Fusilier

Shovel Death

Donnie awoke the next morning from the throes of a nightmare. He noticed that it the light of dawn was only just peeking through the windows of the hall they slept in.
He checked his watch and saw that it was only five in the morning. Donnie let out a light groan and, figuring he couldn't get anymore sleep, decided to get ready for the new day.
He made his way to the bathroom to splash water on his face. He noticed a few other students were in the same situation.
A boy nearby was washing his hands after using the stall beside him. In their groggy state all they could manage was a couple grunts of acknowledgement.
Donnie came out into the hall to find most of the other students beginning to shift about in their sleeping bags.
He walked over to where his bag was by Weiss and Pyrrha.
Donnie bent down and rummaged through his belongings bringing out a small pack of matches and his box of cigarettes.
Donnie also noticed the new message on his scroll from his outside connection in Atlas. A man who only went by Zero. Zero made most of Donnie's ammo and is currently working on a few "projects" for him.
The message read:
Big Guns complete. Expect them tomorrow.
Donnie smiled at the thought of receiving the shipment. He never got to use any of the "big guns" back home but looked forward to having chance to try them out.
He returned to his earlier task and walked outside to grab a quick smoke before having to wake up Weiss.
Donnie leaned against the outer wall and watched the steady rising sun. A newly lit cigarette slowly shrinking as he took long a drag and released the smoke from the corner of his mouth.
"I see I'm not the only early riser this morning," said a voice suddenly from from the side. Donnie jumped a bit but calmed down when he realized it was the headmaster Professor Ozpin.
"Oh it's you Professor. I didn't see you. Top o' tha mornin' to ya."
Ozpin chuckled at this and turned toward the horizon.
"I read your file Mr. McManus. I believe I saw that you were summoned by Ms. Schnee?"
"You would be correct sir. Although I gotta admit this whole 'Grimm fighting' thing has got me nervous."
"And why is that," Ozpin asked with a raised eyebrow.
Donnie sighed and turned towards the professor.
"Before I came to this world I was in the military. My world was engaged in a 'Great War' of its own. An experience I've heard Remnant has had before."
Ozpin nodded in response. Prompting him to go on.
"Well in my world first of all there are no Grimm whatsoever, so you can imagine my lack of knowledge on them. Even after my introduction to these Grimm my only duty was to protect Weiss even though she probably didn't need it. These threats to her being mainly White Fang attacks and violent protestors. So I've only ever mainly fought other people. It also doesn't help that my aura ain't much."
"And why is aura a hinderance may I ask?"
"Well when I was summoned I gained an aura like I just said. But my aura is extremely minuscule so I can only take a hit or two without losing my aura. And I haven't discovered if I have a semblance or anything."
When Donnie finished he looked at his headmaster who seemed to be deep in thought.
After moment he he looked to Donnie and began to walk away. As he was walking off he called over his shoulder,"I look forward to seeing how you perform Mr. McManus."
Donnie chuckled at this and tossed his cigarette in the garbage. Moving inside he saw Pyrrah starting to sit up in her sleeping bag.
"Mornin' Pyrrah." She smiled at this and motioned toward Weiss.
"Are you going to wake her up."
Donnie nodded and moved towards the heiress.
She groaned lightly as he shook her shoulder. She mumbled something only he could hear which caused him to laugh lightly.
Once Weiss had collected herself as properly as she could Donnie stood and motioned them towards the locker room to collect their gear.
In the locker room they noticed a boy they had met earlier trying to find his locker, muttering to himself the whole search.
  While the girls were turned away he slipped into his uniform. Donnie turned to Weiss and Pyrrah and smiled at the curious look Pyrrah had while examining his uniform.
"Where did you get that uniform I've never seen one like it before," she asked.
"Ah this old thing? This is from my military days back before Weiss over there summoned me."
Weiss gave Donnie a small smile when she heard this.
"You say that like you're an old man Donnie."
He gave a half smile and to Pyrrah his once cheerful and carefree face suddenly seemed world weary and tired.
"With what I've seen and done Weiss. I might as well be one," he replied with a sigh.
He suddenly seemed to shift back to normal and remarked with a light laugh.
"But enough of that doom and gloom stuff! We're gonna be late!"
As he went to grab his rifle from his locker he noticed the blonde haired kid he had met the day before, Jaune Arc, approach Weiss (again).
"Hey there Weiss you know I think we would make a great team. And maybe we could get some coffee sometime."
Donnie chuckled at the sight as he started sliding bullets into the chamber of the gun.
He had to hold in a full bout of laughter when Weiss went off on yet another rant about who Pyrrah was and why he should know her name.
He finally did laugh when Pyrrah ended up pinning Jaune against the wall with her spear.
As he passed the kid Donnie patted his shoulder and told him ,"Valiant effort man. Keep going you can do it."

A few minutes later the other students attending initiation finally arrived at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest.
At Professor Ozpin's request Donnie stood apart from the group, in between him and Glynda Goodwitch, one of the other professors at Beacon.
"Today is your initiation students. Now let me put rumors of team assignments to rest. You will be placed into teams and yes, the first person you make eye contact with after launching will be your partner for the rest of your four years here and afterwards."
Someone in the crowd having noticed Donnie separate from the group interrupted with,"What about him?"
"I was getting there. Since Mr. McManus here was summoned by Ms. Schnee he will be in which ever team she is placed yet his name will not be included in the team's. He will also be put into a different initiation. Now good luck students I hope to see you back here in one piece."
Many people were about to speak out about the situation but were cut off by the launching sequence.
Once the students were out of sight Ozpin turned to Professor Goodwitch and motioned both her and Donnie away.
He followed the professor's lead and followed her down a path into a separate section of forest.
"Mr. McManus due to the unusual circumstances of your acceptance into Beacon I planned something accordingly."
"You are to run a small gauntlet of sorts through the forest to this location  where I will be waiting here for your return."
Donnie was about to ask how he would be brought into the forest when he realized he was standing on yet another spring.
He was then launched into the air. Plummeting rapidly deep into the forest.
To slow his descent he drew his old shovel and swing it into a tree branch.
His plan worked, mostly, as soon as his  full weight was brought to an abrupt and painful stop, he dangled a few seconds before the head of the shovel snapped off damaging the old tool irreparably.
When Donnie hit the ground he stared at the broken weapon in shock.
"Well you sure picked a fine time for it."
He carefully slid the pieces into his pack and drew his rifle. Keeping the bayonet detached.
He heard a distant pop and then light hiss as a large, red flare appeared over the trees to mark where Professor Goodwitch was.
Donnie sighed and began the march through the forest.
After about an hour Donnie heard a loud growl from behind him.
He stopped and slowly turned around to reveal a Beowulf preparing to pounce on him.
"Hey pup. There must be something more tasty than me around here." He asked this as he slowly raised his rifle to his shoulder.
Before the Grimm could jump at him Donnie fired at it, hitting it square in the chest.
This only angered the beast because it leaped at him, claws outstretched. Donnie rolled to the side, dropping to one knee and rapidly firing at its chest.
The Beowulf whipped around to face him as he fired more rounds into its chest. Causing a bit of black liquid to seep out.
When Donnie dodged yer another swipe from the Grimm he raised the rifle to fire and received a loud click, instead of the crack of a rifle.
He gained a wide eyed expression and rapidly looked from the gun to the Grimm and back again.
He dropped his rifle and gave a sheepish laugh.
"Oh lovely! Time to get a bit personal lad."
As he said this he drew his long bayonet and his revolver from its holster.
He waited for the Beowulf to charge. When the Beowulf was within a few feet away Donnie ducked underneath it and slashed the creatures stomach.
When the beast was behind him he quickly whipped around. Firing at its now open chest.
The third shot killed the beast.
Donnie panted slightly from evading the creature. Once he recovered he bent down to grab his rifle, replacement bullets already in hand.
"That wasn't so bad." As he said this he noticed the five other sets of eyes watching him.
"Me and my big mouth," he chastised himself as the first Beowulf stepped from the tree line.
This caused Donnie to start sprinting towards his destination, one hand pumping in the air while the other clutched the strap of the rifle on his back.