not blend in. I was wearing my piecemeal armor. Other students were wearing armor and bright clothes too.

"Yeah we can talk about cute boys like tall blonde and scraggly over there." A girl jerked her thumb at me. A white haired girl with bright blue eyes.

"Hm?" I hummed.

"I'll keep this brief. You've traveled here today in search of new knowledge to hone your craft. To work hard and protect the people of this world. But I look among you and all I see is wasted energy. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time at this school will show you that knowledge will only take you so far. It's up to you to take the first step." Feedback from the microphone blared and then the man with glasses at the podium spoke.

"You will gather at the bottom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins. You're dismissed," a woman with purple coat tails cut in with her curly blonde hair.

"I'm a natural blonde you know," I informed the white haired girl. She face palmed.

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I changed into my onesie and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow was the big day after all.

Come on. Come on. Gets some sleep. No? Fuck. When I woke up I went down the cafeteria I ate some pancakes and drank some coffee. It would help with not having slept well.

Not that there was something that would help with the lack of sleep.

Oh come on. I didn't put my shit in locker three thousand yesterday. I don't remember counting that high. I cut into the white haired girl's conversation with a red head. "You know what else is great? Me. Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."

"Ugh you again?" She grimaced.

"Nice to meet you Jaune." The red head cut in.

"Yeah yeah. So Weiss. Couldn't help but overhear your fondness for me the other day."

"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" She made another face.

"So been hearing about teams and was thinking you and me would make a good one. What do you say?" I asked.

"For fucks sake," she whispered.

"Actually I think the teams are composed of four students each," the redhead cut in.

"You don't say. Well play your card right and you could end up on my team," I gestured at myself with a thumb.

"Jaune is it?" Weiss cut in. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"Not in the slightest snow angel."

"This is Pyrrha."

"Hello again," 'Pyrrha' waved.

"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum."

"Never heard of it."

"She's the four time Mistrali champion."

"Neat."

"Ugh! She's on the back of every Pumpkin Pete's cereal box."

"That's you!" I exclaimed. "That's where I've seen you before."

"Yes. Although the cereal isn't very good for you." Pyrrha went on.

"So after hearing all that do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss demanded.

"I guess not." I muttered.

"Actually Jaune I think you'd make a great leader."

"Oh stop it," I dismissed.

"Please do stop it. This type of behavior should not be encouraged," Weiss gesticulated.

"Sounds like Pyrrha onboard for team Jaune. Spots are filling up quickly. Now I'm not supposed to do this but-"

"Pyrrha! A little help!?" Weiss exclaimed.

A spear came out of nowhere and pinned me to the wall by the shirt.

"All first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately for initiation. Again all first year students to Beacon cliff."

"It was nice meeting you," Pyrrha said.

"Likewise," I muttered.

I sagged to the floor after Pyrrha drew her spear.

"Having trouble, lady killer?" The blonde whose shoes I threw up on asked.

"My dad says all women look for is confidence. Where did I go wrong?"

"Snow angel wasn't the best start."

"Come on Jaune," Ruby helped me to my feet.

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"For years you have trained to become warriors and today your abilities will be evaluated in the emerald forest," The headmaster began.

"Now, I'm sure many of you have rumors about the assignment of teams. Each of you will be given teammates today." The deputy continued.

"You will be partnered up with someone for the duration of your stay at the academy. So it is in your best interest that you be partnered up with someone with whom you can work well with. That being said. The first person you make eye contact with will become your partner. 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 every monster in your path, or you will die. You will be monitored and evaluated for the duration of the initiation. Our monitors will not interfere. Make your way to the ruins at the end of the path. Collect relics lying in wait for you and return to the academy. Any questions?"

We had none.

Then they started launching people into the forest on little pads. Just like that!

When it was my turn I screamed. Not going to lie. I wish I could say it was a masculine scream. I wish I could say I faced my death like a man. No. I screamed myself hoarse. In a very emasculating way. When I tried to breathe as I flew through the air I couldn't get enough air back into my lungs to scream again. I reached the apex of my arc and began to fall. I plummeted down into the heart of the forest. When suddenly my shirt jerked and I was caught. I was pinned by Pyrrha's spear to a tree. Pretty firmly too. I tried to free myself to no avail.

"Thank you!" I called out.

"I'm sorry!" I heard Pyrrha's distant reply.

It was Weiss who stumbled across me first. "Uh… hi…" I greeted. She just turned on her heel and left.

"You came back!" Came Ruby's voice booming through the clearing at Weiss.

"By no means does this make us friends." I heard Weiss's quick retort.

"So, do you still have room on your team?" It was Pyrrha walking into the clearing with her shield at her back. It was a round shield.

"Very funny." I shot back.

She just snorted and pulled the spear out after climbing up to me.

I laughed a little back. It could be worse. I decided. It could be much worse.

We started marching through the forest together. I was sweating and it was hot. The sun beat down us through the tall trees. I heard shots ring out. "What's that?" I wondered.

"Gunfire. Seems our associates have encountered the enemy," Pyrrha answered. She pushed aside a branch and it snapped back into my face and cut my cheek.

"Sorry Jaune… but why didn't you activate your aura?"

"My what now?"

"Aura," she answered again.

"Gesundheit."

"Jaune. Do you know what aura is?"

"Of course I know what aura is. Do you?" I shot back.

"Aura is the power to fight back against our enemies. It's what allows one to define their place in the world. It shelters us and binds us. It protects us and grants us access to our semblances." She stepped real close to me. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue to rise above all others. By my hand I set yours free and by my shoulder protect thee." At her touch and murmur there came a spark from within my body. Suddenly I was able to taste, well, her. In a lot of unhelpful ways. It tasted like jalapenos and green juicy apples. There came a glow and the stinging in my cheek ceased.

"It's like a forcefield," I realized.

"If you want to think about it that way," she nodded. "You have a lot of it."

I looked down at my slightly glowing hands. They gave off a soft golden light. It faded quickly and I was left staring at my gloves in wonder. I could feel so much just like that.

"We should keep moving," Pyrrha decided. She staggered for a moment almost drunkenly.

"Hey. Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes. Just tired. Awakening the aura of another can be exhausting which is why we don't do it to everyone."

"Oh. Uh. Thanks." I managed.

"You are quite welcome." She gave me a kind smile. I blushed and looked away quickly.

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-WG