Chapter 4: The Emerald Forest
In the Emerald Forest down into the misty underbrush, Yang Xiao Long is walking and looking around.
Yang: (calling out) Helloooooooo? (not seeing a shadow quickly pass by) Is anyone out there? Helloooo?" (stops and raises her arms) I'm getting bored here! (hears a rustling in the bushes behind her and turns) Is someone there? (the rustling continues as Yang comes over and peaks inside) Ruby, is that you?
A low, inhuman growl is heard, and Yang's head rises up as she stares at the creature.
Yang: Nope!
Yang quickly rolls to the side as an Ursa charges out of the green. She gets up and activates her Ember Celica, staring at the monster before another Ursa runs out behind her. She leaps over it, and its companion runs at her again, only to get knocked back by a fiery punch. The other Ursa and Yang charge at each other, and Yang manages to get under it and deliver several punches and a kick to send the creature back.
Yang: You guys wouldn't happen to have seen a girl in a red hood, would you? (the Ursai merely growl at her) You could just say "no".
One of the Ursai stands on its legs and swipes at her twice, Yang barely dodging the attacks.
Yang: (laughing) Geeeez, you two couldn't hit the broad side of a ba...
Before she can complete her insult, a single strand of her golden hair falls in front of her face and lands on the forest floor.
Yang: You... (closes her violet eyes, then opens them to reveal red, making the Ursai look at each other confusedly before Yang screams) You monster!
An inferno surrounds Yang for a moment, and she rockets forward, unleashing a devastating combo of flaming hits and blows on the offending Ursa, making it fly through several burning trees. The other monster runs over, but stops short at Yang's gaze while a tree falls to the ground behind her.
Yang: What! You want some, too?!
The Ursa rears up and prepares to strike... right when a whirling noise is heard and the monster makes a befuddled noise, falling down a second later to reveal Blake Belladonna with her Gambol Shroud in the beast's back.
Yang pants in exhaustion while Blake recalls the weapon back to her hand, sheathing it on her back and smiling to the side (or the audience, if she broke the fourth wall). Yang, now purple-eyed again, speaks to her new partner over the smoking remains of the monster.
Yang: I could've taken him.
The scene suddenly changes to Weiss Schnee's predicament, deflecting the swipe from a Beowolf with her Myrtenaster and getting pushed back into the middle of the beastly circle. She holds out her sword as she goes through her dueling motions and practices.
Weiss: (in her head) Remember your training, Weiss. Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward — not that forward! — slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and... (brings her rapier up, the revolver spinning) Now!
Weiss dashes forward with her loaded weapon at the Beowolf in front of her, just when Ruby suddenly appears between the two in a blur of rose petals and a swipe of her Crescent Rose scythe, landing a hit on the monster.
Ruby: Gotcha!
Weiss widens her eyes and screams as she quickly has to stop, swinging the sword in a random direction and creating a line of fire that sets a nearby tree ablaze, followed quickly by the rest of the forest around the clearing.
Ruby, distracted by Weiss' mess-up, is barely defended when the same Beowolf scratches at her weapon, knocking the younger girl into the heiress.
Ruby: Hey, watch it!
Weiss: Excuse me! You attacked out of turn! I could have killed you!
Ruby: You'll have to try a lot harder than that...
The duo wield their arms as the pack of Beowolves whine and growl around them. Ruby reloads her scythe just as a flaming tree falls near them.
Weiss: (grabbing Ruby's arm) We have to go!
She leads Ruby out of the blaze as it engulfs the grass and sets the Grimm to running back the way they came or suffering in the fire.
Ruby and Weiss stop a safe ways from the smoke and flames. Weiss leans over and pants as Ruby looks behind her.
Ruby: What was that?! That should've been easy!
Weiss: Well perhaps if you had exercised even the slightest amount of caution with the placement of your strikes, I wouldn't have set the forest on fire!
Ruby: (scoffs) What's that supposed to mean?
Weiss: I'm just surprised someone who talks so much would communicate so little during an encounter!
Ruby: Well, I'm sorry you need my help to win a fight. I'm just fine on my own!
Weiss: Well, congratulations on being the strongest child to sneak your way into Beacon. Bravo!
Weiss begins to walk off on her partner yet again. Ruby, with an agitated shriek, unfolds Crescent Rose, slices a tree down to the stump, refolds it back, and follows her partner as the tree crashes behind her. Neither notice the large dark feather floating onto the fallen trunk behind them.
Meanwhile across the Forest, Pyrrha Nikos, armed with Miló and Akoúo̱, and Jaune Arc are making their way through the bushes. Jaune hears a noise far away and turns his head.
Jaune: Did you hear that?
Pyrrha: Gunfire. It seems some of our comrades have encountered the enemy.
They keep moving forward, Jaune still staring in the sound's direction as Pyrrha raises a branch to pass by and accidentally releases it right at Jaune's face, flooring him instantly.
Pyrrha: (looking back behind her) Jaune! I'm sorry!
Jaune: (laughs, lowering his hand from his cheek to reveal a gash from the wooden recoil) It's okay. Just a scratch! (gets back up when Pyrrha approaches him)
Pyrrha: Why didn't you activate your Aura?
Jaune: Huh?
Pyrrha: Your Aura.
Jaune: Gesundheit.
Pyrrha: Jaune, do you... know what Aura is?
Jaune: (waves the question off, avoiding eye contact) Psch! Of course I do! Do you know what Aura is?
Pyrrha smiles at him and gets ready to explain as the scene changes to Lie Ren's trek through the forest's tall grass.
Pyrrha (off-screen): Aura is the manifestation of our soul. It bears our burdens and shields our hearts. Have you ever felt you were being watched without knowing that someone was there?
Jaune (off-screen): Uh... yeah.
Ren stops and narrows his eyes, looking around him while a huge black Grimm serpent rises up from the grass behind him and quickly surrounds him with its large, hissing body. Ren adopts a fighting stance as the snake coils together in front of him and attacks with its long fangs.
Pyrrha: (back on screen, walking around Jaune) With practice, our Aura can be our shield. Everyone has it, even animals.
Jaune: What about monsters?
Pyrrha: No. (switching back to Ren as he leaps out of the way, the snake's mouth hitting the ground and instantly coming up again to hit a jumping Ren back with its snout) The monsters we fight lack a soul. They are creatures of Grimm, the manifestation of anonymity. (Ren lands in a crouch when the serpent encircles him again, and he unleashes his StormFlower before jumping up and firing at the creature) They are the darkness, and we are the light.
Jaune (off-screen): (as Ren kicks the snake's snout and slashes at its head) Right, that's why we fight them!
Pyrrha (off-screen): It's not about why; it's about knowing. (the snake flows around Ren and tries to bite him again, but he flips over it and drives his weapons into its head, pausing a moment without sensing the serpent's white head behind him) Understanding dark and light helps us manifest our Aura. Everyone has some of both.
Ren turns and looks up at the white head as it launches itself at him, dodging it and landing just in time to see the head slither towards him. As it gets closer, he runs at it and leaps onto the black head, sliding over its body and blasting the other head.
Pyrrha (off-screen): By baring your soul outward as a force, you can deflect harm. All of our tools and equipment are conduits for Aura. You protect yourself and your soul when fighting. (Ren is unprepared for the white half to hit him with its head, knocking him off as he drops his weapons, and leaving him to merely raise his arms and distantly cry "No!" to the mouth of the black head)
Jaune: (opens his eyes with the revelation) It's like a force field!
Pyrrha: Yes, if you want to look at it that way.
Ren is now holding the front fangs of the colossal snake in his hands, glowing a faint, pulsating pink as he grips the teeth and yanks them from the monster's mouth, causing it to flail away. It attempts to bite him again, but Ren spins to the side and stabs a fang into its eye, rotating his arm to deliver a final blow that drives the makeshift weapon into its skull, which ripples, expands, and blows apart in a dark mess as its headless body falls over its fellow creature. Wasting no time, Ren runs right at the white head.
Pyrrha: (walking up to Jaune and touching the side of his head) Now, close your eyes and concentrate.
Jaune: (complying) Uhh... Okay.
Pyrrha smiles and closes her own eyes, opening them as her skin glows and her irises shrink before shutting them again. The two stand there, now with Pyrrha glowing a faint red and Jaune a bright white.
Pyrrha: (mentally speaking) For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. (placing a hand on his chest) I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee. (Pyrrha stops glowing red and hunches over in tiredness)
Jaune: (still glowing, concerned) Pyrrha?
Pyrrha: (getting back up) It's all right. I used my Aura to unlock yours, but the energy that protects you now is your own. (grins as she watches the scratch close up and vanish) You have a lot of it.
Jaune: (smiling and looking at his hands as the glow stops) Wow...
At the same time, Ren stands atop of the body of his enemy, sliding the weapons into his sleeves and brushing them off before a strange, animal-like noise is heard above him twice. He looks up and meets the upside-down eyes of Nora Valkyrie.
Ren: (chuckles) I still don't think that's what a sloth sounds like.
In response, Nora gives her friend a "Boop!" on the nose, causing him to smile.
Professor Ozpin was watching the students on his Scroll at the Beacon Cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest when Glynda Goodwitch walks up behind him, holding her own tablet.
Glynda: The last pair has been formed, sir. (taps the screen to show the ending scene of "The Emerald Forest") Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren. Poor boy... I can't possibly imagine those two getting along. Still, he's probably better off than Miss Nikos. (the video changes to Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc's trek through the woods)
Ozpin: Mmmm...
Glynda: Wait... Hold on... There is someone that isn't paired yet. (zooming the screen to show Cin hopping treetop to treetop) Cinnabar Caliburn, This can't be right! (She turns to recount the springboards)
Ozpin: Mmmm... (watching his tablet)
Glynda: Unbelievable! how could we have made such a miscalculation, Not only that, he's gotten himself completely lost, he's nowhere near the temple or anyone! I'm going after him! (She prepares to head for the forest)
Merrune: If I may, miss goodwitch? (catching Glynda off guard, halting her departure.)
Master Merrune steps out of the shaded area of the woods, approaching Glynda and Ozpin.
Glynda: Master Merrune? (Shocked to see him here)
Merrune: If I recall, you said in the morning announcement, that all first-year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation?
Glynda: Yes... I did say that but... there seems to have been a miscalculation with the numbers of students taking the initiation, your grandson is out there, all alone with no partner, with those... those monsters out there, surly you can't mean to put him in such danger on purpose!
Merrune just stood silent for a moment.
Merrune: As long the Grimm are out there and will always be Grimm out there, all of Remnant is in danger, hence why we have Beacon, to the train our youths to at least withstand those monsters, my grandson had far more training with weapons, aura, and semblance... unlike the other boy, Jaune Arc, but I shall take my leave and let you two be the judge for Cinnabar's character.
Glynda: And What about for teams who will Cinnabar be with? the teams are comprised of four students each, who are formed based on the two pairs that took the same relics, I highly doubt we have a relic for him to collect, or are actually proposing to make an exception, making Cinnabar a fifth member of a team?
Merrune: He has yet to seen to anyone after all, let us see who he'll make eye contact with. I'm sure he or she would be more than surprised to have someone like Cinnabar as a member of their team, and rest assure... Cinnabar has many surprises.
Glynda: Master Merrune, I 'am sorry but I must abject to this... trial by fire, to leave him be with a random team of four students he barely met, why would you allow-
Merrune started coughing, slightly growing more intense each cough he made. Glynda's anger towards Merrune quickly diminishes, after seeing and judging Merrune's... condition.
Glynda: Hm... (Still in Shock) I... I think I finally see what you've intended now... Doe he know?...
Merrune: (Took A deep breath) Hard to say, he is quite bright, I did raise him to be after all, I hope you and Ozpin will consider what I've said, and leave him be to find who he's meant to be with... for the rest of his life.
Glynda gave Merrune a stern look, for his... questionable methods for Cinnabar.
Glynda: You better hope what you're intending will work out... For his Sake. (Looking Concerned)
Merrune: So do I, Glynda... So Do I.
Merrune make his departure, returning back to Beacon.
Glynda: Hm... (She looks back at her tablet watching Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc) He's not... completely wrong about Jaune.
Ozpin: Mmmm... (Still watching his tablet)
Glynda: I don't care what his transcripts say. That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat. (deactivates the tablet, walking back a little) I guess we'll find out soon enough. At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes. (turning back to Ozpin) "Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year? (silence) "Professor Ozpin?"
Ozpin doesn't answer, watching his tablet with a contemplating interest as it shows the footage of Ruby Rose sitting in the grass and picking stray leaves while her "partner" Weiss Schnee walks in random directions.
Weiss: (walking right) It's definitely this way. (stops and starts walking left) I mean... this way! It's definitely this way. (stops in front of Ruby) Alright, it's official: We passed it.
Ruby: (stands up, slightly annoyed) Weiss, why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?
Weiss: Because I know exactly where we're going! We're going... to... the forest temple!
Ruby: (sighs, frustrated)
Weiss: Oh, stop it! You don't know where we are, either!
Ruby: Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything.
Weiss: What is that supposed to mean?
Ruby: It means you're a big, stupid jerk and I hate you!
Weiss: (sighs to herself, spinning around and walking in another direction) Just keep moving!
Ruby: (in a faux imitation of Weiss' voice) Oh, just keep moving! Hurry up! Waaaah! Watch where you're going! (in her normal voice) Why are you so bossy?
Weiss: (turning back around to face Ruby) I'm not bossy! Don't say things like that!
Ruby: Stop treating me like a kid!
Weiss: Stop acting like a kid!
Ruby: Well, stop acting like you're perfect!
Weiss: I'm. Not. Perfect! Not yet... But I'm still leagues better than you. (continues to walk away)
Ruby: (to herself, dejectedly) You don't even know me...
Cinnabar was hopping treetop to treetop, and making few minute stops on the larger branches to save some of his Aura from being completely drained and taking recharging breaks. Cin knows he can't just keep flying around the whole forest, so he decided to just do simple high jumps from branch to branch.
Cin also knew that he was too high and far away to make eye-to-eye contact with anyone, so he can just scout around, from the high trees and look down to see if anyone was still looking for a partner. As he went from branch to branch around the Emerald Forest, he'd finally seen some people... only to already be with their partners. Jaune was with Pyrrha, Nora with Lie Rin, and eventually Cin saw Yang now partnered with Blake.
Cin: (sigh) Only Ruby... Or... Weiss left, I really hope they don't find each other. (Starting to feel discouraged)
As Cin was now looking for Ruby, he higher, out of the brushes, and grab hold of around to the top of a spruce tree, getting another high view of the whole forest, looking for any signs of a red hood, Cin heard a sudden loud swoosh coming from a near distance, but Cin couldn't see where it came from.
He draws out Caledfwlch in it's sword form & his shield Pridwen, trying to be quickly prepared for what would be coming after him.
Cin: Ruby? (thinking if it was a prank she's pulling) Is that you?
There was no answer, as the whole sky became silent. Cin started to feel nervous, feeling like something was circling around him. A large shadow suddenly engulfed Cin for a moment. Cinnabar quickly looked upward, realized it was the shadow of something flying higher above him... That belongs to a gigantic Nevermore!
Cin: Oh... (Quietly Groaning) ...Dear God.
The Nevermore let out a loud screech as it flies downwards straight at Cin, who attempts to dodge it's Head-butt Charge. He jumped off the treetop just time before it completely disappeared, just been broken off. The Nevermore then return to flight flying high, using the downward momentum it gained during the attack.
It turned to see Cinnabar trying to hide into lower brushes. as the Nevermore easily swoop down for an attack with it's sharp talons. Cinnabar hoped he was low enough not to get caught... he was wrong... Cin was now suddenly being held captive in them!
Cin: AAAH! Let me go Birdzilla! (Struggling to break free)
Cinnabar tried to hit the Nevermore's talons with Caledfwlch, but it was proven too strong as Caledfwlch was bounced off of Cin's hands.
Cin: Noo! (Reaching out for Caledfwlch...) Caledfwlch!
...Only to see it falling down into the forest, as the Nevermore let out another loud screech!
Ruby heard the sound of the screech from a far distance, distracting her from listening to Weiss's bickering. Ruby followed her uphill to soon an open field of the forest.
Weiss: I'm positive is this way this time! It's this way. (turns to Ruby) Do you mind hurrying, little miss riding hood?
Ruby: (turning back to Weiss) My name is Ruby!
Weiss: All you can do...(quietly complaining)...is follow me...(spoke louder)...I know where to go.
Ruby: you have no sense of direction, Weiss, we're nowhere near it.
Weiss: don't be ridiculous.
Ruby: I'm not much of a follower (puffing her cheeks red)
Weiss: I'm not so sure about that. Mind telling me why a girl like you would attend the academy?
Ruby: To be a huntress, of course! Like the ones in the stories!
Weiss: Stories? (scoffed in disbelief) Unbelievable...
Weiss: I came here to learn. To be stronger. I strive for perfection. Unlike you, I'm not here fun and games. If all you want is to be a part of the stories...(looked at Ruby with a stern look)...Give up and go home. Your mother's waiting to read one to you.
Those words hurt Ruby's heart hard.
Ruby: (finally having enough) You don't know anything.
Weiss: You're a little girl fascinated by fairy tales, am I wrong?
Ruby: (Being stern) You think you know everything huh?
Weiss looked at Ruby.
Ruby: I...(Almost in brink of tears)...lost someone important to me. That's when I realized reality doesn't always end happily like the stories... no one's going to show up in the nick of time. no one's going to save you. so instead of being sad... waiting for help to arrive.. I decided I would be the hero, and I will. I'll turn tragedies to happy ending. That's why I'm here. (Standing her grounds proudly)
After Ruby finished her speech, Weiss looked up at something, and suddenly rushing towards Ruby.
Weiss: Get Down! (she pounces at Ruby at the ground a few feet away...)
...Just in time before a sword-shape object slashes downwards at the ground, almost hitting Ruby.
Weiss: What was that?! (Confused, laying on the ground with Ruby)
Ruby pulled herself off the ground to see what was now stuck in the ground. As soon as Ruby seen it, she immediately recognized it as Caledfwlch and walks towards it.
Ruby: Weiss...I know this sword. (she pulls out Caledfwlch from the ground, now half dirty.) It belongs to-
The horrid screech cuts Ruby's words short, alarming Ruby and Weiss, who quickly stood back up as they suddenly see a huge wave of shadow coming towards them both. They looked up quickly and caught sight of Cin, trapped in the talons. Both with shock at the sound of Cin's screams.
Cin looked down as he suddenly saw the girl he was looking for, finally Silver eye-to-Silver eye contact, both eyes widen with great shock.
Cin: Ruubbyyy... (His cry for her name lowered, as the Nevermore was flying away)
Ruby: CIN?! (Shocked)
Weiss: Cinnabar?! (Also Shocked)
But suddenly the Nevermore spotted the two young huntress in training, and started preparing to attack them both with it's sharp beak.
Wiess: (Thinking) It's too dangerous for just the two of us, batting a Grimm wasn't our mission, we should retreat...
Ruby: Cin's in trouble! (Started running toward the Nevermore) I gotta help him!
Wiess: Ruby! No!
The Nevermore started flying downwards towards Ruby. Cin couldn't help do felt helpless as all he could do just watch Ruby trying to rescue him. Ruby quickly placed away Caledfwlch only to pull out Crescent Rose in gun form, and started firing her explosive rounds at the Nevermore, from beak toward it's underbelly and while managing to avoid harming Cin. The Nevermore flew close enough for Ruby to try grab hold of the Grimm's feathery body.
Ruby: Gotcha! (Succeeding hold)
Ruby: Wiess! (Reaching out for her hand) Take My Hand!
Weiss: Huh?! (Confused but did quickly grab hold of Ruby's hand)
Now Ruby and Weiss we're both holding onto the Nevermore, as it started flying back toward the sky.
Ruby: It'll be faster flying, while we help Cin... (With a surprisingly happy grin)
Weiss: (screaming with fright) AAAAAAA! Are you trying to take me down with you?!
The Nevermore was flying higher and higher with Cin still in it's talons, while Ruby and Weiss we're just barely holding on it's black feathers.
Weiss: I was a fool to follow yooouuu...
From the forest, Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna step out into a clearing that reveals the circular stone temple, broken and decrepit but for the platforms around its inside, holding several black and gold objects.
Yang: Think this is it?
In response, Blake gives Yang an incredulous look and heads down the hill, her partner following. They walk across the floor and observe the items on each pedestal, now shown to be familiar shapes.
Blake: (looking at a black king, confused) Chess pieces?
Yang: Some of them are missing. Looks like we weren't the first ones here.
Blake: Well, I guess we should pick one.
Jaune and Pyrrha are standing at the mouth of a dark cave, where drawings are seen to the side involving armed men against giant beasts.
Jaune: Think this is it?
The scene cuts to their walk inside the cave, Jaune holding a short, burning torch to light their way.
Pyrrha: I'm not sure this is it.
Jaune: (sighs) Pyrrha, I made the torch. Could you at least humor me for, like, five more feet?
Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, Jaune trips on the ground, and the torch flies into a small puddle, extinguishing the flame so the two are cast in darkness with only their eyes visible.
Pyrrha: (as Jaune gets up and grumbles) Do you... feel that?
Jaune: Soul-crushing regret?
Pyrrha: No, it's... warm.
Back at the temple, Yang approaches one of the relics.
Yang: Hmmmm... (studies the golden knight, then picks it up and shows it to Blake) How about a cute little pony?
Blake: (smirking) Sure. (they walk towards each other to the center of the temple floor)
Yang: That wasn't too hard!
Blake: Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find. (they share a smile)
Jaune and Pyrrha continue onward through the cave until they see a large glowing point of gold right in front of them, illuminating Jaune's excited features.
Jaune: That's the relic! (he slowly reaches out to grab it, but it moves away from his swipe) Hey! Bad... relic! (he tries to get it again, then jumps forward and hangs onto it as the object raises him above the ground) Gotcha!
Pyrrha: (worried) Jaune...?
Jaune's catch lowers itself so he is dangling right in front of the now-glowing red lines and eyes of a Death Stalker.
Jaune's and Cin's scream is heard all the way from the temple, where Yang turns towards the direction of its source.
Yang: Some girls in trouble! Blake, did you hear that?
Blake doesn't answer, staring at something in the sky.
At the cave entrance, Pyrrha rushes out right before the monster crashes through the hole, roaring and waving its grass-encrusted claws as Jaune hangs from the stinger, calling from help and continuing to scream.
Jaune: (sobbing) Help! Whoa-ah-ah-ah-ah! Why?! Pyrrha! He-e-e-elp! Pyrrha, this is not the relic! It's not! (continues to cry and get shaken around) Do something!
Pyrrha: (wielding Miló in front of the creature) Jaune! Whatever you do, don't let- (before she can finish, the Grimm hurls its tail back and launches a still-screaming Jaune across the forest as she watches in dismay) ... go. (she turns back to the scorpion as it continues to snap its claws at her, and she smiles embarrassedly before turning and rushing away in a burst of green leaves)
Blake is still staring at something above them, but Yang is focused on the forest.
Yang: Blake, did you hear that? (turns to her partner) What should we do?
Finally, the faint-but-growing-louder scream of "Heads uuuuuuuup!" is heard when Ruby and Cinnabar are holding onto each other falling from the sky and presumably crash lands to the ground.
End of Chapter 4
Author Notes
RWBY, its owned by Rooster Teeth.
Major thanks to the Transcripts written on RWBY Wiki
Master Merrune's scene was definitely difficult to work with.
Here a question for the reviews: If Weiss and the other girls we're to make a set of rules for Cinnabar to follow for joining team RWBY what would they be?
And maybe what kind of original stories/ideas could be add as new chapter to it?
After the upcoming Chapter 5: Players and Pieces, New original chapters may appear, but might mostly be changes to focus more on Cinnabar... and will bring some new original characters too.
Some Changes are inspired by the many Mangas and comics of RWBY.