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DISCLAIMER: I do not own RWBY

"Ugh. Can't I at least get a coffee first?" asked a very tired Soren.

"Not our fault you slept in late and we had to drag you out here," replied Ruby

"I wouldn't have slept in late if you hadn't kept me up when I wanted to go to sleep to introduce me to some people you met. No offense Jaune, Blake I really did enjoy meeting you guys."

"None taken," said the blonde swordsman named Jaune.

The girl with the black bow named Blake kept silent.

"Hey, liven up a bit it's a beautiful morning today," said Yang as she hit Soren's shoulder.

"Easy for you to say, firecracker."

"Ha! Our uncle calls me the same thing."

"I can see why. Though, I do have to admit back up here on Beacon cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest, it's a beautiful sight."

"So, Soren, you've done this whole initiation thing before right? Got any tips for the rest of us?" asked Yang

"Yeah. Don't get killed. That'd be bad. Other than that I can't say. It changes every year."

Yang shrugged "Oh, well."

"Heh you're very laid back."

"Of course. How are you going to have fun in life if you worry about every little thing?"

"That's Yang for you," said Ruby

It was then that Ozpin began to speak.

"For years you have trained to become warriors, and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

The woman next to Ozpin Glynda Goodwitch began to speak,

"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 given teammates, today. "

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you work well with. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years," finished Ozpin

"What!?" screamed Ruby.

"After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die. You will be monitored and graded during the remainder of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item as well as your standing and we will grade you accordingly. Are there any questions?"

Juane raised his hand "Yeah, um, sir?"

"Good now take your positions," ordered Ozpin.

Spreading his feet apart and crouching a bit Soren prepared himself for the launch.

"God I hate this part," he said as he grabbed his hat.

"Really? I think it's gonna be fun," said Yang

"Yeah well unlike birds I don't have these things called wings."

"Hey lighten up a bit," she said as she winked and pulled out some aviators.

"Where did you- WAAH!" Soren yelled as he was launched into the air.

"Shit shit shit!" pulling out his swords he prepared for his landing, but before he could do anything he hit a tree branch knocking the wind out of him.

"Agh…. that could've gone better," he said as he dropped down.

"Now where to?" he asked aloud when he heard a growl behind him. Slowly drawing his swords he turned to get a look at whatever was causing the noise. What he saw were multiple sets of red eyes looking back at him.

"Well fuck," he said as an alpha beowolf lunged at him.

Dropping to his back he fired three shots from his silver blade as it went over him. Rolling to the side as another beowolf slashed where he was; he brought the golden blade up slashing into its side and burning it. He then pointed the silver weapon at the beowolf and shot it's head killing the creature. He turned just in time to see the paw of the alpha crash into his chest launching him into the air. Hitting the ground he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

"Agh! Fuck must have broken a rib," he groaned in pain.

"Soren!?" came a questioning and slightly annoying female voice.

Soren looked to his left to see Weiss with a slightly worried expression.

"Ahh, fuck, did it have to be you?" Soren complained

"What!?"

"Nothing. But get ready a group of beowolves is on its way." he groaned as he got up.

"You just had to bring trouble didn't you?"

"Yeah yeah just be sure not to dirty your skirt, ice queen."

"Hmmph"

They both got into ready positions as the grimm all showed up the alpha right in front of Soren. Weiss walked up and pointed her weapon at it switching to a fire shot when Soren put his hand in front of her.

"Wait."

"What?"

"Just wait."

The alpha lunged at them both and mid jump there was a blur of red and the beast was launched back dead. There stood Ruby Rose as she turned to the two of them with a big smile on her face.

"See Weiss I told you I can fight." she said with pride.

Weiss turned to Soren, "How did you?"

"Focus on the battle! Weiss take the two to the left. Ruby the two in front of you."

"Soren!? When did you get here?"

"Kill first, ask questions later."

Everyone turned to take on the grimm assigned to them. Soren went to the right and found a single Beowolf in front of him.

"Piece of cake!" he shouted as he fired another shot from the silver blade blowing out it's right eye. Sprinting forward he ducked under a wild swing from the right and brought up the silver blade severing the right arm. The beowolf howled in pain before falling silent as Soren drove his sword into its throat killing the creature.

Sheathing his blades he bent over out of breath "Man… fighting with a broken rib is harder than looks."

He then heard Ruby scream.

"What the!? Ruby!" he turned to see her without her weapon cornered by an urasi.

"Damnit!" he yelled as he ran towards her. The urasi rearing back ready to rip apart its prey. Soren closed his eyes as he slid in front of Ruby. He could feel the teeth rip into the flesh of his shoulder. Drawing his golden blade he stabbed the beast in the midsection and activated the dust within burning the creature from the inside. As it died and dissolved like all grimm do he fell to his knees. The sword almost slipping from his grasp.

Looking up at Ruby he asked, "You alright?"

"Soren… your shoulder…."

"Hey it's just a shoulder. I'd gladly give it up for your life."

What happened next surprised Soren. She hugged him.

Crying into his chest "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Putting a hand on her head he said, "Hey, you can't be crying while the instructors are watching. Besides… hugging and a broken rib don't mix."

"Ah i'm sorry" she said as she let go.

"Are you two done yet?" came an irritated question from Weiss.

"Sorry if my bleeding shoulder was slowing us down."

"You're the dumbass who didn't activate your aura. Or do you not know what that is?"

"Oh I'm fully aware. ice queen. I just can't do it."

"What? But every living creature can. So why can't you?"

"Wish I knew. Don't have a semblance either. It's an anomaly even amongst the instructors. You're right though we should get moving," he said as he got up.

"Shouldn't we do something to stop the bleeding?" asked a very concerned Ruby.

Reaching into his pocket Soren pulled out some bandages, a needle, and some stitching.

"Do either of you know how to close a wound? Cause I can't do so with only one hand."

"Oh I do!" said an overly excited Ruby as she raised her hand. Weiss simply looked the other way.

Raising an eyebrow he handed her the supplies. After removing his coat and shirt they got a clean look at his wounds. The back was fine thanks to his sword taking the brunt of the teeth. The front, on the other hand, had deep marks. As Ruby was looking over the wound she noticed a scar on his chest. It looked old. She noticed Soren caught her staring and blushed a deep red. She then began working on closing the wound.

"Ow! Easy with the needle there."

"Sorry!"

They sat there in an uncomfortable silence as she worked on closing the wound.

"There," she said as she finished wrapping the bandages around his shoulder.

"Thanks." Soren then got up to retrieve his shirt when Weiss walked back to check on them.

Seeing Soren without his shirt she blushed red and looked away. Chuckling to himself Soren got redressed.

"Great fighting with only one arm now… and a broken rib. Can this situation get any worse?" Soren was brought out of his thoughts at the sound of Ruby and Weiss argueing. Pinching the bridge of his nose "I just had to ask."

"Stop acting like you're perfect!" yelled Ruby

"I'm not perfect! Not yet anyways… but I'm still leagues better than you," Weiss said before walking on.

"You don't even know me," muttered Ruby.

"Those two are going to need some work if they're to be partners for the next four years," he sighed.

The first thing Soren took note of was that his entire body hurt, badly. He then came to realize he was on his back. As he opened his eyes two blurry objects were hovering above him. One was yellow the other black.

"I see that you're awake now," said yellow.

"Hey there," greeted the black.

"Wha?" he asked. Then his vision slowly began to clear and he recognized the two standing over him as Yang and Blake.

"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground you know. Here give me your hand," said Yang reaching her hand out.

Getting pulled to his feet Soren took a look at his surroundings particularly for his hat. They were still in the Emerald Forest by the looks of things. To his left was the temple with the relics. No more than 3 feet away was his hat lying on the ground.

"Huh… so her plan really worked." he mused to himself as he picked his hat up and dusted it off.

"Well you look like shit. What happened?" asked Yang.

"Oh, it was horrible. There was a giant bird and a crazy girl in red and a really bitchy girl in white."

"Hey! I am not crazy! The plan worked, didn't it!?" yelled Ruby as she walked over from the tree she was in.

"Thinking to ride a nevermore, that's pretty crazy."

"You guys rode a nevermore?" asked Blake.

"Uh who's the orange?" asked Soren indicating a girl with orange hair talking at a superbly fast speed.

"The names Nora!" said the orange right next to Soren in a musical voice as she spread her hands out in front of her.

"Ho-how did you?" he asked looking at Nora and back to where she was originally. Then the sound of trees falling and a red head amazon warrior chick ran out with a deathstalker chasing her.

"And Miss Amazon just brought us a deathstalker." groaned Soren. An explosion to his left caught his attention.

"Can everyone just calm down for two seconds!?" yelled Yang.

"Um Yang." said Ruby as she pointed up.

Currently flying above them was a nevermore with Weiss.

"How could you leave me?" Weiss yelled.

"I said jump."

"She did," agreed Soren.

"She's going to fall," stated Blake.

"I hope she falls."

"She'll be fine," hoped Ruby.

"And she's falling," stated Ren

"Haha!"

Then the blond hero Jaune leapt out of the trees to catch Weiss just to have her land on top of him. Miss Amazon still fighting the deathstalker was hit next to the group.

Soren bent down and offered her his hand "you alright?"

Taking his hand the woman got to her feet "yes, i'm fine, thank you."

Finally getting a good look at her Soren gasped, "Aerith?"

"Hmn?"

"It's nothing," he said pulling his hat down and looking away.

"Great! The gang's all here. Now we can die together," joked Yang.

"Not if I can help it," said Ruby before she dashed off.

Firing a shot from her rifle, she launched herself at the beast only to be smacked to the ground. Realizing the beast was too much for her, she turned and ran. The creature wasn't going to give up that easily though. As it gave chase the nevermore from before started to fly over head.

Yang took off to help her sister with Soren right behind her. The nevermore reared back and launched its feathers. One of them pierced through Ruby's cloak sticking it to the ground. The rest landed in front of Soren and Yang blocking their path to Ruby.

"Ruby get out of there!" yelled a desperate Yang.

"I'm trying!"

The Deathstalker had caught up to Ruby and it raised its tail ready to strike Ruby down. Reaching for his sword Soren saw something rush by him in a blur of white. Looking back at the deathstalker he saw its tail frozen in place and Weiss standing next to Ruby. Soren sighed in relief at seeing Ruby safe and turned to head back.

Everyone regrouped at the temple to discuss what to do about the two Grimm.

"That thing is circling back, so what are we going to do?" asked Juane

"Look there is no use in dilly dallying, our objective is right in front of us," said Weiss indicating the relics.

"Shes right, our object is to grab an artifact and make it back to the cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things," agreed Ruby.

"Run and live, now that's a plan I can get behind," said Juane.

"Whatever, lets just get this done," said Soren as he walked over and grabbed a grey king chess piece. "Hmn… now why is there only one of these?"

"Let's go," said Ruby leading everyone away from the Deathstalker.

Up ahead was a bridge leading to a ruined tower that the nevermore landed on just as the deathstalker, now free from the ice, burst from the forest. Everyone took off sprinting for the bridge.

Halfway across the bridge the nevermore swooped in smashing its body against the bridge breaking it in two. Soren felt the beast's feathers brush into him as it knocked him off the bridge into the chasm below. As he fell his vision turned red and a shadowy substance engulfed his body before he blacked out.