Nexus back to deliver the newest chapter of my fanfiction. Hope you enjoy it.

Blake was grateful that she managed to convince ruby to put the mission first and to conserve their strength for when they really needed it. The fact that they were being attacked by Coco and velvet at this moment certainly didn't have anything to do with that.

Blake used gambol shroud to help her maneuver through the trees and out of Coco's line of sight while ruby did the same using her semblance. Ozpin had said the upperclassmen were like obstacles they could fight or run away from so Blake chose the first option. There wasn't any sense in wasting their energy here so Blake led ruby through the trees and away when they crossed paths with two other students.

Cardin Winchester watched a black haired faunus and a tiny girl fly by through the trees but didn't really think much of it until the upperclassmen that were chasing them came into view. The girl in red yelled a apology before disappearing with the faunus girl leaving them to deal with Coco and velvet. Cardin's eyes passed Coco and narrowed in on velvet before he spat on the floor "filthy animals" he grumbled.

Apparently Cardin's words didn't escape Coco or velvets notice and that led to a vicious smile spreading over Coco's face. She turned to her partner and let her sunglasses slide down her nose "well bun I think we found the perfect sub for some stress relief". Velvet was normally against using violence to solve her racial problems but just this once she thought she could let it slide since she was under orders to take down the first years.

Blake and ruby continued on in a fast pace hoping to out run their pursuers when ruby came to a stop. She looked over to Blake when she landed on a sturdy branch "you think those guys will be ok"? Blake turned towards the way they came before answering "I think they'll be ok".

A loud scream could be heard in the distance, one that caused ruby and Blake to flinch before all went quiet. Blake and ruby exchanged looks with one another before Blake spoke "okay maybe less than ok but I doubt they'll be broken". Ruby smiled weakly at the cat faunus "if you really think that then you really don't know Coco as well as you think you do".

Blake conceded the point to her partner "well it's to late from them now but we can honor their sacrifice by completing our mission". They nodded to each other before moving on once more leaving with more determination then before.

/

Ren knelt down to better catch his breath cause after the arduous battle with fox and yatsuhashi he could barely stand. The same couldn't be said for his partner pyrrha Nikos, she stood tall and proud with barely any damage. He had heard that she was planned to be brought into Salems service by cinder but due to some unforeseen circumstances she rejected the offer.

It wasn't really Ren's problem what happened but considering the position he was in now and how strong pyrrha was maybe he could remedy the situation and do what cinder could not. Earning pyrrha's trust before bringing her into the fold would also earn praise from his mistress vernal and that too also wasn't a bad thing. Ren pushed himself back up when he recovered enough of his strength to continue on with their mission.

Pyrrha had changed her look ever since she met jaune again in mistral, now sporting black where she used to wear brown but still kept the bronze armored leggings and arm guards. Removing the head wear was something she chose when she received a haircut to make her hair shoulder length. Ever since her loss to the previous champion she felt like she needed a new start and now that she was in Beacon pyrrha believed this was her best chance.

Pyrrha lost the use of her semblance but dedicated herself to her training hoping to make up for her shortcomings with a wider arsenal of combat skills and tactics. Ren wasn't exactly her first choice for a partner but he was skilled and listened well and that was more then she could have hoped for in a partner she'd spend the next 4 years with. Although Ren didn't know it pyrrha had actually lured the two upperclassmen to them so she could verify Ren's abilities since it seemed he was trying to hide something with his silence.

Luckily it wasn't his combat abilities he was hiding but after everything she learned about Blake and jaune it only made her more curious. When Ren finally rejoined her after his brief break she put her weapons away "it's good your rested, we need to leave in case their teammates come around". Ren nodded and followed after her as she took lead and ran with ren from the area.

/

Teams of students began to show up at the temple when jaune and yang came into the clearing. Jaune would have been glad if clearly they hadn't come in last place but beggars couldn't be choosers especially after their little confrontation with the headmaster. Waiting in the abandoned temple was most of the people they originally started out with except two if jaune remembered correctly.

The first to welcome them to the meeting spot was Yangs younger cousin ruby and her partner Blake. While yang caught up with ruby, jaune caught sight of someone he thought would be good to talk to. Ren had left his partner to speak with Nora and Nora's partner weiss left to speak with pyrrha when jaune arrived.

Pyrrha didn't notice his approach until weiss crossed her arms and gave him a death glare when he arrived. Pyrrha's smile was radiant when she finally saw him but before either one of them could speak weiss intervened "can we help you"? Jaune glanced towards the white haired girl before shaking his head "you can't but she can if that's ok with you pyr"?

Pyrrha stepped forward and took jaunes arm to lead him away from Weiss and any sort of trouble that could've arisen from their meeting. Once they were out of the temple they both tried to speak at the same time but broke into laughter at their failed attempt. Jaune got himself under control first and gave her a warm smile "I'm glad your here pyrrha, it feels like every time we meet something always comes up or we're busy with something".

Like the experienced fighter she was she saw a opening to reconnect with the man in front of her "I feel the same jaune, if you like we can go out when we get free time"? Jaune seemed open to the idea "I know a place in vale that would be a great place to let loose if you don't mind dancing"?

Dancing? She never would have guessed jaune knew how to dance but she couldn't wait to find out how well. Pyrrha hugged his arm just a little tighter "I guess it's a date then" she said. Before jaune could comment on her choice of words a random clapping sound could be heard coming from the emerald forest until Ozpin and team CFVY came into the clearing.

Team CFVY looked a little worse for wear but none of them looked as bad as the two students who were hog tied and dragged behind them. Ozpin pulled out a scroll pad and went to work pulling up the times of each pair before displaying them for the rest to see. "This children is the time you've each been assigned once you entered the temple, take a good look cause this will also show how we plan to pair you with other pairs to make a team" he announced.

The time score divided itself between the fastest and slowest pair to arrive before pairing them. The fastest pair was dove and sky while the slowest were the pair who were defeated by CFVY's team, Cardin and Russel. Since jaune and yang came second to last place they were paired with Nora and weiss while Blake, ruby, pyrrha and Ren were placed on the last team.

Ozpin closed the pad and put it away before addressing them once more "step one of your initiation is complete, the second half will take place as of right now". Turning towards the emerald forest Ozpin pointed above the trees to a monstrous black figure flying between them and Beacon academy.

"The giant nevermore flying above the forest was disturbed by the fighting that took place for your first half of the initiation. Also I've received reports that a giant death stalker has broken free from it's cave and now wanders the forest floors. The second half of your initiation is to traverse back through the forest and return to Beacon while working together with your new team".

Ozpin tapped his cane once on the floor before turning back to them "any questions"?

A single hand shot up so Ozpin pointed at the young man "question"? "Are you flipping insane" yelled sky lark "this test was already tough when we had to worry about getting chased down by you, that team there and regular Grimm. Now you want us to do it again but this time with Grimm way to big for children to handle and with some of us looking like that-" he pointed to cardin and Russel "-are you trying to get us killed"?

Ozpin chuckled "we did say we were going to give you the huntsmen and huntresses experience and that means dealing with the unexpected in the field". Ozpin pointed the tip of his cane at sky "the world beyond the walls are dangerous and the Grimm are ruthless. That is why you are here, so you can reach the level you need to be at to face these adversities and overcome them".

Ozpin stepped forward and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder "fear is understandable but with trust in your teammates and courage to face the unknown together, there will be little that can stand in your way". Taking a step back he let the boys shoulder go "you all are the next in line to protect humanity from the Grimm. Time to earn your place amongst the heroes of tomorrow".

Those last words had the students all scrambling to join their new teammates and come up with a strategy to get through their final test. Ozpin smiled and ordered team CFVY to release the two students who were still bound before leading the team away from the students. Coco looked back at the underclassmen before turning to the headmaster "sir, I know this is rude but isn't this a little much, it would be even for us"?

"There's no need to worry Miss Adel. We are constantly monitoring everything that goes on here in the forest. If there is any danger or possibility that one of our students could be in mortal danger we the staff will intervene. You have my word on that".

It wasn't enough to quell all her worries but it would have to do for now. She looked back once more and wished them all luck on their mission.

Nothing like finishing a new chapter on a Monday. I've always been more of a fan of pyrrha's first draft outfit so I put it in here instead of her old one.

I hope Ozpins little speech was motivational cause I really had to think hard about it and not make it as boring as ruby's talk no jutsu.