Red Roses, White Scales

In all known time there has never been a greater monster or miracle than the human being.

Bryant H. McGill

Chapter 19

A True Monster Part 5

Forever Fall, this mountainous area had many cliffs and is covered by a forest of red-leafed trees, allowing the whole area to appear in a dust-red color, even in the grass.

The trees are known to produce a special red sap that is of interest to researchers. Cutting through a low point in the forest is a wide railway track, upon which a large cargo train travels.

The known inhabitants of the forest include Grimm, crows, and a dangerous insect known as Rapier Wasps.

"Yes, students," Glynda Goodwitch was accompanying, with Team RRWBY, JNPR and CRDL in this area since it was school excursion. Her duties were to protect the huntsmen- and huntresses-in-training "The Forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful."

Ruby looked, with a big smile around, since her favorite color is red, it was must be more awesome for her.

'Look Mikhail, it's so beautiful!' She spoke with him via Mental Link and hugged his arm.

'Yeah.' He smiled enjoyed to see his sister smiling and being happy.

Meanwhile they continued to Goodwitch's explanation "But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peaches asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest. And I am here to unsure that none of die while doing so." She turned around and everyone stopped walking and listened.

"Guh." Jaune, who was asked to carry all jars, bumped against Cardin, who glared at him. The blonde whistled and looked away, feigning innocence.

"Each of you," She took a jar, which was full of a red liquid "Is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However this forest is full of the Creature of Grimm, so be sure to stay together with your teammates.

Yang ruffled Mikhail's hair and made a cheesy smile, signalizing, that she would protect him….even though he don't need it…..

"We will rendezvous back here at four o'clock. Have fun!"

All teams began to walk and collect, all, but Team CRDL and Jaune.

"Come on buddy! Let's go!" Cardin grabbed Jaune on his hood.

The Arc looked down and then to Pyrrha, whose eyes hurt him really. He looked again on the ground, with guilt, and then followed Team CRDL.

Pyrrha sighed and followed her other teammates.

Mikhail who observed everything…..smiled…..'Time to make a mess….' A bloodthirsty grin appeared on his face, only to vanish when Ruby tucked his sleeve.

"Come on Mike, let's go!"

"Sure sis." Ruby took his arm again and enjoyed having some time with her brother again.

XXX

Cardin and his team were waiting for an opportunity, to take revenge. Jaune had to collect six jars of sap, for them. The sixth one was gonna be used, to be thrown on Pyrrha and Mikhail. After that, Carding wanted to release the Rapier Wasp, and since they love the red sap from Forever Fall, they would immediately attack them.

What was even more detestable was that Cardin demanded that Jaune should throw the jar.

But finally Jaune could find his courage and defied Cardin. He even threw the sap at the bully.

The leader of Team CRDL was enraged and together, with his team, Cardin started to beat Jaune up.

Mikhail, who observed the entire spectacle, was angry, yet he didn't do anything. He needed the right timing. He was sorry for his friend and would make sure to pay it back.

Then he noticed, a Grimm, more specifically an Ursa Major.

These older Ursa, were twice as big, as normal ones, with large bone spikes sprouting from their back.

Like their animal counterpart, these Grimms love also sweet things, paired with the negative emotions from CRDL and maybe from Mikhail.

The Ursa Major looked up, to the trees, seeing Mikhail directly in the eyes…..and then it walked away….but somehow….in a quicker pace…looking also a little bit afraid….

'What the? Did the Ursa just ignore me?' The leader of Team RRWBY tilted his head and observed the old Grimm, attacking the five boys.

Team CRDL became scared, by the sight of the beast and ran away, using Jaune as bait.

XXX

'This is it!' Mikhail, who could slip away from his friends and family, was now tailing Team CRDL.

Before that, Cardin and his goons, screamed around and met the others. Yang grabbed Russel, while his teammates and leader walked past them.

The mohawk teen, shouted that there was an Ursa and that it got Jaune.

Yang let him go and Ruby told the others, to call Glynda. Together with Pyrrha and Weiss, they ran to the position where Jaune was, to help him. Mikhail was sure that, the Arc could handle it.

They still didn't even notice, that Mikhail was gone, probably only Ruby…

But back to the idiots….

Team CRDL, stopped running and looked relieved to be away from the Major.

"Did you see that Ursa?" Russel spoke up.

"Yeah, man was that a big one! And those spikes." Sky pointed out and shivered

Dove looked at his leader "What now Cardin?"

Cardin snorted "Well I need another plan, since that dumbass Jaune is probably eaten by the Ursa." He cracked his knuckles "And I will get that red-haired bitch and the oversized lizard.

"Who are you calling bitch and a lizard!?" All four of them turned around saw that Mikhail jumped down from one of the trees.

Carding snorted "What got we here? An animal lover!" And mocked Mikhail.

These caused his team to laugh as well.

Mikhail, who didn't even bother to react to such an insult, just looked with dark and icy eyes at the four.

"What, you got a problem?" Cardin stepped forward and drew his mace.

Mikhail raised a brow "Actually….yes I do…."

"You know," the leader looked back "I always wanted to know if that is your actual hair-color and your eyes? I mean you look ridiculous!"

Russel, Sky and Dove continue to laugh.

"Yeah you look like a freak!" Sky joined the insult towards Mikhail.

"I you also have a girly face! Gross!" Russel as well began to insult him…..and his mother, since he looked like her.

"Scratch that! I want to know if he is a Faunus, I mean look at hose freaky canines, like a mutt.

That gave Cardin more fuel "Yeah, maybe he is a real mutt, are your sister also ones? Bet your mother did it doggy style with a beast."

Mikhail didn't do anything; he just looked at those four and just yawned. He had a hard time to control himself, and he will make sure that Cardin and his team will bleed for that insult towards his mother "Are you done?" He then asked in a casually tone while tilting his head, while looking bored.

Cardin whose upper lip twitched, since no insult bear fruit, looked at Dove and Russel "Get him and make it painful!"

Both of them nodded and drew their weapons.

Dove his gun-sword and Russel his dust-dual-daggers.

Since Russel was the fastest member of CRDL, he dashed towards Mikhail. He jumped up, in the air, while spinning around like a buzz-saw. When he was close enough, he stopped spinning and used the force of his movement to executed a drop-kick at Mikhail

And what did the leader of Team RRWBY do? A tail shot out from his waist and a split second later, he hammered the muscular tail, not the tip, since he would probably stab Russel, in his right side. Yet he wished he could slaughter him.

The force of Russel spinning attack, paired with the incredible strength of Mikhail's tail, was immense.

The mohawk teen gasped in shock and pain, as he felt all his ribs on the right side breaking.

Mikhail began to put more force in his tail and sent the dagger-wielder, flying and crashing through the woods.

The rest of Team CRDL looked with unbelief what just happened.

Dove who was frozen, shook his head and pointed his sword at Mikhail. Then he shot three times at the former dragon.

Mikhail snorted and used his tail to shield himself from the bullets. They bounced away when hitting the scaly body part, leaving a surprised Dove standing before him.

Mikhail swung his tail, shooting a scale at the boy, well not actually at him, but rather at his weapon. The gun-sword was sliced into two parts and fell on the ground.

The blonde swordsman, looked dumbfounded, when Mikhail took a deep breath, his chest expanded and he shoot three fireballs at Dove.

"Mommy!" He whimpered and then *Boom* Dove was sent flying backwards; he rolled several times on the ground before crashing against a tree, which broke and fall on him.

Cardin and Sky looked even more shocked now, and fear was slowly taken over them.

The leader of CRDL looked at his remaining member "Get him!"

"B-but Cardin!" Sky whimpered.

"I said GET HIM!"

Sky winced and readied his halberd. He ran forward and stabbed the head of his weapon on the ground. He shot a bullet, using the recoil to dash up into the air. Sky began to twirl the halberd over his head, while falling towards Mikhail, he stopped twirling, using the force and momentum of it and was ready for an overhead strike.

Mikhail, rolled his eyes, and moved his tail. Like a snake, he wrapped his tail around Sky's weapon and jerked him forwards.

The poor boy, knew what would happen, when Mikhail jerked his arm back, ready for a straight punch.

*Crack*

He could feel his nose shattering and passed out from the hit and pain.

The punch was so strong that he landed in front Cardin's foot, who became pale and started to sweat.

"Is this it?" Mikhail smiled…but it wasn't a good smile. It was ….a crazy smile; his Semblance caused his instincts to flare up.

The smile on his face couldn't even be described as one. His grin was so wide and filled with the urge of blood and anticipation to tear his enemies apart. Mikhail actually looked like predator, who loved to play with his prey, ready to kill it in the most atrocious way.

"I just beat your team in less than 20 seconds, Cardin. Russel has broken ribs and probably a pierced lung. Dove has some burns, and need treatment for his cracked bones and Sky has a shattered nose…..and probably a concussion, paired with a slight cracked skull" He pointed at the leader of CRDL "Only you remain….."

'What the actual fuck just happened!' These were the thoughts, of Cardin. How could is team loose against one opponent. 'No!' He couldn't accept it! He is the heir of the Winchester family, descendant of war heroes, pupil of the best fighting-teacher his family could afford with money. There is no way that he would lose against some hick, from a backwater island, with a beastly Semblance.

He drew his mace, a prideful weapon, unlike that loser's weed cutter.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Cardin dashed forward and hammered his mace on the ground, causing flame, that made its way towards Mikhail.

Mikhail raised his entire arm, and transformed it "Do you really think," He swung it, and the flames died out through the immense force "That such a lousy flame could harm a dragon, maggot!?"

Cardin hesitated for a second, but decided to go in the offensive. He raised his mace and stormed forwards.

Mikhail snorted and caught the mace on its shaft, with his transformed hand.

"What the, uf!" Cardin gasped, when he felt, that Mikhail punched him right in the stomach. "Hugh!" He wheezed, and felt every bit of air, was punched out of his lungs. He couldn't even take a breath. Yet he felt suddenly a burning sensation in his hand, where he held his weapon "Gaaaaaaaaaaah!" He let the mace go, when it was burning his hands.

"Do you really think you could do as you please?" Mikhail held Cardin's mace tight and with shock, the owner saw, that his weapon began to glow and melted in Mikhail's hand, which wasn't even harmed. The metal began to liquidate through his fingers. He could feel the heat, of the melted metal, which dripped on the ground, burning the grass, leaves and earth. And then, he saw Mikhail directly in the eyes and a scream tried to find its way from this throat and mouth, but he couldn't.

Mikhail's eyes looked terrifying. His irises became slits, and the scleras, even the silver one's, became pitch-black.

"Do you really think, you can try to hurt my family," the boy could feel, the tail of the beast that was before him, wrapping around his neck and started to choke him "my friend and comrades, and get away with it!?"

Cardin felt, with every breath, that the tail pressed his neck firmer.

"This is my warning, Winchester…." Mikhail went closer with his face, his red eye glowed "If I ever see you, near them, if I ever see you trying to hurt them or bully them…I will kill you and then I will come for you parents and your siblings, I will slaughter everything you love and care for and I will make sure it will be the most agonizing death." Mikhail let a beastly and monstrous growl out with a long and haunting hiss "Kssssssssssshhhhhhhhhha…..Do you really think that Creatures of Grimm or the White Fang are the true monsters in this world?" Mikhail face looked dark and he was drowned in his own bloodlust "The true monster IS ME!"

Cardin then wet his pants, when he felt nothing but terror, directed at him.

Then he saw it…. It appeared. A tall humanoid creature. Its skin was pale as ash and covered in black star and cross-like signs. The body of it was lean and muscular. It had white hair with black tint on it. On its head were two flame-like horns, which were black colored, like ebony. The tall creature had a creepy mask, which looked like it was made of bones. The mask covered its eyes and was connected with a small chain to another part of metal that covered the entire chin, leaving only the mouth or maw, since the creature had sharp teeth, to see.

On its back or rather spine were a row of bony stakes, each of them was also connected through a small chain as well. In its clawed hands, was a scythe, which shaft was made from a spine and the head, were the crescent-like blade was, was the skull of a dragon. The mouth of the skull was open and the blade emerged from it. The creature growled and from its waist appeared black feathered wings.

'The Reaper, the Grimm Reaper, the Angel of Death!' These were the last thoughts of Cardin before he passed out and also shit himself.

Mikhail stood there, perplexed what just happened. He blinked several times, his eyes turned normal and the bloodlust vanished "Ah….maybe I overdid it….?" Then he smelled the ammoniac and shit from Cardin "Ewww, he shit and wet himself…." He scrunched his nose and made backed away."

"Mikhail!" The leader of Team RRWBY turned around, when he heard the voice of his twin and felt something crashing into him. Dozens of red petals flew around the air and he felt the tight hug and soft body of his sister "Are you alright!? You were suddenly gone…" Then she noticed CRDL "Whoa what happened to them…." She held her nose "Eww, why are they stinking!?"

Then he saw, that the rest of his team and Team JNPR with Glynda emerged from the woods.

"Mr. Rose," Glynda asked, while adjusting her glasses "What happened here?"

Mikhail looked at his twin and then at Glynda "Well Team CRDL was, when they ran away from the Ursa Major, surprised and attack by a large group of Beowolfs." He shrugged "Since I have enhanced senses, I could hear the attack and their screams. So I did what everyone would do and helped them. There was no time to waste." Mikhail looked back "They were so terrified, that they even attacked themselves. Cardin even burned his own teammate and lost control over his weapon." He pointed at Dove and then at the burns and melted weapon.

Glynda narrowed her eyes and then looked around. She saw the injured members of Team CRDL and then sighed "It seems so, thank you for….your actions." She took her scroll out "We need a bullhead and ambulance…..and some new clothes for Mr. Winchester's…..' mishap'."

"Eww, Cardin shit and wet himself!" Yang pointed out, when she was close to the unconscious boy.

Mikhail snorted and noticed that Pyrrha was looking at him. He smiled and she did it as well.

XXX

Team RRWBY's room

"To Jaune!" Nora shouted "For killing an Ursa Major!"

Everybody whistled, shouted or laughed for Jaune, since he killed a Major with one hit. Even Weiss was happy for him; well she only clapped with her hands and had a smile on her face.

"You did well, Vomit Boy!" Yang ruffled his hair.

"Come on! I thought we are over it!?"

Nora jumped up "We need to celebrate this event… WITH PANCAKES!"

Ren sighed "Nora no. You just ate sixty, two hours ago."

"But Ren!"

Ruby tapped her chin "But I really think we should celebrate it with food!"

Yang nodded "Yeah, let's eat out. Everything is on Jaune!"

"Hey! I am the reason for celebration!"

"So," She shrugged and crossed her arms under her ample chest "This means you pay."

Jaune groaned and facepalmed.

"Yes," The blonde brawler pumped a fist "What do you say Mike?" She turned around and was surprised, when Mikhail was on their bed, sleeping peacefully "D'aww, he is sleeping." She kneeled and poked a finger on her brother's cheek, while gushing how cute he is when he was asleep.

"I never saw him, taking a nap." Blake tilted her head, her cheeks were slightly red. She really never saw Mikhail sleeping, since she was a Cat-Faunus, Blake was asleep really fast. He also wakes up before they are doing it, to make breakfast. 'He looks…really adorable…..'

Weiss smiled "Well I think he deserves some rest. I mean he tries so hard for us, in training, cooking and cleaning." Mikhail really gave his best, to make everything comfortable for his team. He cleans the room, makes snacks and food and he even makes up plans for training and teamwork. 'That cheeky oaf,' A pink dust colored her face 'He fights like monster, but he looks like an angel when he sleeps.'

*Squish*

"Nora!" Ren scolded his best friend, but in a lower volume "Stop pinching his cheeks."

"But Ren, his cheeks are so soft, like pudding!"

That poked the interest of Weiss and Blake."

"They are really soft." Everybody looked at Pyrrha, who became red when she noticed what she just said.

She knew how soft Mikhail's skin was since she touched him many times and also kissed him sometimes on his cheeks.

"A-anyways, let's go. I will pay for the food!" Immediately Nora and Ruby hugged the red-haired warrior and all of them went out and let Mikhail sleep.

But "Guys," Pyrrha spoke up "I forgot something in my room, you can go. I meet you at the docks."

Her friends nodded.

"Be quick Pyrrha, pancakes are waiting for me!" Nora chirped and hopped happily away.

Pyrrha waved and waited a bit. She turned around and entered Team RRWBY's room. Mikhail gave her the code for the room, since they were friends.

She walked in and kneeled down; looking at Mikhail's sleeping face.

"You look so cute, when you are sleeping." She smiled and leaned forward, while touching his cheeks "You really helped me, today." Then she went with her hand through his hair "I never realized how soft your hair is." Pyrrha's cheeks became red "You are always there for me… you always make me smile…..and for that….thank you." She sighed "I never saw a sweet and caring person as you. You try your best and no one can bring you out of your pace…"

"Mmmh," Pyrrha's eye widened, when Mikhail turned around, still sleeping. Only then she noticed how close she was with her face to his "Mommy….." He murmured "I love you….."

The red-haired eye's widened "You really miss her don't you….?" She went closer and closer to his face "Still there is something I really wanted to tell you a long time ago." Pyrrha closed her eyes; her voice became soft "I love you, Mikhail Rose." And then…. she kissed him right on the lips.

XXX

Meanwhile "*Sigh*" Blake, who walked back in the dorms, sighed. She forgot to take her book, and since it would be loud and a little bit annoying, eating with her friends, she wanted at least taking something to calm herself.

She really liked her new friends, but sometimes, they could make her also really crazy.

"Hmm, why is the door open?" Blake slowly took a glance and then froze 'W-what!?' She saw it. Pyrrha was kissing Mikhail, while he was asleep.

Blake grabbed her chest, a stabbing pain went through her chest and heart, she felt….the Faunus couldn't describe what she just felt. It was a painful and hollow feeling, nothing she ever felt before. No injury she ever had was as painful as this feeling. Then Blake noticed that a tear coming out from her eye and then she turned around and ran away.

XXX

How many people have I killed?

How many towns and kingdoms and lands have I burned?

How many children have I taken from their parents?

How many parents have I taken from their children?

How many people have worshipped me, even though I am not a god?

How many years have I walked and fly on this earth?

How many times did I saw humanity's demise, its rise and fall?

How many times did I saw nothing but destruction?

How many years did I already live?

How many times did I survive battles?

How many times did I lose precious people?

How many times was I betrayed?

How many times…

I don't remember anymore…..

I am nothing, I have nothing, I own nothing…..

The only thing I remember was Zero…..Am I Zero…..since I am nothing?

Zero….I miss you…

The Land of People

November 4 — Cloudy, with Occasional Snow

I came across my first human village in a long time. It was small—maybe a hundred all told—but they seemed hardworking and honest. When they saw me, they began to call me their "divine guardian," which mostly meant listening to them complain all day. It seems having someone to talk to is a big deal for them. I can empathize. I look back fondly on some of my conversations with Zero—they helped me feel like I wasn't quite so alone in this world.

Hope you like it.

Didn't I promise that there will be drama? Don't worry, this is just the beginning.

Still looking for someone, who is willing to make this fic in a 'Reading Story'.

PM me if you are interested.

Khan