Chapter Text
A half finished tower gleamed under a pale blue sky. As clouds lazily wandered over to where the incomplete structure, a young girl, with dark colored hair with faint red highlights, strode forward on the pavement below. She noticed the neatly trimmed bushes lining the way, and leading to a fountain of four female figures. She paused for a moment to stare at one of the stone statues in particular, a familiar gaze crossing her eyes and face.
Elsewhere on the same campus, a tall ginger headed male grinned over at a girl, whose long black hair, save for a magenta stripe, covered her face. She too attempted to conceal her excitement at what was yet to come.
Yet another individual walked leisurely, careful to keep his large claws at his side and away from his body, as he stared up at the tower. He gave a wince and stared back down at the ground in comfort.
Amongst the dark gray building, a stage was set. On it, stood a tall man, holding a cane with gears in its center. His curly brown hair started peeking with silver streaks, but the proud smile that showed on his face, told of how this moment long meant to him.
The four figures stood amongst the crowd of students. Eager whispers surrounded them, swelling just slightly until the man approached a microphone.
"Welcome, students. I see we have all found the place of our newly founded institute. Welcome to Sanctuary Academy. My name is Oscar Pines, the Headmaster of Sanctuary Academy. Today, we will be forming teams just as students have done in the past."
"Yesss." The ginger haired male excitedly hissed under his breath.
"Each of you will be able to show off your skills and techniques while conducting a landing strategy. Then whoever you find in the forest will be your teammate for the rest of the time at Sanctuary Academy. From there, we will then base you off of teams based on the relics you find in the forest. That is all for now."
Headmaster Pines waved towards the edge of the cliff, "Please take your positions."
As the students gathered to the designated spot, Jasper stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down.
Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself, Okay, Jasper. Just like mama said, jump up, and land cleanly on both your feet. You can do this. She touched her folded up weapon behind her in comfort and got into position.
Peridot felt a tremble in his claws. Flying through the air did not at all sound like fun, but he would try his best to get to the ground as quickly and safely as he could.
Auburn tried his best not to bounce up and down with excitement. Onyx rolled her eyes and shook her head. She placed her arms in front, her eyes catching a glimpse of a long scar on one girl's neck. Onyx tried not to think of the scar above her own right eyebrow.
Headmaster Oscar gave a nod.
With a quick spring, Jasper felt her whole body being lifted into the air, with a gentle, yet firm force. She kept her eyes open, feeling the wind sting them. She managed to grab her scythe, Crescent Blossom, and caught onto a tree branch below, slowing her down. As she caught her breath, she stood on a wide tree branch. Gathering her scythe and her bearings, she heard overhead the shouts of students flying through the air above her.
Jasper put Crescent Blossom behind her and jumped safely from the branch to the ground. She found herself in an unfamiliar place. Using her semblance, she started moving as fast as she could, cherry blossom petals scurrying behind her.
However, the run was short lived, as she approached a figure. She almost missed them with how they blended in with the forest. Yet, the figure's pink eyes stared into her silver ones, causing her to stop.
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"Onyx? Onyx!"
Auburn kept calling out for his sister. He told his mother he would look after her because she was...well, Onyx. Shy, quiet, and reserved. Like a black anti-social cat his mother once told him about.
A rustle caught his attention. "Hey sis, what took you so long. I was worried about..."
"Uh, I ain't no sis." A deep male voice said.
Auburn watched as brown curls popped out from under the bush.
"Sorry, mate." Peridot said.
"You mean, sorry teammate." Auburn said teasingly.
Peridot sighed and got up. "Well, shall we?"
"I'll follow your lead."
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Onyx stared at Jasper. "Ummm. I think there has been a mistake."
"There is no mistake. We have to be a team now."
"Right." Onyx said, putting her bow behind her back and walking forward.
Jasper jogged over to her to catch up.
"I like your bow! It's a lot different from my bow. You know, the one in my hair."
"Uh huh." The girl muttered slowly, unamused.
"What is your name? My name is Jasper!"
The girl looked over at her then back into the forest. "Onyx."
"Oh, that sounds like a lovely name! It's nice to meet yo-"
Onyx shushed her. "Wait."
Jasper clasped her lips together. Onyx ducked down behind a fallen tree and Jasper did the same.
Across from a small stream, a circle of mossy stones each had a pile of flowers of various colors. Onyx observed that something felt off.
"There seem to be a few missing already." Jasper also noticed.
"Could be a trap."
"But is that the relic we need to bring back?"
"Not back. Forward."
"Wait, what?" Jasper stuttered in confusion.
Onyx pointed at the stream, "The footprints there lead away from the relics. But not towards us. Towards a different place."
"Uh huh." It was Jasper's turn to muse. She clasped her hands loudly together, the noise starting Onyx, "I'm just gonna go grab one."
"No, wait we need to-" With a flourish Jasper activated her semblance and sped over to a stone.
On top of the green moss, was a flower crown of light pink roses.
Jasper squealed, "My favorite color!"
Onyx crossed over the stream, trying not to make a loud splash.
Jasper held up the flower crown, "For you!"
"Oh uh, maybe there is a different color? Pink isn't really my thing-" Jasper put the crown on and took a step back. Onyx caught a whiff of the sweet petals gracing her hair.
Jasper went and grabbed the other one and put it on her head. "See! Now we match."
Onyx let out a frustrated sigh. "We're wasting time. The main objective is to get to the new ceremony site."
"Right, right. Which is down the river?"
"Stream. It never used to be here."
"Well, things have changed since the war. I guess that means the earth has too."
"Did someone say earth?"
Jasper jumped with a startle at the new voice. She noticed it came from a Fanus (a human being with one animal feature) who had green claws. The man next to him had orange red hair that looked familiar, yet there were light pink streaks throughout his hair.
He gave a cheeky grin, then he noticed Onyx standing next to her.
"There you are!" he said and ran over to Onyx, and squished her into a big hug.
"He was pretty worried about you." Green claw man spoke up again.
"There was no need to worry. I can handle myself, Auburn." Onyx said, squirming her way free.
"Wait! I know why you both are familiar!"
The three turned to Jasper who stood, her silver eyes sparking in the sunlight.
She pointed over to Auburn and Onyx, "You're both Ren and Nora's children!"
Auburn grinned and did a little half bow, "Guilty as charged. The name's Auburn Ren. And this sulky one is Onyx Ren."
"I can introduce myself, you know." Onyx mumbled under her breath.
"My name is Jasper. I knew your parents when-"
"Wait, JASPER?" Auburn shouted, his face surprised, "The one created in Atlas, went through the Ever After, and helped in the War?"
Jasper giggled, "Yet, that is me. I am the daughter of Ruby Rose and...Penny Polendina."
As the quiet filled the air, the new figure stepped in, "Hey now, if we are doing this introduction thing, my name is Peridot Zaiden."
Auburn put on a serious thinking face, "Huh, Zaiden. It sounds familiar and yet I have no idea why it does."
"Shion Zaiden is my adoptive guardian. They took me in at a young age and trained me. They helped out a while ago, a bit of a nightmare crisis if you ask me." He chuckled.
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you!" Jasper said, a warm smile on her lips.
Peridot felt his heart flutter slightly. He distracted himself by gesturing to the pink flower crown sitting on her head, "Say, where did you find those lovely flowers?"
"Uh, I think right here, teammate." Auburn pointed at the stones.
Peridot blushed, "Right, right, just testing you all is all."
Auburn grabbed an orange rose crown, "Hey, my favorite color! Here, Peridot, you can have the other one."
Crowns adorned, the group headed down the stream, guided by Onyx, who studied the footprints.
"We only have a little ways to go, the tracks seem to get lighter on firmer ground which means-"
"Look, we found it!" Jasper shouted, running past Onyx.
A tall ruin structure stood amongst the greenery. Small stone tables surrounded the outskirts of it, similar flower crowns on each one.
Headmaster Oscar stood in the center.
He smiled as the students approached. "I see you have all found the relic. Let us begin the last ceremony for today."
He called forward the two teams wearing hibiscus flower crowns. Then other students with tulip crowns. Then another group of students with daisy crowns.
"Next, we have the rose crowns. Please step forward."
Jasper and Onyx stood in front of him.
"Pink roses symbolize happiness, gentleness, admiration, and grace. They are perfect for conveying young love and friendship." Jasper and Onyx stood off to the side.
Auburn and Peridot approached him next. Headmaster Oscar looked at the crowns and smiled, "Orange roses are a symbol of enthusiasm, energy, and passion."
Auburn went and stood by Onyx. However, Peridot went and stood in between Auburn and Onyx.
Headmaster Oscar looked at the group, "Jasper Polendina. Auburn Ren. Peridot Zaiden. Onyx Ren. You have each found a rose. A rose that symbolizes beauty, friendship, and passion. Remember that as you train as a pair and as a team. From now on your team name will be Jalapeno (JAPO). Which will be led by Jasper Polendina."
Jasper felt a wave of excitement fill her. Auburn flashed her a thumbs up, and Peridot a big grin, but Onyx kept her gaze on the ground.
As they took off stage, Jasper noticed Onyx went back into the forest, throwing the light pink rose crown into a nearby bush. Jasper went and got the crown, holding it close to her heart.
Auburn and Peridot came over. "Aw, don't mind her! You will make a great team leader!"
Peridot nodded, "Yeah, the best! In fact we should come up with a team bonding exercise, something fun we can all do."
Jasper gave them both a smile, "And I know just the activity we could all do."
To be continued.