The fire fades, and so must the world with it. The lords have spread the flame across time itself, even unto this new world. This world, this Remnant lives without the flame... and it has so much to burn. These four girls, only they can guide the flame... but only one can have it. This world, will have one ending... and only one true lord. May the flames guide thee. Adult Language.
So here we are. I'm not entirely sure how to write anything of literary merit but essays. The fact i was top of my class in AP lit is pretty much source for that. A 7 out of 9 in that class is basically a 90-95 so it isn't really that surprising. Writing a work of fiction i would assume is incredibly different. And for that, i'll just wing it. You gotta start somewhere. I figure the best way to learn is to figure it out from your own mistakes instead of being told not what to do. Before we begin let me drop just a slight pre set to the story i couldn't fit in the description. The events will take place from the beginning of dark souls 3 onward and at an alternate timeline in rwby where the threat of grim is present and so is cinder and roman and the white fang and whatnot, but are currently being crushed between the events of the two universes. I don't really have a specified start from the rwby universe, but it starts while they were still in beacon and are well adjusted both as a team and as friends sometime before the vital festival begins. So far other things are unspecified but this world is a direct cross in the two. Not just characters in a different universe. It's like instead of taking the blue pill or the red pill, you said fuck it and took both at once. So here we go. I'll rely on some form of feedback as i'm looking for criticism and not a school grade, so i'll need the help of others to build this story with me. And let the story begin. Hope you like it. All rights reserved. I don't own RWBY or any of the Dark Souls series. I have to say that because idk if all rights reserved covers that or not.
"Hey Yang?"
"Yeah."
"How does the festival work exactly?"
"What do you mean?", Weiss decided to pitch in. "It's not exactly hard to understand. It's a standard tournament style festival. Elimination serves between two teams, the winning teams halves, the next winning halves, then back to the others until every half team has competed, then comes the single rounds,and then one by one everyone is eliminated until the finals. After that the remaining person is the champion."
"Uh… that hurt my head Weiss. Can you explain that without saying 'halves' a thousand times?"
"Yeah that sounded like it was better in your head than when it came out", Yang said.
Weiss sighed placing her hand on her forehead. "Look it's-"
"4 v 4, 2 v 2, 1 v 1 in that order until everyone has had a chance to be eliminated. Whoever is left wins", Blake chimed in.
"Oh, thanks Blake. But does that mean there's a possibility we all have to face each other?"
"Potentially", Weiss said.
Looking up at the holographic projection of the elimination tree didn't seem as hard now. Now it seemed disappointing. Her hopes of winning as a team are diminished now. Doesn't that suck.
"So we can't really win as a team can we…", Ruby said as her head drooped from the projection board to the ground.
"Ruby haven't you ever watched one of these? There's always a champion. Not champions.", Yang finally said.
"I mean sort of. Kind of. Not really. No?", Ruby admitted looking to her sister.
"But you still should've had some kind of idea as to how this works?"
"Nope." Ruby smirked no longer pouting to herself. Paying no more attention to the board she said, "I guess we just have to give it our all." With the excitement of competition filling her tone she took a brisk pace walking away from the board, her team in tow.
"That's my little sister", Yang said while slinging her arm around her sister's shoulder while promptly messing up her hair with her other hand.
"Yang stop, Im trying to have a moment of competitive pride! Damn you!", she broke free while fixing her head back into its normal look. The hair isn't a problem but dammit touching people's head so vigorously is just weird. She didn't understand why noogies were made. Then again this was Yang and she does a lot of unnecessary things.
Continuing their walk through Vale Weiss began rambling on about nothings while Ruby took in the atmosphere. People were abuzz and walking about. Some stopping at the boards taking in whatever they displayed with excitement being their goal. And it looked like it payed off. Even from the outside of the stadium or coliseum if you will, people flocked in and out to look at the soon to be hosting area of the festival's tournament. The sun was providing such a nice day, the wind blew just enough to cool things down and there was just something in the air that was electric. Ruby hoped it was as energizing here as it was for others around the world watching from their homes. Apparently she was the only one feeling this as the rest of her team actually paid attention to Weiss. As the click of her heels suddenly stopped, so did the stimulation Ruby was thriving off of.
"I mean, how are we supposed to prepare for that?", she asked the team.
"Prepare for what?", Ruby asked obviously not caring for her lack of attention prior to now.
"How were supposed to face each other?", Weiss said as a matter of factly as if it were just brought up before. Oh wait. "Having knowledge over your enemy can be extremely useful in combat, but if we face each other we're going to already have each other's statuses planed out."
Oh yeah. Ruby hadn't thought of that. If you were potentially facing your team should you train with them? It seems like it'd work in your favor if you trained against them for that particular reason. But at the same time they're also training against you.
"So do we train for something like this? Or would not knowing our team's abilities work better?", Weiss asked.
"Uhh…", Ruby drew a blank. She could see the pros and cons of each. But if you were going into unknown territory, at least you could have the optimism to wing it. Right?
"I think we should be prepared for anything. And by that we be prepared to adapt to anything necessary. I think we should wing it. Besides, i feel like if we plan a strategy against each other we'd probably drag it out trying to stick to the plan. If we go in not expecting anything it seems more practical. Besides, we're not going to have a plan for every encounter in life right?", Ruby said.
"Although i could draw a complete paradox from that contradictory statement, I agree with Ruby. Training with someone training against you seems counter productive. Besides, most people we meet we won't have prep time for. It's best to go in head strong ready for anything. At least in our case.", Blake said.
"So expect the unexpected?", Yang quirked.
"No. Wait. Yeah. I guess so. Wait everything we just said could apply to the opposite reason. Goddammit." Weiss said frustrated. Putting her hands on her hips obviously annoyed with the mass of confusion. "Are we training for this or are we not training for this?", she demanded.
Ruby smirked again. "We're not. We aim to win. Not to plan. As fast, and as efficiently as we can. Right?", she asked looking to Blake and Yang.
"Right", they both replied.
"Well, glad we've got that hypothetical out of the way. Any others we think we should know?", Weiss asked getting tired of… this.
"If we ever had to kill each other how would we do it?"
"I already don't like this Ruby", Blake said and continued walking, the rest catching up.
"Oh come on, you never think about these scenarios? For no reason?"
"No i have, just i'd really prefer we don't have to meet that situation."
"Well in any case, I'd do it as fast as possible. Because i love all you guys. And i wouldn't want death something to be drawn out", Ruby reassured.
"AWW MY SISTER CARES SO MUCH", Yang said picking up Ruby in a bone crushing bear hug.
"Yang. Down", Ruby plied trying to get her face away from her sisters cleavage.
"Dark, yet thoughtful", Blake smiled at the thought.
"Someone please change the subject", Weiss pleaded.
Yang dropped Ruby letting her gasp in some air. "Aliens or Zombies", Yang asked.
"Zombies", Blake said.
"Aliens", Weiss retorted.
"Aliens are intelligent and are likely more advanced than we are. They'd no doubt be planned for something like mass extinction of a planet", Blake explained.
"But aliens rely on advanced technology. We can find loopholes for that. Zombie are based off infection. If you kill a zombie you haven't killed the infection. You've just killed a host. And besides, death by zombies seems a lot worse than death by aliens. I'd rather be vaporized than get turned into a walking intelligent corpse", Weiss countered.
"Ooohhh this is getting philosophical", Yang chirped. "Maybe we can settle for alien zombies."
"That sounds like it should be in a game", Ruby said finally breathing normal again. "But i have faith that humanity would prevail. We've overcome a lot so far. Just look at the grim."
Blake opened her mouth and held up her pointer finger to say something but Ruby was already ahead of her.
"Humanity as a symbolism. We all know fanaus are just as human as everyone else. Just because you're fanaus doesn't mean you've lost your humanity." Blake put her hand down and closed her mouth. Everyone looked at each other. Ruby started to giggle and the other three joined in not knowing why. "We're a weird bunch", Ruby said in between fits of laughing. Everyone agreed in laughter. "I already forgot why we're here."
"It's Sunday and Weiss wanted to spot out potential threats. Just like she did with Sun", Blake said.
"Everyone is a threat!"
"Or you're just paranoid", Yang countered.
"I'm sorry for wanting to see a potential threat coming"
"Can we get something to eat?", Ruby suggested. "We don't live forever you know. We should focus maybe on something we need now instead of neglecting it for something in the future?"
"Everyone stop trying to sound smart please and let's just get some food at the other courtyard before the world ends?", Yang asked.
Nobody could answer. A sound that could rival a bomb filled the sky. Darkness ensued as the sun grew dark, the screams following after making the sight all the more once warm world grew infinitely blacker, the once comforting winds now roaring in size until there was no more. The cries still echo until there was nothing but the sound of discernable chaos. Sounds from the unknown surface, roars and cries of pain all too common the sound of something ghoulish and mad and just awful now mix in the harmony that exists in this darkness.
"Whats going on?"
"Some one help please!"
"No stay bac-hhh"
Terror now surrounds them. The sound of blood choking someone's own breathing, objects tearing through flesh, clashing of bodies and weapons and flesh all repeating. Blood spilling to the floor with a splat followed by an inhuman scream of defiance.
"Ruby! Can you see anything?", Yang cried.
"I can't. Are you guys still here? Where are you?", Ruby responded in a frantic, panicked voice. Nothing seemed to be giving off any light. Not the sky, not street lights, not the holographic projections they once saw. Nothing. Not even the sky. Ruby looked around for anything she could get her bearings from. The only thing left was the moon, shattered in pieces once reflecting the light from the sun, was dwindling and gone in seconds. Nothing. Nothing was left.
"Ruby we're still he-", Weiss attempted to say. Suddenly the wind grew thick. Ash filled the wind and everything changed. Ruby failed to shield her eyes. Taken by surprise she tried to say something, anything as her eyes burned. But as fate would have it she coughed, and choked and barely managed to breathe as the tainted air filled her lungs. She fell over still hearing the coughing of her team around her. The chaos gone now replaced with an ever louder growing wind, until it stopped. Ruby heaved and coughed until it suddenly vanished. She opened her eyes hoping the ash was gone from the wind. Hoping to see anything. Something. To give her bearing. She saw Yang apparently getting up, staggering through the ash blowing around them.
"Ruby!", she shouted as she saw her. Her hand reached out, the other gripping her abdomen from coughing this tainted air. Ruby reached her hand out doing the same Yang ran toward her in desperation, but before she could reach her as sound called, and the ashes took her away. She could see Yang no more. Too stunned and shocked she was frozen until she heard another voice.
"G-Guys…"
Ruby turned to see Blake on her knees leaning forward on her one hand, the other on her the front of her neck, coughing still. And just as fast as she had seen Blake, she had been taken away. "Blake…", Ruby said weakly. The sound again ringing. The ashes still writhing around her like a sand storm. It's a miracle she could see anything at all. Her eyes filling with tears. No. This can't be happening. She couldn't hear them anymore. Just the wind and the ash… Then
She turned frantically and saw weiss. She had just stood up, getting her bearings. She hadn't even made eye contact. Ruby with whatever energy she had left made a dash toward her. She couldn't let this happen. Not now. "Weiss!", she screamed. But not even her speed could save her. The noise sounded again and she, just like Blake and Yang was taken away with the wind.
Collapsing trying to grasp where weiss had just been fell over onto the ground. The ground looked just like everything else had, nothing but a mess of swirling ashes illuminated by whatever light still allowed her to see. The grey yellow tint of what the wind carried didn't hurt her eyes anymore. She closed them tears spilling over as she waited for what's to come. Then the noise sounded again. It sounded like a low hum of a gong struck long ago as the sound slowly died. Then what sounded like angels singing for just a second, a melody she was sure meant her end, sounded, and stopped.
Then there was nothing but the sound of the wind. It slowly died down until it defiantly sounded like it were normal again. Ruby laid there unsure of what to do. With whatever will she has left, she opened her eyes. The ground was a dull grey. It wasn't the grey of the courtyard concrete. It was the grey of decayed and long since usable dirt. Almost the shade of ashes themselves. Slowly, she stood up. Regaining some strength the ashes slowly fell off of herself, falling to the ground below her. Where was she? The ground had shifted and the very world around her had changed. She dared not look up from where she was standing, but felt she had no choice.
In front of her, what used to be colosseum was now destroyed. Walls several stories above her crumbled and the stone in jagged shapes are what remained. The entire right half of the area gone, a cliff taking it's place. Fog was the only visible thing below. But oddly enough she was able to make out the features of where she used to be. Alongside the cliff a path leading into the split coliseum. And at the center, an old looking statue made of what could be steel or stone, stood kneeling with what looked to be a sword in its chest… with something else writhing around it. She looked behind her to see the city was in shambles. Parts of it remained reminiscent of what Vale used to look like. Other parts new. Churches, towers, what looked like entire castles had been merged within the city in a miss match of catastrophe. Bodies littered everywhere, alongside these… These monsters. They looked like people, long dead covered in dull grey skin and almost unrecognisable facial features. Did they even have eyes? They carried knives, or something at least sharp and broken. Some with lanterns, some with shrouds covering all but their face, others with old defeated looking armor made of chains.
The sky above was forever grey with the moon shattered above. One of the monsters screamed an unnerving scream that made Ruby's blood run cold. Looking back to the statue it wasn't as intimidating as the other option behind her. Looking to it once more it looked like it was forced into the ground shattering what used to be beneath it. And surrounded with coffins…
"Oh god…" Ruby whispered to herself. "What world have i been brought to", not wanting to believe this was her own.
Ok. I think that's going to be it for now. For a first chapter of my first story, I think i did okay. 2K+ words may not be a lot to read, but it's a lot to type. This draft is like 7 pages long. Anyway if you did read, please, criticism is welcome as i want to do good. I thought this idea for this story not too long ago, and this was the only idea i actually got around to writing about. Anyway, it's harder than it looks, but i'll do it again. At least if someone likes it. Like i said, I'll need help with this. With only myself to read before posting each chapter, i hope yall will let me know how to make it better. But that's it for now. And in case you couldn't tell, Ruby is heading toward Gundyr. Now i have only one question, should their weapons be replaced with dark souls equivalent weapons? I think it'd be pretty cool to have them mix it up with dark souls weapons, but idk how a community would respond to that. Same goes for idk armor of some kind from dark souls. There's certainly a lot to choose from.