Hey guys sorry for the wait but I've finally got back into the mood for writing again. As usually thanks to Tommy2486 andanimatwin for the help. For some reason this chapter was a real struggle to write though so it might not be as good as the usual ones and for that I apologise.
Guest (the only one that wasn't a flamer)- I'm impressed you're correct with your theory on how Remnant and Earth aura interact with each other and that will become a plot point later on. I have also thought of a good way of explaining it so you don't need to worry about that.
I don't own RWBY which is probably for the best.
Red was walking down the halls of Beacon in search for her friends when she heard the sound of Weiss screaming. 'Wonder what could make the Ice Queen react like that? Whatever it is I need to learn how to do it,' she thought with smirk. Entering the library she saw her friends all gathered around a table seemingly engrossed in conversation instead of playing their board game.
"…confront her about it?" said Pyrrha as Red approached the group.
"Confront who about what?" asked Red.
Everyone jumped at the sound of her voice before spinning around to face her with mixed expressions of guilt, shock and suspicion. Red flinched slightly under the gaze of so many eyes and resisted the urge to put her hood up, expecting the one way staring contest to end quickly. But after a couple of minutes of no one saying anything and continuing to stare she felt a worryingly familiar feeling wash over her.
Red cocked her head in confusion, "umm...why is everyone staring at me?"
Yang was the first one to snap out of their apparent daze as she gestured for Red to take a seat next to her. Deciding she didn't really have a choice Red reluctantly took the offered seat, trying to ignore the feeling of multiple eyes staring at her. Taking a look at the board game in front of her Red smiled as recognition flashed in her eyes.
"Sweet a Remnant version of Risk I'm so playing next round," she exclaimed, a predatory glint now in her eyes.
"Oh ho so confident are you? Well in that case how about a little bet? If I win you have to do something for me," challenged Yang.
"And if I win?" asked Red.
"If you win Weiss has to buy you as many cookies as you want for the rest of the year," replied Yang with a wide grin.
"Hey!" protested Weiss before a glare from Blake shut her up.
"Deal!" cried Red, much to Weiss' dismay.
"You can't have a game with only two players mind if I join? After all with two pros like yourselves a newbie like me shouldn't make much difference," asked Neptune while Sun hid the grin spreading across his face.
An oblivious Red just grinned, "by all means please do, the more the merrier."
The three of them cleared the current game off the board and as they were setting up a new game Red's smile widened as thoughts of cookies filled her head. 'These chumps don't stand a chance against my skill and aura. Sorry Weiss but I have a feeling the Schnee company is about to go bankrupt,' she thought gleefully. The game started off natural enough with all three players beginning to conquer their chosen continent Red even managed to take the extra one with little effort. Deciding to take out the newbie first she invaded Neptune's kingdom only to have her entire army destroyed by one of his trap cards, which Yang took advantage of immediately.
"You're no novice you tricked me," she glared at her blue haired opponent.
"Whatever do you mean?" replied Neptune with a triumphant smile as he and Yang began assaulting her holdings.
Watching as her army was destroyed by the two players Red frowned, "alright then fine! I'll take both you cheaters on and still come out on top," she growled.
It was a false claim and everyone knew it and before long Red rested her head on the floor with tears streaming down her face, "goodbye my lifetime supply of cookies," she sobbed.
Yang grinned, "you lost the bet sis time to pay up."
"Have you no heart! Tricking your innocent little sister like this," cried Red.
"All's fair in love and war," replied Yang.
"Grr…fine what do you want?" groaned Red.
"Simple," said Yang as she leaned on the table, looking at her with a serious expression. "You just have to answer some questions."
"Ok shoot," said Red confidently.
Everyone was silent and watched as Yang began her interrogation, "first did you know about us before you arrived on Remnant?"
Red felt blood drain from her face, 'do they know? But there's no way I never mentioned it, did I? Alright I'll bluff my way through this, after all I've had practice.' Taking a deep breath she plastered a confused expression on her face, "what kind of silly question is that? Of course not."
"Oh really," commented Yang the disbelief clear in hear voice. "So how did you know Blake was a Faunus before she even told us?"
Red felt a drop of sweat run down her neck, "I saw her bow twitch when there wasn't any wind blowing plus her eyes didn't look the same as the rest of you," she lied.
"Then how did you know about the Shipyard incident?" continued Yang.
"My aura told me. I just sort of knew what was happening," replied Red with a sheepish grin.
Yang sighed at the lack of progress before Sun spoke up, "hey Red what's my name?"
"Sun what kind of question is that?" responded Red with a confused expression.
"Just answer the question Red," he replied, seriously.
"Sun Wukong," answered the reaper.
Sun nodded as a thoughtful expression crossed his face, "and how did you know my name?"
Red frowned, "I told you I overheard the others talking about you."
Sun gave a triumphant grin as he walked over to her, "so you're saying that you overheard your teammates talking about me?"
"Yes…" she said, confused about what the Faunus was up to.
"Well isn't that strange because I never told any of your teammates my last name," replied the Faunus.
There was silence as everyone turned to face Red, whom just blinked owlishly as she tried and failed to come up with an excuse. "Well would you look at the time I just remembered I had an appointment with Ozpin cya guys," she said, attempting to flee the table only to be pushed back down by a grinning Sun.
"Give it up Red there's no point in hiding it anymore," commented Sun.
Red just sighed, "alright what do you want to know?"
Yang leaned forward eagerly, "everything."
"So this 'DVD' was a record of our time during the first semester of Beacon?" questioned Weiss in disbelief.
"Pretty much although it mostly highlighted key events; the initiation, Forever Falls, the Shipyards. Granted most of those events changed due to some meddling on my part but the basis was the same so I had an idea how everything would play out…sort of," nodded Ruby.
'That explains how she knew about my past,' thought Blake as Ruby went on to explain how things were different in this DVD. When the Faunus heard what Penny was capable of she made a mental note to be wary of the girl from now on, after all the ability to destroy a Bullhead in one hit is nothing to be scoffed at. Still she was slightly upset to hear that Ruby didn't know what the White Fang's plans were, only that they were being used as pawns by Roman and his trio of conspirators.
"Ruby do you have any idea who Roman's accomplices are?" she asked, hopefully.
The reaper frowned before shaking her head, "I've tried frequently to remember but I can't, it's like the memories are gone. All I know is that one of them fought Ruby when she stopped Roman's robbery and had glowing eyes."
The Faunus glanced at Yang, 'partial memory loss another symptom to add to the checklist,' she thought sadly. Still the idea that someone was using her former comrades as tools made her blood boil and while the information Ruby had provided wasn't much it was still a lead, besides there couldn't be that many humans helping the White Fang.
"Umm Ruby did the DVD cover my…circumstances?" asked Jaune.
Ruby's expression softened, "yes and I stand by what I said before Jaune, you're not a coward, a bit of a dork sure, but you care for your friends when it counts and that makes you more than worthy of being here."
The rest of the group keep looking between the two friends in complete confusion while a grateful expression crossed Jaune's face, "thanks Ruby I really appreciate it."
Deciding she'd spent enough time socializing Blake got up from the table and headed to her dorm, leaving her friends very concerned as they watched her go. Sun looked ready to go up and follow her when he was stopped by Ruby who just shook her head in silence. Getting the message Sun sat down with a sigh as Blake left the library.
"Hey guys what's wrong with Blake?" he asked, concerned.
"She's been acting odd for a while now especially when I'm not around," agreed Ruby.
Yang and Weiss shared a glance, "she just doesn't want you to worry Ruby that's all," replied Yang.
"But why would she care about only me unless…oh God don't tell me Ladybug is canon!" exclaimed Ruby as a horrified expression crossed her face.
The reaper then turned to the monkey Faunus next to her, "Sun we are hooking you up with Blake as soon as possible this is non-negotiable understand?" she stated, seriously.
Everyone stared at Ruby in silence at her declaration, meanwhile Sun was struggling to keep a blush off his face as blood rushed to his head. Suddenly Yang fell to the ground rolling in laughter at the sight of her little sister causing the exhibitionist Sun to blush. This was quickly followed by Neptune who yanked out his scroll before snapping a picture, much to his teammate's horror whom preceded to chase the blue haired boy out of the library.
"Come on we better go check on Blake," said Weiss as she and the rest of team RWBY got up from the table and headed to their dorms.
As they entered their dorm the rest of team RWBY saw Blake curled up on her bed, upon seeing them enter however she got up and walked to the door. Red made sure to keep a weary distance as the Faunus passed her.
"Stop!" ordered Weiss, causing the Faunus to halt at the door. "Ever since we got back you've been quite, antisocial and moody."
"Ahh…have you met Blake?" interrupted Yang as Red snickered softly in the background.
The heiress just ignored the two sisters as she continued, "which I get is kind of your 'thing' but you've been doing it more than usual."
Both the sisters were quite as Blake turned around to face Weiss, "which quite frankly, is unacceptable! You made a promise to me, to all of us, that you would let us know if something was wrong!"
"I know you think you're doing what's best for…us," said Weiss in a quite voice as she quickly glanced at Red, who hid behind Yang as Blake followed her gaze. "But it's causing more harm than good."
"So Blake Belladonna, what is wrong!?" cried Weiss as she flipped into the air and landed on a chair, leaving a stunned Yang applauding softly while Red held up a 10 sign.
Weiss quickly ended her balancing act as she put the chair back and stood by Red as Blake gave them all a guilty expression, "I just, I don't understand how everyone can be so calm," admitted the Faunus.
Red walked up, "you're still think about Torchwick and his friends?"
"Torchwick, the White Fang, Earth, all of it! Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it!" vented the Faunus.
"Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it," assured Yang.
"Well I'm not! They don't know the White Fang like I do!" argued Blake.
Weiss turned to her teammates only to see both Red and Yang with thoughtful expressions on their faces, "Okay, between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, and fighting for freedom, I'm sure the three of you think that you're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells!"
"Don't forget travelling to other worlds," pointed out Red smugly.
Weiss just rolled her eyes, "But let me once again be the voice of reason. We're students! We're not ready to handle this sort of situation!"
"Oh come on Weiss we have a score to settle with Roman after all the trouble he's caused us," pouted Red.
"We're not ready!" repeated the heiress firmly.
"And we may never be ready! Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for graduation day. They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move, and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not!" yelled Blake.
"Weiss she's right Roman will only get worse if we leave him to his own devices. Besides there's an old saying from Earth: 'the best defense is a good offense,'" agreed Red.
"I'm in, anything to get back at him," said Yang as they all turned to the heiress.
Weiss sighed, "alright fine if we're going to do this I suppose we should do it together."
"And so the hunt begins," grinned Red with a manic look in her eyes.
"Wait! I left my board game back in the library," exclaimed Yang.
Everyone just face palmed as they stared at the blonde, "we're doomed," groaned Weiss.
"I'll go get it be back in a minute or two," announced Red as she activated her semblance.
As she sped out of the room her aura instantly warned her of an incoming threat, having no time to stop Red infused her legs with aura before leaping over the danger. Landing in a roll she placed a hand on Crescent Rose before spinning around to confront this new threat, only to find herself looking at the surprised face of a green haired girl. Red frowned as she steadied her heart rate and got out of her combat stance, 'I could have sworn my aura detected danger nearby…maybe it was wrong.'
The sound of the girl clearing her throat snapped Red back to the present, "right sorry about that I didn't hurt you did I?" she apologized.
The green haired girl shook her head as her grey haired partner walked up, "you jumped over me before we collided. I must say you have some impressive reflexes," she congratulated Red.
"Uh thanks I'm Red," she replied, sticking out her hand.
For a minute there seemed to be a flash of recognition in the green girl's eyes but it was gone in an instant, "I'm Emerald and this idiot beside me is Mercury," introduced Emerald.
"Says the one who called a cat a rat," scoffed Mercury as Emerald's expression darkened.
"So are you guys from one of the new schools I don't remember ever seeing you around," asked Red curiously.
"Visiting from Haven actually," came a third voice.
Emerald and Mercury parted to reveal a third women with long black hair that was covering left half of her face walking up to Red. Upon seeing her Red felt pain lance through her head causing her to groan and rub her temples, willing the headache to go away. Looking at the third girl again Red had a strange sense of déjà vu as their eyes met before her aura again blared another warning across her mind, causing Red to frown in confusion.
"You alright?" asked Emerald confused.
Red shook her head, "a just a headache I'm used to them by now. So you're from Haven huh? That's cool a couple of my friends are from there, but you know that exchange students have their own dorms right?" she replied.
Mercury shrugged, "I guess we just got lost."
"Ah," nodded Red in understanding. "Yeah I can relate I lost track of how many times I got lost when I first got here. Your building is just east of here."
The green and grey haired teens nodded as they walked pass her while the third thanked her as she walked off. Watching them leave Red's smile dropped to a worried frown, there was something about those three that just didn't sit right with her or her aura. Deciding that she didn't have time to investigate transfer students Red made a note to keep an eye on them, maybe ask Sun and Neptune about them, before rushing off to the library.
As the trio arrived at their room Emerald frowned, "so that was Roman's former protégé?" she asked.
Mercury grinned, "from what I've heard she certainly lives up to his reputation."
Cinder looked up from her bed with an intrigued expression, "do tell," she purred.
Taking a seat on his new bed Mercury's grin widened, "she's developed a reputation among the students for scamming so many people that even Roman would be impressed."
"Secondly her fighting ability is meant to be incredible as well, the staff don't let her and her sister fight anymore as every time they did they destroyed the combat room. Lastly apparently both Ozpin and Ironwood have taken a keen interest in her," he informed them.
Cinder frowned, "I want you both to watch her carefully we can't let her interfere with the plan."
Emerald cocked her head in confusion, "but why we already know what she's capable of thanks to Roman."
"We know what her Remnant aura is capable of but we know next to nothing on the abilities her Earth aura gives her, we need a specialist here someone to act as an adviser. Besides I don't like the way she looked at me, it looked like she was trying to remember me from somewhere," replied Cinder.
Emerald and Mercury blinked, "really? I didn't notice," said the green hair girl.
Mercury nodded, "she just seemed like an idiotically naïve girl to me," he agreed.
Cinder gave a dark chuckle, "that was all an act and a very good one I might add. The fact that you two failed to pick up on it only makes her more dangerous."
Their expression hardening the two subordinates nodded, "understood ma'am we'll keep an eye on her," replied Emerald.
"Shouldn't be too hard we share most of the classes with her anyway. I can't wait to see how she fights," commented an eager Mercury.
I want to point out that I have nothing against Ladybug shippings but it was just an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. So Cinder and Red have finally met and both are suspicious of the other. Wonder how this will turn out. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.