[ON HIATUS] We're Not Dreaming (Mercury x OC)

The Grand Tour (Not Really)

Blanche's POV

Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald watched in awe as Nora slurped her way through a stack of pancakes as tall as she was. The cooks in the kitchen had looked terrified when Nora had walked through the door, rushing around in a flurry of flour and pans. A large stack of pancakes with a jug of syrup had appeared soon after, making the three newest students drop their jaws in shock. Jaune and I were used to seeing Nora's pancake obsessions, so we merely stepped up and ordered our food. Jaune asked for an omlette and I asked for a bowl of yogurt with fruit and granola with a blueberry muffin. We had to nudge the three out of their reverie, and they had hastily ordered their food.

Nora was completely finished with her pancakes now, and she quickly ran off to get another plate. Jaune and I shook our heads at her as Cinder jabbed her muffin with a fork. A loud burp echoed throughout the hall and Weiss' indignant shriek of "YANG!" sounded out. I resisted the urge to snort with laughter as Jaune and I looked down the table to see RBY dissolving into snickers and giggles while the W looked on furiously. I separated the top from the rest of the muffin and proceeded to start munching. Mercury snagged the rest of my muffin, ignoring my protests.

Mercury's POV

"Hey give me back my muffin!" Blanche protested. I chuckled on the inside and ignored her, taking a large bite out of the bottom half of the muffin. "You suck," she grumbled before finishing off her muffin cap. Cinder had gotten the same breakfast as Blanche, and even though she had finished her bowl of yogurt, she was now moodily stabbing at her muffin. "You know, I'll take that if you don't want it...." I trailed off as the three of us saw Nora coming over with another tottering tower of pancakes. I opened my mouth to comment and Blanche immediately kicked my boot lightly. I shut up and could only stare at Nora as she set the plate down. A few minutes later, all of the pancakes were gone, and Nora was sitting there full and content. "Is this normal?" I whispered to Blanche. She nodded and took a sip of her tea. A loud belch rolled out of Nora, causing the majority of the cafeteria to look over. Jaune and Blanche shook their heads at Nora disapprovingly while Cinder and Emerald looked disgusted and horrified.

"Nice one!" Yang yelled out before getting hit upside the head by Weiss. "Come on, let's show them around," Jaune stood up and dumped his trash out. "Should they get school uniforms?" Nora asked. "We're all dressed in our combat outfits right now, but I'll send a message to Professor Goodwitch about it," Blanche replied. We left the dining hall as Yang threw a pie at Weiss.

"Let's hope they don't start another food fight," I heard Jaune whisper to Blanche. "Well that last one was kinda started by your team Jaune," Blanche replied, causing him to sputter. "So how much of Beacon have you guys seen?" Nora popped up next to me, causing Emerald to yelp in surprise while I barely kept mine in. "Not too much," Cinder admitted,"We've only been here for a few days and in that time we mostly focused on gathering information about the students." "Seriously?" Nora raised an eyebrow at us before shrugging,"Oh well. TO THE EMERALD FOREST! Cuz you guys need to pass initiation," she giggled rather maniacally. The three of us exchanged worried glances while Blanche and Jaune just sighed. "I'll call Professor Ozpin and ask if that's ok. And if we can borrow some of his relics," Blanche pulled out her scroll and walked a few feet away to make the call. "He said okay," she walked back to us,"Come on let's go to his office."

Time Skip (Blanche's POV)

A short while later, we were in front of the lauching pads on the cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest. Ozpin had clipped tracking devices on to Mercury and Emerald, since Cinder already had a tracking device in her bracelet. All three had been given back their weapons because going into the Emerald Forest unarmed was practically suicide. Doctor Oobleck was supposed to meet us up here but he was nowhere to be found. "Well the general basis of this is that you'll be launched off these pads and into the Emerald Forest. You'll use a landing strategy to get down safely. After that, you'll make your way to an abandoned temple on the north side of the forest where you will collect one relic. Make your way back to the cliffs after that and you pass. Oh and if you get in trouble with the Grimm, we're not allowed to help you," I explained to them. "Wonderful explanation Blanche," I heard Doctor Oobleck rapidly say before he blurred next to us. "Now I will be monitoring your progress and this will be graded. All first year students go through this initiation so don't feel like we're picking on you. Any questions?" he rattled off. The three shook their heads and stepped on to the launch pads.

With a small clink, the pads rocketed the three into the air, the four of us back on the ground watched them in amusement. "Let's hope their initiation doesn't end with killing a giant deathstalker or nevermore," Jaune laid down on the grass. "I want to ride another Ursa, that last one died too fast on me," Nora pouted. I quirked an eyebrow at her,"Ren didn't allow you to eat pancakes for a month last time that happened." "True," she grumbled. Oobleck handed the three of us tablets,"Professor Ozpin informed me that I am merely here to make sure nothing goes wrong. The three of you will be grading your respective wards." "Uhhhh......" we all glanced at each other before searching for the three out in the Emerald Forest. I soon found Mercury hopping along the tree branches while a pack of beowolves followed him on the ground below. Looking over at Nora and Jaune, I realized that Emerald had followed the same tactic as Mercury, using the chains in her weapon to swing along, burying the blades into the trunks of nearby trees. She didn't seem to have any Grimm near her. Cinder seemed to be having the most trouble, most likely because she wasn't used to having her aura and abilities so limited. Running in stiletto heels probably didn't do her any favors either as she fired arrows tipped with Fire Dust at an Ursa Major before dashing away.

Mercury was the one who reached the abandoned temple first, Emerald getting there just a few moments afterwards. The pack of howling beowolves was quickly dispatched between the two of them and I couldn't help but feel proud at their teamwork. Cinder came a few moments later, positioning herself facing the forest, separating her bow into two blades. As an Ursa appeared, she launched herself at it, stabbing both blades deep into the monster's torso. As it collapsed, she ripped her weapons free and tucked them away. The three of them grabbed a relic each and started heading back.

Time Skip

"Congratulations, the three of you all pass," Nora yelled happily as the three pulled themselves up wearily to where we were sitting. Mercury staggered a few steps before falling over, making himself comfortable and using my lap as a pillow. Emerald groaned and fell on Nora. Cinder merely sat down, chest heaving with exhaustion. "Now for the things you need to work on," Oobleck said,"Emerald and Mercury, the two of you make a good pair and you show strong teamwork skills, however Emerald, you tend to let your emotions get the best of you at times and Mercury, your cockiness will cost you your life one day. Cinder, you need to train more because you need to hone your skills without the use of your Dust abilities or large aura reserve." Cinder half glared at Oobleck before sighing and standing up, dusting her clothes off.

I gave Mercury a small push and he got up as well. Nora decided to just pick up Emerald, and we headed back to the academy, Emerald resting on Nora's back. Mercury snickered at their position, earning a small punch from me. Jaune and I didn't miss the small fond smile that graced Cinder's features as she looked at the tired Emerald. So she isn't as cold as she acts.