Blasphemous Rose
A RWBY x Blasphemous Crossover.
-Unraveled Rose I: Questions of Truth-
(Blasphemous OST -Gelida Expiracion Extended)
The prodigious daughter of Summer Rose looked at her sister and their new friends, those which had stood with her against the Crisanta of the Unwrapped Agony.
The same way they had followed Yang deep within the Abandoned Temple when her instincts had screamed at her, they had joined her once again when she feared her sister would disappear for a second time in the middle of their party.
And they saw, they heard and they witnessed.
The dialogue between Ruby Rose and the strangely dressed giant of a man, showing how familiar they were with each other. The pieces of truth spilled, pointing out at his connection to the land where Ruby had been spirited away more than a year ago.
And the change in demeanor in Ruby, sporting not just the same seriousness and focus she had shown during the battle in the Abandoned Temple but also the concern and fear of someone who had been warned about an upcoming disaster.
For what felt like hours, no one dared to speak after her request for their reveal, though it was probably less than five seconds.
Finally, her sister could take the silence no more.
"Ruby… who was that guy? what was he talking about, and where did he go?" -Yang shoot her questions fast but still easy to understand.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby put her thoughts in order before turning to her sibling.
"A familiar face from my time in Cvstodia. Another person living in penance, connected to the workings of the Grievous Miracle. Just like Crisanta of the Wrapped Agony, who we fought in the Abandoned Tenmple. Just like Charles, who wielded the Sword of Guilt to put an end of the Age of Affliction. And… just like me."
"What do you mean by living in penance? And wha-"
"Before I answer all of your questions, I need to retrieve Mea Culpa" -she replied interrupting the inquiry of her sister –"you already know that I am the only person capable of swinging that sword, or at the very least lifting it from its resting place. It will help with the explanation".
Despite looking surprised at the interruption, and clearly vexed at not getting more answers immediately, Yang made a sigh of her own before
"I'm calling dad and uncle Qrow. They need to know" -Yang added with a tone that spoke of no room for arguments.
"Should we call professor Ozpin as well?" -Ren added his own lien, introducing himself in the conversation between the siblings –"From what we saw, this is connected to that woman who tried killing you in the temple, and way bigger than we are all ready for."
'You have no idea'- Ruby thought, agreeing with his suggestion.
"Do it. I don't know how much they can contribute, but I can only hope is better than what a bunch of teenagers can do alone."
Her sister nodded in acceptance, and so did the rest of their friends.
"Lead the way, Rubes. Once again, we got you covered." -Yang finished back to her confident self, the image she wore as a way to fight off tension and hardship.
Even after she joined the adults on their way to her room, Ruby had been in the close company of the rest of her team as well as the whole of Team RANN.
All of them proved quite stubborn to leave her out of sight for a second time.
The bedroom located on the second floor of the Xiao Long-Rose House was originally built for both siblings and had been used for such purpose from their childhood and up to the moment the youngest of them had been spirited away. Until the reappearance of her sibling weeks ago, Yang had become the sole person staying inside, and the only reason changes were never made by the time her father and uncle had given up was because they had yet to fully come terms with the possibility of their family becoming even smaller.
With Ruby's reappearance in Remnant and the happy family reunion after the mess in the Abandoned Temple, Taiyang had done his best to make the cabin more than welcoming, which included putting the bedroom of his daughters in order, making it look like a year never passed.
There were signs, however, that things were different.
As before, there were two beds with pillowcases and blankets in the colors favored by each girl, with a bedside table topped by a lamp standing between the two. Ruby's bed still had a wooden chair and a wooden desk, but the Grimm figurines that used to be in display had been removed a couple of days after her return by none other than Ruby herself.
There were windows on the walls on each side of the bedroom, and the old curtains had been replaced with new ones sharing the same green color with cream, yellow and red endings. However, while the wall on Yang's side had not gained anything new, Ruby's side made a repeat of her stay in the hospital.
Standing close to the window on her wall, was the strangely designed blade which had beheaded Crisanta of the Wrapped Agony.
The Sword of Guilt, Mea Culpa.
Then and now, others had tried moving the blade without any success, even after enhancing themselves with a particular Semblance or using Gravity Dust on the blade itself. Only Ruby had been able to lift Mea Culpa as warriors would their respective weapon of choice, which was why the blade had remained in her room. She had been quite adamant in keeping it close to her during her sleep, finding comfort in the blade's presence despite different opinions from the rest of her family.
She could not blame them.
In stark contrast with her old weapon and most of those favored by Huntsmen and Huntresses throughout the different kingdoms in Remnant, Mea Culpa would fit better in the times of the Great War, a relic of yore like the Crocea Mors wielded by Jaune. But even his own weapon had a mechanism to transform into another shape, while hers was a plain sword which could be used with one or two hands.
As with Crocea Mors, Ruby had shared with her friends and family that her new blade had no ingrained mechanisms for the use of Dust, which made its even less reliable in the eyes of any decent Huntsman or Huntress in training, a sentiment shared by the more experienced ones.
Finally, its shape made it both a struggle to wield and an intimidating object to look at.
Thorns followed the edges of the blade, their roots sprouting from under the guard and becoming less prominent until they disappeared a bit further the middle of the blade.
The handle in the form of an effigy for the Twisted One was not just creepy to most observers, but also an obstacle for getting a proper grip on the sword; especially given the thorn that would stab into the hand acting as the main grip, making it bleed as it pierced trough skin and bit into flesh -medical records had confirmed this last part, much to her family and friend's concern.
In conclusion, Mea Culpa was not a nice weapon by a good number of reasons from the standpoint of Huntsmen and Huntresses, and those were good reasons.
But it was the memento of someone dear to Ruby, the one who became her support during her time away from Remnant.
It was the sword that had saved Ruby, her sister and their new friends, from Crisanta.
And it was the only weapon she could trust to do the job if she was to take on a quest that involved the presence of The Miracle.
But, as she opened the door to the bedroom she shared with Yang, Ruby Rose saw a couple of new additions to her side of the room.
A series of objects laid on the blanket covering her bed.
Both intrigued and wary, Ruby and the rest of her entourage approached said bed until they were right beside it, managing to get a proper look.
A cord with many knots, each tying a bead with its own shape and color. It could easily pass as one of those collars or bracelets sold on the street by small merchants, who promoted their product by speaking of their special properties as good luck charms or to improve different aspects of one's life.
Two boxes of hard dark wood and lined in gold. The first being the size of a small coffer, and the second bigger than an adult's hand but small enough to be carried within thick clothing.
A leatherbound book, its pages slightly yellowed. Its front cover showed a colorless image of two men dressed in simple tunics, one looking from his back on the ground to the other holding an unrolled scroll as he the sunlight fell upon his form.
And finally, two pieces of cloth, both neatly folded one above the other.
"Guys, were those things on Ruby's bed before we all went to party outside?" -asked Jaune, always willing to be the first to comment on an oddity at sight.
"Nope, I'm pretty sure Rubes had none of that on her bed before we left, and dad would have made it pretty obvious if he had bought something as a present. He had always been bad at subtle when it comes to hiding a gift for a special occasion" -answered Yang, her usual voice present but her eyes and body language showing alertness.
"Some of those would be a very odd choice of presents for a girl, especially a teenager. Do you have any idea about this, glorious leader of ours?" -added Weiss with sarcasm, having seen the way Ruby reacted to their most recent discovery.
And she was correct in her suspicions.
For many, it would be an odd assortment of random objects with little value beyond pondering on their place of origin.
For Ruby Rose, who recognized most of the objects, their presence in Remnant could only be possible as a parting gift from the lore master of Cvstodia, or perhaps a more direct approach by the divine powers ruling said land.
Carefully picking up the Rosary in her left hand, Ruby answered her teammate.
"They are both a boon and a sign of the times ahead"
Regardless of the means by which they had arrived at her home, the message was clear.
What lied ahead would become a difficult challenge if she was being lent more than the Sword of Guilt.
Headmaster's Office, Beacon Academy.
(Blasphemous OST – Echoes of Salt)
When he was told of this Deogracias and his connection to the place where Ruby Rose had been stranded to -the very same place of origin of that zealot knight, Crisanta- Ozpin showed open concern and announced he would be calling for extra help.
He also suggested to postpone the meeting for two days at the very least, allowing them an early arrival at Beacon for a personal meeting with him and those he trusted the most from his inner circle.
He knew Glynda would be more than invested given her genuine concern for the children who would become her students, usually hidden behind a stern personality. It was also a bonus she had always been his most determined supporter, even when she had openly expressed her disagreements with his actions to advance the silent war against Salem.
Since this new visitor had somehow pulled something similar to the woman who had tried murdering the teenagers during their Initiation, and showed open interest in all of them and not just Ruby, the situation was officially a security issue that required more than just Beacon.
Qrow was a given due to the fact that his nieces were directly involved, and he continued being his willing field agent. The sole active member of team STRQ remained steadfast despite his apparent laziness, always trusting Ozpin even while never knowing the full picture. Although the possibility of involving Taiyang would require a more careful hand when it comes to trust and secrecy.
Despite their differences, Ozpin could trust James to act for the sake of Remnant and not simply Atlas. So long as he could show proof that the Kingdom of Atlas would not be compromised for the greater whole, the Headmaster of Beacon would have its military and technological support, as well as the support and secrecy from its real power behind the public scene.
Like in the case of Qrow, however, James could have the eldest Schnee involved by pointing out the potential threat to her younger sibling. The general had made both subtle and open suggestions in the past years to include her in their circle, but the close ties to Atlas as well as the Schnee family made Ozpin hesitant to agree. The young woman was still a loyal subordinate of James Ironwood, and even renouncing to her position as heiress didn't stop her from being a potential gate for the meddling of the Jacques Schnee. With the current situation, Ozpin pondered if perhaps there was something to gain in allowing Winter Schnee some measure of involvement.
Lionheart, on the other hand, was a straight no. Even if he was willing to give others the benefit of doubt, and even if he had changed the more aggressive approach to solve problems as the King of Vale for a more defensive strategy as the Headmaster of Beacon, Ozpin had accumulated lots of experience when it came with dealing with wavering allies. Though some may call him a hypocrite if they knew of his thoughts, when an old ally showed secrecy and nervousness and tried to deflect any deeper inquiry about his current circumstances -all the while having been one of the few people he had entrusted with information about the whereabouts of the current Fall Maiden- Ozpin decided he could not trust the Headmaster of Haven with more vital information.
His mind made up about the people he would contact, Ozpin ended the videocall and let himself relax in weariness on the chair of his office. He needed some of that special coffee now, and given that he was planning to call for Glynda to schedule the encounter, that was killing two Nevermore with one shot.
He had not been a man to pray to the gods, not since the mess that started the war between Humanity and his former wife. And since both deities had left Remnant behind centuries ago, there was no point in doing so.
But he was really tempted to break away from tradition, and at the very least ask for things to not escalate further in the already complicated chess game he had been playing with Salem for multiple lifetimes.
A chill on his back gave him the impression that perhaps it was better to keep such tradition alive for a while longer.
-Headmaster's Office, Beacon Academy. A delicious cup of coffee later-
"When you requested a cup of that special brand of coffee, I grew concerned. You only want to drink that one when you feel very trouble, Ozpin. What do you need from me?" -spoke Glynda without beating around the bush. She always preferred getting to the point in important matters.
"Be honest with me, Glynda. What are your thoughts about my decision to invite Ruby Rose and the other actions I have taken since the day of the incident?"
"My honest opinion as part of the staff, or as a member of your inner circle?" -his companion asked him with both eyebrows raised.
"Both" -he replied, already having an idea of the differing perspectives but interested in confirming his suspicions.
"As someone in a high position responsible for the welfare of the student body in Beacon Academy, I would have preferred to give her more time to adapt to her new circumstances, perhaps offer extra classes to understand where she stands beyond that one fight."
"Now that is unexpected" -commented Ozpin to her own reply –"You always showed open scorn about favoritism and sought to make students feel amongst equals amongst their peers"
His observation made Glynda frown.
"Do not take me for someone too immersed in her convictions to not see where someone does not fit the conventions, Ozpin. You and I both know she is easily above the rest of the new candidates, perhaps even above some of the most recent Alumni. What she lacks is experience in how the world of Huntsmen and Huntresses works, as well as the credentials needed to excel in such world beyond her impressive skill in combat. Beacon can offer that to her, and it helps that her sister and friends have already made bonds that will be a key both here and after they all become Alumni themselves."
"Are you so certain they will succeed?" -he allowed a teasing smile on his face at the conviction in her voice.
"I am" -there was no hesitation, she was stating a truth –"What we saw that day, and what I saw in the cave of that ruin… someone once said that experience if the teacher of all things, and I can say with total certainty that such an encounter left important lessons to them. Lessons that I am more than willing to remind them, alongside the rest of their peers, to make sure they stick. And when they do, those children and that young woman will be ready to make history."
The Headmaster of Beacon nodded and hummed in agreement, more than satisfied with her answer as an important member of the teaching staff of his academy. However, …
"And what does Glynda Goodwitch from the Order think about my choices"
"I agree and disagree all the same. Someone like Ruby Rose would clearly be an excellent candidate to replace Amber as the new Fall Maiden, but you have already explained that Silver Eyed Warriors cannot assume the mantles" -after this her voice became more neutral, a clear indication to him of her change in humor –"I suspect you want her not just for her eyes and her potential in battle, but also as the means to help your chosen candidate to reach her full potential before taking over as the new Summer Maiden."
Ozpin remained silent, letting his subordinate continue.
"By keeping an eye on her close enough, you can also study her particular abilities and perhaps learn more about that woman who interfered with the Initiation, as well as her place and that of Ruby Rose in our war against Salem and the Grimm. I understand your reasonings, Ozpin, belive me. From a pragmatic point of view, Ruby Rose and her friends can become game changers in the years to come, and keeping them close and allowing them to bond with Beacon is the best way to prepare them for bigger roles in the future, perhaps as members of the Order. However, …"
Ozpin continued letting her speak, even as her neutrality gave way to genuine disapproval.
"I cannot in good conscience accept her. We already pulled Summer into this mess, and look where that got her. Taiyang lost a wife and his daughters a mother, and then the youngest of them goes missing to some unknow place, experiencing enough hardship that she is trained and prepared for taking a life if necessary. And we are considering turning her into another Summer, another young Huntress devoted to helping others and unwilling to say no to the Leader of Light. Even if accepting could destroy her entire family for good."
Ozpin turned to his cup after Glynda was finished, noticing the lack of heat coming from the liquid inside. It must have gotten cold minutes ago, as he listened to one of his most trusted companions in this life.
He wanted to agree with her, he shared her sorrow and regret at sending Summer into a mission that was clearly more than she could handle.
"Even if I share your feelings to some extent, I'm afraid she is already involved in a mess beyond the walls and halls of Beacon"
And so, he made his own retelling of the conversation he had with Taiyang and Qrow some time before calling her to his office.
By the end of it, Glynda herself had been the one calling James Ironwood.
And so, the day arrived.
With only five days before the official start of the term, Beacon had silently opened its gates to a couple of candidates for Huntsmen and Huntresses, alongside a group of adults with their own role to play.
The teens, still children in the eyes of many, who had experienced their first struggle for life and death during their Initiation at the hand of someone far more skilled and ruthless.
The Headmaster of Beacon and his assistant and member of the staff, two Huntsmen with field experience, former Huntsman who had risen to the top in the military of one of the four Kingdoms, and a young Huntress as his second in command. Leaving aside Winter, these adults had seen battle and shed both Grimm and human blood, and most of them had been taking part in the shadow war against the Queen of Grimm herself.
And in the middle of them all, the person of the hour.
Ruby Rose.
The younger daughter turned into the eldest. The missing sibling returned from beyond Remnant. The one who had bee targeted by the unknown stranger in gold, and the one who had put down that zealot by beheading her with an unusual sword.
No longer young and inexperienced as her friends and teammates, but certainly less familiar with the public and hidden workings of society in Vale and the other Kingdoms of Remnant.
The person directly contacted by another character from the unknown and uncharted land of Cvstodia, a place with its own history and rules quite different from the world they lived in.
Under normal circumstances, Ozpin would have kept these groups separate from each other, allowing the younger generations to grow into their roles while offering the most competent of them all the chance to inherit the Fate of the Fall Maiden.
Under the current circumstances, a bridge needed to be built between generations to face the new players on the board, and his old approach for the issue regarding the Summer Maiden reconsidered.
But even Ozpin, wise and experienced as he was after centuries of reincarnation and struggle, had no immediate plan for what happened next.
It had been a simple encounter at first.
Awkward greetings from the students to the adults, especially between the two Schnee sisters. The usual bite between Qrow and Ironwood was more restrained than usual, but it was clear they had a dislike for each other.
All of that had been expected.
(Kagetsu Tohya OST -Verge of Death)
What took everyone by surprise, including Ozpin himself, was the sheer horror in the face of Ruby Rose when he accepted her friendly handshake.
It was a look directed at him, yet not at him. As if her stare was focused on something others could not discern.
"I… I can hear them" -her voice was shaky and her posture rigid, but she still moved her body filled with tension, making those closest turn to her in concern.
"Ruby, what are you talking about? Why are you trembling like that?" -demanded Taiyang to his daughter, able to see the change in her behavior even from the doorstep
"The voices of the fallen, of those who can no longer speak. They all come from him." -Ruby Rose continued with her sight still frozen on Ozpin, who had a very bad feeling about her next words but couldn't let go of the curiosity about the strange event taking place.
"Ms. Rose?" -spoke Glynda in her own concerned voice, willing to give help to the younger woman but unsure how to proceed immediately. Ozpin decided to take the initiative, but before he could interfere, Ruby Rose moved.
She stood protectively in front of her friends and family, her right hand reaching for her sword while her left stood in front of her and pointed directly at him.
"When I held his hand into mine, I could hear their memories. The memories of the dead, the echoes of the remnants tied to that same body, inhabited by an old soul… even the memories of the remnant once called Ozpin"
Ozpin was certainly not prepared for this, so surprised by how much this girl had discerned about with but a single touch that he did not immediately try to spout something to defuse the situation.
Of course, he couldn't know how she found out.
What made this possible, was not something originated in Remnant.
It was a relic from Cvstodia, in the form of a yellowish fabric of the utmost softness which allowed light to pass like a sheet of paper.
Originally, it was used to give relief to dying people before listening to their confessions. It passed to the hands of Tirso from the Order of the Kissers of Wounds, who gave it to the Penitent One as a reward for his help gathering healing items, who eventually had it blessed at the Lake of Silent Pilgrims.
From them on, it became the Shroud of Dreamt Sins.
A relic which allowed its owner to listen to the memories of the corpses when in contact with their skin, even if it was not put over their forehead.
And that relic was tied into the left hand of Ruby Rose, which she had offered to give a friendly handshake to Ozpin, the Headmaster of Beacon.
And it had unexpectedly reacted.
Therefore, the current situation.
"Who are you?"
A/N: Praised and feared is the Grievous Miracle, Penitent Ones. With this chapter begins the next arc of Blasphemous Rose, in celebration of the soon to arrive DLC which promises a third ending from what I heard from KEMET, the amazing person making remixes for the soundtrack of this game. Since I already updated my other big project, I thought it was about time I continued with this one.
I am aware the issue with Ozpin is not soul eating, but the idea here is that the fusion still leaves behind echoes of the previous incarnations. Yes, this includes original Ozma.
As stated in my other story, there is no stated date for the next chapter. But be sure there will be another chapter and not just an eternal cliffhanger.
Hope you enjoy this update for Christmas before the new DLC, do not hesitate to review and send PMs if you wish to suggest something in particular.
Have a good weekend.