Greetings everyone and here is the fifth chapter you've all been waiting for. Make sure to check back next Sunday on the 18th for the thirteenth chapter of "Gun X RWBY." Oh and by the way, I don't mind it if you guys want to take this story idea and make your own stories. I encourage you to do so. Just think of it...Ozpin merged with Ren or Ruby or hell even Nora! NORA! I think that would be an awesome story idea. And to answer a review from "EmD23" I agree with you. I had originally thought about making them hesitate about leaving but unfortunately I just couldn't figure how to do so without deviating too far from continuity. I'm still new at writing so I want to remain close to the show's outline before going off canon. But I do hope you're all enjoying this story so far.

Till next time!

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Chapter Five

Why did it hurt so much? Seeing everyone I cherished perish without a second thought. Their hopes and dreams relegated to nothing but rubbish in a collection of garbage. Every moment was filled with torment, each step felt like another step into molten magma, and every twitch was like a bed of barbed spikes, digging into my body as my crimson blood seeped out of the open wounds. But the worst of it all was hearing their screams...Their cries for safety, for mercy, for help.

And I couldn't do anything to help them.

But who were these people? What had happened to them? Where was I? Who was I? These questions and many more filled the empty void of my mind.

All around me was nothing but complete darkness and the screams that came from the abyss.

Why did it hurt to hear their cries? To feel their screams digging into my very soul much like a bird's talons ripping into a rabbit's flesh. And as I floated in that dark void, hearing the wails of the damned calling out to me. "Ozpin..." Ozpin? Was that my name? But that couldn't be right, right? "Ozpin..." And yet, they still called out me, each one using that name. Ozpin. It felt so foreign and yet so familiar at the same time. But then who was Jaune?

"Ozpin!" They continued on, shouting the name like a demonic angelical choir. Soon enough, I felt the slimy clawed hands grip my wrists and ankles. I tried desperately to shake them off but to no avail, their grips were like that of a set of iron clamps, keeping me in place.

Then they began shouting that name into my very soul. "OZPIN!" They shouted, their claws digging into my arms and legs. "OZPIN!" Their demonic screams filled my ear canals with an assortment of emotions; rage, sorrow, disgust, and betrayal. "OZPIN!"

That wasn't my name! It couldn't be my name! But then why did that name feel so familiar?

"OZPIN!"

Stop it! That's not my name! My name is...is...Who was I?

Was I Ozpin? Was I Jaune?

It felt like my own soul was tearing itself apart. But why? Why was this all happening? Who were all of these people in the void? Suddenly a bright light filled my vision, illuminating the dark abyss around me and silencing the screams. In the place of the surrounding light was the outline of a man.

Strange, it felt as if I knew this figure.

"You do know me, albeit on a less personal level." The figure called out. Was this figure reading my thoughts? "I have no need to read your thoughts...After all this was my mindscape as well."

Mindscape? Was that where I was? What was that dark void? What were those things?

"I'm afraid that is much more complicated. But what I can tell you is that that man named Ozpin is not what he seems. And I shall show you." said the figure stretching out to meet me.

And yet, I felt hesitant to meet it. Why did it feel strange to look at this figure? Why did it feel that if I were to grab hold of it's outstretched hand all that I knew would cease to function.

And yet, what other choice did I have?

And just as soon I gripped it's hand, the void surrounding us began to fade away, being replaced by trees, grass, and an autumn sky. standing erect behind the figure was a wooden cabin.

"This is where it all began...When the first maidens were created." The figure said, his words taking shape and turning into four distinct women. And once again, it felt strange. It was as if I knew these women and yet I knew nothing at all.

Who were these women?

"These women were the first maidens; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Ozpin granted these women a portion of his power, or magic if you will, after they showed him the joys of life outside his safe haven. Or rather, his cage. They showed him that life is precious and that all are worthy of freedom and chance. He gave them gifts so that they may share their knowledge and kindness with the world of men." And then the scenery began to change. The girls were placed upon a wooden stage, their bodies tied to wooden pillars upon a pier of wood. The cabin was replaced by a mob, each holding a torch in one hand and a weapon in the other. And standing atop the stage was a man dressed in black. "But then it all changed...It turned out that not all men were as kind as these women. They captured them, tied them to pillars, and watched with glee as their bodies burned in the flames. Their kindness was paid with charred flesh and boiling blood." The scenery changed once again, the four women were replaced by four girls, each one younger than the other. "But it didn't end...Much like ourselves, they too, were doomed. And each life was ended just as the others had." said the figure.

Why? Why did they do this? All those women wanted was to make the world better.

"Yes, but sadly not every man is willing to let others have a power they cannot control. And after witnessing these atrocities one too many times Ozpin made it his duty to help the next generation of maidens. Soon their lives became myths and eventually fairy tales. The world had forgotten the maidens and they were free to live without fear...Or so he thought."

The scenery around began to fade away once again, changing into a wasteland of death and destruction. A crumbled ruin of buildings and corpses littered throughout the area. And standing atop a pile of rubble and flesh was...Salem and four women, each donned in armor.

"Salem had found the next generation of maidens and turned them into her own personal weapons. Ozpin knew he couldn't allow her to have their power...so he did what he had to do." Then the women laid at our feet covered in blood, their eyes open and their mouths closed. "He slew them...And Salem retreated to her hole as his soul passed on from this life and into the next."

And soon the scenery changed again, being replaced by a luscious green forest.

"With each new life, Ozpin is reborn and we are changed. Sometimes we are one way and other times we are another. Never the same and yet never different. That is what we are...a collection of souls doomed to remain forever...And just as we are cursed to be trapped in the void...So, too, will you, Jaune."

Then those screams...Those were Ozpin's hosts?

"They are the collection of souls one elderly wizard has taken...His empty promises were just that...Empty promises. He took our lives and eventually our souls for himself. Every time always saying it was for the good of humanity. It starts off slowly, first he merges with you, says the things you wish to hear before finally taking full control over your body."

Who are you?

"Hmm, truth be told...I don't know. I have long since forgotten my name and soon I will join the others in the darkness and you will replace me."

Replace you? How do I stop it? How do I take back my life?

"There is only one true way to end this misery caused by that man...You must break this curse. You must slay Salem and the curse will be broken and we may finally move on from this hell. Do not be swayed by his silver tongue, for if you do...you, too, will cease to exist...forever."

Is Ozpin evil?

"Truthfully, no, I don't believe he is, at least not in the way of Salem. But I cannot deny that Ozpin is dangerous man willing to sacrifice others to further his goal...Even if that goal is for the good of humanity."

Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation grip my arm, pulling me away from the figure. What was happening? Where am I going?

"It seems our time is over. I can only hope you are the one who will finally free us from this world. Goodbye...Jaune." said the figure, fading away as I was pulled from the void. My eyes opening as they gazed upon the wooden ceiling above my bed. My body aching in pain with every twitch as my head felt like someone was pounding it with a hammer.

I tried desperately to sit myself up only to fall back on the bed in pain.

"Mr. Arc, thank heavens you're alright." said Ozpin, surprising me with his sudden appearance.

"Ozpin? What happened? Where is everyone?" I asked him through a dried and parched throat.

"Calm yourself, Mr. Arc, everyone is fine. Thankfully, after our "episode" our allies carried us through the terrain until a Mistral dropship found us. We are currently in the medical bay of Haven Academy." replied Ozpin.

"My feels like Nora's hitting me with Magnhild. And what the hell was up with that dream?" I asked aloud.

"Dream? Mr. Arc, what exactly do you remember from your dream?" asked Ozpin, suddenly sounding cautious.

"Remember...fire and screaming...And Salem. What the fuck is happening to me, Oz?" I asked him.

"I'm afraid I do not know, Mr. Arc. But count your blessings that you are in good hands." said Ozpin.

And no soon did he say that the door to my room swung open to reveal Ruby and in her hands was a tray of food. Her silver eyes widening at the sight of me as she dropped the tray and rushed towards me, throwing her arms around my neck as her tears coated my shoulder. And though the pain was nearly unbearable, I couldn't help but wrap my own arm around her, pulling her close to myself.

"You're okay...You're okay..." I heard her mumble into the chest and bringing a smile to my face.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Ruby." I answered her, watching as she pulled back, tears still in her eyes and being the gentleman that I was, I gently wiped her tears with my thumb, smiling at her as I looked into her silver eyes.

Slowly, we began to laugh when a cough caught our attention. Our heads turning to see Qrow, standing in the doorway and holding a flask in his hand.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, smirking at us and causing our cheeks to redden in embarrassment. Though Ruby seemed to take it farther.

"Nothing! Nothing's going on here! Nothing at all! We were just...Um...Uh." she began to stutter before giving up.

But luckily Qrow took in stride as he ruffled up her hair with Ruby desperately trying to smack him with her hands to no avail. It took maybe a few seconds of messing with Ruby before Qrow turned to face me.

"Kiddo, go and get the others, tell 'em the kid is awake." said Qrow.

And after Ruby looked back at me, seeing a smile was enough as she raced out to get Ren and Nora. And Qrow, taking a close seat next my bed, stared into my eyes.

"Oz? You in there?" asked Qrow. Perhaps he was checking to see if Ozpin and I were still linked?

"Mr. Arc, it might be best if I took over from here." said Ozpin but unlike our other conversations, his words this time felt...off.

And while a part of me was willing to allow this, another part of myself felt...strange and instead chose to answer myself.

"Ozpin and I are still linked, Qrow." my words granting some form of relief for the drunken man as he took another swig of his flask.

"Good, cause no offense kid, but without Oz we'd be up shit's creek without a damn boat." said Qrow.

Offense taken.

"What happened, after I blacked out?" I asked.

"Shit got a little...wild. We carried you to this village called Kuroyuri where we ended fighting this Grimm. Thing had the body of a horse and the torso of a horned monster. Fuckin' thing will sure as hell give me nightmares. Luckily, we were able to fight the thing off until rescue arrived. Then it just became a matter of waiting for you to wake up before we decided on anything farther. Speaking of which, do you remember anything when you were passed out?" he asked.

"I think...I think I saw Ozpin's memories. I don't know...it's all a blur now." I tried desperately to remember anything but nothing came to mind.

"It's alright Spellsword, don't sweat it. I can barely remember most of my weekends anyway." said Qrow.

I could tell he was trying his best to make me feel better but it just wasn't working. I glanced down at the IV tube sticking out of my arm, almost watching it to see if it would move on it's own. It wasn't until I felt the crushing arms of Nora, wrapping themselves around me that I noticed her.

"Jaune-Jaune's awake! Ren! Look! Jaune's awake! Are you looking?!" shouted a hyperactive Nora as Ren attempted to save me from dying of asphyxiation.

"Yes, Nora, I see it. Now please let go of Jaune before his dies." said Ren finally getting Nora to release her vice-like grip around my neck.

My hand reached to my neck, taking each breath with delicate care.

"Oh, sweet oxygen, I swear I will never take you for granted ever again." I said aloud, causing Nora to scratch the back of her head in embarrassment as Ruby walked in with a new tray of food and a cup of water. "Thanks Ruby." I said, digging into the buttered toast and crispy bacon. "Whoever created bacon deserves to be worshiped as a savior of humanity." my words causing the others to start laughing.

And as I listened the obviously exaggerated story of my friends fighting off against the new Grimm I turned and watched the golden horizon enshroud the city of Mistral. This was where Pyrrha was born, this was her home, where her family lived...I could finally put my plan into action.