Beast, Spirit, and Dragon

Ruby resisted the urge to bang her head on the wood. She had scoured what felt like the entire town, and had absolutely no luck. If she were a dragon, she'd probably have burned the entire village down in her frusturation. And of course the constant shrieking from that Grimm in the distance wasn't making it much. Though one of those shrieks seemed a little less monstrous and a little more human, but she didn't really try and think about it at this point. She eventually made it back to town square, where the group was gathered.

"Tell me someone had some luck," she said nervously.

"Yeah, but it was all bad," Jaune said, "I looked over all the village and I couldn't find anything."

"Same here," Nora said, "So what do we do now?"

"We keep moving," Ren answered. Were he a different man, he'd be ranting about how he was right after all, but he was throughly not that man.

"If we start now, we should be in Mistral by tomorrow."

"Will Qrow even make it that long?" Jaune asked.

"No," Ruby answered softly.

"We've go to do something," Ren said, "Let's go."

"Wait!" Jaune said, as he held up his hand.

"What now?" Nora almost groaned.

"Listen," Jaune said, as held up his hand, "Do you hear that?" The group did listened, as they heard what sounded like thudding footsteps coming their direction. It was overlaid with a deep hissing sound. No one needed to guess what it was.

"Get ready," Ruby said, as she opened up Crescent Rose. It felt like hours, as the footsteps gradually got louder. Sweat began to build on Jaune's brow, as he tighten his grip on his blade, and his scaled arm pulsed in pain. Then the monster emerged from the shadows. Somehow, it was even worse than what they are expecting.

The Grimm, while not as big as a Goliath, was easily the size of a Deathstalker. It looked like a twisted combination of a bird and a reptile. It had bird-like body complete with feathered wings, but its body was covered with dark scales. It had a long, snake-like neck ending with a vulture-like head, and a long snake tail. It opened its beak, as venom dripped out of its fanged mouth. It was a Basilisk, and that was bad enough, but then there was the thing lounging on its back.

It was human-like in appearance, but it was glowing white. Atop its head was a head of dark hair that contrasted considerably with its white form, with equally dark eyes with yellow pupils. The figure was masculine, and its ears were pointed with a dark black shorts with gold highlights around its waist as well as a black choker. The whole group could tell what it was: a Spirit. As they stared at it, it then opened its mouth.

"Greetings, mortals," it said, holding up its hand, "Glad to finally be able to meet you face to face." It's voice was smooth and oily, like water flowing over stones. RNJR could only stare at the being, at their first Spirit. Somehow, it seemed to be restraining the Grimm, which continued to hiss and growl, raking its talons through the ground in anticipation.

"Who are you?" Jaune asked. Maybe that was a dumb question, but it was the only thing that came to mind at this point.

"I am Viridios," the Spirit said, as he floated off the Grimm, "A being made by the God of Light to steward his creation." He then gestured down to the Basilisk.

"And this is Vritra, a being made by the God of Darkness to bring destruction to that creation." The Grimm let out another hiss, as its tail lashed.

"You're a High Spirit," Ruby said.

"I'm a Spirit yes, but I'm not one of the Four I'm afraid," Viridios answered, folding his arms, "I don't begrudge you for not recognizing me. It has been many ages since mortals have seen me in all my glory." Looking at him closer, Ruby realized something.

"You're the one from my dream!" she said.

"Oh yes, I know," Viridios said, sneering at her, "You slipped away then. But that night wasn't a total loss."

"Wait? What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"I was able to give your uncle a small, but lasting gift," the Spirit answered. A near universal chill went down their spines at those words. He was the one who poisoned Qrow?

"Why are you doing this?" Jaune said.

"Pardon?"

"Why are you chasing us like this?" Jaune demanded, "First you try and kill Ruby, and now you poison Qrow!"

"'Why'?" the Spirit responded, cocking his head, "It really wasn't that complicated. It was the same reason I helped destroy this village."

"So why did you do it?" Viridios just shrugged.

"There really isn't much to do out here, and tormenting mortals is a good way to pass the time, that's why." Those words sent an even worse chill down their spines.

"You're doing all this, causing all this pain and suffering, because its fun?" Nora asked slowly.

"Indeed I am," Viridios said as plainly as he could've. This whole thing was just a game for him? Just a means of cheap entertainment?

"Well, talking with you was quite nice," the Spirit said, folding his arms, "But I'm afraid talk can also be quite boring." He then floated down to Vritra's level.

"Time for dinner, old friend," Viridios whispered to the Grimm. With a shriek, the Grimm charged at RNJR, running like a literal chicken in their direction.

"Scatter!" Jaune shouted. The group quickly did that, causing Vritra to miss them all. Nora launched a couple grenades at the Grimm, though it didn't do much damage after such a monster. Vritra then snapped its beak at Nora, but she managed to avoid the strike. Ruby quickly was on atop of the Grimm, firing her own rounds at it, but it again did little more than make the monster mad, as it lashed its tail out, smacking Ruby and sending her careening away. The rose stumbled head over heels, and slamming into the remains of the clock tower.

"Ow," she moaned, rubbing her head. Vritra promptly sprung at her; though fortunately it got peppered with bullets from Ren, whose face was contorted with rage. The Basilisk hissed as it looked towards the man in green, locking eyes with him. Ren let out his own hiss, as his eyes turned to slits. The Basilisk roared, as it charged Ren, venom all but spewing from its beak.

During this, Jaune had taken it upon himself to check on Qrow. They had left him to the side of the square, where he was hopefully out of notice of the Grimm.

"Well, well." Jaune froze as he glanced up to see Viridios floating over him.

"I was wondering where he was," he said. Jaune instinctively swung his sword at the Spirit, only for the being to easily avoid it.

"You think you can beat me, do you?" he inquired, leaning on his hand, "A small man like you? Bringing down small men is always fun." With that, he whistled slightly. Vritra's eyes then swung in their direction, as it let out another shriek, and charged Jaune and Qrow.

"No!" Ruby cried, as she activated her Semblance. Once she was close enough, she phased out of her petal form, and slashed at the Basilisk, catching it across the face. While it didn't do much damage, it did get the monster's attention, as it shrieked again, and turned its attention towards her, before starting to chase the rose.

"Dumb beast," Viridios muttered, as he floated after it. Ren, meanwhile, ran over to support Jaune.

"Go help Ruby," Ren said, "I can keep Qrow safe." Jaune didn't want to leave his friend alone, but he sure as heck couldn't leave Ruby alone against the Grimm. Meanwhile, Ruby was resigned to dodge strikes from beak, claw, and the occasional tail from Vritra. She would fire her own occasional shot in its direction, but it failed to do any damage against such a large beast. Nora fired another couple grenades, but they only continued to make the monster mad. It then opened its beak, and spat out a thin stream of venom, which Nora had to avoid. She didn't want to think of what might've happened if she got some on her skin.

"Enough of this!" Viridios said, as he appeared on Vritra's back. He put both of his hands on its head, as the Grimm seemed to, not calm, but slow slightly.

"You want the easy prey first, don't you?" the Spirit hissed, leaning down. Vritra then hissed, as its gaze turned back to Qrow.

"NO!" Ruby cried as she tried to attack, only to get hit with the Grimm's tail, and get sent careening into a building. Jaune cried out for her, and ran to help, while the Basilisk charged Ren and Qrow. Knowing what he had to do, Ren activated his Semblance, as both Qrow and himself turned a strange gray. The Grimm came to a halt, hissing as it looked around, as if no longer seeing the two. Ren let himself take a breath at that. But it didn't last…

"That may work on the younger's creations," Viridios said from his position on the monster's back, lying on his stomach, "But me…" He then tapped a finger on Vritra's head. The Basilisk's eyes were then suddenly straight back on Ren, as it snapped at him. Fortunately, it was stopped when it shrieked in pain, stumbling back while flapping its wings. As it did, Ren noticed Crocea Mars in the side of its head. Not deep enough to cause any damage, but certainly enough for it to hurt.

"GO!" Jaune shouted as he continued running. Not inclined to argue, Ren picked Qrow up, and did his best to carry him to safety. Meanwhile, visibly annoyed, Viridios tired to calm his "friend", as he floated down, and reached for the blade. However, as he moved to grab it, he flinched back from it, as if the blade itself burned him.

"What?" he muttered, looking at his hands. But not intent on dwelling it, he focused, and telekinetically pulled it out of the Basilisk's head. Nora then took a position on a roof, before jumping down with Magnhild in hammer form. It smashed into Vritra's back, firing as it did. This actually got the monster's attention, as it let out a pain hiss, doubling over. Nora couldn't savor her victory, as the Basilisk's tail lashed out, and knocked her into a nearby structure. She tried to get up, only to find the Basilisk looming over her.

"NORA!" Ren cried, as he got to his feet. The mosnter glared down at Nora, venom dripping from its beak, as Nora closed her eyes in fear, tears slipping out. Viridios then looked towards Ren.

"You didn't watch then," he said cruelly, "Now try hiding your eyes this time." Vritra then opened its beaks, and got ready to deliver the finishing blow.A single thought then entered Ren's mind: save his friends, and the young woman he loved. Power surged through his veins, as his Aura glowed brighter than ever.

"What the…" The Spirit couldn't finish, as Vritra was suddenly slammed in the side by a great green dragon. The monster rolled away, as Viridios floated into the air, as he saw what slammed into his monster. The dragon doomed in the sky over them, his glowing pink eyes glaring down at the Spirit and the Grimm.

"I won't let you hurt them," the dragon declared Ren's voice. His friends all stared in shock and some disbelief at their friend. But one way or another, the whole of RNJR now had one singular thought in their heads: beat the monsters, and save each other. The old power of the God of Darkness back through surged their veins, as almost all at once, the three's forms was consumed in light of their Auras. Viridios could only look on in shock as three more dragons emerged from the light. While their forms were roughly he same as before, they were also slightly larger, and more muscular.

"By the Light, what is this?" Viridios demanded, recoiling in shock at the sight of the dragons. The forms reminded him more than a little of two certain beings far more powerful than him. Vritra hissed at the sight of the great reptiles before it, as it backed up slightly.

Not at all intent on answering, Ruby was the first to strike, beating her wings in the monster's direction, raking her talons along the Grimm's chest, finally piercing the Grimm's thick hide, causing it to howl in pain. It didn't have time to really react, as Jaune tackled it. Vritra bit at Jaune, only for the dragon's scales to deflect the Grimm's fangs. Jaune sank his own teeth into the Grimm's throat, leaving deep gashes.

His face contorting in frustration, Viridios clapped his hands together. A burst of telekinetic energy struck Jaune, and while not doing any damage (in fact it barely stunned him), it was just enough for his grip to loosen enough for the Basilisk to wrestle him off. However, before it could do anything to the dragon though, Ruby was suddenly on top of it, as it constricted her thorny vines around it, sinking her teeth into its neck. Vritra was yanked off Jaune, as it stumbled away, trying to get Ruby off of it. It wrapped its own tail around Ruby's neck, and managed to use its (somewhat) superior strength to pull her off, and onto the ground.

Right then, Nora crashed into its back, hitting with so much force it cracked the surrounding down. Raking her claws into the back, Nora bit into the back of its neck, and pulled it up. The Basilisk's eyes were then drawn to the sky, where Ren floated over it.

"You'll never torment anyone again." With that, he dove at Vritra, his jaws open. With the force of the strike, he ripped the Basilisk's head clean off. The monster's body collapsed, as it began to fade away. All four dragons roared in victory over the beast, breathing fire into the night sky.

Whoa! Ruby said Where did that come from?

I don't know, but I do something, Jaune declared Its not willpower that let's us transform. Its clarity!

Clarity?

Every time we try to transform, it's always when we've been completely clear on what we needed to do.

That's why we haven't been able to transform since Beacon Ren said Because we've been unsure about what to do.

Well! Nora declared, standing proud as the Grimm beneath her fully vanished I exactly what we need to do now! We need to get the damn things done! As the friends laughed at her, Viridios could only stare at the sight from the shadows. Vritra was one of the oldest and mightiest of Grimm on the continent, the one that had been the bane of Anima for years, brought low by the mortals. But these mortals… they weren't normal; then, all four dragons looked straight Viridios. They needed to know of them.

"Mortal filth," Viridios growled, before he floated away into the dark. However, a being of light had difficulty hiding in the dark, as both Ren and Nora dove after him, as the former quickly caught the Spirit, pinning him with his claw.

"After all you have done, you think you can just run away?" Ren growled.

"You would dare threaten me!" Viridios desperately ranted, "I am as a god to you!" The dragons was silent for a second, as they stared down at the creature at their mercy. Ren and Nora then exchanged a glance with each other.

"There are gods in this world," Ren finally said, "But you aren't one of them!" With that, Nora then opened her mouth, and bathed the Spirit in her fire. Viridios cried out, as he was reduced to glowing dust in the wind.

"Puny god," Nora growled, before she and Ren crawled/floated back to the town center.

Once they were back, Nora came close to Ren, and let out what sound like a purr, as she nuzzled his neck, which Ren returned by wrapping his neck around her own. Jaune and Ruby watched, as Ruby came closer to her partner, and rubbed her body against his. Jaune let out a slight hiss of pain at the thorns on her body.

Sorry, Ruby said. She then looked for, and quickly found her uncle, before she gently picked him up in her claws.

Well, shall we? she asked.

Lead the way Jaune answered. Then, as one, the four dragons took to the air, and soared away. As they did, Darkness watched from the sky, having observed the whole thing from out of fight.

"Well done," he murmured.

Note: First time we've actually got a named Spirit, and a named Grimm. For those who don't know, Viridios is the name of the Celtic god of agriculture and Vritra the name of a monster in Hinduism. There are probably plenty of questions people have about the Spirits, but I'll answer at least some of them next chapter, where I'll have another look back on the chapter.

This whole chapter was devoted to RNJR fighting the Basilisk (which I chose to take the place of the Nuckalavee). I hope people enjoyed it. We'll have one more chapter for Vol. 4, and then we'll be moving into Vol. 5. I really wanted to include the scene where Nora slaps Ren, but I tried a couple drafts with it, and it didn't fit with the rest of the story. So I tried to give him a scene of him and Nora working together as dragons.

Sorry for the lack of a WOR, but I was having trouble thinking of one. If anyone has a suggestion as to what else I can cover, feel free to share it.

Be sure to review. Please?