Author's Note:

Your thoughts are represented by italics.

You rise with the sun, before anyone else has awoken. Years of early mornings have trained your biological clock to wake you earlier than others. Quietly you roll up your bamboo mat and pick up Rhino's Charge, silently exiting the room. You walk through the halls of the main building, leaving through a side door which leads out to a large expanse of grass. You walk out a little further, away from the concrete and brick of the school, and look up, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun as it washes over your body. You have a few hours before you are scheduled to meet at the edge of the Emerald Forest for initiation, and decide to spend them training, just like you would have were you still at Sun Zhang.

You begin with basic endurance, and from there move onto strengthening your forearms, shins, and fists by repetitively striking hard surfaces (in this case, one of the buildings stone archways). This training allows you to forgo the use of heavy armor, instead ensuring your body itself could withstand any strikes without serious injury. By the time you've finished with open hand training, the sun has fully risen, and you can hear your fellow students beginning to rise.

Despite initiation not starting for another two hours, you wrap Rhino's Charge over your right shoulder and under your left arm, and make your way to the Emerald Forest, preferring to avoid conversation. Upon arrival, you notice a line of square metal platforms, each baring the Beacon crest. Assuming they have something to do with initiation, you avoid them, and settle yourself in the nearby grass, closing your eyes to meditate.

"Mr. (L/N)?" You hear a woman say. Opening your eyes, you see Professor Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin approaching you. "You are aware initiation doesn't begin for another half hour? How long have you been here?"

"I don't know the exact time, but if I had to guess I would say about ninety minutes." You tell the two.

"And why wait here for so long?" Professor Ozpin asks. "Why not join you peers in the cafeteria? Eat and socialize."

"I'm used to postponing breakfast until after four hours of rigorous training. As for socializing, it's not really my scene."

"You realize you are to be on a team of four during your stay at Beacon?" Goodwitch asks. "You'll have to forego your antisocial behavior soon enough."

"I have no issue socializing," you say, "rather, others have difficulty getting past my, unorthodox habits, to form any true relationships. Besides, I would rather wait to get a sense of my would-be colleagues before I decide to associate myself with them."

The two Professors seem to have nothing left to say, because they simply nod and open their scrolls, preparing the soon to come trials. The other candidates soon arrive, and you are all instructed to take place on one of the metal squares. As soon as you have all done so, Professor Ozpin begins speaking, offering instructions on what to do once inside the forest. It seems simple enough; find the temple, collect a relic, and make it back alive. You place your left foot slightly forwards and bend your knees preparing to be launched into the sky, and soon enough the air is full of the bodies of your fellow students. Soaring through the air you begin to feel gravity pulling you back to Earth. Pulling your feet forwards so they're underneath you, you add a slight bend to your knees in preparation for the impact. You land with an Earth shattering crash, your right knee and fist planted in the ground. Standing up, you dust yourself off and walk out of the ten-foot radius crater you just created, to find the most beautiful view before your eyes.

A large boulder stands at the edge of a small lake being fed by a waterfall which extends about forty feet above you. The water from the fall hitting the lake creates a pleasant cloud of mist which is carried in the light breeze. A number of lily pads and aquatic flowers are sprinkled throughout the lake, adding a touch of color. Though the other initiates might rush to find the temple, you are in no such hurry, and decide to sit upon the boulder and appreciate the scene for a while.

Fifteen minutes pass in peaceful silence, save the relaxing sound of the rushing of water, before your attention is caught by the sound of a branch snapping behind you. Without getting up, you turn your body around to see Jaune accompanied by a young woman with long red hair, dressed in gladiatorial armor carrying a round shield and javelin. "Hello there!" She calls in a chipper voice.

"Oh, hey (F/N)." Jaune says, seemingly surprised to see you. "Uh, whatcha doin'?"

"Admiring the beauty of nature." You say, indicating your surroundings. Turning back to Jaune's companion you say, "Apologies, but I didn't catch your name."

"Hello, I'm Pyrrha Nikos." She says taken aback.

"You seem surprise I didn't know." You observe.

"Sorry, it's just most people already know me, or of me anyways. But I shouldn't just assume everyone does, it might come across as arrogant."

That's true. You think to yourself. However, her acknowledgement of the fact makes you believe that perhaps she isn't necessarily narcissistically arrogant, rather just accustomed to recognition.

"I apologize for not knowing you. I wasn't exactly raised in what you might call a normal environment."

You notice Pyrrha examine you for a second, studying your robes. "You're a disciple of the Sun Zhang temple, aren't you?" She says after a little while. "It's an honor to meet one of you."

You're caught off guard at the fact that she knows of the temple, but you recover quickly, and politely offer back, "The honor is all mine, Miss Nikos."

"So (F/N), you find a partner yet?" Jaune asks.

"No." You state simply. "After landing I almost instantly stumbled across this beautiful scene and paused to admire it. You two are the first people I've come across.

"Well you're welcome to travel with Jaune and I." Pyrrha says. "I'm sure we'll come across a partner for you."

"Yes, I suppose I should get moving." You say as you stand and hop off the boulder. "As much as I would love to continue admiring this scene, it would not do well to fail to come back with a relic."

As you walk throughout the forest, you get to talking. As Jaune already knows both of you, it is mostly you and Pyrrha introducing yourselves further. As it turns out, Pyrrha Nikos has a reputation for being an incredible fighter, having won the Mistral Regional Tournament for the past four years. Despite this, she has a very humble attitude, something which you greatly appreciate. As you continue talking, you think to yourself that you would have no objection to being on a team with her, or Jaune for that matter. Of course, Ruby and Yang wouldn't be terrible either, though you're not sure how you well you would cope with their high energy.

"Hey guys?" Jaune asks, grabbing your attention. The three of you stand outside the mouth of a large cave. "Think this is it?"

Time Skip:

As it turns out, the cave was not it. It instead turned out to be the home of one particularly ferocious Deathstalker, one that did not appreciate uninvited guests, nor people attempting to pry its luminescent stringer from its tail. You and Pyrrha are chased from the beast's home while Jaune clings to the Grimm's stinger for dear life. "Pyrrha!" Jaune cries while being swung around by the Deathstalker's tail. "This is not the relic! It's not! Do something!"

"Jaune, whatever you do, don't let..." The Deathstalker appears to have had enough of Jaune swinging from its tail and launches him flying. "go." Pyrrha finishes lamely. The two of you look at each other and then back to the Deathstalker. Chuckling nervously, you and Pyrrha take off in Jaune's direction, followed quickly by the Deathstalker. As you continue running, you can hear the Deathstalker pursuing you, bulldozing over trees as it slowly gains on the two of you. As you come to the clearing of the forest you can faintly make out the shapes of several of your classmates standing in the ruins of what you assume to be the temple. Pointing this out to Pyrrha, the two of you make your way towards the group. Unfortunately, the lack of trees has allowed the Deathstalker to catch up to you and Pyrrha. With a swing of its tail it sends the two of you soaring, conveniently landing at the feet of your fellow students.

"Great, the gang's all here. Now we can die together." Yang says.

"Not if I can help it." You get to your feet in time to see Ruby running off in the direction of the Deathstalker.

"Little flower, wait!" You shout after her. Ruby doesn't hear you, instead pulling out her scythe and swinging across the Deathstalker's head, bringing it back around to shoot it in the face with her sniper. Sadly, Ruby greatly underestimated the Deathstalker's strength, as her attacks barely phased it. Realizing her mistake, she turns around and runs back to the group, the Deathstalker hot on her tail.

"Ruby!" Yang yells, bolting after her sister. You see a large shadow on the ground and look up to see a Nevermore swooping down on the unassuming pair. Releasing a barrage of its razor-sharp feathers. Four of the feathers nearly impale Yang, trapping her, while one gets lodged in Ruby's cloak, pinning her to the ground as the Deathstalker gets steadily closer. Running after the pair, you arrive just in time to stop the Deathstalker from ripping Ruby to shreds. Activating your semblance, you grab the Grimm's pincers, digging your feet into the ground and bringing it to a sudden halt. You're arms growing a bright (F/C), you give an almighty heave and push the beast to the side and on its back.

You hear sounds of awe coming from your classmates. The Deathstalker however, is not as impressed, and simply rolls itself back onto its front, turning to attack again. Widening your stance, you prepare to stop the beast again, but instead a line of icicles shoots by your side and surrounds the Grimm. Turning around you see the white-haired girl from yesterday looking down at Ruby. You run over to Yang and help her pry the Nevermore's feathers from the ground, freeing her. "Thanks." She says. "Looks like Weiss bought us a little time with the Deathstalker. We should regroup." The four of you return to the rest of the group at the temple. Everyone grabs one of the relics, which turn out to be chess pieces, you taking the only white king.

Behind you, you can hear the Deathstalker trying to free its tail, the ice slowly cracking. "Time we left." A long, black-haired man says.

"Right." Ruby says. "Let's go." The group runs towards through the ruins leading back to the cliff where the morning began. As you get closer, you see the Nevermore off to the side, circling the group before landing on one of the ruined towers. You all take cover behind the pillars. "Well that's great." You hear Yang say.

Behind you, you hear a crash and you turn to see the Deathstalker has freed itself and is barreling towards you. "Oh man!" Jaune says as the nine of you begin running again.

"Nora, distract it." The black-haired man says. The girl named Nora runs out from behind the pillar, the Nevermore sending its feathers flying as she ducks, dives, and weaves around them. Pulling a grenade launcher from her back she sends a volley of explosives in the Nevermore's direction, causing it to abandon its post, while two of the others hold off the Deathstalker.

"Go, go!" Pyrrha kneels on the bridge, converting her spear into a hunter's rifle she fires at the approaching Deathstalker. Weiss grabs Nora and uses a glyph to bring her to the rest of the group. Running across the stone bridge you look to your left to see the Nevermore approaching again. It crashes through the supports of the bridge, causing a large portion of it to fall into the ravine below, separating the group. You unravel Rhino's Charge from around your shoulders, watching as the Nevermore circles your half of the group, Ruby firing round after round with her sniper, trying to keep it at bay.

Another loud crash draws your attention. Turning you see another part of the bridge crumbling as Nora and Jaune go flying towards the others. Nora's grenade launcher having turned into a massive hammer, she brings it down on the Deathstalker's head. Blocking a jab from the Grimm's stinger you witness as she slides backwards, knocking Blake off the side. Watching her fall, you throw Rhino's Charge down after her which she grabs, allowing you to swing her up into the sky. Letting go at the apex of the swing, she jumps onto the Nevermore, running along its back while slashing at it with her sword and scabbard before landing on your side of the bridge. "It's tougher than it looks." She says.

"Then let's hit it with everything we've got." Yang says. Standing on the remains of a temple, you pull an electric dust crystal from the inside of your robes, crushing it, you infuse Rhino's Charge with the powder, causing the rope to glow bright blue, quickly progressing to the head which starts crackling with blue energy. As your classmates release a volley of bullets and fire and ice at the Nevermore, you wait for it to get in range before sending it flying, its head making contact with the creature's beak, electricity coursing through its enormous body. Your hit dazes the beast, causing it to lose altitude and sending it crashing through the temple ruins, sending it into the void below. Beginning to fall, you and the four girls start jumping from rock to rock, slowly making it higher. Using your semblance, you give an almighty leap, then sending Rhino's Charge upwards, slinging it around another ruin, allowing you to swing upwards to a higher bridge section.

"None of this is working." Weiss says to your left. The two of you and Ruby watch as Yang sends shot after shot at the flying Nevermore.

"I have a plan." Ruby says. "Cover me."

Fending off the Nevermore whenever it got in range, you watch as Yang recklessly jumps into the creature's mouth, holding it open with one hand and shooting into its mouth with the other. Disoriented, the Nevermore flies into the cliff face, stunning it for a few seconds. Now is the time to act. Infusing your weapon with ice dust, you jump at the creature from above while Weiss rushes it from below. Slamming the head of your meteor hammer down as Weiss stabs her blade into the ground, a giant collection of ice forms around the Grimm's tail, immobilizing it. You jump out of the way as Ruby comes speeding towards it, placing the blade of her scythe around its neck. A series of glyphs appears along the cliff face which Ruby runs along, dragging the Nevermore by the neck until she fires a round from her sniper, decapitating the creature.

"Well, that was a thing."