AUTHORS NOTE: This takes place the same day as A New Student, the Monday after the dance. The next chapter will be the same. We are coming up on the point where I jumped ahead, as it's only about a week from this arc. This is a bit of a short chapter to set up for the next couple, but I thought it was kinda funny.

UPDATE 10/2/14: So I extended the chapter a bit. I thought it felt too short and I wrote the next one short as well, so I said 'Fuck it, make them the same cahpter'

Cardin stared at the new kid all throughout the fight, thinking he recognized him from somewhere, but just couldn't tell where. Once the fight ended, the new guy turned to Professor Goodwitch and told her to call him Cole.

The second Cardin heard that name, his insides froze, then boiled. He knew he recognized this guy from somewhere, and now he knew where. He left the arena, storming past a confused Sky, and went to the training room to do the one thing that calms him down: beat stuff up.

"That was great, as always. You really shouldn't have left Russell, though. If you had taken him out of the match, you and Jaune would have been able to overpower Dove." Pyrrha as always, complimented his fight, but berated him at the same time.

"I'm not going to hit someone who's already on the ground, defenseless. It's just not right." Cole shrugged, dumping Jaune onto a bench Pyrrha moved over to make sure he was alright.

"Well, that's a good way to start off the day. Not sure what to do now, though." Cole said, clapping his hands together.

"Well, all teams are supposed to have missions today, so I'm not really sure either." Ruby

"Perhaps you could take some time to fill in the fork sized holes in the cafeteria?" All the students jumped when they heard the calm voice of Professor Ozpin sneak up behind them.

"Heh yeah about that…" Cole scratched the back of his neck.

"Don't worry; the janitorial staff have already fixed it. I do, however have something for you to do. First, I recommend team JNPR gives you a brief tour of the campus. You will return to the auditorium with them for mission assignment. I already have a mission in mind for both teams JNPR and RWBY, however, so you will meet in my office after the announcement. Am I understood?" Everyone nodded, including Jaune, who was still lying on the bench, slightly blinded still from the match. "Excellent. Run along now."

The group of friends filed out of the combat arena, Pyrrha and Cole supporting Jaune who was still not able to fully see. Cole tugged him from Pyrrha's side to make him walk face first into a pole, then laughed hysterically at his cousin.

Proffessor Ozpin looked on, sipping his hot chocolate with a slight smirk on his face. As Glynda moved up to stand just beside him, he said "Not even here one day and he is already fitting in nicely."

"I think he's already infinitely worse than the other one. Why do we have to have TWO Arcs at this school? One is bad enough. You do remember what Hunter was like."

"Yes. His joke about how he was the one and only Hunter at Beacon was quite humorous, you must admit." Ozpin smirked once again as he remembered his old classmate.

"No wonder the two of you got along so well. You both infuriate me to no end." Glynda said, crossing her arms.

"I'll always remember that day with the pogo sticks." Ozpin raised his head slightly, pretending to be lost in a fond memory, while Glynda stormed off once again.

"And this is our room. All dorms are fairly standard, but you are allowed to hang posters or add small touches here and there to make your room more comfortable." Pyrrha led Cole into their shared dorm, followed by Nora, Ren, and a slightly disoriented Jaune.

"So the dorms are co-ed?" Cole gave Jaune his famous 'I'm going to taunt you for weeks' glance, then continued. "What goes on at night?" Pyrrha started to answer, then got slightly flustered as the meaning of Cole's question sunk in.

Nora leaped onto her bed and started bouncing. "Ren and I boop all the time!" All three of her teammates shouted at her "NORA!"

Pyrrha spoke up, having recomposed herself. "We really just do homework and sleep. We shower in the locker rooms, so nothing indecent happens."

"Really? Who sleeps where?" Cole moved to the end of the far right bed. "Jaune and Pyrrha here," Cole then pointed to the far side of the room to the other bed. "and Nora and Ren over there?"

Pyrrha gave him a glare that was all too common when Cole was around: her famous 'why do I put up with you' glare. Ren sighed and collapsed onto his bed, while Nora giggled, still bouncing on her own. Jaune did his best to stutter out a response that sounded like "That's not how it is!" but Cole could never really tell.

Lucky for Jaune, Cole's tormenting stopped when the team heard a screech come from across the hall, followed by a joyous shout of "ZWEI!"

"Is that…" Cole pointed his thumb over his shoulder, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by more shouting.

"HE SENT A DOG!?" "IN THE MAIL!?"

"RWBY lives right across the hall from us. You kinda get used to their weirdness after a while, especially after living with Nora." Jaune responded nonchalantly.

"Hold on…. Who sent a huh in the whatnow?" Cole said, not believing what he had just heard.

"Want to go find out?" Nora said, hopping down from her bed.

"Sure, why not." Cole said, now very curious as to what was going on across the hall. Nora opened the door, followed by the rest of team JNPR and Cole, then knocked on the door opposite theirs.

Yang opened the door, and smiled at everyone. "Oh hey guys. What to come in?" Nora skipped past her then froze at the sight she saw. She ran straight at the stout little corgi waddling around the room and grabbed him into her arms, stroking him behind the ears. "A PUPPY! HE'S SO CUTE! Not as cute as a sloth, of course but still; SO CUTE!" Nora squealed. "Pyrrha, want to hold him?"

"No, thank you. I'm more of a cat person." Pyrrha responded.

"Finally, someone with sense." Blake said, currently hiding behind the bedpost of Ruby's bunk-bed.

Cole leaned over to whisper to Pyrrha. "I know you said you could personalize your room, but isn't that going a little overboard?" Cole pointed at the bunk beds. "I mean, that rope is doing literally nothing to support it."

"Don't bother. Team RWBY is a weird bunch, but they are nice regardless." Pyrrha whispered back.

"All first year students, please report to the amphitheater." Professor Goodwitch's voice came over the loudspeaker. Everyone began to file out of the room, Nora being dragged away from the puppy by Ren, leaving Ruby alone with Zwei to hatch and execute her harebrained scheme.

Cole stood next to Jaune during the speech, only paying slight attention. As it ended, team RWBY was pulled aside to be briefed on their mission. JNPR and Cole stood waiting for their briefing.

As they waited, Sun and Neptune walked over to the group. "Sup losers. Hey where's Blake?" Sun looked between the members of team JNPR.

Cole snorted lightly. "Well it's nice to meet you too." He swished his monkey tail with his arms crossed.

"Excuse the ape; he must not have seen you." Neptune's face paled as he saw the tail. "I...I didn't… I mean…" He began to stutter.

Cole laughed at the blue-haired boy's discomfort. "Don't sweat it. You can call me Cole."

"Sun. The guy currently dislodging his foot from his mouth is Neptune." Sun replied for Neptune due to his still stumbling over his words.

"Cool." Cole noticed Sun's tail and his face brightened up slightly. He grinned, then walked over to stand a foot from Sun. He saw Sun was smiling as well. Both boys whirled back their fists and punched each other in the groin, fast enough that no one knew what was going on. They both flared their auras lightly to protect themselves, but they still keeled over, grabbing their crotches.

Neptune and Pyrrha both stooped down to help their respective friends, both very confused as to what just happened. "What the hell?" Neptune yelled at Sun.

Sun grunted lightly as he stood up with Neptune's help. "Don't worry bout it."

Pyrrha glared at Cole, waiting for him to explain. "Guy thing." Was the only response she got from him.

Jaune looked very confused. "Ah, how come…"

"Okay, guy monkey thing. Call it a show of friendship." Cole responded.

"Can you explain friend for me, then? I don't really see how punching each other in the gonads is a show of friendship." Neptune looked at Sun for a response.

"Like he said; Guy monkey thing. Chill out mom." Sun chuckled at his friend.

Professor Goodwitch's voice came over the school's loudspeaker system. "Team JNPR, Mr. Blu, report to Professor Ozpin's office for your mission briefing."

Ren gave a slight smirk "What is it, my birthday?"

All his friends burst out laughing at the stoic boy's comment, the nut-punching incident all but forgotten.

"Your task will be to reach a village approximately three days walk from here, and retrieve a relic I have left in their care." Jaune and Cole sat across from Professor Ozpin, listening to what they would be doing while other teams where off running missions. The remaining three members of team JNPR were waiting just outside.

"That's it?" Cole scrunched his face up in a mix of confusion and suprise. "Honestly, from what I've heard of Beacon's teaching methods, I expected you to have me hunt down some nonexistent smart-Grimm. Something a little harder than picking up your dry-cleaning."

"The village is a three days walk through the forest, to the north. The area is quite over-run with Grimm, so it will likely take you longer to reach the village. You and team JNPR will have one week to reach the village." Ozpin smirked. "And just for that remark, you will be fetching my dry-cleaning for the month after you return."

"Oh come on, I..." Ozpin raised an eyebrow, practically begging Cole to continue so that he could extend the sentence. Cole snapped his jaw shut, not wanting to anger the headmaster any further.

"Is it common to have an initiation last a full week?" Cole asked, wanting to get the subject back to his mission.

"Not quite, however if you are to enter this school part way through the year, I expect you to perform at a higher level than the beginning of the year. Not to mention, I expect great things from those descended from the Arc bloodline." Ozpin's stare bore through Cole, while Jaune slumped slightly in the seat next to him.

"What am I allowed to bring on this test?" Cole asked, trying to find any loop-holes he could exploit.

"You may take whatever you believe will be necessary. You may visit the storeroom should you require extra provisions. You may take one item issued by the school, be it a vehicle, a weapon, anything. The rest of what you take with you, save any necessary provisions, are provided by you. You are also allowed to use any possible resources or assets you come across in the forest." Ozpin gave a knowing look to Cole, which he couldn't really decipher.

Cole thought a moment. "I'll take the current map data from the library. Not the basic version on the scrolls. I want the detailed topographical maps that have the approximate strength and location of all known Grimm in the area."

Ozpin smiled lightly. "Very well. Visit the library when we are finished here, and I will have the staff update your scroll's map." Ozpin turned to face Jaune.

"Mr. Arc, I must ask you to refrain from helping Mr. Blu unless he is in dire need of assistance or requests it. Defending yourself and your team is your first priority. This is, after all, his test. I have no doubt he will require assistance, however."

"I understand, professor." Jaune's look was serious, but still worried.

"Very good. Prepare yourselves, and meet me at the Beacon cliffs in one hour." Ozpin turned to look at Cole, once again with a knowing look on his face. "I suggest you pack as many provisions as you can into your bag, as you may need them. Dismissed."

Jaune and Cole got up from their seats and made their way through the door. "What was that about?" Jaune asked Cole.

"What was what about?" Pyrrha asked, making her way toward them, Nora and Ren right behind.

"Ah... Nothing. We'll need to pack some provisions. Enough for a week at least." Cole said. "I'd say we should each have at least a small pack to make sure we can survive on our own for some time if necessary. The rest I'll pack into my bag. I'll also grab my tent so that we will have some protection at night. Knew I brought that along for a reason."

JNPR and Cole had collected everything they would need for the mission, each member of JNPR carrying a small rucksack on their backs. Cole had strapped a bundle of canvas to the top of his messenger bag, and had shortened the straps to keep the bag closer to his person.

Ozpin stood overlooking the cliffs, Glynda standing behind him, consulting her scroll. He turned around and beckoned Cole to stand on some sort of metal platform. He dismissed it as a tradition for initiation, and stood on it.

"You will be traveling through a portion of the forest that will be heavily populated with Grimm of all kinds. Take extreme caution, as this is not a training exercise. This is taste of what your actual missions will be if you graduate and become full huntsmen. No teachers will be around to help you, so you must rely on yourselves."

"Now, team JNPR, this bullhead here will drop you in the forest near where Mr. Blu will land." Glynda spoke up, motioning to a landed bullhead airship next to the cliff's edge.

"So do I get a separate bullhead or…" Cole started to look slightly worried, not liking how the professor had said 'land'.

Professor Ozpin gave a slight smirk as he stepped to the side. Team JNPR started to board the waiting bullhead. What troubled Cole was how hard Jaune was trying to stifle a laugh. Cole knew from experience, something was going to happen. Just as he heard a light click, Cole looked down and realized what he was stood upon.

Cole looked up and sighed. "Oh. Fu…." And with that, he was launched into the forest.

Cole flailed around for a moment, trying to get into a stable position. He spread his arms and legs out, steadying himself. He reached his right arm around and brought his bag to rest in front of him. He began to drift in that direction, but he paid no attention to it.

Opening his bag, Cole plunged his arm in, searching for something. Finding it, he gave a quick shout of triumph. "Aha! There you are!" Cole pulled out his shield, keeping a firm grip on the straps.

As he pulled his shield out, he began to drift to the left, having increased the wind resistance on his right side. He quickly reached his arm behind him, latching his shield in place on his back. He closed his bag and moved it back to rest behind him, then returned his arm to its former position, waiting for the ground to get closer.

"You do know that Mr. Blu was launched in the general direction of where team RWBY isoperating, correct?" Glynda checked her scroll, looking for RWBY's scroll signatures.

"I'm very much aware, yes." Ozpin took a sip from his mug of hot cocoa.

"What was team RWBY's mission again?" Glynda was now very suspicious.

"A nearby village has a Grimm infestation problem." Ozpin said, turning to face Glynda. "They have been tasked with thinning the Grimm in the area."

Glynda brought up her map, searching the direction Cole was thrown. "But the only village for a few hundred kilometers that way is…"

"Yes, it is." Ozpin sipped his mug of cocoa once more.

"Why do you have to be so cryptic?" Glynda asked, very annoyed at her former team-mate.

"I find it makes life more interesting. Don't you?" Ozpin smirked as Glynda once again stormed away from the one man in the world that could effectively push her buttons.

Team JNPR stood in the cargo hold of the Bullhead, the pilot keeping pace with Cole's descent toward the forest. Each member had an arm up, holding onto the hand holds hanging within reach. Nora, being just too short to reach her handle, was holding onto Ren's arm.

"You do know he's not slowing down enough right?" Ren looked between Pyrrha and Jaune, slightly worried.

"He'll be fine." Pyrrha replied.

"He's falling." Ren said, watching as Cole reached the apex of his flight, then started to descend toward the forest.

"Don't worry. Unlike some people" Pyrrha elbowed Jaune in the side, just under his ribcage. "Cole has a landing strategy. Not one I'd use, but it works."

As Cole started the downward arch of his journey, he twisted himself around, back to the ground. He maintained the spread-eagle position for a good 20 seconds then curled his arms and legs into himself, forming a ball.

Because he took the time during his upward arch to attach his shield to his back, he was now a human cannon ball, able to withstand hitting some of the smaller branches.

As he started to feel the thin, flexible branches push against his shield, he started to flare his aura, forming a secondary shield both inside and outside his physical shield. The outer shield gave him slightly more protection for when he hit the larger branches, allowing him to crash right through some of the thickest parts of the trees. The inner layer helped cushion his back, so that Cole would not die on impact.

The pressure against his aura and shield was increasing, meaning the branches where getting larger. Cole peaked down from his position, trying to gauge how far he was from the ground. He was still about 40 meters from the ground, meaning he would impact in about 5 seconds.

Cole counted to three, then flared his aura to form as strong a shield as he could. He impacted the ground hard, but because of his aura, he was chewing through the forest floor, using the resistance to slow down. Cole slowed to a full top nearly 10 meters from his initial impact point, carving a massive gash into the dirt.

Cole released his aura, dissipating all the shields he had formed to prevent him becoming a pancake on the forest floor. He flopped his limbs out, staying on the ground, panting quite heavily.

JNPR jumped from the bullhead from its hovering position, just a few meters over the forest floor. Pyrrha landed in a three point crouch, Ren used Stormflower to spiral down a tree, Nora cannon-balled into the ground, and Jaune fell flat on his face, flaring his aura to protect him just before he hit the ground.

Nora got up from her own mini-crater and walked over to Cole, standing over his head. Lightly rapping him in the forehead with her knuckles, she said "Wake up lazy bum! We have Grimm to kill!"

AUTHORS NOTE: Fun Fact: male Guinea bonobos often greet each other by hugging or diddling each other. I decided to go for a less weird greeting, though, hence the ball-punching.

Anyway, the next few chapters will have RWBY and JNPRs missions, as well as Cole's initiation. Fun will be had, as well as more combat, so stay tuned.

You may have noticed, I've started naming chapters as well. I couldn't come up with anything for a while, but I came up with the scheme I've got where it starts with "A" or "An" and then mentions something interesting in the chapter. Hopefully, I can come up with names for chapters while writing, but I may hold off on naming them if I can't think of anything.

If anyone wants to help me by proofreading these before they go up, shoot me a PM as my friend who usually proofreads is focusing on school more, so I could use a second pair of eyes. I'm also not great at combat or romancy parts, so I may need some tips or even help writing some of those scenes.

(Don't forget to Rate/Review and Follow/Favorite to stay up to date on A Simple Soul. See if you can find all the references/easter eggs!)