The next morning, grim woke up to neo poking a spoon in his face.
" bwah wha - what is it. Grim then opened his eyes and saw neo with a tray of scrambled eggs trying to feed him.
" Neo what are you doing here. Neo smiled as she set the spoon down and grabbed a fork, before feeding Grim and then signing to him.
" just feeding you breakfeast. Grim grumbled at this and pulled at his chains.
" as much as i enjoy you feeding me, i wish my hands were free. Neo smiled at his words and shrugged her shoulders.
" eh its not so bad i can feel your muscles up all i want to. Grim chuckled at neos words and raised an eyebrow.
" you know i like ruby right? Neo giggled and nodded as she fed him him some more eggs.
" of course I do its just fun to tease you. Grim snickered at this and shook his head.
" your such a troll, so hows roman. Neo shrugged as she thought then signed out her thoughts.
" hes okay, mostly trolling ironwood, oh and your dad showed up and threatened ironwood to. Grims eyes suddenly opened and he lurched up into a standing postion.
" my father was there!?, but then that means he was watching over me, how come he didn't save me? Neo frowned at grims words and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
" its not ideal i know, but grim therist may have been messing with you this hole time i have no idea what he has made cinder do or what he intends to do. Grim sighed at neos words and nodded.
" your probably right neo i shouldn't be so panicked right now. Neo smiled and kissed grims cheek before standing up.
" don't worry roman will bust you out when he gets back, he has a plan. Grim smiled at her words but sighed as he dropped his darkness sheild, allowing therist into the room.
" honestly i dont know why you block me out, i could just destroy your barrier, but its not like you could escape any way so who cares, now grim lets go for a walk i want to show you something. Therist then took off grims shackles and grabbed him before shadow travling to a secret room.
" welcome to my trophy room. Grim looked around the room in confusion only seeing nine hundred ninety eight masks.
"Grimm masks? Therist laughed at grims words and shook his head as he stepped up to the closest masks.
" not just grimm masks, my grand child, these are the masks of your kin, and this mask right here is your grandpas, ah yes Nexus reaper, he was such a thorn in my plans as well, thankfully one day my servant blaze fall found him, and then led a valarkar to his house. Grims eyes widened and he glared at therist.
" your a monster. Therist grinned at this but held up a hand for silence.
" hush now im not finished, so your father nocturne was fatherless just like you boy, and he was oh so ripe for the picking, however, unknown to me was that nexus had been educating your father on me so, when ebon fall befriended him and eventually betrayed him, he was ready and thus my plans were stalled, this as you could imagine made me very angry, so i gave your grandpa a slow agonizing death when the valakar brought him to my throne room, sure i may have been a spirit then , but watching some one get tortured to death just satisfys me. Grim growled at therist and punched him in the face making therist laugh as he backed up a step and whiped blood from his lips.
" oh you are a feisty one hmm good, see i don't need your father anymore, so you will be my heir once i'm done here. Therist then snapped his fingers and grims shackles came out of the shadows and dragged him back into his cell.
" don't worry, ill let you watch as i kill your friends. Therist then snapped his fingers again, and a tv apeared in grims room showing him amity coliseum.
" now if you don't mind, im going to be leaving the first round starts soon, tata for now. Therist then disapeared, leaving grim alone in his room, with his anger.
" DAMN YOU THERIST!
Meanwhile at beacon, teams Rwby and Jnpr were eating a sorrow filled breakfeast, when ozpins voice filled the room.
" greetings students, recently you all know how the grim reaper disapeared, while this is a tragedy, we must move on, today is the first day of the tournament, in the amity coliseum all of you must be prepared. Ozpin then turned around and sighed under his breath.
" may the light guide us. Ruby sighed as she ate her breakfeast and pushed the plate away.
" im going to go train. Ruby then disapeared in flash of rose petals as yang protested.
" ruby wait! Darn it. Weiss and blake turned to yang in concern after ruby left.
" is ruby going to be okay yang? Yang sighed and shrugged as she ate a pancake.
" I don't know, she understands whats going on this time around, i have no idea how shes taking this weiss. Blake
Frowned at her teamates words and looked across the room.
" perhaps we should go after her. Before another word could be said, jaune and his team walked over to them.
" hey i saw ruby leave is she okay? Yang sighed and shook her head no.
" probably not she left to go train. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes at this and frowned.
" if shes training instead of being around her team then she dosent want to talk, and that can be bad. Ren grunted at pyrrahs speech causing her to smile sheepishly at him.
" although i dont like to talk much i agree with pyrrah Rubys trying to avoid talking about grim. Nora sighed as she looked out the window.
" smashing things always makes me feel better. Everyone sweat dropped at noras words and yang coughed before changing the subject.
"Anyways the tournaments going to start soon so we better prepare anyways. Jaune smiled and nodded, before turning to his team.
" yeah i geuss your right come on lets go train. While the two groups headed off to train, raven was watching them from the shadows, until a finger touched her shoulder causing her to jump back and slash at who ever snuck up on her, only for her sword to meet a white scythe.
" i should have known youd be hiding in my shadow raven. Raven gasped and quickly tried to make a portal to escape but, the shadows quickly wrapped around her stopping her from escaping.
" let me go nocturne. Nocturne growled and pinned raven to a tree before tearing her mask off and staring her in the eyes.
" Not this time damn it, the last time i let you go on a solo mission you disapeared, followed up by summers death, you left your daughter alone. Raven smirked at nocturnes words and sneered.
" and you think your a better parent then me ha , please don't make me laugh. Nocturnes face morphed from angry, to sad, and then nothing under his mask as he turned away from raven who in turn, looked sorry.
" Nocturne wait i shouldn't have. Nocturne however held up a hand cutting raven off.
" no your right, i wasnt much of a father but that was for grims safety, i stayed away, because everyone im close to dies, my wife, ebon betrayed us all, you disapeared, and then summer. Raven nodded and looked downcast.
" i just wanted to protect all of you from what was coming. nocturne sighed as he set raven down and got ready to fly.
" well im going to go see if i can talk to grim good bye Raven. Raven nodded as she stood up and picked up her mask.
" you know where to find me.
Meanwhile, the tournament was getting under way, and ozpin was one of the announcers along with, ironwood, Qrow, and winter schnee.
" students, civillans, hunters,and huntresses, we are gathered here today to celebrate peace, unity, and duty, this tournament has been changed however now, this year all teams will be tested by a special type of grimm. Ironwood then spoke next as he stood up.
" we will be the judges, and will call the matchs based on how they are viewed. Qrow then spoke next as he stood up.
" first up will be team rwby and then team jnpr. Finally winter stood up and looked at everyone in the coliseum.
" good luck to you all and may the light guide you in your battles. The tournament then began on the first level of the coliseum, with ruby choosing to fight first.
" alright team wish me luck. Yang looked at ruby in concern and frowned.
" ruby are you sure your okay to do this. Ruby nodded and put on grims mask before grabbing both her own and a newly modified grims scythe.
" i know i can do this yang, now if you excuse me. Ruby then disapeared in a breeze of rose petals as she entered the coliseum, prompting ironwood to start talking.
" the grimm being shown here today, are known as grimmirror, they were widely known as the secret weapon of therist the reaper, since they can turn into what you fear the most. Ozpin then spoke up with a look of distaste.
" yes now let the first fight begin. The doors to the coliseum then opened and the glass like grimm jumped in Rwby grinned as she thought hard, and soon the Grimm transformed into therist.
" perfect, its pay back time you son of a bitch. Therist in the stands zoomed in on ruby at her words and chuckled under his breath.
" seems grims girlfriend has a
death wish on me hmm very well. The fake therist however, tilted his head and looked unsure making ruby chuckle.
" whats the matter is the mighty therist scared of a little girl? The real therist growled at this and smiled as the fake therist copied his powers and launched a shadow fist at ruby. However, to everyones surprise, ruby disapeared.
" heh your to slow. Ruby then suddenly reapeared in front of the fake therist, and slashed him across the chest causing him to fly back into the wall. The fake therist growled as he pulled himself out of the wall and slunk into the shadows as therist switched places with it.
" you sit in the stands and watch until i need you. As therist came out of the shadows he chucklef at rubys expression.
" you must be angry that i took your boyfriend from under your nose. Rubys eyes widened at therists words, and so to did the announcers eyes.
" you bastard don't you dare talk about what you've done. Therist chuckled at rubys words as they circled each other.
" oh i've done plenty to him, he'll have some nice scars when he heals, not to mention that i force him to watch this tournament. Instead of ruby attacking him like everyone expected, nocturne fired a shot from the stands hitting therist in the face and sending him into the wall as nocturne jumped down.
" hold your tongue you vile monster lest i cut it from your foul mouth. Ironwood interupted the fight however as he stood up.
" nocturne please sit back down thats not the real-. Nocturne however teleported in front of ironwood and put his scythe at his throat.
" listen here iron for brains, that is the real therist, only he would know how grim is being treated, and incase you dont remember dumbass, he can travel through shadows and break my barriers. Ironwood opened his mouth to speak but was cut off as Qrow laid a hand on his shoulder.
" nocturne let him go. Nocturne sighed and dropped nocturne before flying back over to his seat, however, his point had been made as, ozpin and qrow were suspicious, while winter was curious. Back in the fight, therist pulled himself out of the wall, and laughed as he cracked his neck.
" well i would of rather had you charge at me rose but getting nocturne mad was worth it now then shall we? Therist then extened his hand and a dozen shadow tentacles shot towards ruby. Ruby however, spun both hers, and grims scythes knocking them to the side. This however only delayed them as they came from above her instead forcing her to roll and then run to avoid them. Seeing therists control, ruby ran towards him, making him smirk as he started to have her shadow create spikes to try and stab her. However, therist was surprised when rubys speed increased as she buzzed right over him, causing his own shadows to slam him into the wall. Therist growled at his fake attack as he pulled his breaker blade from the shadows, shining in its evil glory as a light black maiasma surronded it.
" no more games little girl now we get serious. Ruby grinned as she pushed a button on grims scythe and the nevermores claw fused with the crescent rose, to make a scythe out of both weapons.
" oh i agree lets see how my upgrades work out. Ruby then began to rapid fire her new weapon at therist making him growl as it fired fast and strong rounds at him.
" Damn it thats good your a pain in my ass. Ruby smiled as she threw the empty clip sling to the ground and chopped it up.
" oh just you wait its not over yet. Ruby then disapeared in a blur of red as she began to ran around in a circle. Therist was at first confused by her actions, but his eyes narrowed as he began to think and figured out what she was doing.
" damn you to hell you little bit-. Before therist could finished his sentence he was sucked up into a tornado that formed from ruby, as she jumped out, and shot the mags causing the tornado to catch on fire. However to everyones surpirse, therist exploded out of the tornado with shadows.
"Bitch! That actually hurt, no one hurts me and lives to tell about it. Therist then lashed his arms forward and sent a hail of shadows at ruby, but to both their surprises, she blocked the attack. Therist growled as he recalled his shadows and looked at rubys new scythe closley watching his shadows being devoured by it.
" hmph so it seems your boyfriends weapon has saved you from a quick death, a pity looks like we'll have to go with the slow way then. Therist then shadow travled behind ruby, and tried to cut her in half, but ruby knew his tricks now and spun around in time to block.
" not this time therist. Therist smirked as he spun around ruby and sliced at her back, only for her to flip her scythe and knock his sword away with the handle, before spinning around, and flashing her cloak into therists face, confusing him long enough for ruby to kick him in the face and send him to the ground. However therist didn't stay down long, as he rolled away before ruby could drive her scythe into his chest. Therist then used his shadows to grab a dust crystal that was in the ground, and chunked the huge shard at ruby luckily, ruby slashed the shard away from her and into the ground, causing smoke to rise up in front of her. However, this time ruby took up the offemce, as she threw her scythe through the smoke giving therists only seconds to block the scythe and send it back. Ruby however pressed her advantage and fired right on therits, as she jumped through the smoke, and intercepted her scythe. Therist un ready for this attack, was pushed back into the fire dust area, and a cloud of smoke arose from his impact. When the smoke cleared, the girmmor was in the spot instead of therist, therist having switched spots when the smoke arose, now wary of rubys skill.
" watch that one close cinder she is not to be toyed with. Cinder nodded and growled as she looked at her master.
" how dare she make a fool out of you. Therist chuckled at cinders anger and petted her head.
" oh don't worry i have something special planned when we get home. Therist then turned and watched as ruby threw her scythe and impaled the grimmor to the wall killing it, and ending the match causing the crowd to cheer and clap. Ruby then un fused her scythe and nodded to the announcers before heading back to her team.
Next up will be yang Xiao long les see if she has what it takes to face her fear. As ruby walked down the hallway she saw yang coming, and she pulled her into a hug.
" i'll be okay yang do good out there for me. Yang smiled softley at her sister and hugged her back.
" i will but are you sure your going to be okay? Ruby nodded and smiled as she turned away.
" ill be fine big sis you just worry about yourself yang smirked at rubys retreating form and began to walk away as well.
" will do little sis. As yang got ready to fight, ozpin was talking to Qrow.
" so have you gotten any new informtation. Qrow shook his head and looked uncertain i can't say yet it isn't safe here. Ozpin nodded and sighed as he looked at his fellow announcers.
" i only hope we can keep everything together. Qrow nodddd and watched ruby sit up in the stands in concern.
" my neice has changed. Ozpin hummed at this and nodded as he turned to look at ruby.
" indeed she has, losing grim was a big factor in this change, along with meeting nocturne. Qrow nodded at ozpins words and then sighed at nocturnes name.
" he still blames himself?
Ozpin nodded as he looked at a distressed nocturne in the crowd.
" he always will, he and summer were best friends after all, pratically family. Qrow nodded and sighed as he pulled out a flask and emptied it.
" this is going to be a long day. Meanwhile, as yangs match got ready to start nocturne went to check on ruby.
" hey ruby you okay? Ruby took off grims mask and smiled at nocturne as she nodded.
" yeah that fight was just what i needed that grimm however seemed to real. Nocturne nodded and stroked his chin.
" well they are supposed to make the real deal, still i wouldnt be surprised if therist sent it information hes a cruel man. Ruby nodded and scowled at the next grimmor.
" yes i agree, so how are you feeling nocturne. Nocturne shrugged as he watched yang come into the light.
" ok i geuss im more focused on our own security then myself. Ruby nodded and remained silent as yangs match began. As yang stepped into the coliseum, the grimmor smelled the air and thought for a second before turning into a nightmarish version of neo. Yang clenched her teeth and her fists as she walked forward slowly, the nightmare neo grinned at yang as its eyes glowed black and red.
" tch your nothing but a cheap copy. Nightmare neo giggled at this and drew her sword from her umbrella causing yang to narrow her eyes. Then to everyones surprise, the nightmare neo charged first, and quickley swung her sword at yangs head. Yang was ready however, as she brought her gauntlents up, and blocked the strike sending her back with her boots dragged through the dirt. Nightmare neo noticing this licked her lips and grinned a full pointed grin at yang and circled around her.
Yang not liking this, kicked a dust crystal of ice up from the ground before firing on it causing a shroud of steam to rise up. Nightmare neos grin faded at this, as she now uncertainly looked through the steam. Yang chose this moment, to charge forward, and caught nightmare neo off guard as a punch landed on her face before yang jumped back into the smoke.
" you bitch your going to pay for that. As nightmare neo rubbed her face and tried to look around, yang kicked her in the back before, slamming a fist into her gut and sending her into the air. When nightmare neo came back down, the steam had faded allowing her to glare at yang.
" i will enjoy killing you. Yang smirked at her words and tilted her head.
" oh? And how will you do that without your weapon. Nightmare neo growled as she saw her sword behind yang and ran forward. Seeing this, yang ran forward as well, and made the mistake of locking eyes with nightmare neo, which allowed her to easily dodge and slip past yang as she grabbed her sword. Yang growled and her eyes glowed red as she walked towards nightmare neo while nightmare neo walked with a smug grin.
" its time to end this. Yang growled at Nightmare neos words and began to sprint as she got closer and closer to her enemy. As the two oppenets clashed, a loud metalic clang filled the air before they seperated and attacked each other again. Yang, was mostly on the defensive blocking all of neos strikes at her stomach or chest, while nightmare neo tried to find a gap in her defenses.
" well seems like the hot head is good when shes angry, but are you good enough. Nightmare Neo lifted her leg then, and tripped yang before, trying to chop her head off. But yang seeing this, fired into the ground sending her up into the air and knocking nightmare neo off balance as she sliced of some of yangs hair. From the air, yang spotted her strands of hair as they fell to the ground, and got even angrier as she seemed to catch on fire.
" you cut my hair! Thats it your dead! Yang then fired her gauntlents behind her into the sky, before shooting down like a spinning fire ball at nightmare neo. Knowing that she didnt have enough time to dodge, nightmare neo held her blade out in front of her and tried to block yangs attack, but failed as yangs feet slammed into her sword with explosive force and sent nightmare neo through one of the many boulders in the coliseum. As yang calmed down she smiled at the damage she caused before walking towards nightmare neo.
" your not as the real deal are you. Nightmare neo growled at yangs words as she stood up, ignoring her bruises and wounds, as she forward to stab yang. Yang however was ready, as she brought her gauntlent into nightmare neos sword, destroing it, and allowing yangs fist to hit nightmare neos face causing the grimmor to unstabalize and burst into a bright yellow flame. The crowd then once again began to clap and cheer while therist hissed from his seat.
" this team RWBY are they the ones that caused you so many problems. Cinder nodded as she clapped and watched as yang left.
" yes they are quite a formidable team. Therist studied the board and looked at the members of team Rwby before laughing,confusing cinder.
" Oh thats precious their the new replacements for team QRST. Cinder raised an eyebrow at this and tilted her head.
" is that a bad thing. Therist chuckled bitterly and nodded.
" team QRST was the team nocturne protected, they can be a match to me at this point in time since i don't have my full strength back yet, and this team RWBY seems to be just as much of a threat. Cinder nodded and glared at the picture of team RWBY.
" so are we making a small change to our plan then. Therist grinned and nodded as he stared at the board with hatred.
" yes indeed we are, no matter what happens in this tournament, i still win at the end. Meanwhile after the mess had been cleaned up, ozpin spoke up.
" well i hope you all enjoyed the first two fights, but now its time for dinner, the final two fights of the night will be weiss schnee and blake belladona, may the light be in your favor. With that, most civillans, and teams left to go get something to eat, while therist and cinder headed back to base.
" cinder grab your scroll I have a message to send. Cinded nodded and did as her master asked before he dismissed her.
" now go get something to eat dear, i can do this alone. Cinder bowed and then left, while therist brought out a tray with weapons on it, and walked torwards grims room whistleing a chilling tune. Meanwhile, back at beacon, team RWBY was enjoying their dinners and talking about their fights so far.
" fighting that therist was weird right, he seemed like the real deal, and even insulted nocturne. Weiss nodded and scowled and as she thought.
" He seemed to know to much, and seemed like he was protecting his image. Blake nodded agreeing with weiss before her bow twitched.
" but if he was real why did the grimmor apear at the end instead of him. Yang shrugged and grinned as she hugged ruby in pride.
" well hes got powers like grim, it wouldnt surprise me if he switched out, but hey he must of thought ruby was good if he ran. Ruby blushed at her sisters praise and shrugged agreement.
" yes i must admit you fought smart yang. Yang smiled at their words and looked at blake and weiss.
" so what do you think you two are going to face. Both weiss and blake looked uncomfortable at this, but before they could speak scrolls and tvs everywhere activated, and therists message played. On the screen therist could be seen talking to grim.
" so you thought i wouldn't know you've been re-assuring your friends, tucking summers brat in, helping her deflect shadows, and making her feel better, well i know, and its time you were punished. Grim said nothing at therists words and therist grinned as he turned to his audience.
" greetings four kingdoms and in case any of you fools forgot me, i am therist Reaper, and this is my great grand grim at the moment, he is being stubborn but, i don't care because if i can't make him talk then i'll make him scream. Therist then reached to his side and pulled out a cylinder before pressing a button on it, and turning it into a whip of fire.
" now then grim you have one more chance to speak. Grim grinned, and looked up at therist.
" go fuck yourself. Therist chuckled at grims reply.
" poor choice of words boy. Therist then reared back his arm, and slammed the whip hard into grims back causing a loud hiss of burning skin to be heard.
" scream you whelp and i will stop. Therist then proceeded to whip grim for two minutes, leaving a total of twenty long burn marks on grims back.
" hmm seems your used to being hurt arn't you? Very well then. Therist then grabbed a dagger from the tray and pushed a button on it causing the tip to become white hot.
" now then, one last chance beg for mercy. Grim growled and spat in therists face making therist chuckle before ramming the knife into grims side making him cry out in pain.
" suffer for a little while grim then mabye i'll heal you. Therist then grinned as he shut off his scroll, shocking everyone who watched the torture.
"Oh my god Ruby are you-. Yang was however cut off from speaking as only roses were in her place. Meanwhile in the skys of the grimm zone. Nocturne was currently flying in the sky when ruby pulled up next to him on a teenage ranma.
" Ruby what are you doing here. Ruby growled as she looked at nocturne and put grims mask on her face.
" you know damn well why im out here. Nocturne winced at her tone and nodded.
" okay so the both of us are out here for revenge,but ruby this is next to a suicide mission. Ruby growled as she fused her and grims scythes togther and petted ranma.
" i don't care i just want to make that bastard pay for hurting grim. Nocturne sighed and nodded at ruby in agreement.
" very well we will go together in the morning when therist is most likly not there. Ruby nodded and landed ranma as they made camp.
" what about my team they still have fights. Nocturne chuckled and messed up rubys hair.
" they won't need until two days from now ruby we will be fine now get some rest. Ruby nodded and sighed as she laid down on ranma.
" i hope we can save you grim.
Meanwhile back at beacon, a distressed team Rwby was in ozpins office talking about what happened.
" so what do we do? Ozpin smiled as he drank his coffe and raised an eyebrow.
"Why we wait of course and before you argue, this is something ruby needs to deal with how she does that is up to her, now then anything else,now then we will postpone your fights for now but, first thing in the morning is the new time.