"For years, you have trained to be warriors. And today, your abilities will be evaluated in the emerald forest." Ozpin monologued as we all faced him, overlooking the edge of a cliff.

We, as in the first year Beacon students, all stood on some kind of pad. For some reason, I had a feeling that we were going to be launched into that forest. Mostly because the pads weren't flush into the ground, meaning they detached in some way.

And it would make no sense to take a bunch of kids to a cliff over a forest if you didn't expect to push them off.

Ms. Goodwitch, the blonde librarian-looking lady, picked up from where Ozpin left off. "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 assigned teammates." She did the stereotypical dramatic pause. I was getting tired of those. "Today."

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time at Beacon." Ozpin continued for Goodwitch. I genuinely wondered if they practiced this speech. "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone you work well with. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with when you land will be your partner for the next four years."

Well, doesn't that make things easy for me? Weiss and I were literally next to each other, so I just needed to avoid losing sight of her.

We also were situated at the end of the pack, meaning we'd either be launched first or last. So, all in all, very helpful to me.

"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way." Ozpin's voice turned grave, a serious look on his face. "Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die." His voice became lighter. "You will be monitored and graded for the duration of the test, but our instructors will not interfere."

I tuned him out there. Weiss probably would remember every last detail. She was a Nerd. Capital, bolded N included.

So, all I had to do was fall, see Weiss, and kill grimm. And do other stuff that Weiss could keep track off. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The whooshing of launching kids sounded from around me, a clear sign of Ozpin ending his soliloquy. That Janune kid was frantically talking next to me, asking Ozpin about landing or something.

Eventually, he too launched, a high pitch squeal coming from him. It was not very manly, if that was what he was going for.

Interesting fellow, that Jaune.

It was clever to play a fool to have others think you're weak…because there was no way he was actually this weak.

Right?

His sword looked like it was off good make, just as his armor and shield did. He is maybe filthy rich and got into Beacon by having his family donate a wing or something, but I doubted nepotism happened.

Oz didn't seem the type to be bribed.

But, speaking of gear, I'd gone the whole mile with my clothes. Really, I pulled out all the stops to make sure I'd be prepared…

…I was in black shorts and a white t-shirt. I also have no weapons.

It'll be fine. What's the worst that could happen?

I was taken out of my thoughts by the spring of the platform below me. With a whoosh, the spring uncoiled and sent hundreds of newtons of force into my body, bringing flashbacks of painful physics equations, and my body lurching forward…

…and remaining rooted to the ground below me.

Questions swimmed across my mind.

I looked up, still mildly jared from the force of the launch. "Um? What?"

Looking down, I saw a glistening sigil, a glowing, translucent snowflake rooting my feet to the ground. I turned towards Weiss who also was rooted to her platform, looking straight at me.

Huh.

Clever girl.

"I guess we have our partners?" I offered to the headmaster, the man looking at Weiss and I in amusement.

The white-haired man snorted, "I suppose you have, Mr. Dietrich. And so have you, Ms. Schnee." He paused, taking a sip from his ever-present coffee mug. "But while I am aware you two have a…well, let's just say peculiar relationship, I do not believe that entitles you two to not participate in the exercise."

That was fair. "But team NW is a go?" I asked him, waiting for his answer.

Ozpin nodded. "Team NW, pronounced 'new', is a go, yes." The man humored me. He then waved his hand forward, gesturing towards the cliff.

"So, now, hop off?" I questioned.

"Indeed."

I didn't wait for another word, grabbing Weiss's hand and running towards the cliff.

Being smartasses seemed to amuse the headmaster, so it wouldn't hurt to keep bending the rules a bit.

Hopefully.

"Make a solid glyph below us as soon as we get off the cliff." I order Weiss, mere inches away from the cliff edge.

She cast me an odd gaze before lightly nodding. The edge approached us, gravity left us, and we were off, falling off the cliff for a good half a second before our feet landed on a glowing glyph.

I lightly waved at Goodwitch and Ozpin. The former had a gobsmacked expression. The latter just waved back with a smile.

Ozpin was a terrifying, but cool, guy.

And, we were very lucky he didn't get annoyed by us

"Think you can make several more of them so we can just walk to the…where do we go?"

Weiss scoffed. "Of course I can. And it's a ruin in the north."

I clapped. "Lovely. You're brilliant, you know, rooting us to the platform. I didn't even think of that." I titled my head to the side as we kept walking due-north. "And you're brilliant for remembering what to do."

Weiss scoffed again. She liked doing that, it seemed. "You just didn't pay attention."

I nodded solemnly. "Of course I didn't—I knew you would."

She rolled her eyes. "What would you do without me? You're practically useless at using your brain."

"Probably be in Atlas." I murmured smartly.

I got a light smack on the back of my head for that one. A light updraft of wind began to gently batter us.

"Hey!" I protested, walking with her. "You'd be just as badly off without me. I bet if I wasn't here, that Ruby girl would be your partner instead. Or that Blake girl. Your luck is terrible."

Weiss harrumphed. "Hmph. Don't even say that! I would refuse to be either of their partners, it would be positively miserable." She gave me a scalding look. "And just because you're better than the literal worst options doesn't mean you're the best one."

"And the best option is?" I asked, the increasingly rough winds blowing my hair up.

Weiss grumbled, crossing her arms and looking away. "...you…" She averted her gaze to try and keep her pride. "But Pyrrha would have been a great pick as well. She and I could've ruled this school together! We'd have been popular, famous, and the top students!"

"Nice perfect tense usage," I comment on her lovely grammar. "But you're unfortunately stuck with me. You'll have to deal with ruling the world; I hope it's not too much of a step down, Sunshine."

She raised a brow in amusement. "Ruling the world? You? "

I gave a helpless shrug. "Well, I manage you well enough. Comparatively, the world would be way easier to deal—"

"CAHH!" a massive beast roared from below us, the rapidly swirling winds battering at the glyphs under our feet.

Before Weiss or I could even move, a building-sized wing slammed into Weiss, the glyphs shattering into twinkling lights.

"Weiss!" I screamed out, my hand snagging onto a coarse feather. I could only watch her rapidly shrinking form in the horizon, mild shock and horror running through my body.

"Shit." I cursed to myself. She'd be fine. She could handle herself. She could. She'd be okay.

Or a pack of Beowulfs would attack her. Or another Nevermore would attack her. Or…or…fuck!

Fuck. Okay. I need to kill this bird-bastard and get to her. She was strong and I should have faith in her, but I just couldn't.

Note for the future, Weiss went towards where the sun would set.

Wind battered at my face as the gargantuan bird barrel-rolled. I dangled on its side, my body flailing like a loose flag on a pirate ship. The blistering air tried to whip and maul my face, with it only being held back by a thin layer of aura.

Carefully tightening my left hand onto one of the beast's sharp feathers, I coated as much aura as I could into my right fist and slammed it into the grimm's side.

Thump. Thump. Thump. I rhythmically beat onto the monster, earning whaling screeches and erratic movement for my efforts. I repeated this motion over and over, beat, beat, beat booming with each blow.

Roaring skies ran through my ears as I was flung back and forth, yanked around like a sailor caught on rough seas, the overgrown bird doing its damndest to unlodge me. I didn't stop, my worry for Weiss kept forcing my left hand's fingers to refuse to unclench. My fingers burned in agony, yet I stayed, an annoying tick to my foe.

This wasn't working.

I was just being an annoying tick. I was annoying it—I was not harming it. It was now, I realized, that I probably should have brought my knives.

I didn't like them. I hated weapons.

It was for a dumb reason. A petty reason.

A reason I didn't have time to think over because I was riding Birdzilla.

I stopped bludgeoning the bird, quitting my attempt to turn it black and blue. With its coloring, I'd never be able to see my efforts.

No, I needed to make this stupid bastard bleed. I wanted—no, I needed to paint this grimm red. I don't exactly remember if grimm bleed, but I'd make it do it.

So, no knife. I lacked any pokey things to penetrate its thick hide. My fists would never pierce its flesh unless I managed to get more momentum than I could currently conceive of. My semblance was useless, internal enhancement and mild repulsion would be no help here.

Basically, I'm locked in a stalemate with a bird.

Holy shit, I am weak.

Okay, no. What do I have? I thought as the air still badgered me whilst the bird evasively flew. I pumped Chi to my brain and my perception of time slowed to a crawl.

So, I have a brain.

Wow, who could've guessed that one?

I had harassed Weiss about being uncreative in her fighting. I need to be creative.

My semblance can be used to repulse things…maybe I could repulse some of the muscles in my arm, making my punches much faster?

I immediately scrapped that thought. An idea for the future, maybe, but I lacked the control necessary to do that.

Hm. Hm…

I'm stumped.

Genuinely, honest to the gods, stumped.

I need a pointed edge to pierce its skin. I can't just create a spea—

Actually, maybe? Maybe. Yeah. Yeah! It comes down to aura! Aura can be used to make a solid shield around the body…what if I modify how it manifests around my hand? I could make the edge pointed!

Shoving aura into my eyes, my shields falling, my eyeballs managed to move fast enough to look at my right arm. I then moved that aura back to my right hand.

My right digits lit up like a house on fire, orange light glowing against black feathers. The orange glow clung to my fingers and hand, refusing to budge.

I begged my aura, harassed my will, and tried my best…but it refused to be a spear. The aura wouldn't get off my hand.

So, that plan is a bust.

I'd have sighed if my body could.

So, aura won't become a spear. I need a spear. I have no spear.

I might be screwed.

Actually, I have an idea.

Chi slithered up my right hand, coalescing slightly above my right thumb. Time sped up just a little bit.

In theory, Chi was my physical energy. It drained my stamina, not my aura like most other semblances. As aura clings to your physical body…

The little ball above my thumb glowed orange, looking like a rippling flame.

I'd have laughed if I could.

I was so stupid.

Immediately, time sped up. My right hand, headed by a glowing, rippling point, jammed it's way into and through the bird's side.

This time, the birds pained screech made me laugh.

I eyed the wing that batted near me, a grin splitting my face.

Swinging my body, my left hand aimed at the flapping wing as Chi was pumped into my right hand. Skin and blood and sinew and feathers blasted out of the bird's wound, my body launching into and through a failing wing.

Only moments later, it and I bounced against the ground.

It lacked aura to protect itself.

Heavy with exhaustion, I slowly walked towards the Nevermore's head. It's agonized screeches made me smile.

I'd never fought a grimm before.

It seems I picked the right career.

Meeting my foe's bestial eyes, I gave it a wide smile. It coiled back.

I guess even the grimm have a survival instinct.

Too bad for Birdzilla.

With a squelch, my glowing fist pierced the grimm's brain.

I hugged my knees, gasping for breath. I took no wounds, sure. No cuts, no scrapes, no bruises, and no breaks. That didn't mean I wasn't exhausted. Chi was literally my physical energy, and I was using that stuff like it was going out of style.

It was now almost out of style—positively unfashionable.

"Whelp…" I muttered, smacking my hands together. I took a deep breath of air. "Time to make sure Weiss doesn't get hurt."

I refused to let her get hurt. For one, it was my job…but, well, I'd never forgive myself if she did.

Her one scar was cute enough; Weiss did not need anymore.

Also, I missed her.

Very, very much.

I spun around, trying to get a grasp of my bearings. There was one, tiny, eensy, weensy issue…trees. So many damn trees. Way too many trees. I hate trees.

They made tracking difficult because, ya know, trees all look the fucking same.

Whatever.

I let out a huff.

I just needed to get a glimpse of the sun and head west. Easy as pie. Besides the trees. I hate trees. Their filthy, endless branches blotted the sky out in an emerald blanket, making it impossible to try and see the sun.

I walked to a tree, hugged it, and shuffled up. I imagined that I looked something like a stripper at the moment, except, instead of a fireman pole, I had a giant stick.

Awkwardly shimmying, cursing the lack of tree climbing in my childhood, I managed to reach a branch. It let me pursue a new career in life, ditching the prostitution and graduating to a certified monkey.

From there, it was much easier to climb the branches to the top of the tree line. One hand at a time and making sure to not grab a weak branch was the game I played.

With one last hoist, I pushed myself to the top of the tree I was on. The view I was left with was, well, stunning. Hundreds of trees stretched out before me, the sun reflecting off of them to make an almost-emerald glare. It was, truly, beautiful.

Unfortunately, I was not here for the view; I was here to stare into the sun like an idiot. And, taking a peak at the sun, I got my bearings.

Basically, I had to go in that way. The one the sun was moving in. Ya know, west. The sun rises in the east and falls in the west and blah blah blah.

And I found west. Yippee for me. Now, I just needed to lug my tired ass across countless miles to find my protectee.

I groaned, leaning back against the tree trunk. "This is so…naggy."

Naggy is the only word I could use to describe this situation. It was naggy task after naggy task.

I let out a snort. This reminded me of a word of wisdom my dad gave me during one of the few times I was home as a teen. He gave me these wonderful words of wisdom, 'In life, many people will nag you. Your boss will hound you to do your work. Your coach will ridicule you to work harder. Everyone, in life, will nag you…but when you find someone that nags you, yet you don't get annoyed, that's when you've found a wife.'

But, who knows. My dad is a moron. He routinely complains about the work my mom has him do.

But, as it is, time to get back to these naggy tasks…

I hopped down from the tree, the ground quickly meeting me a second later. Aura was a life saver, absorbing the countless newtons of energ—shit, force.

"I'm really not in the mood to meet any more grimm…" I mutter under my breath, beginning to trek west.

I was on a real Journey to the West; I just wasn't a cool monk guy…

…or something. Only Nerds read, so clearly I had not read the aforementioned book. I was functionally illiterate.

Totally.

And, so began my very lovely journey to find my protectorate. Through trees, trees, and more gods damned trees.

Hm.

A weapon would have made my day so, so much easier. I'd have more Chi to work with, be less tired, and would have had a shorter fight with Birdzilla.

But, screw weapons. I had no need to wield an oversized stick to beat someone.

Speaking of weapons, it was kinda dumb as to why I didn't use them. It goes like this: I am petty, a weapon screwed me over, and so I went with screwing over the weapon. Very fun times.

Okay, no. I imagine that wasn't an adequate reminiscing of events for whatever person wants to read my mind or something.

Why do you, yeah you, want to read my thoughts? I don't know. I'm a pretty lame guy, I'm not gonna lie.

…I'm going insane, aren't I?

I snorted at the same moment I passed the bajillionth tree. I was never exactly on the sane side, so…adding schitzo to the chart could never hurt.

But, to my imaginary—or not imaginary—voices, here's why I don't mess with weapons. And, trust me, I had a very good reason for it.

Once upon a time, I had a weapon. It was a kitchen knife, nothing very special. But, it made me feel safe.

See, I was a paranoid child. Since then, I've fixed that, but as a kid I was always worried people were out to get me. My mom and dad, in turn, let me keep my kitchen knife under my pillow.

Here comes the issue: some bastard really did attack me in my room. It was your ordinary home invasion—the robber comes in, takes some stuff, and flees back home to be a rat and nuisance to society.

But, Sir Robberton went into my room. He tried to take my stuff. Six years old me liked my stuff. I took out the knife, Rob the Robber wasn't a fan, and he broke my wrist. My precious knife failed me.

So, like the scorned lover I am, I ditched those harlot weapons and never looked back…

…except when school required me. I refused to let the peons be better than me because I refused to use a weapon—that'd be unacceptable.

So, to anyone tuning into my brain, that's why I don't use weapons. They are unreliable and can fail you. They're a tool; tools can be removed from a person. I refused to be reliant on a tool.

Now, I'd say get out of my head, but I have no clue if you exist.

I sighed. "An hour without Weiss and I'm already going insane."

Looking down to the foliage underfoot, I twiddled my fingers and spoke to myself. "I mean, it makes sense. I've been with her all day, everyday for a month. I guess she's become my norm, so to say." I exhaled, my chest flattening. "It's really, really nice to not be lonely…it's already becoming hard to imagine a life without her in it."

Man, wasn't I just sad? I can barely last an hour without my best friend before getting all depressed.

I'm pretty sure that's indicative of an unhealthy relationship.

"It probably is…" I quietly spoke, frowning.

Our relationship definitely wasn't healthy. I was her only friend. She was my only friend. We both lacked any meaningful social network.

No, that can't be healthy.

I wonder if Weiss was missing me as much as I was missing her. It was odd, not having her nagging in my ear. It was strange to not have someone to playfully banter with.

It felt empty.

…I'm fucked up, aren't I?

I am just as bad, if not worse, than she is. My issues managed to be worse than the abused heiress of the largest company in the world.

I have a talent, truly.

I laughed breathily. The forest was silent around me, yet I knew the proctors were watching me. I bet they were having a jolly good time watching my psyche mildly collapse.

At least I'm smart enough to be self aware of how screwed I am. Most people are screwed up and don't know they are screwed up.

Anyways, I know I am reacting like this because she's basically the source of the majority of the positive affection I've received in my life.

In one month, this has occurred.

One month.

It took Weiss Schnee one month to be the source of most of my positive affection.

It made sense, though. I had always been a lonely child.

But, loneliness was cold. Loneliness stung.

Once I was free of it, I realized I never wanted it again.

Not for a day, an hour, a minute, or a second.

No, I never, ever wanted to be alone again.

I laughed again.

Do my parents even know I am going to Beacon? No, it's doubtful…they probably think I'm going to Atlas.

I don't blame them—really, I don't. They try so hard to connect with me and I push them away. Yeah, they don't have to give me as much freedom as they do. Yeah, it's probably illegal that I didn't actually sleep in their house for a good sixty percent of my life.

They never really fed or watered me, either. They wanted to, of course. I just wasn't home.

I was never home.

I should've called them, let them know I was going to Beacon. I should've introduced Weiss, my first friend ever, to them. I really was a terrible son.

I was jolted out of my thoughts by growling.

I cast a tired look in the direction of the noise. I spotted around five Beowulfs.

Well, I was going to have to fight eventually.

Raising my hands, not daring to touch my Chi, I waited for the beasts to charge. It took only moments for them to obey, three wolves pouncing at me while two others circled around the fight.

Shoving aura to my legs, I frantically jumped up. The whine from one of the demon dogs, as its buddy accidentally dug its claws into it, filled me with joy.

I landed on the head of the one Beowulf that did not hit its buddy. My heel slammed into its skull, driving the beast's maw into the ground as its skull crushed underfoot.

The circling grimm dived in, the two wolves aiming to wring me from this planet. I quickly elbowed the Beowulf that had its claw stuck in its friend. A sharp whine sounded as my elbow hit the monster's windpipe, killing it.

Channeling the smallest bit of Chi that I could to my eyes, ignoring the pain I felt when I did so, I thrust my body back.

The two diving Beowulfs soared over me as my perception of time slowed. I used that moment to finish the wolf bleeding from the claw wound, a strong kick to the ribs killing it, my foot going through the ribcage.

Time returned to normal.

The last two wolves landed on opposite sides and backed up a bit, eyeing me cautiously as they went to circle me.

One of the devil dogs got antsy and leapt at me. I planted my feet, swiveling my hips as my palm struck forward. A pained whine came from the Beowolf's maw as my palm hit its snout.

The last dog took that moment to attack. Spinning, I landed a kick on its chest whilst my foot glowed orange. I took that second of relief to finish the dazed wolf at my feet, stomping on its head.

Turning back to where I hit the last Beowulf to, all I saw was a corpse.

"Huh." I quietly said in surprise. "I didn't think I hit it hard enough to kill it…"

My eyes felt heavy.

I really, really could use a nap. A nap would be very nice.

After I found Weiss, of course. She'd probably be in a napping mood, too. Something about getting launched several miles doesn't strike me as energizing.

I just had to head west. Find Weiss, go west. That's all I had to do.

Well, besides going north after. Maybe I should head north-west? Or had I overshot her already?

I miserably groaned. "Where the hell are you, Weiss?"

If my life were a book, this would be the moment where she showed up, giving a witty remark or something.

My life was not a book. Weiss did not, in fact, show up now.

I was not gonna get a macguffin. What a shame.

Whelp, I was gonna have to do it the hard way. That is, hard work. I just gotta pick the direction and go.

North-west. That'll do it.

Yeah.

I'm getting tired of going west.

I began walking again.

It was just as boring as before.

Eventually, I began counting trees. Tree one, tree two, tree three…tree eighty-one, tree eigh—

—are those ruins in the distance? There was a giant scorpion grimm thing at it, but those looked like ruins.

I moved into a light jog, still too exhausted to run.

As I moved closer, I noticed the loud clanging of metal on the scorpion's skin along with explosions and other such fighty noises.

People. People were there. They were fighting a deadly grimm.

More importantly, Weiss could be there.

I pushed myself, forcing myself into a weak sprint. Each breath hurt my lungs, each movement burned every fiber of my body. Stepping hurt, moving hurt, and I was pushing myself because I was a dumbass.

I'd be useless in there, running in.

But, a treacherous part of my mind whispered, Weiss might be there.

My sprint didn't even falter a bit. I'd be useless, yes. But, I counted at least five people there. One was a fast, white blur whilst the other was a fast, red blur. I was too tired to mentally keep up.

I was betting on the white blur being Weiss.

I stand corrected—there's eight people on one big grimm. They're fine.

Still, though, I had a goal and I was finishing it.

Finally making it to the fight, I saw the beast die. It got held down, a loud boom sounded, and then its brain was pierced open.

"...Weiss?" I called out, praying the girl in white was her. I couldn't see her face from my angle, but I was betting it was her.

"Nigel?" Weiss's voice called back, the girl already moving over to where I was. Relief flooded my body.

I took that as my moment to collapse. Weiss rushed towards me. "Wassup, Sunshine." I mumbled into the grass.

She turned me over, letting me face the sky. Her face was covered in very clear worry. Ha! She wasn't even trying to hide it.

"Are you okay, Nigel?" Her voice was calm, but there was a twinge of franticness in it.

"Pssht, 'course I am." I gloated, giving a grin. "That Nevermore bastard had nothing on me!" My expresion fell a little. "It was the trees that got to me."

The worry on her face increased. "The trees?" She incredulously asked.

She probably thought I was loopy or concussed.

Hm.

Maybe I am concussed.

I solemnly nodded. "The trees. I beat that bird, like, ages ago. I've spent the past hour or so walking. And walking. And walking. And there were so, so, so fucking many trees. Holy shit, I hate trees."

"Um…is he alright?" A male voice asked from behind Weiss. I recognized him as Jaune Arc, the dude who was pretending to be weak. "I—I mean, Pyrrha, you said that aura heals, right?"

I turned and saw the invincible lady herself. "It does heal, Jaune. He seems to be simply exhausted."

I shot the girl a grin and a thumbs up. "You got it in one! My semblance drains my stamina, not my aura. I'm dead tired."

Weiss still had a look of worry on her face, but she was quickly trying to hide it now that people showed up. "Tired? That's all?" She harrumphed, yet I could still see her empathetic eyes. "Don't worry people like that, Nigel."

I smiled at her. "Well, sorry for worrying you, Sunshine…" I gave her a toothy grin. "But, to nag you one more time, you're gonna have to carry me back to Beacon."

Her eyes widened. "Wha—"

I was already asleep.