CDXS: Unchosen (RWBY fanfic)

The large monitoring room hummed softly with the ambient whir of screens and sensors, flickering in shades of green and gold. Rows of monitors lined the wall, each displaying a different segment of the Emerald Forest, where students now dashed between trees, clashed with Grimm, or attempted to orient themselves after chaotic landings.

Ozpin stood calmly at the center, his usual mug in hand, eyes scanning the feeds with quiet intensity.

"They've all made their landings," he said after a measured sip. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Now, we'll see how they fare on the ground."

Professor Goodwitch, positioned at the nearby console, gave a curt nod as she keyed in a sequence, pulling up a grid of student locations and trajectories. "I've marked each of their positions. Some pairings are... unexpected."

"Oh?" Ozpin glanced sideways. "Do tell."

Glynda adjusted her glasses. "Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee have already found each other. Or rather—Ruby practically collided into her. They're... cooperating, if somewhat chaotically."

Ozpin chuckled lightly. "Oil and water. Let's hope the pressure makes something stronger."

"They have potential," Glynda admitted, albeit with a skeptical brow. "But if Miss Schnee's temper flares again, potential won't be enough."

Ozpin turned to another screen. "And the others?"

Glynda brought up a wider sweep of the forest. "Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren have reunited. Their synchronization is remarkable, even in this unfamiliar terrain."

"As I expected," Ozpin murmured.

She hesitated before gesturing to another screen. "Jaune Arc, however... he's on his own. No aura activation, no combat readiness. I'm not sure how he managed the landing, let alone the fall."

Ozpin's expression darkened slightly in thought. "Sometimes, uncertainty reveals more than preparation ever could."

There was a pause before Glynda added with a dry note, "He appears to be talking to a tree."

Ozpin raised an amused eyebrow. "Well, let's hope the tree offers sound advice."

A beat of silence passed as they observed another flicker of movement on the screens—students dodging Beowolves, triggering Dust traps, or running headlong into cliffside ruins.

Professor Port stepped in with a mug of his own. "I saw Miss Valkyrie vault a twenty-foot ravine with nothing but a warhammer and momentum. Absolutely brilliant!"

"Unsurprising," Glynda said without looking up. "She's propelled by chaos and pancakes... For some reason."

Ozpin offered a knowing smirk. "A dangerous combination."

At that moment, a loud screech rang out from one of the monitors, drawing the attention of both professors. The image flickered, stabilizing just long enough to show a small, fast-moving figure—a cat faunus with wild, golden eyes—darting through the forest with remarkable speed and agility. Her breathing was ragged, her expression panicked, as a pack of snarling Grimm pursued her relentlessly, crashing through underbrush and snapping at her heels.

"NyAAAAAAAA!" she wailed, zigzagging between trees with practiced desperation, the rapid thud of her feet forming a frantic rhythm against the forest floor.

Glynda's gaze narrowed, adjusting the feed. "That can't be..."

Ozpin tilted his head with an amused smile. "That would be yes... the transfer student, if I'm not mistaken. Looks like she's already attracting attention."

Glynda tapped a few keys, her eyes narrowing further. "She appears to have stolen something from a boarbatusk's den. Something shiny."

Ozpin blinked, bemused. "Let me guess—fish-shaped?"

"Scroll footage confirms it," Glynda sighed. "A broken pendant that looks vaguely aquatic. She waved it like bait. Then bit it."

There was a pause. Then, from the screen, the faunus's voice echoed faintly: "I THOUGHT IT WAS A SNACK!"

Ozpin chuckled behind his mug. "Curious survival instincts."

But just as Glynda was preparing to track the fleeing faunus more closely, the screen jolted—and zoomed in.

The agile figure had collided headlong into something—or rather, someone—far more solid. A loud thunk rang out as she slammed into a tall, armored woman standing firm amid the chaos. The impact sent the smaller girl tumbling... only to land squarely on the woman's broad shoulder with a startled, breathless "Oof!"

The armored woman flinched, slightly off-balance from the unexpected passenger. "Hey! What are you—"

"RUN NYA!" the cat faunus screeched, clinging tightly and pointing behind them at the fast-approaching Grimm. Her golden eyes were wide with pure panic, tail fluffed in alarm.

Glynda blinked. "Did she just... land on her shoulder?"

Ozpin raised his mug in a wry half-toast. "Looks like they're already partners."

On the monitor, Cala Ad Lance let out a deep, resigned sigh. The towering woman turned her head slightly toward her new shoulder rider. "I swear, I can't take my eyes off you people for a second."

Without missing a beat, she pivoted and took off into a sprint—her massive shield clanking against her back, her armor thunderous with every step.

"NYA!" the faunus yelped again, now gripping tightly to one of Cala's armored plates like a kitten clinging to a moving cart.

Cala's voice bellowed over the commotion, firm but tinged with disbelief. "Did you have to attract all of them?!"

The faunus, now with both legs wrapped securely around Cala's upper arm, spun a pair of daggers from her belt and brandished them backward. "I didn't know they could smell guilt and snacks, okay?! Just run NYA!"

Ozpin hummed, half-amused. "That one may be a handful."

Glynda simply muttered, "Understatement."

The camera feed flickered briefly before sharpening again, just in time to capture Cala's lance shifting with a mechanical whirl. With a click and a whoosh of compressed air, the massive weapon transformed seamlessly into a cannon. She took a grounded stance, lifting the weapon with practiced ease.

"I'll cover you," she muttered, eyes locked on the approaching Grimm as she took aim.

The cannon roared—its thunderous BOOM echoing through the forest—and the resulting blast sent several Beowolves flying into the underbrush, limbs scattering like leaves in the wind.

Ozpin and Glynda exchanged a glance.

"I didn't expect this combination," Ozpin said, his tone tinged with curiosity as he watched the screen. "But I must admit... it's effective."

The cat faunus darted into frame, having leapt off Cala's shoulder the moment the cannon fired. Her daggers gleamed in the dappled sunlight as she blurred forward, flipping midair before driving her blades into a Grimm's throat with practiced grace.

"Move! You're in the shot," Cala snapped coldly, adjusting her aim again as Doppel spun too close to the barrel's path.

Doppel turned mid-slash, arms flailing. "NYAAA!?" she yelped, barely dodging a fresh cannon burst. She tumbled aside with an undignified roll and shouted from the dirt, "Hey! Watch the friendly fire!"

"You were in the way," Cala replied flatly, casually swinging her massive shield with one arm. It collided with a charging Ursa Major, stunning it with a metallic clang as the beast crumpled sideways.

"Your aim has the subtlety of an exploding dumpster!" Doppel hissed, flipping over Cala's shield to slice a Beowolf mid-leap.

"You talk too much," Cala grunted, blasting another Grimm with a short-range shot that knocked Doppel's ears flat with the pressure.

"I had that one!" Doppel shouted, as Cala drove her lance into a Grimm that had been creeping behind the faunus.

"You were too slow," Cala said coolly, pulling the weapon free and already scanning for the next threat.

Doppel ducked under a claw, slashing back with a growl. "You're like a vending machine with no buttons—big, loud, and uncooperative!"

"I work just fine," Cala said as she punched a creeping Creeper with her shield edge, "as long as no one's dangling off my shoulder screaming nonsense."

From behind the monitor, Glynda raised an eyebrow, arms crossed but her expression faintly impressed. "I have to say, they seem... capable."

Ozpin took a slow sip from his mug, the light from the monitors flickering across his glasses. "That cat faunus... she's got spirit."

"And a death wish," Glynda muttered.

"Perhaps," Ozpin mused, "but she chose the right shield to hide behind."

***

Back in the forest, the duo fought with relentless rhythm—if not grace. Cala's cannon roared once more, its recoil barely shifting her towering frame as the blast obliterated a charging Beowolf. At her side—sometimes above, behind, or unintentionally in front—the cat faunus twirled her daggers with fluid precision, slicing down anything that dared enter her reach.

Their teamwork was unorthodox—more instinct than coordination—but undeniably effective.

Of course, that was if one ignored the dozen other mishaps occurring every few seconds.

"Stop throwing bodies at me!" Doppel shouted, flinging a dead Creeper off her shoulder as Cala's latest blast sent a second Grimm flying in her direction.

"I'm clearing the area," Cala replied flatly.

"Clearing my face, you mean!"

"You duck too slow."

Doppel backflipped over a stunned Beowolf and hissed, "Your cannon's got the subtlety of a bull in a kitchen."

"It's a forest. You're welcome."

Another Grimm lunged from above.

"You gonna deal with that?" Doppel said, pointing with a dagger mid-fight.

"I thought you liked leaping," Cala muttered before knocking the airborne beast down with a perfect shield swing.

Doppel scrambled out from beneath it. "That almost crushed me!"

"It missed."

"Because I moved!"

"Then why complain?"

"You are the complaint!"

A claw narrowly missed Doppel's tail.

"NYAA—watch the rear!" she yelped, twisting into a roll.

"Not my job," Cala answered, impaling a charging Boarbatusk mid-spin.

"You're the back line!"

"You're the distraction."

"You're—ARGH—impossible!"

Their argument was cut short by a thunderous caw.

The trees above exploded outward as a massive Nevermore descended from the clouds, talons raking the treetops as it shrieked down at them with hunger in its eyes.

Doppel froze mid-step. "That's not fair."

Cala's cannon shifted with a hiss, locking back into lance mode.

"We're not fighting that," Cala said, backing up as shadows fell over them.

"Agreed—RUN NYAAAA!" Doppel shouted, leaping back onto Cala's shoulder without hesitation.

Cala bolted, the earth trembling beneath her armored sprint as the giant bird gave chase.

Back in the control room, Ozpin watched with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "That's going to be an interesting pairing."

Glynda's gaze followed the fleeing pair as the Grimm were momentarily driven back by the chaos. "They may not be the most traditional team, but they're certainly resourceful."

"I think that's a good thing," Ozpin said, sipping calmly. "It's about time we saw something fresh."

The Nevermore screeched behind them, loosing a volley of razor feathers that exploded against the forest floor. The duo ducked and dodged, weaving through trees, bickering even as they fled.

"You said you'd cover me!" Doppel cried, gripping Cala's armor.

"You covered yourself with Grimm!"

"You're the one making fireworks every five seconds!"

"That's called 'survival.' Learn it."

Eventually, with precise timing, a combination of Cala's shield throw and a perfectly-placed dagger volley from Doppel managed to clip the Nevermore's wing, sending it crashing into the cliffside. The two collapsed beside each other, panting, armor scorched, daggers dulled.

"We're alive?" Doppel gasped.

"Unfortunately," Cala grunted.

"We make a good team, nya..."

"Don't push it."

Back on the monitors, more Grimm began to gather again.

Doppel's ears perked. "...They're coming back."

Without another word, Cala stood and bolted again.

"Wait for me—NYAA!" Doppel cried, launching herself onto Cala's shoulder like a cat catching a passing train.

The screen faded slightly as the duo once again disappeared into the woods, leaving a trail of bruised trees and confused Grimm in their wake.

Ozpin chuckled lightly, setting his mug down. "I have a feeling it will."

Glynda shook her head, hiding a smile. "We'll see if their teamwork can hold up under pressure."

The monitors in the control room flickered again, now showing Kumiko Xen moving through the forest with calculated elegance. Her ponytail danced behind her as her spear swept in graceful arcs, cleaving through Grimm with clean, practiced precision. Her eyes were sharp, her posture upright, and a subtle smirk curled on her lips.

She was in her element—calm, deadly, and enjoying every second of it.

"Tch—too slow," she muttered, sidestepping a charging Beowolf before skewering it in one fluid motion. "Come on, is that all?"

A pair of Creeps slithered into her path, only for her to twirl hóngsè like a ribbon in the wind—striking with elegant brutality.

"I could do this all day," she hummed, parrying with ease before stomping one to the ground and running the other through. "Ugh, I've read scarier monsters in romance novels."

An Ursa emerged from the underbrush, roaring in challenge.

"Oho," Kumiko grinned wide, twirling her spear behind her back before lunging. "Now we're talking."

She spun beneath a paw swipe and countered with a powerful upward thrust, knocking the creature back. "Big. Furry. Loud. Just my type."

Ozpin, observing her movements with an approving nod, tapped the side of his mug thoughtfully. "Impressive. She's handling herself well out there."

Glynda, eyes fixed on the feed, made a small sound of agreement. "Kumiko Xen is certainly not lacking in skill. I imagine she'll be quite the force to be reckoned with as a combatant. But, I wonder how she'll fare with the partnership aspect..."

Onscreen, Kumiko kicked off a tree trunk and used the momentum to vault over a Beowolf, landing lightly behind it before driving her spear through its spine.

"Heh... ten down," she murmured to herself, tilting her head with an eager gleam in her eyes. "Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll run into a Deathstalker next."

And with that, she strode forward through the trees—her expression calm, but her knuckles tightening just slightly with anticipation.

Before Glynda could finish her thought, the camera shifted again, now focusing on Kumiko as she emerged from a cluster of trees—only to find herself face-to-face with a tall, noble-looking young woman standing calmly amidst the swirling forest mist.

Kumiko slowed to a halt, spear still casually resting over her shoulder. Her eyes scanned the woman's refined attire, pristine posture, and flowing blonde hair with mild amusement. The woman looked like she belonged in a royal painting, not in the middle of Grimm-infested woods.

"Well, seems like we're partners now, aye?" Kumiko called out with a wry smile, tapping the end of her spear against the ground as if to test the air between them.

The elegant girl turned, her composure as still as porcelain. With a graceful nod and a practiced air of nobility, she replied in a clear, even tone. "Yes. It seems so."

Glynda raised an eyebrow at the screen. "Huh. That's... quite a contrast."

Ozpin gave a faint chuckle, his eyes never leaving the monitor. "Indeed. Kumiko seems to be enjoying herself, while the other one appears... exceedingly composed. This will be an interesting pairing."

Kumiko stepped forward and extended her hand without hesitation, her grin widening. "Kumiko Xen," she said casually, as if she were introducing herself at a tea shop rather than mid-initiation.

The woman took Kumiko's hand gently, giving a poised, practiced shake. Her expression didn't waver as she responded.

"Sese Lenya Ban Von Fitzgerald Livingstone Cunningham Dragoncrest Chatterton Abercrombie Duskhollow Frostbloom Belsonavenolairequintaple the X."

There was a silence.

Kumiko blinked. "...I—what?"

Sese gave a slight, polite smile, the kind one wears when they've long accepted this reaction as inevitable. "Correct. That is my full name."

"No, wait," Kumiko tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as if trying to read invisible subtitles. "You just—how many syllables was that?"

"Forty-two," Sese answered calmly, folding her hands behind her back with a refined ease.

Kumiko opened her mouth, paused, then closed it again. "Are you legally obligated to say the whole thing every time?"

"It would be improper not to," Sese replied with the elegance of someone stating the sky was blue.

Kumiko blinked, "Improper? You just listed enough names to summon a small army."

"Indeed," Sese said smoothly, as though she were used to this line of questioning in every first conversation she's ever had.

"I've met storybook characters with fewer titles," Kumiko muttered, scratching her head.

Sese gave a small nod. "I've heard that one before."

There was a long pause in the control room.

Ozpin and Glynda sat in silence, the feed lingering awkwardly on Kumiko's stunned face.

Glynda blinked slowly, then sighed. "Ugh... that name. Why is it just that long?"

Ozpin, mug halfway to his lips, paused and gave a soft chuckle. "She certainly did. Quite the mouthful, isn't it?"

Rubbing her temples, Glynda let out a breath of thinly-veiled frustration. "I've read it. I've heard it. But every time, it's still... exhausting. Why would someone put that many names together?"

Ozpin took a sip, smiling thoughtfully. "I imagine it's a family tradition. It's always good to have a name that demands attention, I suppose."

Back in the forest, Kumiko finally waved off the overload with a laugh and turned away, shaking her head. "Okay, I'm just gonna go with 'Sese' for short."

The noblewoman gave the faintest, almost imperceptible nod of approval. "...Just Sese."

"Alright then! I'll go with that!" Kumiko said cheerfully, already striding ahead with her spear at the ready. "Let's go bag a few more Grimm, Just Sese!"

Behind her, Sese followed with silent poise, a subtle smile lingering on her lips.

The professors, still trying to make sense of the situation, turned back to the monitors as the two students began to move off together.

Glynda exhaled sharply, still processing the barrage of names. "It's... a good thing we're keeping track of them. I'm sure I'll need to refer to her name several more times before the day is done. How... practical."

Ozpin chuckled softly. "Ah, Glynda, sometimes it's the simple things that catch you off guard. But I'm sure Sese will live up to that long name. It certainly sounds... distinguished."

Glynda simply shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Distinguished. I'll take your word for it."

Ozpin grinned knowingly, watching as Kumiko and Sese moved off together. "One can never predict how these things will play out. But we're about to see how these two handle the rest of the initiation."

Glynda sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I suppose we'll see how long this partnership lasts... but knowing Miss Kumiko, she'll probably have fun with it."

Ozpin simply took another sip of his drink, his eyes twinkling with quiet amusement. "Let's just hope Miss Sese can keep up."

On the screens, the pair disappeared into the forest, the camera capturing the tall, elegant Sese moving with grace and precision, while Kumiko confidently kept pace with her, her spear raised in a ready position. Despite their different approaches to life, it was clear that both were more than capable of handling themselves in the face of danger.

The camera feed showed Kumiko and Sese weaving through the dense forest, side by side. Grimm had begun to close in from the edges, their screeches echoing through the trees.

Kumiko spun her spear with practiced ease, letting out a laugh as she sliced clean through a Beowolf. "Alright, blondie—how you wanna handle this next wave?"

Sese pulled back, loading her musket with graceful efficiency. "I'll take the ridge. Provide covering fire."

"Sounds good to me. I like a girl who knows her range," Kumiko said, then immediately ducked under a pouncing Ursa and skewered it through the gut. "Got a lot of these boys sniffing around."

Sese raised an eyebrow, loosing a precision shot that pinned a Creeper midair against a tree trunk. "Please refrain from giving the Grimm gendered nicknames. It makes battlefield reporting unnecessarily vague."

Kumiko snorted. "You're really something, Just Sese."

"I am aware."

As more Grimm poured in from the west, Kumiko gave a quick whistle. "Left flank, incoming!"

"I see it," Sese replied, drawing her bow and notching three arrows in rapid succession. "Cover me for five seconds."

"You got it."

The forest lit up with a flash of Kumiko's spear as she danced forward, carving a clean path through two Sabyrs. "Hey, for someone dressed like she walked out of a royal ball, you move pretty good!"

Sese loosed the arrows. All three found their targets. "I was trained in both etiquette and warfare. One must be versatile."

Suddenly, a loud ring echoed through the clearing—a cheerful, upbeat chime utterly at odds with the fight around them.

Kumiko blinked. "Was that... a ringtone?"

Sese froze, eyes twitching in frustration. "My sincerest apologies. That was my logistics branch."

Kumiko chuckled mid-swing. "You forgot to mute your scroll?"

"I did not anticipate urgent inquiries regarding wine distribution during combat," Sese muttered, tapping the side of her scroll and silencing the device with an elegant motion.

Kumiko laughed again, flipping her spear behind her back to block a charging Grimm without looking. "Tell 'em you're a little busy playing tag with death right now."

"They'll be redirected to my assistant," Sese replied coolly, drawing her musket once more.

"Sure hope your assistant can shoot too."

"Only in business negotiations."

A pause.

"That sounded mildly threatening," Kumiko grinned.

"It was," Sese replied without missing a beat.

Another wave surged. Kumiko grunted. "We've got a cluster forming around that slope."

Sese scanned it, calculating. "Draw them down into the gully. I'll set up on the ridge. Flanking fire."

"Smart. I like it. Classic hammer and anvil." Kumiko moved, whirling her spear in a flourish. "Let's go!"

Sese moved with elegant efficiency, taking position and adjusting the sight of her musket. "Do try not to get too far ahead."

"I go fast, you shoot pretty. We're good."

Grimm burst from the undergrowth. Kumiko held them off long enough to let Sese line her shots—each one fired with deadly precision.

"Target eliminated."

"Second wave incoming," Kumiko called.

"I see them. Recalibrating."

Another Grimm lunged from above—Sese didn't even flinch. Kumiko blocked it mid-air and kicked it into a tree. "Saved you one."

"Appreciated."

As the last of that group fell, Sese reloaded with calm grace. "You are surprisingly adaptable."

"And you're less stuck-up than I thought. I think we're bonding."

Sese sighed. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

The camera lingered as the pair, despite their jabs, adjusted rapidly to each other's rhythms. Kumiko darted into the fray, pushing Grimm into Sese's firing lanes, while Sese watched Kumiko's movements closely and offered supporting fire exactly where needed.

Another Grimm pack approached—and Kumiko grinned. "Round three?"

Sese, readying her bow, responded with a subtle smirk. "Let's make it quick. I have a call scheduled with a vineyard in Mistral."

Kumiko gave a short laugh as they charged together.

From the control room, Ozpin raised an eyebrow. "They're making it work."

Glynda shook her head. "Somehow."

***

It had been nearly thirty minutes since initiation began.

Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy of the Emerald Forest, golden beams cutting through the emerald mist and dappling the ancient clearing ahead. Moss-covered stones lined a worn path that led to the temple—an aged, weathered structure half-sunken into the forest floor. Its towering arches and crumbling columns stood as silent witnesses to time, with arcane relics arranged neatly on worn plinths, each glowing faintly as if still waiting to be chosen.

A crashing of underbrush and rhythmic, thunderous footsteps broke the stillness.

Cala Ad Lance marched into the clearing like a moving fortress, her heavy shield clanking against her back, her cannon-form lance gripped effortlessly in one hand. She was unmarred by fatigue—stoic, focused. Atop her shoulder clung to a much smaller form: a scratched, dirt-smeared cat Faunus, whose golden eyes gleamed with mischief despite her disheveled state.

"Are we—huff—first?" Doppel asked between breaths, hopping down and landing with a soft, feline thud. She straightened, spotted the relics, and her ears perked up. "Oooh. Shiny."

Cala grunted in response and strode toward the plinths without a word. Her eyes scanned the ancient chess pieces before settling on a sleek ivory queen, runes etched elegantly along its base. She picked it up, turned it once in her hand, and gave a curt nod. "We'll take this one."

"Cool, cool," Doppel muttered, trailing behind her and poking at another relic before shaking her head. "Nope. Queen's better. More regal. More teeth."

Cala blinked at her. "...Teeth?"

Before Doppel could explain, another pair stepped into the clearing.

Kumiko Xen strolled casually through the trees, her spear balanced across her shoulders, leaves tangled in her ponytail and a victorious smirk on her face. Her armor bore signs of battle—scuffed, singed, and dusted with ash—but she moved like it had been nothing more than a brisk walk.

Just behind her, Sese Lenya Ban Von Fitzgerald Livingstone Cunningham Dragoncrest Chatterton Abercrombie Duskhollow Frostbloom Belsonavenolairequintaple the X emerged with effortless grace. Not a hair was out of place. Her uniform was somehow immaculate, and she walked with a composed air, adjusting her bow as she stepped lightly over the cracked stone path, as though the forest itself parted for her.

Kumiko gave Cala a lazy grin. "Well, well. Didn't think the big guns would beat us here."

Cala gave her a neutral nod. "We're efficient."

Doppel tilted her head. "You two meet already?"

Cala responded flatly, "Twice. Acquaintance level."

Kumiko chuckled, tapping her chin with the butt of her spear. "Yeah. We all crashed in the same hall at night, remember? You were sleeping in the corner like a stone statue."

"I recall," Cala said with a slight grunt.

"And we crossed paths again in the locker room," Kumiko continued, "Right before we got launched into this little death trap. You were polishing your shield like it insulted your honor."

"It had smudges," Cala said simply.

Doppel smirked. "Wow, thrilling history you two got."

Sese had already stepped toward the relics, eyeing the arrangement with an appraising glance. "None of these have been taken yet?" she asked calmly.

"We got here first," Cala said.

"Of course you did," Sese replied with mild surprise and perhaps just a touch of approval. She reached for a matching queen piece, fingers brushing the worn stone with practiced elegance.

Kumiko turned to Doppel. "You alright? You look like you got dragged behind a Nevermore."

"I might've," Doppel replied, puffing her cheeks. "Didn't stop me from swiping Grimm teeth mid-run. Wanna see?"

Kumiko blinked. "You... collect those?"

Cala grunted. "She's been hoarding them like candy."

Doppel shrugged. "I call it 'souvenirs with attitude.'"

Sese sighed softly, already bracing herself for the inevitable chaos. "This year is going to be... an experience."

Kumiko threw an arm around her shoulder. "Oh c'mon, Just Sese. You'll love it."

Sese gives a subtle sigh "I already miss silence."

The four girls now stood together at the heart of the Emerald Forest—an unlikely group, each clutching a relic they had fought hard to retrieve. Though their chemistry was still being tested, one thing was certain: the trials they had survived were just the beginning.

As they looked toward the temple in the distance, each knew their fate wasn't sealed yet. While they had made it this far, their team assignments were still to be decided by Professor Ozpin. Only time would tell if they would be paired together or placed with others.

For now, however, all they had were the relics in their hands and the shared experiences of the trials they had endured.

As the girls stood among the ancient stone and relics, a rare moment of calm settled over the group. After the chaos of Grimm and forest battles, it was time for something a little more... civilized.

Cala gave a short nod toward Kumiko. "Cala Ad Lance," she said with her usual gruff directness. "Formally introduced this time."

Kumiko grinned and leaned slightly on her spear. "Kumiko Xen. We've run into each other before, but yeah, nice to meet you properly, Tower Girl."

Doppel bounced forward next, brushing twigs out of her hair and dust off her shorts. "I'm Doppel! Just Doppel. No last name, no legal documentation... but most folks know me from, y'know, stealing snacks and fish all over Vale."

Cala squinted. "Wait. The thief from the news feeds?"

Kumiko smirked. "That explains the fish bones in your pockets."

Doppel wiggled her ears proudly. "I've got a brand, what can I say?"

Then, with the elegance of a ballroom guest stepping onto a garden path, the final member of the quartet stepped forward. Sese Lenya Ban Von Fitzgerald Livingstone Cunningham Dragoncrest Chatterton Abercrombie Duskhollow Frostbloom Belsonavenolairequintaple the X folded her hands in front of her and dipped her head in greeting.

"I am Sese Lenya Ban Von Fitzgerald Livingstone Cunningham Dragoncrest Chatterton Abercrombie Duskhollow Frostbloom Belsonavenolairequintaple the X. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

A long beat of silence followed.

Cala blinked. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed. She looked as if she were attempting mental math with ancient glyphs.

Doppel's tail twitched. "Wait—was that your name or a poem?"

Sese smiled gracefully. "Yes."

Kumiko, already used to it, just raised a finger toward the others. "Don't bother. Just call her Sese."

Doppel tilted her head. "No offense, but... how do you even fit that on a scroll login?"

Cala grunted. "Do your school documents even have enough space?"

Sese calmly replied, "I use a condensed version: Sese X. Legal, though terribly inelegant."

Doppel counted on her fingers. "That name had more syllables than my grocery list. Including snacks."

Kumiko added with a chuckle, "She crashed the student roster during enrollment. Froze the screen for like fifteen seconds."

Sese placed a hand on her chest, perfectly composed. "A legacy name carries history. It must be spoken with reverence."

Doppel gave Cala a deadpan look. "She talks like my dreamfish hallucinations."

Cala shook her head slowly. "I still don't know if that was one name or a noble line's obituary."

Sese gave a polite smile, clearly used to the reaction. "It is both, occasionally."

Kumiko just chuckled, throwing an arm over Doppel's shoulder. "And people say I'm the weird one."

There was a pause—brief, uncertain—as each of the four girls glanced between one another, the silence punctuated by the distant, haunting growl of Grimm beyond the forest's edge. The Emerald Forest had settled into a deceptive calm, but tension clung to the air like mist. The temple, ancient and brooding, stood sentinel among the trees, its relics no longer waiting.

"Well then," Kumiko broke the silence, her voice casual but alert as she stepped forward and plucked the second queen piece from its plinth. "Looks like the four of us got here first. Lucky us."

"Or we're just that good," Doppel added brightly, flipping a dagger in her fingers—then nearly fumbling it. "Oops."

Sese's eyes swept the forest line, posture still composed but gaze sharp. "We should remain vigilant. If we reach this site with relative ease, it stands to reason that others—Grimm or student—may not be far behind."

Cala moved with the weight of confidence, settling herself on a nearby slab of stone with a heavy thud. She crossed her arms, her massive shield resting beside her like a wall planted in the earth.

A breeze whispered through the ruins, rustling hair and tugging lightly at capes and cloaks. The temple watched in silence, its moss-covered stones soaked with time and memories of past trials. For now, all was still—but in a place like the Emerald Forest, stillness was the loudest warning.

The air had changed. Beneath the birdsong and rustling leaves, there lingered the metallic tang of blood and burnt Grimm ichor. Shadows played across their faces as the sun shifted through the canopy above. It was calm—but it was never safe.

Cala stirred, armor creaking slightly. Her gaze was fixed on the narrow forest path, her body angled like a fortress waiting for the next siege.

"We should leave," she said flatly, her voice slicing through the quiet. "We have our objective."

She stood in one smooth, practiced motion. The queen piece was secured in her hand; her shield now strapped to her back in a seamless display of readiness. She moved with the grace of machinery forged for battle—unwavering, controlled.

Kumiko leaned lazily against one of the temple columns, her expression unreadable beneath the shadow of her bangs. Her spear lay across her shoulders like a yoke. "Jeez," she exhaled, not quite a protest, not quite a joke, "we just got here."

Cala didn't even glance at her. "We came for what we need," she replied, cold and final. "The next step is to return."

Doppel had stopped bouncing. Her golden eyes flitted between the two, her ears twitching at the sound of a distant branch snapping in the woods. She gave a small shrug, her voice quieter now. "Hey, I'm not arguing with the walking fortress. If she says we're moving, we're moving." There was still humor in her tone—but now it was tempered by caution.

Sese brushed a speck of dust from her glove, her poise unbroken. "A walking fortress?" she asked curiously.

Cala's answer was a slow, tired exhale. "Long story."

She cast a glance sideways at Doppel, who had dropped into a half-crouch again, scanning the treeline like a nervous alley cat. Cala's eyes narrowed slightly. The Faunus tilted her head in response with a simple, confused "Nya?" that made Cala look away before she could be drawn into further commentary.

Turning her attention to the other pair, Cala's voice came again—low, solid. "You two not going?" Her words felt more like a challenge than a question. "Then me and..." she paused, barely hiding her disdain as she gestured loosely toward Doppel, "...her... are going back. Safer in numbers. Move as one."

Sese stepped forward gracefully, her golden hair catching the light as she folded her hands behind her back. "I concur. Coordinated retreat is statistically preferable. Traveling together maximizes coverage and minimizes the risk of a concentrated ambush. Particularly if we're being observed."

"...She just said 'yeah sure' in nerd," Doppel muttered.

Kumiko gave a dry laugh, flipping her spear once before falling in beside Cala. "Guess that settles it. Wouldn't want to miss out on the fun anyway. Can't let the tank and the gremlin take all the credit."

She shot Cala a look—grinning, casual, but with a glint of sincerity. "Let's move, boss."

Cala froze slightly at the word. "Boss?" she repeated under her breath, more bewildered than annoyed. It wasn't something she was used to. Not respect. Not partnership. Not this strange sense of inclusion.

She looked ahead, her face unreadable behind her helm. A part of her wanted to correct the word. To remind them she wasn't in charge. That she didn't lead—she endured.

But she didn't say it.

"Let's go," she said at last, quieter this time—but resolute. Her boots struck the temple steps with steady rhythm as she descended, each step echoing like distant thunder into the waiting forest beyond.

And the others followed.

And so the unlikely group began their return, queen pieces in hand, weapons drawn or resting at ease, their formation ragtag but oddly balanced. The forest, for now, stayed quiet—but the tension in the air whispered that silence would not last.

The sun filtered through the thick emerald canopy as the four unlikely companions made their steady way back through the forest, their path silent but for the occasional crunch of twigs beneath armored boots or the rustle of undergrowth stirred by a flicking tail. It wasn't coordinated, not at first—each of them had arrived at the temple as individuals, with wildly different styles, temperaments, and experience. And yet, in the span of their return journey, something unspoken began to take form between them. A rhythm. A system. Not through any formal conversation, but through the natural push and pull of survival.

Cala Ad Lance walked at the front, her pace measured and her stance unyielding. Her enormous shield, strapped tightly to her back, shifted slightly with each heavy step. The ornate lance—taller than she was—remained in her grasp at all times, held in a relaxed but ever-ready position. Her gleaming armor clanked softly, a subtle soundtrack of steel and purpose. When thorned bramble or tight paths threatened the group's route, Cala would simply push through it, carving a path for the others behind her like a living siege engine. She didn't speak unless necessary, her silences heavy with thought and vigilance.

Doppel, in stark contrast, flitted and skittered through the trees with feline grace, sometimes vanishing entirely from view only to drop from a branch moments later with a quick report: "Nya! All clear!" or "Nya, I smell something weird—but no Grimm, so we're good!" She darted ahead of the group, her daggers at the ready, ears twitching at every snap of twig or birdcall. There was something chaotic in her movements, almost like she was playing a game—yet there was also an uncanny awareness, like her instincts guided her more than logic ever could. If Cala was the shield, Doppel was the eyes.

Sese—her full name long and illustrious, though the group had by silent consensus agreed to "just Sese"—kept to the rear, her musket slung elegantly across her back, her long golden hair somehow never seeming to tangle despite the branches and wind. Her bright blue eyes—startlingly vivid even beneath the leafy shadows—tracked every movement with a calm precision. While Doppel scouted ahead, Sese watched their flanks, analyzing paths, predicting Grimm movements, offering the occasional calmly spoken suggestion that proved consistently useful. "Up ahead is a small ravine. If we skirt along the eastern ridge, we'll avoid unnecessary exposure."

And then there was Kumiko Xen. The lazy-smiling, spear-spinning, gleefully reckless fighter of the group. She walked with her spear slung across her shoulders, ponytail swaying with each step. Whenever a Grimm dared to appear—and a few had—Kumiko was the first to meet them, charging ahead with the wild joy of someone who lived for the clash of weapons and fury. "Let's dance!" she'd yelled earlier as a pack of Beowolves emerged from the underbrush. Between her sheer enthusiasm and Cala's impenetrable front line, the threats had been dispatched with almost mechanical efficiency.

Despite their differences, they moved as one. By the time they were halfway back, none of them commented when Cala silently adjusted her route to match Sese's directions, or when Doppel tossed down pebbles to mark hidden roots. Even Kumiko, who often hummed idly as they walked, fell into step without being asked when flanks needed protection. It wasn't teamwork formed by bonding, but necessity—and a strange, growing understanding that maybe, just maybe, they worked well together.

As they crested a final ridge, the great cliffs of Beacon Academy came into view. The towering spires gleamed in the daylight, the campus spread beneath them like a sanctuary of order and civilization after the wild chaos of the forest. Down in the basin far behind them, the distant screeches of a Nevermore echoed faintly—along with a crashing, fiery explosion.

They all turned to look.

Across the treetops, several other students could be seen engaging in what could only be described as sheer pandemonium. A massive Deathstalker thrashed its way through trees, while a Nevermore took to the skies with unnatural speed. Screams, battle cries, and the roar of weapons filled the forest below.

Doppel blinked. "Huh," she said. "Good thing we left early, nya."

"Yeah, no kidding," Kumiko added, squinting down at the madness below. "That looks fun but, like, not 'carry a cannon and queen piece' fun."

Sese nodded politely. "Efficient avoidance of confrontation may sometimes be more beneficial than reckless valor. We have our objective."

Cala said nothing, but the way her eyes lingered on the chaos below seemed almost thoughtful. Then she turned, and began descending the slope back toward the campus.

They crossed the final threshold and were immediately greeted by the tall figure of Professor Ozpin, standing near the return point with Glynda and a few other instructors, clipboard in hand and the ever-present mug at his lips.

Cala stepped forward without a word and presented the queen pieces. The polished ivory gleamed against her dark gauntlet. Doppel followed, holding up her own piece like a prize ribbon.

Ozpin nodded once. "Well done," he said simply, marking something on the clipboard. "You're the first to return."

Kumiko casually flopped down on the steps nearby with a long sigh and an exaggerated stretch. "Whew. What a walk."

Sese brushed a speck of dust off her coat and joined her with far more grace. "We'll await the others, I presume?"

"Yes," Ozpin replied. "For now, rest."

The group, mismatched and unexpected as they were, took their places in the growing afternoon sun. Cala sat, arms crossed, her shield resting against the stone. Doppel climbed up the back of a bench and perched like a gargoyle, tail flicking. Kumiko lay down and threw her arm over her eyes. Sese crossed her legs with poise and folded her hands in her lap.

No one spoke for a while.

But in the stillness, it was clear they had begun something. Something new. Something... that might just work.

The stillness after the battle was almost sacred—like the Emerald Forest itself held its breath in reverence. Ruby stood amid the swirl of rose petals, Crescent Rose still humming from the force of the final shot, the decapitated head of the Nevermore tumbling below like some mythic beast laid to rest by a child of destiny. Her crimson cloak fluttered behind her, stained with soot and feathers, and for a brief second, she looked like a warrior of legend—not the youngest applicant in Beacon's history, not the girl who had once fumbled over her own scythe—but something more.

Weiss, hands on her knees, breathed in sharply, exhaustion etched into her proud posture. She'd nearly burned herself out assisting Ruby's ascent, glyphs still flickering faintly in the air behind her. Blake crouched beside her, unreadable as ever but clearly impressed, while Yang—ever the proud big sister—grinned with arms crossed, sweat on her brow and embers still crackling faintly in her gauntlets.

Down below, in the distance, the rest of the students who had been engaged with the monstrous Deathstalker were either catching their breath or tending to minor wounds. Jaune Arc—wide-eyed, hands on hips, and still somehow a little off balance—stared upward in disbelief.

"Wow..." he said, voice half awe, half the realization that maybe, just maybe, he was in way over his head.

Pyrrha stood beside him, the tip of her javelin buried into the ground as a momentary support, her red hair stuck to her brow from sweat. Nora was leaning on Ren, both of them catching their breath and looking skyward.

Ruby panted, her scythe resting on her shoulder, the feathers of the Nevermore still floating like ash around her. Her eyes were wide, caught between disbelief and triumph.

Yang was the first to speak, her grin stretching ear to ear. "Okay, not to brag or anything—but did you all see my baby sister just obliterate a Nevermore like a total boss?!"

Ruby laughed breathlessly. "I kinda blacked out after the third glyph jump..."

Weiss, still catching her breath, managed a proud smirk despite herself. "You soared on my glyphs. I provided the runway. But yes—color me impressed."

Blake crossed her arms and raised a brow. "More like color everything red. That thing got shredded."

"Right?" Ruby beamed. "I think Crescent Rose ran out of bullets before I ran out of momentum."

Down below, Jaune Arc pointed skyward like a tourist. "Okay, okay—was I the only one who thought she was gonna crash into that cliff? Because for a second, I swear—"

Nora cut in with a loud whoop. "That was so cool! Like BOOM, feathers everywhere! Can we do that again?"

Ren gave a small, fond smile. "Preferably not with a giant bird monster."

Pyrrha chuckled softly, brushing a lock of red hair from her face. "I have to admit... that was one of the most coordinated finishers I've ever seen."

Jaune blinked. "Is this what it's always like at Beacon?"

Nora leaned closer to him with a wide grin. "Yup! Welcome to the big leagues, Jauney-boy!"

Ruby lowered her scythe and looked toward her teammates. "Hey Weiss—remember when you said I was just a kid with a death scythe?"

Weiss turned, her usual poise returning. "I still stand by the death scythe part."

Everyone laughed.

Blake nudged Yang with her elbow. "So. How long until we get our team names?"

Yang tilted her head, mock-thoughtful. "Hmm... Team Awesome? Team Boom? Team Crescent-Feather-Dust?"

Ruby twirled her weapon once and let it collapse into its compact form. "Team Rose Petals and Regret!"

Weiss muttered under her breath. "More like Team Overkill."

Nora raised her hand dramatically. "Can I be Team Explodicles?"

Ren sighed.

Then, the subtle shift of mood began.

The energy, once electric with post-battle euphoria, simmered into a low thrum of awareness.

From their vantage point near the shattered ruins, Jaune blinked slowly, a bead of sweat not from combat slipping down his cheek. He tilted his head skyward, brows knitting. "Hey, uhhh... guys?"

Ruby glanced toward him, still grinning from ear to ear. "What's up?

He scratched the back of his head with exaggerated unease. "Shouldn't we... y'know... be somewhere else by now?"

Blake raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... how long has it been since we finished off those Grimm?" Jaune asked, squinting at the sun through the trees. "It feels like hours."

Pyrrha frowned gently, lifting a hand to shade her eyes. "I think... it's been like an hour or two," she murmured, her smile faltering.

"...They do usually have time limits for entrance exams, right?" Jaune added, voice cracking slightly.

A hush fell over them. Somewhere above, a raven gave a single croak and flew off. Wind whispered uneasily through the canopy.

Weiss's eyes widened like saucers. "You're kidding."

Yang's posture stiffened. "No. No way."

Blake's ears twitched under her bow. "You've got to be joking."

Jaune looked around, desperate for someone—anyone—to tell him it was fine.

Nobody did.

"WAIT—THE TIME LIMIT!" he suddenly screamed, stumbling backward in horror.

"I KNEW IT!" Weiss shouted, jumping to her feet and wobbling. "I said we were celebrating too long! You were all laughing while the sun was MOVING!"

"Why didn't any of you mention it earlier?!" Blake snapped, brushing leaves off her skirt as she stood.

Ruby groaned, gripping her hair. "I was in the moment! I didn't think time was real anymore!"

Nora leapt three feet into the air. "WE'RE GONNA GET DISQUALIFIED! THIS IS JUST LIKE THE GYM TEST IN JUNIOR YEAR! PYRRHA, GRAB JAUNE!"

"I—what?!" Jaune yelped as Pyrrha instinctively caught his arm.

Yang was already tightening the straps on her gauntlets. "Okay! No Grimm, no distractions—we make a break for the cliffs. No detours. No speeches. Just RUN."

Ren quietly exhaled. "We can make it... if we don't stop."

Pyrrha glanced at the map on her scroll and made a quick judgment. "If we cut across the ridge and follow the riverbed, we might shave off five minutes."

"But if there's Grimm there—" Blake started.

"We deal with it fast or keep running," Weiss interjected, already starting to jog. "Move!"

And just like that, the previous hour of dramatic poses, post-battle banter, and victorious energy vanished in a blur of bootfalls and branch-snaps. Team RWBY and the soon-to-be JNPR group tore through the forest, limbs pumping, hearts racing faster than their recent fights.

"GO GO GO!" Ruby barked, trying to keep her eyes on the cliff's direction while vaulting over a log.

"Save the dramatic slow-mo for graduation!" Yang yelled, her laugh half panic, half thrill.

"I hate this forest!" Jaune cried out, swatting at a bug while tripping again.

"We are NEVER speaking of this," Weiss hissed, panting hard.

"Speak for yourself," Nora chirped. "This is already my core memory!"

Leaves exploded in their wake. Birds scattered. A small Beowolf peeked from a thicket, watched them stampede past, and slowly backed into the bushes.

Back at Beacon, Professors Glynda Goodwitch and Ozpin stood before a large set of monitors, sipping coffee as static cleared from the screens.

"Hmm," Glynda noted, eyebrow twitching. "They're cutting it close."

Ozpin simply smiled into his cup. "Team formation is often forged through urgency."

Meanwhile, Team CFVY lounged peacefully at the foot of the cliff path, Coco lazily checking her nails while Yatsuhashi offered Velvet a cup of water.

And down in the Emerald Forest?

The legends-in-the-making were still running.