falling fates [a rwby fanfic]

episode iii: launch pt i

Nirvana had only ever heard rumors about Beacon's supposed crazy initiation process, from whispers in the hallway from Faith Academy to whispers in the airship when people passed them by as Fawn took a nap on her shoulder. Some parts she had never believed to be true, like the whole launching them off the cliff with nothing except themselves to land with, and others she had found believable, like having to get through the forest yourself, with no help from the professors, in order to finish initiation. That seemed fair.

And yet here she was, hurdling through the open air, her peers doing the same. She swore she heard some kid cry like a baby as he fell, but she didn't pay any mind to it. What she had to worry about was making sure that she landed in one piece.

She made a quick survey of her surroundings, pulling her weapon out from the straps that held it on her back. She never did fancy overly complex weapons, even as her teachers back in Vacuo urged her to add some kind of long-range machinery to it. Instead, Nirvana had kept what she had always favored: something to hit things with. As she pulled the weapon from her back, it unfolded from its backpack-like shape into a long, thick staff, and with the press of a button the top formed into two sizable battle axe blades on either side, the metal black and curved to fine points. Nirvana couldn't help smirking to herself- it was officially the first time she'd unsheathed her weapon at Beacon.

She brought the weapon behind her, angling it so it would go against the way of her fall, effectively slowing her down. It was then she spotted the tree- one tall and thick, the trunk wide enough to withstand being cut through. With another press of a button, the two blades folded over to join as one, and Nirvana swung it in front of her, propelling her towards her target. The impact certainly wasn't favorable, and she knew her shoulders would certainly ache tomorrow, but she had to act quickly. As the blade dug itself into the tree she used the speed she had gained during the fall to whip her body around, letting out a small cry of effort as she met some resistance. Thankfully, her grip on the axe's staff brought the weapon in tow behind her, spiraling down the tree as she worked to lose her speed and eventually get to solid land.

She fell to the ground with a loud oof, letting go of her weapon for a moment as she recovered. Wincing as she rolled her shoulders, the faunus let out a long sigh, leaning back to face the sky for a moment. There were still a few people she could spot through the branches and leaves, but it was safe to assume most had landed at that point.

"Alright," Nirvana said aloud as she ripped her axe from the tree, feeling only slight guilt for have mutilating the tree like that. Please forgive me, I had to land somehow, she apologized in her head, shaking her head to try and get the leaves out.

"Are we going to try and find each other?"

Nirvana recalled her conversation with Fawn that morning in the locker room, retying her hair after she had successfully gotten the majority of debris out.

"If you want to," Nirvana replied. "I mean, I'd love too. We've kinda been a duo forever, but also I don't think we're going to have much control over where we land."

Nirvana placed her hands on her hips, gazing around where she had landed. There was nothing but green in all directions, and if she hadn't seen the people above still making their way through the sky she may have not known which direction to even start. However, luck was on her side. She brought her weapon back into its neutral state, attaching it to her back once more. Now began her journey through the forest.

***

Jogging through the forest with a false sense of direction was the only way Fawn was convincing herself that she wasn't lost. She swore she had seen that log before, same with that tree, but that fallen branch seemed new. Maybe she was being followed- but by what? A Grimm would have attacked by now. Maybe she was finally going in a new direction.