Before we begin, I would like to mention that Mycophobia is not inspired by Monster Hunter, Terraria, Bloodborne, or Final Fantasy. Rather, it was a byproduct of something I asked myself: If the Younger Brother created Grimm, and some of the very first Grimm survived, how powerful would they be during RWBY canon time?
First, we must consider the following.
The older a Grimm is, the wiser and more powerful it is.
Goliaths, immensely powerful Grimm not seen in combat, are not nearly as old as the first Grimm.
Not all Grimm are based on animals
And then I thought about what would happen if there was a mushroom Grimm. Mycophobia was the result. Yeah, I probably went overboard with Mycophobia, but yay, short boss fight against a primordial Grimm!
I would like to note that I've never played any of the games I mentioned before, except Final Fantasy.
The poll is still open for Makoto's pairing, so please vote. Please. I beg of you.
With all that out of the way, let's start the chapter!
This chapter is not done in chronological order.
Chapter 7: Aftermath
"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."
-Jack Canfield
Ozpin watched the Bullheads patrol the Emerald Forest with weary eyes, taking a sip from his coffee mug and sighing. It had been a full week since the defeat of Mycophobia, and the aftermath was massive.
The mushroom spores that had formed the barrier had drifted all over the Emerald Forest, corrupting the wildlife and infecting Grimm all over the forest. The Valean military was called in to eradicate the spores, and closed off the Emerald Forest, sending troops in hazmat suits to kill infected Grimm and incinerate clusters of airborne spores. One full week, and still, the operation wasn't even a quarter done.
"Headmaster," Came Glynda's voice from behind him, as she entered the room, looking tired and ragged, "The infirmary just sent us a message. The woman from Mycophobia is awake, sir." She was tapping commands on her scroll, having been appointed to spearhead command for the Mycophobia cleanup operation. Operation 'Grocery Run', which Ozpin still swore sounds utterly ridiculous, was probably the biggest military operation Vale would see in the foreseeable future.
"Very well, then..." Ozpin sighed, rubbing his eyes. When his hand left his face, he seemed sharper. More dignified, and confident. Gone was the calm and relaxed man who gave his students advice and helped them with their problems. In place was the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, he who held a seat upon the Valean Council, "Glynda, come with me. We're going to the infirmary."
"Yes sir."
The walk to the infirmary was brisk, any student who saw their grim faces quickly fleeing the premises and leaving the two alone. Despite that, whispers and murmurs still followed the duo as they walked, students gossiping as they watched the Headmaster and Headmistress walk by. And why wouldn't they? The Initiation Ceremony had been postponed, something unheard of in Beacon's history. Not only that, but seven people were in the infirmary, and the Valean military had sealed off the Emerald Forest for reasons unknown. Gossip was practically bound to happen now.
"H-Headmaster Ozpin!" The nurse, a brunette by the name of, if he remembered correctly, Charlotte Brown.
"How is she?" Ozpin asked, eyeing the covered medical beds.
"She's fine, sir. Keeps asking where she is, and demanding to talk to you."
"Thank you. Do you mind if you step out for a second? I need to...discuss some more sensitive topics with her about Mycophobia."
"Of course, sir." The nurse hurried out, muttering 'good grief...' under her breath, and Ozpin strolled towards the bed closest to the window. Opening the curtains revealed the woman from Mycophobia sitting up in her bed, her eyes closed. She turned her head at the sound of the curtains rustling, and seemed surprised at Glynda's presence.
"Hm. You brought someone with you." She said, her voice melodic and a bit high-pitched, "I'm surprised. I thought you would come alone."
"That is enough. What are you doing here?"
"Ah-ah-aaaaaah~ Tell me, is she part of your, what was it again, 'inner circle'?~" The woman interuppted. Ozpin didn't answer, and that was enough to make her grin wider, "Good, then. I've wanting to say this for quite a while now."
Her eyes opened. Black sclera with red irises staring at Ozpin, Glynda recoiling in shock.
"It's been a long time, Old Man."
"Likewise," Ozpin replied, "Now tell me...what are you doing here, Mycophobia?"
Summer Rose woke up in a clean-smelling bed behind a white curtains.
Groggily, she sighed, and relaxed, pushing her head into the oh-so-fluffy pillows she had yearned for for 10 years.
And then her mind fully processed the scene in front of here, and her eyes shot open.
She sat up in the bed, and instantly winced, pain racking her body and making her fall back onto the bed. Groaning, she weakly turned her head left and right, trying to assess the situation. What the hell had happened? Her memory was still a bit fuzzy when she was still in the cave. There had been the same ethereal blue glow from the Dust crystals, and then there were footsteps, and-
Oh God.
Oh God, the two teenagers. The ones that had freed her, what the hell had happened to them? Her breath quickened a bit as she thought about the ramifications of what this meant.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the curtains rustling open, and she groaned, her breath steadying and eyes focusing on the people pulling the curtains apart, light shining through and making her eyes ache. Ten years in a dark cave had really changed her eyesight quite a bit.
Headmaster Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch stepped through, and she couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Headmaster Ozpin..." She rasped, "Long time...no see..."
"Likewise, Miss Rose," Ozpin murmured, concern over his former student in his eyes, "Please, do not move too much. 10 years of not moving has left you with quite a bit of muscle atrophy, and your body is no longer used to so much physical activity."
"The...teenagers...the ones who freed me...where are they?" She asked, weakly lifting herself up a bit. For two teenagers to have managed a somewhat shakily-put-together rescue plan against an R-Rank Grimm was just plain stupid.
Then again, the R-Rank Grimm weren't publicly known to keep the Kingdoms from constantly panicking, so there was that.
"They are fine, Miss Rose. They're currently roaming the academy with their friends." Ozpin smiled disarmingly, but for some reason, there was still a gnawing feeling in Summer's stomach, a tightness in her heart that told her something was still wrong. And she always trusted her gut feelings.
"Headmaster Ozpin...where is Mycophobia?" Ozpin paused, visibly hesitating.
"A-Ah...well, you see, about that-"
"Headmaster, I've spent ...at least 15 years dealing Qrow and...his compulsive lying, and he is the...second-best damn liar I've ever know. No offense, sir, but you'r," She paused to cough a bit, clearing her throat, "you're certainly not...the best." Ozpin paused, then chuckled to himself. Summer had always been extremely blunt, even back in her Beacon years. She always did speak up quite a bit when someone's opinions clashed with hers.
"Very well..." Ozpin said hesitantly, "Mycophobia is...defeated. Put out of commission while you were unconscious."
"...You're joking,"Summer forced out a few laughs, trying to convince herself, before noticing Ozpin's serious face, the cold indifference in his eyes, "...Oh dear Brothers, you're not...joking. H-How. Who defeated Mycophobia?"
The look on his face was enough to convince her that it was a completely ludicrous answer, and she probably wouldn't believe him. But she still had to find out. Mycophobia was dead. She needed to find out who was powerful and skilled enough to take down one of the few R-Rank Grimm there was.
"It...it was..." Ozpin looked around, and closed the curtains. Lowering his voice, he quietly told her exactly who managed to beat Mycophobia.
She would swear that, to this day, she legitimately thought Ozpin was messing with her.
Junko Enoshima opened her eyes to a white ceiling, the smell of medication, and the feeling of a comfortable bed and clean-smelling pillows.
'I'm in an infirmary,' She thought to herself, and weakly sat up, groaning as her body seemed to ache in pain from the fight-
The fight.
Oh God, the fight. They had managed to kill that damn mushroom Grimm thing, and that weird-looking woman had popped out of the flower bud, and...and...
She had blacked out. What the hell had happened after that?
Ignoring the aches of pain from her body, she struggled to sit up, groaning. The last thing she remembered was seeing Bullheads flying in the distance, and everything going black. Where was that Grimm thing? Where was the woman she and Kin had found?
…..Where was Kin?
Where was Kin?
"Kin?" She called, rising from her bed, and hobbling around, using the bed as support as she left the closed-off space, pulling the curtains apart, her body protesting the entire time. True to her talent, she was in a large infirmary stocked with medications, and medical charts. Six other spaces were closed off, though there was a groan from the one two beds down from her.
"...J'nko..." The voice rasped, and Junko perked up, stumbling to the 'booth' and opening the curtains, where Kin laid, sleeping, but clearly sweating a bit.
"Kin!" She staggered to the bed, groaning. Taking a seat with one of the chairs by the bed, Junko sighed and put a hand on Kin's forehead. It felt...hot, but he didn't seem to be sick. Hell, he seemed perfectly fine, and nightmares wouldn't cause him to burn up. Hesitating, she smiled and brushed her hand through Kin's hair, causing him to smile gently, "...You're gonna be the death of me one day..."
"Junko." The word didn't come from Kin's mouth, but rather, behind her, and she bristled. She had been having a moment, dammit.
"...Naegi." In a cold tone, not having bothered to say any insults about hope. That was what truly scared him, as evident by his pause and shaky gasp before he composed himself, "What do you want?"
"...Who is Kin? To you, who is sh-er, he?"
"Why do you want to know?" The tone in her voice was laced with venom, and she turned to glare at Makoto, her eyes cold and dead. It was evident that she wanted Makoto to drop it, or else she would retaliate. Violently.
"...Fine. I won't ask." Makoto looked at the other spaces, "Kin's the only one to not have woken up yet. Sayaka and Mukuro are out there, talking with the headmaster. The woman from that mushroom thing is oddly closed off, so only staff can see her, and the white-cloaked woman is resting in her bed."
"And why should I care?" Junko had turned away, continuing to brush her hair through Kin's hair, smiling softly, "They're worthless. Predictable as all hell, and easy to beat." The hitch in her breath, barely noticeable, quickly disappeared.
"...Only wanted to let you know. I'm going to go speak with the headmaster. You better not hurt another innocent person, Junko. Not like how you hurt your own sister," Makoto drawled, taking a cheap shot at Junko and Kin's odd relationship as he walked out. She gritted her teeth, but eventually let it go. He was a vicious person when he wanted to be. But she had plans, plans she needed Class 78 for.
She wasn't going to hurt Makoto and the rest of that worthless class. Not yet.
Summer wheeled herself along the hallways of Beacon, having been given permission by Ozpin to do so while students were in class. After all, it would be hard to explain why a mysterious woman in a white cloak was in a school full of Hunters-in-training. It would also be hard to explain who she really was, and what she was doing here. Most of the students had seen the fight with Mycophobia a week ago, the staff didn't need more questions being asked than right now.
As she wheeled herself forwards, she heard murmurs coming from the various empty classrooms, and couldn't help but want to listen. It was...part of her personality, she guessed. She always liked gossip and rumors, listening from up the grapevine about the hottest trends or what happened with who. As such, her Semblance allowed her to produce thorny vines from her body, which she could use to 'connect' with other people or beings and learn everything about them. She could even suppress their thoughts and keep them unconscious. It was how she managed to keep Mycophobia sealed for so long, while using her Aura to keep mushroom spores from infecting her.
"...Yeah, that weird mushroom thing just burnt down and stuff. It was laughing, though..." One of the voices said, clearly talking to someone else, "And after that, Headmaster Ozpin cancels the ceremony? Something's going on. Something big."
"I for one, think that we should leave this to the staff. The Grimm was clearly too powerful for us, and someone sent in a Hunter to deal with it. What worries me the most if how it was able to communicate. Everyone heard it speak, and I presume that there are videos circulating around the CCT at this very moment. That Grimm...there was none other like it in the world. Just thinking about it frightens me."
"And the infirmary was closed off..." The voice sounded oddly familiar and tears welled up in her eyes, but she couldn't really place where she had heard it from, "I saw them wheeling stretchers in there. Never heard of this happening before, and even the seniors never knew Initiation could be stopped. The staff seemed so serious, too. Like they were preparing for war or something. Even Ozpin looked like the end of the world was announced or something."
There was a brief silence.
"...What Rank was that Grimm? It looked too strong to be any of the regular ones, and it didn't look like a normal S-rank Grimm either." That voice not only sounded familiar, but seemed to tug at her heartstrings, her grip on the wheelchair tightening, "I'm...scared. Just looking at it scared me, and I don't want to think about actually fighting that Grimm..." The voice turned shaky, and Summer wanted nothing more than to wheel inside and comfort whoever was speaking right now, "J-Just thinking about it dying...scares me. Even when it was b-burning up and just blackening, it wouldn't stop laughing, and it sounded so happy, that somebody had killed it..." There was a shuddering breath, and the sound of movement.
"It's fine, Sis...That thing's gone, and never coming back. You're fine..." The first voice she felt was familiar, was comforting the second voice, and the soft sound of of a hand patting someone's back.
Sometimes, there were times when Summer hated her profession causing her senses to skyrocket after combat. Being a Hunter, one had to be forever aware of any signs of an attacks. Paranoia often led to a passive Aura boost to a Hunter's five senses, enhancing them to the point where sometimes, you could hear the slightest rustle of a blade of grass five meters away from you.
It was...annoying sometimes, to be honest.
"Tell you what, I'll go get some cookies for you. Strawberry and chocolate chip cookies, your favorite~" Before Summer could do anything, there were quick footsteps, andthe ballroom door opened, a girl with long, luscious blonde hair walking out, seeing Summer...and freezing.
Summer froze as well. Who wouldn't, when they saw their own daughter, 10 years older than she last remembered?
"M-Mom?" Yang Xiao-Long, her little baby Sun Dragon, stuttered out, her hands shaking. Summer gulped, and hesitantly waved at the blonde bruiser, who reached out, and touched Summer's face gently, as if she was an illusion, something that would disappear with the slightest disturbance, a choked gasp rising from her mouth, "Y-You're real. You're really here."
Tears welled up in the two's eyes as Summer nodded, ten years' worth of repressed sadness and lonely desperation bubbling up in her throat as she choked back a sob, "I'm here, Yang. Sorry it took so long."
"Yang?" The voice, who she recognized now as Ruby, said, as the girl walked up behind her, "Why are you still at the-"
She saw Summer, and froze. Her silver eyes grew wide and watery as she took in the sight of her mother, thought to be deceased.
"Ruby..." Summer muttered out, "Oh, Ruby...My precious little gem..." Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes, as she took a shaky step forwards.
"M-Mama...Mama..." Ruby choked out, before she broke into a run, and glomped Summer, sobbing, the white-cloaked Huntress hugging her daughter back. Seeing a still-frozen Yang standing there, not sure what to do, Summer smiled and gestured for her to join. She hugged the two, squeezing Summer and Ruby like lifelines and weeping.
"I'm back," Summer whispered, stroking the two's heads, tears leaking from her eyes, "I'm finally back..."
And after ten years of pain and suffering and agony and embodied wrong, Summer Rose finally reunited with her family.
Leon Kuwata paced back and forth, his hands running through his head as he waited.
Behind him, in various positions, the rest of Class 78 was seated, waiting anxiously in the Headmaster's Tower.
It was understandable, really. With five of the students-to-be who were unconscious from fighting that thing, and the Valean military being brought in to deal with the remnants of it's influence, they had been called up to tell the Headmaster about what had happened.
Of course, the fact that the faculty would glance at them every now and then before they were called up spoke volumes. Ozpin was suspicious of something, but they didn't know what. They weren't even in the student body yet, so what he was suspicious about must have had something to do with their profiles. It was the most logical problem.
"Gaaaaaah! I can't wait anymore! Where is he?!" Leon yelled, gripping his hair, "We've been waiting for half an hour now!"
"Calm down, man. Screaming and ranting ain't gonna get us shit." Mondo replied, gnawing on a nail, "I want him to hurry up, too, but this ain't how it works."
"...I get that, man." Leon sighed, running a hand down his face, "I'm just so tired of this waiting. Sayaka and the others are still unconscious as far as we know, we have the fucking military running around the goddamn forest, and the headmaster's suspicious of us for who knows what!"
"I understand that, Kuwata-dono. But no matter what we do, we can only wait until Ozpin-dono and Goodwitch-dono have finished their business and come to meet us." Hifumi said with a grim tone, though he seemed to be anxious as well.
The elevator doors opened at that moment, everyone turning their heads as Ozpin and Goodwitch walked into view. Any sign of relaxation or generosity was gone, replaced with steel and power, brimming beneath the facades of impassive apathy.
The headmaster and headmistress of Beacon Academy had arrived, and Leon couldn't help but shiver at the cold aura the two exuded.
"Ah! Good morning, Headmaster Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch!" Ishimaru bowed as he spoke, ever the prefect he was in Hope's Peak.
"Hello, Mr. Ishimaru. Please, you do not have to bow to me," Ozpin sounded tired, like he didn't want to remind Ishimaru of such. Perfectly understandable, seeing as every time Ishimaru saw a staff member, he would bow and greet them. It was a bit unnerving for the faculty to see such a young man showing them that much respect, "Please, sit. I would like to speak with you all about something."
The sudden change in his voice, from tired to stern and cold, prompted everyone to sit down. Something was up.
"Now, I assume you've all seen the giant mushroom Grimm's demise when we were...erm, recovering your friends from the aftermath," Leon swore that he heard Ozpin mumble 'Still not sure how you kids did it', "And I'm fairly certain that you have questions about that Grimm. I am willing to answer any questions about it, so long as you answer some questions from me in return. You ask me one, I ask you one, similar to Twenty Questions."
Everyone nodded. It seemed like a reasonable request, "We go first, I guess. That...thing, that we fought. What the hell was that?" Leon asked, getting a shiver over the memory of it's maddening laughter. Being up close and hearing it's laughter just fill your head until there was nothing but that single noise...he might need a therapist in the future.
"That...thing, was a Grimm. Specifically, it was an R-Rank Grimm, or to put it in layman's terms, a Grimm redacted from public knowledge, and discussed by only those that know of it, the political leaders and Councilors of the Four Kingdoms, and the most elite of soldiers." Ozpin shot Leon a dry look, "Judging from your experience last week, I presume you understand why we must make sure the public does not know of the R-Rank."
"Y-Yeah..." If the public knew R-Rank Grimm existed, the fear and negativity generated by them would be off the charts. The Four Kingdoms would practically become beacons for the Grimm!...Huh. Sounded a bit ironic, now that he thought about it.
"Very well. It is my turn ask. Where did you learn to battle? Your transcripts, ALL of your transcripts, do not mention attending any combat schools, yet you fight so naturally." Ozpin asked, his gaze turning sharp. To be fair, they didn't know what combat schools would work, nor did they know if the schools would check, so they really just put "N/A" there.
"Sir, we're...self-taught, I suppose. We trained each other with unorthodox methods, and we found ways to incorporate what we were best at into our fighting styles. We didn't really have a choice, we were...inexperienced, in a way." Byakuya replied, crossing his arms, "If we wanted to get into this school, we would need to train ourselves to acceptable levels by any means possible."
"Hm." Ozpin only hummed, nodding.
"Will you expel us, knowing this? We've basically admitted that we have no official combat experience, something essential for acceptance into Beacon." Celestia asked, her face a stoic mask, "By all means, we should be imprisoned, according to the Valean Accords."
"Hmmmmm...I suppose not."
"Wha-"
"Please, let me finish." Ozpin held up a hand, waiting until they fully quieted down, "While you are not officially trained, you have all shown exceptional combat skills fighting Myc—the Grimm, and rescued a long thought to be dead Huntress in impossible odds. Though there may be some complications in the ceremony, I believe you all belong in Beacon." He smiled a cold smile, one that that didn't truly reach his eyes, "However, you will be closely monitored by the staff. I'm sure you understand why."
"Of course, Headmaster!" Ishimaru replied, bowing.
"Thank you, Mr. Ishimaru. As for my next question..." Ozpin paused, deep in thought, before continuing, "What do you hope to gain from Beacon's curriculum? You have all shown exceptional combat skills that far surpass the students here without using your Semblances, and a teamwork that is already better than most Fourth-Years, yet you choose to stay and attend all classes. It is...confusing, to say the least."
"I can answer that." Celeste replied, "Even with our skills in combat and teamwork, we still are not proper Hunters, and wish to change that. The only possible way is to graduate from a Hunting Academy and get a license, and Beacon is the most prestigious Hunting Academy in the Four Kingdoms. So if we were to obtain a license from Beacon..."
"You would seem more reliable and be called for more missions. Understandable." Ozpin concluded, "I see the logic behind such a decision."
"Thank you, Headmaster." Celeste bowed.
"I will have to make the next two questions the last. There are preparations to be made for the Naming Ceremony, and I still have a military operation to aid in. My last question will have to be...'Why Hunting?""
"...What?"
"Do not presume that we do not have records of our students' pastimes. It is a way we attempt to mitigate any bullying and such. The staff know of your immense talents in specific fields. We know of Mr. Kuwara's baseball records, Ms. Ludenburg's gambling fortune, Ms. Maizono's volunteer work as a small-time idol, and the rest of your talents. If you had stuck with them, you would have fame and fortune eating out of your palm. So why hunting? Why abandon the easy way in life?"
The room was silent at that. Everyone seemed deep in thought, before simultaneously shrugging.
"I...guess we just wanted to put some effort into the things we did." Leon tried. It wasn't much of an answer, but Ozpin nodded, as if accepting it.
"Thank you. Now, please, head to the amphitheater. The ceremony should start shortly, and I do not want you to be late to such an important event." They nodded, quickly heading to the elevator and entering. A simple press of a button, and the doors closed, the conversation disappearing from their minds.
All except for two people, of course.
"...And finally, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao-Long. By retreiving the white knight pieces, you have proven yourself to be capable huntresses-in-training, and will, from this day forward, will work together as Team RWBY!" Ozpin proclaimed, to the cheers of multiple students, as the four girls stood proud, "Led by...Ruby Rose!"
If one listened closely, they would hear that someone screamed, "That's my baby girl!"
When the applause died down, Ozpin cleared his throat, "Now, before you are dismissed, we have two very important announcements to make. Firstly, we would like to announce the new professor here at Beacon, Miss Bianca Armilladina! She will lead the new Field Survival course as the teacher!" There was a smattering of polite clapping as the woman from Mycophobia, dressed exactly as she was from before, but with a black veil covering the upper part of her face, bowed.
"The second announcement regards the seventeen extremely talented teenagers who are still left. They, unfortunately, were unable to obtain pieces and pass, but...with their circumstances, we here at Beacon feel that they are very rareexceptions.
"Ishimaru Kiyotaka, Mondo Oowada, Chihiro Fujisaki, and Yasuhiro Hagakure. In being the primary defense against hordes of Grimm to protect a single woman, who you did not even know, you have far more than proven that you belong here. From this day forward, you will work as Task Force Aegis. I hope that in our time of need, you will be the shield that will defend Remnant from the darkness.
"Leon Kuwata, Kyoko Kirigiri, Aoi Asahina, Sakura Ogami. In being the primary offense against the hordes of Grimm, and successfully defeating countless Grimm without tiring, you have shown that you have the power needed to become Hunters. From this day forward, you will work as Task Force Longinus. I hope that in our time of need, you will be the spear that pierces through all Grimm and carves a path towards the future.
"Hifumi Yamada, and Celeste Ludenberg, Byakuya Togami, and Toko Fukawa. In being the lynchpin that commanded the rest when you were separated, you have shown that you have the teamwork, unlikely that it may be, to needed to become Hunters. From this day forward, you will work as Task Force Commandant. I hope that in our time of need, you will be the voice of the people and strive to build a better world.
"And finally Makoto Naegi, Junko Enoshima, Mukuro Ikasuba, Sayaka Maizono, and Kin Sakana. This is...an odd situation, to say the least. Never before have we had someone who has been able to make eye contact with two different people who did not have partners yet. Nonetheless, Junko Enoshima has made eye contact with both Makoto Naegi and Kin Sakana when they had partners, and will have them as partners for her four years at Beacon," Ozpin concluded, to the murmurs of the student body, before clearing his throat and silencing the students,.
"I was not done. Now, for your achievements in not only dealing the final blow to the Grimm anomaly sighted in the Emerald Forest, but escorting and rescuing famed Huntress Summer Rose from the Grimm anomaly," There was a joyous squeak from nearby, as Ruby Rose watched the five with adoring eyes, "Traversing the whole of the Emerald Forest to do so, you have shown that you possess the strength, perseverance, teamwork, and dedication to become Hunters. From this day forwards, you will be working as Task Force Elpis. It is my only regret that I can not make you official Hunters here and now." Ozpin flourished at the seventeen students gathered on the stage, and the audience cheered.
"A big hand for Beacon's first four Task Forces!"
"What are you doing here, Mycophobia?"
Glynda's reaction was instantaneous. Her riding crop practically materialized into her hand, which she snapped up at the 'woman' in front of her.
Only to be stopped by Ozpin, who held up his hand, a grim look on his face, "Stop, Glynda. You do not stand a chance against her, even now."
"But Headmaster-"
"Enough, Glynda." Ozpin turned back to the smug humanoid Grimm watching them, glaring, "Like I asked. What are you doing here, Mycophobia?"
"Oh, come now, Ozpin. You know as well as I do that you could have stopped the staff from bringing me into the school, let alone the infirmary. I should be asking you why you've let me stay here." Ozpin's mouth tightened, and she dismissively waved her hand, "Don't worry, I won't hurt your students. Lord knows how you'll react if I do."
"Get to the point," He ground out. Mycophobia waved her hand dismissively.
"Fine, fine...Salem's making her move, Ozpin."
The silence was deafening.
"H-How did you-"
"Despite what you think, Ozpin, I am still capable of learning everything that has been going on," She chuckled, "Though, ten years... Quite a bit has happened that I've missed."
"You, I don't, why help us against the Grimm? Against Salem?" Glynda asked, a confused expression on her face at the humanoid Grimm offering information on their greatest enemy.
"You do not seem to understand. I am not on the side of humanity. I am on the side of life, of evolution. What happens to humanity is of no concern to me, but what Salem wants...There is no life in her wishes. There is only her, her subjects, and..." She trailed off, giving Ozpin a glance, before continuing, "Regardless, what she wants does not suit with what I want. Coincidentally, your wants do. So, I am offering you my help. Having one of the First aiding you will surely boost your chances of success. Or you can just run around like headless chickens and guess about everything you do from here on out."
Ozpin's hands clenched into fists, his teeth gritting. Loathe as he wanted to admit it, she was right. They were in the dark against Salem, and one of the First Grimm offering their aid would be a massive boon for their efforts. At the same time, this was one of the First Grimm they were talking about! One of the few Primordial Grimm, and an R-Rank at that! Who knew what they could do?! He had an inkling of an idea, but it would be impossible with her status as a Grimm.
"...I have a way," Ozpin replied, to Glynda's shock, but he ignored her and continued, "But with your status as a Grimm, it won't work."
"...I need Aura, don't I?" She asked, and he nodded. She sighed, and held up a hand, a distorted grey light shining from her hand.
"W-What?!"
"I've been draining humans of their memories and souls since my birth, you two. Did you really think I would not change when I've been essentially stockpiling human Aura for so long?"
Ozpin could only nod, sighing, "Follow me. We'll have to do...paperwork."
The three shuddered in unison.
"...How do you-"
"Not all the memories I absorbed were about combat. I don't like to talk about it."
"...OK, then."
A/N: Pain. Pain and agony and suffering. It took me so long just to write this one chapter, because of fucking life and fucking writer's block. College applications, writer's block, high school, all three are tough on my writing on their own, but then they decided to fucking gang up on me and beat my inspiration into a bloody pulp.
As a result, take my (in my opinion) shit-quality chapter that took me fucking 3 months minimum to write. I did my best. Just take it.
So, in RWBY, Salem Emerald (honestly, Wizard of Oz, Emerald City? How has no one thought of this yet?) is a humanoid Grimm, capable of controlling and creating Grimm, and extremely intelligent and cunning. I would reveal more, but spoilers.
In my story? She's not the only one.
Meet Bianca Armilladina, or Mycophobia. One of the first Grimm ever, and an R-Rank Grimm as well as s 'Phobia', she's seen everything humanity has done and is doing, and a possible Remnant-ending destroyer who's potential was downgraded by her obsession with evolution and her insanity. Millennia of living and experience have left her with a plethora of knowledge, immeasurable power and skill, and, of all the impossible things to have, a soul. It's formed from fragments of humans she has assimilated into a single, somehow functional soul, but it gifts her Aura, a Semblance, and emotions. In other words, she's super OP, even more OP in her weakened human form somehow, and I may have gone overboard with her. The pinnacle of evolution for a Grimm, everyone. She's mostly gonna be a minor character, so don't worry about her. I guess.
But yeah, happy endings for everyone, yay! Except Ozpin. Ozpin never gets a happy ending. It's like he runs on angst and cryptic actions. Also, no reactions this chapter, because it's only the aftermath. They'll be back, soon. The Brothers are also acting differently from their canon counterparts! What a surprise! They can't possibly have ulterior motives to buttering up Class 78 and sending to Remnant, right? Right?
Who are we kidding, yes they do. They're fucking asshats who don't deserve to exist, after all.
On another note, I gave up on colors, and just gave the teams special names and a special status. I mean, they defeated a super-Grimm, the least they could do is be designated as better than, well, most of the students. The Task Force thing lets others know that were it not for their young age, they would immediately be added to the active duty roster as top Hunters. Yay, Class 78 is a bunch of super strong pseudo-child soldiers now (Gods help us all). And I decided to get the Summer meets Ruby and Yang thing out of the way. Don't want any tension hanging around about Summer's 'reappearance', so that's all out of the way. In other news, Ozpin is suspicious, and Makoto shows that even he can fight back at times. Low blow, though, man. Low blow.
But yeah, that should be everything. Few notes, before this chapter ends.
First, PLEASE VOTE ON THE PAIRING POLL GODAMMIT.
Second, submit ideas of what you thought Class 78's weapons should have been!
And last but not least, Should Junko make a Monokuma unit as a backup weapon? Poll will appear for that, so vote when it pops up!
With all that out of the way, this is Gold Magikarp signing out! Peace!