Hello everyone! How are you doing? I have nothing more to say, so her is Chapter 21, I hope you all enjoy it!
"It was the September of 74, four months after the Grimmwater tragedy" the man began his tale, as he put his empty soup bowl away.
"My team of seven people was the last of the Government forces stationed in the area, tasked with patrolling and protecting the port of Nanko- we were pretty busy as you can take it.
We received our orders one usual morning in typical military fashion; go to Grimmwater, investigate the situation and bring back enough of you alive to share your findings" he scowled, taking a sip of wine.
"Want some?" both girls shook their heads and the man grinned "good choice- now where was I- oh yes. The trip was uneventful and the few aquatic Grimm that tried to prey on us were easily dealt with."
He licked the lip of his bottle "one day had passed when we started to brave the thick fog that seemed as if it spread from the island- or at least that's what it looked like- we hadn't managed to get even one minute of proper sleep."
"How come?" Weiss asked. "Nightmares. We had vivid, monstrous dreams of drowning and being dragged to the murky depths."
He narrowed his eyes as she shot him a questioning glare "and before you say anything, we were not influenced by the sailors' stories. We were all veterans who had in their belts hundreds of Grimm kills."
"Please go on" Ruby interjected, earning a grumpy affirmation from the man.
"The fog was so thick our navigator could barely direct us to the island. To make matters worse, as we entered the cloud all small aquatic Grimm attacks stopped- as if they were afraid to step inside."
December 14th, 85
"Stop right there" Blake's voice cut off Ruby's retelling of the old huntsman's story.
The silver eyed girl looked at her teammate, standing at Poseidon's wheel, slowly steering the old boat towards the thick fog cloud that still surrounded Grimmwater Island.
"I know what you are going to say- it sounds exactly like Yugure." "Yes. And considering what the reason behind Yugure was, this is more than alarming."
Team RWBY, now dressed in their normal combat outfits, exchanged looks of acknowledgment. Their leader was seated next to Blake in the helm, while a few meters away Yang and Weiss were patrolling the ship for any possible ambush.
Slowly and carefully, she picked out the new addition for Crescent Rose, gently checking the firing mechanism. "Sorry for cutting you off, Ruby. Please, continue."
"For some unknown reason, we managed to pass through the cloud without any problems, save for landing a little far from the island port.
We anchored the ship and split into two parties; mine was going to investigate where the other led by our captain would stay back and guard our means of escape.
We walked through a narrow road, but immediately realized a few problems. You see, ladies, the area surrounding us was wrong. And by wrong, I mean very wrong."
"Excuse me, but what is that supposed to mean?" Weiss asked again. "The ground was muddy and murky, as if I was stepping on a swamp and didn't change no matter how far from the coast we walked.
There was no animal life and the plants around us looked… moldy." "Moldy? As if 'having contacted mold', moldy?"
"Yes" he whispered. "They were dripping wet, leaves and vines and trunks filled with colorful fungi. A truly disgusting sight- but far from the worst.
We ignored them and started moving towards the closest establishment we were informed of. And then everything went to bloody hell."
"You were attacked" Ruby noticed grimly. "No. We were slaughtered."
He paused, sniffing, and took a large swig of alcohol. Weiss gave him a handkerchief and the man wiped his eyes "thank you, Miss."
"I am sorry, but at this point I have to ask again. What-" "I don't know." Ruby's eyes opened wide "you don't know?"
"It was as if the mist around us suddenly grew claws and fangs. Both my teammates got killed on spot, torn apart before my very eyes."
At this point the man's breath had become ragged, his eyes for the first time betraying a well-hidden terror.
"I ran; ran towards the ship, away from whatever monster managed to kill two veteran huntsmen without breaking a sweat. I tried to contact the ship, but there was no response."
He cupped his mouth and nose, shivering. Ruby gently moved behind his and rubbed the poor man's back to ease his trembling.
"When I reached it, I realized why. All four members that had left behind- my entire team- had been killed. Silently. Effectively.
They didn't even get a chance to grab their weapons- the only thing remaining of them was large bloodstains pointing towards the water.
I panicked- and did the single worst thing possible."
Yang shouted "he jumped in, didn't he?" "How did you know?" Weiss asked back. "I would have done the same thing for any of you" the blonde replied, giving a quick peck on the pale girl's lips.
"I don't even remember how much time I spent looking for them before I realized there was nothing more I could do. Filled in sorrow and grief, I rose to the surface.
It was at this time when something grabbed my leg. I struggled and tried to use Proteus to kill the creature, but… I found nothing. And before you say anything, I am a turtle faunus- my aquatic vision is almost perfect.
Whatever that thing was, it was completely invisible in water- and was dragging me down with it. So I did the only thing I could think of."
"He cut his own leg" the faunus finished the story. "Yes" Weiss replied. "He doesn't remember much more; he climbed up to the boat and left this place. You can guess the rest."
"What a sad story" Yang exclaimed, still trying to detect any movement around their ship. "What about his nightmares?"
"He still has them; he said this is what drove him away from getting a prosthetic and trying again. Doctors found nothing, as with all the other victims, and the only thing that helps him rest is alcohol."
"What a shitty way of living" Yang spat as she walked next to her sister. "Which reminds me Rubes, you are the only one who didn't sleep at all. Why don't you go lay down for a while? I will keep Blake some company."
"I don't feel like sleeping…" she trailed off. "Then at least let your body rest. Just for a while- we have a good two hours until we enter the fog bank."
"I… guess I need to be in proper condition." She stood up, folded away her equipment and started walking down, passing by her partner. "Weissy-" "I will wake you in an hour, got it."
Smiling, Ruby entered the cabin and closed the door behind her. Weiss shot quick thumbs up to Yang and returned to the bow.
-o—
More than an hour had passed; a boring, uneventful hour, filled with tension. All three members of RWBY were on full alert, as the small boat closed on the looming mist.
The thick fog surrounded the area, an impenetrable wall in the cloudy ocean, hiding the entire island from view. Yang turned around to her partner who tirelessly maneuvered the ship.
"Are you sure you don't want to rest too, Blakey? I can take the helm for an hour until the real deal starts." A black eyebrow rose "can you now?"
"Heh; don't get cocky with me just because you got four sailing lessons from Mr. Ghira, kitty." Blake smirked "first of all, they were six in total. But, even if they were four, they are still more than your half of one."
Yang shrugged her shoulders "just saying." She removed her hat, allowing the gust to tussle her mane. The air, however, was not Patch's pleasant breeze; it was stale and smelled like an abandoned well.
"This place feels so wrong" she said in disgust. "It smells wrong too…" her partner added. "I wonder why we are here in the first place." "What do you mean?" the faunus asked.
"I mean, I know we are here to save Vomit Boy, but why here of all places? This is where Alizar is supposed to have lost everything. Why bring us in for a showdown- especially if there are so many dangers around?"
"Maybe it holds some special meaning to him; like casting away his old self or something, or closing the circle of his suffering where it began."
"Ruby believes that too" Weiss, now standing just below them, added. "But we concluded there is another reason that made him choose this place as well" she stated.
"Does it have to do with how much you have been looking out for Grimm since we left the port?" Yang playfully addressed her. "Yes. For a type-0 area, the amount of Grimm we encountered is dreadfully low, like Mr. Greene said.
"The newspapers referred to that as well; after the destruction of Monsho, the amount of Grimm in these waters dropped significantly" Blake added to her teammate's claim.
"And that is weird. Grimm do not flee an area, unless hunted down. And as Ruby told you before, the only time we have ever seen like this was because of the Eldergrimm."
Yang's playful face dropped "do you think there's a connection here, sweetie?" Weiss shot another look towards the sea, before replying.
"I don't have evidence…but there are many things to consider. The lack of Grimm indicates something akin to Yugure's situation."
She let her face get marred by disgust. "We know that humans were involved in this… and Alizar appeared just after the incident, do you get what I am trying to say?"
"You believe Alizar and the lunatic who unleashed the Eldergrimm in Yugure are working together" the brunette coldly concluded.
"We know he has at least one companion- what would prevent him from having more?" the ex-heiress summarized her train of thought.
"Well, you are right. But there is nothing we can do more than the usual 'find and beat down' tactic. Unless your pretty head has a plan" Yang replied nonchalantly.
"I don't; like back then, we simply lack information. And I hate acting on hypotheses."
"All right, that's enough" Blake announced. "Don't waste energy on bad thoughts right now- save them after we reach the place and have a better idea, ok?"
Weiss blinked then nodded in approval "I guess you are right. I am going to wake Ruby up; she will be whining if let her oversleep" she announced before opening the cabin door.
-o—
Ruby opened her eyes to a strange sound. She groaned, rubbing them as she tried to stand up from her rest, if she could call this uneasy, worried sleep a proper rest.
The wooden cabin around her was dark- strange. Even in such a cloudy day, she should have a better vision. Did we enter the fog bank already? Weiss is so gonna hear it!
She stepped out of her bed, trying to get her boots on- and the sound of splashing water filled her ears. Immediately, a wet, cold sensation spread all over her socks.
Ruby looked down; sea water was pouring into the cabin, having covered the floor up to her ankles! She looked up- the ceiling was dripping black drops on her. What? How did this happen?
She tried to shout, call Weiss or Yang to help her find the hole, but she stopped immediately. Her still waking brain sensed something; correction, someone, inside the cabin.
Ruby snapped around, her hand reaching out for her scythe- and then her fingers froze.
A woman was standing right next to her. She had black wavy hair, with sultry amber eyes and red luscious lips slightly parting in a haughty, self-satisfied smirk.
Her gorgeous body had enough curves to stir many lustrous desires in the hearts of men as she swayed towards the young girl. Long shaped legs moved inside the dark moor, while black droplets ran all over her fiery red dress.
It was an alluring image- and one that disgusted Ruby like nothing. "What…are you doing here? You should be- no, you are dead!" She didn't reply- didn't even acknowledge the words.
The reaper tried to grab her weapon, but her body had totally frozen. She tried to run, but her legs refused, letting her stand as the rising water covered her thighs.
Cinder stood over her, eyes gleaming like wicked dead suns in the middle of the cabin. Ruby felt her voice die in her throat as a perfectly-manicured hand covered her mouth.
She felt her skin all over her lips- it reminded her of ash, blood and freshly dug earth. The woman lowered her head and locked her gaze on Ruby.
The euphoric, enticing scent of spice that accompanied Cinder in her life made Ruby's stomach churn. It reminded her of Uncle Qrow's funeral and cemetery oils.
And then, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. "…!" Unable to speak, she felt warm, hot blood running down her stomach, meeting the cold sea water that had covered her belly.
Cinder withdrew her glaive, making Ruby spit blood at her killer's hand. A red, shining trail ran down the elegant fingers as a cold voice filled the brunette's ears, sounding like it came from beyond the grave itself.
"Say hello to your boyfriend for me." Ruby gasped, drowning in blood, as Cinder threw her inside the dark ocean, smiling as her image slowly faded to black.
Panic overcame her. She was filled with the horrifying image of darkness assaulting her very senses. Trying her best to concentrate, Ruby activated her semblance-
"OUCH!" and slammed into something soft; soft and complaining. Her body rolled onto a hard surface, falling on her back.
"What the dust Ru-" she recognized the voice; it belonged to Weiss. Ruby sat on her butt and stared around, her eyes quickly adjusting to the dim daylight.
She was sitting on the deck of their totally-not-sinking ship. Weiss was lying down next to her, probably knocked by yours truly. Blake was on the helm, with Yang next to her.
And all three of them were staring at Ruby in confusion. Confusion and worry. "Rubes!" Yang climbed down the ladder as fast as she could "are you ok?"
She didn't reply. She didn't know what to say. Ruby hid her face in her palms, her brain rapidly taking in the information. What a horrible dream! She thought. So vivid… it felt as if I was really drowning!
Weiss and Yang gently helped her up, under the vigilant and worried gaze of Blake. "Rubes… are you-" "Fine? Yes, I am. It was just a bad dream, nothing more, ok?"
The monochrome pair shared a quick glance of disbelief. Yang, on the other hand, looked down at her sister who was still covering her eyes with her palms.
"You got up screaming and slammed Weiss on the floor while looking pale as if you saw a ghost, Rubes. Don't play smart with me. You are obviously not fine."
She felt her muscles tense. "It's not a big deal, Yang." Lilac eyes narrowed "These last days you haven't been yourself Rubes. I know why, trust me, we all do. But you can't help Jaune like this, little sis! You have to calm-"
"I am calm! This is me being calm!" the flat and horrifyingly cold tone of the voice that belonged to the cheerful and bubbly girl sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Silver eyes stared at Yang through Ruby's fingers "If I let myself be upset even for a second, I will break! I will lose control and sent everything to the trash can! So, Sis, don't tell me to be calm. Cause this is the calmest you will get right now!"
Everyone gulped at the lingering power behind Ruby's words. Weiss cleared her throat- and then the ship shook violently, as a huge object slammed its right side.
"Wha-" Blake held the wheel with all her might, trying to keep the ship on route, as a couple more slams made her nearly lose control.
She focused her faunus eyes on the right of the ship- and cursed under her breath. Four large black Grimm sharks were circling them, taking turns in slamming the boat with their massive bodies.
Their long black forms were partially submerged and covered in vertical bone-white shards that formed an exoskeleton-like appendage. Similar white sharp teeth filled their mouths and red sinister eyes shone just below the waterline.
Another one slammed them, making Yang curse. "We have Galeodons! Four of them!" The yellow-eyed girl shouted. "An ambush" Ruby stood up, grabbing her scythe "and it's probably my fault" she whispered.
"Don't be like that, Rubes. Please" Yang cocked her bracers as Weiss drew her swords. Their leader simply walked to the right part of the ship, before she mechanically replied "yeah. Let's kill them."