Welcome back to another chapter of 'RWBY WATCHES THE MULTIVERSE'. Read and enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY and 'Unleashed' and make no profit from this story. HA! NOW THE LAWYERS CAN'T TOUCH ME! HAHAHAHA! (cough), Sorry about that, had too much caffeine earlier.
Chapter 6: Kill him
After Roman and his crew received yet another beating on the same day due to Ren not following his orders, the crime boss was at his breaking point and after returning to their hideout was ranting at the poor boy in anger, pain and frustration.
"If you can't do what I've trained you to do then what fucking use are you?" ranted Roman.
"No fucking use is the answer! No fucking use at all!" he continued.
"Swear! Swear! Swear!" said Ruby loudly while pointing the finger of doom at the screen.
Sighing at her sister's childishness Yang could only shake her head and try to placate the red clad girl with a cookie she had with her which immediately drew Ruby's attention who proceeded to excitedly eat the yummy treat in an adorable manner.
"I think Ruby is more puppy than human at times," commented Jaune which got laughs from Yang saying it's true while Ruby blushed brightly in embarrassment and quickly returned to watching and eating her cookie.
"I feed you! I clothe you! I put a roof over your head! And all that time I put in, all that fucking effort! To make you into the man you are…"
"swear!"
Sitting down at his desk Roman pulled some medical supplies from one of the cabinets but wasn't done ranting, "all that effort and this is the gratitude I get! Look at me! I look as if I've just been through the fucking world war!"
"You deserve everything that happened to you, you bastard," said Nora which got shocked looks from everyone at hearing the normally bubbly girl curse in such a manner. Seeing the looks she was getting Nora just responded with a "what? He hurt Ren" which caused the looks to stop and for everyone to return to watching.
Now tired of scolding his 'dog' Roman ordered Lefty to take him downstairs to his room, while he tried to stop the bleeding on his face. "I'm getting too old for this shit" he said to himself. Noticing Georgie on the staircase by the entrance Roman abruptly told him he was busy but the subordinate quickly explained that there was a man there to see him with a business proposition and it concerned the show Roman put on in the jewellery store earlier.
Thinking it over to himself Roman decided to hear what his visitor had to offer, "receiving fucking visitors looking like this, it's a joke" muttered the crime boss to himself". Taking a cloth and disinfected he applied a bit to his face which burned his wounds more than he thought it would," Shit! Jesus! Fuckin'ell!" screamed Roman in pain as his wounds burned which got loud laughter from the audience as they found Roman's pain funny and deserving.
"Ha! What's the matter Roman? Can't take the burn?" questioned the blonde brawler in between laughs.
The appearance of who the visitor was immediately caused the laughter to stop as the man was revealed to be non-other than Jacques Schnee, who witnessed Ren's fighting abilities with his own eyes.
"Why on Remnant would the head of the Schnee Dust Company be meeting with a lowlife criminal like Roman T orchwick?" asked Glynda to Ozpin and Qrow who looked surprised but not completely as they knew Jacque was not as innocent as he would like to appear.
"Whatever the reason old man Schnee is there, it can't be good" answered the 'dusty old crow' as Ozpin called him.
Weiss who at seeing her father a second time near the criminal mastermind, this time meeting him face to face could not stop her anxiety from building again at the thought of what his possible schemes could be but remembering the calming words of the green clad shinobi from earlier once again alleviated her worries.
Walking up to the crime boss Jacques Schnee had no fear in his eyes as he looked straight at the man he planned to meet only sharing a brief glance down at the cage which held Ren who looked up curiously at the new arrival. Looking up once again the white head man stopped just in front of the desk where Roman was currently sitting.
"I'm listening" said Roman, hoping that whatever the man was proposing would be worthwhile.
"That was a very impressive display your man put on in the jewellery store" complimented Jacque.
"I assure you it was completely justified" replied Roman back a little defensively.
"I'm sure it was" agreed the Schnee. "That thing with the collar, absolutely brilliant" he complimented with an impressed tone.
Now getting a little impatient Roman cut to the chase, "and the point of this conversation is?"
Now in business mode Jacques answered "The point of this conversation is, I'd like to offer you a lucrative proposition."
Now very interested "how lucrative?" asked Roman.
"VERY lucrative" was the reply.
Roman who was now very interested invited his guest to sit and explain his proposition. Jacques then went on to explain that he produces a sort of 'entertainment' for friends once a month and it was members only. Now at a warehouse that was made to look like a small fighting arena, the corrupt business man went further and explained that he is always on the lookout for new talent and that the first fight was a try-out and Roman would get fifteen thousand, the second fight he would get twenty thousand and the right to bet but only if Ren won the fights.
The residents of Remnant could not believe what they were seeing, Weiss's father was running an illegal underground fighting ring and Ren was apparently the next combatant.
Pyrrha was feeling very uneasy about the situation, she herself had fought in multiple tournaments and had always been victorious, but those competitions had rules and regulations that would keep the competitors from seriously injuring themselves. Another factor that caused her unease was the onscreen Ren's lack of aura, so any serious injury would cause major problems for the ninja boy.
Sensing his partners distress Jaune glanced at Pyrrha and at seeing her worried state instinctively put his arm around her which got an atomic blush from the girl who quickly tried to hide it from her 'secret crush', "Ren will be fine, from what we saw of his fighting skills earlier he won't go down easily, so don't worry our teammate will make it out of this." The blonde knight's words helped immensely and Pyrrha's unease dissipated, but the feeling of his arm around her shoulder brought back her blush and without thinking leaned into his shoulder while enjoying the warmth and comfort he was giving off.
"Thank you Jaune, you really know what to say to calm me down", thanked the Spartan sighed in contentment while leaning into 'her' knight.
"N-no problem" stuttered Jaune at the feeling of his beautiful partner pressed so close to him.
(back on screen)
Roman who was standing next to Jacques asked how fights were won and Jacques simply stated with a smile, the fights were "to the death."
(with the audience)
You could hear a pin drop with the silence that permeated the theatre, the revelation that their friend would have to fight in death matches was just too shocking, even the professors were quiet at what was revealed. The silence was then broken by a shout of anger from a seriously pissed off girl.
"WHO DOES THAT BASTARD THINK HE IS!? MAKING RENNY FIGHT TO THE DEATH! LET ME AT HIM AND I'LL GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT, WITH MY HAMMER BREAKING HIS LEGS AND A FEW GRENADES SHOVED UP HIS ASS OUGHT TO REALLY MAKE HIM GRIN" thundered Nora who looked ready to jump through the screen but before she could follow through with her threats their host Ethan flashed in and quickly restrained the bomber girl with glowing straps that's kept her seated but she continued to struggle until her struggles eventually stopped but before she was released Ethan had some words for her, "Sorry for the tight bonds but I can't have you destroying the theatre, seriously I just had this place cleaned and renovated. I know you care deeply for your teammate and that the thought of him dying makes you angry and intense, but trust me you're gonna want to see what happens to Ren and how he escapes his current life. Now that you're calmed down I'll remove the bonds but please don't make a habit of trying to cause havoc and destruction here ok." With that the supernatural host left while freeing Nora who apologised sheepishly but meaningfully and everyone just waved it off except for Goodwitch who promised detention if she let her anger get to her again.
(on screen)
"So where's the money?" asked Roman after processing that all the fights would be death matches.
"The money comes after you defeat him our current champion," answered the business man while pointing at the man in the arena. The man was wearing a chainmail vest with leather pants, a S&M mask and was over six feet tall with a beefy muscular build, he was currently breaking bricks on his head and shouting to intimidate whoever was challenging him.
"Undefeated in fifteen bouts" commented Jacque with a hint of pride and smugness. "Care for a glass of champagne?" he asked his guest.
Not looking at all impressed at the so called champion Roman removed the cloth covering Ren's head while saying they won't be long.
Reaching the collar's lock Roman immediately unlocked the device and gave one simple order "kill him".
This really caused shock to go through everyone's minds, so far all of Ren's orders were to simply beat his opponents into submission not to kill them, were they really going to see their calm and collected friend take a life?
"I don't think I can watch this" said Ruby who was pulled into a one armed hug by her sister.
Blake watched on with apprehension, she had seen people die before with her time in the White Fang but those were said to be 'necessary sacrifices' by her former mentor Adam Taurus and watching him about to willingly kill innocent people for his cause she couldn't be a part of that organization anymore. Now watching one her comrades who she thought would one of the last people to actually kill about to take someone's life brought back some unpleasant memories.
Ren could only watch his counterpart with a still unease, was he going to go through with it? He immediately knew the answer, the Ren on screen had never disobeyed an order once the collar was removed and he was not going to start now. "What will everyone think of me after they see what he does?" said the shinobi quietly to himself.
But no quietly enough as Nora hugged him immediately with all her might well saying over and over again that whatever happens he will still be the same Ren to them.
Everyone including the professors agreed and this brought a gratefull smile to the pink streaked boy.
Qrow who noticed the look on the boy's face decided to give some of his special advice, "Kid I've been a huntsman for a long time and let me tell ya, it's not always sunshine and rainbows, I've had to do some things that made me ashamed to look at myself in the mirror but I still did them. You all will eventually come to realise that you're going to do things in your careers that might seem terrible but will be necessary, so remember whatever we see now cannot be worse than what I've done and seen."
The students all were silent as they took in the veteran huntsman's words, it was a bitter pill to swallow as they realised that in the future they would have to do unsavoury things to keep their kingdoms safe. But that's what they signed up for, so with determined faces the two teams returned to the screen.
Ren who got the order to kill walked with a purpose down to his victim who was not at intimidated by Ren's much smaller form.
When the signal to begin was given Roman shouted loudly "RIP HIS FUCKING ARSE OFF!"
The tall champion tried to grab Ren by the head but the smaller fighter just leaned back and dodged the attempt to grab him and he immediately rushed forward and delivered three lightning fast and heavy punches to the neck of his opponent. The dead man standing coughed up blood as the punches destroyed his larynx and crushed his trachea making it impossible to breath, he gave one final blood choked breath and collapsed dead before he even hit the ground.
"THAT'S MY BOY!" hollered Roman in happiness at seeing the easy victory while the guests and Jacques looked shocked at how easy their 'champion' was deafeated.
After collecting his winnings Roman thanked his host for the opportunity. Jacques happily replied it was his pleasure and inquired on how the collar worked on Ren in which Roman just said it was as his mum used to say 'get them young enough and the possibilities are endless'. Satisfied with the answer Jacques bid them farewell with a suggestion that next time they could try and make the fights more entertaining. Roman replied he 'see what he could do' and left with his winnings in hand.
Even though they tried prepare themselves the students and teachers especially the young reaper looked sick at seeing the quick and brutal death at the hands of a young man who looked like he wouldn't hurt a fly when he wore the collar.
"Remember what we said earlier, no matter what, you're still our friend Ren," said the leader of JNPR with a tone that left no room for complaint.
Nodding in thanks Ren and the rest of the audience watched on.
With his winnings in hand as he sat in the backseat of the luxury car on their way back to the hideout Roman couldn't be any happier, "You guys remember that dream I was telling you about the day" asked Roman to his henchmen in the front seats.
Lefty, remembering answered "the one with all the birds in it?"
"Yeah" confirmed the boss. "Well I figured it all out see, I read somewhere that you dream one thing but it means something else. Like the girls, the drinks, the umbrellas, they were all just symbols."
The two kept quiet as the listened to their boss explain his sudden revelation.
"What they actually represented were things like comfort, relaxation, no worries, and then this swell turns up offering more money than what we save in a year."
Now getting close to his point he continued, "well then it all becomes clear, the dream, the swell, it means retirement, you get it?" asked Roman who looked quite pleased with himself.
"Yeah" replied Georgie who was thinking how great retirement would be.
Roman who was having the same thoughts, "no more filthy collections, no more beatings, I tell you, I'm feeling pretty good here, Ren what do want?"
"His actually going to get something for Ren, I don't believe it," said Weiss with a huff as she would not believe this criminal would care enough for someone other than himself.
Ren who was looking bored as they drove answered "I want a piano."
"Excuse me?" asked Roman as he must've heard wrong.
"I want a piano."
"A piano, yeah right, how about a lobster dinner?"
"I want a piano."
"How about a woman, you've never had a woman before."
This got Nora's eye twitching in anger and she hugged Ren tighter to herself.
"I want a piano" was Ren's constant reply.
"Ren you're really starting to piss me off," said Roman whose frustration was growing and patience was thinning.
"I want a piano," was the answer he received.
Rather than be angry Roman just gave light hearted chuckle while talking, "oh Ren that's what I love about you, one thought at a time. That's what makes us such a good team, the 'brains and the brawn'. I tell you this is gonna be a lovely day" said the crime boss who had no idea what was going to happen next.
Out of nowhere a semi-truck slammed into the side of the car flipping it twice before it landed back on its wheels, the car was a wreck with the roof dented and windows completely smashed.
"OH NO REN!" "WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?" "IS HE OK!?"
Seeing her students panicking Glynda loudly called out for everyone to quiet down as she was sure they would see what happens next. After everyone calmed down they looked to the screen to see the fate of their friends 'other' self.
Just as the car finished flipping men that were easily recognised as Junior's thugs appeared with machine guns and open fired on the wreckage hitting Roman who screamed in pain on lost consciousness. After it seemed like everyone was dead Junior who was watching from a nearby parked car gave the signal to leave, after the thugs and Junior drove off Ren emerged from the wreckage with a bloody arm from he was no doubt shot. He looked around scared and confused, his 'uncle' was dead and he didn't know what to do.
"I am so ripping Junior's nuts off when I see him again," said Yang in anger after seeing what the caused.
"Sorry firecracker I can't allow you to do that" said her uncle.
"But!"
"No but's, sorry"
"Egh fine!"
We now see Professor Ozpin make his way into the antique warehouse to no doubt tune more pianos.
"Madam you've been very patient with me, so I'm going to devote my full attention to you all day," said the man to the instrument as if it were a real person. He gave the keys a few experimental pushes when he heard the sound of shuffling feet behind him.
"Who's there? It's you isn't it?" questioned Ozpin.
"Y-yes" was Ren struggled reply as he had lost a lot of blood and was fighting to stay awake.
Not knowing that the young man was bleeding to death Ozpin just talked on further, "well isn't that something, you know when I got home and told Nora, my step-daughter…I told her all about you."
Ren couldn't hear anymore as his head was spinning violently and his battle to stay awake ended with him collapsing in the puddle of blood at his feet.
"REN! Please tell me he's gonna be alright" said Nora to a seemingly empty theatre but she was talking to Ethan who appeared and said he couldn't tell them and that all they could do was watch.
*Flashback/Memory
A woman standing in an apartment hears banging on the door and two men enter, one starts licking her neck and a gold ring he's wearing flashes, there's a loud sound like a gunshot and Ren suddenly awakens in an unfamiliar room.
The screen dies before anything else happens and everyone tries to come to terms with what they saw.
"What just happened?" asked Ruby who was a bit jumpy and confused at seeing what appeared to a memory.
Ren, deciding to speak answered "I believe that was a memory of my counterpart, it was just for a split second but I saw the woman's face, and I sure it was my mother."
His answer shocked everyone.
"Your mother? Are you sure?" asked Jaune who couldn't believe his best guy friends mother was somehow involved with how he ended up being 'raised' by Roman Torchwick.
"If that memory comes up again I can be positive but at the moment I believe it to be a high chance of that being my mother who was shown."
"We'll figure it out later, let's all recuperate wait for the screen to come alive again" said the red haired amazon Pyrrha.
Everyone agreed and went off to get refreshments that were provided.
Meanwhile the professors were having their own conversation on what they witnessed. "You saw it too, right?" aksed Qrow to his two colleagues.
"Yes, the identity of the man assaulting the woman was revealed in the memory, should we tell them?" inquired Glynda.
Before she could get an answer Ethan appeared again, "I would like to ask to please not reveal anything to the students yet, I know the gold ring was a giveaway to those who were observant enough but I would like them to try and figure it out on their own. They won't always have you to assist them with problems and puzzles. So please keep it to yourself unless they figure it out on their own."
Flashing out again he left the professors to their thoughts and they agreed to keep the identity of the man a secret until it was either revealed or they figure it out themselves. With nothing else to do the adults retrieved their own brand of refreshments which meant coffee for Ozpin, alcohol for Qrow and tea for Glynda.
End.
Author's note: HELL YEAH ANOTHER CHAPTER DONE AND DUSTED WOOHOO!
Ugh I really need to lay off the caffeine that stuff makes you do crazy $#%*.
Anyway my crazy caffeine addiction aside our lovable teenage huntsman and huntresses have just seen one of their own kill a man with no remorse which is a very shocking event to witness, luckily Qrow was there to share some wisdom and give advice to what they can expect in their future careers as huntsman and huntresses. Now the next chapters are going to be very dialogue heavy as for those have seen the movie know this is all about Ren (Danny) reclaiming his humanity. I'll try and shorten most parts but a lot of what I put in plays a vital role for Ren (Danny) when he learns how to be a normal person again. Next chapter we get to see Nora as Victoria in the story and the reason I chose Nora over say Weiss who does have musical talent is simply because I feel Nora and Victoria have similar bubbly personalities with how they babble out information, some might disagree and It's fine if they don't but I'm not changing my decision. Besides I can't separate Nora from Ren no matter what world they live in.
That's all folks (I can say that legally right?) see you next time.
Ja Ne!
