Chapter 13
Haven's Fate
Dawn had thrusted her ax forward pushing Yuki back.
Yuki slid against the floor and glared at Dawn.
"What's the matter, unable to assassinate me like you tried to against my friend?"
Yuki held an aura dagger in her hand and her main weapon in the other.
"If i wanted he would be dead!"
Yuki ran at Dawn and started shooting at her.
Dawn quickly separated her weapon and shot at Yuki with one of her weapons and ran at her with the other.
Their blades clash and the two of them aim their secondary weapons aimed at the other's head.
Suddenly Dawn was pulled down before Yuki shot her.
"Wh-"
Yuki was interrupted by Dawn kicking her chest pushing Yuki back.
Dawn jumped up.
"You're a pathetic assassin."
Yuki coughed a little blood before she smirked
"You'll regret that!"
Yuki ran at Dawn and started throwing her aura daggers directly at her.
Dawn started deflecting them with her weapons.
Yuki was moving faster than before.
Monika was watching the battle while tending to her wound.
'She's done for'
She thought to herself.
'When Yuki sees blood she goes berserk.'
Yuki quickly was behind Dawn making her turn towards her only for Yuki to move behind Dawn again.
Dawn turned her head only for Yuki to move in front of her.
"Die!"
Yuki said as she thrusted her dagger at Dawn's stomach.
The blade hit Dawn but didn't move far.
"What?"
Yuki pulled her dagger back only to be met with Dawn's ax hitting Yuki's chest, breaking her aura.
She got pushed into a wall near Monika.
Dawn spinned her axe.
"If you fight an assassin."
Strings that were wrapped around her appeared and vanished.
"Be quick and defensive."
Monika was shocked at what she just saw.
'How could this pathetic student beat Yuki?'
She looks at Kiryu
'You better not lose.'
Kiryu was floating in front of Erika
"You should leave while you have the chance."
He aimed his gun at Erika
Erika just smiled and readied her spear with one hand and kept her other hand closed.
"Not on your life."
Kiryu flew towards Erika who quickly shot at Kiryu who dodged each shot.
He readied to slash Erika making her put her spear up in defense.
Kiryu smirked and flew above Erika and tapped the top of her head with his hand.
"Huh?"
Erika turned to Kiryu when she was suddenly floating.
Kiryu quickly flew at Erika and slashed at her and before Erika could react he slashed her again.
Erika watched Kiryu's movements as he slashed her, weakening her aura.
'Now!'
She thought.
Erika quickly shot her spear, knocking her out of the way of Kiryu's attack.
She fell towards the ground and moved her closed hand before she started floating again.
Kiryu glared and flew towards her again.
Erika shot her spear again and dodged Kiryu's sword.
She opened her hand a little before closing it quickly.
Kiryu aimed his gun and shot at Erika as he flew towards her .
Erika continued shooting her spear to dodge Kiryu.
His semblance wore off and Erika was back on the ground.
"Why won't you stay still?"
"I have no plans on dying today."
Erika's hand was open and glowed slightly.
Kiryu saw the glow and quickly ran at Erika and grabbed her arm.
"Not happening."
Kiryu said with venom in his voice.
He let go of Erika and she was thrown directly into the ceiling.
She coughed a bit of blood.
Kiryu flew fast towards Erika, aiming his sword at Erika's neck.
Right before it got to her though vines suddenly restricted his arms.
Erika smiled.
"Should watch both hands closely."
The vines pulled Kiryu down slamming him on the ground.
Erika shot the ceiling with her spear and shot constantly to gain more momentum as the vines around her wrapped around her arm.
When Kiryu went down he was in the air for a moment.
The vines around Erika's arm began to glow as she slammed her fist into Kiryu's stomach, shattering his aura.
All the plants around Erika began to decompose as Kiryu fell unconscious.
At the Vault…
Shade's aura grew fierce as he looked at Cinder.
Raven looked at Shade then at Cinder.
'He easily could have aimed his blade at me.'
She thought to herself.
'His mind is focused on Cinder rather than on protecting the relic or on me.'
Cinder looked at Shade and then smiled.
"Well, it looks like we have an uninvited guest at our little party here."
Cinder said, looking at Shade.
"Well Raven, how about we get rid of him so we settle this. Maiden to Maiden."
Raven just shook her head at Cinder.
"If you think im stupid enough to fall for your tricks you have another thing coming."
Cinder looked at Vernal.
"Clearly otherwise she would still be alive."
Raven glared at Cinder.
Right before she could attack Shade ran at Cinder.
Shade slashed at Cinder with his blade in his right hand.
Cinder quickly dodged it, making Shade go behind her.
Shade spinned his blade so the blade pointed behind him.
He quickly slashed behind him causing Cinder to jump back.
Shade stood up as Raven launched her blade out of her scabbard and began attacking Cinder.
Cinder quickly used her powers to blast herself into the air.
Raven jumped towards Cinder who quickly summoned a blade in front of her to block Raven's attack crashing them into the nearby rock wall.
Shade ran towards the two as this was happening.
He jumped to the side and started falling.
Before he got too far, shadows formed from his legs attaching to the rock walls at his left and right.
This launched Shade towards the two maidens.
Before Shade could attack Cinder she created an explosion pushing him and Raven back.
Shade and Raven glanced at each other before they charged at Cinder.
Raven was faster and clashed with Cinder first, using her Maiden powers to move even faster against Cinder.
Shade ran towards them with his shadow enhanced blade.
Raven saw Shade coming and jumped back allowing Shade to strike Cinder.
His blade slashed through Cinder's blade shattering it while also hitting her causing her aura to flicker.
Part of Cinder's shattered blade went into her grimm arm.
Cinder jumped back as the shadows left Shade's blade.
"Aura can't protect your arm,it's grimm."
Raven said
Cinder ripped the broken blade from her arm.
"You turned yourself into a monster just for power."
Cinder just glared at Raven
"Look who's talking."
Cinder summoned a spear to her hand.
"Look at him, he's clearly a monster."
She aimed the spear at Shade.
"I wonder who made him a monster."
Cinder charged at Shade and Raven and the battle resumed.
As they fought it was clearly obvious that Shade was struggling to keep up with the intense speed of the maidens.
He was able to block the attacks Cinder launched at him but he couldn't strike back.
Raven and Cinder's clash launched a blast of magic up that caused the area to shake.
Shade continued to focus on Cinder.
Each attack Cinder launched at Shade made him break her weapon.
Raven took this opportunity to attack Cinder, who quickly created a new weapon.
Cinder and Raven started to fight in the sky above Shade.
Their fight led to the two of them summoning magic around the two of them.
The energy was channeled into large elemental swords.
Shade jumped towards them as the two clashed.
The force of the attack caused the building itself to shake.
Cinder pushed Raven back and slashed down at Shade who jumped towards her.
Suddenly Shade's shadow aura vanished and he started to fall.
As Shade fell he watched Cinder and Raven fought with his pure black eyes.
The two vanished from his sight.
Shade's mind flashed to all the chaos Cinder caused at Beacon.
His aura flared to life and his Grimm wings appeared on his back once again.
(Cue The Power to Resist from Dragon Ball Super)
Shade flew above everything.
He saw Raven being held against a wall by Cinder's Grimm arm.
Cinder held a blade in her hands as she slowly walked towards Raven.
Shade threw both his blades at Cinder.
She quickly knocked them back with her sword.
The blades were glowing with Shade's aura as they were knocked back towards him.
Raven took advantage of the distraction and froze Cinder's feet.
Shade flew up as rubble fell on Cinder, giving Raven the opportunity to escape and jump from rock to rock above the crashing rubble.
Shade flew next to Raven as Cinder flew towards the two.
Right before Cinder got too close.
Shade used his shield to shatter a rock above him.
His wings turned into six arms, three on each wing and took the pieces of rubble and threw it at Cinder.
She quickly moved her hands to destroy the rubble with her power.
This distracted her, leading to Shade grabbing her neck and throwing her into most of the rubble, making her hit the ceiling before falling near Raven.
Cinder quickly recovered and the two Maidens continued to clash.
Shade continued flying and slicing at Cinder as the fight continued.
He was able to keep up with the two by flying towards the least broken part of the rubble and clashing with Cinder.
Unfortunately with the environment around them crumbling neither fighter was able to fight.
Eventually the rubble stopped falling and Raven and Cinder landed on the ground.
Shade wasn't seen though as Raven and Cinder were on opposite sides of the vault.
Both their auras flashed.
Clearly they both were getting tired.
Raven stood up first.
"Had enough yet?"
Cinder looked up at Raven.
"Shut up!"
"I bet that kid could have easily destroyed you without me."
Cinder's eye flared with rage.
"If you were stronger or more clever then maybe you would remember to watch your back!"
Cinder looked behind her only to gasp for air a second later.
Shade was behind her and had shoved his red blade through her gut.
He looked at Cinder with his pitch black eyes.
Cinder lifted her Grimm arm to Shade who quickly grabbed it with his free hand.
Shade crushed the arm and Cinder felt as if her energy was being drained as Shade squeezed it.
He pulled his sword out and threw her off the edge.
Raven looked down at Cinder and held her hand towards Cinder.
Cinder froze and fell.
(Power to Resist ends)
Raven turned towards Shade.
His blade dripped a little and he was breathing heavily.
Shade dropped his sword and put both hands on his head.
Suddenly he screamed.
The scream echoed across Haven.
His aura vanished and his eyes returned to normal.
Shade fell onto his back, his eyes closed.
Raven walked over to Shade.
"You fought well for someone new to Shadow Possession."
Shade was still breathing heavily, his aura returned to normal and started to flicker.
Raven looked at her sword then at Shade.
"You've earned my respect."
She sheathed her sword and walked towards the vault.
"I can see why they like you."
She placed her hand on the vault and it opened.
Right before she could enter though she heard a loud crash.
Raven looked behind her and saw her daughter and her former apprentice walking towards her.
Hiroki looked at Shade then at Vernal.
"Check on Shade."
Hiroki said while walking passed her and ran towards Raven.
"What did you do to him?"
He drew his two swords and slashed at Raven who blocked with her sword quickly.
"Listen Hiroki, I didn't do anything."
She pushed Hiroki back and remained calm.
"In fact your friend isn't even hurt."
Yang checked Shade and noticed that his stab wound was completely gone.
"She's right."
She said while standing up.
"The side effect of using Shadow Possession is a completely draining of one's aura quickly, the fact he was able to stay in that form for so long means he had a lot more aura then expected."
Raven sighed.
"I gave you two every opportunity to walk away from Qrow and Oz."
Yang walked in front of Hiroki.
Hiroki was still aiming his blade at Raven.
"You opened the Vault."
Yang stated before looking at Hiroki.
"Did you know?"
Hiroki shook his head.
"I was unaware about Maidens at the time, though when we found out I had my suspicions."
Raven smiled a little.
"I taught you well."
Hiroki just glared at Raven.
"Don't be proud of yourself, you're still my current enemy."
"Oh I thought Adam Taurus was your current enemy? Or did you give up on your revenge?"
Hiroki put his weapon away.
"I chose to help my friend and leader because I knew dealing with you and Cinder could be too much for him."
Raven nods at this.
"As you can see Cinder isn't here and that's thanks to your friend there, he used Shadow Possession to its highest strength and won."
Hiroki looked at Shade then stood back and let Yang speak to Raven.
Yang was talking to Raven about how she made the last Spring Maiden trust her then killed her.
Raven said the last Spring Maiden was weak no matter how much training she gave her and she wasn't cut out for this world and she would be hunted her entire life.
Hiroki slashed a blade beam at Raven making her duck to dodge it.
"That doesn't give you the right to decide who lives or dies!"
"It was mercy!"
Raven responded to her former apprentice
"Which are you mom?"
Yang said
"Are you merciful or are you a survivor?"
She started to rant on how Raven let Yang fall into the trap so she could get what she wanted.
Raven responded saying Yang didnt know her or what she's been through or the choices she made.
"But i do"
HIroki said, causing both of them to look at him.
"I've seen everything you've done for years. I remember now the girl you killed because she was weak, you told me to leave the area but i didn't. I kept my mouth shut because it was none of my business. I shouldn't have done that."
He walked towards Raven, his semblance activated fiercely.
"What I should have done is stop you."
Yang held her arm in front of Hiroki and shook her head at him.
Hiroki calmed down and his semblance deactivated.
"The only Raven I know is the one Dad told me. She was troubled,complicated, but she fought for what she believed in, whether it was her team or tribe."
Hiroki kept his blade ready in case Raven made a move.
"I've stared death in the face over and over again and everytime ive spat in that face and survived because I'm strong enough to do what others won't!"
Raven shouted.
"You know nothing about me or my team, we've all stared death in the face and fought back especially Shade! He had to kill his only family just so he could survive!"
Hiroki shouted back at her.
Yang spoke up next.
"You don't know the first thing about strength,you turn your back on people,you run away when things get too hard, you put others in harm's way instead of yourself."
Yang clenched her fist.
Hiroki looked down.
He remembered when he left Shade to figure out what to do after Adam fought him.
'At least I came back.'
Yang continued speaking.
"You might be powerful but that doesn't make you strong"
Raven glared at Yang with her glowing eyes.
"Who do you think you are lecturing me?! Standing there shaking like a scared little girl!"
Hiroki shot at Raven which she quickly blocked.
"I was never afraid of you, don't forget that. Those maiden powers mean nothing to me."
Hiroki said calmly
Yang continued to speak
"You're right, I'm scared but I'm still standing here."
She started walking towards Raven.
"I'm not like you, I won't run. Which is why you're going to give me the relic."
"And why would i-?!"
"Because you're afraid of Salem!"
Hiroki's eyes widened when Yang shouted.
'It makes sense now.'
He thought to himself
"And if you thought having maiden powers put a target on your back, imagine what she'll do when she finds out you have a relic."
Raven turned away from them.
"She'll come after you with everything she has or she could come after us."
She turned back towards them
"And we'll be standing there waiting for her."
Hiroki stood next to Yang
Yang walked closer to Raven.
Raven's glow vanished.
"You dont want to do this Yang."
"No, but I'm going to do it anyway."
Yang walked past Raven.
Raven turned to Yang.
"I'm sorry"
She then turned to Hiroki.
"To both of you"
"Yeah me too"
Yang responded.
Hiroki just nodded.
Yang turned around to see a Raven feather.
Hiroki looked up towards a Raven as it flew off.
"You get the relic, I'll wake up our friend here."
Yang nods and goes inside the vault.
"Shade are you alive?"
Hiroki asked, shaking him a little.
Shade moved a little and opened his eyes.
"Ugg why does my body feel numb?"
He struggled to sit up.
Hiroki helped him stand.
"You've been through a lot."
Shade looked around and saw Vernal's body, Yang in the Vault and both Maidens missing.
"Did I do it?"
He looked at his blade on the ground and picked it up.
A bit of blood was on it.
"I did it."
Shade smiled a bit.
"Cmon lets get out of here"
Yang said, walking out with the relic.
Meanwhile,
Grayson had pushed Shin away from Adam Taurus before he got too close to him.
As the two fought Shin glared at Grayson.
"Erika has told me about you Shin."
"More lies from the disbeliever!"
Shin shouted.
Grayson sighed.
"Look around you've lost."
Shin looked around and saw White Fang members surrendering then Adam running off to the woods.
He growled and dropped several dust crystals on the ground and ignited them.
An explosion of smoke covered the area.
When the smoke cleared Shin was gone.
Grayson looked down as Ghira approached him.
"It's been a long time old friend."
He looked at his fellow Faunus with a smile.
"Ghira."
"I can only guess that a lot of these Faunus are here because of you."
He shook his head.
"No they're here because of her"
They both looked towards Haven Academy.
Inside said building…
The battle had left Hazel, Mercury and Emerald against the Huntsman and Huntresses in front of them.
"That's enough!"
Ruby shouted.
"Just give up, we have you outnumbered."
Dawn said.
Mercury got mad and punched the ground.
"It's not over! Cinder will come back, she'll have the relic and she'll stop all of you!"
Emerald shouted.
Erika looked around.
'There's like 10 of us here.'
She thought to herself.
"Are you sure about that?!"
Everyone heard Shade shout as the elevator rose to show Yang holding the relic with Hiroki and Shade next to her.
Shade held up his blade that still had Cinder's blood on it.
Erika and Dawn smiled at their teammates.
"Yang."
Ruby said happily
Emerald fell to her knees.
Mercury started to step back.
Monika pulled Kiryu and Yuki towards Hazel with her one arm.
Suddenly Emerald screamed and everyone saw a vision of Salem rising from the center of the room before screaming.
The illusion wore off leaving everyone confused.
"An illusion, an accurate one."
Ozpin said causing everyone to look at him
"That was Salem.
Outside Haven.
Mercury was carrying Emerald and running while Hazel was carrying Kiryu and Yuki.
Shade and Hiroki walked towards Dawn and Erika.
"We're together again."
Erika said with a smile.
"All it took was several months of Hardship."
Dawn said.
"Training."
Hiroki spoke next.
"And mystery."
Shade said while breathing heavily.
"Are you ok?"
Dawn asked, looking concerned.
"Yeah...just need to catch my breath."
Erika looks at Hiroki.
"Thanks for helping me with Shin."
Hiroki nods a bit.
"I did what I thought was right at the time, I have no plans to let Adam get away next time though."
"You still want revenge against him?"
Hiroki nods.
Erika looks down then back up at Hiroki.
"I'm just glad to see you all again."
She quickly grabs all three of them with her arms.
"I missed you all."
She had a big smile on her face.
"Yeah...im glad to….see-"
Before Shade could finish his sentence he slipped from her grasp and fell onto the ground unconscious.
"Shade!"
Dawn shouted.
"He'll be fine."
The three remaining members of SHDE turned to Qrow.
"Just let him rest, he's going to need it before our next move."
He held the lamp up.
"We're heading to Atlas."
End of Volume 5
Credits:
SHDE Volume 5
Shade
Dawn
Erika
Yuki
Monika
Kiryu
Shin
Grayson Created by Me.
Hiroki Created by Hiroki
RWBY is owned by the late Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth.
Epilogue.
On the outskirts of Haven.
A small hooded figure could be seen looking at a glowing purple gem necklace around their neck.
"They finally showed themselves."
The figure looked up into the moonlight.
"The Shadow Manipulator I found them."
The hood fell down revealing a pair of fox ears and yellow hair.
??? was created by a friend of mine.
AN:I think one thing I was going for when creating this ending was give everyone a chance to shine in some way or another. Dawn and Erika fighting the rest of Salem's council was a good way to show off just how far they've come. Shade's shadow possession was one of my favorite things to write for a couple reasons. One of which was making him be able to stand up to Cinder in some form. The form obviously still has some more mystery to it including drawbacks and other states but those will have to wait till a future volume. Hiroki and Yang's emotional conflict with Raven needed to happen. Hiroki spent a long time with Raven and saw who she was allowing for this conflict to happen and it needed to be resolved. Anyway those were my thoughts on this last Chapter of SHDE for the time being. Yes i have introduced a brand new character at the end and yes it belongs to a friend of mine. We discussed this for a while and I thought it would be great to add this character to the SHDE AU. I experimented a lot in this Volume and I tried my best to make this Volume as entertaining as I could. This was my longest SHDE Volume yet and I hope you all enjoy it. I probably won't start Volume 6 until sometime RWBY returns with Volume 9. This will give me time to work on the SHDE version of the RWBY openings as well as my other projects I've delayed for a while now. Until next time.