Emily's PoV
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Beacon's ballroom, where we'd all spent our first night. As I rose from my sleeping bag, I couldn't help but seek out Alex in the crowd of stirring students. There was something about him that drew me in, a familiarity I couldn't explain.
I spotted him across the room, already up and methodically packing his gear. Even from this distance, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the careful control in his movements. It was a demeanor I recognized, one I saw in the mirror every day.
As I made my way over to him, weaving through the chaos of our fellow initiates, I found myself reflecting on our conversation from yesterday. The way he'd opened up about his... unique situation. It should have been strange, off-putting even. But instead, I'd felt an inexplicable urge to understand, to help if I could.
"Good morning, Alex," I said as I approached, keeping my voice low to avoid disturbing others.
He looked up, a mix of emotions flashing across his face before settling into a small smile. "Morning, Emily. Sleep well?"
I nodded, taking a seat beside him. "As well as can be expected in a room full of strangers. Are you... both... ready for today's initiation?"
Alex's smile turned wry. "As ready as we'll ever be, I suppose. Alexa's been unusually quiet this morning, which is either a blessing or a sign of impending chaos."
I found myself chuckling softly at that. "Well, let's hope for the former. Have you heard any details about what we'll be facing?"
He shook his head. "Nothing concrete. But if the rumors are true, we'll be heading into the Emerald Forest. It's supposed to be crawling with Grimm."
As we continued to chat, preparing our gear and discussing potential strategies, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd done this before. Not here, not at Beacon, but... somewhere. It was like trying to recall a dream upon waking – the details were hazy, slipping away the moment I tried to focus on them.
Before I knew it, we were standing at the edge of a cliff, looking out over the vast expanse of the Emerald Forest. Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch explained the rules of our initiation – find a partner, retrieve a relic, make it back alive.
As I stood on the launch pad, I glanced over at Alex. He gave me a nod, his eyes determined. And then we were airborne.
The rush of wind whipped past me as I soared through the air. Instinctively, I reached for my Semblance, feeling the familiar surge of power. In a shimmer of blue light, the massive rigging of the USS Enterprise materialized around me.
As always, a wave of nostalgia hit me at the sight of the great aircraft carrier. I didn't know why this particular ship was so important, why it felt like a part of me, but I was grateful for its strength and protection.
Using the rigging to control my descent, I landed gracefully in a small clearing. Immediately, I drew my bow, nocking an arrow that I knew would transform into a fighter jet upon release.
The forest was quiet – too quiet. I knew the Grimm were out there, waiting. But my first priority was finding a partner. And if I was being honest with myself, I hoped that partner would be Alex.
As if summoned by my thoughts, I heard the crack of gunfire to my left. Without hesitation, I took off in that direction, bow at the ready.
I burst into another clearing to find Alex engaged in combat with a pack of Beowolves. His movements were fluid, precise, as he alternated between his M1911 and his M4A1 Carbine. But he was outnumbered.
