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[color=00aeef]"It's easy for you to say,"[/color] Aqua responded to Aeschel. [color=00a99d]"You guys are all colossal. I don't have that height advantage."[/color] She slid deeper into her sleeping bag, making it look like she, the shark, was being eaten by a shark. Quite ironic, actually. She heard Aeschel wish the small group luck for their initiation. [color=00aeef]"Hopefully, I won't need it, but thanks. You too."[/color]

Upon hearing Kobalt's quick words of inspiration, the girl laughed and gently punched Kobalt in the leg, still wrapped up in her sleeping bag. [color=00aeef]"Yes, Professor Zaffre,"[/color] she said with a teasing wink hidden behind her mess of hair, and she laid back.

Kobalt brought Aurelia to her attention. The girl was leaning against a wall, reading a book. [color=00aeef]"Yeah, we spoke. Aurelia...Pirouette? I forget her last name."[/color] Aqua would have called her over, but the girl seemed to be invested in her book. [color=00aeef]"Listen, guys, I'm gonna hit the sac. Long day tomorrow."[/color] Aqua gave one last stretch of her arms before curling up in her sleeping bag. It took a while, thanks in part to the rock-hard floor, but eventually she was lulled to sleep. 

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Aqua awoke the next morning, slipping out of her sleeping bag and into the bathroom, where she changed into her standard combat clothes, a sleek black top that left her arms free (see appearance) and similarly black pants and boots. She quickly brushed her teeth before proceeding to the dining hall. 

If dinner the previous night was a spectacle, breakfast was absolutely ridiculous. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage, bacon...anything imaginable, it was there, on the table, all mouth-wateringly delicious. After consuming a copious amount of food, Aqua proceeded to the locker room, where she finally retrieved Deep Impact from her locker. She gave her weapon- currently in its compact mace form- a hug, before proceeding to head outdoors to the airship that was supposed to pick them up. 

This airship was unlike the one that brought them to Beacon - it was small, compact, like a helicopter. It was lined with seats on the side. Sitting down, Aqua took several deep breaths. This was the moment she was waiting for.

For the first time, Aqua thought about her potential teaming situation. To be honest, she was really content with all the possible options the night before, but now with it being so imminent, she wondered who she'd be with. 

[i][color=00aeef]"Kobalt and Cinna seem like really capable Huntsmen, and Daedalus from what I remember is a talented fighter. I haven't really gotten a read on Aurelia or Xinyue yet, and Aeschel...he's better than the rest of the guys in the Great Hall last night. If I get stuck with them, I might have to stab myself.[/color][/i]

At that moment, Ozpin's voice blared through the midair P.A. system. 

[color=00a651]"Hello there, initiates. I hope you had a good night sleep. In a few minutes, we'll be starting the trial in the Emerald Forest, home to many dangers, but I'll reiterate that in a moment. Firstly, the rules. You will first be finding your partners. The rules for that are quite simple. Whoever you first make eye contact with will be your partner."[/color] 

Talk about random.

[color=00a651]"Your teams will consist of two partnerships joined together. Within the forest is a ruin. Find the ruin, and take a relic back with you. You and your team will be determined by which relic you take." [/color]

Again, Ozpin seemed to like random things. 

[color=00a651]"After finding your teams, you will go to the coordinates sent to your scrolls. This will be no easy task. The forest is full of Grimm, and they will not show mercy. Work together, fight with both your minds and bodies, and don't push yourselves. And most importantly, good luck."[/color]

Though this process was random, Aqua felt good. She was ready. 

A short pause occurred after the announcement, and then the voice came back. [color=00a651]"Oh, and when I said a few minutes, I meant ten seconds ago."[/color]

Then, three things happened in quick succession. First, the floor beneath them retreated, leaving the future Huntsmen's feet dangling in the open air. Secondly, the chairs that they were all sitting in retreated into the wall. And lastly, they dropped. 

Aqua felt the open air rush through her hair as she soared towards the Earth. Deep Impact was off her waistband and was now fully extended. With a spin of her fingers, the Dust canisters cycled about until a blue crystal was primed. Aqua then planted the trident into a tree, its prongs planting into a thick branch. Beautiful crystals of ice spread from it, stopping Aqua from flying right into the hard earth. She removed her weapon and landed on the ground. 

Step 1- find a partner. Step 2- get to those ruins. 

[@Hero] [@Rex] [@AdmrlStalfos19] [@Shadow Daedalus] [@Ithradine] [@DrTwit] [@AGenericUser]

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