Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
Following is the volume two teaser for Knights of Rose, a brief look at what our heroes are doing during their month off! I put it first because, let's be honest, its what you're hear for! .
Also, unfortunate news, my hard drive crashed which is why many of you are reading this and not the chapter of Sora I promised. Good news the twilight fic got destroyed as well.
Rebuff: Bad news, your ass is still accountable for the bet.
FUCK-I mean- yeah well this was a major set back all things considered but fortunately Rebuff has a copy of my storyboards and I had a copy of my original work in an email. This could have been A LOT worse but as it stands everything is probably just going to be delayed a month so expect Sora in mid-late August. Sorry for the delay, but for once it was not completely my fault T_T.
Now on to the BGMs
KoR Teaser BGMs:
Bloodstream-Stateless
Vengeance-Zack Hemsey
All of you is all of me [EXTENDED]-No Game no Life OST
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Presence: Year One BGMs (Best part about this being here is I can still use BGMs and not get sued cause I ain't making shit off this chapter)
Criminal-Earl St. Clair
Don't Sweat the Technique- Eric B & Rakim
[Teaser#1: The Knights of Rose: Volume 2]
-Yellow: Clarity-
"Hold on, boy. I'm gonna go call the girls in, it looks like rain is coming." Tai said to Zwei whom just sat down and wagged his tail playfully. "Good boy." Tai said before he left the house to go find his daughter and her strange new friend. He was still surprised that Yang would want to come back to this boring island over break and even bring someone along with her.
After a moment or two he stumbled across a clearing, one that had a small little creek that led to a waterfall.
"Okay Yang, just like that, deep breaths." Nora's voice said gently. Confused, Tai stepped back, hiding behind a tree as he glanced around and spotted Yang and Nora sitting beneath the waterfall, the icy water crashing down upon them. "Now give me your hand." Nora said as she gripped Yang's hand gently as they sat side by side in a lotus position, their eyes closed. "Good, now activate your semblance."
"What? But last time–"
"Yang." Nora interrupted patiently. "You've done well when it comes to not depending on it, but you're now refusing to use your semblance to better yourself anymore, are you?" Nora asked knowingly, she squeezed Yang's hand reassuringly when she felt her tense. "You're afraid, aren't you?
"…"
"Yang."
"Okay, yes is that what you want to hear!?" Yang snapped, and Nora could feel her temperature rising. "It's terrifying, to suddenly come out of a haze and realize you almost attacked your friends. I feel like a monster and that terrifies me–"
"It's okay."
"–And-w-what?" Yang questioned, startled.
"It's okay, to be afraid." Nora explained. "Strength doesn't come from acting without fear, it comes from acting despite of it. You have a power in you, one greater than you know. You can do a lot of good with it, but you have to come to peace with yourself first."
"And how do I do that?"
"Our Semblances are tied to our emotions. Something inside you is hurting you, angering you. Your rage is the emotion you feel the most connected to which is why its so easy to trigger your semblance with it, but you gotta understand Yang. Your anger is just one trigger, not the only one." Nora explained surprising Yang. "When you fight, have you ever tried something besides rage to trigger your semblance?"
"I…"
No she hadn't.
"You took the easy way out." Nora said simply. "You found the easiest way to activate your power, an all too easy to trigger emotion and now you're dependent on it. You don't even understand how much you've held yourself back."
"So…how do I fix myself?" Yang asked curiously making Nora giggle.
"You're not broken Yang, just misguided." Nora explained before squeezing Yang's hand. "Now deep breaths, close your eyes." Nora said as Yang followed her instructions. "Good, just like that, listen to my voice, feel my power entering you, and relax…" Nora said as Yang followed her instructions before falling deep into the meditation.
-?-
Opening her eyes, Yang was startled to find herself in a pitch-black void. However, before she could voice her confusion a pink light sprung to life right next to her, revealing Nora. Just like in the outside world, Nora was still holding her hand as pink sparks danced over their bodies.
"Where are we?"
"Where you need to be, follow me." Nora said as she led Yang through the realm, both of them floating forward through the void. The two moved in silence before stopping when they saw a massive ornate door floating high above them. A bright blue light could be seen in front of the door before a massive staircase appears before them leading right up to the door. "Behind that door is a place I've wanted to bring people to for a long time, unfortunately none had the 'key' needed to open the door. But I think you do."
"Me?" Yang asked in surprise as Nora nodded, a grin splitting her face.
"That light? That's your key, all you need to do is grab it." Nora said before gently releasing Yang's hand. "I brought you this far, now you have to go on by yourself." Nora explained, gently placing her hand in the center of Yang's back, smiling sadly as she saw Yang hesitate. "Go." Nora urged her, nudging her forward with a light push.
"Huh, w-wait N…Nora…" Yang trailed off when she looked back to find Nora missing. Turning around she found the door and the mysterious light missing as well. She was alone in a plane of nothingness, an experience that left her feeling lost.
A feeling she didn't have for long.
An explosion of fire suddenly erupted around Yang, trapping her in a hellish inferno that was so bright she was forced to shield her eyes.
BGM: Bloodstream-Stateless
"Well, Well, what do we have here?" A voice questioned, confusing Yang deeply. The voice was familiar yet foreign to Yang and when she forced herself to open her eyes she found a familiar looking silhouette approaching her from the flames, two bright red lights shining from where its eyes should have been. The figure's form resembled her greatly but when the stranger stepped through the flames, Yang found herself not staring at herself…
…but rather…
"…M-Mom!?" Yang asked incredulously as Raven stood before Yang, here crimson eyes shining brightly.
"Not quite." Raven said with a voice that most definitely belonged to Yang. In that moment, everything became clear to Yang as she narrowed her eyes at Raven.
"You're…my semblance, aren't you?" Yang questioned making Raven grin. "Why do you look like that?"
"What?" Raven asked as if Yang were the dumbest person in the world. "You feed me nothing but your anger and insecurities and turn around and ask why I look like the source of them all?" Raven questioned making Yang flinch. "Maybe you were right, maybe you are as dumb as you think." Raven said with a scoff making Yang clench her fists tightly.
"What do you want?" Yang questioned making Raven's grin widen.
"To make a deal." Raven said as her crimson eyes shone with ill-intent. Stepping to the side, the flames opened to once more reveal the stair-case leading up to the massive door. The bright blue light reflected in Yang's eyes as she looked up at it. "See all that light? That power? It's all coming from a flame about…this big." Raven said as she held her index finger and thumb about an inch apart. "Small but it has more power than even I do and that's without you stoking that flame, giving it something to feed on."
"What…does that have to do with you?" Yang questioned making Raven rub the bridge of her nose.
"I'm getting to that, now listen up. I can't interact with it. At all, which is annoying seeing how its been there since you were born." Raven explained. "However, you can. Like me it can be fed off of an emotion that will let you trigger it. So…I want you to feed it…me." Raven explained, startling Yang.
"W-what?"
"Think about it, the damage, the destruction, the pure havoc we could unleash together. If you think I make you strong now imagine after I become one with that! That girl out there, Nora, the one you're too chicken shit to sort your feeling out about? She's like a god, she has this power but I can tell, she wasn't born with it like us, it was given to her. But us? We can take that ember, turn it into an inferno! If she's a god then we can be a demon, a devil!"
"Why would I want that!?" Yang questioned incredulously, making Raven scoff.
"Come now Yang, what has god ever done for you? He just takes, and takes, and takes. I can give you the power to take back. Never again will we be abandoned, think of it, Yang!" Raven said with a manic grin. The words Raven said to her, terrified her deeply but what scared her even more…
…was the fact she was tempted.
She could see it now, herself engulfing her enemies with a terrifying inferno, destroying any who stood in her way while her friends were kept safe and sound with her.
She couldn't protect Summer but she could protect Ruby.
Her mother left her but she could ensure her father wouldn't.
Hell, she could probably even stop Qrow from continuing his disappearing routine.
Her friends would never face anything like they had at the docks again.
Nora wouldn't have to fight like she had ever again-
-Nora…she could keep her safe.
Protect her.
Keep her.
Raven grinned darkly as Yang's eyes turned a blazing red.
"Yes, that's it, go up there and feed me to it, it's not like you have anything else to offer." Raven said and unfortunately for her that proved to be her undoing, as Yang was suddenly startled, her eyes going from red to lilac.
"I…" Yang trailed off as she looked at her trembling hands.
No.
That wasn't true was it?
Was that really all that was to her? Anger and fear? That…
"…That's not true…." Yang said, her voice wavering as she looked up at Raven through tear-filled eyes, tears that burned as soon as they touched her cheeks. "There's more to me than that!" Yang shouted desperately as Raven glowered at her.
She knew it was true.
She felt it every time she was with her loved ones.
Her friends.
Her sister.
Nora.
There was more in her heart than anger, much more!
"No, I refuse. I'm going to feed that flame something, but it won't be you." Yang swore, making Raven glare at her darkly.
"You're not strong enough to make such a decision!" Raven boomed, as she raised her hand high before a crimson blade appeared in it that was identical to the one Yang saw in her parent's team picture. "And I'll prove it!" Raven declared before bringing the blade down mercilessly. Yang clenched her fists tightly but instead of raising them, she let them fall to her sides as the blade cut through her image as if she weren't there. "W-what!? Why…why didn't you try to block? To fight me!?"
"Because I'm tired of fighting you." Yang said quietly, tears falling freely, before stepping right through Raven's image and placing her foot on the first step. "You can't exist without me…" Yang said before taking another step, an act that made Raven trembled as her hair went from black to blonde. Taking a third step, Ravens' armor disappeared and was replaced with Yang's.
However, after that?
With each step, Yang's doppelganger began to de-age until she was nothing more than frightened little girl. Terrified, the younger Yang held herself tightly, as tears fell from her crimson eyes. Her shoulders shook before she finally spun around "Fine! You win just don't…leave…me…" The younger Yang trailed of, confused, when she saw her older counterpart extending a hand down towards her.
"…Let me finish." Yang said with a sad smile. "I can't exist without you either, you got me this far, kept me alive. We need each other. So how about we work together?"
"B-but…once you have that power…you'll never need me again…" The young Yang whimpered out. "Ever since you made your friends, you've needed me less in less, its why I've taken every chance to lash out at them, if…if you were alone again, it would be like old times…I'd matter."
"So that's it…" Yang muttered before stepping forward and scooping the small girl up in her arms. "I may not depend on you as much, but I'll always need you. For better or worse you've been the source of my strength and that won't change…you just won't be the only source. And besides with the emotion I plan to feed that flame up there? I doubt I'll ever be able to use it in battle, it'll be too hard for a hothead like me."
"Why…why would you hinder yourself like that?"
"You can feel it can't you? That power…it's not meant for fighting." Yang said ominously. "But you are, so we will always be together." Yang said as she continued to walk towards the door.
"P-promise?"
"Promise." Yang swore making her counterpart smile before she merged with Yang in a swirl of flames that forced Yang to close her eyes and when she opened them, they had gone from lilac to a blazing red.
Now standing above the blue flame, Yang extended a hand towards it and the closer she got, the more it rose up and grew, transforming into a bright blue hand that met Yang halfway. Grasping the hand firmly, Yang pulled it out revealing a woman that didn't look like Yang or Raven.
"Yeah…" Yang said quietly. "…I know exactly what emotion to feed you." Yang said as she looked at a woman that was identical to Nora only instead of having greenish blue eyes, they were just a bright blue that had small blue flames within each of them. The strange woman just smiled as she grabbed both of Yang's hands firmly as the door opened behind her, releasing a brightly. Walking backwards the woman pulled Yang into the light, whom nearly immediately broke down upon seeing the beauty on the other side. "…what is this place?" Yang questioned in wonder.
"The realm of the gods…a safe place…Val…"
BGM: END
-Outside-
"…halla…." Yang whispered, opening her eyes only now they weren't red or lilac but rather a bright blue. Everything was clear to her now as she sat beneath the waterfall and looked up at the now clear sky, fish hopped from the streams, the wind blew through her hair, and a rainbow reflected in her irises as she took in everything.
From the animals that were around them, doing their own thing.
To her flabbergasted father she could sense hiding in the distance.
Oddly enough, however, she didn't care as she focused her newfound sense of clarity on the woman next to her. Her previous power felt like a drop in the ocean of strength that was currently flowing through her.
"You made it." Nora said proudly, her irises now a bright pink as she too entered her godly state. For a moment neither said anything as they stared at each other, a bright blue mixing with an electric pink.
"I love you." Yang said suddenly, making Nora's grin widen.
I know." Nora said warmly and neither touched any further on the subject, because now that Yang's mind was clear for once she realized that though her complex feelings, her love, was genuine it was not romantic. The two of them shared a strange bond that was unsaid but understood between the two of them and that was something that wouldn't change. "So, what now? Got a lot of power…want to test it out?"
"No. This strength…isn't meant for fighting." Yang said quietly before leaning against Nora as they looked up at the sky. "I'm tired of fighting…"
"Me too." Nora said quietly, though Yang could definitely feel the depth of Nora's words and how much they weighed down upon her in her current state. "Let's just live for a moment…and then…we can figure out how to explain this to your dad."
"Well he can't hear us from there. So how about you let me guilt trip him for spying until we can leave tomorrow." Yang said nonchalantly. "Whatever secret you have, will remain that, a secret until you're willing to let me in."
"Oh Yang…" Nora trailed of, holding Yang tighter. "That might be closer than you expect, especially after this."
…
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-Black: Death-
-Mistral: Kuroyuri-
BGM: Vengeance-Zack Hemsey
In the ruins of Kuroyuri, Ren sat on top of the roof of a destroyed inn. In his hand was a small cup of herbal tea which he sipped on as he looked up at the broken moon. After a few moments, Ren paused briefly before closing his eyes.
"You've gotten better." Ren praised as behind him, Blake could be seen kneeling having appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. In place of her usual attire, she wore what could best be described as a skin-tight black combat suit. The lower half of her face was covered by a black metallic mask that was fashioned to look like the mouth of an enraged lion. On her back, as always, Gambol Shroud was sheathed but along with it was an all too familiar katana that rested beneath it. "So, what did you discover in Haven?"
"Sickening." Blake all but snarled out. "Everything you said was true, huntsmen being led to their deaths by a coward. Lionheart was highly regarded in Menagerie, a Faunus that did what no other could and was accepted by the humans as a headmaster of all things."
"So, did you get rid of him?" Ren asked curiously. "At your level, he is nothing but child's play."
"I...I…" Blake began weakly making Ren nod his head, as if her response was expected.
"I see. Well the next huntsman to die from his orders will be on you." Ren said matter-of-factly, making Blake's eyes widen.
"What!?"
"Are you surprised? You saw what was happening and did nothing. This is the consequence, whoever else is harmed by him will be on you." Ren said simply. "You were faced with a decision, Blake, and in case you weren't aware. Not making a decision, is a very powerful decision."
"I have no right to make such a decision! I can't choose who lives or dies!"
"I see." Ren said before finishing his tea. "Then go home, I apologize for wasting your time and failing to be the mentor you needed. Death is coming one way or another and if you can't do what needs to be done, you are just a liability." Ren said as he brushed past her, giving up on Blake completely. "I had high hope for you when you struck down Adam, that you were able to gathered the resolve necessary to protect not just your people, but all people."
"It's not right!"
"It's not about being right or wrong!" Ren snapped startling Blake whom had never seen him show anger. Magenta eyes glared at Blake with a cold fury. "This is war. When you walk down this path, you are no longer a person. You are a force of nature, an agent of karma, death. All those who fall to your blade fall because of their own treacherous actions." Ren said before narrowing his eyes. "Seeing Lionheart must have been like looking at a mirror, two cowards in a situation they have no hopes of handling."
Blake visibly flinched at the declaration and even Ren's eyes widened when his mind caught up to his words.
He meant them, they both knew it.
Taking a deep breath, Ren calmed himself before once more turning to face Blake.
"Go rest, we'll get ready to head back tomorrow." Ren said after a moment before placing a hand on Blake's shoulder. "This isn't a good fit for you. This path is simply not yours to walk. Your gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness and that was an error on my part. That said, I have no need for such gentleness, the work I do can't afford it. You are destined for greatness, I know it, but this is simply not your path and I can't help you find it."
"What are you saying?" Blake questioned, a sinking feeling in her gut,
"That I give up." Ren said honestly. "It's not your fault, it's mine. No matter how hard I try, I can't help you. A war is coming, and you've grown enough that I trust you to not run from conflict even if you are unwilling to prevent it. As of now, you and the rest of your team have grown a lot. That said, moving forward, it will be up to you to make sure that you don't fall behind. Unlike them, you will be alone and your growth will be your own responsibility."
"So, what? After all this training, just because I wouldn't commit murder that's it!?"
"That's it." Ren said matter-of-factly not even bothered by her righteous anger. "My window of opportunity is gone for now, so I will have to deal with Lionheart later on my own terms. IT has been an honor letting me teach you Blake, but you are simply not an assassin. You are still a huntress, but unfortunately you have yet to figure out what that means and it is not something I can teach you." Ren said politely before walking away leaving behind a frustrated Blake whose body was trembling with emotion.
BGM: END
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-White: Perfection-
-Mistral: Colosseum-
The Mistral Regional Tournament, an event held in winter of every year. A massive battle royale featuring fighters of all ages who compete to be crowned champion and be bestowed untold amounts of honor. The last four years this title was held by their champion Pyrrha Nikos, but with her going off to expand her education, the spot was now vacant and up for grabs for anyone who had a hunger for glory.
The crowd roared loudly from around the massive colosseum as one hundred combatants stood ready to do battle. In the front row, Pyrrha sat next Melanie as she crossed her arms and watched as the event prepared to commence.
"You know, when you all decided to call in a…favor…this wasn't I had in mind." Melanie pointed out making Pyrrha chuckle a bit. "Sis was disappointed that you didn't invite her, at least I can tell her it was more business than pleasure."
"I apologize, maybe one day we can party again but I needed your help with this. I took her under my wing, but she actually a lot more similar to you."
"I noticed, she learned what little I could teach her fast." Melanie said as she looked down at the combatants. "She's almost as scary as you."
"Heh, she still has a long way to go but I'll give credit where its due." Pyrrha said, a dark grin appearing on her face as her lone green eyes seemed to shine with ill-intent. "She's not nearly pathetic as she used to be."
"Is that right?" A new voice asked making Pyrrha blink before she looked back to find an all too familiar red-haired horse Faunus approaching her with a grin. "So, it is you, almost didn't recognize you girl, last time I saw you had two eyes. I take it the other guy is worse off?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?" Pyrrha asked curiously making her old mentor blink.
"You lost?"
"In a sense. In the end we both came out better." Pyrrha said simply and Chiron had to admit, despite her missing eye, Pyrrha had looked far more powerful than when he had last seen her.
"Hm." Was all that came from Chiron as he sat down, deciding not to question his former pupil further, he had heard all that he needed to. "Don't remember you being much of a spectator. "Why aren't you down there?"
"What's the point? My family is well off now, and I have found a higher calling." Pyrrha said matter-of-factly, her dark grin returning. "There's a huntress that's caught my attention."
"Oh?"
"Yes, she has a potential that might even surpass mine. She was born with more power than most but had no idea how to use it. I've taken her under my wing."
"And she's still sane?" Chiron asked skeptically, knowing full well how Pyrrha was.
"…relatively." Pyrrha said after a moment of thought, her eyes landed on a lone combatant that was garbed in a tattered brown cloak. At that moment, dozens of names and aura levels appeared on massive monitors as the ceremony began to commence.
"Wait...what?" One of the nearby spectator's questions, confused by one of the names on the monitors. Soon many him in his confusion as they peeped the one name that was so out of place that it couldn't simply be ignored.
Weiss Schnee
Immediately, many members of the audience and even a few combatants began to scan the arena for any signs of the heiress as the countdown began. Throughout all this Pyrrha's grin grew more as her mentor just narrowed his eyes at her before asking a question he had really thought he could stop asking after Pyrrha left for Beacon.
"What the hell did you do?" Chiron question in morbid fascination as Melanie shuddered at the look on Pyrrha's face. What her sister saw in the sociopath, she would never know.
Pyrrha just laughed.
-Arena-
"Huh? So, a Schnee is somewhere down here?" One of the combatants questioned as he glanced around as the fighters glanced amongst themselves. "I wonder where-" The fighter stopped himself when he saw the shorter cloaked figure beside him, or more accurately when his saw a sliver of white hair sticking out from her hood.
["Fighters…begin!"]
Remember where he was, he quickly grabbed his weapon-a silver spear- and pulled it out before attacking cloaked woman as pandemonium broke out in the arena. He stabbed forward toward her with all his might, however, his spear pierce nothing but cloth as his target apparently ditched her cloak and vanished in thin air.
*Flashback: 3 weeks ago, Mistral: Lower Levels: *
"You think too much!" Pyrrha snapped as she glared down at the down form of Weiss. "Don't think, just do. Even at Beacon it was the same problem with you!" Pyrrha growled out as she placed her foot on the back of Weiss' head, grinding the heiress' face into the ground. "Do you not understand the blessing you've been given?"
"B-blessing?" Weiss grunted out through the pain, her body tensed when Pyrrha stabbed one of her Javelin's into the ground next to her head.
"You were spared the burden of leadership, this means that when in battle the only things you need to do is obey your orders and put your all into combat. Watch your teammate's backs, yes, but that's all part of the constant vigilance of the battlefield that you should already have." Pyrrha explained. "You're stuck in your head, stop it, you know your attack patterns so just do them."
"I don't know how to do that! I can't just not think!" Weiss shouted in frustration, making Pyrrha narrow her eye further.
"You think so? Fine then, you leave me no choice." Pyrrha said as she removed her foot before grabbing Weiss by the back of her hair and lifting her up to her feet so that she could glare down into the heiress' eyes. "I'm going to break you." Pyrrha said resolutely making Weiss pale. "There exist two types of people in this world, Weiss, predators and prey. I'm going to make a lion out of you or kill you trying."
*Flashback: End*
Faster than the eye could track, a shadow descended upon the spear-wielder whom looked up just in time to see a flash of white before his vision went black. An explosion rocked the arena as a mountain of ice exploded from the point of impact, instantly wiping out half of the competition. The arena released loud exclamations of shock, fear, and awe at the sight.
"There we go…" Pyrrha began, her grin widening as Melanie shuddered at the sight. "…bare your fangs." Pyrrha said as Weiss rose from a crouch, the ice blocking the sunlight behind her, obscuring her body with shadows. Chiron said nothing as he rubbed his chin in thought, appreciating the scale of the attack.
"She lacks your subtlety."
"She didn't need it." Pyrrha explained as the ice began cracking. "The world knows her semblance, no point in hiding what it can do." Pyrrha explain and Chiron had to admit she had a point. Like Pyrrha, Weiss could devastate the other fighters with ease. However, unlike Pyrrha, Weiss didn't need to hide that fact to keep her advantage.
"This…will be the shortest tournament in Mistral's history." Chiron deduced and Pyrrha could only nod as the ice shattered, allowing the sunlight to shine down upon her and reveal heiress officially to the world. Her hair was still tied back in a long pony-tail and her crown was still absent, but now so was her signature white dress. In its place was a single black sweater dress that she wore beneath an open short white winter jacket. On the back of the jack was her emblem embroidered in blue, and on its right shoulder there was a rose emblem embroidered in red. Covering her legs were a pair of black knee-high boots, but oddly enough unlike the rest of her outfit, these had black armored plating going up the front of them.
"Come." Was all Wiess said, her eyes like twin glaciers as aa biting mist escaped her mouth. Nearly immediately, a chain wrapped around her sword arm which made her focus her attention on a large man a few meters away from her. With a shout, he pulled back on the chain strongly in an attempt to bring her towards him.
Only she didn't budge.
Confused, the man's eyes widened when he saw that her legs were frozen solid to the ground, holding her in place. So, startled by this he didn't notice the white glyph appearing beneath his feet until it was too late. Nearly immediately he found himself catapulted towards Weiss as the ice around her legs shattered.
["What are you without your weapon!?"]
"Know your place." Weiss said coldly as she leapt up. Time seemed to slow as she went to deliver a round house kick. A small glyph appeared beneath her boot, propelling her leg forward and making her spin around and slam her armored leg into her opponent's face with enough force to send him crashing down.
"She took my fighting style and made it better in days." Melanie muttered. "Money, power, brains, looks, and even talent…how is that even fair?" Melanie complained, though her heart wasn't really in it.
"It's not, which is why this is so exciting." Pyrrha said as her eyes never left Weiss. "This is what happens when you teach someone who has everything how to fight like they have nothing."
"A scary combination." Chiron mused as the remaining twenty-three combatants all turned to face the ice queen. "Seriously, what did you do?" Chiron questioned, shuddering a bit at the look in Weiss' eyes, a look he hadn't seen since Pyrrha.
Pyrrha didn't answer.
She just laughed when the other fighters decided to stand together against Weiss instead.
-Meanwhile: Atlas-
Winter was confused, she had been in the middle of a particularly tedious expedition in out the outer reaches of the continent when general Ironwood had suddenly called her back to HQ. He had explained quickly that not only had a surprising shift happened surrounding Ozpin's "inner circle" but that its effects had somehow involved Weiss.
At this point Winter sighed.
She knew more than anyone why Weiss went so far from home to learn, but it still didn't change the fact that she had partially hoped Weiss would choose Atlas academy. Not only would Weiss still have the benefit of not being trapped at home with their father and brother, but Winter herself could keep a better eye on her sister and even help her personally at some times. Still, in the end Weiss had to find her own path.
And after all, just how much trouble could her sister really get herself in?
"H-holy…shit…" Winter heard as she passed the breakroom. She frowned when she saw more than a few of her men sitting around the lounge area, staring at the monitor in awe.
"Gentlemen." Winter began startling them as they turned to her slightly fearful as she checked her watch. "Break ended long ago, did it not?"
"M-ma'am! Sorry, we were distracted." One of the soldiers stuttered out as they stood and saluted her. "The MRT this year was…well…interesting."
"Was?" Winter asked curiously. Watching tournaments was a common pass time in the Atlesian military, one she participated in quite a few times whenever she was fortunate enough to be blessed with a break. To her knowledge the MRT should have just started. "Did they change the time while I was gone?"
"N-no…it's just over. There's been a winner already." The soldier explained before frowning. "With all due respect ma'am, I'm surprised that you of all people missed this year in particular."
"Excuse me?" Winter questioned as the soldiers glanced amongst each other in confusion before gesturing towards the monitor. Now Winter wasn't sure what she was expecting to see when she looked at the screen…
…but her little sister sitting on a throne of ice with a bored expression. Behind her the word "winner" flashing next to her image was not one.
"What?" Winter asked herself quietly, her eyes wide at the sight.
"S-she decimated the rest of the combatants…the tournament ended nearly as soon as it started, quite frankly I've never seen anything like it, she set a new record for the tournament. A perfect fight, she didn't lose any of her aura." The soldier continued. "You've been out of town, but your sister has been making her name for herself since the incident at Vale's docks."
"What incident?" Winter asked sharply making him shudder.
"T-terrorists ma'am, they tried to steal dust from your family's business. Your sister and her friends fought them off but the fight was brutal–" The soldier stopped when Winter had already began storming away.
This was wrong.
She saw that look in Weiss' eye, a look that she only saw on herself in the mirror and on the faces of her men after battle.
A look that had no business on her sister's face.
And now she learned, from the grapevine no less, that her sister had fought off terrorists?
Why was she not told immediately?
"You were supposed to be safe." Winter thought to herself coldly as she made it to Ironwood's office. Entering it briskly, it took all of her training and practices in military etiquette not to immediately demand explanation. "Sir." Winter began saluting Ironwood whom looked up from his desk.
"Schnee." Ironwood began, leaning back in his chair as he folded his hands together. "We need to talk."
-With Weiss-
"How does it feel?" Pyrrha questioned curiously, handing Weiss the trophy as the award ceremony continued.
"What just happened?" Weiss asked with a confused scowl, looking at the trophy in confusion.
"You won."
"…Seriously?" Weiss asked skeptically as Pyrrha laughed a bit.
"Seriously." Pyrrha said, knowing what Weiss was feeling all too well. "When you clear your mind and do and instead of think, things tend to go by a lot quicker."
"Pathetic. Why were they so weak?" Weiss questioned before biting her lip as a horrible thought occurred to her.
Would this be every fight?
How could she possibly improve if this was her competition?
"I still haven't broken." Weiss said quietly as Pyrrha patted her on her back reassuringly.
"Fear not, you will face challenges that will force you to grow…but they will be far and few in between." Pyrrha said knowingly, before a slightly haunted expression appeared on her face. "Welcome to hell."
…
…
…
…
-Red: Power-
Crescent Rose was stabbed into the side of an old ruined building. On its haft, Ruby stood, her tattered cape obscuring her body and making her appear to be a lone crimson reaper. Her crimson aura flickered briefly as she stared up at dark stormy sky, rose petals blowing throughout the ruins. Soon, her bright silver eyes landed on a single black crow that dive-bombed towards her. The bird released a loud cry before transforming into Qrow whom descended upon her mercilessly, his scythe poised to strike.
*Flash*
Flipping back, Ruby freed her scythe and managed to just barely avoid getting decapitated by the Empress whom crashed down in the middle of the throne room.
"Not bad." The Empress praised before raising her gaze, and meeting Ruby's. Ruby blinked once and the next thing she knew the Empress was right before her, her face mere inches away from Ruby's. "Let's see how fast you've gotten." The Empress said, making Ruby's eyes widen.
*Flash*
Time seemed to slow for Ruby as she ducked back just in time to watch Qrow's scythe sail over her head. Turning his blade downward, Qrow brought it down upon Ruby quickly forcing her to twist her body in time to avoid it. Placing her hand on the handle of Qrow's scythe once it stabbed itself into the building, Ruby forced herself up and kicked her uncle in the side of his head with enough force to knock it to the side.
"She's gotten better." Qrow noted as Ruby pulled the trigger on her weapon, using its recoil to disengage from the fight entirely. Transforming, Qrow flew up above the building just as Ruby landed on top of it. Transforming back, Qrow shifted his scythe into its sword form and released three massive swings at Ruby, each releasing an arc of aura that the younger huntress simply danced around. However, when the final arc hit, the entire building collapsed from beneath Ruby's feet. Still, Ruby didn't seem deterred as she simply glared up at Qrow before exploding into rose petals.
*Flash*
Leaning backwards at the last second, The Empress avoided the spiral of rose petals that raced upwards towards her with ease. Reforming into Ruby, time seemed to stop for a brief moment as the two counterparts gazed at each other. Then, as if adhering to an unknown signal...
They both pulled the triggers on their weapons.
Flying towards each other at blinding speed, the two scythes slammed into each other, their handles colliding into each other as their wielders pushed against each other while rose petals exploded outwards from the moment of impact.
The Empress smiled.
Ruby gritted her teeth before she found herself being batted back with ease.
"Tell me, little one, did you think it was all pain?" The Empress questioned curiously, seemingly out of the blue, confusing Ruby with the sudden question. Seeing an opening, the Empress slammed her heel into Ruby's abdomen, sending her crashing back through the throne room and embedding her in a massive door way.
*Flash*
"This isn't good. As a huntress, she's improved leaps and bounds but we still haven't been able to achieve what we set out for." Qrow thought as he floated above the ruins, his massive black wings flapping lazily behind him as he looked down at Ruby.
"Ouch…" Ruby said with a wince, grunting in pain as she pried herself from the side of a building. Falling down to her knees as her uncle flew high up into the sky. A loud screeching sound alerted him to a large flock of nevermores flying into the area as well as a pack of goliaths leaping from building to building below him.
"Sorry, Rubes, going to have to push you over the edge the hard way." Qrow thought before triggering his semblance willingly for the first time since his ascension. Immediately, a feeling of despair filled Ruby as she looked up in confusion and watched as all the Grimm simply by passed her uncle and charged her. Qrow gripped his blade tightly as he watched Ruby be obscured from view by the Grimm. He wouldn't intervene just yet, she had enough aura and skill to get out but he hoped it'd be enough to give her that extra push she needed.
*Flash*
"What are you talking about now!?"
"You've seen the pain and agony I caused our loved ones, the heart-ache, which is good. I wanted you to see, I wanted you learn from my mistakes and find the drive to be different." The Empress explained as she strolled towards Ruby. "Now that you have the drive to be different, you now need the drive to rule. So now that you've seen the bad, you must see the good."
"The good?"
"Yes, after all, at the end of the day, both you and I came from the same point. So, for me to hurt those we care about so much must mean there was something that I saw that was worth it." The Empress said matter-of-factly, startling Ruby.
"Looking at the big picture was always the hardest skill for us to master seeing how we loved living in the moment. That said,it's still a skill we mastered." The Empress said as the cracks on the door deepened until it shattered, sending Ruby falling backwards through a silver light.
BGM: All of you is all of me [EXTENDED]- No Game No Life OST
"W-where am I?" Ruby muttered, rubbing her eyes as they tried to adjust to the blinding light. It took a few moments, but eventually she could see clearly once more and once she was able to take in her surroundings…
…she dropped her scythe.
"W-what?" Ruby stuttered out. No longer was she in the castle, but now she was on a hill overlooking what could only best be described as paradise. A magnificent kingdom with an illustrious castle overlooking it. In the streets, children laughed and played with their families.
Soldiers, knights, could be seen participating and witty banter, enjoying their breaks between mission.
Flowers, roses, decorated each part of the kingdom as a beacon producing a bright silver light kept the darkness at bay and filled everyone with hope and optimism.
Heaven.
This was heaven. Ruby realized as with each and every passing moment, the kingdom seemed to be more beautiful than it had been previously.
"We and our friends suffered so that they wouldn't have to." The Empress said quietly standing next to her counterpart whom couldn't find the will to move, her will to fight gone. "This is not an excuse for my actions, my failures, nor is it a justification. This is simply the result, nothing more and nothing less. Something to show you that I didn't turn out this way without reason."
Ruby couldn't respond.
Like the Empress said, they struggled with seeing the big picture, so when she saw the pain and agony she brought upon her friends she became blinded with self-hatred, never once stopping to wonder just what would motivate her into becoming a 'monster'.
Seeing this…
…she understood…
…and hated herself even more for it.
"I would do it all again. You're proof of that." The Empress admitted, making a sick feeling appear in Ruby's gut. "But I won't. No this is MY garden and its time has long since passed it is now nothing but a memory." The Empress said, waving her hand before them, reducing their surroundings to dust.
When Ruby blinked the kingdom had vanished and now she found herself kneeling in a massive patch of soil right next to a stream filled with a silver liquid.
"Now it's time for you to plan your garden, or not. You've been manipulated enough, a necessary evil to prepare you for making this choice. Anything you do from this point forward is on you, I am willing to guide you should you ask but my time is nearing its end." The Empress said, her eyes shadowed by her bangs. "This is your last chance to walk away. Once you set off down this path there is no going back."
"Can…Can I really make a garden even better than yours?"
"You have all the tools you need. A rich foundation, seeds already planted, a scythe to deal with the weeds…" The Empress trailed off before a black watering can appeared before Ruby, a crimson rose on its side. "…and the nourishment needed to make it grow. Just don't make my mistake and confuse a root for a weed." The Empress said knowingly. "You said it best, you are not my beginning and I am not your end."
"No…but you are my beginning and I am your end." Ruby realized as the Empress remained silent. "So, I guess I have to make it a good end, huh?"
"If that is what you wish." The Empress said before bowing as Ruby stood up and grabbed the empty watering can. "Your majesty." The Empress said as Ruby filled the can up with water from the silver stream before pouring it on the rich soil.
*Flash*
"Come on, Rubes, come on. You have it in you, I know it. A power that even beats fate itself, you gotta reach deep–" Qrow's thoughts were cut off when a quick flash of silver light shot through the area, freezing every Grimm in place as if they were part of a photo. Nearly immediately they disintegrated as a hooded Ruby walked through their ashes. Qrow shuddered as he saw two silver lights shining brightly from beneath her hood as she glared up at him wordlessly.
He understood immediately.
"I see. Well let's continue–" Qrow stopped when he noticed Ruby in the air in front of him, her face mere inches from his. Swinging his weapon upwards by reflex, he found himself cutting through an after image as Ruby appeared on the roof of a building behind him. Turning around quickly, he went to attack only to stop when he saw her aura shatter, the light in her eyes dying out as she collapsed.
She was done.
Softening his express, Qrow flew down to pick her up. He'd have to ask her later whether or not she figured out the trigger but supposed that regardless they made some much-needed progress. Preparing to pick her up, Qrow stopped when he was force to hold his side, he took a massive blow to his aura as a small wound opened up beneath it, startling him. With wide-eyes he looked back at the downed Ruby in surprise.
A delay that long was unprecedented…
…just how fast was she?
BGM: END
End.
To be continued: Volume 2
Also A LOT of people PM this question so I'll answer it here. My personal favorite volumes of RWBY, in order, are as follows.
V1: May not be the "smoothest" animation wise, but one of the more dynamic wise that set up an interesting world and cast with incredible amounts of potential.
V2: No more shadow people, solid story that showed that this could be more than a school story. Only reason this wasn't one is because I feel they could have capitalized a bit more on the potential set up in V1
V3: The fight per episode thing was hype but it did interfere a bit with the story which could have focused on giving Cinder an equally devastating plan that didn't seem to rely on RNG (lol). (Minus points for the failure to deliver with Adam being a badass (As the reviewer Grissley calls him, bitch boy Adam)) (Also minus points because of Pyrrha salt.)
And that's about it.
Rebuff:…Err…you're missing-
THAT'S. ABOUT. IT.
Rebuff: B-but…
Rebuff. They never left Beacon, do you understand me?
Rebuff:…
Seriously though, my long time reviewers PM questions regarding how much I like canon because I write what I enjoy. If you manage to screw your canon up to the point I become completely disillusioned with the franchise as a whole, I won't keep writing because it becomes a chore at that point.
I write fanfics for fun, it's a hobby not my job, if what I'm writing stops interesting me, I won't waste my time or your time on it. This is the main reason LIAG is going on a major series overhaul. I'll probably repeat this following section in future ANs in other stories.
First case, Bleach, if the series ended with Aizen that fanfic would have gotten an ending.
Next Mass Effect: I wanted to continue this one SO BAD but between ME3 ending salt and Andromeda I personally stopped caring because the developers stopped caring. Not to mention this wasn't originally my story regardless. (Yeah you can blame EA and there are a lot of factors in this, but at the end of the day this was nothing but a failed endeavor that turned me off the series.)
Red-actually, I wholeheartedly plan on continuing this its just unfortunately not on the priority list atm with KoR and Sora LIAG
Marvel Trinity: I had stopped because Slott's apparently never-ending run turned me off, This will continue because he killed it (In a good way) with his final arc and the new writer is (Currently) giving me hope for Spidey's future, so expect more content here down the road.
Look concerning Slott, I made jokes about his run, but the man is a great writer with great ideas, his issue was execution and only execution because it often came at the expense of character development.
FAO: Fairy Tail…enough said.
There are also a few mini series that I, once again, will continue when I get more time.
Louise: Rebuff recruited me back since my return and we've been looking the story boards. We got the beginning and the end, the middle part is the hold up atm. It also has the lowest following of active projects which unfortunately puts it lower on the totem pole.
So, what was my point in this besides giving you a quick, cheeky, update on all the stories? To reassure you not to worry. Unlike other stories it wasn't the RWBY canon itself that made me fall in love, but its potential. I give Roosterteeth a break because the unfortunate truth of the matter is that it isn't their story. It was Monty's, may he rest in peace, and nothing can be harder than picking up someone else's story-a close friends at that- along with their fandom and trying to fill their shoes.
Take Rebuff and I for example, when I was…indisposed…she took over. Personally? I think she did a goddamn good job. We both have stupidly busy lives, you all can't see behind the scenes, but believe me there is a reason we never do an update schedule. I had and still have a ridiculous work ethic that's not for everybody, the fact Rebuff did as well as she had was nothing short of a miracle.
Perhaps if I hadn't had that experience I would have my pitchfork ready like everyone else who didn't like volumes four and five. (for admittedly good reasons but I'm not about to do a character break down and explain why these volumes were…lacking (Okay V5 was fucking God awful but they at least tried in V4 and I respect the attempt)…there is enough videos on YouTube about it at this point that its practically a meme.)
That said, I did have this experience, and I sympathize. (Don't get me wrong I'll still call a duck a duck, there were some things that straight up showed they cut corners and that's inexcusable.) Still,when I see legitimate effort, chances are that won't turn me off of a series and I plan to finish this story.
[Will: *claps enthusiastically* Very well said Lord Rebuke. You made very good points regarding the potential of RWBY despite…eh you already said it. Anyways, total count of things I corrected in this teaser (for Volume 2 and Chapter 0) is…24. Yes, this is going to be a thing with my service now. Beware the numbers~ ^_^]
Rebuff: EXPOSE HIMMMMMMMM!
;_; Y U Do Dis
[Will: Anyways, Lord Rebuke, I ask for your blessing in a RWBY fic I'm currently drafting when not working on Legacy of War. I will send you the first chapter when it's finished. Let's just say that…I took some inspiration from your various LIAG…and I spent way too much time playing FF and FE games. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go and face my newest adversary…college.]
Rebuff: You poor bastard *War flashbacks*
*Emiya voice* Hey...that's hell you're walking in to. Good luck, you'll need it.
Well as we at X7-Entertainment mourn the homie Will, the rest of you remember read and review!
Rebuff: And as always stay classy!
~RebukeX7
P.S. *Hold up bottle of liquor* Poor one out for the hard drive that's no longer with us.