Ash and Pikachu continued their stroll through the sprawling halls of Beacon Academy, enjoying the lively energy of the place. Velvet had just said her goodbyes after taking another picture of Pikachu giving her a playful wave. Things seemed to be going smoothly—until Ash felt a chill down his spine, like he was suddenly under a microscope.

"Ahem," a sharp, authoritative voice echoed through the hallway, causing Ash to freeze mid-step.

He turned to see a tall, blonde woman with glasses and a stern expression approaching, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her black outfit exuded professionalism, and the riding crop she carried only added to her imposing presence. Pikachu tensed, sensing the no-nonsense aura radiating from her.

"You," the woman said, adjusting her glasses as she stopped in front of him. "What are you doing here? You are not a Beacon student."

Ash held up his hands in an apologetic gesture. "Uh, yeah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to trespass or anything. I was just checking the place out—"

"This is not a place for sightseeing," she interrupted, her voice cutting through like a whip. "Beacon Academy is an institution for Huntsmen and Huntresses in training, not a tourist attraction."

Pikachu frowned, stepping in front of Ash protectively. "Pika pika!" it protested, sparks crackling faintly from its cheeks.

The woman's eyes narrowed slightly at the tiny creature's defiance. "I suggest you control your… pet."

"Pikachu's not a pet," Ash said firmly, stepping forward. "He's my partner."

Glynda arched a brow but didn't argue the point. Instead, she crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "Regardless, you don't belong here. You need to leave immediately before this becomes a larger issue."

Ash nodded quickly, sensing he wasn't going to win any points by arguing. "Right. Sorry for the trouble. Come on, Pikachu—"

"Wait," another voice interrupted, this one calm and measured. Ash turned to see a man in a dark green suit with gray hair and glasses descending the nearby staircase. He carried a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and looked entirely unfazed by the tension in the air.

"Professor Ozpin," Glynda said, her tone softening slightly but still carrying an edge of disapproval. "I was just handling this… intruder."

Ozpin took a sip of his coffee, his eyes scanning Ash and Pikachu with mild curiosity. "An intruder, you say? He doesn't seem particularly dangerous."

"That is not the point," Glynda insisted. "This young man is not a student, and he has no business being here."

Ash scratched the back of his head nervously. "I really didn't mean to cause any trouble…"

Ozpin raised a hand to silence him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Relax, my boy. I've heard quite a bit about you already."

Ash blinked in surprise. "You have?"

"Indeed. It seems you've made quite an impression on some of our students," Ozpin said, his gaze flicking briefly toward Glynda, who frowned deeply. "From what I understand, you've been nothing but polite and curious. Hardly qualities that warrant immediate expulsion."

"With all due respect," Glynda began, her voice tight with frustration, "allowing a stranger to wander Beacon freely sets a dangerous precedent—"

"Which is why he won't be wandering freely," Ozpin interrupted smoothly. "If he's to stay for a short time, it's only fair that someone keeps an eye on him."

Glynda's frown deepened. "You can't possibly mean—"

"Who better to guide him than you, Glynda?" Ozpin asked, his tone light but leaving no room for argument. "You're the most capable person here, after all."

Ash could see the subtle twitch in Glynda's brow as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I'm sure you're more than capable of overseeing this… guest yourself."

"Oh, I would, but I have so many responsibilities already," Ozpin said with a faint smile. "Besides, you're far better at teaching discipline than I am."

Glynda let out a slow, measured breath before turning to Ash. "Fine. If he's staying, then he will adhere to the rules and regulations of Beacon Academy. Any breach of conduct, and he's gone. Is that understood?"

Ash nodded eagerly. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you for giving me a chance."

Pikachu, sensing the tension had eased slightly, gave a cheerful "Pika pika!" in agreement.

"Very well," Glynda said, straightening her posture. "Follow me. If you're going to remain here, you'll need to learn how things are done properly."

As she turned to lead the way, Ash glanced at Ozpin, who gave him an encouraging nod. "Thank you," Ash said quietly before jogging after Glynda, Pikachu scampering at his side.

Ozpin watched them go, taking another sip of his coffee. "I have a feeling this will be an interesting experience for both of them."

Glynda walked briskly down the hallways of Beacon Academy, her heels clicking against the polished floors. Ash followed behind her, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, its ears twitching as it took in their surroundings. Glynda spoke in her usual sharp, no-nonsense tone, explaining the key areas of the academy and emphasizing the importance of discipline and order.

"And this," she said, gesturing to a set of large double doors, "is the main training hall. It is where students hone their combat skills under strict supervision. No unauthorized individuals are allowed to—"

"Whoa, is that a moving staircase?" Ash interrupted, his eyes lighting up as he spotted one of Beacon's intricate, self-adjusting staircases across the hall. He stopped to stare, completely ignoring Glynda's explanation.

Glynda froze mid-sentence, her eye twitching slightly as she turned to see Ash looking everywhere but at her. "Mister Ketchum," she said sharply, clearing her throat to regain his attention.

"Huh?" Ash blinked, snapping his focus back to her. "Oh, sorry! You were saying something about, uh… the training hall?"

Pikachu slapped its forehead with a tiny paw. "Pika…"

Glynda let out a slow breath, her grip on her riding crop tightening. "You would do well to pay attention, Mr. Ketchum. I am not accustomed to being ignored, especially when I am taking time out of my busy schedule to ensure you don't wander around like a lost child."

Ash gave her an apologetic grin. "Right, sorry! It's just… this place is so cool! I've never seen anything like it. I guess I got a little distracted."

Glynda's expression softened slightly—though she would never admit it—before she sighed and gestured for him to keep walking. "Distracted or not, you are a guest here, and you will behave accordingly."

As they rounded a corner, Ash spotted two familiar figures ahead: Ruby and Yang. The sisters were chatting animatedly until they noticed Ash walking alongside Glynda. Ruby gave a small wave, but Yang's golden eyes immediately lit up with mischief.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ash," Yang said, striding over with a grin. "What did you do to get Glynda on your case? Sneak into the teachers' lounge or something?"

Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I didn't do anything, I swear! I'm just getting a tour."

"A tour, huh?" Yang smirked, leaning casually against the wall. "Sounds like someone's in trouble to me."

"Miss Xiao Long," Glynda said, her tone sharp as her eyes narrowed at the blonde. "I would appreciate it if you refrained from encouraging such nonsense."

Yang raised her hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no disrespect, Professor. I'm just saying, you don't usually play tour guide unless someone's done something real interesting."

Ruby, who had been standing quietly, waved at Pikachu with a big smile. "Hi, Pikachu! You're so cute! Wanna say hi to Crescent Rose again?"

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped happily, waving back at Ruby.

Glynda cleared her throat pointedly, her glare enough to make Ruby shrink back slightly. "Miss Rose, Miss Xiao Long, if you have time to loiter in the hallways, I suggest you use it more productively. Perhaps by reviewing your latest combat techniques?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Ruby said quickly, giving a nervous salute before pulling Yang away by the arm. "Come on, Yang, let's go do… something productive!"

As the two sisters disappeared down the hall, Yang called back over her shoulder, "Don't let Glynda scare you off, Ash! She's just got a tough exterior—deep down, she's—"

"Miss Xiao Long!" Glynda's voice echoed down the hallway, cutting Yang off before she could finish.