Chapter 11

Morning came and I found myself waking up despite not remembering falling asleep. Stretching and yawning I felt an arm around my waist, as a boy next to me murmured in his sleep and pulled me closer to him. "Ah! Let go!" I gingerly grabbed his arm and then freed myself.

"I'm starting to wish I had slept around shadow people. That way I could have at least pretended that it might've been a girl..." Well, only one thing I can do. Move on with my life and pretend that this NEVER happened. Putting the bedding away and taking care of my morning activities, I headed off to the lockers.

"Hello again." Pyrrha gave me a friendly wave as my locker was right behind hers. Weiss opened her locker and then turned her attention to the crimson-haired student.

"So Pyrrha, have you given thought to the team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone would be eager to unite with such a strong well-known individual, such as you."

"Hmm, I had given it some thought. I'd planned to accept whatever might happen as I'm unsure myself."

"Well, I was thinking maybe we would make a great team together.

"Hah!" I chuckled. "Good luck with that."

The white-haired heiress narrowed her eyes her attention now turned to me. "And what's THAT supposed to mean?"

"Well." Pyrrha said speaking up. "Aero had implied that the students would be unable to choose their own teams. Rather they'd be placed into a danger zone, and the first students they encountered would be their teammates."

"That is correct. Though, I used the word 'chucked' instead of placed for a reason."

"Is that so?" Weiss said crossing her arms. "And what makes YOU the authority on knowing something the staff would decide?"

"Lucky guess?"

"That's not what you said before Aero." Pyrrha said waving a finger. "You said that you were psychic."

"Ugh..." I can't believe I said that...REALLY should have just thought up a better excuse. Weiss for her part gave me a deadpan expression.

"Really. Just how gullible do you think I am?" she put her hands on her hips and leaned forward. "If you really are psychic, what am I thinking right now?"

I know Weiss is trying to be intimidating right now but honestly, doing that only makes her look kinda cute. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a fan of the types of girls that act like a princess. "You're thinking...this guy's a fraud."

"Aha!" Weiss shouted pointing at me. She then paused for a moment and her finger drooped. "Yes..."

'Didn't need to be psychic to figure THAT out.'

"Alright then." she continued. "If you're such a great psychic, who's going to be on my team." Weiss looked pretty unconvinced by it all, but if you looked closely enough you could see there was a faint twinkle of curiosity in her eyes. Like she was wondering if I actually was psychic. Hehe, seeing this just makes me want to mess with her.

"I'm getting something." I said putting two fingers on my temple, milking the psychic act for all it was worth. "I see...I see..."

"Well? Who's on my team?" she asked impatiently.

"You will find out...by the end of the day." I said waving my hand mysteriously.

Weiss angrily stomped her foot. "That's NOT funny!"

"You're right." Jaune said popping out of nowhere and leaning against a locker smiling at Weiss. "That wasn't that great. But you know what IS great? Me, Jaune Arc." Jaune put one of his hands below his armor, dusting his fingernails on his hoodie. "Now I've been hearing a lot about teams, and lucky for you, I might just happen to have a place on it for a lovely lady like yourself."

"Would all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation?"

Welp, that's my cue to leave. I collected my things walking off.

"Hey!" Weiss yelled after me. "I'm not done with you yet!"

"Worried about that guy leaving?" Jaune asked scooting in front of her. "Don't worry, I'm more than man enough to make up for him."

"Whoa, that's too close! Pyrrha! I little help please!"

"Waaugh!"

Once again, I'm getting the feeling I've forgotten something seriously important...

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You know, sometimes in life, we have to ask ourselves difficult questions. Who am I? What is my purpose in life? And HOW THE HELL DID I GET THIS FAR WITHOUT REALIZING I BARELY KNOW HOW TO FIGHT?!

"Oh boy..." I and several other students stood at the edge of a cliff with an enormous forest stretching out below all of us. "That's uh...that's a pretty big drop." How the hell could I forget something so important?! When I was taken to this world, I was given Aero's body. That meant that I got his muscles and his aura. Unfortunately...HIS SKILLS WOULDN'T COME WITH THAT! This is seriously bad. If Ozpin puts me in that forest with the grimm, I'm a dead man.

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

"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignments of teams." Glynda continued "Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates...today."

This statement caused Ruby to whimper.

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time at Beacon, so it is within your best interests to be paired with someone with whom you can work well."

Another whimper.

"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

Weiss's eyes widened, and she turned her head to look at me in surprise with Pyrrha also following suit.

"WHAT?!" Ruby yelped.

Ozpin continued. "After you've paired up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy anything in your path, or you WILL die."

Jaune nervously gulped, and this time I can't blame him. Honestly, we're in the same boat right now.

"You will be monitored and graded for the duration 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 person must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"

"Yeah, um sir-" Jaune began.

"Good! Now, take your positions.

"Uh, sir?" Jaune desperately continued. "I've got, um, a question."

"Hold on!" I interrupted. "I uh, turns out I'm not feeling so well. Maybe I'd better wait until I feel better next year."

There was a loud bang as Weiss was launched into the air. My launchpad however was third to last, plenty of time to get off of this crazy train.

"Ah, Aero Cairn." Glynda said looking down at her datapad and stepping forward.

'Is THAT my last name?'

"Skipped last year's initiation because he wasn't feeling well that year either." She turned to me with cold eyes. "What a REMARKABLE coincidence it would happen a second year in a row don't you think?"

"Uh...go figure right? Maybe I've just got a weak constitution." I said nervously. Taking note the seventh person had just been launched.

"Can't this wait?" the woman asked impatiently "You'll ruin the assignment of teams if the number isn't divisible by four."

"I'd love to, but my life's on the line and if I'm not 100% in this exam then, well...you get it." There were three more people before it was my turn. "So I think I'll just lea-"

I was interrupted as Ozpin tapped his cane on the ground, mysteriously causing my pad to activate early and sending me hurtling.

"YOU SON OF A BIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!"

And so, this brings me to my not so glorious present...