"Zwei! Zwei!" Ruby called out for her little dog
Ruby saw Zwei was barking at some infant nevermores, who flew away out of being startled by the dog. Seeing such a cute animal scare off some grimm, even if they're babies, was pretty cute
"There you are Zwei!" Ruby got his attention "Guess what I brought with us!"
Out of her bag, Ruby brought out a cooked turkey. It looked like it was an actual turkey one could eat until...
*Squeak*
Ruby squeezed the plastic turkey which caused the corgi to bark and run in circles like crazy. Ruby snickered as she transformed Crescent Rose into sniper mode and use it to play with the dog and his favorite toy. However she stopped when she looked down street of where she was. Right ahead of her, in plain sight, was someone in an organization's coat
This supposed organization looked a lot smaller than other members, as well as female. She had her hood pulled up, but it didn't look closed enough to hide the tip of her cleavage, chin, lips and nose, but ruby couldn't see her eyes or hair. At the same time, though, Ruby could tell this mystery girl was staring right at her
Ruby tossed the toy to Zwei, who proceeded to chew it up like there's no tomorrow, and pointed her sniper right at the organization girl
"Are you a part of the organization?" Ruby asked, even with knowing the probable answer
The girl didn't say a word. She didn't react. She didn't even move. She just stood there in that same spot like there was nothing to do
"Are you listening to me?!" Ruby asked, a little mad at the lack of response "Is this the organization's hiding spot?"
The girl still said nothing, but this time she did move a little by extending and offering her hand to Ruby. Ruby should have just attacked her opponent while she was open, especially if she was with the organization. Yet, something drew her forward. Something felt familiar about this figure, and in a way that confused Ruby. In a way where she wanted an answer to a question she didn't know she had
Before she could make another move, a sudden blast was heard from behind her. Sora had come crashing down with another Beowolf that was starting to disintegrate
"I'm starting to get a handle on these guys" The keyblade wielder boasted before noticing the fellow team leader "Hey Ruby, what's up?"
"Well I found an organization member" Ruby said, like Sora had asked a question with an obvious answer
"Organization 13!? Where?!"
"What do you mean "where?" She's right in fro-"
But when Ruby looked back, the black coated girl had suddenly vanished with no sign. It was like she never even existed
"What did they do?" Sora asked
"...nothing" Ruby answered, still confused as to what just happened "She just showed up and vanished"
Sora started thinking out loud "That's strange. Usually they have a purpose for confronting someone, weather it's to fight or talk about the current situation we're in. She didn't do either of those things?"
"No she just stood there. Is that something they normally do?"
"I've almost had that happen, but it still ended with a fight. Did you at least see what she looked like?"
"She had her hood up, but it didn't cover her all the way. I don't think it's the girl from the dance either"
"Another girl?" Sora continued to stand and think, before dropping the thought to talk to Ruby, that is "Well whoever it was, we at least know that this is where the organization is hiding out. Now we just need to find them and find out why they're here and why that girl is with them! Now where-"
"Ruby, Sora!"
The talk between team leaders was interrupted when they saw Oobleck and the rest of their team behind him
"As team leaders, you should know not to abandon your teammates and go prance by yourself!"
"S-sorry" Ruby tried to apologize "Are we ready to keep going?
"No, lucky for you both, that will be all for today. It's going to be dark soon" Oobleck looked at one of the abandoned buildings and threw his bag over to Yang, who was able to catch it despite her being off guard "You 6, set up camp in that building. Oh and please do make sure that there are no more of those... creatures" He turned back to them "Your leaders and I are going to secure the perimeter come Ruby, Sora"
Oobleck wandered off and gestured Ruby and Sora to follow him, leaving the rest to make camp, the team RWBY girls also thinking about their individual talks with Oobleck today
Oobleck, Ruby and Sora walked a short distance before the found an opening into the a small, but green forest, where they saw Grimm. These Grimm were not just the typical Beowolfs or Ursa though. These Grimm were gigantic, at least 3 times taller than a Deathstalker and greatly resembling elephants. Though with their size, you'd be better comparing them to woolly mammoths
"Whoaaa!" Ruby and Sora both stared in awe at how admitably awesome they looked "What is that? It looks awesome!"
"That, my dear students, is a grimm" Oobleck answered
They all simply looked at these giants tore through trees, knocking them down as the walked through them like they were nothing. Seeing such an awesome creature made Ruby bring out her gun in preparation
"Let's kill it"
"I'm afraid your sniper rifle will do nothing more than agitate a grimm of that size" The doctor diminished their caped leader's dream
"But what if it attacks us?" Ruby asked
"Fret not Ruby, those goliaths are not concerned with us. Not every grimm is mindless. Or rather not every grimm is still mindless.
You see the grimm before you is so powerful, so superior to other grimm and even heartless you fought, that they've undoubtedly lived hundreds of years. And in that time between killing humans and attacking our boarders they've done one important thing: they've learned.
They've learned that when they attack our boarders, they're likely to die. And what we lack in strength, we make up for in will" One of the grimm started looking right at the trio "And that killing one human will only bring more"
"Than... why are they so close to the city?" Ruby asked "What are they doing?"
"Waiting" Oobleck answered, with the slightest hint of dread in his voice
The goliath finished it's staring and rejoined with it's heard. Oobleck decided to walk back without the students following. Ruby noticed this and also looked at Sora. He looked like he knew something, and wasn't happy with what he knew. But he quickly let that worry go and join Oobleck, with Ruby following suit. Though she did have one more question for her profes-doctor
"Doctor Oobleck?" She called out and got his attention
"I was wandering-"
"Wondering why I've been interrogating your teammates all day?" The doctor tried to guess the silver eyed girl's question
"Wait, you've what?!" Sora asked surprised, as he was to distracted finding and fighting grimm all day to notice his superior's actions
"A-actually..." Ruby tried to five her actual question "I was wondering... Why did you want to become a huntsman"
"Both of you, look around and tell me what you see"
"Lots of old buildings, uhh empty streets..." Ruby gave his answer
"An old city next to a forest?" Sora gave his answer
"I see lives that could have been saved" Oobleck gave his answer as they continued to walk "As a huntsman, it is my job to protect the people, and although I am capable of doing it with traditional weaponry, I believe I can make a much larger impact if I do it with my mind. As a teacher, I am able to take knowledge, the most powerful weapon of them all, and place it into the hands of every student that passes through my classroom.
I look at this wasteland and I see lives that could've been saved. But I also see an opportunity; an opportunity to study these ruins and learn from their tragedies, and therefor become stronger.
I am a huntsman Ruby, because there is nothing else in this world I'd rather be"
"Wow" Sora was amazed to hear such a reason and such a speech from what he originally though was some energetic history teacher "Well, you've gotten me to pay more attention in your class"
"Well maybe if you do, I might not tell Yen Sid about those times you slept in my class" Oobleck remarked
"Hey, my team had some important stuff the night before!"
Sora's mention of his important stuff, which was helping out Rwby and finding out the organization was in this world, reminded him of how Ruby saw the organisation just before. He looked at Ruby, and before even asking if he should, she nodded her head yes
"Doctor, there's something else we need to tell you-"
"That I should ask your team why they wanted to be keyblade weilders? Don't worry, I'm sure the seeds I dropped in Team Rwby will or have already asked them"
"No not that. It's just... Ruby thinks she saw a member of organisation 13 earlier"
Before he could say another word, Oobleck just stopped. Stopped walking, stopped talking, stopped being energetic. He just stood where he was for a solid 12 seconds before coming back into reality and started nodding his head
"Than I suppose we have a big day tomorrow"
The team had started to unpack in a building and all had their jobs to set up everything. Kairi and Weiss set up the beds, Yang put away Oobleck's stuff, and Riku and Blake went to find sticks to start a fire tonight. Weiss and Kairi had just finished setting up the last of the beds in a circle so Riku and Blake would know where to start the fire
"Well hopefully it won't be to uncomfertable to sleep tonight. You know, on hard cement" Kairi said, while also congradulating them both
Kairi noticed, though, that Weiss didn't really acknowledged what she said. Looked like she had something else she was thinking about
"you ok, Weiss" Kairi asked
"Kairi..." Weiss tried to find the right words "Why did you become a keyblade wielder?"
Kairi raised an eyebrow, not expecting the question "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're a princess who already has 2 friends who can do all the fighting you could do, so why join a fight that you don't know if you'll make it out of?"
Kairi thought for a couple of seconds before giving an answer "Because I don't want to be worthless"
"What?"
"Ever since the 3 of us got roped into this master plan of Xehanort's, I've only ever been kidnapped and used by people who use darkness with nothing to help me with, while Sora and Riku do everything they can to stop them, while saving me at the same time. I felt more often than not like a burden instead of someone who could something-anything right"
Kairi summoned her keyblade with a girp tighter than usual "But when I got my keyblade, I felt something burn inside me. Something that said "You can do so much more now" and that's exactly what happened. I may not have done as many amazing things and Sora, Riku, King Mickey or even Lea yet, but now that I have a keyblade, it's more than possible that I can do something as amazing as they can do, while also helping other.
Not to mention that Sora and Riku have done so much for me since the day we met, that I feel like I owe something like this to both of them. They saved me before, and someday I'll save them. I know it"
Weiss was at a lost for words for the princess. She didn't think Kairi felt so strongly about the subject
"Why'd you want to know?" Kairi asked
"I was just... curious" Weiss said, intentionally letting out the part of Oobleck asking the same question about her being a huntress
"Got it. Hey by the way, where's Yang?"
"Huh?" Weiss looked behind her and noticed that Oobleck's stuff was set down, but Yang wasn't there "I don't know. Probably out for a walk"
Just a little ways away from where the team would stay for the night, Riku and Blake had found plenty of dead tree branches; more than enough to start a fire. They were just about to head back to the place and start the fire, but before they did, Riku noticed that Blake didn't look like she was completely ok. Not that she was ever the most expressive of Team Rwby, but she seemed in lower spirits than usual
"Blake, are you ok?" Riku asked
"Riku, why did you decide to participate in the keyblade war?"
"Huh?" Riku was taken aback by Blake's sudden question
"I mean, you seem to have stopped the darkness inside you, so why are you still fighting?"
Riku gathered his thoughts for a minute before giving his answer "Well I haven't stopped my darkness quite yet"
"How?"
"There are still a few qhost of my past that are a part of the new organization, and one of them just so happens to be Ansem"
"That guy who possessed you?" Blake remembered from their talk "I thought you defeated him"
"So did I, but unfortunately not for good. That boy from last night, Young, has the ability to time travel and used that power to help Xehanort create the new organization"
"Time travel!?" Blake dropped her branches "But that's... that's impossible. There's no such thing as time travel!"
"With what we've all told you, is it really that much of a surprise"
Blake thought for a moment about magic and keyblades and other worlds existing and the darkness able to form into world destroying creatures called heart-"Yeah, fair enough"
Riku smiled at her blunt answer, but went back to being serious as he continued "Anyway, he went back and gathered some of the closest people to xehanort over the years so that they could create the X-blade. Ansem just so happened to be one of the most important people connected to Xehanort"
"How?"
"He's Xehanort's heartless"
Blake stopped once again. The man who possessed Riku was Xehanort's heartless?! It sounded like Xehanort really had an influence on Riku and the other's lives
"I'd also wager to say he's at the very least in the top 5 of the worst members in this new organization" Riku continued "He had already been very persistent with me before, as there was a spirit that tried to get me to use the darkness a while ago, but now it's even worse now that he's fully back, teaming up with Xehanort"
"So, you're doing this to try and erase the darkness from your past?" Blake asked, giving her conclusion while picking up her sticks again
"That, and make sure Sora, King Mickey, Kairi and all my other friends don't get hurt. Including you"
Blake dropped her sticks again. Riku did too once he realized what he just said
"A-and Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, Nora, Sun, Neptune, Ozpin, Glynda, Oobleck- you get it. Don't want anyone here getting hurt. I mean besides Team Cfvy. I mean-"
Blake started to laugh at how much Riku started to stutter "Well that's very nice of you"
Riku stopped his sporadic behavior and just smiled at Blake's kindness "Thanks"
Riku decided they'd wasted enough time and needed to get their sticks to start the fire. Blake followed suit
Lea was leaning outside of the building with his arms folded up, waiting for Sora, Ruby, Riku, Oobleck and Blake all to get back. If anyone were to pass by, he would say he was "making sure grimm didn't find and or attack them" but, in actuality, he just wanted to find a little peace and quiet after a long day of fighting and searching
"There you are, Lea!" Yang poked out of the entrance to the building
Well, the peace was nice while it lasted
"What's up Yang?" Lea asked
"I was just looking for you"
"Why?"
"I wanted to know something"
"Ask away"
"Why did you become a keyblade wielder?"
Lea stopped leaning on the building "Excuse me?"
"I mean, no offence, but you've never seemed like the most important guy on the team from what I've seen, so why are you even here?"
It only took a little while for Lea to think up an answer "A few reasons, but one of the biggest is the hope that we can find a way to get my friends back"
"You mean besides your team?"
"Right. Roxas and Xion. Before teaming up with Sora, the 3 of us would hang out all the time, talk about the stupidest things and eat ice cream after everyday. Roxas was a bit dense and not always the brightest, but always cared about his friends and never stopped tying when he stuck his mind to something, and Xion was always shy at first, but when you got to know her she was just a sweetheart that made everyone's day with just her presence" Lea smiled while thinking of his friends "They were my best friends; more than the ones I have now"
"What happened to them?"
The smile faded "A lot of crap you wouldn't understand, but there was this huge thing which made Xion leave and Roxas too very shortly. Last time I saw Roxas, we had a... fight and I've never seen either of them since"
"I'm sorry to hear, but what do you mean I wouldn't understand?"
Lea gave a tiny chuckle "Trust me, even if I explained everything you'd be left with even more questions. All you need to know is that they're both gone and I'm hoping we can find a way to get both of them back if I prove my worth to them because... I miss them"
Yang thought back to the dance and Riku's talk with Blake and remembered the picture of Lea and those 2 kids I coats with him. They were most likely Roxas and Xion, she thought. Thinking back, the girl, Xion, still looked so familiar, but she coldn't put her and as to why. Before she could ask more about either of Lea's friends...
"Hey, you 2"
Across the street, Riku and Blake were coming back with the fire wood
"Ah, the love birds return" Lea joked
Riku stuttered for a second before responding "Yeah, back from a job"
"Hey, I'm on guard against any grimm that come by"
Riku and Blake both gave Lea a look that he knew meant that they knew he was lying
"And besides, it's not like we got the chance to do anything with how successful our search ended up being"
"Yeah, I can't believe we didn't find anything" Yan chimed in
"We've always been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. I guess we can't always have luck on our side" Blake answered
"Blake's right; today may have been a bust, but there's a chance of more success tomorrow after a good night's sleep" Riku tried reassuring them "Lea, you mind helping me with the fire before Oobleck comes back with Sora and Ruby?"
"If it gives me something to do, I guess"
Riku, Lea and Blake headed back in first, but Yang stayed out for a second to take Riku's words in. Hopefully he was right and things would be better tomorrow
The sound of sword and spear clashing could be heard upon the rooftop of Beacon. Jaune and Pyrrha had decided, to do a little training for the big day tomorrow. While Nora and Ren partied with team SSSN, Jaune opted not to go as he had the slightest feeling he could do a little more training, which Pyrrha, more than happily, volunteered to help with, as usual.
He swung his Crocea Mors and she swung Miló again, and again, and again. It looked like this stalemate would go on for quite a while until Jaune blocked her xiphos with his shield, than things fell into place. He pushed his shield against Miló and gathered enough strength to actually push Pyrrha back as well. Jaune started swinging his sword at Pyrrha, who tried blocking it with Akoúo̱ but was somehow having difficulties and was still being pushed back. He swung it at an angle which forced Pyrrha to use her shield while kneeling, which gave him the opportunity to quickly run to her side and push her away with his shield, which made her also drop her weapons.
"Yes!" Jaune started jumping as he though he'd won
However, he didn't want to gloat too much until Pyrrha had gotten up. So he gave out his hand for her to pick up. Pyrrha smiled at the gesture and extended her arm out as well, but not close enough to grab his hand. No she reached out for enough to place her hand on his armor and use her semblance to send him flying, followed by girly scream, to the other side of the roof
"No... fair" The blonde team leader tried to say as he got up
"Don't think that just because the enemy is down, the fight is won" Pyrrha explained as she also got up "They can still pull something up their sleeve when you least expect it"
"Got it"
"Still, you had me on the ropes for a second there" Pyrrha complemented her partner
""I-I did?" Jaune raised his head in surprise "You mean you were going all out that time"
"Well maybe I held back a little but, even if I was, it still shows that you're improving bit by bit each day" Pyrrha smiled at her partner's accomplishment
Jaune smiled back, feeling ready to take her on again "Alright than, let's go a second round!"
"Actually... would you mind if we just sat down for a second?"
Jaune straightened his back and took a moment to take in what she just said. Usually when they practiced combat, Pyrrha has him go twice, maybe 3 times against her evey time they trained, but they'd only gotten done with their first spar. Jaune had noticed Pyrrha was less in the game that she usually was, and did mess up more than she played off tonight. Like her mind was focusing on something else other than training
"I-is that ok?" Pyrrha reluctantly asked again
"Oh! Uh yeah, sure" Jaune stuttered to find an answer
They both sat on the edge of the roof and admired the night before them. It truly was a beautiful night. They glimmering lights from the CCT helped create a nice aura around the building, and all the other buildings had their lights on as well. Granted there weren't too many building ahead of them from their possition, but there were enough to light up the sky. Said sky was especially beautiful as well, probably the most beautiful thing to look at tonight with it's midnight blue color complementing the black night clouds, and especially the stars in the sky. Both of the teens could think of a time when there were so few stars in the sky.
That time wasn't too long ago, about 2 or so years. One night, it looked like every star had gone out, until a shower of comets had one day, somehow, returned them all to the sky. They both remembered how scientists, apparently, couldn't figure something as, to say the least, magical looking as it was. Jaune was one of the people who wasn't really watching the sky the night it happened so he couldn't believe what everyone was saying the next day, but Pyrrha did watch the stars and wasn't as shocked as she was amazed, as the sight had reminded her of an old story her mother told her all the time along with the story of the seasons
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Jaune asked to start some sort of conversation
"Yes, it is" Pyrrha answered, though it did sound like she was thinking of something else
Jaune noticed that in her voice's tone and become a little concerned "Are you ok Pyrrha?"
"Hm?" Pyrrha turned her head to her partner "What do you mean?"
"It's just that you've seemed a little out of it tonight, and I just want to make sure you're fine"
Pyrrha gave him a reassuring smile "Of course I'm fine"
"You aren't letting what Coco said get to you, are you?"
"No no, it's not that" Pyrrha tried to drop the subject as she didn't know what to say to him or how to say it
Before she could even figure out how to say it, her back straightened and stiffened when she felt a hand hold hers. She peered down to see it was Jaune's hand
"Pyrrha" Jaune tried to talk in a sinsere voice "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"
"...I mean" Pyrrha figured, as long as Jaune's listening to her she could get something off her chest "I guess I did let some of the things she said get to me"
"Is it that guy that took down Team Cfvy?"
"A little, but-"
"Is that all?" Jaune interrupted "Pyrrha, I seriously doubt we'll meet that guy if that's what you're worried about"
"Yes I know, but-"
"And if it's about that whole "you're invincible and can't understand pain" crap, just don't mind her" Jaune interrupted "I'm sure you get scared about loosing too, she's just angry and needs to cool of is all"
Pyrrha relunctingly nodded in agreement "In actuality, I am a bit scared that we'll run into someone or something like that and that we could all get seriously hurt. Or worse we..." she couldn't even speak the word
"If we ever run into something like that, than I'll make sure you, Nora and Ren are safe before charging in with a heroic scream all by myself"
"You don't have to do that"
"I want to though. I'm the leader after all, and I want to make sure you're all safe. Especially my partner"
That last part created an aroma of silence. She looked at him with such a thankful gaze for acting so brave for her, and he gave the same for giving him such confidence through training. Before they could for too long, Jaune got up, letting go of Pyrrha's hand to stretch
"Well we'd better head back. We don't want to be a couple of sleepless zombies, right?"
Pyrrha giggled a little "Right. I'll join you in a second"
"Alright, but don't stay out too long"
"And Jaune?"
Jaune turned back before walking too far to the door "Yeah?"
Pyrrha wanted to tell him how she really felt, but could bring up the courage to do so. Instead, she went with the next best thing
"I'm really glad that we're friends" Pyrrha smiled
Jaune smiled back "You and me both"
Jaune opened the door to the roof and headed back. Pyrrha looked up once more at the beautiful sky, thinking how lucky she truly was to have friends like Jaune, Nora, Ren and so many others before heading back herself
"...Friends"
Pyrrha stopped for a second. That voice again from earlier. She looked around the roof but found nobody. It was defiantly the same voice from earlier, so where was it coming from? Maybe this time she just imagined it. She is a little tired after all. So instead of dwelling on it, Pyrrha headed back and get some sleep for a really big day tomorrow
Author's notes: WOW! I MEAN WOW! How many months has it been? I think we were just about to ace it to 10. Also fairly certain V5 started and ended durin that time. I bet a lot of people thought this was dead for a while. I could try to make up an excuse like how I needed to rescue the rescue the damsel in distress, kill the ad guy, she the world and try or how I was trapped in a dungeon and only just now escaped to finish that final word, some kind of story to impress all of you and make you feel bad for me, but in actuality I just got lazy (I mean I did have a lot of stuff going o during my senior year of high school and on top of Ruby mystery dungeon I'm trying to get a Miraculous and Code Lyoko crossover off the ground, but it was mostly laziness with a hint of writers block.) As always, I'd like to say I want to improve on it, but I can't make any promises. But enough about me, let's take about SKRL
First off, let's get that elephant in the room out of here, I'm sure a lot of you are asking "How does Lea remember Xion? Didn't she make everyone forget her after she died?" Well at the moment I have 2 options: either I explain how she was remembered in the story (because I do have an explanation, it's just something I feel I could accidentally force within dialogue) or a retcon that plot hole because i've went through the rough draft of the KH timeline post 358 and realized the only times where forgetting Xion is a true significance is when Riku doesn't recognize her in DDD and in the cutscene in KH2 final mix in where she isn't in Roxas's flashback/goodbuy/I have no idea what that scene was suppose to be after his fight. I'll let you all decide that, but just know there is a reaso why Lea remembers her
Once again, I've really enjoyed writing for Kairi and exploring her character more. I expect KH3 to answer this, but I've always wondered why Kairi decided to train with the others. I mean Aqua's jus the realm of darkness away, and I'm fairly certain at this point that Mickey and Yen Sid know about the whole Ventus situation. Well until we get a canon answer, that's how it take her, Riku and Lea joining in the fight. It was also great writin some more RikuxBlake stuff, some arkkos at the end and the comedy with the squeaky turkey and Sora and Oobleck. Overall I really did like writing this chapter. It looks like you'd all really liked last chapter from the reviews. Speaking of which...
Librarian343: yeah writing for Oobleck has been a real treat. As for CFVY, you'll see just how badly they got hurt in a future chapter. Not on this part, but defiantly the next. Also it wasn't Young. Won't say who it was yet, but it wasn't Young. I haven't really played the infamous games, so i don't know what you're talking about, and I guess you could look at it from that, but it won't really be going in that direction. I won't say who it was here, but I will say that it wasn't a heart that transferred from Coco to Pyrrha
YamiChaos27: Well heartbreak and break ups are somethings that a lot of teens in relationships go through at some point. I have a friend who hit it off pretty well with another friend, but it couldn't last because one was a senior and the other was a sophomore. Still nothing's official yet, and there'll be plenty of time for both. I wouldn't say Kairi will be jellious, but she will be a little concerned Sora could possibly be falling for Ruby
FrancisVamp0822: I know and I try my best, ok?
JGWI1383: Well thanks a bunch, hope you continue leaving thoughts and reviews
Well I believe I've overhead what I needed to cover. If you like this chapter, leave a follow, a favorite, a review, and I'll see you all next time