Chapter 62 - Part of the Problem

Act VII - Memories

"I don't think he's waking up." A positive voice spoke over me, who it was or why there was a voice on the other side of the rift must have meant I ended up... well, I'm in a soft bed, so atleast I'm not under the hands of a satanic cult or something. "Should I shake him again?"

"Not gonna lie, Playboy, probably best to avoid that." A more calm and collective voice suggested. Man, the others are probably having a mental breakdown at my sudden departure, least I was alive though, that meant I could work to get back to them from... wherever here is. Ruby's going to be pissed but I can always trust her to keep the rest together, she didn't need me for that

I heard what sounded like a page flicking, then a hum drawing closer to my ear, followed by a poke of my cheek. "So Whitey found him in the Emerald Forest, yeah?" Wait what? So I was still on Remnant, and in Vale no less? That means Charron warped me across the world, no it couldn't be that simple, right?

"Yo, guys-" Once more, the calm girl was interrupted

Another page flick, "He does look alot like him, well, say for the hair, colors, maybe attitude-"

"Oi, can it!" Finally, the girl snapped, then... I think something just covered my mouth and nose, wait, she knew I was awake!? Ok, she's trying to suffocate me. "If you're smart you'd wake up, no use tryin' to fool a thief, bud."

I pulled myself up, waving my arms as her hand pulled itself away with a cheeky grin. "Alright-alright, I'm awake, Christ on a crutch!" My surroundings were... familiar, the medical wing of Beacon? And their uniforms were Beacon too. "...okay, now I'm confused?"

The only guy of the trio had gelled, spiky red hair and matching red eyes, wearing a welcoming, toothy grin. One girl stood to my left, a wolf Faunus by the appearance of a pair of fluffy, bluish-white ears and a small tail. Her messy bluish-white hair reached her shoulders, with the bangs down the sides of her face and resting between or above her pale blue eyes.

Last, the girl who almost suffocated me crossed her arms with a smirk. She had long, silky white hair with a pair of gold crosses for earrings, eyes a Heterochromia of gold and sky-blue. "Sup, stranger, name's Myst," She then prodded a thumb at the boy. "Playboy here is my partner in crime, Eros."

"Happy to meet you," Rather easygoing, but I accepted his small handshake

Myst then motioned to the Faunus who bowed her head to me with a warm smile, holding out a notepad. 'Pleasure to meet you, my name's Azure'

"She's mute?" "Well, good to know I'm surrounded by pleasant company, and in Beacon no less," Feels weird, waking up again in the Emerald Forest, only without the whole 'trial by fire', heh, how far I've come. "If you're a team, which I'm assuming, where's the fourth person?"

Myst sat down on a chair beside me. "Whitey was the one that dragged you here, almost had half of Beacon freaking out as he just dumped your body here," Gee, sounds like a nice guy... Myst then tapped a finger to her chin. "Let's see, think he said something like, 'why do problems always have to revolve around me, I swear if he turns out to be some epicenter of some evil overlord's plan I'm officially jumping off Beacon tower', eh, I zoned the rest out."

"Sounds like... oh who am I kidding, he sounds like a handful," There was no use sugarcoating this, and the trio looked to agree, though Azure held out another note

'Zorah's temperamental at times, but he does mean well, otherwise he probably would have left you there' Azure seemed to be the kind of person to always see the good in someone, Eros then snorted a laugh

"Only because you'd give him that look that puts him on ice," That comment resounded with a laugh from Myst, both causing the Faunus girl to slowly blush at the remarks, her ears curled down

'Moving on from that! Why were you passed out in the Emerald Forest? Even with students around almost every day, the place is crawling with Grimm' She made a valid point, though I suppose there was no harm in saying

"Well, would you believe me if I told you I was thrown through a rift by a creature hellbent on the extinction of humanity?" Overlooking their expressions it was clearly not the reply the trio expected, though Myst soon recovered and shook her head

"Holy crap, you aren't pulling our tails," I shook my head once. "Huh, good thing Whitey isn't here."

As if on cue, the door to the med-wing burst open, revealing a very familiar sight that almost made my heart skip a beat. "Hey, what are you guys still doing here, you're gonna miss it!?" Ruby... and in her Beacon attire and classic red hood

Sadly this confirmed one of my suspicions. She looked younger, her hair shorter and eyes filled with innocent wonder, though not much of that was lost on the Ruby I knew. Hey, Penny, you there?

"Yes, I must say traversing time and space has given me alot of data to process, my father would be jumping out of his seat if he knew!" Penny beamed, though she kept her voice filtered through my earpiece that was thankfully still attached. "Though this does align with your thoughts, while this is Beacon and Remnant, there are subtle differences between this reality and ours,"

"So another universe?" She hummed at my query

"Correct, Charron believed summoning you within another realm would impede our progress, though he was unable to create a rift large enough to transport all of us, he did however manage to throw ourselves and Tabus through, implying she was tasked to pursue us even within this alternate reality," Penny's quick and detailed breakdown leveled my mind on the situation as the trio conversed with young Ruby

"Yo, you good to move around?" Myst broke my train of thought as I sat at the edge of the bed, grabbing my jacket

"Should be, why?" Then a smile crossed her face

"Well, since you're kinda stuck here till you find a way back home, implying that what you've told us is one hundred percent the truth, why not give you an introduction to Beacon," While Myst's proposal was a kind guestre I had a good idea of Beacon's layout, though I suppose these three weren't a bad crowd and until Penny could filter through all that data we were stuck on the sidelines

With a shrug, I took a stand. "Sure, lead the way."

"Oh, you're that guy Zorah brought back," Ruby pipped up, giving a confident wave, puffing out her chest proudly. "I am Ruby Rose, leading of the greatest team at Beacon, team RWBY!"

"Second best to us," Myst challenged, nudging the raven-haired girl. "Gotta admit, Whitey could take on your whole team hands down."

Azure sighed, 'I have to agree with Myst, compared to most first-years, Zorah's skill and tenacity are almost inhuman' I don't know if that's praise or a genuine fact, now I really want to meet this guy. Azure flipped the note. 'Weren't we in a rush, oooor...'

"Oh, crap! Team MAZE, plus Ruby and our guest from another world, move it into high gear!" Myst soon latched her hand around my arm and proceeded to drag me along. Yet I was smiling, it felt like I was right at home again

We were approaching the inside of the Amphitheatre and already I could hear the commotion inside, and the battle that was currently underway as Ruby led us up to the rafters. People were chatting and taking bets.

"This is nearly seventy!" "What the hell is he?" "I heard Pyrrha only managed to get around fifty." "He's kinda cute."

"I think I'm already starting to get a feel for this guy," He was popular, here's hoping he's not some egocentric asshole

"Hey, you're finally here!" A younger Nora waved us over, though I did my best to stay behind Myst and Azure as to not have to answer twenty questions, my eyes, and ears drawn to the match below as we watched from the archways. "Betting pool is still open~!"

"My point still stands, Whitey's gonna get to a hundred, you hear that you fools, payday for the badass leader of team MAZE!" That earned her many boos and a few thrown objects she effortlessly evaded as I failed to hold back a smile

Eros then nudged my shoulder. "Just watch, my best bud's pretty crazy when he's showing off." I nodded and followed the crowd's eyes to the arena below.

A silver arc of light tore across the arena, splitting several hardlight versions of Atlas' newest robotic enforcement bots like paper. The weapon was drawn back as many more took the place of the fallen copies, that's when I got a good view of who this 'Zorah' was.

He was an inch taller than me with unkempt, white hair, the bangs falling to over his left eye, leaving the right exposed being a deep orange with a strange, white marking around the eye, a triangular, scale-like scar on his left cheek. He wore a reddish-purple scarf with black lines like scales across the whole length. His sleeveless jacket was black with gold trim for the lack of sleeves and the zipper. Under that was a grey striped T-Shirt.

His left hip housed a utility belt with a black, straight scabbard resting comfortably on a moveable holster. He wore charcoal cargo pants with pieces of silver-stained armor for the thighs, knees, and shins, curved inwards with points jutting backward. Last was some steel-toe boots, boiled leather.

For Zorah's weapon, it was a straight sword as black as the night sky with a faint, silver-white gleam across the edge and nothing the metalwork. Whatever it was made of it reminded me alot of Albatross' sword that was forged from 'Midnite', maybe it was the same metal? Though it's very rare.

He blew some of his strands of hair, adjusting his weapon to rest to his right side, tapping off the ground, a wide stance but he looked composed. Then the copies drew closer, lunging with their arms wide and ready to dog-pile him.

The first on the vanguard had his boot shoved through the chest, shattering its frame against the ground. These guys were frail, but they had numbers, this didn't seem to phase him at all. A group of atleast fifteen gathered around Zorah, his grip twisted slightly. His blade and body spun twice on the spot, carving a while halo through air and Dust horizontally. With a stroke of a blade, Zorah had rid the majority from his path ahead, a wave of glass covering his advance.

Swinging his sword down to the left, he broke two spines of the copies while he threw his weapon like a spear into the third, hopping atop its shoulder while splitting it down the middle. He smashed his left fist through another, kicking backward to throw one into a small group, already a dozen more had immerged from projectors, some flinging hardlight blows against his side, though he didn't so much as flinch.

Zorah brought his right elbow through a ribcage, drawing his sword through another before him as he swung its body up and across the arena, impaling them both into the wall as he swung back, shearing four more. Drawing it under his right pit he swung wide, decapitating two more, repeating the action again as two copies pounced, Dust particles scattering around his feet.

He swung up and around, twirling with a silver glint with each step he took. Parrying a pair of arms his leg hooked around its waist, chucking it behind him while impaling the one behind it, tearing out its throat and across to a third. Zorah dived over two small groups, his arm bent over his back to drive a strong, vertical slant through the forwardmost two, feet pushing another back into the shambling copies.

As the battle continued I asked Azure. "Say, why isn't he using his Semblance or even an Aura?" Every hit actually struck, and the man in armor who observed the fight didn't seem to mind at all

Azure held out a note, though her tail was wagging excitedly at the performance. 'Zorah's is different than most students, from how he fights and the way he thinks. He doesn't use an Aura due to personal preference though that makes him formidable since he's able to hold his own without the need of a shield so-to-speak' She flicked the page around. 'As for Semblance that's the challenge of his match, a student is faced with one hundred enemies that they must defeat before succumbing to exhaustion or yield without the use of a Semblance to make scoring fair'

Looking back at the fight his score was nearly at one hundred, beating someone like Pyrrha... man, that'll be hard to see. Zorah scraped a copy across the wall between his fingers, flinging it against the horde while propelling himself from the wall, swinging left and right at any movement, hearing the clatter of hardlight soon after. Although, now twelve stood before Zorah, himself looking tired and sweaty.

He just cracked a grin, "Heh, it's cute that you think you can win." Zorah shoved his sword back into the scabbard, drawing both as the blade extended, transforming into a large longsword as the copies ran to surround him.

Zorah took one step forward, twisting back at the waist with the longsword drawn low. As if he were timing it perfectly, he swung around with both hands, sliding his feet across the floor to take the heads off all twelve of the copies one after the other with a massive, starlight crescent carved through the air, returning the arena to silence.

*Cheering!*

While the onlookers cheered and applauded his efforts, Zorah swung his weapon back, returning his sword back to its original shape as he let the scabbard and sword dangle on his belt, himself stumbling to stand straight, panting. Though his eye did eventually find our group, and while the others congratulated their friend's efforts, Myst starting to take her won bets, I shivered under his sharp glare.

"I think he's upset with you." I... didn't need to know Penny

"Nice goin' Whitey!" Myst slung her arm around Zorah's neck, swinging herself and him back and forth. "You just made me the luckiest girl in the world!"

"Don't know how to respond to that," He replied, blinking as Azure smiled happily alongside Eros giving him a fist bump. Azure did a few hand gestures which I could deduce as sign language that Zorah then rubbed the back of his nape over, adverting his eyes. "I-It was just some duplicate knockoffs if you just pace yourself anyone can do it, honestly, even someone like 'Cardin Winchester' could do - erm, nevermind."

Eros then stepped back to reveal me just waiting by Ruby, the rest of our - Her team shuffling through the crowds now that they finally let Zorah go. "Oh, right, we never actually got your name, sorry about that!"

I cleared my throat at his announcement. "Right, yeah, I'm Sky, nice to-"

"Wow, you didn't even try to lie," I blinked at Zorah's immediate reply, his eye staring back at me uncaringly, his arms crossed. "I can see where you get the name 'Sky' though, rather on the nose but hey, I've heard worse." How did he know I was lying? Well, it's not a lie so-to-speak. Zorah let out an exasperated sigh. "Well, you're up and about so do us a favor and go home."

"I'm sorry, what?" Now he was just being an ass, which I shouldn't be surprised by. Though even as his team tried to get a word in he stepped back, putting his hands in his pockets, eye slanted back at me. "Would if I could but somehow I doubt jumping back through a crack in space-time is a smart idea."

He chuffed. "Wow, actually common sense, but yeah I don't care, get lost before your world's problems get dropped on us," He turned away, putting a hand out to stop my lips from moving. "Spew whatever crap you want, I'm not conforming to some melodramatic drama or fate-of-the-world BS, I have enough issues in my current life, Bluey."

Hearing him use that nickname felt off, it was clear he was mocking me, and I've dealt with enough guys like him to know when to put my foot down, "Look, I didn't mean to suddenly fall into this variant of Remnant, and as soon as I can find a way back I'll be gone, but so long as Tabus is-" His hands clapped together

"I. Do Not. Care!" He worded loudly, Ruby's team standing just a few feet behind us. "Between mysteries of my own accord, a crime syndicate working with not only an extremist group of idiots led by an edge lord, couple that with near-immortal Nightmares, and my own mentality, the last thing I want to hear is your sob story and your issues," He smiled sarcastically. "So, do us all a favor, grab your things, grab your shit, and leave."

"Wolfie told ya he was temperamental." Myst murmured into my ear. "Come oooon, Whitey, have a heart."

His hand waved hers off. "Pfft, broken and beaten, you know why," His gaze flashed toward Ruby and Yang, the latter flinching.

I've had it, between Charron on the verge of resurrection and being sent to this world my stress levels were high enough as they were. "Listen, dammit! If I leave then you'll be left with a nigh-unstoppable Grimm with human-levels of intelligence and the inability to die no matter how much is thrown at her!" I stepped forward angrily. "Not to mention an abomination hellbent on practically eradicating all of my world, and probably this one and hundreds mo-"

"Woah, easy now, bud!" Eros gulped while Azure tried to move between us. My blood froze as the crackling hum of Zorah's weapon tickled my throat, the tip almost prodding my skin as I saw the malice behind his iris coupled with a sense of loathing

Zorah chuckled mockingly. "Wow, you really are a knight in shining armor, aren't you?" His off-hand pointed to Ruby. "You put him up to this, Red?"

"N-no? Wait, why did you automatically assume I did something?" Ruby returned

"Eh, it was a possibility," He shrugged honestly, then he turned his attention back to me, lowering his blade. "My point stands, you're the type to declare himself the hero that will save the day, well congrats, you put no forward-thinking into anything you do, playing the part of the fool for your enemies, this 'enemy' you keep prattling on about probably has you read like a book because you make it so easy, so, like any other hero in history, you'll end the same way, six feet under."

With that he turned and sheaved his weapon, but I wouldn't just accept what he said, sure, I acted like a hero at times, who doesn't when someone they care about dearly is in danger, it was human nature. "This coming from a guy with his head far up his own ass he can't see the bigger picture outside his own little world," His foot froze mid-stride. "You can label me whatever you want, I didn't come here asking for your help, I just want to do what I know is right, something-"

"Hehehehahaha!" He started laughing, turning with that insane look on his face, grin ever-so-smug. "Want to know the difference between you and I? When I gloat, I atleast have the strength to back it up, so don't lecture me on morale standpoints, you don't know me, what hell I've gone through, so if you want to throw yourself at an enemy you can't beat, don't drag innocent lives into your problems, otherwise, you're no better than a villain." And with that, he took his leave

"What is his problem...?" I just didn't get it, he acts like nothing else mattered, even the thought of other universes being utterly eradicated hardly phased him

"Zorah's many things, but to be honest..." Myst crossed her arms, frowning sadly at his departure. "...he's been through alot, so I understand why he wants to stay out of this, just... give him some time, trust me, he's not as cold as he may seem."

"You just have to dig through the many, many layers of ice first," Eros added jokingly, earning a glare from several of the girls. "Hey, kidding, kidding... you know I'm right."

Later that day, I was welcomed to stick by team MAZE as I explained my situation in more clarity, though that meant speaking with Ozpin... it was so surreal, the Battle of Beacon had yet to occur, even the Breach, though I decided to keep that knowledge to myself to ensure I don't create any new issues for the future of this world. As for Zorah, he just kept to himself, I hardly saw him after that disagreement.

Team RWBY however, seeing them again as their younger selves were alot to take in, especially since so much had changed for their future counterparts back home, I had to keep myself very neutral with Ruby above everyone else, that was... awkward, but manageable. Now, nightfall had arrived, or it was nearing that point.

"You really didn't have to do all this, Azure," I tried to ease off how welcoming she and Myst were to allow me to stay in their room, which was much more tidy compared to my team's dorm. Azure smiled and shook her head, holding out a note

'Think nothing of it, considering what you've gone through and how important the situation is this was the least we could do' She turned a page on the notebook, writing quickly. 'After all, it's the duty of Huntsmen and Huntresses to help others, right?'

She had me there, I put my hand up. "Right, well thanks,"

I decided to take a small look around the dorm, easily identifying who's space was who. Myst was closest to the door, her stuff was a form of organized chaos, Azure's was beside Myst's and was far tidier and even had a cute little plush of Dodogama from that Monster Hunter game. As for Eros, his was a relative mess though not unsightly so. And Zorah's... was occupied by another person?

My reaction was to immediately jump back, bumping into Azure who blinked and leaned beside me to understand my reaction. "Who the hell is that?"

"Rude," The person cracked an eye open, grinning slyly. Another Faunus, this time a bat. She wore a white crop-jacket with electric-blue lines up the arms, sporting just a black sports bra underneath, revealing her toned abdomen. Black cargo shorts and an electric-blue fabric wrapped around her waist, the cloth draped against her left thigh. Last, she wore black boots with the same color blue stars against the laces.

As for appearances, short, spiked onyx hair pushed back say for a few locks down the sides of her face and forehead, one large lock matching her blue scheme. All while a pair of predator's eyes stared back at me, pure white in tone and containing an abundance of mirth. She had pointy ears and her wide smile revealed fangs.

"Echo's the name, stranger of another world," How did she- "You managed to talk back to Zorah with only a slight bruising of the ego, not bad, though that hasn't stopped him from grumbling about you - he does that alot."

I deflated. "Fantastic," Turning to Azure I bowed my head. "You really didn't need to help me out so much, but again, thank you."

'Anytime, you sure you won't come down to the Cafeteria for dinner?' Azure's kind offer was appreciated but going there was just makes things feel awkward given my own past with the place

"I'll pass, after everything that's happened recently I've lost my appetite," She gave an understanding nod, patting my shoulder before taking her leave, giving a wave and a few signals to Echo

The girl waved lazily from the bed. "You know it!" And with that, it was just the two of us. The second Azure left Echo rolled and bounced up onto her feet, stretching out a sigh. "Man, I thought she'd never leave, though granted she's the kindest soul in this whole school."

"She is, Myst, and Eros too." The three of them were really helpful today, only wish I knew how to get home and where Tabus was, knowing her she'd come for me soon enough. Running a hand through my hair I watched as Echo made her way to a small balcony, again, wish that was apart of my dorm, this universe has everything. "Where are you going?"

Immediately she appeared next to me from thin air, snatching my hand in hers as I was pulled toward the balcony and into the setting sun's gaze. "Come on, no use moping in here by yourself." She swung me outside while shutting the door, hopping into a deck chair. "Ah, don't get sights like this often."

"No, not recently." Last time I saw a sun like this was when I fought with Morana in the sky. That alone made me chuff. "Why is it most of my memories are centered around violence?"

"Beggars can't be choosers, though that makes the non-violent ones more enjoyable, take Zorah for example," I turned to her curiously, herself relaxed but staring off toward the sky solemnly. "Zorah's life has been filled with more darkness than any one person should have to endure, before Beacon he was much colder and reserved, though that side of him hasn't changed much."

"He likes to flaunt his ego," I remarked, and something flicked the back of my ear

"He does that because he can back it up, Bluey," Echo warned me. "Sure, he's a jerk to alot of people but if not for this team, if they... never accepted him then I don't know what I could have done to help him," She smiled, "They make him happy, he has real memories that aren't just violence and bloodshed, something I'd give anything to protect."

I smiled a little. "You really care alot for him."

Echo opened her eyes, holding a hand to her heart. "I'm not in love with him if that's what you're implying - well, I am, but not in the whole 'romantic' way - ugh, you get what I mean, he's an idiot but I love 'em," I simply nodded in understanding. "So, trust me when I say he'll come around, his threats are usually far more forceful when he means it, I think that with everything swirling around in Vale lately he has his hands full, I should know, I share his thoughts."

Here's hoping that's the case, me and Penny will need all the help we can get if we're going up against Tabus, though I can't shake the nagging feeling something else is wrong. A silver-eye warrior, if Ruby or Summer are anything to go by she's already in an entirely different league, and God knows how long she's been around for.

"Soooo, breaking the ice here," Echo prattled on, sliding up beside me with a half-lidded gaze. "You ever kissed a girl?"

That one-eighty quickly brought a faint blush to my cheeks, leaning away from her. "O-of course I have, why the hell did you just ask that!?" Echo leaned back with a shrug, tapping her lips

"Just wonderin', Zorah gets mad when I kiss him out of the blue, the look on his face is priceless!" She laughed like it was nothing. "Though you're safe, I'm into chicks anyhow, though I doubt I could catch Azure, that wolf's got her eyes set on Zorah for weeks now, bet neither of them realizes it, hehehe,"

"So you're like a matchmaker or something?" Her, Erika, and Nora would get along like a house on fire

Echo nodded. "Yep! Shipping is my pastime, though crack-ships are a no-go - say, this girl you kissed, I'm assuming it was, ever gone further with her?" I... what was she-

I don't think my face could get any hotter. "W-W-WHAT!? I-I-I, you d-don't mean-" I couldn't bring myself to say it

"Sex, yeah, that, have ya or you still prattling around that topic with her?" I can't believe this is happening, why, we were just chatting normally where the hell did this come from!? And now my mind won't stoooop~!

"She's only sixteen - well, nearly seventeen - not the point, Echo!" I don't even know the legal age of - grah, dammit, what the hell is going on!?

She merely shrugged, "Eh, sixteen's like the borderline in my opinion, though any lower and I'd probably have to kill ya," Duly noted.

All of a sudden the door behind us nearly tore itself off the hinges, Echo yelped and fled behind me as Zorah immerged with his weapon drawn, causing Echo to tremble with fright. "You rat, what the hell did I say about rambling about crap like that!?"

"To not to but you're not my Dad!" She stuck her tongue out, only for the tip of the sword to lodge itself in the banister beside us, draining the color from Echo. "Ahh, I'm sorry!" She soon fled into the sky with her wings, Zorah ripping his sword from the metal as he gave chase, literally leaping and latching a hand around her ankle

"Not this time, witch, I'm going to amputate those wings of yours!"

"AHH!" Her scream wailed into the sky as I merely sat back with a heavy sigh, the rest of team MAZE standing by the door. Azure was running a hand down her face, a tint of pink on her cheeks, Myst looked ready to roll on the floor with laughter as she recorded the rather dangerous display in the air, and Eros merely walked over and patted my shoulder

"Welcome to team MAZE, Sky."

I sweatdropped. "Pleasure to be here..." And I thought my team was crazy

To Be Continued...

For those that don't know this group of Beacon students, they are apart of one of my other RWBY fics, RWBY Indomitable. Things are just getting started, many revelations next time and time is running out back in the Fragments Universe. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: One In The Same

With Sky still unable to return home and the looming threat of Tabus, back in his world, the team arrives at the sight of Charron's final stand, dread and tension thicker than snow. Albatross has a plan however as time slowly dwindles.