Disclaimer: I Don't own RWBY or the characters, please support the official release.
A/N: IT'S SPOOKTOBER. WHICH MEANS TIME FOR SPOOKS. I will return to the other fics eventually. But I wanted to celebrate my favorite month.
Beacon Academy
The great tower of Beacon loomed for miles, which could be seen even in far-off Vale. Its white walls projected an aura of strength and hope. It fostered the future defenders of mankind, those who graduated from the hallowed halls were heroes in every sense of the word. That was the legacy that the great Beacon had created. Many pursued that glory, and many died in the pursuit. But now a new generation was here to undertake the trials and tribulations. Among these new faces, there was a girl. Obscured by her long flowing red cape, the hood concealed most of her pale face, leaving the eyes in shadow. She had a nervous smile. Today will be the day… She thought to herself quietly, as she stepped off the ship, her boots making tapping noises on the stone ground. She caught a whiff of pumpkin in the air, that's right it was the fall season, and the rites of Samhain would be around the corner.
"I will catch up with you later sis. Don't get into too much trouble." The girl's head was ruffled by a taller, more stocky blonde girl, who was dressed more openly than the red hooded girl herself.
"You too Yang." The girl smiled back softly, adjusting her hood. Still keeping most of her face in shadow, but she also still wanted to see.
"Hey…" Yang put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's gonna be alright. You will make it through this like a piece of cake. And then we can do some parts shopping for Crescent?" Yang said, hoping to get a brighter smile. The girl's smile grew. "That's my sis. Seeya later." Yang then walked off with a group of friends, leaving the strange hooded girl alone. Something curious caught her attention, it was a strange scent. The hooded girl looked around and saw… a blond boy talking to a girl dressed in white, her hair was white like snow and long. The hooded figure walked closer hearing some of the conversations.
"The name's Jaune Arc, Short, and Sweet ladies love it," Jaune said with a big grin. The girl in the white dress looked at him with a deadpan look. The hooded figure noticed him looking at her, and he blinked as she stood beside the shorter girl.
"Ah. Do you know this one?" The girl in white asked her.
"No." She answered shortly, something was off about Jaune. "Do you?" She asked her.
"No, I don't." Jaune blinked a little offended at the way they were talking about him as though he wasn't there.
"Ruby," Ruby said to the girl in white.
"Weiss, and do you think he's…?" Weiss trailed off, as though she had realized something.
"Hmm. Should probably ask him why he's here." Ruby looked at Jaune.
"Uh, I guess just like you? I want to be a hero?" Jaune said nervously scratching the back of his head. Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"And what do you see as a hero?" She crossed her arms.
"You know! Saving people and making the world a better place, and inspiring people to be better." Jaune said with a slight blush.
"Huh… you actually believe that," Ruby said intrigued by the strange boy.
"Well, he has to survive first," Weiss said darkly. Ruby nodded, and she could tell the boy wasn't exactly very strong. He didn't even have an aura unlocked yet. He must have faked his way here… But he doesn't seem like a terrible person. Ruby felt torn about it, but there wasn't much she could really do.
"Heyyyyy I am right here," Jaune whined offended by the way they were just ignoring him.
"Maybe… you should come back next year?" Ruby suggested, trying to be as diplomatic as possible.
"Will another year really make another difference? I say he should take his chances, if he dies, he dies, if he lives good for him." Weiss said dismissively.
"I will show you both!" Jaune said in a huff and stormed off. Ruby sighed and turned to Weiss, and though the hood concealed half of her face, one could feel the aura of disappointment and some rage.
"Just because he's… you know. That doesn't mean we have to treat him like that." Ruby pouted.
"Ruby was it? He likely faked his way in here, even knowing all the risks. Besides… you know what he is. The way they have made us suffer." Weiss said gritting her teeth. "Besides I am giving him a chance more than others would. Most would just kill him on sight." Weiss huffed a cold icy breath, visible despite the fact it wasn't cold enough for that.
"Hmm." Ruby held her own chin, as she thought it over.
"Well, I have wasted enough time dwelling on it, farewell… Ruby." Weiss brushed past her roughly, and even through her cloak, Ruby could feel the cold chill. But she ignored it, she couldn't help but wonder more about Jaune. He seemed like a nice enough person. But he doesn't know everything, we will just have to wait and see how he reacts.
Ten Minutes Until Midnight.
They were in the gathering hall, watching as Professor Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy overlooked all the countless students that had arrived. "In ten minutes, you shall undergo your most arduous trial. It is one where you can truly perish. In those ancient forests, lays some of the greatest enemies we will face. This calling that you seek is not for the faint of heart. You should truly leave, otherwise." Ozpin gestured, and a tall towering woman walked out of the shadows handing Ozpin his scroll, and a series of slideshows played before the children. Showing visceral gore, of broken bones, strewn guts, and even footage of people being devoured alive, and it kept going for ten minutes. More than a few vomited, Ruby could smell the fear and anxiety.
"Awesome!" Yang silently cheered, she was getting pumped for the big fight.
"Is this the best he can do?" Ruby turned her head to the side, seeing a new person. She had long black hair, parted by a pair of cat ears, and she had piercing yellow eyes. "It will send only a small amount back." Blake pointed out, turning a page in a book she had.
"Well, at least some are smart enough to go away." Weiss pointed out the few people clearing out of the hall.
"Now then be prepared, go to the Cliffs. The goal is simple, survive the night. We shall watch but will not interfere. Only the strongest can fight the Grimm. Based on your performance, we shall declare the teams. Now go!" He tapped his cane, sending a resounding noise that sent everyone to the cliffs.
Ruby got on the launching pad, she had heard of it from her parents. She crouched, ready, there was screaming, sounded like some girl. The red hooded girl flew through the air, and then she took out her scythe, firing off a few shots as she slowed her momentum through the air, and leaped back and forth. This won't be too hard, kill some Grimm, make it through the night. However, she knew the real reason Ozpin had arranged things in such the way he had. She could smell that very reason even now. Night was the perfect time to finally stop holding back, at least for some. Ruby though, wanted to focus on actual prey that could fight back.
She crouched the muscles in her legs tensing up and growing, as Ruby slightly grew in height and build, and then she dashed through the forest at insane speeds. Leaping between trees like they were springboards, sending splinters flying with each impact. Keeping an ear out, the reserved girl finally allowed herself to grin, as she found the Grimm that would serve as prey. The teeth became more pronounced with fangs. The Beowolves, massive humanoid wolves with bone white masks, didn't even see the red blur coming, as the scythe cut through them like butter, taking off their heads.
Ruby counted each head that fell before it disappeared, Ten. A good start but she could do better, otherwise, Yang would brag about bagging more than her. Another girl scream echoed through the forest, and Ruby tilted her head but shrugged it off. She wanted to test out the improvements she had made to Crescent Rose. She thrilled at how effortlessly it cleaved through the substance of Grimm, they were slow and dull-witted, driven by rage and instinct. But she had to admire them in a way, there was no hesitation or judgment like Humans. Still, they weren't like humans, they were so limited to one thing and one thing only, destruction and death. She heard a snapping noise, bone was being broken, and not the familiar sound of a bone mask being fractured. No, it was like a bone in a person. She also smelled blood.
A Few Minutes Prior
Jaune felt lucky beyond belief, he had made a partner, and she was nice. Pyrrha Nikos, tall and a redhead with kind green eyes. "Jaune… Are you in fact… human?" She asked him with an odd look on her face, looking somewhat sad.
"Yeah, I am as human as anyone else. Why?" He asked, and Pyrrha's lips puckered up in a concerned expression.
"Well Well look who we got here boys." Jaune turned around at the sudden voice, it was a tall powerfully built person, with spiky brown hair and cruel blue eyes. "The big bad Champion looks like she has a partner." The big guy brandished his Mace, eager to use it.
"What are you doing?!" Jaune asked holding up his sword and shield. "We're here to become Hunstman right? Why fight each other?" Jaune asked, but the person knocked him aside with a powerful blow, and were Jaune truly skilled and not some faker, he would have had an aura to reduce the damage of the blow, but instead, he was sent flying. Crashing into a tree, he groaned in pain.
"It's simple. Everyone has heard the rumors of other students killing other students. And once we kill Pyrrha Nikos, the biggest baddest student. We will get recognition, and the teachers will probably even praise us for it. That will make people remember the name, Cardin Winchester." Cardin cackled. Pyrrha glowered at them, brandishing her spear and shield. Jaune watched, wondering if she could take them all on. Pyrrha charged, her shield colliding with Cardin's mace, pushing him back several feet, and with surprising speed and agility, she ducked under the swinging weapons of Cardin's other friends. Sweeping their legs out from under them. It was clear that she was far beyond them. "Tch you're better than I thought." He snarled and then rushed at her, swinging his Mace, she blocked, but with his free hand, he threw something to the ground that released a noxious cloud. Jaune instinctively held his breath in, Pyrrha wasn't so lucky as whatever it was paralyzed her completely. "Not so high and mighty now are y-" He was cut off as Pyrrha let out a mighty shriek and an explosion of fire sent Cardin flying back, and fiery wings started to emerge from Pyrrha, but she collapsed to the ground, whatever she was trying to do wasn't working.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune asked confused.
"Holy shit… is she… a phoenix?" Cardin asked stunned. "I thought they were just stories. Heh, this will be awesome." He got up, taking off the burnt useless armor, and slowly approached her. Jaune launched himself, getting in front of the mace, letting out a yelp of pain, as the Mace broke his shield apart, breaking his shield arm completely, Pyrrha was stunned at him stepping forward. "What the fuck are you doing?! That's a monster, you moron! They butcher people like us! Or are you one as well?!" Cardin decked Jaune across the face. The pain was all Jaune could feel, and he spat blood back at the bully.
"You don't know that she's like that! And she's my partner. You want her… you have to go through me." Jaune said, but he was feeling beyond fucking scared, knowing he couldn't do anything.
"Jaune… just go." Pyrrha pleaded with him. To think I was going to… and yet… he saves me despite what he saw. Why? It made no sense to the champion.
"Tch let's just finish this monster fucker off." Cardin snorted as he raised his weapon high. But he paused as he heard a low growl, shakily turning around he saw a red hooded figure in the treetop. She unclasped her cloak, and let out a mighty roar, shaking Cardin and his goons to their core. Before the cloak even touched the ground, she leaped, and she swiped at the three people behind Cardin, and their auras were gone in an instant along with their guts flying to the side. Cardin swung his mace down at the girl, but she opened up her mouth and with her fanged teeth, she caught the mace with her teeth, and chomped clean through the metal, and spat the metal back out with such force, it tore through Cardin's aura, breaking it and leaving dents in his armor. She then caught his head with her clawed hands, and with a mighty yank, she tore his head clean off and tossed the head to the side. Then she caught her cloak just before it touched the ground.
"Wha…" Jaune was at a complete loss for words, as he finally got a good look at the girl. "Ruby?" He asked, and Ruby turned around staring at him, and he finally saw her eyes, pure silver, she changed slightly in height and shape, as the fangs and claws on her hands went back to normal. She tossed the cloak at him, wrapping it around him. He was too stunned and injured to resist. She then made her way over to Pyrrha. She sniffed the helpless champion.
"You will be fine, it's not a lethal agent, but it will last for a few more minutes." Pyrrha nodded at the assessment but she blushed, clearly embarrassed by how Cardin had gotten the better of her. Ruby faced Jaune again, looking at him. Wrapped in her red cloak, he seemed smaller to her. "Keep that wrapped around yourself, I would unlock your aura. But we don't have aura, unfortunately. But don't take the cloak off, it should ward off the others, I will take care of the Grimm until Pyrrha recovers enough. How bad is that arm?" Ruby asked him, looking him over.
"I can still move it. But Some bones are broken I think." Jaune admitted with a wince.
"Alright." Ruby then picked him up, hauling him over her shoulder, then she picked up Pyrrha with the other hand, holding her under her other arm. Ruby then once again changed, growing taller and bulker, her ears shifted to the top of her head where they sorted into tall wolfish ears. And a tail emerged from under her skirt, claws poked through her boots. Jaune couldn't believe what he was seeing, they then moved through the woods in an insane blur, as Ruby put them inside a cave, she tore up part of her cape after putting them down, and with a few sticks, she made a splint for Jaune's arm. "I will be outside, get some rest for now." She said softly to Jaune and went out of the cave.
Once she was outside, Ruby snorted, wondering why she had gotten involved. If she had waited another minute, it could have resolved itself. So why? Is it because he stood up for Pyrrha? Despite knowing what she is… She felt conflicted, the Covenant that Ozpin had created long ago, forbade any knowledge of the secret world to be revealed to regular humans, otherwise, they would be silenced by any means. What if… I just put him in a worse situation? But she couldn't bring herself to kill him, he hadn't done anything wrong… and maybe she just wanted to believe that things didn't have to be so grim.
An hour later, Pyrrha Nikos joined her. "Thank you," Pyrrha said to her, still looking shy.
"It was no trouble… before Cardin showed up? Were you going to?" Ruby trailed off, not wanting to say the obvious.
"Yes. Speaking of. He fell asleep after all… It's odd I don't think I've ever seen someone so trusting." Pyrrha admitted with an incredulous tone.
"I should get going. I can always get my cloak back later." Ruby said rubbing the back of her head. "Gotta go get my Schyte and well my sister is probably ahead of me in kills." Ruby sighed. Pyrrha giggled and then held out her hand to her fellow redhead.
"Fight well." She said and Ruby smiled, and shook the hand of the phoenix, then the wolf let out a mighty howl and ran out into the forest.
Ozpin's Office, the Next Day
Ozpin stared at the nervous boy standing before him, the boy was wearing the red cloak that Ruby had draped around him. Curious, she actually put him under her protection? An odd choice for someone of the Rose Clan. "I am impressed Mr. Arc, you survived," Ozpin said calmly, playing around with his cane, tapping it ever so slightly on the ground. "No doubt you have questions about what you witnessed in that forest." Ozpin chuckled. "It's a long story, but tell me… what do you think of your savior?" He asked curious to see the answer of the boy.
"She… has nice eyes. And I owe her." Jaune said honestly, an interesting reaction. "She's also a little scary, but she's cool you know." Jaune laughed a little nervous. Ozpin hummed and tapped his cane on the ground a few more times, and sighed.
"I have a tale for you Jaune." Ozpin began.
"A Tale?" Jaune asked, cradling his broken arm. Ozpin poked the boy with a tap of his staff, activating the aura of Jaune, and Jaune watched incredulously as his wounds instantly healed.
"Once upon a time, much like you I had faith in man. But time and time again, I saw them repeat the same follies. I was nearly driven into absolute despair of the impossible nature of the task. To unite such creatures for all time, so that they may bask in the so-called love of Gods. And thus when the strength of men failed me a final time, I had a choice. Using the Relic of Choice, I foresaw a future, where I would make a choice to give four amazing humans power beyond their kind. Now you must understand, at the time I was reluctant to use these Relics, in fear that if I used them in chorus, then the wrathful petty gods would return before I was ready. But I couldn't help myself, I was curious if anything I fought for was worth it, perhaps in a different time in a different place, some other version of Me didn't use the relics in such a manner. Regardless after I saw the future, I asked Jinn about the future, and she told me enough. I never delved too deeply, but three questions were all it took for me to realize. That entrusting Man to still follow light would only end in a renewed tyranny of Gods. And countless lives that didn't deserve to be extinguished would be even in a world where the gods returned. So I chose a new path, traveled the very world itself. As I continued my fight against Salem, waiting a hundred more years until finally, I asked Jinn the final three questions I would ever ask her. And so I knew that in order to combat the dark creatures of Grimm, I would need greater monsters. The Silver Eyed Warriors were my truest allies, they willingly stepped forward, and I changed them, they took the forms of Wolves in many states, from running on all fours, to simply using a few features, or becoming something no mortal should ever have the misfortune of gazing upon, a creature built for war. And we turned the tide against my old love. She fought back of course, but I held magic, possessed the power of semblances on my side, were it not for the cumbersome limitation of the staff only being able to make one thing at a time. I would have done many other great wonders, but I grew creative with my magicks. And created many more monsters if you want to use so crude a word. In the end, we had her cornered and I knew that she would never stop, she would never learn or repent, so I did the only thing I could, I used the staff to open a portal to a void where she could never escape, and I sealed her away for all eternity. But despite how I managed to save them from her, they scorned my creations, they feared them, they turned against them. So I hid them in the shadows and vowed that I wouldn't abandon them as our gods abandoned us. So I used the sword of destruction one last time and used it to destroy all of the mortal memory of my creations. And now we have been the silent watchful guardians of you and your kin for countless centuries Mr. Arc. It's a shame that I will have to end you for stumbling into this secret world." Ozpin said all impressively without ever once pausing for breath, and all the while he used the magic he spoke of to show images of the things he alluded to, and Jaune watched as Ozpin had created all the various monsters of myths and legends in the past, and the epic battles before his very eyes, but the last statement scared him the most.
"You're going to…" Jaune was terrified, what could he possibly do against someone as powerful as Oz?
"I am sure that you're a nice boy. But measures must be taken to protect my children." Ozpin stood up as the cane glowed and changed shape into a blade. Jaune didn't even have time to blink as the blade passed through him, but he felt no real pain. "From this point on, the boy who was Jaune Arc is no more," Ozpin stated. Jaune was confused but his pockets felt lighter, and when he patted them down, the scroll was gone. "This is the sword of destruction, with it I have erased all memories and all traces of you, save for your own physical body and soul," Ozpin said, and Jaune could only stare in horror. "So you now have a choice, you can take your chances with the outside, or you can try to make it as a student here. Both are perilous, and I don't envy your choice." Ozpin's eyes grew darker, and the man who stood over Jaune, his silver eyes glowered darkly. "If Ruby Rose hadn't chosen to put you under her protection with that cloak. You would be dead where you stand. Make no mistake boy, you're not special. And should you do anything to harm that which I cherish, I will not hesitate to erase you utterly and completely. Do you understand?" Ozpin asked the boy with malice.
"Yes sir." Jaune said with a gulp. Ozpin nodded as the sword turned back into his cane once again, and Jaune was allowed to walk out of the office. Ozpin then sat in his chair with a heavy sigh.
"You may come out now, Miss Rose." She plopped down from the ceiling, with a pensive look on her face.
"Was that really necessary?" She asked him.
"It is cruel yes. But it was needed, besides he needs to realize where he truly stands. Someone like him never should've made it… I haven't seen something like this in a long time. Not since… well you know." Ozpin said with a chuckle. Ruby rolled her eyes, but yes she knew what he meant.
"So… what team is he going to be on?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Based on his performance, and comparing it to others, he should make a good fit with Pyrrha Nikos, and Ren and Nora will compliment them nicely," Ozpin said watching her for her reactions. She nodded. "You're smiling." He noted the expression on her face.
"I guess now that we're past the secrecy part. It will be nice to stop being so guarded around normal people." Ruby chuckled, she looked more carefree than when she had entered.
"And it has nothing to do with being able to see her again?" Ozpin asked with a slight teasing in his voice. Ruby blushed brightly, and then her teeth sharpened into fangs.
"That's…" Ruby huffed, and shook her head viciously, and then stormed out of the office. Ozpin couldn't help but laugh just a bit. It certainly seemed like this class of students was going to be interesting.
Elsewhere
"Cardin hasn't reported back." A woman with black hair, dressed in a red dress sighed, as she petted what looked like a cat sitting in her lap. "Just as expected, so what now?" The woman asked, and then the Cat leaped out of her lap, and landed upon a dresser, and stared the woman directly in her yellow eyes.
"Now we recruit." The cat spoke, the voice was feminine in nature. "Ozpin suspects nothing, this gives us the advantage. The plan will continue as follows." The cat said as though it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Even so… He possesses the relics, he has immense magic that he has honed to perfection over eons. And you and I both know his army is immensely strong. How can we hope to match that in any shape or form?" The woman in the red dress asked bluntly.
"It won't be easy that is to be sure. However, we don't need a complete victory. Just enough to bring me back." The cat hissed.
"Whatever you say, Mistress." The woman sighed, laying back down on the bed. The cat hissed at her but made no further comments, as the sun was rising, and they both needed their rest for the following day to get the plan truly rolling.
A/N: Sorry for the focus on Jaune, for the most part, Ruby was being very guarded since yeah, she doesn't want people like normies to suspect anything. But next chapter she will be freer to be herself. And we will truly get to explore Team RWBY and have a bit more spooky fun. And still deciding on the girl's monster forms along with Ren and Nora XD. If you have suggestions, I am listening XD.