Disclaimer: Don't own RWBY. Belongs to RoosterTeeth and the late Monty Oum.

Since awakening his power, Orion thought he could see at least one better future for himself, but–

"Dust, dust, dust, dust, dust! How am I a day late?"

–that wasn't it. He couldn't wonder how or why, especially when dragging his suitcase off the airship. He raced from the cliff, but the long road leading him away stretched on and on, adding to every delayed second.

Still, at its end stood a great tower shining like a beacon in the morning sun. Fitting since the rest of Beacon Academy's campus rested beneath it. Some things weren't in the way, like the pale archways, dark flagpoles, and green trees on either side of the road. The students…

"Student council is holding meetings on new semester resolutions! Come ask!"

"Sheesh, couldn't the newbies try not to blow up the school on their first day? It's bad enough cleaning up their mess!"

"Do your part to feed the children! Huntsmen and Huntresses, give a helping hand!"

"Hello, Beacon Student Broadcast. We're here to ask everyone's thoughts on the food shortage in Vale's hazard sector…"

"Hey, the White Fang's a bunch of animals like the rest of 'em Faunus! They just don't hide it!"

… Well, Orion had to squeeze in between them. "'Scuse me! Sorry!" he said and noticed his green vest and dark undershirt drew in stares. He almost hid in his purple scarf out of embarrassment, if he could hide something so tan–and red–like his face.

More colors greeted him. Not from the students, their dark suits and red ties or skirts growing fewer as he ran. The signs and posters in the surrounding encirclement of columns and arches did that. "ATLAS WANTS YOU" in ice blue letters. Trees and burning skies painted green and orange for the local environmental groups. However obvious they were, Orion turned to find anyone not in a student uniform.

"Gotta be 'round here!" Orion told himself. "Where're they? Shoulda found 'em by no–oof!"

Two simultaneous thuds later, another noise entered Orion's ears. "Hey, watch it!"

"... 'orry," Orion slurred, opening his eyes to the pale ground.

The rest of him stopped after seeing the large fountain by the side and the statue on it. The man and woman at the top had been exactly like in the flyers, but the creature placed beneath them caught Orion's attention. Even if this one cowered under the two heroes, Orion remembered the snarling maw of its brethren really well…

Long curly hair popped into Orion's vision. "Hey!" said the male voice from before. "Are you going to get off my legs or what?"

"S-sorry!" Orion said again. Scurrying to his feet, he yanked his suitcase upright too. "Wasn't lookin' and I…"

A scoff rang from the long legs Orion had tripped over, but his attention went elsewhere. Same with the other boy, whose groan was towards the commotion of students Orion had left. "Ugh, those idiots again? You'd think half of 'em would know the value of silence with their ears."

Orion understood already, but the other boy's ears drove the point home. Gray and equine, they flopped atop. Typical for a Faunus. Orion spotted a few at the ports and even among Beacon's students. A boy with tiger stripes. A girl with a squirrel's tail. Orion could barely meet one in the eye, not after…

He stopped himself. No, now wasn't the time for that kind of thinking. He was here to make things better, not worse.

"You still here?" the other boy said, blinking his slit-like pupils. "Do you need something?"

Clearing his throat, Orion said, "Uh, yeah. I'm… kinda lost."

"You with the newbies?" Holding back a frown, Orion nodded. "Well, I saw them leave with Ozpin and Goodwitch. Better hurry, or you'll miss the initiation."

"Thanks!" Though Orion felt a bit better, he stopped mid-turn. "Uh, where's…?"

"Giant cliff by the Emerald Forest. Can't miss it. Oh, and make sure to…"

Orion didn't hear the rest. He would have if he hadn't noticed the commotion from before had grown louder. That, and something black and blocky shooting towards his direction.

"Watch out!" Orion shouted, swinging his arms up to protect himself and the other boy.

Something else halted the incoming object. Orion blinked, both at the obvious video camera he had seen earlier and the light keeping it afloat. "Semblance?" he said about the latter, more surprised by its familiarity.

Turning his head, Orion almost gasped at whose Semblance it was. The black riding crop was a big giveaway, returning the camera from whence it came with a flick. The commotion had died by then, but Orion couldn't look away from the memory standing before him.

Even after twelve years, she was the same. The same blond hair–though tied into a bun–the same glasses, and the same black and white outfit complete with a little cape. Still tall, and still the same brave hero. A Huntress from the stories of old, who–

"Mister Zaffer," the same Huntress said sternly, "you're late."

While Orion hesitated, the other boy spoke. "Hey, Professor Goodwitch, I got your newbie here!"

"Thank you, Mister Yan. Now, please finish the assignment I gave you," said Goodwitch, her voice as stiff as her riding crop. Her glare made every dark hair on Orion's head stand to attention, minuscule as they were. "Please come with me. Your fellow initiates are waiting."

"... Yes, Headmistress," Orion said, about to grab his suitcase.

"Leave your luggage by the amphitheater. You only need your weapon."

"But Headmis–"

Orion shut his mouth and sped off from the glaring Goodwitch. After grabbing what he needed, he couldn't stop worrying. He didn't have time to label his suitcase. It could get lost, and so could the many things he had left in it, including his scroll, and–

"Mister Zaffer!"

As Orion ran faster, his hand fidgeted over his weapon. "It won't happen again," he told himself. "Things'll get better. Just wait and see."

Flying across trees, trees, and more trees wasn't much better. Sadly, Orion didn't realize it until Headmistress Goodwitch had led him to the cliff. He had ducked his head to hide from the other initiates' stares. Like Orion, they too came from across the Kingdom of Vale, if not all over Remnant. And like Orion would, they all lined up before a flash of Goodwitch's Semblance had flung them off the cliff.

"As future defenders of mankind, you will work with other Huntsmen and Huntresses from all walks of life," Goodwitch had explained on the cliff. "Any thoughts or prejudices have no place here. Learn to work together, and perhaps you will live long enough to tell the tale."

Orion learned to do so meant being launched off the cliff. Right into a forest full of shadowy monsters, all to find some "relics" to form a team.

A couple dots passed by the red rims of his goggles. Orion skipped off a branch and fingered Saiph's trigger. The three orbs along the black barrel lit up, as each rapid burst pushed him after his fellow initiates. Three would be part of his team for the rest of his time at Beacon. One of the three would become his partner after making eye contact, so he blinked and focused.

Green tinted the corners of his eyes, eyes which focused on those soaring with him. With his Semblance, Orion saw a line. Said line stretched to a door, a possible future. The one on it, wild long blond hair trailing behind, whooped with her shotgun gauntlets–

–several bear-like figures appeared from a bush, swinging their wild claws at her–

Orion turned away. The blonde was a magnet for trouble, the kind he couldn't handle. After she shot into the forest below, another line glided past Orion. A familiar boy in green descended into a clearing, a rather close one–

–two huge snakes slithered away from a grinning ginger and her large hammer–

Nope, not her. It was bad enough that she called Orion by his nickname back on the cliff. Still, doors one and two were no good. Maybe door number three would–

"LOOK OUT!" filled his ears before a red cloak crashed into him.

Orion's scarf muffled any "urk," "oof" and "ow" as he fell with the red cloak. After a blur of branches and leaves passed by, a large tree trunk grew closer with every second. Orion fumbled for Saiph, pressing and holding the trigger. The figure in the red cloak also raised a long red rifle, a single gray shot joining his several orange ones.

Orion fell through flying splinters. Crouching onto the tree's falling top, he threw himself after the blurring red cape. He turned his tumble into a roll, stopping short of the tree that crashed in front of him.

"Dust," he said after sitting up and wiping the dirt off his vest. His hair needed a bit more work. "Hope ma don't kill me."

Rose petals flew, and the more pressing concern zipped up to Orion's face. There was something familiar about her–yes, her–he couldn't place. "OHMYGOSHI'MSOSORRY!" the girl said, concern in her eyes–

–silver light surged forth from them, bathing both her tears and the large black dragon in–

Cursing his Semblance, Orion blinked to turn it off. "Uh, what?" he asked after lifting his goggles.

The girl stepped back, cape fluttering with her black dress. She was younger than the typical initiate, maybe by two or three years. She acted like it too, scratching her dark red hair while holding a rifle twice her size. "I, uh, said sorry," she apologized, "about crashing. I was trying to avoid this bird when I, well, didn't see you, and–"

"No problem. S'fine," Orion said. He stood up to shake any remaining grass off his dark pants and shoes. "So you're my partner, huh?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess so," the girl said awkwardly and stretched out her free hand. "I'm Ruby. Ruby Rose. You're Rai, right?"

"It's Orion. Orion Zaffer," he corrected patiently. He wasn't so patient, holding his Saiph close and away from those silver eyes. It would be one of those conversations, he feared.

To his surprise, Ruby lit up. "Ooooh, is that an Atlesian Scorpio rifle?" she said, and Orion nodded. "I didn't think anyone still used them. And look at those modifications! Did it use some kind of fire Dust? You know, from when we were crashing?"

"Earth Dust, mostly." Ice Dust also, to avoid overheating, but Orion forgot to mention it. It wasn't every day someone was interested in his rifle. Maybe this Ruby Rose was more than a tiny human missile.

"Oh," said the human missile. "So, uh, any idea on where we should go?"

"North, right? The headmistress said we'll find the relic there."

"Uh, right!"

Sadly, neither Orion nor his partner moved. Nor did anything else, aside from looking at each other. Dust, did Orion have to speak or would they be stuck here–?

"Soooo," said Ruby, "are you leading, or should I…?"

"Uh, doesn't matter," Orion replied. "Prob'ly find a tall tree, though. See where we at."

A growl put his idea on pause. Red–not Ruby–popped in the corner of his eye. Orion found something similar to the statue by the fountain. In fact, it looked the same, complete with claws and the bony mask on its wolfish head. Only this one had black fur and moved.

"Beowolf–!"

Said Beowolf's growling maw interrupted Orion. He raised Saiph to meet that black furry body and those crimson eyes. Gears clicked nearby, and Ruby shouted, "Get back!"

Orion didn't have a choice after Ruby blurred past him. The Beowolf must've felt the same, almost mimicking the statue Orion had seen. Then–

Swish!

–its head went flying.

Orion barely dodged the wide arching blade. It spun with the rest of Ruby's rifle, now even longer than before. After landing, she hefted the thing and said, "That's one Grimm down."

Orion's gaze went up with his voice. "Holy–that a scythe?"

"And a high-impact sniper rifle!" Ruby cocked her weapon to prove it. Her grin widened even more. "Built Crescent Rose myself. Pretty cool, right?"

Orion glanced at the red weapon now twice Ruby's size. "Name fits, I reckon, but ain't it a bit… cumbersome?"

"'Cumbersome?' What does that mean?"

"I…" Orion paused, eying the scythe again. "I'll tell ya later. How 'bout we find–?"

"Tall tree, right. I'll scout ahead!"

"No, I got…"

Groaning, Orion walked through floating rose petals to follow after Ruby. Not before he stepped by the ashen wisps of the Beowolf, its open neck red and sizzling like the rest of its body. "How'd she make somethin' like that?" Orion asked about the scythe. "The work put into that thing…"

A more important question lurked in his mind. Silver eyes. A dragon. What…?

"No, worry later," Orion told himself, following Ruby.

It wouldn't be long until they found out where they were. Or meeting another pair. Either one or both would mean finishing the initiation. Well, Orion hoped he was right about that.

"Definitely wrong, definitely wrong!" shouted Orion, loud like Saiph.

Unlike normal bullets, the orange shots tore into the furry claw in front. As a new Beowolf–maimed and full of holes–fell, Orion kicked its severed furry limb into another. The other Beowolf howled before a gray shot pierced its weakened mask from the side.

A second later, Ruby and her rose petals replaced the ashy corpses. "Look at it this way!" she said. "At least you have some big trees."

Orion tried not to growl alongside the ten other Beowolves. Not only had he and Ruby found a giant tree but unwanted company. Then again, they could have avoided it had Ruby not rushed in to fight the Grimm.

"Hehe, um, I'll just..." she said before she did again.

Running after her, Orion popped open Saiph's top half. Throwing a long and empty magazine into a Beowolf's head let him slam in the new one. Not that he could hear it over Saiph's salvo or two swipes of Crescent Rose. He felt the former, his feet falling on fallen bullet shells. "W-Woah!"

Using his momentum, he slid under his dying Beowolf. Ruby's petals flew overhead, guiding his aim toward two more targets. With both distracted, Orion leaped up and slammed his entire weight into one Beowolf. The other behind it yelped, falling under the dog pile.

Scrambling at the top, Orion heard, "On your left!"

He ducked, and a silver shot killed another incoming Beowolf. "Thanks!"

As for Orion's, he pinned both their heads together with Saiph and ran after finishing them off. Five down. Five to go.

"Hey, Orion! I got another one!"

Alright, four to go. Dust, how fast was Ruby?

Orion clamped his teeth on the thought and another magazine he pulled from his jacket. His hands fell on Saiph's back and front grips, steadying the rounds he emptied into one Beowolf. The other chasing him still struck. He grunted as he staggered back, his flaring green Aura unable to keep his magazine in his mouth.

"Take this!" Orion shouted, throwing Saiph. It struck off the Beowolf's surprised face, the same which he leaped up and punched at. "Ruby!" he shouted after landing.

A pale shot later, Orion rushed past his decaying Beowolf. He scooped up his weapon and magazine to return the favor. While Ruby could zip away without a care, Orion's Semblance had its own uses, as he blinked his Aura over his eyes and–

–One Beowolf moved to its right, and another leaped up to tackle her–

"Ruby, go left!"

At Orion's call, Ruby spun away and sliced up one Beowolf whilst mid-air. Orion ran up behind the other one staggering away, with Saiph locked, loaded…

… and clicking.

"What?" Orion said, stopped, and aimed.

Thrice, Saiph clicked.

"C'mon! Work!" A growl turned Orion from his unresponsive weapon to the Beowolf looming over him. "Ah, Dust," Orion said about its raised claw.

He blinked from the sliver of metal blocking the swipe. A white blur cut in front of him with said metal. A rapier, Orion realized after it blocked another attack. Made of the finest ores and covered in markings, it was the most expensive weapon he had seen. Much like its wielder, a pale girl in a pale dress and…

"Ah, Dust!" Orion said again and hoped he still had his wallet after the initiation.

"Oh no," Ruby whispered, wishing today would end.

Her wish dissolved with the Beowolf, the latter felled by the rapier piercing its chest. The girl wielding it, petite and pale, silenced the forest when her boots touched its grass. Her white combat skirt and tiny coat turned with those icy blue eyes, as she said:

"What was that just now?"

Yanking Crescent Rose from the whipping white ponytail, Ruby feared the worst. Bumping into the other girl yesterday didn't leave a good first impression. Neither did spilling said girl's precious cargo. Or being chewed out and looked down on since. Now, though…

"You had a clear shot, but you didn't fire! You know you could have gotten yourself killed!" the other girl ranted at Orion. Somehow, he glared back down with sealed lips. "Well, are you going to say something or are you just dense?"

'Dense?' What the…? She had no right to say that! "Hey!" Ruby yelled, her anger rising like it had yesterday. "That's my partner! You don't get to–!"

Orion's gloved hand grabbed Ruby's arm before she took another step. Blocking out the pale girl, he whispered, "Not a word to her."

"What?" Ruby said. "Why? She said–"

"Why? That's a Schnee there! They own the Dust we get! She'll charge every word outta your mouth! Keep quiet, and we get no trouble."

As if that would have impressed Ruby. Having heard it all yesterday, she said, "I don't care if Dust comes from some Sneeze–"

Let go suddenly, Ruby backed off as the other girl cut in and said, "It's Schnee! Weiss Schnee!" Sharp like her rapier, her glare went up to Orion. "And I'm right here, you know. You could at least say thank you for saving your life."

Like Orion, Ruby gave no retort. Still, her eyes left him for Miss High and Mighty, who stand as tall as herself. What would Uncle Qrow say? 'Keep arguing and get eaten by Grimm?' Or was it 'work with all kinds of idiots?' The latter reminded Ruby of the headmistress' words.

Not wanting another scary glare on her, Ruby breathed. "Look," she said, "we can't keep arguing. Any more and the Grimm will come back. How about we work together and–?"

"I hardly think so. Not after seeing your partner's 'performance,'" said Weiss while Orion focused on his weapon. "I'll be better off on my own, as I always have been."

"And what about your partner?" Ruby sniped. "Or did you lose yours?"

"N-no!" Any hint of a blush faded, unlike Ruby's smirk. "Of course, I have a partner. And you know her, sadly. How she fights with that hair not getting in the way is beyond me."

"Oh," Ruby said, "you mean Yang?"

"Wait, you got the girl with shotgun gauntlets?" said Orion at the same time. "Huh? Ruby, how'd you…?"

"He speaks! Wonderful," huffed Weiss, crossing her arms. "But yes. I was with her. Then, she takes off for who knows where! I thought she was here when I heard fighting…"

"Yep, sounds like Yang–hey!" said Ruby, yanking Crescent Rose again from a swinging bell-shaped sleeve.

"And you! Put that away!" Weiss said, pushing Orion's weapon with her thin arm. "Do you honestly expect to fight with a faulty weapon?"

"Hey, Saiph's just fine!" Orion said. His pride dimmed after he popped open the barrel's bulky top. "Dangit, mud's frozen over the mag."

"'Frozen?' Let me see that." The minute Weiss yanked Orion's weapon forward, she was appalled. "No wonder why! What kind of idiot puts a Dust shard in a firearm? And is that exploding Dust powder? Are you trying to blow yourself up?"

Taking a peek, Ruby sadly agreed. Earlier, Orion had the perfect automatic firearm, its short body remodeled to fit fifty rounds per magazine. The frost covering said magazine–all from a pure blue crystal at the back–said otherwise. That and the muddied bits of orange powdered Dust. "Well," Ruby began, "I use wind Dust all the time for Crescent Rose–"

"And like you would know about Dust properties!" shouted Weiss, now in a tug-of-war for Orion's weapon. "Let go, will you! I am trying to fix this!"

"You leggo!" Orion snapped.

Ruby too said, "Hey, I know stuff! And I'm trying to be helpful! Unlike some bossy–!"

"Not talking to you!" said Weiss and…

… her mouth closed shut. So did Ruby's after a tremor passed. At another, she held Crescent Rose at ready. "Back off!" came from Orion, meant more for Weiss.

Ruby obeyed anyway, her stocky boots leaping back with Weiss' wedged heels. A third pair swooped in from the trees to join them, covered in a tight black and white outfit. A black bow too, which Ruby recognized from yesterday. It and the long raven hair didn't hide the new yet familiar girl's fair face. "Move, we have company!" she said after sliding by Ruby's side, her expression urgent.

Again, Ruby obeyed. By the time Ruby stopped, the tremors turned into stomps, and the trees swerved. The black fur and white mask poking through clued in Ruby. More bear than wolf, it had bony spikes on the back and arms. And it was much bigger, almost as tall as the trees.

"Yeesh!" said Orion from Ruby's right. "What that thin' be eatin'?"

Like any other Grimm, probably on the fear and despair of anyone who came across it. Not Ruby, who said, "Never seen an Ursa?"

"Not that big, no. Any ideas?"

In front, light gleamed off a black katana blade and the edge on its wide sheath. The two sung like the new girl's stoic voice. "Keep it right there. I'll take care of the rest."

"Wait," Weiss said from behind, "we're the distraction?"

"If you can handle it."

Already grateful for being saved twice now, Ruby liked the new girl even more. What was her name, again? 'Black?' 'Blanche?' Anywho, Ruby passed her in a burst of petals and leaped at the Grimm also covered in black and white. Crescent Rose swung down at the claw, the collision sending her over the bony mask to strike it.

"Oof!" she grunted after hitting the spikes instead and sent flying back.

Her mind raced while her body somersaulted toward a nearby tree. The Ursa had moved, using its guarded back to deflect her. Its legs were a different story, as Ruby bounded off the thick trunk with her Semblance.

First stomping on the grass, Ruby slid under a furry arm and past equally lumbering legs. After Crescent Rose skidded off them, she swung it around and shot back for another pass. Any feral growls fell silent to the large circle of white energy forming above and Weiss bouncing off it. Her rapier's flash went off and away from the Ursa, out of Ruby's sight before Crescent Rose struck again. The black katana and edged sheath deflected the claws when Ruby made her third pass.

"Almost have it!" said the other girl after backing away. "Can you keep it up?"

"I got this!" Ruby said, stopping, cocking Crescent Rose, and speeding off again.

Not noticing the white glowing circle on the ground proved Ruby wrong. Weiss landed in the same spot and snapped, "Watch it!"

Ruby barely did, even after passing Weiss by a hairsbreadth. When the claw entered her vision, her flashing red Aura hid how far back her Semblance had sent her. Still, she gripped Crescent Rose to swing it down…

"Grr, c'mon!" Ruby heard from–

"INCOMING!" she shouted at Orion, still busy with his own weapon.

"Dust!"

Somehow, Orion avoided Crescent Rose, his feet a few inches from the newly made scar in the dirt. "Sorry!" Ruby called back, hoping her dear weapon didn't drown out her apology while stopping her.

Whether or not Orion listened, Ruby's eyes followed his to Weiss' rapier. With it stabbing the ground, the surging ice surprised her, more so upon spreading toward the Ursa. The other girl, already distracting the Ursa, had leaped away, hiding behind the spikes. The same spikes rose, its jingle ending on a clear stab.

A second later, Ruby groaned from the growling Ursa. It was still alive?

"Its hide is too strong!" Weiss said, shocked.

"What do we do?" Ruby said, searching in vain for the other girl.

Instead, Orion answered: "Move!"

Ruby ran, her roses flying to the sound of breaking ice. "Yeep!" she yelled from the scattered shards.

Another yell caught Ruby's attention. It was Weiss, parrying yet pelted by the finest Dust her money could buy. Orion charged in her direction, his weapon raised against the hail. Having gone the other way, Ruby didn't realize why until he threw his rifle at the Ursa to force it back. Weiss remained where she was while Orion caught and rolled with his weapon… stopping in front of the Ursa.

"Ah, Dust…" Ruby heard him say when she turned on her heel.

After anchoring Crescent Rose on the ground, Ruby's hands made it ring. The three sniper bolts shook the long handle and the neck, but not the Ursa. Her heart thundered and petals flew when it leaned toward Orion, who fiddled with his weapon. She could make it. She had to. For her partner and even Weiss, she had to–

"Catch!" came from the side.

Ruby slowed midway into her sprint and reached out. The familiar shape of a cartridge struck her palm, warm from the Dust bullets inside of it. When the familiar black bow and girl ran into her vision, going for the Ursa, Ruby sped up again. "Orion, go long!" she shouted and threw.

Then, Crescent Rose again fired. Once to distract the Ursa, its head rearing back. The second shot was for the cartridge after Orion batted the thing into the air with his rifle. The third pushed Ruby forward with her petals blocking out the orange flash of a makeshift flare.

The falling claw cleared after Ruby closed the distance and swung. Her baby, glowing in the fading light, swept it aside. A long black ribbon wrapped around the claw, the blade at the end also glinting. By then, Ruby moved one hand off Crescent Rose for Orion.

"Hold on ti–!"

Mouth opened, Ruby reared from the loud crack going through her words and the Ursa's head. Something golden stabbed the ground. A javelin, shining even as the large shadow fell over it. And as black specks flew everywhere…

"Ruby!" she heard Orion, his voice muffled from his scarf.

Her Semblance activated a second too late. A slimy speck hitting her throat, Ruby coughed until she fell face-first into the ground. The Ursa thudded a few feet away, its tremors shaking her skin. "Ruby! You 'right?" she heard Orion drawing nearer.

"Fine. I'm–ack!" left Ruby's throat after she raised her face. "Ugh, wrong tube…"

The little wheeze didn't convince herself or Orion who rolled her on her back. Not the two girls crowding around either. "What happened?" said the one with the black bow.

"Bit of the Ursa went, well…" Orion explained, his voice trailing off.

"I'm fine!" Ruby said, coughing as she sat up. "See mom! Just like… in the… stor…"

She didn't know why she said "mom" or slurred her words and fell back. Maybe it was because she saw three of everyone. Or maybe those three blurred until everything flashed white for a brief second. Or because she heard a soft whisper in her ears, not matching any of the concern on her partner's face. "Good job, Ruby," the voice said.

Then, Ruby's nose and mouth burned.

"Uh, think she's good?" Orion could only ask, even if it was a stupid question.

"What in… Does she look like it?" yelled the Schnee girl, standing by Ruby's feet. "Out of all the ideas, you had her sniff Dust? Do you want her to cause another explosion?"

Another? Orion's clenched jaw almost loosened at that. It and sitting by Ruby's trembling body and nose. Returning any powdered Dust in his hand into his magazine didn't help. "It's one thing after another with you, isn't it?" Schnee went on. "We don't even know if she's–"

"Achoo!"

Orion lurched away with the Schnee girl, as the tiny orange puff left Ruby. It faded in seconds, taking the smell of dirt and gravel. The new girl's stoic voice cut through. "That should tell you. She's getting better already."

Ruby's steady breaths and lack of wiggling proved it. "Ruby? You 'kay…?" Orion asked after putting his magazine back into his vest.

Despite the little groan, Orion's concerns lingered. Well, other than Schnee's judging looks or the other girl walking away. His partner laid in front of him, her lids fluttering in and out to reveal her glazed eyes.

No, not glazed. Silver eyes. Eyes glowing in Orion's… well, he could only call it a vision. With his Semblance, though? "S'not supposed to work like that," he mumbled.

"What was that?" entered his ears.

"Huh? Nothin'! Nothin' at…"

Orion trailed off, realizing the other girl–not Schnee-had spoken. Her bare arms and white top and shorts stood out from the nearby disintegrating Ursa. Her bow flowed over amber eyes aimed at the forest. "What is it?" Schnee said, her rapier flashing from her side.

Only the other girl's weapons responded. Her blade, lined against her gun a second ago, had folded back into a proper black katana. A second later, she relaxed and slid her weapon back into its edged sheath. The reason why leaped out of the trees, and Orion almost let go of Saiph seeing her land in the vanquished Ursa's spot. The round shield on her back and crimson ponytail were a dead giveaway, having seen them a dozen times on TV.

"I'm sorry!" said the new arrival, rising with her soft tone. The armor on her legs gleamed with every concerned word. "Is she alright?"

Before Orion knew it, the shadow of the Kingdom of Mistral's most famous person fell over him. Dust, no camera could do her justice. The brown corset and bronze neck armor only accentuated her towering muscular frame. Even the golden circlet shone from beneath her crimson curls, illuminating her face.

Orion could barely speak. "P-Pyr… Pyrr…"

"Pyrrha?" came from Schnee.

For a four-time tournament champion, Pyrrha Nikos looked surprised. "Weiss?" she said, emerald eyes shining. "I thought you were with Yang and–"

Ruby's groggy voice filled the air. "Yang… Yaaaang…"

Reminded of his semi-conscious partner, Orion helped to sit her up. "Easy," he said.

Nikos' gloved arms reached out to help. Having seen them take down many fighters, Orion didn't expect them to gently lift Ruby onto her feet. "Are you okay?" Nikos asked gently.

Ruby swerved into Orion's view, partially hiding his attempts to not smile. "Ugh… I think I'm better now," she said. Tumbling into Nikos' bare shoulder proved her otherwise. "S-sorry."

"Yeah, she's…" Orion said, pausing to hold the swaying Ruby. "She'll be fine. I hope."

Schnee's annoyed tone didn't ease anything. "If not, I'll have to deal with her sister. Have you seen her, Pyrrha? We were separated."

"I… I have," Nikos said, her pause instilling a foreboding in Orion. She turned and said, "Can you help her out?"

"More Grimm?" asked the only unnamed girl. Orion didn't know why she was unimpressed by Nikos' nod or how she told Schnee, "You help out, too."

"You," Schnee snapped, "don't get to tell me–"

"Weiss," said Nikos, "we don't have time. The temple isn't far from us, but Blake needs help to get her away."

"But I don't see why you…" Schnee's frown gaped open. "Wait, she's your partner?"

"Partner?" Orion echoed and let go of Ruby, who remained standing.

His gaze swerved toward amber eyes. The dark slits in them were sharp like the javelin which was returned to Nikos. "If you have a problem, save it for later," said the girl named Blake.

The next few moments didn't give Orion another choice. Ruby, after grabbing her mechanized scythe, first left in a blur with Nikos' partner. Schnee did the same. So did Nikos after saying, "She's here! Come on!"

Left alone, Orion understood after he grabbed Saiph. The frozen magazine in it jostled as he turned from the loud gunshots and ever-growing rumble. Even then, a yellow dot pestered in the corner of his eyes. Said dot became a familiar blond girl, rocketing on shotgun rounds.

As Orion guessed, trouble followed her. He didn't realize how much trouble until it loomed over him.

AN: You've probably seen another version of this story appearing here or there. This is more or less a potential draft I had in mind for my RWBY AU fanfic, one following my OC Orion joining Beacon Academy and dealing with a different set of circumstances. Of course, I don't know if I will really stick with this one or just revise it again down the line. In any case, I hope you like it. Take care.

Raika out.