We were all so nervous on initiation day, even if we didn't show it. I was determined to succeed and make it into Beacon but I was nervous for you and our friends. Seems so silly now to even think you wouldn't get on a team or help us all become better people. Why did things have to go so wrong during our time?

It was finally here, initiation day. Cloud was breathing deeply in an effort to keep his anxiety at bay. It was relatively easier with the fact that Tifa had woken up and left the ballroom before he awoke. There had been an announcement for everyone to prepare their equipment and check their scrolls. On his scroll, given to him by the Shinra staff before he got on the bullhead for Beacon, was a message telling him to be at the cliffs overlooking the Emerald Forest at two o'clock.

With a heavy breath the boy with blonde spiky hair removed the travel wrap from his father's- no, his sword. First Tsurugi, the gargantuan fusion blade made of six individual swords. Cloud had made a promise to his mom to make her proud, to make sure that at the very least, this weapon would become just as respected as the famous Buster Sword, the sword carried by the recently promoted headmaster of Bifrost, Angeal Hewley.

But now finished thinking about the past, Cloud stood up and slipped his weapon over his shoulder so it attached to the magnets of his harness for the weapon. He packed up his things into his duffle bag and dropped the bundle near the wall where other bags had been piled. Choosing to take a break from meeting people and wanting to avoid more conversation with those he met, Cloud began exploring the grounds of Beacon. Eventually he got tired of walking around and checked the time on his scroll and heaved a sigh when he saw he still had three hours until he had to be at the cliffs. He sought out a quiet place to sit which was thankfully easy to find because the returning students of Beacon would be arriving tomorrow. Cloud rested his head on his crossed arms and tried to think about how to talk to Tifa.

It had been years since she saw him but he had seen her in Nibelheim. Every time he returned home for holidays he would sneak into town during the dead of night to save himself and his mother the hassle. During the days he would see Tifa moving around the town, meeting the other folk, and training. Cloud did not want to risk damaging her reputation through association so he remain in his mother's house for most of his visits, only leaving during the night.

But that was then and now he had to focus on the present, focus on making it into Beacon. When the time came to meet at the cliffs he was a few minutes early but far from the first one there. He saw Tifa standing with Yang and Ruby then chose to move away, passing by Glynda and Ozpin as the two professors made their way to the edge of the cliffs.

"Students!" Glynda called out right after the time ticked over to 2 PM "Please stand on the platforms. One per platform." As everyone took their places, some just now arriving and taking their places, Jaune among the late comers "Headmaster Ozpin has some words before we begin."

"For years you have trained to become warriors and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest." the elder man said plainly while holding his mug.

"Now," Glynda began "I'm sure many of you have heard rumours 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." Ozpin then continued. It was obvious to everyone present that this was a well rehearsed cooperative speech likely made every year "So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said," Cloud swore he heard some amusement in Ozpin's voice "The first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

After a moment of silence there was a sharp "What!?" from down the line. It was Ruby.

Then another girl could be heard saying "See! I told you!"

Ozpin continued after silence fell "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." that was no new sentiment to the students, everyone knew wild lands meant grim "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 pair 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?"

It all seemed simple enough to Cloud. Get through the forest, kill any grimm, find the temple, grab something, return. Though there was one question going through his mind, Ozpin had mention landing. Were they going to be airdropped?

"Yeah, um, sir-" he heard Jaune begin to speak.

"Good!" Ozpin said to cut him off "Now, take your positions."

Cloud glanced over at the mention of positions. What did Ozpin mean by positions? Did he mean they would be leaping from the cliff? Perhaps leaping into an airship as it passed by? Aerial activity was not something Cloud was good at. But his train of thought was cut off by the platform he was on suddenly lurching and then sending him high into the air above the forest. It was the first time Cloud felt any kind of regret over coming to Beacon.

The emerald forest of Vale had an amazing natural beauty to it. If not for the immediate threat of grimm potentially being behind every tree, it would be a lovely place to spend time wandering and meditating. But it was no time for gawking or training, there is a mission to be completed to prove himself to Beacon. To his home Cosmo Canyon. To prove himself better than his cowardly father.

Nanaki Seto stalked through the forest with feline grace listening intently to his surroundings. He checked his hairpin for the hundredth time to make sure it was still there and filled with dust. Unexpected crashing above him caused a quick retreat behind a tree to observe and he was fortunate to witness a beowolf break through the canopy to the forest floor. It tried to stand up, clearly near death but it was foiled by a very large hammer slamming into its back, wielded by a small lady in pink.

"That's what you get mister big bad wolf!" The girl cheered then quickly looked straight at Nanaki. He was amazed that she even knew he was there "You're not Ren!" She called out.

"No I am not," Nanaki said as he stepped into full view, hands held up in mock surrender "Nanaki of Cosmo Canyon."

"Nora Valkyrie! Hammer maiden!" She proudly introduced while swinging her massive weapon with ease "And looks like we're partners! So let's get moving!" She commanded then took off running to the north. Nanaki actually had to run to catch up.

Cloud had been charging north through the forest for a long time now. He had no idea how much time had passed but it felt like hours. But pacing had been slowing him down, he had to be sure to not burn out before meeting any threats. So far he had not met any grimm but it was only a matter of time. He also had not met anyone else and was beginning to fear he would be partnered with Tifa, forced to be stuck in the past. As much as he cared for her and was attracted to her for being so strong, he had been trying to move away from Nibelheim entirely.

Thankfully a gunshot ringing out caught his attention. He leaned into a full sprint towards the sound, drawing his sword mid step. As he rounded a tree a pack of beowolves met his sight. Both hands on the hilt of First Tsurugi, he leapt and swung horizontally cleaving one in half. He anchored his feet as he landed and swung at another grimm wolf, the beast blocked but the force of the swing from the weight of the weapon broke the beast's arms and knocked it down. Cloud never gave it a chance, First Tsurugi came crashing down on the beowolf's chest to end the beast. Gunshots rang out near him, beowolves were cleaved and broken, and Cloud felt great to be fighting. Only once the beowolves were all dissolved did Cloud return his sword to his back. He turned to see who he had helped and froze.

"Thanks for the save, Spikey," Yang said with a smile "Not that I needed it but still, thanks dude."

"Uh, yeah. No problem," Cloud barely managed to stammer out "We should uh, get moving," he is really hoping that at some point he learns how to actually talk to girls. Maybe having Yang as a partner will help.

Yang laughed to herself over Cloud's fluster "Lead the way, Spikey. Just make sure to keep your head out of the clouds."

Cloud groaned.

Lie Ren, or just Ren, chose to take a break after that encounter with a King Taijitu. He knew they had been reported in the Emerald Forest but it was a rare sight. While all grimm are dangerous, the twin headed snake was higher on the threat list. He paused near a tree to catch his breath and let his aura recover some.

"This is what you guys call dust?" An unfamiliar girl said from above him.

Ren looked up and saw a girl sitting cross legged on the underside of a branch above him examining one of the magazines for his pistols "Interesting semblance. May I have that back?" The girl tossed the magazine back to Ren "Thank you."

"You're a real gentleman," the girl commented while standing up on the branch, still upside down. She then walked down the trunk to the ground, easily stepping into it and reorienting without issue "Kisaragi Yuffie of Wutai. Here to show those Shinra punks who the best is."

"Lie Ren," he reply simply.

"Nice to meet you. Now, we have relics to steal!" Yuffie announced then ran off ahead. Ren chuckled and followed, hoping Nora would find someone capable of handling her energy.

"Hey, thanks for your help," Tifa said with a smile as two ursa dissolved nearby.

She had not been in danger when she stepped into the small clearing the two beasts had been laying in but she would have taken a hit or two. Nonetheless, she was still grateful that the girl in black and white with amber eyes had helped her kill the ursa.

"You're welcome. I'm Blake, by the way."

"Tifa," She reply with a nod "Looks like we're gonna be partners."

"Yeah," Blake reply "We should hurry to get a relic so we pass this exam."

"Right, right."

The two set off to the north, walking in silence for several minutes until Blake spoke up "You're from Midgar, right?"

"Yep. Well, a village on the outskirts," Tifa answered and Blake just nodded "You?"

"South of Mistral. A little nowhere town."

"Well it's good we have something in common," Tifa said with a smile. She was glad to know Blake was not as standoffish as she seemed before.

"First it's those damn kids, now it's a specific container from dozens. Did they forget I'm not some errand boy they can order around for pocket money?" A redhead man with a cane and cigar grumbled as the container stamped with the Schnee Dust Company logo was brought into his warehouse.

His gaze wandered over his men and the White Fang soldiers moving around to get the container in place. He smirked to himself as he tap the ash off his cigar, humans and faunus working together for the common goal of causing chaos. Nothing like a common enemy to unite everyone.

"Alright, that's good!" He called out "Let's see what was so damn important about this one!" He shouted to urge a couple people to open the container.

The lock was quickly cut and the doors unlatched. As they swung open Roman was met with the sight of two glowing yellow eyes surrounded by glowing blue lines staring at him. The criminal cocked a brow and waited for the owner of the eyes to step into the light. The figure stepped into the light of the warehouse and before this moment the White Fang soldier with the chainsaw had been the largest person Roman had met. Before him was a man easily ten feet tall with long messy blue hair with arms as thick as tree trunks, wearing a dark grey tank top, grey slacks, and grey gloves with steel plated knuckles.

"Did not think I was gonna get an action figure out of this box," Roman chuckled. The absolute beast of a man gave a smirk and chuckle.

From behind the giant stepped out a girl slightly smaller than Roman's right hand woman, which amazed the man. The girl was a redhead like himself, though a few shades darker, with orange eyes and a mostly dark blue sleeveless catsuit with what looks like armour across the bust. She had two weapons joined by a cable holstered on the back of her legs.

"Roman Torchwick," the girl said mechanically "There is valuable equipment to be set up."

Roman rolled his eyes "Sure thing boss."

So sorry for how long this took. I normally write while travelling, i used to be on the bus/ train a lot. And then one of my friends was like "Hey, did you know about the other FF7 stuff?" So then i started researching and well, now we're here.

Also, thank you everyone for your reviews! I promise to personally respond to them in the future.

Please leave a Review you awesome people!