The quiet noises, air tensed up.
Everyone thought it wouldn't happen, but it did.
The most sudden action caused all minds to stop functioning.
Laying there on the grass with his body twitching, all kinds of yelling from the game disease's terrible experience. Cardin has been infected with a game disease, not from a proto origin gashat, Ace was relieved but only a little bit.
It still put a damper in his mood.
"Dammit dammit dammit! Cardin used Sharaiki Sports! But how was he able to get those three..." Ace's eyes widened. "Him and his teammates must have crashed inside our room!"
Kuroto scoffed. "Idiot thought he could survive against a storm of viruses." He muttered quietly. "Yes, that's what happened. I regret not able to put it somewhere else safer than under your bed."
He rejected to say sorry but this was also Cardin's fault on the other hand even if Ruby and her friends might've talked about it out loud.
Ace ran towards Cardin where Poppy's currently checking on him and his status. "Poppy, how's he feeling?" Ace asked.
"Not good, we have to get him to the nurses office!" Poppy replied.
Ruby watched the statics coming off of Cardin. "Is this what you mean by...?"
Ace didn't dare to watch Ruby's stare when he knows it's very heart wrenching to witness. "Yeah, but the good thing is...that's a level 3 gashat." He checked PMAX and held it dearly. "Same method, but different results."
Yang put a tight hand on one of Ace's shoulder. "What can we do Ace?" Yang asked.
Ruby joined in. "Yeah, if we could help like when we just...nevermind. We'll listen."
Ace closed his mouth, not wanting to sound harsh. "...You see-"
Poppy interrupted the three while carefully holding Cardin up a bit. "Ruby, Yang, I know everyone here wants to help, Ace knows that too. But we both know only those two can save Cardin's life."
"Why?" Yang asked a bit irritated. "Why can't we help?"
"Because the only way to save him..." Ace trailed off, gently taking his Gamer Driver from Cardin's waist. "Is if, we, bugsters can do the procedure. Remember when I said that you shouldn't use this or you'll die?"
"Yeah?" Ruby said.
Kuroto crossed his arms and stepped in. "You would need to have a compatible surgery in order to withstand the game disease implemented inside you, if you ever use a gashat just like Shakariki Sports."
"A compatible surgery? What's that?" Jaune asked.
"It's what you need to undergo in order to save lives, and the chances of success is hard to say." Kuroto answered, he checked the statics coming off slowly he smirked. "It seems that we would need a level 1 gashat, although that would only be the gashat itself have such is the same exact one he used, therefore we can't use it again."
"So that means we need a gashat just like the finished products. But, we don't have that!" Ace said.
Kuroto hummed, grasses rustling as a shadow revealed to be.
"What happened here!?"
A deep and what sounded like...Professor Goodwitch.
"Why is there static around Mr. Winchester?!"
Ruby gulped. "It's a long story..."
Ace stood up and gave Glynda a dark look. "It's something Ozpin probably told you by now."
Glynda looked confused. "What do you mean? He never explained to me about this!"
Ace stopped where he was walking. "He didn't tell you?!"
Glynda shook her head. "Everyone, get back inside the bullhead. Mr. Valliant, while it's nice to see you're back and ready to do the missed work you have. I believe that now's not the time. We shall head to the infirmary, Headmaster Ozpin will have a word with you two inside." Glynda said sternly and suppressing her anger.
"He too must explain about this..." She muttered quietly.
Ruby and her friends listened to her words seriously and ran to where the bullhead should be, feeling quite guilty due to this bad situation.
Ace sighed. "Let's go Kuroto, Poppy."
Kuroto reluctantly did so, Poppy looked nervous as whatever Bugster could be brought out from Cardin.
Either it would contain a horrible one, or an annoying creature that's still deadly as ever.
This is bad.
This is very bad.
Cardin pushed the lever and got the virus! Just like how Nico got it as well, but it was only solved because everyone had their original gashats. Like Mighty Action X, Taddle Quest, Bang Bang Shooting, and Bakusou Bike.
We need the one which Kuroto might have, or still has.
And it's sort of the not so finished version, since he was close to dying after using it for some time now when Dangerous Zombie's first time debuted.
Now we're here in the bullhead, the quietness really puts a damper in my mood, getting even worse mind you.
We can't let anyone else know about this, otherwise more might spread in the school. Sure RWBY and JNPR finally understood a bit, but it really hurts me deep that they want to help after all of this shit that just went down.
Yet they can't since there's two options, either one of them sacrifices their own humanity by using a Proto Gashat. Or have a compatible surgery go underway, here's the thing.
No one knows how to do it, only a doctor or an experienced surgery doctor who could follow the advised orders from Kuroto can.
Next there's Cardin's soon to be bugster, we can't go into the first stage since neither Kuroto and I have a level 1 gashat. Only the proto one's, which I swear to god I hope he still has it with him.
Or else we'll lose Cardin, this is serious.
I never thought a canon character like Cardin gets infected, only because my mentality went off where else my power increased, transforming to Level X-0 and a level I didn't think I'd use so early, Level X-5.
This damn power really does attract anyone who wants to feel that same experience, no, to find a way to capture me...control me as if like a toy used for only battles and killing someone...
Cardin was able to get the silver case because it's the most easiest way of getting it at the time when Kuroto and I were talking about the influences.
It was underneath my own bed...
I'm gonna have to talk to Poppy and Kuroto to see if there's something safe and most secure way of hiding them from ever letting this happen again.
"Ace, will everything be okay with Cardin?" Jaune asked, gently shaking my shoulders to wake me up from my zoned out thoughts. "I know he may have done...many things, but I can't just see him die right now..."
I nodded. "Don't worry Jaune, he'll be fine. All Kuroto and I just need to find is a level 1 gashat."
If Kuroto still has it that is.
With the unconvincing stares I got from everyone, I sat there fiddling around my thumbs, next to me is Poppy who's nervous about this quiet air.
Blake saw my undoubted face. "You don't look so sure."
I shook my head. "Sorry about that, it's just been a major ride after this past week and all."
"Yeah, If only we knew sooner back in that famous shop you went with Coco and Velvet." Yang said. "But the media takes their time for news like these to pop up."
"They sure do, but It's fine, at least I'm back and the only problem left is Cardin's game disease." I said both calmly and serious. "Hopefully, I don't know how long it's going to last with the virus inside Cardin's to evolve."
Blake shook her head. "Right now we have to believe that he'll be okay."
I gulped. "Right..."
Boy am I horrible with talking to girls, especially having trouble not to look at her black bow hiding her cat ears. Wait, didn't she say something about relating to me about my emotions?
Should I bring up that topic? Is it worth to do so? It could slowly ease her running away, hell maybe it might work!
"Hey Blake...remember when you told me that time when I was feeling all sorts of emotions?" I asked. "You said you knew that feeling all too well."
Blake looked at me funny. "I thought you didn't remember tha-?"
"Yeah I did have trouble putting my mind back to place, but I did hear a few things though at the time." I said.
Blake flinched, closing her book gently. "I-It must be your imaginati-!"
"Hey yeah, I remember you said that to Ace back in the Forever Fall trip. Since we're here in the bullhead back to Beacon...mind telling us what happened?" Yang asked. "If there's someone bullying you or anything, then you should tell us!"
"We'll break their legs!" Nora said.
"It's not that..." Blake shook her head. "It's something personal, I-I don't want to talk about it."
"Blake, you don't have to be afraid..." Ruby said.
"I agree, we're your teammates and we should be honest with one another." Weiss said.
"I-I know that, but I can't...until I'm ready." Blake said, stopping anyone else from asking again. "I'm fine everyone, but, now's not the time to focus on me."
Yang refused to shake it off, but she realized that she's said the same thing back in the Forever Fall. A personal and secret reason, but she's not going to let it off easy next time. "Fine."
...Fuck.
I just made things more awkward.
Joy, I'm really great at bringing up topics like these, making it dramatic.
I sighed, opening one of the windows I see the landing spot far as a familiar home I recognize too easily. "Alright, we're back. Now we need to take Cardin away before people notice the sparks coming off his body."
The Bullhead's door open to see Glynda stepping out. "No need, we evacuated the other students that didn't need to attend the trip, along with a room big enough for him." Glynda said in the back.
"I do want to hear your explanations after all this and Headmaster Ozpin. I simply cannot let this go since a student of mine has been infected from a potential virus capable of killing him." She said sternly once more.
I looked at Glynda's worried expression as she takes another look at Cardin.
You know, it's really nice that she opens up in one way or another, considering that we're like her children...I guess?
But thing is no one in Beacon does that though, I thought maybe some teacher could help a student open up about their problems. Yet there hasn't been any problems solved while I'm here.
God Beacon sure has a shitty support center for everyone who has issues.
Kuroto yawned. "The answer is quite simple, it would have to be addressed privately later on. Now then, let's get him out no?"
Glynda stood up and used her semblance, carrying Cardin carefully. "Yes, we shall."
Once Ace and Kuroto left the gang running with Glynda, Ruby has been staring at the gashats the two carried along with their own Gamer Driver.
Yang noticed her little sister's worry. "Cardin will be fine Ruby, everyone knows Ace can do it."
Ruby shook her head. "It's not that Yang, I just remembered what Ace said that back in the test. I thought he didn't want us to use those...gashats because they were awesome n' all."
Jaune scratched his hair nervously. "You weren't the only one Ruby, I wanted to ask if I could use them but...now, it's Ace who has to deal with the...responsibility he has."
...
...
...
"I still don't believe him."
That one disagreement made Yang turn around with Blake's eyes narrowed to Ace's back. "What do you mean?"
"I only trust what he said about those Game Diseases, it was natural to warn us about them when something like this was going to happen." Blake said.
"But?" Pyrhha said.
"His story, how he died and suddenly went to another world. Our world, Remnant. That can't be possible in all levels of reality." Blake's tone went slightly aggressive. "Think about it, how did he know about Dusts? Grimm? Beacon? Vale?"
"Because he was in the librar-" Ruby almost suggested, until she realized that Blake's right. "He did mutter about 'em before we really got to know him..."
"If he knew about this world then he would've known me as the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, and Pyrrha here as the invincible spartan warrior." Weiss said. "But he asked who we were when we met for the first time."
Yang looked off on this sudden topic, checking the two's expression. "You sure?"
Weiss and Pyrrha nodded in sync.
"It's true." Pyrrha said. "And I'm glad he doesn't..." She muttered.
"Oh and the Vytal Festival too!" Nora said. "He doesn't even know we're going to enter and crush all those who oppose the queen of!-"
"I agree with Nora." Ren said, interrupting the crazy loving hammer lady's imagination. "It's hard to believe, but those emotions he revealed aren't an act."
"But maybe it's-" Blake was going to say something not before Jaune shook his head.
"...I believe him." Jaune said. "Even if you don't, uh, Blake. He would never lie about anything like that, those tears of his were real enough."
One of Blake's bow twitched, her eyes narrowed but she let go and walked away. "If you don't believe then fine, I will find answers."
"Blake..." Ruby said softly.
Yang's eyes went crimson. "I'll be back." She started chasing Blake who was heading back into their first-year dorm.
After sneaking inside one of the nurses center, Kuroto and Ace saw Ozpin waiting for them. The room turning silent, Glynda gently let Cardin down into one of the beds next to him.
Ozpin's blank stare made Ace's worry extremely bad. "It seems that you came back."
Ace gulped. "Yeah...I did. Look Ozpin, we didn't know someone woul-!"
"That someone would find more of those gashats you were referring to?" Ozpin interrupted. "Even so, you should've laid it somewhere safe from a student who wouldn't have laid their hands on in the first place. But however, I find it hard to see what's wrong or right in this manner."
Ace looked down. "...You're right."
Ozpin took a deep breath and sipped his mug. "To think it would happen once the first-years task to fill the saps in the Forever Fall for Professor Peach."
Glynda gave Ozpin the stare that would kill thousands in a second. "You have something to tell me?"
Ozpin nodded. "I will, once this situation has been solved then I will tell you."
Glynda's stare increased. "You don't trust me."
"No, I trust everyone here in Beacon for as long as I have been doing. But this time, I didn't want to reveal this forbidden information with everyone. It's what Ace said, never let anyone know. Otherwise, it would've turned into a crisis." Ozpin replied.
Kuroto nodded. "It's good to see you understood that, I suppose it's fine telling her this virus. But however, we cannot tell this to the other professors, mainly by their curiosity. Mostly Dr. Oobleck as well."
Ace saw Glynda's eyes directly to Cardin who's still groaning. "Professor Goodwitch, I'll try my best to cure him. Even though he's been causing harm to both faunas and humans doesn't mean I won't help him. I have to save him because he's a student here, and I don't want his family to mourn their loss if I fail."
Glynda nodded. "Thank you, we're counting on you."
Kuroto scratched his hair a bit. "You still need a Level 1 gashat." He said, causing the three to look at him. "Don't fret, I have it. I just need to look for it back in our...r-room."
"...Why did you stutter?" Ace asked.
Kuroto sucked his lips in, staying quiet.
Ace walked up to Kuroto and grabbed his collar. "Kuroto, don't tell me you don't have one!?"
Kuroto moved away Ace's hands and looked away.
Ace sneered. "How the hell will you make it on time?! Are we going to lose Cardin?!"
Kuroto put his hand out, making Ace realize who took out Bakusou Bike, handing the gashat to his hand. "I'm going to borrow this for a few minutes."
BAKUSOU BIKE!
Kuroto slammed the Gamer Driver to his waist and connected Bakusou Bike to the finisher.
GASHAT!
The motorbike appeared from the game screen, Kuroto wearing a white spiky helmet and hopped on as he started the engine. "I'll be back."
He turned and left the nurses center, heading directly towards the First-year's dorm.
Ace went close to Cardin, moving his hand near his chest to feel the statics increasing. "Damn, it's almost time..." He looked back at Kuroto. "Better make it on time, Kuroto."
He checked to see if Poppy was with them, but he didn't see her. "Poppy?" Ace frowned. "She's probably going to help Kuroto find it."
Ace shook Glynda a bit which made the professor albeit mad. "Glynda, please listen to me and this is very important."
"What is it?" Glynda asked seriously.
"We can't make him get more stressed, let's try to keep him calm until Kuroto comes back." Ace whispered. "If not then a Bugster Union will emerge earlier than we thought."
"Alright. I may not understand what is, but it sounds bad enough to let it happen." She said.
Inside of Team RWBY's room, filled with some classic posters with piles of books organized in a bookshelf above the window.
"There's never been someone who can tame grimms, Oum no one would try. They're dark monsters who feed on negative emotions, just like mine." Blake muttered, finding any book that involved any sorts of logic found in Ace's words. "Nothing at all."
Her bows twitched more after remembering every encounter with the young Kamen Rider before he went missing that day.
Ace was staring at her cat ears.
It made Blake worry several times, but yet, he helped that Velvet girl that sat in her and the rest's table. Yet, she knew that with eyes like those. Then Ace must've known for the past few weeks that she's a faunus.
Mentioning of anything that was both a positive and negative to the faunus's traits and whole, she knew he was trying to make everything better by a little comment on how faunus's and humans are the same.
She's scared, could he possibly be from the White Fang? It wouldn't make sense anyway, because he's a living...game virus. However, there's one thing he had similar with someone she loved, who she thought wasn't a monster.
Adam Taurus.
His anger reminds of what any animal that involved with such reckless behavior. Some can control it, but others don't. Ace reminds her of...him.
Sudden flashbacks of a man wearing all black, having red hair with the red bladed katana sheathed next to him, scenes she doesn't want to reminiscent ever again.
Blake started to feel tight, her breath shaking. She let go of the books she was holding and slowly panicked. "I don't want t-to..."
The door behind her slammed open to reveal Yang's first look of anger, then to worry as she saw her breaking down. "Blake..."
Blake then felt a tight hug wrapped around her, she saw Yang, a teammate of her not letting go. Next, she heard the door being knocked away with louder impact to see her other two friends.
The red hood and Schnee joined in as well, making her more nervous.
"BlakeyouhaveusworriedsowethoughtweshouldhelpbecauseYangwas-!" Ruby nervously stuttered.
"We wanted to stop Yang from rushing towards you when you were clearly not in the mood to talk. But now, you're..." Weiss finished. "Please Blake, tell us what's wrong with you?"
"You started acting strange whenever Ace was involved." Yang said. "Why? What did he do? Do I need to make him talk with lefty and righty?"
Blake stopped, she knows that her team was going to ask her why. She wanted to assure them that everything's alright. Here she is, her teammates came in to not let her escape and shake each one away.
She knew that if she were to reveal that one secret, it would hurt Weiss's trust because of she belonged in the Schnee family. Never had she heard of the heiress never talked bad about faunus's, so maybe...
It's only been weeks now, and she's already breaking down from those moments back then. It hurts to keep a past secret, so that no one would know who she is.
Ruby's soft and caring look saw her friend's bow twitched for a second. "Uh...did it just move on its own?"
Blake was too late to retort before Yang quickly unwrapped the bow.
Time froze.
Her black bow's wrap went down, instead of what could've been nothing. There was actual, real looking animal ears.
Blake's cat ears kept twitching rapidly, everyone touched it to feel the soft and hearing the young cat faunas purr from said pet.
Yang and Ruby's faces were in shock, then they turn their heads to see Weiss's reaction.
"...Y-You're a faunus?!"
After the speed of Bakusou Bike's engine going, Kuroto managed to get by the dorm him and his bugster family reside in. He looks where the mirror was opened and saw the rope that was used from Cardin and his teammates to climb on.
He took out Proto Jet Combat and pulled the lever.
JET COMBAT!
Slotting into the finisher holder, Proto Combat Gamer formed into a gear putting on waists of belts to Kuroto who jumped as rockets were firing under.
Shin Kuroto landing safely, he took Gamer Driver out, causing PCG to fade into pixels. He starts to feel sweat coming down on his face, scared of the possible death of a student from his own work.
"I can't believe I was that stupid- no, I can't take it. I just need to find the Level 1 Gashat!" Kuroto said. "We can save him!"
He slams his fist on his works table, looking around the room, panicking, until he couldn't find anymore spots.
"No..." Kuroto muttered. "There's no way I couldn't forget such creation of mine here!"
The Game Master nudged his head to focus on the secret covers he made, but however there wasn't any he could find. "Dammit, I need it!" He covered his face with his right hand, looking down on the ground.
A messy room with the man realizing what he's done, not able to save a patient's life. Like Emu did, he remembered clearly that he's atoning his sins and will keep his end of the deal.
His freedom, for exchange of helping everyone and helping them find their loved ones. No matter how long it took him to do.
"This is really...my fault." Kuroto said.
The front door of his room crashed open to witness Poppy behind him as he took a glance behind. "Poppy..."
Poppy saw Kuroto's face, her eyes widened as she was shock of the room. But more so of her own son panicking, he wasn't like this before unless it had to do something that made him think of a mistake. "Kuroto..."
She connected the dots easily, with a low gasp and soft low voice. "No..." Poppy shook her head, gaining determination. She cupped her cheeks together and focused, suddenly she remembered her game room inside of the arcade machine.
"Poppy...?" Kuroto asked. "What are you doing?"
Poppy took a deep breath, turning into pink particles inside the arcade. She materialized back into her Bugster form, recognizing the same room her son did.
It's all the same, so she hummed, searching for anything at all. A vibrate made her feel odd, as if it was a magnet attracting her. She looked closer and closer until an item appeared glitch, but once Poppy curiously picked it up.
The item's glitch broke into pieces, revealing the gashat she never knew it was here.
"I found it!" Poppy yelled.
Kuroto's eyes opened, he stood up and smiled. "You did it!"
Poppy came back from the arcade machine and showed Kuroto the same gashat as Proto Mighty Action X Origin. Except it's the Proto version, having the same design of Mighty Action X. Although it has color, not exactly but instead reversed. The outer back being purple, the mascot having black and red, with purple sneakers on.
Kuroto laid his eyes on the proto game he remembered he had, he smiled and gently took it from Poppy. "Thank you Poppy!" He hugged Poppy, turning around, almost running into the nurses offices.
He pulled the purple lever out of curiosity, watching the game title he remembered back then.
MIGHTY ACTION X!
Yet, he stood still inside the room, making Poppy worried and confused. "Kuroto...?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Kuroto yelled in pain, unconciously dropping Proto Mighty Action X, he clutched his head and went down on his knees.
"Kuroto!" Poppy said. "What's wrong?!"
"M-My mind!" He said. "What's happening to my memories?!"
[Kuroto's Memory 1 - The Hopes and Dreams come alive!]
Five adults, standing tall before a man Kuroto remembers all too well. Struggles of fighting against the madman who caused suffering, has now been defeated by 5 riders.
Emu Hojo, the young doctor who's passionate with video games and a clear image of letting people know that he will make them smile, clearing any games with no continues.
Hiiro Kagami, able to cut through anything with his 'scalpel', fighting Graphite with Taiga, able to move on after promising the woman she loved that he'll be the best doctor in the world.
Taiga Hanaya, the first man who failed in the very beginning, succumbed into the gashats power where the side effects have made him lose his path, but now, he's found his purpose and redemption once again.
Kiriya Kujo, losing his one friend who died after telling him the truth, he kept shut knowing how truths hurt everyone deep down, he's taken a ride to being human now bugster, accepting he'll never be able to go back after experiencing death once, helping the three other riders against Kuroto, and now Masamune Dan.
"It was a hell'ova ride they all took." The Real Kuroto said after reminiscing this event, to where it lead him getting a second chance of recovering the last Chronicle gashat for the victims of the Proto Gashats coming back.
Masamune Dan on his knees, accepting defeat whereas the Chronicle Gashat lies where Emu holds it with him.
"...It's over." Emu said. "Everything we've done, after all that's happened, we can finally bring people who's inside the gashat back here." He smiled and nodded, looking back at Masamune.
"What you've done made people suffer, because of losing their loved ones they cried and wish, hope, they will come back. And you'll pay for your sins for making them lose their smiles!" He said.
Masamune's face grew disgust. "You...!"
Kuroto crossed his arms with a smirk. "Looks like the 'Game God' has lost to me, 'The Game Master'." He spread his arms wide. "The real god who stands before you."
Kiriya shook his head. "Don't think you're getting free of this too idiot. You're coming back and going inside that jail of yours, again."
Emu nodded. "Kuroto, you know what I said before."
Kuroto whined. "With all my lives I have, I need to pay them up. How boring..." He said.
The Game Master sighed embarrassingly, remembering how he used to act back then with his fellow assistants. He smiled and saw the Ministry of Health arrive on time, taking his father to jail and going towards him and the rest.
Shin Kuroto remembers everything that day, Emu announcing the successful operation of bringing back everybody who participated the Chronicle game, the small chances of the Bugster disease, development for new medicine, even if bugsters have data they're human too.
He saw it himself, the smiles that every loved one came back to their friends, family, and couples. It warmed him deep down, this is what Emu told him. That's why he knew that for every lives he has, he will pay his sins for the causes of suffering.
But...
Every moment cherished started to glitch out of his mind, he felt a sharp pain and flinched. As if time went back, he came back to the moment where Masamune was put to jail.
Or so he thought.
The 5 riders who have defeated Masamune all de-henshin back to their uniforms respectively, watching Masamune grunt in pain.
Kuroto stepped forward. "Dan Masamune. Yours is a dream that will never be more than a dream." He said.
Emu joined in. "The Ministry will decide how you will be dealt with." He said. "So please, atone for your sins."
"Heh...Haha...!" Masamune smirked. "The Ministry will not be the ones to pass judgement." He stood up, taking the last Chronicle gashat and grinned. "It will be me!"
The current Kuroto's eyes widened, seeing it sparking dangerously near him and the others. Not able to move as this is a memory player. "No..." He said. "He's not going to-!"
Masamune's hold of the Chronicle made everyone step back. "By opposing me, the one who controls all lives, you have abandoned all means of reviving the erased!" He said. "You have grown conceited by proclaiming yourselves as saviors, and in doing so, single-handedly destroyed the fates of the erased!"
"You are all heretics who have desecrated life!" Masamune yelled, using both his hands and injected Kamen Rider Chronicle to his body. He moaned in pain, light-green statics with shadows looming over him, reverse after-images of himself moved one by one.
Then, it was shattered to pieces.
"NO!" Kuroto yelled, trying to move the past body of his and attempt to grab the past version of Masamune. But he stood watching, seeing his 'father's' body pixelating, slowly fading away. "YOU BASTARD!"
Masamune put his arms in the air, smiling with his last breath. "The final judgement, has been passed..." He said.
"Dammit!" Kuroto shouted. "He was sent to jail! Why do I remember this now!?" He asked himself, noticing the other four riders face look grim.
Those memories weren't real, they were just what he thought happened, neither did he actually atone his sins, those smiles he saw after being free were fake, replaced by sadness. But he doesn't know yet, the last day he remembers everything is when he regrets it all.
He feels his conscious moving, slowly waking up from the strange new fragment of a memory.
Kuroto frowned. "Why...?"
Ace trying to hold his anger down, worried if Kuroto doesn't actually have at least a Level 1 Gashat with him.
If he doesn't, then Cardin's gone.
Ozpin's dead glare made Ace more nervous of the possibility of being arrested and sent to Ironwood for further research, but he knows that his headmaster wouldn't do that.
Glynda kept checking on Cardin's status, watching the young man suffer slowly.
Knock Knock!
Crash!
Kuroto bust open the door and started to breath tirelessly as if he was running. "I'm here!" He yelled.
Ace sighed in relief, noticing the purple gashat the Game Master holding, he smiled. "You actually found one!" He said. "Come on! We need to hurry up and henshin!"
Kuroto looked away, glancing at the PMAX and shook his head. "Yeah." He tossed the gashat to Ace who caught it and turned back into data, merging with the young man into one again.
'It is sad that he has your Gamer Driver on, so it's best if we use mine for now.' Kuroto said in Ace's mind. 'Let's do it.'
Ace smirked where his two eyes went back to white and black, pushing the purple lever and crossed his arms.
MIGHTY ACTION X!
"Grade 1!" Both riders voice combined into one said. "Henshin!"
Ace slotted PMAX first and didn't pull the pink lever open, instead leaving it there as it announced something else.
GASHATTO!
The young rider flicked the profile in front of him as Genm's Level 1 picture covered him, data appearing once and shattered when a new light started glowing. The light faded into revealing...
LET'S GAME! METCHA GAME! MUTCHA GAME! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?! I'M A KAMEN RIDER!
"Hm...?" Ozpin raised a brow.
"What kind of form is that...?" Glynda asked surprisingly.
"Yeah, this is pretty much how Level 1 looks like for us..." Ace said embarrassingly, he accidentally falls down with one simple step as he's not experienced with Level 1's...questionable form. "Eheh..."
Instead of what showed the scary tall figure of Genm like before, it's more of a chibi rider that has the same face, though his armor is mainly white with nothing else to add.
Poppy pouted nervously. "It's still cute..."
Ozpin nodded. "And this form will help with what?"
His question was answered as Cardin's body started to shake violently, the virus finally seeping out of his body after giving in his stress. However, it dragged him along before the separation could happen.
"That." Ace pointed
Once the Bugster Union was formed, it wasn't the same look it had before no, there was a line of two wheels connected between. An eye emerged from the two middle centers of each bike.
"Wait, that wasn't how the original Motor Bugster Union was like before...?" Ace muttered to himself.
'True, it never took a form like that whenever a patient's stress has reached that high, according from my m-memory!' Kuroto stuttered in the end, but Ace was too distracted from that little sound. 'But, how?!'
'You don't know why too? That's bad...' Ace mentally replied back.
He face palmed at the grossly strange two wheel figure in front of him and around the area he's in. "Oh shit, we're at the nurse center!"
Before the Motor BU could destroy the nurses center, Ace quickly pressed the Game Area button that sent the two including Cardin into another place only those three.
STAGE! SELECT!
After the pixels finally transported the three into a different area Ace took his chance and attacked the Motor Union firsthand.
'Ace, in order to beat the Motor Union, we'll need some good power-ups near us and a well suited spot to stop its tracks. Since we're in Level 1, we cannot use neither power of Level 0's system, or Dangerous Zombies. Everything depends on the both of us, remember, this is a co-op for one controller so we need to switch things up.' Kuroto said mentally to Ace who nodded.
"Great, and now I have to deal with Level 1's chibi form holding me back until it forms into Charlie. Which is going to be pretty annoying." Ace said. "Alright big grossly overcooked meatball, come on!" He taunted.
The Motor Union roared, readying its engine back and charged with speed. Ace barrel rolled away because of the weight it has inside that prevented him doing so, the sudden screech made him turn to see the end wheel land a hit.
"AGH!" Ace spit data inside his helmet and gasped. He looked down on his life meter and it lowered slightly.
'Interesting, normally it would run over anything it saw and cause damage to anyone. This, however, is doing the opposite...' Kuroto commented.
"You mean to tell me it's actually smart?" Ace said. "Now my knowledge is actually starting to get rusty if more new things start to show up all of a sudden."
He sighed and pulled the Gashacon Breaker up, pressing the B button into its sword mode and slashed away. But the MU's wheel clashed with it, sparking off statics, pushing away Ace when he couldn't manage a single hit.
Ace growled and saw his life meter lower once more. "It's stronger than what Emu and the others faced off."
Kuroto hummed in mind. 'Switch with me, I know what do to.' He said.
Ace sighed but relented his rejection, nodding, he looked down and let his consciousness move over.
Kuroto now on Ace's body, he examined the new look of MU and grunted. "Got it!" He jumped over bricks and bricks and punched out two, popping up energy items as their replacement.
He looked at the first gray medal that depicts a Rider with a sword breaking while attempting to hit itself with it.
Kuroto nodded and flicked it, absorbing the power as the body turned silver.
KOTETSU-KA!
Taking a sumo stance, he slapped both of his hands together and readied himself. The MU confused but shaking away the possibility, speeding towards him again as the other wheel was switching over.
"NOW!" Both riders said at once, grabbing the wheel with their strength, shaking the wheel until it's dizzy and slamming it down sideways. Kuroto grabbed another energy-item at the time and jumped.
The second pale red medal depicts a Rider with an incredibly long arm towards anywhere. He used his left arm to capture the end wheel like a grappling hook, bringing it to him and letting go, he took out the Gashacon Breaker and stepped back until it's a set distance.
Heading right through the Motor Union with the blade, he punched one more item that grew his muscles slightly as an after effect.
MASSARU-KA!
"HAAAA!" Kuroto and Ace yelled together, Gashacon Breaker's sword slicing through the Motor Union. Once they landed, the Bugster Union separated from Cardin who was slowly falling down.
"Go get him." Kuroto said to Ace, making the latter confused. He was back in top gear and kicked a yellow medal that had a rider running very fast and absorbed it with his legs.
KOSOKU-KA!
"Hup!" Ace said, catching Cardin to his shoulder and struggling to keep balance. He placed the young bully near the steps, shaking the guy to wake up by slapping his face several times. "Cardin, wake up!"
Cardin groaned, opening his eyes to see that Ace, the very scary thing near him. "AH!" He tried to run, but he felt his body was paralyzed. "Who are you?! What did you do to me!?"
"Cardin calm down!" Ace said. "It's me Ace, listen, just take a deeeep breath-"
"Ha, you? Telling me to calm down? That's funny coming from the guy who nearly took us down and almost killed us!" Cardin retorted.
"..." Ace looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Oh sure, like you said back then too. Sounds like what a damn hypocrite would say about that whole anger issue." Cardin sarcastically said.
"CARDIN I SAID I'M SORRY DAMMIT!" Ace yelled back. "WHY CAN'T YOU BE NICE!? HOW ARE YOU THIS MUCH OF AN ASSHOLE!?"
Cardin frowned. "You-!" He tried to move his right arm and tiredly attempted to hit Ace's face. "It's something different!"
Ace stopped his upcoming right fist and shook his head, the growl that roared his mind almost flinched him. "Cardin, why are you like this?" He asked, stopping the bully. "Trying to show you're strong, acting like the big hot shit in Beacon?! What for?"
Cardin attempted to pull his right arm away but Ace didn't move until he answered. He took a deep breath and looked down. "...I was bullied." Cardin said.
"I was bullied by anyone who was stronger, taller, than me because they all thought that I couldn't do jack shit! I wanted to prove them all wrong that I can become strong, that I can win, and for sure to see their damn shocked reactions on how I beat them on their own game!" He said.
Ace let go of the bully's arms, stepping away to give Cardin space. "...Really?"
Cardin grimaced. "Look, I don't want to hear any pity coming from you. I doubt you felt the same experience I had back then, you're just so strong you can do anything!"
Ace smirked. "It's too bad you're wrong, because I- no, we all had the same bullying problem like you. Hell, you weren't the only one who's a bully, I used to be one myself. I even said It's because that title suited me back then, it made me the big guy, but reality hits you hard when cockiness is our disadvantage, and our weakness." He said.
He sighed. "Tell you what, I don't mind talking to you about this subject later, if anything, it's actually cool to turn a new leaf if you stopped bullying like right now for example."
Cardin scoffed. "Fine, but I'm more interested in how you were a bully. You seem like a damn softy for me, probably others think that too." He said.
They both shared a small laugh together, some may think they're laughing at each other, but it's not what we all thought it'd be.
Cardin felt a sharp pain and groaned. "Whatever you're doing, you better finish what you started..." He punched Ace's guts but it was a weak impact, he grinned slowly closing his eyes, falling asleep.
"And don't you dare mess up..."
Ace nodded. "So, how about we settle this then, Charlie!" He turned around to realize the figure that was supposed to be Charlie wasn't him. It was something else that surprised both him and Kuroto.
The new Bugster in front of him was different, wearing a red jump suit and a white helmet with shades on, hiding the face and eyes laying underneath. The Bugster having tight gloves on, black sharp mountain boots.
'What!?' Kuroto yelled in Ace's mind. 'That's not my creation!'
"Charlie?" The Biker Bugster asked with a rough voice. "Dunno who that person is but that sounds like a rookie name." He said with a cocky grin. "Usually I'd race first and questions later, but I can already tell. You want to know who I am huh?"
Ace's body started shaking, not in fear or horror, but in sheer excitement. "No, no, no, I know who you are!" He said with a happy tone.
'Ace, this isn't the time to be happy from a bootleg of Charlie!' Kuroto yelled frustratingly. 'It's not the one we know and hate!'
The Biker Bugster smirked. "Oh? Didn't think I'd find some racer like myself here, I can feel it in you kid. That urge to pull off tricks and that great excitement within." He said. "But where was I? Oh yeah." A red motorcycle steered its wheel and stood between Ace and the Biker Bugster, it went to the latter.
"Name's ExciteBike, ring a bell?" Excite said, tapping his helmet and motorcycle.
Ace gasped and took so many breaths as if he's actually witnessing a legend of an old video game. "EXCITEBIKE!?"
'EXCITEBIKE!? WHO?!' Kuroto asked loudly. 'What's he talking about? This is Shakariki Sports! What happened to the virus? Did it...'
Ace ignored Kuroto's ramblings and went closer to ExciteBike, he brought his right hand nervously. "I-I-I'm Ace Valliant. Big fan of old video games, including yours Mister. Excite."
Excite laughed nervously and shook it. "Pleasure's mine, but I hate to break it to you kid. You need to beat me in order for your pal right there to be cured." He said and pushed back the young rider. "See if you can catch me!" He said.
A game warp appeared, turning on the motorcycle, a pixelated ramp appeared in front of him, with full speed he flew up and jumped through the game portal.
The young rider's jaw dropped down on the awesome stunt, not moving an inch after seeing a mascot he didn't knew he could see in person.
Kuroto snapped, separating himself from Ace who didn't flinch. "Ace, what's wrong with you?!" He yelled, grabbing his head and shaking him. "Wake up!"
Ace shook his head and slapped himself. "Ugh, why does my head feel weird...?" He asked. "Kuroto...? Why did you separate from me? We're supposed to cure Cardin!"
The Game Master flicked the young rider's forehead. "We were, but apparently you didn't just see that the bugster we thought was isn't actually him."
Ace's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean it's something else?" He said.
Kuroto nodded, trying to prevent his voice getting louder. "Yes, it was by someone named ExciteBike. Ring any bells?"
His question was answered when Ace covered his mouth and looked down. "H-How? Charlie's the mascot of your game isn't he? What did he look like?"
Kuroto hummed. "Red suit, motorcycle, put a stunt to a ramp through that game portal that's right in front of us!" He grimaced. "Both the game and the bugster changed, into a completely different look."
The young rider taking this information into his mind. He gulped and shook his head. "L-Let's go." He said.
Kuroto stopped Ace and looked at him funny. "How come you don't remember what just happened? Don't tell me..."
One of Ace's eyebrow raised, confused. "What?"
Kuroto shook the idea away from his thought. "Nevermind." He said. "Come on, we gotta catch up with him."
"Right." Ace agreed, pulling the pink lever opened and jumped up high to transfer into Level 2. "Grade 2!"
GACCHAN!
LEVEL UP!
MIGHTY JUMP! MIGHTY KICK! MIGHTY ACTIO~N! X!
Kuroto went straight back inside Ace's body, pulling out Proto Bakusou Bike out and slotted it into the Kimewaza holder.
GASHATTO!
PBB appeared from the game title screen behind them, Ace putting on his helmet and started using the engine and jumped over the ramp and heading straight through the Racer Portal.
ExciteBike tapped his boots on and off, taking a short glance behind to see Ace on his own motorcycle. "Ah, I thought you were going to chicken out." He said.
Ace smirked. "Ha, if anything, I thought you were too!" He said. "Besides the trash talking, I'm just excited because I get to race against a legendary racer like you!"
EXB laughed. "Enough talk, let's rock."
The game world transformed the area around into a stadium, crowds made of only pixel cheering, having the title of the game appear on top of the two racers. A race track highlighted behind the name itself.
E-X-C-I-T-E B-I-K-E-!
'Ace, what kind of game is this? It reminds me of Shakariki Sports!' Kuroto asked. '...Two selections?'
'It's pretty much like Shakariki Sports, however it has a rule where...' Ace said to Kuroto. 'We need to beat the track record displayed even if we go through the tracks needed, however we'll need to get a lower timer for that. And worst is, I feel that EXB is going to choose the second selection instead of the first one.'
"Hmph, long time since I went through the third selection." ExciteBike grinned.
"Selection C?!" Ace asked. "B-But that's not a thing?" He checked out the arena before him, recognized as the very first level from the game itself.
EXB cracked his knuckles and poured some fragments of data around, the mysteriously vague selection appeared at the bottom. Tapping it caused a sudden earthquake.
Every game blocks appeared with the arena opening more space for the two as the sun started shining brightly, trying to make sure where the finish line is too far to get a single glance of.
"Holy shit..." Ace said. "And we have to beat the record time too?!"
The current record showing on the display has only 5 minutes, making Ace gulp and EXB grin in excitement.
"So, you're not gonna pull back with your fan talk are you?" He asked, tightening his gloves on and readied the motor's engine. "It'd be a shame too, I see that racer spirit in ya kid."
Ace took a glance back at Cardin and the finish line, he nods. "If it's to save the guy then you bet your ass I will." He said, turning to the starting line. "Let's go!" His eyes suddenly started to turn green for a minute.
'...That feeling again...' Kuroto muttered.
EXB nodded. "Alright, enough talk!" He said. "On the count of three!"
"1!"
Ace sharpened his focus on the tracks in front of him, PBB's curiosity took itself, the intense aura the young rider's presence were leaking and he doesn't know it.
"2!"
EXB cracked his knuckles and revved the motor again, the steam pulling behind the pipes.
"3!"
The two riders put their strength to there motorcycles at once, and began the race.
"GO!"
"YEAAAAAAAH!" Ace roared.
The tire's screeched, beginning the race to second, EXB somehow being faster than Ace he didn't look back and kept going. The young man in shock, he shook his head and went to top gear.
Above them, the tracks started to glitch, suddenly all of the tracks grew to a form a small pillar for each of them to jump. Ace's realization however almost caused him to mess up and fall down.
'What are you doing!?' Kuroto asked in frustration.
"I didn't realize it was happening anytime now!" Ace yelled back.
EXB knew it was coming, not letting go of his ride he then performed his feet in the air while holding his motorcycle. Landing safely and perfectly, scoring many points and sped up once more.
'Try and use an energy item, seeing how there's so many around us!' Kuroto said.
Ace groaned, swearing to finish this race he saw what Kuroto pointed. A chocolate-like brick appeared to his left, slamming it with his fist. The cracked pieces itself formed into an energy item.
"Stretch!" Ace said.
Seeing a familiar color of it, he grabbed it as his rider form absorbed the item to himself.
SHINSHUKU-KA!
After feeling his body stretch from the power-up, he threw his fist back and forward to EXB's shoulder, stopping PBB for a quick second and letting go as he was launched into the air.
"Shit!" Ace cursed.
'It doesn't matter, just think of the way you land!' Kuroto said.
Not remembering any tricks, Ace immediately tried to think of a landing trick but no luck as he barely managed to get in first place.
"Grrrrgh!" Ace gritted his teeth in anger. "Come on PBB! We don't have much time!"
The timer was already at 2, both Ace and EXB only have a few more minutes before it's all over.
EXB was smooth, no, too, smooth. His experience as the mascot of the game gave him no trouble at all, for you see.
Selection C, it's a dangerous course for everyone. And by how he's dealt with every single event he's dodged. "Randomized Tracks, Items, Ramps." EXB said. "It's why I take my time and get through to each one of them easily!"
Ace struggling through the straight line, he starts to feel the injuries get to him, his Dangerous Zombie can only do so little with his aura at the moment. "God dammit!" PBB's wheel couldn't focus anymore due to the impact of the brief short landings Ace did.
"PBB!" Ace cried out. "Don't give up!" He felt PBB trying to keep up with the speed, but slowly, he understood it's almost over.
'Ace!' Kuroto said. 'It's not over! We can't give up now!' His callings weren't able to reach to Ace, the young man dropped down to the floor as he could only barely get up with his tired body.
EXB stopped his tracks in surprise, noticing Ace's fatigue level when he turned around, he shook his head in disappointment. "We only have 1 and a half minute left." He said, catching Ace's attention. "I thought you were better than this, I saw some fiery spirit in ya. A racer like me would have, that can beat this match, and guess what?"
Dragging his motorcycle back to the front of the track, EXB sighed.
"You failed to keep your promise, you were only faking that enthusiasm, I thought I was gonna have the best race while I'm here." He said. "But, I guess I was wrong."
Ace looked down in sadness, he felt a sudden spike of energy, but yet he lost conscious at the same time.
'Oi!' Kuroto called. 'Dammit, I'm gonna have to take the whee-!' Before he could get back into Ace's body, something pushed him away from the control, he spotted green particles flowing through him.
'Who are you!?' Kuroto said, attempting to grab the mysterious bugster, but he was blocked out of the controls.
"Game, over." EXB said, revving up again, closer to the goal he sensed the same energy. "Huh?"
"You think that you can just...?"
Ace's voice changed into a little high pitch, his body rose up again with energy.
"Talk down on me!?" Both his eyes turned to Green, his right arm started gathering more particles and gently grabbed one of PBB's handlebar. "I'll give you a race you wish you never wanted with me!"
'No way, a Bugster!?' Kuroto said in disbelief.
PBB's damaged parts were slowly recovering, the unhealthy engine went back to top percent, it's eyes followed Ace.
"Let's go." The new Bugster in control of Ace said, PBB followed his orders by instinct. "We got a race to beat!"
EXB never knew there was something else inside of the kid, but this is actually surprising, he has a loooot of things he didn't think he'd see.
Not counting on letting Ace reach before him, he went ahead once more.
'Ace' smirked, he saw different energy items passing by him. Once he closed his eyes, big spike of aura gathered him, suddenly a shock wave brought up many power-ups around him in circles.
Three Energy-Items was all he needed, swiping the right and gathering it all into one.
YOCHI!
His eyes opened once more to see what looks like a precognition, yet it wasn't, he knew it himself that he was predicting the next randomized change. And that prediction was correct, one by one there was more bumps in one.
KOSOKU-KA!
PBB started to accelerate from the Energy-Item, and began to use all of its power to this one massive jump it hopes Ace plans to do so.
JANPU KYO-KA!
The last item began to effect the tires with a big growth for a minute, going back to normal, the two nodded in sync.
Ace cracked his neck back and forth and smirked once more. "JUUUUUUUUMP!"
They soared, high into the air that overshadowed EXB being above the two, he realized that it was almost 20 seconds to the finish line. And did one last trick, he flipped PBB sideways and did a short break dance, using the strength he can muster, Ace grabbed the two handles and brought it back, landing on the seat again.
10...
EXB attempted to steer clear and get ahead, but Ace landed in front of him a shocking turn of events. The young man sent a two-finger salute to his fellow racer, declaring victory, as the brakes started to go far away from him.
5...
"Heh..." EXB smirked. "Looks like you actually beat me, kid." He said before watching the arena's pixels fade away. "That Bugster inside of you, it's actually the one you were looking for."
1...
FINISH!
"YOOOOSHAA!" Ace celebrated his victory as he saw the game-world collapse. "Dammit, I wanted to rub that guy's face." He sighed, noticing that the guy who was yelling at him is getting back in control.
'I can't believe it...' Kuroto muttered, catching the new Bugster's attention. 'You're...him.' He said.
"First off, I'd rather not be called the name. Ever, I'm a changed kid, call me K-!" Before Ace could finish his sentence, he noticed EXB with a grin. "W-What...?" He asked.
EXB went over, patting Ace's shoulder for a little bit. "You really are special. Different, full of surprises, I like that about you kid." He said, the pixels that was formed were fading as well. "So that's why, only you can use this." He took the Shakariki Sports gashat out of nowhere, shocking Kuroto.
'Who gave him that!?' Kuroto asked out loud, making Ace irritated. 'What's going on!?'
"Isn't that my game anyway?" The controlled Ace asked non-nonchalantly. "Because there's nothing special about it but m-"
EXB shook his head. "Look closer."
Ace took a little peak on what's changed from EXB's words.
He noticed the color of the gashat, and the game cover itself slowly changed. His eyes raised high, jaws dropped. "Did it just...?" 'Ace' trailed off. "No way..."
EXB nodded. "Yep, I don't know much but it's probably a good sign for you, but probably bad for him." He said. "Just make sure to always keep it with you once more, besides, you can keep it in a much safer place than he did."
"So...how do I use i-?" He saw EXB vanish into thin air before he could ask, he sighed but yet looked glee. "Well ain't that a shocking discovery."
'...' Kuroto was shut off, nothing like this could happen ever. This strange game almost the same as his own, it was different too. 'I'm gonna need to ask Ace, I have a good theory...but, it's also a bad one.'
The controlled Ace shrugged. "Eh, you do that, I'm starting to lose control from him anyway. Gonna hit the hay after I put this gashat with me." He said, he concentrated on his bugster powers, as his gashat was going inside of Ace. "Aaaand, there you go."
'Before you go!' Kuroto said, stopping the new Bugster. 'What's your name? And are there actually more Bugsters like you inside of Ace!?'
'Ace' blinked, he yawned casually and scratched the back of his helmet. "I can't tell you how many because even I don't know which Bugsters are inside of this kid." He answered. "But however, I can tell you my name at least." He said.
The gree eyed Ace smirked. "Call me Kit, Kit Tracker." He introduced himself with a jab to his fist. "I'm the Bugster of Shakariki Sports, used to be called Charlie." He said. "I hope to meet ya again sometime soon, but for now, later!"
'Wait!' Kuroto yelled but he was too late as that new aura faded, but he can sense faintly it's still there.
Ace's eyes reverted back to brown, he almost fell down had it not been Kuroto popping out of his body to carry him with his shoulders.
"Kuroto...did we...make it...?" Ace asked tiredly.
Kuroto nodded. "Yeah, we did." He took a glance at Cardin drifting off to sleep, he sighed.
The three returned back to the Beacons Nurse Center, with Ozpin's surprised look, and Glynda's relieved expression.
Weiss covered her mouth. "I can't believe this!" She yelled. "You didn't tell us you were one of them!"
Blake retracted and looked away. "I-I-I..." She couldn't stop her friend from yelling.
"Why...?"
That stopped everyone except Weiss, she had to ask. "Why didn't you tell us you were a faunus?"
Blake bit her lip, trying to find a lie, but today was going to be a biiig explanation.
Maybe, she can keep that secret away from Weiss, mostly due to her being a part of the group that hates the Schnee family. "It's because we kept getting harassed, to the point that I want to hide my trait as one, I didn't want to suffer anymore from everyone who didn't do anything but watched us!" Blake answered.
Yang's eyes widened. "Blake..."
Weiss kept her fists away. "So that's why? Blake, we're TEAM RWBY FOR OUM'S SAKE!"
Ruby nodded. "We told you, every time, that we'd be there for you. That a secret like that wouldn't harm us at all." She said. "But, you still don't trust us? Not even with Ace?"
"Unless." Weiss stopped her, making Blake pause. "You're involved with The White Fang." She said with a cold expression.
Yang stopped her from moving. "Wait Weiss, that wouldn't make sense! If she was, then why bother going here?!"
"BECAUSE THE WHITE FANG'S TARGETING THE SCHNEE DUST COMPANY!" Weiss yelled, shocking everyone around here except Blake who knew. "I've lost so many people because of their terrorist activities, and guess what happens next? My father gets angry, then, then..." A bit of her tears started to trail off. "How could I trust a Faunas if they kept a secret like this? Think about it!"
Blake wanted to run away, no, she can run away, but right now it's almost as if she's trapped. "...Weiss..."
Ruby couldn't seem to find the proper words, for these two she didn't expect something like this to ever happen with her Team. "B-But if Blake was one of them, wouldn't she...uh-!"
Weiss shook her head. "Tell me the truth and only the truth, Blake Belladonna." She said seriously. "Are you, or are you not, involved with The White Fang?"
The area went quiet, the two half-siblings looked afraid of the possible answer, as if time was slowing down, Blake felt the tremendous guilt of what's going to come next from her mouth.
"...No, I'm not a part of them." Blake answered, trying to not reveal any signs of lies from her expression.
Weiss wasn't too sure, but it did feel a bit comforting knowing that she's telling the truth. "You promise? Because if you lie right here and now, instead of telling us the truth." She looked away. "I'll never forgive you, until you swear that you will be honest with only Team RWBY."
Blake smiled. "I promise, that if I ever have a secret I'm hiding, I'll say it, the next time it happens." She said.
Ruby nodded, pulling her fist in the air. "Alriiight! Team RWBY's back together!" She declared. "And as leader, we will be playing video games togethe-!"
Weiss stopped what she was going to say. "You do realize that we have classes at 9 right?" She pointed. "And it's already 11 PM."
Yang pouted. "Way to ruin the moment Ice Queen."
"UGH!" Weiss groaned. "Fine." She said. "But just know that we're going to be extremely late, so we're going to wake up early as possible."
Ruby waved it off. "Nah we'll be fine! So come on you three! Let's play!"
Everyone except Blake went and grabbed a scroll controller, the cat faunas grew pressured and nervous of what she's done, and if that group locates her spot and possibly the friends she made. Then it would only be the time for when she tells the truth.
The truth, of being a part of...The White Fang.
"Yep, he's back to his normal condition." Poppy confirmed. "The Game Disease is gone! You two did it!" She said, but frowned when she saw the two acting different than usual. "What's wrong you two?"
Ace looked at his hands, back to a near reflection to see his eyes.
"Kuroto, what happened?" Ace asked.
"..." Kuroto didn't respond, he remained nudged. "Something that could be good...or bad."
'What did he mean by that...?' Ace thought, shaking that flashback. "So, he'll be awake by tomorrow then?" He said.
Poppy nodded, but she can't press further until they tell her what actually happened.
"That's good to hear..." Ace said in relief. "By the way...Kuroto, how did you find that Level 1 Gashat anyway?"
Kuroto hummed. "Actually it was Poppy who found it, surprisingly it was inside the arcade machine in our room. She said even she doesn't know how it ended up there, but all in all, we got to save Cardin."
Ace and Kuroto smirked, the two hands raised up and smacked together as a high five. "Co-Op, complete." The two said in sync.
"I'm grateful to see a student of mine in full recover soon, but, we might have to discuss about those 'Gashats' of yours, Mr. Kuroto, Mr. Valliant." Ozpin said, catching the two off guard. "And a certain General wants to hear what you have to say as well." He sighed.
The young man looked gloom. "I-I know I've always been telling everyone that I'd help, change, and I haven't shown any of that progress yet. I'm sorry." He said. "There's obviously going to be a double negative points for my recent actions, and it's possible enough that I'll be sent to Ironwood's test subject."
Kuroto scoffed. "He's not going to get a hands on either of us. That's a promise."
"That's why you're here, to change all that in due time. For now, let's hurry on along to the meeting board once more." Ozpin said. "But, I do believe some few things changed quite a bit with the General."
Ace sighed, following Headmaster Ozpin back into the dreadful space that'll probably full of guards.
Poppy could only do but go back to the dorms and stay until they come back, that is if they do.
"We're here." Ozpin said, catching Ironwood's attention. "Oh, it seems you've been waiting patiently I see."
The sign of impatience can be seen on the seat Ironwood has been seating on for a few minutes was being fully dragged. "Yes...I may have been acting out of behavior." He said.
Glynda could stare at him for trying to ruin the perfect seat, mostly because she didn't want to hear an earful of Ozpin's rant on why people ruin his chairs.
"So, he's here I can assume?" Ironwood asked.
Ozpin nodded. "Indeed."
Ace could only gulp, taking in the pressure of what any possible outcome he'll need to deal with. "Yo." He said, taking a seat near the General. "Been a while huh?"
Ironwood nodded back. "A week, yes."
Silence, Kuroto watched from behind while crossing his arms.
"Now Ace, we've kept tabs on your actions, and while Ironwood personally wanted to stop you with his troops, it took a lot of convincing for him to stop that." Ozpin explained. "You're here because..."
Ace raised a brow.
"Ironwood has proposed a deal." Ozpin said.
"Wait, a deal?" Ace asked in shock. "What for?"
"Ironwood, care to explain this deal yourself? I haven't heard it since you wanted the four of us together at once." Ozpin asked in curiosity.
Ironwood nodded. "That I will." He said. "Ace Valliant, you've been attracting a lot of attention when you first came here, being as you killed a powerful grimm inside Vale's supposed border that can prevent grimms, defeated several workers of Roman Torchwick back in the city, stopped what could've started an army of mind controlled people, and also killed a certain someone who has been causing serious injuries, and destroying some properties of Vale." He reported each detail specifically.
"For that, I cannot arrest you, neither can the Council." Ironwood said, shocking Ace completely out of nowhere. "Because the action's you've done actually didn't affect the growth of the crime rate, no, you did the opposite." He said.
"Wait, but, huh?" Ace not functioning correctly.
"Not only that, but we know you have a certain power." Ironwood pointed, making the young rider pale. "You can tame grimms, while the rumors could be rumors, we saw everything from Ozpin's footage." He said. "Normally we'd have no means of preventing a monster from doing that, little did we realize that you don't have a desire for world domination or anything above else. Actually, we don't think we can take you away from here."
Ironwood tapped his scroll dial a few times, revealing a video format on the screen, hitting play.
Three shadowy figures appeared, each taking the time to focus on the important part.
"Ace Valliant." The middle figure called. "Due to the possible outcomes of attempting to subjecting you away from Vale. And from a certain someone's warning from said troubles we'd have thanks to our conflicting arguments..."
Ace looked at Kuroto who smirked.
"We hereby announce that you can stay here in Vale, but, you will help us prevent more Grimms coming in Vale be." The first shadow figure said.
Because of Shin Dan Kuroto's recent story and possible consequences. Atlas is forbidden from trying to collect everything about you, unless permitted by you two." The right one feminine figure said.
"It'd be stupid of us to do such a thing, we do what's best, but we should've known on what the proper decisions woulddo that helps us take a step back, reflecting on the benefits first." The middle council said at last.
Ace looked really puzzled, watching Kuroto's grin.
"Kuroto, don't tell me you-!"
"What? That I told them the truth?" He said with that cocky smirk. "I'll be completely honest, it did want them to capture us at some point, but, I promised those three that you would be the key to any battle, everything I've said was every hint of persuasion and facts involved."
"But, wouldn't they take advantage about the whole information?" Ace asked. "No offense, uh, The Council."
Ironwood sighed. "Believe me, I wanted to actually go through the idea of never letting you see the light of day outside." He said. "But now, that all changed in a manner of detailed conversations, and many arguments were had that lasted for close to a week when you were gone."
Ace took this all in, he couldn't really fight off the smile he's showing. "But, why...?" He asked. "Why am I getting the nice treatment?"
Kuroto crossed his arms. "It's because, we're gods!" He laughed to which Ace flicked his forehead. "Oi fine, I'll tell you what happened later." He whispered to his clone's ear.
'Kuroto really thinks he's a god? That's funny, seeing how I'm his clone I'll probably have the better intellect in due time...' Ace thought, wait, thought?
'That's...weird? I'm pretty sure I never developed a God Complex?' Ace sighed. "Well, since you and the council aren't going for my ass and experiment me. What do you want me to do?"
Ironwood nodded. "Remember Penny?" He asked.
Ace's confused face went into realization. "Yeah? Why, what's up?"
Ironwood grumbled. "She hasn't been herself lately, mostly due to your appearance that affected her behavior and view outside, I can't say it's a bad thing. But she wanted to see her friend after a long time now."
Ace's cheek flushed. "So, I'm guessing she's going to visit occasionally then?"
"No." Ironwood said dead serious.
Ace's brow raised once more. "What do you mean, no?"
"Penny's Creator, wants you to take her and help her explore the world." Ironwood said.
"...What?" Ace proceeded to not work properly from that sentence. "Her Creator's asking me to take care of Penny?"
"It's because of what you said that brighten her day, being a...Game Disease." Ironwood explained. "That she's still herself even if being an android, that she can't keep being locked up."
"Oh...He heard all that?" Ace said.
The General nodded. "Everything."
"Uh..." Ace started to get nervous.
"He rejected the idea at first, but from Penny's words and her feelings out about it. That scientist decided that, maybe, it's best if she learns more around Vale. He didn't even know she liked Music in general. I'll notify you at a later date when she lands here, so be sharp and ready when I do."
"Huh..." Ace nodded. "Alright, so what do I get from this?"
"Basically, you help both the Council, and Penny's Creator. You can stay here with no trouble from us, but, you can't tell anyone about this. At, all." Ironwood said. "As for The Creator, he'll be letting Penny go, yet he'll ask for you to take care of her. Otherwise he'll look for you and, I think you already know where that's going."
"...That's..." Ace muttered. "This is a lot to take in..." He said.
Kuroto nodded. "It's going to be hell explaining what actually happened when you were gone later." He said with a yawn. "Alright, I'm going back to our room no-!"
"Not so fast, Mr. Kuroto." Ozpin said. "You also have to deal with a certain criteria of mine, to make that deal balanced." That blank expression showed a trail of smug in it.
"Isn't that right, Doctor Kuroto?" Ozpin's voice sounded like he was trying to hold in his little chuckle. "As everyone here already knows, we cannot let anyone think it's a virus outbreak, so we can consider this to be an opportunity for a Health Class." He said. "And possibly make a secret room that can cure this game disease you've told us about already, Doctor Kuroto."
Kuroto twitched, he was almost close to the door, he wants to let out how bad that idea is. However, he did say it's possible to make the same emergency room he had back in his world, so it's better if he accepts it. "Alright, I suppose I can teach a few things or two for these new students of mine to come." He replied.
"Good." Ozpin said. "And you, Ace?"
Ace looked up and closed his eyes. "Yeah, I'm down." He answered. "I feel like there's more to this than I'd suspect, but if Ironwood sounds like a completely different guy, probably sounding professional to the point of being nice?" He shrugged. "And the fact that I can use my powers to help protect Remnant? Why would I refuse that offer?"
Ozpin smiled. "That's all we needed to hear."
Glynda could only remain quiet, yet glad to see Ace staying here without no trouble.
Ironwood nodded. "Alright, I'll be sending feedback to The Council after this. And don't worry if I don't have your scroll number, It's already written down in my contact list." He said. "Now, I'm off to enjoy my days here in peace for once."
After General Ironwood left the scene, Ace and Kuroto smiled to the point of hugging. Although it only lasted shortly, it really meant Ace a lot for him to do all this while he was gone.
"Oh, by the way, you'll be needing to wear a certain outfit once classes are back in session Doctor Kuroto." Ozpin said. "The uniform's a floor above mine, I'd recommend getting them now." He advised. "It wouldn't be right to wear those in Health class."
Kuroto let out a few tears of what sounds like torture.
Ace grinned. "Alright, later Ozpin!"
The two riders left, having to witness a miracle in the making, and shocking that it was Shin Dan Kuroto who did such persuasion that will be told by tomorrow.
It was a promise anyway, since Ace needs to catch up on this urgent matter at hand.
Poppy saw the two arguing. "You're back!" She called out, giving a big hug to both Ace and Kuroto. "I was so worried that you wouldn't be able to come back with us..."
Ace smiled, hugging her back. "Yeah, thanks to you and Kuroto. Oh wait, let me rephrase that." He smirked.
Kuroto's ticked mark on his forehead. "Oi!"
"Doctor Kuroto." Ace corrected.
Poppy looked confused. "Doctor?"
Kuroto whined. "For one of the deals, I need to be a Doctor of this school. In case if something like this happens again, he'll develop the same secret base we had."
Poppy checked for a minute to see if he's lying, but it's true. "Ehhhh?!" She cupped her face. "So we'll get it remodeled just like CR?"
Kuroto hummed. "Maybe, can't be sure though." He said. "But I have this one thing I hate..."
Ace and Poppy looked at Kuroto. "I don't wanna do it!" He yelled, acting like a baby bawling about his new position. "I don't wanna be a Doctor!" He said. "I don't want to teach these kids! I'm a God!"
Poppy sighed. "Kurotoooo..." She groaned, dragging one of Kuroto's ear up pointing a finger at him. "You will, and that's because I say so!"
Ace shook his head. "Come on Kuroto, think about it, you, they'll address you as God if you teach them the basics. Remember, you'll be worshipped everyday, because you could be the BEST TEACHER AND THE BEST GOD IN BEACON ACADEMY!" He said both dramatically and serious.
Kuroto stopped his crying and understood Ace, he knew that finally the day has come. That everyone will acknowledge his talent! "You're right Ace! This is a new generation after all!" He yelled excitedly, running off to the elevator and pressing the down floor rapidly.
Poppy started shaking Ace's shoulders. "Why did you do that!?"
Ace couldn't grab her arms, because by god it's strong. "I-I-I'm his clone! If he tries to not do something, then I can use that knowledge to help him do it!" He answered.
Poppy stopped, she looked down. "Oh...that's right." She muttered. "Do you...feel bad, about being here?"
Ace went silent, he watched Kuroto and Poppy back to back, watching his hands shake and remembering his mission. "No, I don't." He replied.
"I know that I'm a Bugster who can infect anyone with a single spread of the virus inside of me. But, I want to do all I can to make a change to this world." He said. "And I can't die without at least achieving that goal in mind."
Poppy couldn't really understand him, but to an extent, she's glad that he's here. Even if both she and Kuroto needs to smack upside his head to get it like before. "Alright!" She said surprising Ace. "It's time to make my official debut then!"
Ace knew what she meant, taking a few steps back to not be blinded by the light.
"Costume Change!" Poppy yelled.
She spread her arms and whirled around as a bright light covered her, Poppy's other persona she has for a disguise and her name is Asuna Karino.
Asuna's appearance changed as her pink hair changed to brown, wearing a white nurse outfit would be as having a tag clinging on her neck that's used to check for any patient who has the Game Disease.
"Asuna Karino is here!" She said. "I won't be having any of your no-nonsense behaviors while I'm here!"
Ace laughed. "Well, nice to meetcha Asuna, name's Ace." He said in a joking manner. "Oh wait, aren't you Poppy?"
Asuna pouted, poking Ace a few times that made him laugh. "Don't say that while I'm under my disguise!"
"I got it, I got it!" Ace said, trying to stop laughing. "Let's go ahead and find Kuroto."
Asuna nodded, following the young rider to the elevator. She had little chuckle as her warm smile makes her a little bubbly.
"Nope." Kuroto said, throwing another pair of doctor clothes that don't suit his taste. "Ugh, I'd rather keep what I look, but having to be professional about it really is tiresome." He said.
"If you want to get some custom-made Doctor Uniform, then you could ask Ozpin about it." Someone behind him said, which almost shocked him.
"Hm?" Kuroto saw a young woman with what looks like a scientist would wear. "Ah, could you possibly be Professor Peach that I've heard from Headmaster Ozpin?"
Professor Peach looks to be a bit shorter than Kuroto, having safety goggles on, but what intrigued him is her long peachy color and the looks of it, she's eager to test something out right now. "Yes, I am!" She bowed. "It's nice to meet you! Uh..."
"Doctor Kuroto." Kuroto said. "I'll be teaching the subject of Health for this year. Nice to meet you too." He said.
Professor Peach smiled. "Health huh? I'm teaching the advanced subjects of Dusts."
One of Kuroto's eyebrow raised. "Dusts? Ah, I've heard about it from those first-years, they're truly mysterious. They have about a lot of many useful sources, some tend to take research of it."
"Yep, and that someone's right here!" Peach said with a nod, looking down in her scroll was past her preferred time. "Oh, sorry, I gotta go!"
Kuroto shook his head. "It's alright, do what you have to do." He said. "And thank you for telling me about this, I appreciate it."
"It's no problem!" Peach said, waving a goodbye as she heads off to the elevator. "See you during the Lunch Breaks!"
Kuroto waved back as well. "She's going to be a handful this year." He said with a little chuckle. "But, now that I know what I must do!" He took a dramatic pose. "I must get my own outfit commissioned at once!"
An elevator opened to see Ace and Poppy, who's currently disguised as Asuna, watched Kuroto holding a weird expression.
Then Asuna noticed the big mess in the uniform center her son made. "Kuroto."
"You're going to clean this mess right now young man!" Asuna yelled. "Or so help me you're going to suffer the consequence!"
"Aaaaaah!" Kuroto panicked. "Ace please help!"
Ace merely stood there minding his business, and somehow drinking a glass of Ice Tea with him. "Sorry but I'm an innocent young individual."
Asuna took out one of the shoes she wore, making a painful whip effect. "Organize the outfits back to where they were!" She leaped a dash straight to Kuroto.
"HELLLP!" Kuroto cried, running away from the madwomen.
Ace smiled, laughing at this moment. "It's good to be back in Beacon."
