Alright, so here we go again.
Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth
"3...2...1...Begin!"
The arena behind him would erupt in a roar as the match between JNPR and BRNZ kicked off on what was assuredly a high note, however for a certain wolf Faunus this would be one battle that he wouldn't view personally.
It wasn't for a lack of pride in his fellow Beacon students, or that the fact that their opponents were from the Shade Academy of Vacuo, (although that didn't exactly help keep him there.) he just didn't feel like being there and rooting for the home team like some braying seal while everyone else was giving it their all.
Including his pun-happy ex.
"It's just not fair, everybody else is getting their shot to fight while I have to sit in the stands and analyze. Not like Yang would listen to any advice I have to give at the moment, Weiss might..she's the analytical type after all."
Bálor would continue pondering his next move as he walked through the fairgrounds, only to be jolted out of his quiet reflection by the sounds of argument coming from one of the food stalls with a twitch of his ears.
"Come back here when you have some money you mooch!" The angered vendor would exclaim before pulling away a bowl of pudding from a brown haired girl wearing a nun's clothing, she would whimper audibly as the treat was snatched away from her reaching hands.
"Please sir! As a nun, I'm under a vow of Poverty so I can't pay you!" The pudding starved young woman would whimper as the vender ignored her entirely, Bálor would watch this with a look of befuddlement as he felt a bizarre sense of deju-vu from this peculiar happening.
"Well, at least she's not tearing the place apart…yet." The silver-haired young man would furrow his brow in thought as he mulled over the situation at hand before sighing in thought and relenting as he walked up to the desert vender, the girl's whimpering very audible at this point. "I honestly didn't think Remnant had any religions, but what do I know: I've been in a prison, the military, and Beacon. Of course I could miss some facts about my home." The wolf would lay down some Lien while clearing his throat to get their attention, the vender raising his eyebrow curiously while waiting for an order to be placed. "Pudding, whatever flavor the lady over here wanted." This would surprise the poor whimpering nun, whose expression quickly changed from one of joy to adulation.
"Oh thank you thank you THANK YOOOUUUU!" She would hug him gleefully, blissfully unaware of the fact that said hug was practically rag-dolling him about.
"P-Pudding..Quick!" The amber-eyed Faunus would use his Semblance to break from her embrace as gently as possibly, sending her into an awkward position on a nearby stool before rubbing his neck as fresh bruises formed where the woman had hugged him. "Wow, you really like pudding. I've got a friend with a similar affinity for cookies, I'm sure you two would get along famously." She would be preoccupied with her pudding to notice the sleight against her, looking over at him with a grateful smile before gesturing him to take a seat next to her.
"I don't know how I could possibly even begin to repay you for this kindness, He truly does work in mysterious ways." Her lavender eyes would shimmer with adoration as she placed her hands together in silent prayer while the amber eyed Faunus ordered himself a strawberry ice cream cone. "My name is Evelisse Casia, and I am humbly in your debt."
Bálor would simply shake his head in disbelief at this woman's behavior while enjoying his ice cream cone for a moment, looking her up and down curiously as he did. "First of all, it's just a bowl of pudding thus there's no debt at hand here. Secondly, I wasn't aware that Remnant had any form of religion aside from some insane desert raiders that worshiped a nest of Death Stalkers." The wolf would lay down more Lien and sigh quietly as he remembered the event in question before pointing to the empty pudding bowl. "Keep 'em coming, I have many a question for our new friend here..and I think she'll be more talkative if we keep the fix coming."
Needless to say, this was a deal that the pudding-loving nun could easily get behind.
"And with that it appears Team JNPR wins by knockout! Literally, can someone go make sure they're okay..?" Port's commentary would signal the end of Team JNPR's match against BRNZ as Nora had practically cleaned house on the three Huntsman and one Huntress representing Vacuo with a swing of her mighty hammer as Team RWBY celebrated in the stands, blissfully unaware of the shaggy haired boy in the stands above them looking on bored as he flipped through the pages of the heavy book he was reading only to have it slip from his grasp as he did.
"Crap! Look out below!" He couldn't risk using his Semblance out in public lest the place break out in a panic, his eyes would make contact with a feline Faunus who said nothing as the blonde next to her caught his book with ease despite its heavy weight. "Damn, that chick is freaking strong! Either that or I should start lifting weights again."
The blonde would look up at him curiously, taking note of the slack-jawed look on his face before snapping her fingers repeatedly to get his attention. "Hey! Is this brick of a book yours or what?" Yang would sigh as the befuddled individual in the stands just nodded quietly as he was obviously in shock at her gorgeous appearance, (It wasn't the first time a guy had been struck silent by her after all.) she would grin before leaping up in front of him and hand the book back to him but not without winking at him teasingly before settling back into her seat. "I just love messing with the cute ones."
Weiss would roll her eyes at her teammate's saucy behavior before looking up at the poor sap in question and sighing in disgust. "What is it with you and disgusting mutts, I swear you have some freak affinity for strays or something." She would look to her right expecting a retort from Yang's first "stray", only to be greeted by an empty instead. "Great, the one time I expect him to be an inconsiderate asshole and start a fight he disappears!" The heiress would feel herself frown slightly as she had gotten used to their endless arguments as they had been doing it so often she had subconsciously begun to enjoy the absurd thrill of it all.
"Heh, you're one to talk about Yang's love of shaggy individuals." Ruby would snicker while gently nudging her partner with her elbow with a goofy smile. "You turn into a sappy mess whenever Zwei happens to come around." This would cause Weiss's cheeks to flush in embarrassment before shaking her head quickly.
"Th-that's totally different! Zwei is small and adorable, and cuddly, and soft, and-" The pale-haired Huntress would sigh as she stopped herself realizing that she was only proving Ruby's point. "Touché Rose"
The boy from earlier would slam his book shut audibly before looking down at the quartet of giggling Huntresses below him. "I can hear you guys, you realize that don't you?" He would run a hand through the mane of dark hair before smiling slightly as the giggling ceased and the four of them just stared up at him with varying levels of embarrassment, if he were any level of douchebag he would have followed it up with a clever zinger. "I'm no dog ladies, just a guy who happens to be between haircuts. Oh, and my name's Anders..Anders Mauve, not 'Mutt'. Or 'Stray'. Or any other dog-related word you people can think up. Just. Anders!" The members of Team RWBY would give their apologies quietly as they settled in their seats for the next match, all except for one.
"Geez, you really can't take a joke can you Andy?" Yang would grin as the young man above them just stared on in dumbfounded silence, oblivious to the most obvious shift in his own name. "Mind coming down here, if we're gonna keep chit-chatting like this I would rather not have to strain my neck like this."
The young man known as Anders Mauve would stare down at his feet in contemplation before deciding to jump down and join the four girls, taking the empty seat next to Weiss as announcements for the next match started up.
In the corner of the wharf of Vale sat a quaint little watering hole known as the Crow Bar, which like most establishments would be broadcasting the feed of the Vytal Festival to those few who weren't too blitzed to see straight. The bartender would be pleasantly happy to see Team JNPR's victory and proceeded to comment as such to the lone patron sitting at the bar, only to be rewarded with an annoyed grunt in reply.
"Still as surly as ever I see, you dusty old Qrow." A harsh sounding female voice would say before taking a seat at the bar and looking up at the monitor curiously before smiling at the bartender from under her the hood of her cloak. "Laurence my dear, the usual if you don't mind." The bartender would happily nod and begin mixing a brightly colored cocktail as the man called Qrow would groan and look over at the hooded woman in disgust.
"You've got a lotta nerve to show up here after the crap you pulled, don't even deserve to be called 'Lady'" He would take a swig of his drink while trying not to completely lose his temper, growing further agitated as she merely giggled in response to his restraint. "Why're you even here, come to cause more trouble for the true parents of the world?"
The hooded woman would frown slightly even as Laurence carefully set down her drink, noticing the animosity between the pair at the bar and wondering if he should call the authorities in order to stop an impending brawl.
"You're one to complain about my parenting considering your relation to a coward who willingly waltzed out on her own child." She would smirk and take a sip of her cocktail and let loose a low purr of delight. "Excellent Laurence, you're truly a master of your craft." The three of them would look up at the monitor as commentary for the next match were beginning to start up once again.
Back at the fairgrounds, Evelisse (or Evie as her friends called her) would be polishing off her third bowl of pudding with a happy sigh as Bálor prepared to lay down some more Lien for a fourth bowl, only for the brunette to gently grab his wrist and shake her head politely. "You've done plenty for me already, surely there must be something more I can do for you besides answering questions about my life."
The amber-eyed Faunus would smile and instead lay down the Lien regardless. "One cola, and one of whatever the lady feels like having." The dessert shop owner would scowl bitterly as the two had been occupying his shop for over half an-hour, but at least the annoying duo had been a steady source of income for the man. "Two colas it is then…"
The wolf Faunus would sigh and look over at his new friend, who really had once been a devout nun and a follower of the Maidens Four. And while not specifically explaining who or what they were exactly, but he could see the fiery zeal of belief in her deep brown eyes as she spoke. "So you're telling me that the world of Remnant is ruled over by four women whose abilities surpass Semblances, if that's the case then why not just destroy the Grimm? Why not end the madness and save us all?"
He would look to Evie for answers, wanting to know what zealous rhetoric she would use to justify these so-called deities lack of action against the creatures of Grimm. However the Maiden-worshipping woman would frown as she stared into her drink sadly, not knowing how best to word her answer. "I knew it, they're just like every other myth out there in the world: Too fantastic to be real, we're all just really left to fend for ourselves while thing scale out of control and demons like me are allowed to walk free." He would stand up, preparing to leave only to be stopped by the sounds of quiet sobbing, shaking his head as he had crossed a line by mocking the woman's belief. "I'm sorry Evelisse, I guess I really shouldn't mock something you hold dear. Just because some of us can't see past the filth of this world doesn't mean that applies to everyone."
She would remove a handkerchief from one of her carrying pouches and gently wipe away her tears before turning to face him, tears still sliding down her cheeks as she gave a happy smile before getting off of her stool and jogging after him.
Only to fall flat on her face in a strange display of clumsiness, whimpering as she slowly climbed to her feet only to see the silver-haired young man looking at her out of concern.
"I-I wasn't crying because of what you said, people are entitled to their opinions no matter if they agree with my views or not." Evie would smile brightly as she caught up to the thoroughly confused Bálor and placed her hand upon his shoulder gently. "I've learned that it's best not to let the words of others ruffle my feathers, I know that deep down we all have our own ways of seeing the world. And while I may never be able to convince you of my faith in the Maidens Four, I would like to help you see the brighter side of the life you lead." The wolf Faunus would sigh sadly as he looked down at the pudding-loving brunette, wondering if it was her religious ideals that were driving her to help him or if it was her heart leading her to offer him such kindness.
"Evie..I appreciate what you want to do and if this were a different point in my life I'd gladly jump at the chance to get to know more about you, and maybe even embrace your views." His mind would shift to the events surrounding his fallen relationship with Yang and the 'will-they, won't they' dynamic that constantly existed between himself and Ruby. The former had gone to unfathomable lengths to break him out of the isolation he had used to survive everything that his cruel life had thrown at him, only to see him fail her when he tried to hold onto the security blankets that had kept him sane. While the latter had instead choice to embrace the amber-eyed young man with all his quirks and oddities with the intent of coaxing out some of his more human aspects, however that would go south as he noticed that she was falling for him on some level while she remained blissfully unaware of just how bloodstained his hands truly were. "But someone like me, someone who was born in the darkness of hatred and murder just end up tainting the people who try to stand beside us." Bálor would sigh and walk off as the commentary from the arena signified an end to the battles in the arena for the day, meaning that his friends would no doubt be making their way out of the arena. "Guess that's my cue to get moving, if I know my cookie-fiend of a friend, she's gonna be very hungry and very psyched up after watching those battles in the arena." He would give the saddened young woman a lopsided wave as he walked off to meet the members of Team RWBY, unaware that Evie's face was now set into one of determination.
"Oh Maidens, give me the strength I need to shatter his veil of sadness and bring him into the light of your loving embrace!" With that she would smack her cheeks gently in an attempt to pump herself before pursuing the lone wolf of Beacon.
Meanwhile Anders and the rest of Team RWBY would watch on as Sun and Neptune were celebrating their victory by busting out some dance moves.
"Looks like the dorks managed to win it after all." Yang would say this while the two Huntsman celebrating while her own partner blushed slightly as she noticed the monkey-tailed Faunus grin and wink in her direction as they celebrated.
"Emphasis on dorks."
The newcomer meanwhile would still be someone star-struck over the flashy fighting style and debonair demeanor of Team SSSN member Scarlet David, his memorable skirmish on the ship wreckage with NDGO leader Nebula Violette only served to intensify his adoration for the man. "He's just like one of the swashbucklers in mother's old novels." Anders would close his heavy tome and swoon audibly as he stood up from his seat. "I think I'm in love.."
Yang would hear this and crack a cheeky grin in response to the metaphorical hearts that were no doubt emanating from the young man's green eyes. "Looks like somebody's got the hots for one of NDGO girls, I saw how you were watching that brunette on the ship."
The shaggy-headed bookworm would lose a bit of his luster upon hearing the blonde brawler's words, quickly putting on a grin of his own before going silent. "Sheesh, blonde's really are dense..well most blondes." Even an embarrassed Anders had to admit that both Sun and Jaune had managed to lead their respective teams to victory while overcoming some very bizarre circumstances mid-fight, it made him wish that his own team leader was something akin to either of the fair-haired young men.
It was something he wished his own leader could be, but as he imagined the stern and at times somewhat deranged look of the savage young man in question, his stomach would clench in deep protest. "If anything, that psychopath probably would've demanded we charge in first and exhaust himself before stepping in and claiming the glory himself. Wouldn't be the first time he's pulled that crap." His thoughts would be interrupted by the sounds of Professor Oobleck instructing them to exit the arena in a 'calmandorderlyfashion' which he would do with a bit of a frown, only for said frown to deepen as he caught sight of an incoming Bullhead flying overhead something which was also noticed by the pale-haired Huntress sitting next to him as both of them would speak the same phrase aloud.
"She's here."
Back at the Crow Bar, the Hooded Woman would smile as Team SSSN celebrated their victory, the exuberance warming her heart as she finished her cocktail. "Quite the energetic bunch aren't they Laurence?" She would gently place some Lien next to her empty glass before doing the same with the bartender's Tip Jar, even as Qrow voiced his drunken dissatisfaction with what he had witnessed.
"Geez, you didn't like this match. The Vale kids? What match are you here for?" The bartender truly was puzzled as Qrow simply mumbled 'that one' before paying for his drink and slightly stumbling out of the bar into the city streets. "By golly, it's like that guy wasn't happy with anything that happened in the Festival." He would frown as a glass shattered when it hit the floor.
"Never you mind him Laurence dear, that dusty old Qrow has always been a bit of a prickly one. What do you say love: One more for the road?" The bartender would sigh in relief as she smiled from underneath her hood as she looked down at her scroll silently as her drink was set down on a coaster. "Thank Goodness you decided to come in today Lady, but I gotta know: Just why did you pick the Vytal Festival to blow back into town?"
She would sigh sadly, setting her scroll down and taking a rather long drink from her cocktail glass before lowering her hood to reveal a pair of amber eyes along with a gruesome scar running down her right cheek.
"Does a mother really need a proper reason to see her long lost son?"
Alright, I can understand why 'New Challengers' was pretty badly panned, I did Jaune and Neptune zero favors in that one and you all were quick to call shenanigans on my behavior. In retrospect it was probably a terrible idea to write a chapter based around an episode of Volume 3 I didn't particularly enjoy and I apologize.
Dissonance isn't meant to be a complaint about Volume 3 in any respects, granted Volume 3 didn't exactly light my world on fire in the beginning, however thanks to recent Chapters I'm glad I hung in there.
Poor Penny...
Also, I'd like to clarify something that a Guest reviewer bluntly brought up on the pulled chapter. Yes, I have a poll up on my profile page asking that if you COULD pair up Sora from Kingdom Hearts with any girl in RWBY who would it be? Then a long list of choices
Yes, I do intend on doing ANOTHER KH-RWBY Crossover after Dissonance is complete, the only reason I brought it up during a RWBY-centered story was to spread the word.
Especially since Conversations of the Heart was so well received by folks, I seriously wasn't expecting that and I'm glad so many people want me to keep it up. (For those of you who haven't read it, give it a shot because I enjoyed writing it.)
Which I will, as a proper Crossover, IN THE CROSSOVER SECTION! It wasn't so much that the comment infuriated me, it made me wonder what the heck the issue was. Thus, clarification
Also, with the new World of Remnant coming out tomorrow focusing on the Maidens, I may or may not have to eat Crow (Not Qrow, but seriously how awesome is Qrow by the way?)
Anyways, I'm rambling. Vote in the poll if you want but please remember that I'm just doing the best I can with what I got: My own personal preferences towards characters plus source material (Seriously, I watch chapters repeatedly before and during my writing)
Good night and Good luck