First of all, thak you for the reviews and for your interest in this story. Your support and patience with my projects is what motivates me to not leave them simply on the mind but to continue the efforts of writing them.
Second, here is the second chapter sooner than I expected, and the next one is going to follow very soon. After the third chapter has been uploaded, I cannot give you an exact date for the following updates, but I will try to avoid taking forever, since the ideas behind each chapter are already on my notes, from beginning to end. Except for the pairings, if they happen.
Now onto the story.
Blasphemous Rose
A RWBY x Blasphemous Crossover.
-Guilty Rose II. A Twisted Flower-
-Beacon Cliff-
Hero.
Husband and Father.
Legendary Hunter.
The Hidden Leader of the Light.
Professor.
These were among the many titles that he had carried in more than a lifetime, since before the advent of the Four Kingdoms of Vale.
But today, Ozpin had been playing the role of Headmaster of Beacon Academy.
Searching for potential Huntsmen and Huntresses amidst the many hopefuls that had been launched into the Initiation, down in the Emerald Forest. And while many could be considered average or just slightly good, there were some future students that had caught his eye.
The current heiress of the Schnee family, having entered into this exam in spite of the position that fell upon her shoulders since her elder sister joined the military of Atlas. Given the record of Winter as a student and even after joining the armed forces, Ozpin was curious to see what could the younger daughter of the Schnee bring to the future.
There was also the best candidate of this year, one Pyrrha Nikos. Four times champion of the Mistral tournaments, her skill and lack of defeat had earned her lots of fame even in the other Kingdoms. They had come to call her The Invincible Girl. Of course she would be no match for a veteran Hunter or Huntress, but for someone so young to have such potential…
Others were less known to the public, but that didn't lessen the value they could offer for any future team.
Blake Belladona, daughter of one of the leaders of the Menagerie, haven to all Faunus running away from persecution. Also, a former member of the terrorist Faunus group known as The White Fang. She had been trying to hide her true nature and avoided as much contact as possible, yet she was taking part of a trial that required team work. A candidate that sought a new beginning perhaps, having some experience in the field but not enough to become a full-fledged Huntress.
And finally, Yang Xiao Long. The brash and energetic daughter of Summer Rose and Taiyang Xiao Long, niece of one Crow Branwen, and whose true mother was the missing Raven Brawen. All adults were part of one of the best teams in Beacon's history, all having played a hand in her life one way or another. Just like they did for her missing sibling.
Ruby Rose.
The second silver eyed woman he had discovered since her own mother, and whose potential could only be speculated these days.
Ozpin had offered his own resources during the first months of search due to his soft spot for his students, who had already experienced one loss in Summer, but also because of what the girl could bring to the board in the years to come should she become a Huntress.
In the end, the search was called off given the lack of results, and he had come to accept that whatever Ruby Rose could have brought into the board against Salem, it would remain forever in the realm of speculation.
Or at least that should have been the case.
(Dark Souls Remix – The Fall of Artorias)
Two people had popped out from the unknown and proceeded to have a short clash in the very center of the abandoned temple, their arrival coming with a thunderous sound.
One of them, a mysterious warrior in full plate armor, like the one wore by knights of old.
The other, the one defeated and disarmed, looked so much like Summer Rose that she could easily pass by a missing sister or daughter. Something which the golden warrior confirmed as she prepared to deliver a killing blow with her longsword to the one kneeling on the floor.
And if things weren't complicated enough, the future students that had caught his attention, as well as their companions, had been there when the scene was taking place.
With an enraged Yang Xiao Long launching herself to the now identified "Crisanta", a clash between two potential teams and the knight in gold began.
Calling it a clash, however, would be wrong.
If anything, it was a one-sided beatdown, with teenagers getting hurt and running the risk of dying all because they had given their support to a grieving older sister who had just found her missing sibling alive and fought to protect her.
But good intentions and camaraderie were not enough to overcome experience and skill.
And numbers meant nothing without coordination and leadership.
The Initiation was supposed to make the students meet their partners, their future team members, and begin the first steps to work together as Huntsmen and Huntresses. That is why the challenge, while difficult, was thought with novices in mind.
But this…
This was far beyond the ability of any of the hopefuls, even those he favored.
Yang Xiao Long's first strike had been countered like nothing, forcing the girl back and exposing her to a retaliatory slash, depleting a third of her Aura and leaving her with the phantom pain of the attack.
From there, the rest of the teens had joined the struggle to protect Ruby Rose, while the girl in question had been starting to realize the changes in the situation.
And even when she did react, she had been but a girl with speed and no means to defend or attack the golden knight.
For all those watching, the unexpected situation had seemed like another surprise of the Initiation, and Ozpin had considered going along with that while his trusted companion, Glynda Goodwitch, went as fast as she could to stop the slaughter.
For that is what it was, a slaughter.
And the surprise and winces of the audience gave way to concern and later fear.
The boy who had faked his papers in order to enter Beacon, Jaune Arc. Easily beaten and thrown to the wall, his skills with a shield or a sword abysmal to do anything but receive damage from the swordswoman.
The most talented hopeful and possible candidate for becoming the next Fall Maiden, Pyrrha Nikos. She gave an impressive fight considering the difference in skills, but she had been overwhelmed as well, her offensive weapon destroyed.
The orphans, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, who had shown very good teamwork until the encounter. Their normal tactics had been complicated with the bigger numbers and stakes, and their combination defeated, once their foe destroyed the aura and weapon of the ginger girl.
Young Schnee could have offered great support in a normal Initiation against Grimm, and for any future team resulting from it. But her inexperience and overreliance on those glyphs made easier for Crisanta to defeat her, leaving the once proud girl frozen in fear.
Had it not been for the Faunus girl using her Semblance to distract their enemy and provide a window of retreat, Weiss Schnee would have been killed. But Crisanta still caught up to them and took them out of the fight. Wounded and terrified.
It's not like the teens had been waiting their turns to face the golden knight, and they had indeed scored shots and hits at her.
Even Yang Xiao Long had managed to deliver a powerful hook to the chin of the golden knight, thanks to an improvised but successful strategy helped by Ruby Rose herself. Even with no weapons, her bursts of speed proved key to enact this result.
But Crisanta was implacable.
Until the strike by Xiao Long, none of the other attacks landed had done any significant damage to her.
And before the students inside the temple and viewing the live footage could begin to celebrate, Crisanta appeared in her own burst of speed and literally disarmed the blonde girl, who fell to the ground screaming in agony while clutching what remained of her left arm.
The sickening visage of the uncovered face of the golden knight was nothing compared to the scene happening.
What was a warrior who apparently had blinded herself compared to the fallen and moaning bodies of teenagers who had been trying to pass an Initiation to enter Beacon, only to find themselves face to face with a skillful and ruthless murderer?
He had tried cutting off the transmission, or at the very least removing the audio. But somehow none of the efforts of the technical staff worked. As if the events currently taking place were supposed to be seen, and heard.
People were looking at him for answers, asking if the live footage was a sick joke from some hacker or a play to teach them something.
People were looking at him for answers, for a way to put a stop to the horrifying scene.
And as he tried his best to defuse the bomb that was gathering the Grim to their location, Glynda still had to arrive to do something.
And just like in the beginning, the only one left to stand against the golden knight was Ruby Rose.
With her sword now bathed in a purple light, the golden knight stood steps away from the silver eyed young woman, who was kneeling in front of her wounded sister protectively.
And for the first time in any of his lives, Ozpin had considered prating for a Miracle.
Because that was the only thing that could change the inevitable.
-Abandoned Temple, Main Hall-
(Bleach OST Soundscape to Ardor)
Pyrrha had always hated her reputation and the status it gave her.
Invincible Girl.
The undefeated prodigy from Mistral who would rise to the top without stopping, the legend in the making that all young aspired to be.
A reputation that meant nothing when there were no challenges, able or willing.
A reputation that had isolated her from friends, leaving her with people obsessed with her fame and the prestige and riches it could bring.
That was why she had entered the Initiation for Beacon Academy. To find true friends, and to get rid of the stain on her life caused by her undefeated status.
Now, she wouldn't mind to continue undefeated. Because her wishes had been granted in a terrible way.
She found friends, perhaps more. Only to be faced with something that made all her so called accomplishments meaningless.
Deep within, Pyrrha sought defeat to become a normal girl, and defeat had found her.
But the price of not achieving victory was too high.
For the first time in her life, she had fought not for fame or glory, not because others told her to do so. But because she believed it was the right choice, because someone needed her strength.
Then she had fought for survival, alongside her friends and the person they had been trying to help. And it was still not enough.
Even using her Semblance as best as she could, the woman in golden armor with a longsword was leagues above them.
Her Miló had been shattered, just like Nora's Magnhild. Her Akoúo could only do so much, especially when their opponent took of the kid gloves and unleashed her own Aura, wreathing herself and her weapon in purple.
And her own Aura gave out not too long after, leaving her with broken ribs and a stab trough the stomach.
Pyrrha was afraid.
Afraid of dying of course, no matter if it would take quite a bit considering the wound delivered. But she was also afraid for her teammates, her companions… and even the older girl who they had failed to protect and was the only thing standing between the golden knight and Yang.
And fear gave way to regret.
For the first time in years, Pyrrha regretted ever wishing to learn of defeat.
And now, she only wished for a victory that could save them all.
Bleach OST- Never meant to belong)
Weiss wanted to be her own person.
Not just the replacement of her sister Winter, after she had abandoned her position to join the Atlas Military. While proud of the name of Schnee, Weiss wanted to be known for her own achievements. Something she would never accomplish under the shadow of her father.
Beacon had been her chance, and determination allowed her to push through the challenge put by her father to allow her said chance. Successful, Weiss had entered the Initiation.
Pushing people aside that her pride considered not worth it, even as a part of herself wished to interact with others that could accept her as she made her own name.
That was the hidden conflict that even she could not fully grasp. For as much as she wanted to hold onto the pride of being a Schnee, she also wanted people she could trust and that relied on her, not because of her family's reputation but because she was first and foremost Weiss.
She had ditched her first chance by leaving Jaune literally hanging, and had found not a single other person until meeting the annoyance known as Tang Xiao Long. And since Yang already had a partner and Weiss didn't, the heiress had to swallow a bit of her pride and more or less tag along in hopes of being accepted.
Pride that meant absolutely nothing right now.
The skills that allowed her to pass the trial made by her father could do little against the killer in golden armor.
Her swordsmanship was no match, her glyphs made in haste gave no result.
Even the name of her family did nothing to deter the insane woman who could handle eight candidates for Beacon, even while being blind!
And one of the biggest ironies to happen had been that her life had been saved by the Faunus girl, one she would have scorned due to the bad history of her kind with her family had circumstances been different.
Right now, Weiss couldn't care less about the bad blood between the Schnee and the Faunus.
Right now, Weiss couldn't care less about the shattered pride she had held onto until meeting the monster called Crisanta.
Right now, Weiss wished to have another chance to talk to the girl that saved her, and continue her adventure with all her other companions before the nightmare happened.
Perhaps she should have scorned Yang for getting them into this mess, but she wanted to believe that if she was in the same situation Winter would have run to her rescue.
Perhaps she should have scorned the older girl they had tried to rescue, Ruby Rose, for being the reason Yang got them into this mess. But they had all simply followed after the blonde girl instead of running back to get help or simply ignore the problem. And the girl still helped, handicapped as she was with no weapons.
In the end, what Weiss hoped the most, was to awake from the nightmare.
And not alone.
(Bleach- Here to Stay)
Everything hurt.
Well, what remained of her left arm hurt the most, but the rest of her body was not in good shape either.
But what was more painful, even more than her missing limb, was failure.
The reality that she had finally gotten her sister back after a whole year of searching with no success, only to be a witness of her upcoming execution.
She had felt guilty of dragging her friends into this mess, believing that nothing too terrible could be found in the center of the temple.
She had felt the pressure and fear as the fight progressed and the crazy woman dispatched them one by one, sometimes in pairs.
She had also felt a glitter of hope to be fighting back to back with her sister, especially after their teamwork allowed Yang to connect her strongest hook to the chin of the crazy, throwing her into the air and later on the floor.
And then she had lost her left arm and the golden armored bitch had finished the fight, with everyone but Ruby left one the ground wounded if not worse.
Her wish had been granted, and now it was about to be taken away from her.
Once more, Yang would have to see as her family fell apart.
Only now her friends would be added on the list.
Only now, she was on the list.
Perhaps, Yang would not be there to see everything fall.
But she would disappear knowing she failed at what her heart sought the most.
Once more she was on her knees, facing up Crisanta of the Wrapped Agony.
Once more she had been bested by the most powerful and fanatical of all knights under the command of the late Escribar.
She had been fighting the knight and her followers, only to fail in stopping her from removing Mea Culpa from the Throne of Penitence. In her rage and despair, Ruby had tackled down Crisanta as she had been holding the blade and they both had fallen into the darkness.
One moment they had been falling from the hill where the throne was located, next they were in some big room where the golden knight destroyed her modified Crescent Rose, leaving her at her judgement.
But the situation changed so fast she could barely catch up.
First her sister, who she had not seen for a long while, interrupted Crisanta's killing blow, forcing the knight to counter.
Then more people spilled into the room, all ready to fight Crisanta apparently to protect her, Ruby Rose.
Ruby had little time to ponder if all this people, including her sister, had somehow been dragged into Cvstodia, or if she had accidentally found a way back to Remnant while taking Crisanta along the ride. The golden knight would give them no quarter, simply cut through the new arrivals to get her.
Which is exactly what she did.
While disarmed, Ruby Rose had regained the will to fight since more lives were at stake, including that of her older sister.
But they were not the Penitent One.
They were not Charles.
They did not carry the Sword of Guilt that bested Crisanta before, on the rooftop and stairs leading to Escribar.
And even Ruby could not even the odds for the group fighting the swordswoman, especially when the latter recovered from Yang's devastating punch and unleashed her blade upon them.
Once more she was on her knees, facing up Crisanta of the Wrapped Agony.
But this time, her wounded sister laid behind her, her companions scattered around the room with their own wounds.
"Ruby, please run…"- said her sister, even while in terrible pain.
She looked at her missing sibling in concern, giving a bitter smile in return.
"I can't do that, Yang."
Yang, grabbed her sister by the sleeve of her shirt with her remaining arm, pleading once more.
"I thought I lost you before, just like mom. I dragged my friends here because of my guts, and had them fight for my wish..."- she said while sobbing and looking more miserable than Ruby remembered – "If you die, all we did was for nothing. If you die, I…"
Ruby shook her head slowly, still paying attention to the knight not too far from them.
"Crisanta wants me dead because of my contribution to a particular task she disagreed with. She will kill me and you all as well, it doesn't matter in which order. And besides… I can't abandon any of you after you got involved in this mess" - Ruby took her sister's hand from her sleeve and held her within hers – "Whatever happens, I'm staying with you all, I won't leave any of you behind, especially not my beloved sister."
Yang could only sob more strongly now, both in happiness and sadness.
Before more could be said, Ruby heard their enemy speak.
"Are you finished with your goodbyes, witch? You have dragged even more souls into sin by refusing my judgement. Now all of them will be embraced by the Miracle and judged accordingly in the other side of the dream".
Ruby had enough of arguing with the zealot, and refused to simply accept her death anymore.
But she had no ways to defeat the one standing in front of her.
No Crescent Rose, and no energy to call back the power of her eyes and protect her sister and the rest.
She needed something which she did not have.
And yet, she refused to pray and give any sort of chance to the Grievous Miracle, ambiguous and uncaring as it was.
The only one she would gladly entrust herself to was…
(Blasphemous OST- Peldaños Hacia la Santidad)
'¡!'
And then, she saw it.
While the blade was still hidden under a blanket of dust, Ruby Rose would always recognize the effigy of the Twisted One that made the handle.
And with this discovery came a revelation.
She was responsible for her own choices, her own mistakes, her own failures.
Because of them, she had not been able to honor the sacrifice of her friend.
Because of them she had put others, including her own sister, in danger.
But now and before, when she felt she was falling in the clutches of despair… her friend was there for her.
Just like when their adventure started, just like during the following years she remained in Cvstodia.
And just like now, at their moment of greatest need.
'Is this another stupid game of the Miracle? Or are you perhaps lending me your hand once again, Charles?'- though Ruby.
Ruby Rose would not pray for a miracle of punishment, or entrust her fate and that of others to it.
But she would believe in her friend, and honor him the only way she knew would be heard by him.
"You, who took the guilt of All on yourself, including mine. You who carried this guilt in your cracked hands and used it to save Cvstodia from the Age of Corruption, willingly giving up your body to free all from Penitence"- Ruby started, her hands going to the floor where the effigy laid.
"What are You-!"- Ruby heard the golden knight demand, but she ignored her and continued her prayer, her voice echoing in the room with resolution and conviction.
"I do not ask for punishment; I do not ask for salvation. I shall add my own guilt to yours, and I shall wield this guilt as my own. I shall take within this blade the guilt of the one who broke the Last Miracle, and protect the weak and the ill, if You would allow me.
Because this in an act of Penance."
Crisanta had closed the distance right after that, her blade in purple flames ready to descend over her head to completely destroy her.
But before the blade could land the killing blow…
…Another sword had blocked the strike.
A sword whose blade was covered in thorns as one got closer to the handle, this one being an effigy made in the image of the Twisted One, the First Miracle of Cvstodia.
A sword held by the two bleeding hands of Ruby Rose.
"Because… this is my Guilt".
N/A: Originally this chapter was longer, but I decided to end it with Ruby grasping the Sword of Guilt, Mea Culpa, as the next scene dealt with the last fight between her and Crisanta. This fight and other elements will be covered in the next chapter, which I'm currently in the middle of writing.
Once more, tahnk you for your support, and my apologies if my writing is not the best. Please review and wai eagerly for the conclusion of this arc.
See ya all.