A/N: This one will mostly be Mato getting squared away in this world with the help of Qrow and Ruby. And how she will be sent to Beacon with Ruby. Yup, you read right. I always thought it was ridiculous that she was accepted to Beacon from just that little scuffle with some worthless thugs in a Dust Robbery. So I am putting more background as to why Ozpin REALLY brought Ruby into Beacon.
Once again, a shout out to my friend CushionySiren3. Go check out his story, 'The (Un)Forgettable Team TAPE'! Don't judge it for being an OC story. It is very well constructed and written. And more importantly, it is interesting (With no Mary or Gary Sues) and cute.
Now without further ado, ENJOY!
Port Town of Patch
December 24th, 2013 - Afternoon
It had been a long walk from the remains of the battlefield to the port town. But Mato had enjoyed it immensely. Despite his claims, Qrow only asked a few questions of them both. After that he was quiet for a few minutes, before nodding his head and turning to view Mato fully.
"Well then. Welcome to Remnant, and to the family. Although it is a stiff drink to take. Ruby believes you, and she is no fool. Plus, you went out of your way to protect her and unknown innocents against untold odds. That is enough in my book to give one the benefit of the doubt. I will start getting the paperwork squared away."
Ruby took this opportunity to jump towards Mato and hug her, strong, but not bone shattering or lung damaging as before. "YAY! We are gonna have so much fun together! We shall hunt Grimm, eat cookies and ice cream, go over weapons - which I really want to see yours by the way, it was SUPER awesome, coming out all CLANK PANG CLUNK from nowhere and then BRARARARAAANNNGGG! And you were ripping them apart. How did you do that? And you never answered how much ammo they have. Those canisters didn't look big enough for that much ammo. I mean they were big, but not THAT big, so som-"
Mato had raised her hand to interrupt Ruby in the middle of her spinning, hand waving, and vibrating actions. "I know I told you not to go into tirades like that child." This immediately brought Ruby down, her head looking at the ground before her, although the cute pout that graced her features showed that she wasn't COMPLETELY regretful, and just a bit … well, pouty.
'I need to increase my vocabulary, badly. Eighty years of talking with Black Blade and Rock Cannon has left me pretty socially inept… then again, I AM supposed to be a teenager anyway. I am sure I can get away with a few repetitions instead of being verbose all the time.'
Mato chuckled, "I will be more than happy to show you my weapons in depth later. And to help lift your spirits, I have a couple other things beside the Rock Cannons I used this time around." She had to stifle another chuckle as Ruby's head jumped straight back up, her silver eyes shining at the thought of inspecting her weapons, or that there were more than just what was shown. Mato wasn't quite sure yet, but she felt she would find out in time. 'After all, we are family now, no?' That thought brought a warm feeling, as well as some guilt, reminding her of Yuu. But she didn't let the guilt show in her expression.
At this time Qrow raised his voice. "I already saw how good you were based merely on the amount of bodies left by the time we got there. But I must ask, why do you have so much weapons, and are so adept at using them?" Qrow had asked that with a tone of voice that made it seem as if it was a passing curiosity. The steel in his eyes betrayed the severity of it, and that it was another one of his interrogative questions.
Mato just took it in stride, a family member protective of his niece, and curious about his new adopted… niece? Aunt? 'We will have to get that cleared up soon… Mostly in my head. Who knew this would be so much trouble… Then again, who knew travelling to another world and living again from your youth, in your partner's near indestructible body which could call upon massive death and destruction was even possible?' "In the world I resided in, my position was a powerful one as I had told you. I imagine it should be obvious to you that would mean many others would be interested in said power." Qrow's eyes quickly changed into those showing a mix of sympathy and guilt. "Don't feel bad. Under normal circumstances, no one would have cared about me. It was due to the fact that I wanted to get rid of said position that I became a target. So it was my decision that lead to such a solitary and dangerous life. It kinda helped though that I was practically immortal."
"Immortal?" Ruby was the one to interrupt this time. "What do you mean?"
This time Mato frowned a bit in concentration, trying to figure out how to word this. " I am, or was… capable of healing really quickly. Injuries that would prove fatal to others, were healed faster than one might blink. Limbs could be regenerated, even having part of my skull crush or blasted off could not kill me so long as I didn't wish for it." At this point, despite Ruby's rapidly paling face as she realised the true connotation of those words, Mato continued with one more line. Her eyes deadly serious, "And I never did, I couldn't, I had a goal to accomplish, and too much at stake."
Mato looked over her new family members. Ruby remained pale, eyes darting back and forth between herself and the ground, clearly wanting to ask something. Qrow's face was normal, but his eyes darted between Ruby's and her own, probably hosting the same question. It was Ruby who squeaked the question past slightly quivering lips after a couple more seconds. "Did it hurt? Did you feel the pain?" Her eyes pleading that the answer would be a negative.
Sadly Mato couldn't answer as the pure child wished. She would not. She learned a lifetime ago what such lies could do. And so she wasn't. The girl would understand and continue living with the answer. "Yes." Even Qrow's stoic expression wavered, but he maintained it after a bit of an effort. Ruby's though looked to be frozen in terror. Mato couldn't help but reach out and give the girl a one-armed hug as they continued walking. "Don't worry about it too much. The pain helped me, since it forced me to get better at avoiding it. And eventually I got really good at not getting hurt. Which will be useful since I doubt I have the same advantageous this time around."
'I really should confirm the limits and abilities of this body later. I know it is her body, but she did say she had changed it, adapting it to this world. So I shouldn't get complacent and assume that it is what it once was.'
"That is a good point to bring up." Qrow spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "I realize you have great abilities in combat. But as you said, this is your second life. And you spent the first one fighting. What do you want to do this time around?"
This brought Mato up short. Having not actually thought about that thoroughly. Or rather at all. 'Doesn't help that this is still technically the first day of my new life, it hasn't all quite settled in yet.' "To be quite honest. I haven't thought about it too much. But despite this being my second chance at life. I cannot change who I am. I gave up my first one to help my friends and those who were hurt by the existence of the overseer and its equivalents. It is in my nature to help those that I can. Especially those I care about." Looking down at Ruby who had regained some color to her cheeks. "Based on what Ruby has told me, it seems the family business is hunting." She looked back up to Qrow, who had stopped walking and turned to face her fully. "There are monsters here, who seemed much more numerous and devoted to harm than the ones in my world. But like there, I can hurt the ones here. I think, if I can, I would like to put the skills I earned in my previous life, to use again in my new one. I would like to be a huntress as well."
She stared straight ahead at Qrow. Her blue eyes with their circular rings staring straight into his solid pitch black ones. After a what seemed like an eternity, but could have been no more than a smattering a seconds, Qrow closed his eyes and nodded. "Ok. I will be honest, placed in your shoes, I would probably have done the same." He opened his eyes to stare into her own. "One isn't born a hunter, but once someone makes that decision, it stays with them forever. It isn't a mindset that normal people achieve, but those who do can do nothing else. I will make sure the paperwork shows you as a seventeen year old. With my recommendation you can join Beacon this year with Ruby and Yang. I would prefer you with family by your side after all. And I think you can skip the preparatory years that most others would need to become hunters considering your skill and actual amount of experience." Qrow grinned at the last comment.
Before Mato could say anything, Ruby jumped up and shouted her own response. "Wait! What do you mean her going to Beacon with me and Yang?" Mato almost chuckled at how quickly the grin disappeared behind an apprehensive face at Ruby's question.
"Umm. I wasn't supposed to tell you that yet…" At Ruby's transformation to her 'serious' face, Qrow forced out a sigh before continuing. "Congratulations Ruby, I had sent all your transcripts to Ozpin at Beacon, trying to get you in, since I felt you were restricted here at Signal. He had asked for a couple of demonstrations of your ability on your own. I prepared for that by herding some beowulf together a couple days ago, and then telling the mayor to give it to you as a mission when I left for my own. The entire battle was recorded, I actually watched it in real-time, great job by the way. That was also why I saw Mato here crash land, making her story a bit easier to swallow. I was thinking of bringing you along today for another of my missions which would give me the chance for the second showing. But with the event earlier today, I think I have enough to bring both of you into Beacon without much of a problem."
Mato could see how Ruby's expression showed her processing the information as Qrow spoke. Going from confusion, to realization as she figured a couple things out and connected the dots. Then into euphoria as it all truly dawned on her, and her natural instincts took control over her analytical mind. "OhmyOumohmyOumohmyOumohmyOumohmyOum YAAAAAAYYYYYY! I AM GOING TO BEACON!" She ran around in circles at such speeds that Mato could only see a red blur… And the snow near them melt… 'I knew she was fast after today's events. But how are these kinds of speeds possible? Is everyone like this?' She turned to Qrow, "A questi-"
She couldn't even mouth anything else out as she felt a cannon ball hit her, throwing her into a nearby tree, cracking it severely and causing the snow and ice on its branches to fall on the two beneath its overhang. Realizing that it was no cannonball, but rather Ruby herself having tackled her in excitement, Mato quickly smother her underneath her as the ice fell down, a couple of shards piercing her skin. "MATO! WE ARE GOING TO BEACON! WE ARE GOING TO BE THE BEST HUNTRESSES EVER!" Her excitement was quickly cut short by Qrow shout though.
"RUBY!" The shout carried his furious emotion quite well, quickly shaking Ruby out of her moment, and staring at her uncle in confusion, and a bit of fear. But before she could ask him anything, Qrow was beside them, separated the two, and looked towards Mato. "Stand still, I will remove them and then we can patch them up, they shouldn't have gone in too deeply." The poor red-themed girl was only stuttering in confusion at what was going on until she saw the damage she had wrought. This time Mato did laugh at how quickly her new family members seemed to change between emotions and expressions.
The laughter only shocked the two of them and stilled them. Mato used this opportunity to stand straight, and zip open her jacket, using it to pull the couple of icicles and woods splinters in her back out as she removed her jacket. One of the wood splinters in her lower right side remained, which she promptly grabbed and removed herself. Watching with a certain morbid glee that her blood was red instead of blue, and that it healed nearly as quickly as she was used to. 'Thank you Black Rock Shooter.' Seeing as how she was okay again, she placed her jacket back on and zipped it up. Looking back to the two frozen statues beside her.
Once again, she broke out into laughter. "Good news" She said between chuckles. "I still heal well, although I definitely need new clothes." Letting the smile from her face fade, she turned to the smaller of the two statues. "Ruby, I won't say much since I am pretty sturdy. But you can't just tackle someone at near supersonic speeds and expect them to remain unharmed. I can see this news was exciting, but that was even worse than your earlier bear hug. I have been on this world less than a full day. And the closest I have come to dying, or being hurt at all, have been thanks to love, on behalf of a fifteen year old girl. I am starting to think I might not be strong enough to survive in this world if everyone is as strong, fast, and caring as you. And that I should take up something simple, like sewing, or baking." Her comment/accusation brought a chuckle from Qrow who seemed to have just taken it in stride. But Ruby still seemed a bit down.
Ruby stood up and quickly bowed, "I am sorry! I had forgotten that since you are not from this world, you probably didn't have anything like aura to protect you. And I hurt you. I am sorry." Qrow just looked at her with warm eyes, while Mato shook her head a bit.
"I don't know what this aura is, but if you are telling me everyone here has it, and can survive the bear hugs and sonic tackles, then I understand your situation, and accept your apology." Turning to Qrow with a smile, "And I ask if you can change the recommendation instead to the local tailor." This brought the man to full on laughter, and the young girl into a pleading tirade of nos and don'ts. Qrow merely responded with turning back towards the town and walking ahead.
"We have a lot to teach you and catch you up on before you and Ruby get to Beacon. And I still have a couple personal missions that I am going to have to drag you two to. Seeing as how Tai won't be able to take you in till Beacon starts, and you have no home, you are with me and my wandering lifestyle till then. So let us get a move on. You will learn as we move."
Mato shook her head and followed behind the black clad, so aptly named, Qrow. Ruby quickly catching up beside her and hugging her. It was most definitely an interesting start to an interesting life, in an interesting world.
And Mato was starting to wonder if Black Rock Shooter hadn't been a bit influenced by that red or purple flame when she tossed her out here.
A/N: Sorry about the misinformation of the last chapter. From THIS point on, the pace will be a bit faster. The next chapter will start a few days into the future, mentioning what happened in them mostly in thoughts from Mat. And sometimes others that were involved. I will stay quiet on this one for now, as it will play a VERY big part as to how this story will widely differ from cannon. So look forward to the next chapters!
Side note. For those curious. Mato's body, which is technically Black Rock Shooters, has been altered as stated by said BRS in Chapter 00, to be able to fit into Remnant. The most notable changes are the fact that her blood no longer comes bursting out like a pressure washer, it is red instead of blue, and will age. Although she will age at a slower rate than those around her, this point will not really matter until much later in the story… like year 3 or 4 in Beacon. Oh yes. Get ready for the long haul with this story. As I have repeatedly stated, I have no intention of following Cannon RWBY. This is my own AU if you will. As such, I will continue writing till I get to the planned end of my story. While I won't spoil anything, expect all of Beacon to be written down. (Which actually took A LOT of writing on the side, for me to jot down HOW Beacon function in the later years, the professors/classes/etc… At this point, while unedited, my story has about 55k words. The Sheet of Stuff as I like to call it, which holds the information about the world, characters, etcetera etcetera, of this story. Currently has close to 80k words… Yeah. A LOT of time writing this story is spent getting all the fine details down and stored on the side so I don't lose my way.
Secondary side note. One of you questioned me on the length of the chapters, as I replied. I have no set length. I write them, and them were I feel it is appropriate. Such as that cliffhanger from Ch 02. That means, some, like this one or Ch 03 will be short. No more than 2-3k words. And some, like Ch 02 or 07 will be over 5-6k words. The average though will be around 4k words. Even my longest unedited chapter at the moment hands at just below 8k words.
Once again, if you like this story go check out my friend CushionySiren3's 'The (Un)Forgettable Team TAPE'! It is thanks to his friendship and actions that I even decided to write this story out and publish it here.
And please Review or send me a PM if you things you would like to say or ask. Since this is my first story, I will accept EVERYTHING! Negative or Positive.
Thanks again and till next time!