RWBY: The Rider of Remnant

"There was someone there that day when my home was destroyed. But he wasn't a Good Samaritan, he was something else and whatever he had, he passed it on to me. Now there is something inside of me, something I can barely control. It's like a fire that can never be doused, a rage that cannot be quelled...and a spirit of undying vengeance."

After reading 'The Rider of Beacon' by KingofthePhantomDragon, I was inspired to write a story based on the Marvel Hero Ghost Rider as well. With permission, of course, and promise to mention him and his story. This is my first attempt at a Marvel-inspired story so be kind, and it's not a crossover but using the elements of Ghost Rider and none of the characters. PS I do not own RWBY or Ghost Rider as they are owned by Marvel, Marvel Studios, Roosterteeth and Monty Oum. And this is a none profit fan based story. Please support the official release.

So please sit back and enjoy, RWBY: The Rider of Remnant

Chapter I: Legend of the Rider

These day's no one believes in the old doctrines of the Gods, as evidence to their existence is bleak at best. Some say there are multiple Gods, others say there is only one. However, to those who truly believe and know the truth, there are in fact two.

One a God of Light, and the other a God of Darkness.

As you can imagine, their names stood for what their titles entailed. One created while the other destroyed. For a thousand years, these two had been in a constant cycle of creating and destroy. Where by day, the older brother would create and at night, the younger would destroy. It wasn't until the elder brother had enough of the constant destruction and made an offer to his brother, one final creation that they could both be proud of. And thus, humanity was born. Who were gifted with the power of knowledge, choice, creation and destruction? Satisfied with their work, the Gods left humanity alone and agreed never to interfere with their masterpieces.

However, there was one more creation that they had made, one that history has sadly forgotten.

The brothers had created something else when humanity was born. Something that would act as an enforcer of the laws of life and death, a spirit of justice to the innocent and of vengeance to the wicked. This 'spirit' was gifted with both the sense of duty of angels and the power of demons. The spirit was sent to earth and tasked with guarding humanity against itself for nearly three centuries. However, whilst trying to bring down a powerful sorcerer that attempted to defy the laws of life and death, the sorcerer cast a powerful spell that wounded the spirit, leaving the spirit vulnerable to man and beast. The spirit could no longer remain on the physical plane, but its sense of duty bound it to continue its purpose.

In order to remain on Remnant, it searched for a host.

It found its first host in the form of a warrior, who sought vengeance for the deaths of his family and countrymen. A deal was struck and the spirit made him an offer to grant him his vengeance, in return for acting as the enforcer it was created to be. But, when the spirit merged with the man's soul, it transformed them both into something horrifying. The warrior's pain and anger were so great, the spirit in its weakened state was driven mad and transformed into a being of fire and death that rode across the battlefield like the rider of death itself. Entire armies of men fell at his feet; Grimm would quake in fear of his arrival and some would say even the Darkness would fear his presences.

For a hundred years, the spirit acted as a powerful warrior that struck fear into the hearts of the wicked and brought hope to the innocent. However, most debunked this tale as simply a man with a powerful semblance and illusionary tricks that stormed into the battlefield and got lucky enough to survive. This worked for the spirit, as it could operate in the shadows, and fade into obscurity. It would then hunt down those who would harm the innocent and punish them for their sins. But as it turned while the spirit was immortal, the host was not and the spirit was forced to leave the man in search of a new host, a new rider to hunt down the wicked. And so, it began that the spirit of Vengeance would choose a host to carry out its will and hunt down those who would slaughter the innocent and defy the laws of life and death.

And when the rider's time was done, a new host must be found to harness its power and rage. For this was the power and the curse...of The Rider.

Vale City Police Department

The gentle tapping of a cane echoed slightly in the hallway as Headmaster Ozpin and Deputy Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch walked down the hall of the VCPD lockup. Moments ago, they had just finished up with a conversation with a young Ruby Rose, offering her a position at Beacon Academies upcoming initiation exam. When a VCPD officer had required their assistance with an individual they had in lockup. Now, normally they wouldn't interfere in small matters such as these unless they were potential huntsmen that needed to be dealt with. But the way the police officer asked for their assistance, the fear that was in his voice, it raised some concern between them.

They soon spotted the police commissioner as he was finishing up a conversation with the chief before he turned and saluted the pair, "Headmaster Ozpin, Headmistress Goodwitch, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The man said as he held out his hand to Ozpin, who shook it none the less.

"Likewise Commissioner, you called us for a reason, correct?" he asked as the man sighed and gestured to the morgue.

"It's best that I show you," he said as the pair followed the commissioner.

"About two hours ago we broke up a small fight in a pub just near the wall. Some drunk picked a fight with another drunk and an all-out brawl took place. We brought most of them here to the precinct so we could keep an eye on them pending their charges." He said as they walked into a room that had a chill in the air.

"When we brought them to the lock-up, one of them started acting strangely. Kept saying 'don't lock me in here, you're making a big mistake', normal stuff people say when they get arrested so we didn't pay much mind," The commissioner said as he gestured to the coroner. The coroner nodded as he got up from his desk and walked over to the three, guiding them to a freezer and pulled out a body on the tray.

"However, half an hour ago, one of the inmates was killed and...well...see for yourself..."

The coroner removed the blanket and the two stepped back in shock. Glynda had to clasp a hand over her mouth as she repressed the urge to shriek at the sight.

The man on the slab was tall, had a bald head and multiple scars on his face, with a tattoo pertaining to one of the bandit gangs that happened to lurk outside the city. However, what had caused the two teachers to react was the fact that the man's eyes were completely burned out. Black soot covering the sockets that once held his eyes, as the stench of burnt flesh still lingered from his skull. But strangely another smell could be found as Ozpin could have sworn it smelt of...

"Brimstone?" he muttered as he gazed into the vacant holes of the man's skull.

"H-How did this happen?" Glynda asked as the Commissioner shrugged his shoulders.

"We still don't know, the security feed cuts dead before we can identify how he died and all of our cells have aura dampeners embedded in the walls so there should have been no way for him to use his semblance, no matter what it must be. We even checked all the inmates for any traces of dust based weapons or clothing before we threw them in. None of them should have been able to do this to the other prisoners," he said as the coroner stood next to the body.

"From the initial report, it's almost as if the man was simply...burnt from the inside out? I've never seen anything like this?" the coroner said as the teachers shared a glance as a dark thought entered their minds.

"Do you have any...suspects?" Ozpin asked fearing who the person might be, as the man nodded and gestured him to follow him.

"We have one, a kid brought in the same time with the others during the bar fight. He's the one I told you about, the one that told us not to put him in with them"

"And that warrants him being the main suspect?" Ozpin asked as the man shook his head and opened the doors to the lock up.

"GET US OUT OF HERE! HE'S GOING TO KILL US! FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS! HELP US!" one of the inmates said as he banged on the cell doors. Others were huddled together further back in the holding cell, while some seemed to be praying to whatever god they could think of.

"That's why," the commissioner said, as the two teachers were now just as confused as they were stunned as they looked at the cause of all the commotion being centred around one boy, who sat in the centre of the large cell in the middle bench with his head bowed down.

The boy in question had yellow blond hair that shadowed his face as he was dressed in dark blue jeans, calf-high combat boots with a black hoodie. On top of the hoodie was a white chest plate with gold trimmings that was covered with a black leather jacket and a shoulder pauldron on his left shoulder. On his hand were a pair of white gauntlets that stretched up to his elbows with dark gold coloured gloves that covered his whole hands.

"Him? That's who they are afraid of?" Glynda said as she looked over the boy. He didn't seem that intimidating as he just sat in the centre of his cell. Ozpin, however, felt a strange aura resonating from the boy.

Something...Dark.

"We thought the same too, but every time we try and talk to one of the witnesses they just keep point at him. Saying something about flaming skulls and whatnot? And then stuff like 'he's come for our sins?' whatever that meant?" the commissioner said as Ozpin placed a pondering hand on his chin. "Come, I'll show you the footage," he said as they began to leave the lockup. Ozpin turned back one last time to the boy, as he had a thoughtful gaze before leaving through the doors. Unaware that the boy lifted his head up before lowering it back down.

The three walked into a large room with multiple monitors as the man gestured to one of the officers as he nodded and typed on the keyboards. "This is when we brought them in," he said as footage showed two officers dragging along with them the boy in the cell. His face revealed to the monitors as he looked as if he was struggling, not with the officers, but rather himself.

VCPD_Sceurity_Footage / 20 - 02 - XX / VCPD_Lock-Up_Playback...

"Listen, you're making a big mistake! Don't put me in there with them! I can't be in there with them!" the boy said as he was being dragged by the officers

"Relax kid, you'll only be in here until we ID you. After we check up with the bar and the other witness, I am sure you'll only be given a small fine," one of them said as the boy shook his head.

"No! You don't understand! You can't put me in there with them! Their criminals! Murderers!" one of the officers rolled their eyes as they passed all the inmates, some looking at him like he was a piece of meat.

"Relax kid, they are not going to harm you. We've got cameras all over the cell and aura suppressors embedded in the walls. They aren't going to hurt you," he said as they placed him in the cell. The boy grabbed the bars as he looked at them as they walked away.

"...It's not them you should be worried about...it's me..."

Glynda and Ozpin shared curious glances as they returned their attention back to the monitors. One of the inmates, the man who would end up on the slab, walked over as he seemed to be looking at the boy with a cocky look in his eyes.

"Well, well, look what we have here lads. Little man thinks he's so tough, don't he?" he asked as he lumbered over to the boy. He chuckled as he grabbed the boy by the back of his jacket and flung him across the cell. He then looked at the armour on the boy as he laughed. "What do you think you are, a hunter?"

The boy slowly sat up as he shook his head, "...Listen, buddy, I really think you should stay away from me..." the boy grunted as he held his head and whispered to himself.

"Oooh~ I'm so scared. Listen here you runt, I've taken on hunters twice your size and they barely last against me! I've gone up against the toughest Grimm and the most fortified villages possible and still come out on top. Just because you wear armour, doesn't mean you can take on someone like me," he said as the boy shook his head.

"I'm serious! Leave me alone! If you want to live, stay away from me!" he said as the inmates and the man laughed at him. "No! I don't need you! Stay down...don't hurt them...leave them alone..." he said as the man looked confused. The boy began to pant as Ozpin could have sworn to see smoke rising from the boy's collar.

"Whatever lad, you're not worth my time. I've killed for less anyhow," he said as he delivered one last kick to the boy's stomach as the crowd cheered and the man began to walk to the other side of the room.

"...Stained..." all laughter stopped as a dark voice resonated in the cell and the man turned back to the boy.

"Wha?" he said as the boy held his head as the picture started to frizz.

"...Soul...stained...by the ...blood...of...innocent..." the boy slowly stood up as the image began to blur quickly and for a moment, the boy's eye's glowed orange.

"...Feel their pain!" was the last thing he said as the screen became static and they could no longer be seen.

However, the sounds of screaming and fire burning could be heard as the man's voice screamed out like he was in great pain, followed by a roar that could only be described as demonic. When the screen return, the man was lying on the floor, smoke rising from his eyes, as every man in the cell was backed away in fear of the boy that stood over him.

VCPD_Sceurity_Footage / 20 - 02 - XX / VCPD_Lock-Up_Playback end...

Ozpin and Glynda had no words to say as they just stared at the image. The sounds they heard right as what they could only presume was the man burning that sent chills down their spines. More so, when they heard something almost demonic in the video. What happened after the screen went static? What was that inhuman roar and how did that man die in the cell?

And more importantly, who was that strange boy?

"I honestly cannot make heads or tails of this," the commissioner said as he rewinds the footage to just before the screen went static. "There is no evidence that suggests that he killed him, and there is no weapon that can cause this much damage. Yet all the inmates claim he did it, yet I can't take them seriously because they are all scared to death, going on about flaming skulls or such nonsense?" he said as he folded his arms together.

"It's kind of funny actually...the man he killed is a wanted criminal in the Vacuo Kingdom wanted for human trafficking, murder and rape just to name a few. He would have slipped right under our radar if this whole incident hadn't happened. Now we just have to deliver a body," the man said as Ozpin stared.

"Do we have a name for him?" he asked as the man nodded and handed him a folder with boy's face on it.

"His name is Jaune Arc, here's his file if you want to read it?" he said as Ozpin looked over the document given to him.

"I would like to have a word with him, in private if that is alright?" he asked as Glynda's eyebrows shot up at this.

"Headmaster!?"

"Are you sure about that? I mean there is no telling what could happen if I put you in the same room as-" the commissioner tried to reason as Ozpin merely shook his head.

"I will be fine, please arrange the meeting?" he said as the commissioner looked conflicted before he nodded and left the room while Ozpin and Glynda walked into the main hall.

"Ozpin are you insane!? You saw what happened on the monitor! The body in the morgue! What if he does that to you as well!?" she argued as the man shook his head.

"I'll be fine Glynda. I just want to get Mister Arcs side of the story, and we still don't have a clue what happened after the image went static. For all, we know it could have been anything. Besides..." he looked around to see if anyone was listening in as he leant in closer. "He may be a link to what happened to Autumn? And if not, he may be a potential ally that we can use against 'Her' if she is unaware of him. I know I am," he said as Glynda looked conflicted before she nodded.

"All right, I trust you. But if anything happens, I will step in, understood?" she said as the man nodded while the Commissioner returned.

"He's in the interrogation room," he said as he led them to one of the interrogation rooms.

They stopped briefly in front of the one-way mirror as the boy was now handcuffed to the table. The boy himself seemed distant as he just stared at the surface of the table. There was no fear, no remorse, just a blank hollowed look as he stared at his own reflection. They soon walked into the room as the boy, now known as Jaune, looked up slightly surprised to see them and not another officer. Glynda stood off into the corner of the room, while Ozpin took his seat at the table, as he placed his coffee mug down, his cane near the table and opened the file.

"Name: Jaune Miles Luna Arc. Age: 17 Born to a Roland and Diane Arc in a small town outside Vacuo, both deceased along with six sisters Bleu, Noir, Rouge, Verte, Blanc and Violet Arc. Only remaining kin is Clair Arc. Age: 15 currently living by herself in a town near Vacuo. Current possessions, one pitch black chopper styled motorcycle, currently impounded. One sword and sheath that can transom into a shield, a long chain with a hook attached to the end and an Atlas made Winchester 1887 Model Shotgun." He then looked up as the boy said nothing.

"History shows multiple arrests for aggravated assault, suspected in multiple unexplained and unidentified murders. But due to lack of evidence and unreliable witness reports, no charges have been filed against you, as well as the fact that most of the 'victims' have been criminals and bandits wanted for crimes against the four Kingdoms." Ozpin said as he read from the boy's rap sheet.

"Reports also state you've taken on few contracts clearing our Grimm in small towns in the four Kingdoms, were strangely after you've visited the Grimm rate drops sharply in the area and takes twice as long to regenerate. Now that is interesting," he folded his fingers together as he looked the boy in the eye.

"What are you doing all the way out here in Vale, Mister Arc? You have a sister back in Vacuo living all by herself. Wouldn't you rather be with your only remaining family member?" Jaune said nothing as he remained to stare at the table. "Mister Arc I am trying to understand you, and I am also trying to help you. Even though the man was a criminal, you still killed at what was essentially an innocent person, you may be looking at a life sentence-"

"He wasn't innocent," Ozpin stopped as he looked at the boy, "He wasn't an innocent person, he had stained hands," Jaune repeated as the man raised his eyebrow.

"And how would you know that? You two have never met before." Jaune merely glared as he looked at his hands still cuffed to the table.

"...I could...feel it...his soul was stained by the blood of innocence; I knew more about him then the officers that had him locked up. He was a murderer, a rapist and a bandit that stalked on the innocent and slaughtered them without a care in the world. His soul had to be punished," Ozpin raised an eyebrow at this.

"His soul?" Jaune nodded as he looked at his hands.

"I could hear them crying out, and not just from him, but from everyone else in that cell as well. Criminals, murderers, rapists, I could hear them all. They're lucky only one of them died today, otherwise, there would be a lot more bodies in the morgue. But him, he had to die, it was the only way to keep 'him' calm..." he said coldly as the two teachers shared concerned glances as Glynda marched up to him and placed her hands on the table.

"And what gave you the right to decide his fate?" she said as Jaune looked up as a faint orange glowed resonated from his pupils.

"I'm not the one who decides," his voice took on a dark tone as smoke began to rise from his wrist. The cuffs that once restrained him glowed hot before they broke off and fell onto the table. Glynda immediately sprung forth as she whipped her crop out to strike the boy, but was stopped as Ozpin held his hand up, which stopped her and seemed to cause Jaune to calm down.

"Sorry, but like I said, I don't get to decide, that usually falls to the 'other guy'. And as for my sister, it's just safer if she's far away from me as possible, I don't want her to be caught up in what I've become..."

"And what have you become?" he asked as Jaune chuckled while holding up his now free hands as if to demonstrate a point.

"I honestly have no idea; all I know is that I need to keep her as far away from me as possible. Because I got myself into this mess..."

"How so, Mister Arc?" Jaune chuckled slightly as he thought back to that time.

"Let's just say I made a deal about two years ago to save my sister's life, the same day my hometown burned and the rest of my family died. And now because of it, there is something inside of me, something I can barely control. It's angry, it's powerful and it needs to kill those who have spilt innocent blood. And if I try and stop it, it fights harder and harder that I lose control...then 'He' comes out, and the wicked are punished for their sins," smoke starting rising from his collar as the room suddenly became hotter. The teachers tensed at this but relaxed slightly as Jaune gripped his fists and the temperature returned to normal.

"You seem to be in control now, aren't you?" Ozpin stated as the boy shook his head.

"Barely, I can reason with him if I focus hard enough and stay away from people whose hands are stained with innocent blood. But that's hard to do when everywhere I go there is nothing but hatred, violence and literal creatures of darkness just outside these walls. I'm barely in one place before I have to leave and get away before...the other guy, comes out," he sighed as he looked at his hands.

"I don't regret the decision I made to save my sister, but I wish I could learn how to control it and maybe, just maybe, have a normal life..." Ozpin and Glynda felt a small bit of sympathy for the boy, even though they knew little about what was inside him. However, because of their exposure to the Maidens, the Relics and the knowledge of the enemy, it had made them understand the boy and what he was going through.

It was then that Ozpin made a decision that would change the fate of Vale and even the world itself.

"Miser Arc," he said as Jaune looked up at the man, "How would you like to attend Beacon Academy?" Nothing but silence resonated in the room as both Glynda and Jaune just stared at the man as if he just sprouted another head and that head said the most absurd thing they had ever heard. Which he just did.

"...What!? "both Jaune and Glynda said as Ozpin just stared blankly at their outburst.

"Headmaster, you cannot be serious! You're inviting him into the Academy, he killed a man in cold blood! You'd be putting all the students at risk! Not to mention what the Council would do if they find out you let a murder into the school! It's a terrible idea!" she stopped as she looked over to the boy.

"No offense," she said as Jaune shook his head.

"No, I agree with you, that sounds like a terrible idea! You saw what I did to that guy, how the thing inside me killed him because he had blood on his hands!" Jaune said as he stood up from his chair and glared at the man. "What if 'the other guy' senses something on one of your teachers or gods forbid one of the students? I can't control him then! He doesn't care about age or agenda! He will kill if there is a single drop of innocent blood! What will happen then!?" he shouted as Ozpin merely stared at the boy before taking a sip from his coffee mug.

"First off Mister Arc, I can guarantee that none of my staff members has innocent blood on their hands. I should know because I have worked with them for quite some time, and I promise they are good people. And second, in all the time you've had this 'other guy' inside of you, has he ever attacked children?" Jaune stopped as he thought for a moment.

"...No...no he hasn't"

"And has he ever killed anyone with no blood on their hands?" he asked as Jaune shook his head.

"He only hunts those who spilled innocent blood and feel no remorse," he said as Ozpin nodded.

"And from what I've understood, the people who have been killed were nothing but cold hearted criminals, bandits and murderers. If this 'other guy' was truly evil, he wouldn't stop at the guilty, he would have killed the innocent no matter how small the sin" Jaune stopped to think about this as he sat back down on his chair. "Mister Arc, I do not deny that what you have inside of you is dangerous and powerful. But if you come to my academy, I believe we can help you learn what this entity is inside of you. Because believe it or not we have had...similar cases like yourself," he said as Jaune raised an eyebrow.

"You have, who?" he asked as the man shook his head,

"That, unfortunately, I cannot tell you, the walls have ears after all," he said as he placed his cup down and tented his fingers again. "But I assure you, we can help you understand what is inside of you, and maybe even how to control it. Besides..." he removed a photograph from his folder as he handed it to the boy.

"Wouldn't you want to see your sister again?" Jaune picked up the picture as he looked at the face of his youngest and only remaining sister. Her warm smiling face staring right back at him as a small tear brimmed at the edges of his eye. He sighed as he held the picture in his hand and then looked up at the two adults.

"...Okay...I'll join," he said as Ozpin smiled warmly at this, "But do you really think you can help me? Do you really think I can control it?" he asked as the man stood up and grabbed his cane.

"That I cannot answer, only you can if you have the will to do so. The Airbuses will be at the docks by eight am, make sure to be there on time if you want to make it Beacon." He said as Jaune nodded.

"But what about the man I killed? I doubt the cops are just going to let me go?" he said as Ozpin merely shook his head.

"Don't worry about that, I can deal with the police. Just make sure to be ready for tomorrow." He said as Jaune nodded while Ozpin and a reluctant Glynda left the room, as Jaune remained behind to stare at the picture of his only remaining family member.

While in the hallway Glynda pulled him aside as she looked the man in the eyes, "Are you sure this is a good idea Headmaster? Whatever is inside him is dangerous, maybe even uncontrollable. For all, we know this could be one of 'Her' tricks. Are really willing to risk everyone's lives on one of your hunches?" she said as the man only stared into her eyes.

"Honestly Glynda...I have no idea, but at this point, I am desperate for anything. Salem has powerful allies and half of the Autumn Maidens power at her disposal. If Mister Arc can tip the scale in our favour, even just by a bit, then I think the risk will be worth it." Glynda glared through her glasses as she stared into his eyes.

"Even if its costs the lives of our students?"

He didn't say anything as he brushed past her and began to walk away. The silence was all that answered her as she followed the man down the hall, hoping that the man she followed would not be foolish enough to truly risk everything on a chance. While back in the interrogation room, Jaune continued to stare at the photo of his sister in his left hand, while his right had a small flame flickering on his palm. He looked between the flame in his hand and the picture before he stared into the flames.

"Alright..." he said and clenched his fist, smothering the flame and steeling his resolve. "Let's see where this goes?"

And scene, here is Chapter I of my new fanfic 'The Rider of Remnant' inspired by KingofthePhantomDragon's 'Rider of Beacon'. Tell me what you think, and before people ask, yes I will continue my other stories as well as The Destroyer Reborn, Restart, The Remnant Knight, The Ascension of a King and maybe some of my older fics, depending on the mood and the inspiration I get. Because reading others works and getting praise for my own work inspires me to wrote. So, go and check of KingofthePhantomDragon's work and hopefully be inspired like I was.

Now I also want to set the record straight, no it is not a crossover, it's just using elements of Ghost Rider and not fully from the Nicolas Cage film, also draws some from Marvel's Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D season 4. Also, anyone notice that in Marvel Films they don't say the hosts for Hulk or the Ghost Rider don't say Hulk or Ghost Rider, they just say 'The Other Guy'? Weird but cool.

So, tell me if I should continue this, and if so stay tuned for Chapter II: The Rider at Beacon