Dear reader,
Let me give you the quick and dirty details about this story. This is going to be an OC RWBY team fic inspired by the Plants vs Zombies franchise. The story is NOT going to follow the canon RWBY plot, but will instead be adjacent to it. It's going to borrow heavily from the lore of both source materials. I am warning you. I will include trauma and gore, but nothing sexual. Ok that's it, that's all you really need to know. If you want more then continue reading but its not really necessary.
This story has been my brain worm for far too long. It started as a joke but quickly became NOT a joke. I just had to write it. I had to get it out of my head and onto paper. I have a soft spot for both franchises so this inspiration hit me like a brick. I love the world building of rwby and the zanniness of pvz and wanted to put them in a blender and spill them on the page. I just think it will be fun! The humor and silliness of pvz logic in the weapons grade action and drama of rwby? It's the same contrast garden warfare made!
The characters are 80% based off of their pvz depictions, 10% based off of historical/literature references (as is rwby tradition), and 10% based off rwby world building. The plot is going to involve world building from both sources plus my own inspirations. The rwby main cast will make appearances but won't have a major effect on this story's plot. I'm going to lean a little more heavily on the school aspects of early rwby than the show did, just because I think its fun and has story potential. I'm going to roughly follow the rwby timeline, but not its pacing. I'll probably pack more time into vol 1 and 2.
I am not an expert in pvz lore or rwby lore. I will purposefully mangle the lore of both franchises
Chapter 1: Sowing Seeds
Penelope held the mail in her hands tighter than she would care to admit. In her hands, along with her mothers bills and her sister's magazines, was a large emerald green envelope. Mindlessly she turned back inside, threw the rest of the mail on the kitchen counter, and retreated to her room. Her room was cramped and she shared it with her younger and older sisters. Hyacinth and Ivy were arguing over something that didn't matter and when Penelope entered they started whining at her about something she wasn't listening to, the only thing that mattered right now was the emerald green envelope in her hand. The postage said it was from Vale, and the sender's address said it was from Beacon. It was her Beacon acceptance letter.
Her heart began to speed up and she forced herself to take slow breaths. She turned over the envelope and began to open it as gently as she could, as if being gentle would help her chances. This was it for Penelope, this would be the difference between being stuck in Mistral for the rest of her life and becoming a Huntress. She took out the packet of papers inside, a good sign. She unfolded the first piece and read the first line.
"Congratulations Miss Mendel…" Penelope stopped reading. She felt her eyes water and she looked up at her room's popcorn plaster ceiling as she tried to fight against tears. She lost, and tears crawled down her cheeks. She looked down and continued to read, "…on your acceptance into Beacon", Penelope laughed and smiled. She wiped her eyes but refused to celebrate too soon. She stopped reading and began scanning the letter "you've been granted a Full Ride Scholarship…" Penelope gasped, and then choked on her laugh, and then coughed. She did it! She could get out of Mistral! Her family didn't have to pay for her education! She could become a huntress! She rubbed her eyes on her sleeve and turned to her sisters to share the news.
"I did it! I got a full ride into Beacon!" Penelope cheered as she cut through her sisters' argument.
"Oh my God! I'm so happy for you!", Ivy smiled and swooped down to hug Penelope. Happy tears wet Ivy's shoulder and she could feel Penelope's happy laughs and sniffles shake her.
"Ivy! Where did you put my scroll!" Hyacinth whined.
"Hyacinth! Hug your sister! She just got into her dream school!"
"Fine! But I want my scroll!"
"Thanks", Penelope wiped her eyes one more time. Penelope's eyes were puffy but her smile split her face, "I'm going to go tell mom". She pushed past her sisters with her letter in hand.
She found her mother, Rosine, leaning against the kitchen counter reading through the bills with growing worry. It made Penelope hesitate, but for better or worse she pushed past her own worry to share the news with her mother.
"Oh Penelope", her mother crooned. Rosine put the bills on the kitchen counter and enveloped her daughter in a warm hug. "I knew you could do it String Bean, I believed in you". She squeezed Penelope tight and planted a rough long kiss on her cheek, "mmmuah! You're going to do great in Beacon." She rocked left and right as if trying to squeeze all the love she could into her daughter. "Your father is going to be so relieved! I'll dig out the rainy day change and cook us a special dinner tonight, ok?" Penelope's brow furrowed a little bit and pushed out her mother's hug, but kept hold of her hands. She saw her mother had begun to cry as well.
"It's ok mom, you don't have to, it's not a big deal", Penelope's smile became a little strained.
"No no, today is a big day and you deserve it", Penelope looked like she wanted to argue more but didn't want to ruin the moment, "I'll head out now, how about a nice steak? Your favorite", Rosine kissed her daughter on the cheek again and went to gather her bags. As she waved her daughter's goodbye she took a bit of Penelope's cheer with her.
As much as she wished she didn't, Penelope couldn't help looking down at the stack of open bills on the kitchen counter. A hand slapped down over them, blocking Penelope's view.
"Don't worry about dinner Pea pod", Ivy drew Penelope's attention to her and gave her younger sister a comforting smile, "price of steak is 6.50 per pound this week, I saw it in the weekly circular". Penelope smiled back but didn't miss how Ivy slid the bills into a growing pile in the corner of the kitchen counter. "Dad is going to be so excited when he hears the news", a beat passed between the two, "here, if you're so worried about dinner then let's get ready to cook when mom gets back, ok?"
"Yeah, ok", agreed Penelope as she nodded her head. Together they got ready for dinner as Hyacinth eventually found her scroll and began being a pest, loudly playing games from the dinner table. Penelope recognized the music from that one game about shooting birds out of a slingshot at a bunch of buildings and pigs. Their mother came back, full of joy, boasting about the sales she found and how much money she saved. Cooking became routine as they worked together in the crowded kitchen, a comfortable closeness as they worked together.
Hours later, the front door's creaking door hinges signaled Penelope's father getting home.
"I'm home!" Mung called out. He took a deep breath, smelling food from the kitchen, and sighed. "Steak?!", he called, but no one heard him. He hung his coat around the back of a chair and took his seat across from his youngest daughter Ivy. "Steak?" he asked Ivy.
"Yup", Ivy said, not taking her eyes off her scroll. He pushed the scroll flat face down on the table.
"You'll go blind", he chastised, "And I thought I hid that this morning." He picked up Penelope's acceptance letter off the dinner table. "What's this?", he called out over the sizzling steaks. Rosine looked over her shoulder and smiled from in front of the stove. Her eyes darted to Penelope instead of answering.
"It's my acceptance letter to Beacon", Penelope said as she washed off juices and herbs in the sink. She smiled but it was a little strained, but he couldn't tell if it was because she was cooking or something else.
"That's great! Right?", Mung cheered but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked to his wife to see if he read Penelope's mood correctly, but received no help. "Isn't this what you've always wanted, sweetie?" Penelope left the kitchen and stood in front of her father, wringing her hands in a towel.
"It's a full ride scholarship", Penelope said ignoring his question, "that means you don't have to pay for anything." She couldn't explain why but she felt her nerves well up again. She could feel her heart begin to speed up but didn't have the mind to try to slow her breathing. "All I have to do is keep my GPA above a 3.75 and all the expenses are paid for." She couldn't continue as her father's arms wrapped around her.
"I'm so proud of you Penelope", her father mumbled into her neck as he hugged her as tightly as he could. Penelope wasn't sure if it was the warmth, the tightness, or the words, but she felt new hot tears being squeezed out of her. She couldn't help it. She hugged him back and shook with relief she didn't know she had. "I don't care about the cost Pea pod, we'd have found a way to pay for it, what matters is that you get to follow your dreams'', he kissed Penelope's cheek, scratching her with his stubbly beard, "I love you."
After a long moment Mung let Penelope go. The family soon finished cooking and they had their celebratory steaks together. Penelope shared the good news with her friends in Sanctum and celebrated with them throughout the summer. At the end of summer Penelope exchanged well wishes with her friends who had gotten into different academies or taken different paths in life, and one more watery goodbye with her family as she took the airship to Beacon with Sanctum's other Beacon bound graduates.
As the airship landed at Beacon, Penelope made a promise to herself, "I won't let my family down", and took her first steps on campus with confidence.
Lucy was carried out into Beacon's campus in the crush of students. Students moved as a wave across the landing pads in the only direction they could. Nervously, Lucy fidgeted with her bandana and did her best to smother down her hair. She felt bad for the boy behind her and hoped the quills in her hair didn't stab him. She looked over her shoulder just to be sure and saw him pressed uncomfortably close to her staring intensely at her quills.
"Sorry…" Lucy apologized, she cringed as she watched the boy's eyes track her hair instead of looking her in the eyes.
"It's no problem, I didn't mean to stare", the boy said. He smiled briefly and looked Lucy in the eyes, but couldn't help how his eyes kept darting to her hair. The students began to thin out as the path got wider and Lucy moved to stand next to the boy instead of in front of her. The boy began to relax and his smile returned to him, a wide smile missing teeth, "I just didn't want to get skewered, you know?"
"I get it, I wouldn't want that either", Lucy chuckled nervously, "Usually my quills aren't a problem, it's just in crowds that they get dangerous." She reached up and ghosted a hand over the length of her hair, making sure no quills were sticking out at any odd angles.
"Yeah I get you, what's your name?", he nodded along as his toothless smile grew.
"My name's Lucy, how about you?", she said as she stuck her out hand to the boy.
"Biff", said Biff as he shook Lucy's hand. Lucy couldn't help but notice the boy's strong grip and rough hands. "So where are you from Lucy?"
"Bumble-fuck nowhere Vacuo", Lucy joked. Biff laughed and Lucy felt herself relax a little more.
"I'm from Vacuo too, you can be a little more specific than that"
"Oh", Lucy nodded appreciatively, "I'm from Sandy Lawn." Biff raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah like I said its, Bumble-fuck nowhere, it's the plains along the south coast of Vacuo", she added, but it didn't look like it helped Biff at all.
"I've never been to southern Vacuo so I wouldn't know, I'm from the city."
"Ahhh, that makes sense, usually people outside of the city all kind of know where everything is in Vacuo, and everyone in the city only really knows the city". It was an age-old argument in Vacuo. People who lived out in the wilds liked to think of themselves as true Vacuans while city dwellers liked to think of themselves as more civilized. Most people didn't take it seriously, but there were always a few who took it to heart. Biff's eyes squinted a little bit but his smile didn't waiver.
"So where did you learn how to fight?", Biff asked. So it begins, Lucy thought to herself. Almost as customary as a handshake, the two Vacuans began to size each other up.
"I was raised huntin' and trappin'", Lucy said, putting on a little more confidence. "My daddy taught me how to shoot, track, skin game, and turn a profit", she shrugged a shoulder that carried a huge bolt action hunting rifle, "he left me this when he died." The loss was too old to ache, now the gun was just a fond reminder of her father. "I did a little competition shooting on the side and won a few contests", Lucy's smile took on a cool edge feeling the confidence she was portraying, "That's how I got scouted for Beacon, I beat one of the teachers in a sharp shooting contest, and he offered me a spot in Beacon."
"Oh? So you didn't go to Respite?" Biff asked. His smile became less wide. He sped up and stood in front of her. He crossed his arms and his eyebrows rose.
"Uh, no?" Lucy asked, confused. She didn't like Biff's questions, they felt like a trap, and he completely ignored her accomplishments. She must have been right to feel suspicious because his smile turned into a smirk.
"You do know Respite right?" he paused to let her answer but continued before she could, "It's the Prep Academy in the City, I was top of my year there and got a full ride sports scholarship from Beacon for competition fighting", he tilted his head and shook it slightly, "I knew there was a reason I didn't recognize you."
"Why would you?", Lucy crossed her arms and leaned into one hip, "I never needed Prep Academy, I got this strong on my own."
"Hm! Prep Academy isn't about being strong, it's about teaching you everything else about being a huntsman, tactics, ethics, law", Biff uncrossed his arms and planted them on his hips, "And for weeding out the stupid." He turned away from Lucy and caught up with the crowd, leaving Lucy alone.
She wasn't stupid, she was just unprepared. The whole point of going to a huntsmen academy was to teach her how to be a huntsmen anyway, she'd just have a little catching up to do. She trailed behind the crowd and squeezed into the back of the auditorium where the students were to have their welcome speech. Headmaster Ozpin came onto stage and tapped the microphone a few times to get the room's attention.
"I'll… keep this brief", Ozpin began, "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge", Lucy couldn't help but feel excluded from that statement, "to hone your craft and acquire new skills'', that much she agreed with, "And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people", Ozpin looked around the auditorium into the eyes of his new students, "But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction" Lucy ground her teeth and wished the Headmaster hadn't looked at her, "You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far", dread started to churn in her stomach, "It is up to you to take the first step." Headmaster Ozpin then stepped away from the microphone. Lucy looked down at her feet with a new queasiness. Whatever the Deputy Headmistress said fell on deaf ears as Lucy shuffled with the rest of the student body out of the auditorium.
Strength and skill alone wouldn't be enough, she'd have to learn what it meant to be a huntsman, and learn faster than the pack could leave her behind.
Mirasol slept like a rock. Many other students were too excited to sleep right away or wanted the chance to socialize with their new friends, but not her. The moment her head hit the pillow Marisol was out like a light. At 5:00 her scroll began to buzz. It was on vibrate and tucked into her sleeping bag so there was no escaping the alarm. Rubbing sleep from her eyes she silenced her alarm and quietly tiptoed past the other students to the locker room. She got dressed, slung her weapon over her shoulder, and took out her backpack. Quiet as she could be she crept out of Beacon towards its cliffs overlooking the Emerald Forest. She shrugged off her weapon and bag, sat down on the edge of the cliff, and took out a large art journal and a metal case. She opened the case and took out a pencil.
She had waited years for this. The dark blues of the night sky began to lighten. The first rays of pink sunlight began to reach across the sky. First light over the Emerald Forest, and her first morning as a huntress. A smile began to creep up Mirasol's face and she was tempted to just sit there and bask in its beauty, but this day would never happen again, and this morning was going to be special. Slowly, first light crept back down the sky, painting the underbellies of blue clouds orange. The treetops slowly left the night, but the darkness clung to the forest in long shadows. Sunlight hit Mirasol's face and her smile grew wide as her skin savored the fresh warmth. Golden light reflected off the emerald green leaves, and as the trees swayed in the wind it looked as if the canopy was turned into a glittering ocean.
As the sun climbed higher and the forest lost its magic Mirasol sighed and leaned back on her hands. Her sketch was done and she was satisfied. Even if she'd never see that sunrise again she didn't think she could forget it, and knew that she'd paint that memory sometime soon. For now, she would bask in the early morning sun. Sooner or later she knew she'd get a notification telling the new students where to go, but that was then and this was now. Mornings were sacred to Marisol, and she was glad she could capture this one.
The sounds of a lawn mower moving towards her had Mirasol turn around. A middle aged man got off a riding mower and approached her. He had a scruffy ginger beard, a white collared polo, and a handled pot on his head.
"You're too early! And in the wrong spot!" he said. It took Mirasol a moment to process what he had said. His speech was almost completely garbled nonsense.
"I'm sorry sir, I just wanted to see the sunrise", Mirasol apologized quickly, gathering her belongings and standing up.
"Don't apologize, you're right, you'd be Dave to miss the sunrise", his eyes crossed for a moment, "Crazy! I'm Dave."
"I'd be crazy to miss the sunrise?" Mirasol suggested. Trying to guess his real meaning.
"Yes!", he pointed and smiled, "And I'm Dave!", he exclaimed. "You're in the wrong spot for initiation, you need to go that way", he pointed north along the cliffs, "You'll see launch pads where the Headmaster is going to throw you into the forest", he smiled but his eye twitched, "You're also too early, go eat breakfast then wait for the rest of the students." His arm swiveled woodenly towards one of the buildings attached to Beacon, "That's the cafeteria, go eat breakfast."
"Ok," Mirasol smiled kindly and nodded, "I'm going to go eat breakfast", she repeated slowly for Dave's benefit, "and then i'll go to launch pads for initiation."
"Good!" Dave cheered. He then got back onto his riding mower and continued cutting the grass.
Mirasol left for the cafeteria and thought about the strange groundskeeper. She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it and went to eat. Not many were there besides her and many of them looked more tired than her. She quickly ate a hearty breakfast and sat at the cafeteria table sketching in details in her artbook. She'd finish it in water color later but for now she wanted to capture the small details she would be afraid to forget. Chatter grew around her as more people arrived for breakfast. Mirasol looked around appreciating the life filling the building. Not wanting to take up a seat she didn't need she made to get up and turned into someone she hadn't noticed. Her book hit the ground along with the person's tray. Oatmeal soaking into her carefully captured precious memories.
"No!" Mirasol cried as she dove to pick up her book. She brushed off what she could with her hands, but it left behind revolting beige stains on the white paper. She grabbed as many napkins as she could and tried to dab dry her art book, but it wasn't helping. They were cheap and they quickly soaked through. Her throat felt tight and her tongue felt fat in her mouth. Maybe if she ran to get more she could save the page. As she turned to bolt, a hand grabbed her elbow and stopped her.
"Hey! Not even an I'm sorry?" said a boy's voice. She turned to look at him. His tray was held in his other hand and his breakfast was all over the front of his clothes, "It's the least you can do, you know." He wouldn't let go, wasting precious seconds she needed.
"You ruined my artbook, asshole!" she spat, pulling against his grip as much as she could, "Just let me save it!" He let go, she stumbled a little bit, then tore off towards a napkin holder in by the wall of the cafeteria. She ripped a handful of napkins out and carefully began dabbing the pages. It took longer than she would have wanted, and not nearly as effective as she hoped, but she saved her art book as much as she could. The sketch was ruined, but she was fast enough to stop the oatmeal from soaking into other pages. Some were sketches, and some were finished water colors. If those had been ruined she might have lost it. Her first sunrise at Beacon was gone though. She promised herself that she would sketch it again though, her first morning at Beacon would become a finished piece.
Regaining her composure she closed her book and walked towards the boy. Guilt welled up in her. He was sitting with a new tray of food and was busy brushing his last breakfast off with a napkin.
"Hey", Marisol waved and forced a small smile, he turned to her, "I'm sorry about your breakfast, I shouldn't have flipped out on you, that was too much." He didn't say anything. He pursed his face and looked her up and down. He swung his legs over the bench and stood up.
"It was too much", he adjusted a pair of large glasses on his nose, "you're an asshole, and you have to watch where you're going."
"I'm sorry ok? I wasn't looking and I ran into you, it's not a big deal" Marisol's smile strained as every part of her face tried to fight it.
"Oh yeah? It seemed like a big deal to you?"
"That's…That's different ok? My art book is-"
"It's not that big of deal! All you had to do was say sorry the first time"
"If you just let me go the first time I wouldn't have yelled at you!"
"If you said sorry I wouldn't have stopped you!"
"This is stupid!" Mirasol threw her hands up in the air, " Can't we just move on and forget about this?"
"Fine, but I'm not forgetting." Mirasol shot the guy a dirty look and turned to leave. Her foot got hooked on one of his and she fell face first into the floor. "Watch where you're going asshole", he said and he left before giving her the chance to say anything back.
"Keep it together Mirasol", she whispered to herself.
Audrey never felt better! She soared through the air screaming happily as she was flung off Beacon's cliffside into the Emerald Forest. It was moments like these that she lived for. Moments of action when nothing else mattered but that very moment. Moments where action forced reaction, and then actions of their own. A perfect cycle nothing else could replicate. Audrey couldn't help the smile that split her face.
Audrey held her limbs to her side as she flew face first through the air like a missile. She could feel her heart thump loudly in her chest as she passed the crown of her arch as her head dipped lower than the rest of her body. Audrey squinted against the wind trying to see the ground she was fast falling to. All she needed was a clearing free of trees and she would be safe. Her heart thumped louder and faster as it pushed adrenaline through her body and into her brain. Time didn't slow but it felt like Audrey could think faster. Her lips closed around her mouth but didn't stop smiling.
There! A small lake with a muddy bank! That was perfect! But if she didn't do something now; she was quickly going to fly past it. Audrey reached for her weapon coiled against her hip. A long thick chain with a large steel bear trap attached to the end.
"He! Huhuh Ha!" Audrey laughed as she quickly wrapped one end of her metal chain around a steel metal gauntlet on her right hand.
"Ha! Now!" she screamed as she threw her beartrap down into a tree. The chain wrapped around the branch twice before the trap bit deep into the trunk.
"Oh F-AAAAAHHH!" Audrey screamed as the chain went taut and she felt the joints in her arm stretch and pull. The tree branch snapped but the bear trap's jaws remained firm. The tree lurched but remained anchored in the ground, and as the chain refused to stretch or break, Audrey's flight path quickly and violently pivoted around the tree. Her right arm pulled her around her new flight path. She felt her muscles strain and reached up to grab the chain with her left hand to ease the tension. As she held on with a new grip, she looked down the chain and to the tree.
It was incredible! It was the only fixed point in a world of motion. The forest appeared to fly away as the beautiful clear blue sky chased the ground. It was a sight Audrey knew she would never see again. A sight she savored, stretching the second into a memory she would carry with her forever. What was once down was now up as the arc of her new flight path swung her back first into the ground, letting her look up into the endless depth of the sky.
Closing her mouth, Audrey trusted her semblance as she hit the ground. The cold wet sensation of mud covered her skin as her momentum pushed her deeper into the ground. Audrey's semblance, Earth Glide, let her phase through the wet mud, through the warmer dirt, and into the chunky stone. Far below the earth's surface Audrey opened her eyes and began to swim through the stone. Kicking her legs and pulling herself through the soil Audrey swam to the surface with practiced ease. She wriggled through tangled tree roots and pushed up through the surface of the soil. She planted her arms against the muddy lake bank and pulled her torso out of the ground.
"WOOOOOOOO!" Audrey screamed as she pumped her arms above her head, "RAAAHHHHHH!" She stretched as tall as she could. She pushed against the ground and pulled her legs out of the bank.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Audrey cheered and jumped to her feet. "Landing strategy my BUTT!" she yelled into the trees. She put her hands on top of her head and began to walk around in a lazy circle as she took deep breaths to slow her breathing. "Now that's how you- Whew! -Now that's how you start a school year!" her right hand was pulled off her head as her chain went taut again, it was still stuck in the ground. It turned her around and Audrey took a few steps before hunching forward at the hip and panting her hands on her knees. In the back of her mind she could hear her trainer and dad, Seymour, nagging not to rest hunched over. She groaned and stretched tall. Her bones popped and globs of mud fell off her shoulders.
"Meh meh meh, don't hunch over, you'll get a cramp, whatever", she mocked. She started to pull her chain out of the earth and spooled it around her hand and forearm. She followed the chain to the tree and pulled the jaws of her bear trap open and released the tree. "I wish I got that on camera, that would have done so well online", Audrey shook her head. Some mud dripped off her neck as she did.
"Alright, number one: find a relic. Number two: find a partner. Number three: make it back to the cliffs", she listed off on her fingers. She went to pull out her scroll but her hands were muddy. She tried wiping her hands off on her pants but they were just as muddy. "Ugh", she went over the lake and washed off her hands and dried them in the grass. She fished out her scroll and pulled up the compass app. She spun around in a circle trying to orient herself and then headed east towards the ruins. She ran in a light jog with her scroll in one hand through the forest. She was breathless from her landing, but besides being a little sore in the arm she wasn't tired.
Running through the forest wasn't as quiet as she thought it would be. All around her she could hear fighting in the distance. Gunshots, roars, branches snapping, all of the fun things Audrey couldn't wait to experience herself. Wanting some fresh fun, she picked up her pace hoping she might run into some trouble. Her aura sparked a rich purple where shrubbery and brambles scratched against her as she ran. A pungent poop and wet dog smell made itself very well known as Audrey pushed through the underbrush to see the butt of a large Grimm.
"Ah Hah", Audrey cheered as she pointed at the Grimm accusatorially.
"Gruh?" The Grimm huffed confused. It swiveled its head and craned its neck over his shoulder and made eye contact with her. It had a broad snout and a fat head, the top of both were completely covered in a bone mask. Simple red markings decorated the top of its head and face, almost as if they had been painted on. It was an Ursa. Its glowing red eyes acknowledged her, but looked away, then it looked back at her recognition clicking in its eyes. "Hugrahh!" it exclaimed at it quickly span around, "ROOAAARR", it bellowed in her face as it charged her.
Audrey backed up a few steps but knew better than to try to outrun a charging ursa. It swung with a meaty right claw and she crouched low, ducking the paw swinging over her head.
"Grah!" it roared in frustration, quickly following up with a left paw trying to stomp down on her lower position. Audrey jumped from her crouch even further left, landing on her hands and shoulder and rolling to her feet and turning around. She slid her bear trap onto the knuckles of her right gauntlet and unlooped the heavy chain from off her belt, holding the loop in her left hand. The Ursa charged her in quick pursuit.
"Urah!" it growled as it swiped down trying to rip her face off with its right paw. Audery dodged to her left outside of its arm and punched the Ursa in neck. The jaws of the trap closed, steel teeth shearing through fur and muscle and biting deep into the grimm.
"Uroooh!" the Ursa gurgled as it span on the spot and reared up on its back legs, swiping wildly with its paws. It lurched forward trying to gut her and crush her. Audrey crouched, planted her feet and pulled her chain, ripping the bear trap free of the grimm and tearing its throat out. It teetered forward as if unaware it had been killed. Black ichor gushed from the Grimm that quickly evaporated into smoke. Audrey stepped to the side as the Ursa fell forward. Its flesh began to flake away into the smoke leaving nothing but bone behind; that too slowly began to flake away and dissolve.
Thudding steps and snapping underbrush alerted Aubrey as more Ursa charged through the forest towards her. The first one was upon her in seconds. It jumped at her trying to tackle her and swipe at her with its claws. She brought up her left gauntlet letting it take the swipes. Her right arm punched up, socking the Ursa in the jaw. She reached back for her chain and pulled the bear trap back to her body. Still closed, she slammed the thing against the side of its head. Crouching into a low stance she swiveled around the Ursa's left. Quickly, a second one upon her swiping at her chest.
"ROAAR!" it screamed in her face and paws bigger than dinner plates and claws as sharp as steak knives scrapped across Audrey's aura.
"Agh!" Audrey screamed back. She leaned hard to her left dodging the Ursa's jaws trying to rip her throat out. It bit down hard into the first Ursa, sinking its teeth in and drawing ink black blood. She planted her foot on the second Ursa's shoulder and launched herself over the back of the first Ursa. The first Ursa leaped for her trying to crush her with both paws, but missed as Audrey rolled away and to her feet. She shifted the slack of her chain in her left hand and whipped it around the neck of the first Ursa, unbothered, it swiped at her with its right paw, missing her head by inches. In her right hand she held her Bear trap, in her left she held her chain, and tangled in the middle was an Ursa. Behind it Audrey could see the second Ursa close in on her left.
"Shit!" Audrey exclaimed. She slid her bear trap onto her right gauntlet and it opened. Audrey dodged left as the first Ursa swiped down at her again. She leaned back as it snapped its jaws at her.
"Ew!" Audrey coughed as its rancid breath washed over her face. She whipped her chain in her left hand and looped it around the first Ursa's neck again. She then dove right, dodging the charge of the second Ursa, and using the first one as a shield.
"Hruhh!" a third Ursa growled as it burst through the underbrush behind her.
"Alright, fine!" Audrey's head whipped over her shoulder to look at it. She could see it charge her. Turning back, both the first and second Ursa were closing in on her. The first one jumped for her again trying to squish her with both paws. Audrey stepped into it, shoulder checking it in the stomach and letting it fold over her. She pulled her right arm taut against the chain, choking it as it fell. The second Ursa clambered over the first ursa as it tried to snap at her, but was too uncoordinated to hit. She punched the second Ursa in the face and the bear trap clamped down across its muzzle. Its crushing bite cracked the bone mask and bit deep into the lower jaw of the Ursa. Audrey quickly turned to the lunging third Ursa and ducked low under its bite. She punched it in the throat with her left hand making it choke.
"ROOOGH", the third Ursa roared in her face as it shoulder tackled her to the ground. It scrambled against the ground, keeping her pinned with its weight and trying to bite her face off.
"Grahh", Audrey grunted as she wrestled its head away with her right arm. She heard thudding feet from above her and saw the other two Ursa rushing to join her mauling. Gripping the third Ursa's lower jaw she shoved it high and away. Wriggling her left arm free, she looped her chain around the snapping upper jaw of the third Ursa. She quickly activated her semblance, letting the Ursa's weight push her into the ground just in time to watch the second Ursa carve through the earth where her head once was.
God damn! Audrey planted her feet against the surface of the earth. She dipped into the deep squat and pulled as hard as she could lifting with her legs. Between her feet she saw the chain go taut around the third Ursa's snout and drag it to the floor. The bone mask cracked against the chain as the Ursa struggled to pull itself free. It was strong, but Audrey was stronger. The chain cut deep through the mask, crushing the snout and severing it from the Ursa.
"AGHAA, ARAAGHHA", the Grimm bellowed and cried and pawed at its face, rolling onto its back and then running off into the forest.
Needing to breathe, Audrey let her semblance slip and let the earth hold the chain. She dropped to her knees and stuck her head through the ground back to the surface, taking in a deep breath. The two Ursa charged her, trying to swat at her head. She dodged the blow, pulling back into the earth. Regaining grip on the chain she pulled again. The first Ursa growled and fought against the chain around its neck, but it was no use. Against great effort, it was forced to the ground and its neck was crushed inside the tightening chain. The flesh started to dissolve as Audrey pulled, quickly dissolving flesh and bone giving the chain more slack.. She kneeled and stuck her head through the ground again letting her catch her breath.
"Hey!", she called out to the last Ursa. It pounced at her head, but Audrey was faster. Bobbing back down into the earth she planted her feet against the surface in a low squat reeled in the slack of her chain. The Ursa huffed and growled, digging in its feet and flailing in its head trying to break free. Audrey grit her teeth and walked her hands up the chain. She lifted from her back dragging the beast's face against the earth. Unable to phase into the earth, the Grimm's face was crushed against the earth as the jaws of the trap pulled it through a barrier it could not cross. Its body went limp as its flattened head began to smoke. Now safe, Audrey squirmed out of the earth and clambored to her feet. "Woooo!" she cheered, "Good fight!" She picked up the Ursa's quickly dissolving arm and gave it a high five. Reorienting herself, she continued her light jog, now with a little more skip in her step. It wasn't her best fight but she buzzed with adrenaline.
Ahead of her, Audrey could hear the sounds of more fighting. Her smile wormed its way back onto her face at the chance of another fight. She picked up her pace once again, following the sounds. Loud blasts called Audrey's name from in front of her. Maybe fifty-ish feet away was a girl with a pump action shotgun blasting away at a pack of Canis. On four nimble legs, they rushed her through the trees, but the girl seemed to be holding her own. One blast of her shotgun was more than enough to blow the canine head off one of these little grimm, but they were numerous and rushed her as a pack. They growled and circled her, but Audrey was sure she didn't look bothered. As they closed in and snapped at her heels the girl jumped high into the air-out of reach-leaving the Grimm far behind. She never stayed still for long, constantly shooting, reloading, repositioning, and jumping.
"That's gotta be a semblance", Audrey spoke to herself. She brought her Beartrap from off her hip and looked at it head on. "Do you think we should help her, Mr. Chomper?"
"She'll be fine! Look at the spring in her step!", Audrey said, doing a silly growly voice for her weapon.
"Oh Mr. Chomper", Audrey sighed, "It's only right to lend her a helping hand, besides we still need a partner". Audrey turned back to the fight watching the pack dwindle before her. "Ok let's at least make a fun first impression", Audrey said putting her weapon on her hip. She ran forward and dove into the dirt swimming fast below the surface of the earth. She swam past the girl and towards one of the Canis. "This is going to be so funny" she thought as she put Mr. Chomper on the fist of her gauntlet. As the Canis ran above her she punched Mr. Chomper out of the ground into the abdomen of the Canis as she sprouted out of the ground like a zombie. The Canis wheezed as Mr. Chomper cut a perfect semicircle out of most of its chest and it slumped to the ground dead.
"AHH", the girl screamed and blasted Audrey in the chest. Buckshot scattered across Audrey's purple aura.
"Wait! Wait! Friendly!" Audrey yelled, holding her hands up above her head and dropping her weapon. Keeping her hands up she stepped out of the earth to reveal herself.
"What the heck was that?!" the girl barked, but she didn't lower her shotgun.
"Its my semblance! I'm a human! I can swim in dirt, I just thought it would be funny to scare you!" Audrey explained.
"That was not funny!" the girl shuffled in place and lowered her shotgun, "I almost killed you!"
"Yeah, but it was pretty funny though", Audrey chuckled, putting one hand on her hip and shrugging the other at the girl. Audrey gathered her weapon and put it on her hip. The other girl stood where she was still unsure of what to make of Audrey. Audrey wiped her dirty hands on her equally dirty pants, and offered the girl a handshake. "My name is Audrey, it's nice to meet you", she smiled.
"My name is Penelope", Penelope eyed the hand warely for only a moment before shaking it and smiling, "I like your fighting style."
Penelope looked to be 5"2'. Her dark green hair was pulled back into a braided ponytail. Audrey could respect her choice, it would keep her hair out of her face. She wore a green long sleeve polyester button up shirt. Over that she wore a khaki colored fly fisherman's vest with six deep pockets. From shoulder to hip she wore a black grenade bandolier with fragmentation grenades over the vest. Audrey wasn't sure if that was safe, but didn't want to question it. She wore a pair of straight legged jeans and a ratty pair of sneakers. Around her waist she wore a brown leather belt and then a bright red fanny pack over it. She wore a pair of elbow and knee pads. Her skin was lightly tanned and she smiled politely for Audrey. Her clothes were all civilian quality, a little weird Audrey thought, but she would keep that to herself.
"Thanks! I made it up myself, I like your hair."
Audrey was much taller than Penelope, standing at 6"3'. She also seemed much stronger than Penelope; she certainly had more muscle. Her hair was a short buzz cut. She wore a cropped scoop neck tank top, underneath which she wore a one piece sleeveless swimsuit. Penelope tilted her head at that, a little confused at the decision. Audrey wore a beaded shark tooth necklace. Cute. She wore a pair of denim shorts with a cloth belt, attached to which was a strap of leather that tied Audrey's weapon to her right hip. Penelope couldn't help but wonder how heavy that weapon felt if she had wear it on her hip. On her left thigh a belt and sheath held a long wooden handled bowie knife in place. That was cool, Penelope couldn't help but acknowledge, maybe she could get her own. Try as she might, Penelope couldn't tell the color of anything Audrey was wearing, she was too covered in dirt and mud to tell. Maybe Penelope could spray her with a hose later, that would help.
"Oh thanks, it's naturally green", Penelope let go of Audrey's hand and wiped it on her pant leg. "So I guess we are partner's now?"
"I think we are!" Audrey beamed. A white toothy smile spouted from her muddy face.
"Do you…" Penelope trailed off, "Nevermind, have you found a relic yet?" she shrugged.
"Not yet, I was heading to the ruins to get one", Audrey cheered.
"Cool, me too", Penelope smiled as she took her scroll out of one of her vest pockets. "Here look at this", she gestured for Audrey to come look at her scroll. She opened the map app on her phone and began zooming in on the Emerald Forest. "We are still close enough to Vale and other local CCT towers that the Transmit Positioning System still works on our scrolls." She zoomed in and zoomed out of the aerial view of the forest a few times until she found a blue dot in the forest. "So this is us", she said as she leaned the screen towards Audrey. She then zoomed out and scrolled east to where there was a large clearing and stone ruins, "And these are the Ruins Ozpin said the relics would be", she zoomed out again to show both the dot and ruins in frame, "and this is how far away we are", Penelope smiled up at Audrey.
"Wow, that's pretty smart, and how far is that?"
"We are, um… one point three miles away"
"That's not too bad, lead the way"
"Ok sure." The pair walked off east together. As they walked Penelope opened one of the velcro pockets on her vest and fed buckshot rounds into her shotgun.
"oh shit", Audrey muttered to herself.
"Hm?", Penelope tilted her head towards Audrey but kept her eyes on her shotgun.
"Oh Shit", Audrey said louder, "I was just looking at your shotgun, I never really used guns so I'm always kind of impressed with this stuff". Audrey stepped over a log and smiled as Penelope had to step on it then over it.
"Ha thanks, but I'm just reloading", Penelope smiled up at Audrey but her eyes gave Audrey a raised eyebrow, "It's a Mossberg 500, and I use a variety of different dust shells if I need something special, although I try not to given how much dust costs."
"Oh ok, that's pretty cool", Audrey nodded along, sort of understanding what she was saying. "How much did the grenades cost?" she gestured at Penelope's bandolier.
"Not that much actually!" Penelope pulled on the bandolier to show her, "I bought them pretty cheap from Atlas Military surplus, you should check out their website, it's much cheaper than most weapon stores."
"Uh sure, I'll look", Audrey's eyes looked left then back to Penelope, "So…are you strong?"
"I mean I'd say so", Penelope looked down to the leaf litter and then forward, "I can shoot pretty well, and my semblance keeps me out of any sticky situations", she looked back towards Audrey, "What about you? You've got that sick earth semblance."
"Thanks, It's kind of like burrowing, well, not really like burrowing, it's more like I can swim through the earth", Audrey weakly pantomimed swimming , "It's not very offensive, but it makes me pretty slippery. I am strong though! I can break the ribs of a Beowolf if I can get a good punch in."
"Hmm", Penelope nodded along. It was more than she could do but nothing too out of the ordinary for her old classmates in Sanctum. She would keep that to herself though. "So what's with the bear trap?"
"Oh my weapon? I named him Mr. Chomper, he's a high weight bear trap and a heavy duty steel chain", Audrey smiled and held up the closed trap to her. "I custom made his teeth to bite through flesh, and I replaced the spring with a custom stronger one! This gauntlet", she held up her right hand, "has rails on the knuckles and forearms for if I want to attach Mr. Chomper there."
"Ok cool, but why did you pick a bear trap?" Penelope pushed her way through the underbrush and spit out little bits of leaves.
"Well it's kind of a silly story", Audrey smiled a little less and looked forward then back to Penelope, "when I was a kid I always thought venus fly traps were cool, so I made my weapon after one."
"That's not silly, I think it's nice, and you're really good with it too!"
"Thanks, I worked really hard on it", Audrey pointed at Penelope's head, "hey wait, you have a leaf in your hair"
"Oh can you get it for me?" Penelope stopped and turned her back towards Audrey.
"Yeah of course, there", they continued walking, "but yeah, my weapon was so unconventional that my teachers at Browning's had trouble teaching me, me and my dad had to learn on our own at home."
"Oh, that's-", loud gunshots burst to life past the treeline ahead of them, "that's cool, um, we should go check that out", Penelope rushed out as she ran forward. Aubrey was quick to follow.
They hesitated at the edge of the clearing. Across the grassy lawn was an old crumbling stone building. It was made of ancient stones and had no roof. Hundreds of years ago it might have been a small temple, but now it was being used as cover. Tucked behind one wall was one girl reloading a gun, and laying flat on top of the wall was another girl shooting some kind of bolt action rifle. Charging their position was an abnormally large Boarbusk.
It was as big as a moving truck and just as fast. A smooth bone masked covered its face with four red eyes embedded inside. The mask segmented over the boarbusk's snout. Two large curved fangs poked down from its upper jaw, and two humongous tusks curved up from its lower jaw, and the rest of its teeth were sharp and broad. Its mouth was open and panting as it ran. Bone plates covered its shoulder, legs and back. The clatter of the plates against each other sounded like a rhythm of fast approaching doom. A thick black mane ran down the creature's spine, bouncing with its gait. As it ran its cloven hooves churned up the grass while it picked up speed.
Penelope and Audrey didn't stall for long. Together they sprinted across the field to intercept the charging Boarbusk.
"We're not gonna make it! hah", Penelope panted, "I'll distract, hah hah, you stop it"
"Ok!" Audrey cheered and peeled off towards the Boarbusk.
Penelope skidded to a stop and shot at the Boarbusk. Buckshot ricocheted off its thick armor.
"One, two, three, four, five", she counted. It wasn't going to be enough, she needed something bigger. She picked up her pace again running towards the ruins. She fished around her vest pockets for the shells she was looking for. Wind buckshot, Wind buckshot, Fire buckshot, Gravity slug, Gravity slug. She tightened her core and activated her semblance jumping high into the air. She braced her shoulder as shot down and behind her with her Wind dust buckshot, blasting her forward through the air.
"One", she said to herself. She desperately twisted through the air trying not to lose all control. She shot left and down, launching her higher and towards the Boarbusk. "Two", she landed hard on her feet and rolled through her shoulder, popping up to her feet. She was off to the side of the thing, she was surely in its line of sight. It was quickly closing in and Penelope could feel its hooves vibrate through the earth. Bringing her shotgun up she shot it with her fire dust buckshot round. "Three", fire sprayed across the left side of its face and all four eyes swiveled to her.
"REEEghuhREEEE!" the Boarbusk squealed as it changed its charge to her.
"RUN!", Penelope yelled towards the girls at the ruin. The Boarbusk was almost on top of her. She activated her semblance and jumped high over the charging pig, shooting down with her Gravity dust slugs and cracking one of its back plates as it passed below her. "Four", Penelope landed and ran as fast as she could in the other direction. Behind her the girls in the ruins lept to action running to catch up with her. Bursting from the ground underneath the Boarbusk, Audrey punched up with Mr. Chomper into its belly and quickly dove back down into the earth burying herself and the chain. The chain quickly went taut, and with too much momentum for its own good, the Boarbusk tore out a large chunk of its gut.
"SQUEEEEEEEE!", it cried in pain. It skidded to a stop churning up peels of grass. "SQUEE", it tried to look back and down to assess its wound. It layed flat against the grass and rubbed its wound into the earth.
"Thanks for the save, hah", one of the girls panted, "I'm Lucy." She wore a red bandana with white flowers over her head, and had wavy brown hair that went down past her shoulders. Poking out of her hair, and in some places her bandana, were long black and white porcupine quills. Her skin was a toasted golden brown. She wore a sun bleached green poncho with a simple white zigzag border and white tassels around the edge. She wore straight legged blue jeans over a pair of brown cowboy boots. Across her body she wore a brown leather bag. She was hunched over with one hand on her knee and the other leaning on a large bolt action rifle with a scope with its butt against the ground. Standing at her full height she must have been 5"8'.
"Yeah thank you, and my name is Mirasol", said the other girl. She stood straight with one hand on her hip and the other limp at her side holding her gun. She must have been 5"6' She had a mess of short blonde hair that framed her face. She was beet red from the running, but she had warm bronze skin. She wore a cropped yellow and orange shirt and a pair of light washed overalls. She wore a pair of canvas low top converse. Poking out of her big center pocket were two banana magazines for her gun. Her gun was some odd looking bullpup assault rifle.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Penelope, Haaah, and that girl in the ground over there is Audrey", Penelope pointed into the distance. Audrey was swinging her trap and chain around her and flicking it out against the Boarbusk. It snapped and nipped at the Boarbusk's face, keeping the distance between the two.
"So do you have a plan?" Mirasol asked. She raised her gun up and held it in two hands ready for action.
"Um, no not right now", Penelope answered, she looked nervously back towards Audrey. She seemed to be doing ok, but Penelope didn't want to risk it. "What are your weapons and semblances? Maybe I can come up with something."
"I have an assault rifle that can mechashift into a halberd", Mirasol said as she flicked a switch and spun her weapon. The stock bent forward and extended along the barrel to form the haft. The banana magazine folded into the gun and blades pushed forward along the curve of the magazine forming the ax head. "My semblance lets me turn sunlight into aura and I can shoot it out in a beam to hurt or give people aura."
"Wow", Penelope's eyebrows went up, "ok that's great!"
"I don't have a semblance, but I've got my bolt action rifle, and I've got mines", Lucy patted her bag, "That could be something right?"
"What? Wow, mines?", Penelope quirked her head, surprised and impressed by the two of them, "Yeah we can totally do something with that." She turned back to look at Audrey. The Boarbusk's mouth was chained closed and one leg was up in the air tangled in the chains. On the ground Audrey was pulling as hard as she could to keep the chain tight but looked to be struggling. "Umm ok, here's something, that thing can't really stop fast, so how about we make it run into a bunch of mines? Maybe we trip it and it falls into them?"
"Yeah ok I can do that", Lucy nodded, "Just buy me a little more time."
"What should I do?" asked Mirasol.
"You can help trip it! Sounds good?", Penelope asked frantically, while loading her shotgun and watching Audrey. Fire buckshot, two slugs, and finally a Wind buckshot.
"Ok I can do that", Mirasol nodded reassuringly.
"Great!", Penelope cheered and took off running towards the Boarbusk. The other two were close behind her. She cupped one hand around mouth and shouted as loud as she could, "HEY AUDREY, TAG IN!" behind her Lucy and Mirasol peeled off. In the distance Audrey looked over her shoulder and spotted her. She then stamped one foot into the earth, then the other, then pulled herself and the chain into the earth. The Boarbusk pulled against the chain, ripping it part way out of the earth. It pushed its broad nose into the earth trying to shovel out Audrey and the rest of the chain. Penelope kept sprinting and Audrey burst out of the ground meeting her halfway.
"Th' Fucks the plan!" Audrey wheezed wobbling to her feet. She couldn't manage it and planted her hands on her knees too exhausted to do any different. Nagging be damned. Penelope bent over to talk in her ear.
"I'm going to distract it, Lucy is going to set up a minefield, and you and Mirasol are going to trip it into the minefield."
"wh-?", Audrey asked between breaths. Turning her head towards Penelope. Her sweat was mixing with the dirt making it look like she was melting mud.
"Huh?", Penelope asked, leaning forward more. Uncomfortably close by, the Boarbusk grunted and sniffed, shoveling deep through the ground with its snout and pulling up more and more chain. Audrey pulled herself upright.
"Who?!" Audrey yelled wildly gesturing towards the two girls whose' names she didn't know.
"Oh! The one in the poncho is Lucy and the one in the overalls is Mirasol!" The Boarbusk pulled the chain free and flailed it wildly in the air, roaring victoriously as it shook it loose. "Catch your breath, good luck!" Penelope rushed out. She patted Audrey on the back and took off sprinting towards the Boarbusk.
The Boarbusk noticed her and matched her charge. The fear struck her in the chest and stopped her dead in her tracks. As heavy as an elephant and infinitely more malicious, the sight of a head on charge from a Boarbusk had her survival instincts shrieking. Rather than run she brought her shotgun to her shoulder and took aim. Her neon purple gravity slug punched a hole through its mask and cracked it like ceramic.
"One", Black blood oozed from the hole but it didn't slow its charge. In a second it would be goring her. Sweat dripped down her face and she blinked it out of her eye. She activated her semblance, jumping far to the left while blasting it in the face with fire. "Two", Its toothy maw tore up the ground where she previously stood. Through the fire, two of its red eyes tracked her in the air. Penelope landed in a stumble but circled around to its backside shooting two slugs into its flank, her third and fourth shells. One bit deep but wasn't nearly as effective as she was hoping for. How in the world did Audrey keep this thing busy for so long.
"SquEEEE", the Boarbusk roared, digging its hooves into the ground. It spun around wildly. It hopped and threw its bulk against Penelope, battering her with its side. She hit the ground hard and rolled in the grass. She scrambled to her feet and launched herself into the air with her semblance far out of the Boarbusk's reach. It couldn't look up but its unnatural eyes swiveled in its head tracking her above it. She fished out another Fire dust buckshot and loaded it. She landed a little to the left of the Boarbusk and ran in front of its sight. It lunged for her but she blasted it in the face with Wind buckshot, peppering its mask and launching her out of its reach.
The gun kicked against her shoulder. The recoil was painful and awkward at the odd angle. Her tight grip on her weapon jerked her into the air as the Wind Dust pulled her into the sky, like a drunk witch to her erratic broom.
"Four", she hit the ground running, loading in another Wind buckshot. It was quick on her heels and she could hear it gaining. She span around to run backwards, seeing it only a few yards behind her, blasting it in the eyes with fire dust before spinning back around, "Four." There was no out running it. She pulled a grenade from her bandolier and tossed over her shoulder into its panting mouth, and jumped high and away. It squealed in pain as shrapnel tore through its soft mouth. High in the air she could see her allies in the distance.
"I really hope they're ready!" Penelope screamed through the air. Underneath her the Boarbusk caught up to her. She landed on its snout and jumped high again as it roared in rage. She blasted down as she jumped, the wind dust carrying far and away from the Boarbusk, "Five."
On her way down, she saw a flash of steel and then a chain wrapped around her ankle. Audrey, half hidden in the ground, yanked her out of the sky. The chain bit deep into her leg and sparked against her light green aura; her leg was almost pulled from its socket. She slammed hard against the ground and bounced. She was dragged out of danger by Audrey as the Boarbusk raced by with too much momentum to turn in time. Those red eyes tracked the two as it passed. It dug its hooves into the earth but it wasn't enough to stop. Audrey whipped Mr. Chomper into its back leg and pulled with all her strength. At the same time from further ahead a blinding beam of sunlight shot from Mirasol's eyes slicing deep into the Boarbusk's knee. Gunshots like thunder rang out from the walls of the ruins. Lucy's winning aim blinded the hell pig as it charged. As it planted its hooves its back leg was pulled out from under it as Audrey's chain went taut. The weight and momentum was too much for its injured front knee as it collapsed in on itself. The great beast stumbled and tipped forward landing throat first on a landmine. The explosive ripped through its neck but didn't stop its massive body. It skidded through the ground triggering more landmines that blew through its belly and chest. The explosions threw it on its side into a roll where a mine blew through its armored flank making it jump as if it went over a speed bump. Finally motionless, and fully dead, it slowly began to smoke and dissolve before blowing away in the wind.
"WOOOOOOOO!" Audrey cheered. She burst from the ground pumping her arms. "RAAAHHHHHH! That's how we do it!" Audrey pulled Penelope to her feet and gave her a strong high five that knocked her back down. "Minced Meat! Bacon Bits! Sausage Filling!" Audrey screamed and pointed at the Boarbusk's smoking corpse. Marisol jogged up with a radiant smile and double high fived Audrey.
"We did it! Yeah! We just killed a Champion Boarbusk!" Mirasol cheered, "Here", she scooped Penelope up by her elbow and helped her to her feet, "Congratulations!" she held her arms out wide, "Our first team plan!" Penelope accepted her quick hug and let go.
"WOO! Let's hear it for landmines! Always pays to be prepared!", Lucy whooped as she jogged up. She quickly enveloped Penelope and Mirasol in a hug bringing them together. Audrey then swooped in to get all three of them.
"Ow, damn", Audrey said, pulling away from the porcupine quills in Lucy's hair.
"Oh my quills, I'm so sorry", Lucy said trying to pull out of the hug.
"No it's ok, I got aura", Audrey laughed as she activated her aura and squeezed them all again.
"Wait, we still need a relic", Penelope said. The four released their hug and walked over to the ruins. A muffled "You have arrived" chimed from her scroll's Map app.
"White Bishop or Black Rook?", Lucy asked standing in front of the many podiums, "They're the only two left"
"We must have gotten here late", Audrey said, rubbing her head and brushing the dirt out of her hair, "Do you think it matters if we're second to last?"
"No, I don't think so", Penelope patted her on the back, "Ozpin only said that we needed a relic to pass and then go back"
"We should pick the White Bishop", chirped Mirasol, swooping in to collect it, "No particular reason, it just feels right"
"Sure, why not", Penelope nodded, "I'm just happy we passed", she sighed a breath she didn't know she was holding. A weight felt like it melted out of her head and carried out of her throat.
Together the four marched back through the woods towards Beacon cliffs. No foe they faced stood a chance against the four of them. Soon they scaled the cliffs and met up with their soon to be classmates and future teachers. Shortly after their arrival the last team appeared. A team of all boys and none of them seemed particularly tired.
"Hey Prickles", Biff called out, he slugged Lucy in the shoulder as the four boys passed, "I guess you were smart enough to pass after all!" His voice was full of enthusiasm that Lucy didn't share. Penelope looked up at Audrey, then at Mirasol. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?
"What?" Penelope's eyes went wide, "What did you say?", Penelope asked, stepping forward. She just had to be sure she heard that.
"I'm just impressed!", he laughed, "she missed the point of combat class, but still passed this test, although we haven't really gotten to the class part so let's just wait and see." Penelope's jaw dropped in a silent scoff. So she hadn't hallucinated.
"Ok, Excuse you, and back off", Penelope held up one hand, "We don't know you, and I don't think we want to know you, and I know you don't want to know me." Biff smiled cruelly but before he could respond a voice cut through him.
"Yo, Biff, relax", a disheveled looking soldier in an old-school and unkempt uniform spoke up, "I'm Zach, you met Biff, thats Frank-"
"I'm well acquainted, thanks", Mirasol hissed through a disingenuous smile. It was the asshole from breakfast. Frank sneered back.
"-and this is Manny" Zach finished. Manny waved, only half interested. "We really should be thanking you", he smiled weakly, "after you cleared out the Boarbusk the relic was easy pickings", he tossed the Black Rook and caught it in one hand, "So thanks, we owe you one."
"That's not the point of initiation", Audrey piped up, she crossed her arms and frowned. "It's supposed to test your strength and teamwork skills."
"Yeah well", Zach shrugged and looked off and away thinking of a response, "It was our team's decision to let you four do the fighting." He shook his head unsatisfied with his own answer but not bothering to think of a better one. He gestured for the four of them to leave.
"Work smarter, not harder", Biff whispered to Lucy as the team passed.
"What a rotten son of a bitch", Lucy shook her head watching them go.
As the four followed the Headmaster through the school they were greeted by hallways full of applauding upperclassmen. They stood against the walls cheering and clapping for the new freshman. One of them waved Audrey over. An older girl in stylish clothes with a beret and dark sunglasses. Audrey hung back from her team and went to her she met her halfway.
"Hey freshy, nice job stalling the Champion Boarbusk, I was hoping you'd take it down on your own though", she smiled..
"You were watching?", Audrey asked, surprised.
"Of course! Everyone was, we were betting too, you were my pony for the heaviest grimm solo kill." The girl flashed Audrey her scroll showing her a clip of Audrey wrestling with the chained up Boarbusk.
"Oh my bad, I almost had him"
"Ha! No you didn't", she clapped Audrey on the shoulder, "but who would have thought that Ruby kid would have done it, anyway, go catch up with your team, I'll see you around."
"Wait! What's your name?", Audrey asked the sociable stranger.
"Coco, Coco Adel", she smiled, lowered her glasses and winked, before turning away to rejoin her team. Audrey power walked to catch up with her team.
"Guys, I think I just met the coolest girl ever", Audrey buzzed excitedly, "did you know we were being filmed? And that people were betting on us?"
"Yeah", Marisol slowed to match pace with Audrey, "You can watch the livestream on the school website, it's tradition"
"Oh no way!" Audrey bounced with a little more spring in her step. With every step dried mud flaked off of her.
"Of course, I used to watch the streams every year growing up", Mirasol smiled wide. Audrey could swear she was glowing.
The four filed into the auditorium and scooted down the rows of seats until they found a spot to get comfortable. The moment the four of them sat down their exhaustion hit them like a ton of bricks and they struggled to stay awake.
"Welcome new students", Ozpin began stepping up to the microphone, "I am pleased to say that to so many new faces! Your futures here-" was the last thing the four girls heard before they slumped over asleep in their chairs.
"Penelope Mendel, Lucy Saguaros, Audrey Nepenthes ii, and Mirasol Tournesol!" Ozpin called out. No one moved. Students turned to look at one another but no one got up. He tapped the microphone to make sure it was still on. "Ahem, Penelope Mendel, Lucy Saguaros, Audrey Nepenthes ii, and Mirasol Tournesol would you please come on stage", no one moved. He squinted against the spotlight to scan the crowd, he was sure he saw them walk in. "Miss Valkyrie, could you please wake Miss Mendel in front of you? Thank you", a few snickers were shared amongst the crowd. Poor Miss Mendel, half awake and completely confused looked around the room trying to remember where she was. "Penelope Mendel, Lucy Saguaros, Audrey Nepenthes ii, and Mirasol Tournesol would you please come to the stage so I may recognize you as a team." Penelope jumped to her feet and quickly shook her other teammates awake. Behind him Ozpin could feel his Deputy's glower on the back of his neck, he couldn't help but smile. A new least favorite team and in record time, if he were wiser he'd have bet on them instead of team RWBY. Groggy, but united the four girls made their way on stage. "Together the four of you retrieved the White Bishop piece, henceforth, you shall be known as team Plant", on screen their initials and portraits moved to spell PLNT, "With Miss Penelope Mendel as your leader, Congratulations." he clapped respectfully.
"Atta girl!" Lucy clapped and turned to Penelope.
"Oh, Shi-Sugar, I'm the leader?" Penelope asked, shocked. She looked behind her to the big holographic screen to see if she heard that correctly.
"You're the leader!" Audrey cheered from the other side of Lucy.
"Congratulations!", Mirasol came up around Penelope's other side and gave her a side hug, "How do you feel?"
Penelope's smile strained as she fumbled for words, "I'm…I'm not sure?" They were ushered off stage by Deputy Headmistress Goodwitch and they returned to their seats.
Penelope could feel her heartbeat swell in her throat, as if choking her. It was all she could hear, taste, and feel. Her eyes didn't see past her nose and she couldn't smell anything. She was too wrapped in thought, turning over her new position in her brain like a clay ball in her hands. Warm hands that melted clay. Clay that dripped through her fingers. A drippy ball she had to keep passing from hand to hand to keep it from dripping on the floor.
"Hey", a gentle voice called softly in her ear. Penelope turned to her right to see Mirasol's warm smile, "You're going to do great, ok?" Penelope smiled back at her, the clay ball forgotten. Around her she could hear Lucy clapping for the end of Headmaster Ozpin's speech, she could smell the earth off of Audrey, and she could feel the swelling in her throat going away. She took slow deep breaths to ease herself.
Together, they would be ready for anything.
I loved writing this chapter. I wanted to sort of do character trailers but also wanted to roll all the initiation stuff into one chapter. Mostly because I like when the chapter number matches the in story chapter number. It always kinda bothered me when some fics had four trailer chapters and then the fifth chapter is chapter one. Thats why this first chapter is fucking huge. I also wanted to portray the different parts of the initiation. First: getting your acceptance letter. Second: arriving at Beacon. Third: the morning before initiation. Four: initiation. It just felt right. I think I accomplished my goals in this chapter too, in getting the team together and giving a little snippet into their personalities. I kind of wished I made the fights longer but I couldn't be bothered. I do wish I wrote in the antagonist teams descriptions but the laziness got me. This first chapter ended up being 12k words before the author's note anyway. It's already the longest thing I've ever written. I can't promise any future updates soon but I'll try. This chapter took me a month of on and off writing to make, plus like a week of editing. Hopefully the next one won't take so long, and it will probably be shorter. Maybe it will be done by the end of next month. Who knows. I had fun writing this and that's all that matters to me.
If you read this chapter and enjoyed it, thank you!