Okay, before I this chapter, I want to let you all know something. I downloaded Metroid Dread's Demo. HOLY F**K, they weren't kidding about the Dread part! The E.M.M.I's had me on edge. It took a while to get used to the Omega Cannon controls. For some reason, when I was trying to destroy the first E.M.M.I., the cannon would not stay on the target! I know they are going to get harder when I have the full game, but the free-aim would not stay on target, forcing me to be killed by the first E.M.M.I! I had better luck with the second E.M.M.I. I got spotted a few times, but I was able to get away. I also learn that the Demo only goes up to the first boss, Corpius. I was able to beat him and get the Phantom Cloak. After that, the Demo ends. There's only one thing about Demo I don't like, YOU CAN'T SAVE AT ALL! Why? The Demo is short, yes, but what if you wanted to continue where you left off during the demo if it becomes too much for you? I can only hope I can match the feeling for the sequel of this story. Oh, and for those that are wondering why I'm not calling this RWBY Fusion, I'm saving that name for a different story. But the squeal will be called RWBY Dread. Okay, one more chapter of Ruby recovering before she heads out to the Research Facility.
Ruby stay in the hospital for one more day before she was taken back to Beacon. Lots of the students had heard about Ruby's near-death experience, and welcomed her back. However, many were shocked to see her with ears, a trait of a Faunus. Ozpin welcomed her back and told her he had already informed the teachers about her new features. He stated that none of the students knew she was part Grimm. He thought it would be better that way. When Ruby enter her first class, Professor Port welcomed her back.
"It's wonderful to see you alive and well, Miss Rose. You gave all of us quite a scare." He said, smiling.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to worry everyone." She said, sheepishly.
Port just smiles and had her take her seat. The lesson started, with Port going into a story. Weiss looks at Ruby, who was trying to be careful with her long nails. Ozpin told them that Ruby grain Faunus traits but told them that's what they were. It was to keep people from freaking out if they learn the truth. Ruby's new ears twitch as she heard the whispers of other students.
"Is that Ruby Rose?"
"Yeah. I heard she almost died and was turned into a Faunus to save her life."
"Would that mean, she's not a human anymore?"
Ruby looks down. Was she a human? Ozpin told her that she was still human even with Grimm DNA, but she didn't feel human. Blake notices and reached over to touch her shoulder.
"Don't listen to them." She said, also hearing the students.
"You're still human to us." She added, smiling.
Ruby gave a small smile and nodded. But deep inside, she felt different. Different than what most people might think.
Later,
Ruby had a run-in with Glynda, who also welcomed her back. She has some school to catch up on but decided to give it to her tomorrow. Ruby started to walk down the hall to meet up with her team and Team JNPR before someone stood in her way.
"Well, well, look at what we got here."
Ruby groans as she looks up at Cardin. She knew Cardin was a bully and was known to pick on smaller students, like herself, and Faunus.
"Leave me alone, Cardin," Ruby said, already having to deal with the bully a few times during her stay.
"You know, I never thought it was possible for a human to turn into a Faunus. It's quite surprising, really." He said.
However, Ruby was able to sense something from him. Something that told her he was going to hurt her. Cardin then started to reach for her wolf ears but Ruby was quicker.
"DON'T TOUCH THE EARS!" She growls.
Cardin blinks, surprised she grabbed his arm before he could pull her ears. Ruby started to pull the arm away, slowly squeezing it as she did so.
"I may be younger than most students. I may look like a Faunus. But I will not let some prideful idiot try to bring me down just because he doesn't like Faunus!" Ruby said, bringing up one of her sharp nails.
"Pick on me again, and these nails will be the last thing you ever see!" She said, holding it near his eye.
"RUBY!"
She blinks before turning to see Yang, who was breathing in relief. Ruby pulls her hand away, and lets go of Cardin's arm. She shakes her head as if her mind was all fuzzy. Yang spotted Cardin and growled. She stomps over to him, her eyes flicking to red.
"If you think for one second that you can pick on my sister because of what she is, I will punch you!" She said, pounding her fist into her palm.
"Whatever," Cardin said, walking away.
"Freak."
Ruby's new ears caught the word and they doop down. Yang notices and places a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, whatever he said, it's not true. You're still my sister." She said, smiling.
Ruby gave a smile herself, but she still felt like she wasn't herself.
Later, after class,
Blake watched as Ruby clipped her nails again, only for them to grow back.
"AUGH! Stupid nails!" Ruby groans.
Blake walked up and looks at her nails. She knew Ruby had the DNA of a Beowulf, but maybe it could work.
"Ruby, have you tried to retract them?" She asked.
"What? Um, Blake, Wolves don't have retractable claws." Ruby said, remembering her animals.
"True, but have you ever tried?" Blake asked.
Ruby thought about it. Could she retract her nails to make them shorter? Ruby sighs and tries. She was surprised to see them become shorter, causing her eyes to widen.
"How?!" She asked, shocked.
"Looks like you're different from wolves. Even from a Beowulf. We're here to help you, Ruby." Blake said, smiling.
Ruby smiles, but she didn't feel any better. She didn't understand it, why was she feeling so down? She knew he friends are helping her, but why does she feel so negative?
A bit later,
Ruby couldn't help but scratch her ears as they twitch again. Weiss heard her groan and turns to her.
"Stop that, Ruby." She said, annoyed.
"I can't. Every time they twitch, they itch!" Ruby said, scratching her ear again.
Weiss sighs. She stood up and looks into Ruby's new wolf ears.
"I see the problem." She said, thinking.
"Your hair is sticking inside, making it feel like something is there. You need to brush her hair so it faces away from your new ears." Weiss said.
Ruby blinks. While her hair wasn't always a mess, learning that her hair was causing her to scratch was annoying.
"Can you move my hair?" She asked, shocking Weiss.
"What?! I'm not going to put my fingers in your ears! Did you even clean them?!" Weiss all but shouted.
"Weiss, I have all homework to catch up on, you won't let me leave until I finished as much as I can." Ruby reminds her.
Weiss groans.
'Still, I have been wondering what they feel like. I mean, I scratch Zwei's ears before.' Weiss thought.
'GAH! What am I thinking?! I'm not going to put my finger in Ruby's ears! No way, no how!' She added in thought.
She turns to Ruby before freezing. She saw Ruby was looking at her with wide eyes and letting the bottom of her lips hang out. To steal the deal, Ruby's new ears doop a bit, giving a whole new meaning to the puppy dog snout.
'GAH! My heart! It's too cute!' Weiss panicked.
Yang did warn her about this, but now, thanks to the new ears, Weiss was fully caught in the trap and couldn't break free.
"FINE! JUST STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!" She shouted, blushing.
Ruby smiled and sat up straight. Weiss groans before walking up and carefully pulled Ruby's hair out of her ear.
"Hey, Weiss?" Ruby asked, making the Heiress look at her.
"Can you scratch behind my ear? There's an itch there I can't seem to get." Ruby asked.
Weiss sighs and started to do so. She heard Ruby moan softly as she relax. Looks like Ruby has the same sweet spot as most dogs do.
"Miss Rose?"
Both girls jump as a voice spoke up. They turned to see Winter in front of them. Weiss looked embarrassed as Ruby looked worried.
"General Ironwood wishes to speak with you." She said.
"Um, sure?" Ruby said, still worried.
"Um, Winter?" Weiss tries to say.
"It's alright, Weiss. I won't say anything." Winter smiles, glad to see that Weiss was enjoying her.
"Why don't I believe that?" Weiss whispers.
"Follow me, Miss Rose." She said.
"Um, sure. I'll see you later, Weiss." Ruby said, following Winter.
Weiss blinks. What does Ironwood what with Ruby?
Ironwood's Office,
Ruby sat in the chair as Winter and Penny stood next to Ironwood. Penny could see that her friend was worried, and wanted to ensure her she wasn't in trouble. But the mission Ironwood had for her, she had to agree with Winter that it was far too dangerous for her.
"Miss Rose?" James said, making the girl flinch.
"Y-Yes, Sir?" Ruby said, sitting up quickly.
"At ease. I know you're confused on why you're here. I promise to answer your questions but first, you must agree that anything that's said in the room stays here, understood?" Ironwood told her.
"Yes, sir!" Ruby said.
"Do you remember the Death Soul Parasites?" Ironwood asked.
"Yes, Professor Ozpin told me about them. How they were attacking my soul." Ruby said.
"And you had Grimm DNA given to you to survive," Ironwood said, sitting back.
"I must admit that I had gotten a hold of your blood when it was still infected by the parasite. I send it to a top-secret Research Facility to be studied and then dispose of. However, we have lost contact with the Facility and came to believe that, somehow, the Death Soul Parasites have escaped and taken over the Facility. Since you are the only one immune to the parasites, I would like to send you there to find any survivors and collect any important information that you can find." Ironwood told her.
Ruby was shocked. The Death Soul Parasites were loose?! And he wanted to send her into an infected area?!
"I..." Ruby tries to say.
"I understand this is a big shock to you, but your only one we can count on. If the Death Soul Parasites would have escaped into the nearby city..." He trails off on that, causing Ruby to recall what happened to her.
'If they get into the city then millions of people would be at the mercy of the parasites! As much as I wanted to refuse this mission, I wouldn't call myself a Huntress if I don't save people.'
Ruby took a breath and looks up.
"I'll do it." She said, shocking Winter and Penny.
Ironwood nods.
"We already prepare for your departure. Remember, Miss Rose, no one can know about this. Not your sister, your friends, or even Ozpin, Understand?" Ironwood said.
"Yes, sir," Ruby said.
"Good. Follow me." He said, leading her down the hall.
Winter sighs and follows after them. Penny grew worried for her friend. She knew that Ruby didn't want people to get hurt but...
Penny stood there, wondering if she at least tell someone her thoughts.
Ruby followed Ironwood to the shuttle hangar, where a few scientists started to look over her before they seem to return where they were working. It wasn't long before they brought up a suit for her. It was mostly black with arms and legs being red. She was surprised to see a helmet in the color of Beowulf's mask.
"Sorry about that. It appears that some of them thought it would fit you better because of the DNA." Ironwood said, sighing.
Ruby looks at the suit and sighs. She could feel something inside her that told her this was who she was. She shakes her head and faces him.
"So, when do I leave?" She asked.
"Soon," Ironwood said, nodding at the scientists.
A few minutes later,
Ruby steps out of the changing room, now wearing the suit with her cloak.
"It stays." She told everyone.
She wore the cloak in memory of her mother. Ruby rarely takes it off or leaves it behind. She carried her helmet under her arm before meeting up with Ironwood.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"Yes," Ruby said.
"Ready for what?"
Ruby screams as she jumps. Everyone turns as they saw Ozpin appear out of nowhere, clearly angry.
"James, what are you doing?" Ozpin asked, stepping up to him.
Ironwood sighs. He didn't know how he found out, but he was able to stay ahead for as long as he can.
"Miss Rose had agreed to take care of a mission for me. I need her to go alone for this one." He said.
"James, I told you, all mission requests with my students must go through me first," Ozpin told him.
"Professor?" Ruby spoke up.
Ozpin faces Ruby, who held her helmet tightly.
"I want to do this." She said.
Ozpin looks at her and saw Summer. Ruby was like her mother in every way. He sighs and faces James again.
"Very well, but next time you must come to me first. Do something like this again, and I don't care if they already said yes." He warned him.
James nodded before walking up to Ruby.
"The suit is made to give you extra protection. With that said, do be careful. You won't have back up with you this time. Watch your six at all times." He told her.
"Yes, sir!" Ruby said.
"Miss Rose?"
Ruby turns to Ozpin, who looked back at her.
"We already almost lost you one. Do not die on us again." He said, clearly worried for her.
"Yes, sir," Ruby said before stepping on the ship that would take her to the Facility.
Ozpin sighs before turning to Winter.
"Watch over her." He said before leaving.
And it begins. Now, I tried my best to show that Ruby isn't fully comfortable with her new Grimm powers. And before anyone tells me, yes, I know Wolf Claws are not retractable. I looked it up beforehand, but I wasn't going like Ruby has long nails in the whole story. I was asked if elements from Metroid Fusion are going to appear in the story, and the answer is yes. But I do need a little help, the first few power-ups that you get in the game are Missiles and Morph-Ball. Since I'm staying in the world of RWBY, I need something to replace them as well as the first boss. I'm open to any ideas. SargentEpsilon, I completely understand that you couldn't think of any. So don't sweat it. And there will be Death Soul Parasite that will take up Ruby's form. I wasn't going to leave something like that out.
