Author's Note: Ok so apparently I can't leave Links on my posts. Still, go check out Akuoreo and MSFHighWraith on Deviantart, if you like their work consider becoming a Patron to them over on .
Anywho this chapter will be skipping over the Vytal Ball arc as I don't see how I could add to that, and I am trying to get to the end of Volume 3 as quickly as possible while touching on all the major arcs. I think we all know how the story goes so I don't want to just go back over the story we've already experienced before. The real meat of this story will come after the climax of Volume 3, that's where I really get to test my writing skills, as we'll finally be leaving the safety net of the story of RWBY and finally get into the Magic the Gathering section of the story, no safety bars there, I'll have to create a story and everything that goes with it on my own. We'll also get to see a few major players in the story of MTG, some of whom Stone is familiar with, including a certain being similar to Ozpin in age. And we'll see how Team RWBYS can alter the outcome of some stories in MTG.
I am also going to give writing a fight scene a shot, cause I've noticed Stone hasn't really gotten to showcase the extent of his magical and fighting skills, I feel this fanfic has been a bit dull so far, just people talking mostly. It'll be a good experience to at least try it. Also, we'll be getting to see Stone's Semblance in the next chapter or two, so there's something to look forward to.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying this fanfic, and I'll continue to update it as often as I can. As always, feel free to leave a review with any comments, concerns, or recommendations or ideas you have for the story, and if you notice a continuity/logical error in my story, leave a review with what it is and I'll correct it and leave you a shoutout on that chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 6:
The Matter of Mana
It had been a couple weeks since Weiss and Blake had their spat, and Team RWBYS had grown from the experience. The Team had grown closer and the girls began to notice something peculiar, Stone had been leaving the dorm for extended periods at night, an hour maybe an hour and a half at most. The girls thought he was just going out for late night walks, but this time had been the longest, nearly 3 hours. Stone had been surprised when he walked into the dorm room. He thought he was as quiet as possible, but here were all four of his teammates, looking at him, wondering where he had been for the past few hours.
"Well? Out with it." Weiss said, impatiently.
Stone sighed "Ok, so Ruby, do you remember when I told you Ozpin's been paying me to help him with something?" asking the silver eyed girl, to which she nods.
"Well this was that, and thankfully it's the last time I'll have to help him, what I was helping him with is complete." He said, tail drooping on the ground from exhaustion.
"And just what was he having you help with?" Yang asks.
"Well he wouldn't tell me all the details, but has this plan that requires a massive amount of mana, so he was having me draw mana from Remnant and funnel it to a big crystal." Stone says.
"That's what you use for your magic right?" Blake questions.
"Yes, but I haven't gone into depth with how mana works have I?" Stone asks.
"Nope." Yang replies.
"Well no time like the present," Stone starts, "There are five colors of mana, White, Black, Green, Blue, and Red. Each of the colors has a connection to a specific type of nature, White is connected to the Plains and Prairies, Black the Swamps and Mires, Green the Forests and Thickets, Blue the Oceans and Islands, and Red the Mountains and Crags. Every being in the multiverse has at least access to one of these colors."
"What colors are you connected to?" Blake asks, cocking her head to the side.
"I draw my power from the Plains, the Mountains, and the Forests. So I'm connected to White, Red, and Green. Although just because they're my colors doesn't mean they're better than the others, every color has its strengths and weaknesses." He replies.
"Can… you tell what colors we are?" Ruby says, looking curiously.
"I could try, I've met plenty of people across the multiverse and have learned how to detect what mana a person or thing is connected to," Stone says, "just give me your hands and I'll see if I can sense what mana you use. One at a time please." He says, reaching out his hand, to which Ruby is the first one to take him up on his offer.
Feeling her hand and sensing the mana flowing through her, he comes to a conclusion, "Your colors are… Red and Blue. Fitting for you." Stone says. Ruby looks a bit confused
"Why do you say that?" She asks.
"Well the colors don't just represent nature, they represent feelings, emotions, and concepts too. Blue represents curiosity and Red represents passion. And combined they represent discovery." Stone says.
"Ok me next!" Yang says enthusiastically. Stone touching her hand and feeling for her mana.
"Red and Green, again fitting. Those two represent freedom." Stone says.
"Huh, I can get behind that." Yang replies.
Blake steps forward and holds out her hand next.
"Green and Black, the embodiment of the circle of life." Stone says. Blake looked satisfied with her colors.
Weiss looks a bit hesitant but finally pipes up, "Ok fine, do me." She says holding out her hand, which Stone touches.
"Hmm… White and Black. The colors of Peace and Law, and Corruption and Death, a balance between light and darkness." Stone says, but Weiss snatches her hand away.
"Corruption and Death?! What do you mean Corruption and Death?! I can't be connected to Black!" Weiss says, astonished.
"Calm down Weiss, Black isn't an evil color just because of those two aspects. Black represents death and corruption, yes, but it also represents ambition, self interest, and satisfaction." Stone says, trying to calm her down.
"I still don't like it." Weiss retorts, pouting a bit.
"But what do your colors represent? You said we're all connected to two colors, but you said you were connected to three." Blake asks.
"My colors, being Red, White, and Green, represent the desire to protect both life and everything I hold dear." Stone says passionately, his wings raised and tail flicking behind him. The girls look unimpressed at this display.
In this display, the dragon's legs give out underneath him. He falls to the floor face first.
"Stone!" Ruby says, running to him, only to see he's fallen fast asleep.
"He's out cold." Ruby says, the other three girls sigh.
"Ugh, get him to his bed, it's late enough as is." Weiss says annoyed.
X
Four members of Team RWBYS sit in the cafeteria of Beacon Academy, Stone had still been asleep when they woke up and it looked like he wasn't getting up anytime soon, so they decided to let him sleep for a little longer. Ruby is beginning to make an announcement to the Team when they see the doors of the cafeteria open, seeing Stone walk through. He heads to get some food, and sits down with his team.
"Mornin." Stone says groggily, taking a bite of toast.
"Well look who's up." Ruby says in a mocking tone.
"If you couldn't tell I had a bit of a rough night last night, so yeah, I slept in a bit." Stone retorted.
"Anyway, I was just about to say that we should have as much fun as we can today, and I've got it all in this binder." Ruby says.
"Did you steal my binder?" Weiss questions.
"I am not a crook." Ruby says in a low voice, putting up two peace signs. Stone recognizes the gesture and raises an eyebrow.
"Wait, how do you know who… nevermind." Stone begins but stops, taking another bite of his breakfast.
"What are you talking about Ruby?" Blake asks.
"I'm talking about starting the new semester off with a bang!" Ruby excitedly says.
"I always kick my semesters off with a Yang. Eh? Am I right guys?" Yang jokes, getting hit in the face lightly with an apple.
"Boooooooooooooo!" Nora Valkyrie yells from another table.
"Look guys, it's been a good two weeks, and between more exchange students and the tournament at the end of the semester, our second semester is going to be great! But classes start tomorrow, which is why I've taken the time to schedule a series of wonderful events for us to do today!" Ruby says excitedly
"I don't know whether to be proud or scared of what you have in store." Weiss says.
Yang glares at Nora, picking up an apple and throwing it in her direction, only to hit a bystander, Nora giggling at this result.
"I don't know, I think I might sit this one out." Blake says
"Sit out or not, I think that however we spend this last day, we should do it as a team." Weiss says to Blake, "I for one think that…" she starts before getting hit in the face by a pie.
Stone finishes eating his breakfast and begins to get up, "I'll sit this one out, let me know when you're done." he says taking his tray to the bin and walking outside.
The sounds of fight come from the cafeteria, and a moment afterwards a stream of students comes pouring from the hall in a panic as the sounds of battle begin coming from the hall. A minute or two after the fight had begun, Stone hears a crashing sound coming from the ceiling of the hall, hearing Yang screaming as she flew higher and higher into the atmosphere.
While waiting for the food fight to conclude Stone notices two people walking towards the cafeteria, one he recognized as Sun Wukong, but the other he did not, a young man with blue hair. Sun walks up and greets Stone.
"Hey Stone, what's going on in there?" Sun asks.
"From what I've heard, the biggest food fight of all time." He replies
Just as he replies to Sun's question Glynda Goodwitch and Ozpin appear from around the corner, Glynda storms into the cafeteria, with Ozpin and Stone following behind her, stopping the food fight.
"Children please, do not play with your food." She says, using her semblance to fix the hall to what it was.
Team JNPR and the four members of Team RWBYS attempt to compose themselves, and fail miserably. Yang finally falls back into the cafeteria screaming all the while, she stands up and gives a thumbs up to Glynda.
"Well now you know how it feels Yang." Stone says, smirking. Yang and the other four teammates begin laughing at this,
Glynda grumbles a bit and begins to approach the two teams, before Ozpin puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Let it go." He says.
Glynda sighs "They're supposed to be the defenders of the world."
"And they will be, but for now they're still young, so why not let them play the part. After all, they won't have that luxury for long." Ozpin replies.
X
After this the weeks went by fast for Team RWBYS. Preparations for the Vytal Festival had begun in earnest, Headmaster of Atlas Academy, General James Ironwood, had arrived with the Vytal Arena with three Atlas Airships in tow. Blake and Sun had infiltrated a White Fang recruitment meeting and the Team had a run in with the criminal Roman Torchwick in a stolen Atlesian Paladin Mech, and the Vytal Festival Ball had come and gone with little incident, although Beacon's main tower had been breached by an unknown person that eluded capture, one Ruby was familiar with. Ruby had been called up to Ozpin's office for a meeting about just that topic and now she was heading back to the dorm room of Team RWBYS knowing more about the recent White Fang attacks.
As Ruby opens the door to the dorm room, seeing her teammates milling about the room, chatting amongst themselves, their attention is drawn to Ruby as she walks in.
"What happened?" Yang asks.
Ruby stutters and laughs a bit before speaking up "I told them what we know about the intruder, about that White Fang hideout in the southeast. And it looks like Ironwood is trustworthy."
"That was a risky move." Weiss says.
"No, I think you handled it well." Blake replies.
"Yeah, you took a calculated risk, and got results." Stone adds.
"I hope so." Ruby says.
"I'm sure everything will be alright, Ruby. Oh, I think I might know what will cheer you up!" Yang says, pulling out a package, cylindrical in shape and the length of Yang's forearm.
"What's that?" Ruby asks, intrigued at the strange package.
"I don't know yet, dad sent it to us. I thought we could open it together!" Yang says excitedly.
"Ooooh, something from home!" Ruby says.
Opening the package reveals a small cylinder, a corgi dog. Team RWBYS lean in, staring at it, the dog barks twice, causing Ruby and Yang to react excitedly.
"Zwei!" Ruby exclaims.
"He sent a dog?" Blake asks, confused.
"In the mail?" Weiss says, mirroring Blake's confusion.
"That can't be legal." Stone says.
"Oh yeah, he does stuff like this all the time!" Yang
Ruby, Weiss, and Stone now notice that Blake has disappeared, only to look up and see she is on Ruby's bed, "Your dog or your dad?" she asks.
"Are you telling me that this mangey, drooling, mutt… is going to wiv wif us foweva? Oh yes he is, yes he is!" Weiss says, her speech devolving into babytalk.
"Please keep him away from my belongings." Blake says, still hiding on Ruby's bed
The intercom crackles to life with the voice of Glynda Goodwitch, "Would all first year students please report to the amphitheater." she says.
"Well we can't exactly leave him here while we're gone for the week." Weiss says, concerned.
"Look, there's a letter." Yang says, taking the envelope from the box.
"Dear Girls, I've got to leave the Island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you to take care of, enclosed is all the food you should need. Love you both, Taiyang." Yang reads, as she finishes, dozens of cans of dog food spill from the envelope, with a can opener falling out as well.
"Hey look Stone, just like your bag!" Ruby says.
"I assume Taiyang is someone of importance to you two?" Stone asks.
"Yeah, he's our father." Yang says.
"Well that settles that, come on, Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang says, walking out of the room, Weiss follows, baby talking Zwei as she goes, Blake and Stone leave next, Blake leaping onto a table from Ruby's bed to avoid Zwei. Before leaving Ruby takes a look at Zwei, and smiles sneakily, getting an idea in her head.
X
Team RWBYS walk into the amphitheater, filled to bursting with all the other students, and place their luggage with the other students, Ruby placing a rather suspiciously large bag in the luggage pile before rejoining her team.
Glynda Goodwitch calms down the crowd and gives a short introduction for Ozpin. When she concludes, Ozpin steps to the mic and gives a speech on what their Field Trips will entail, saying that they will be shadowing Hunters and Huntresses on their missions, concluding his speech by telling all the students to do their best. Ozpin leaves the stage as all of the students begin leaving the amphitheater.
"This is perfect! All we have to do is shadow a huntsman working in the southeast!" Ruby says excitedly.
"Yeah! We'll follow them around by day and give them the slip by night!" Yang agrees.
"Sounds like a plan!" Stone says.
"Let's check Search and Destroy." Weiss says.
The team approaches a hologram screen, scanning the Search and Destroy missions, before Ruby notices the perfect one.
"There! Quadrant 5 needs Grimm cleared out!" Ruby says.
"Well it's in the southeast." Blake says
"Sounds perfect!" Yang says.
Ruby tries to select the option on the screen, only to be met with a denial message, reading "First-Years are not permitted to take this mission" to the team's dismay.
"Wonderful." Weiss says disappointed.
"Any other ideas?" Blake asks.
"We mail ourselves there!" Ruby says.
"Well that's one option" Ozpin says behind the team, "Unfortunately we decided that the Grimm concentration was too extreme for First-Years. It seems that particular region is rather popular. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that you will end up there no matter which job you choose." he says, Weiss, Blake, Yang, and Stone glare at Ruby.
Ruby nervously rubs her head, "What makes you say that?" She questions nervously.
"Just call it a hunch." Ozpin says, giving a cheeky smile at Ruby, "So how about instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, why don't we just bend them." Ozpin presses a few buttons on his Scroll, to which the hologram responds, glowing green in response.
"We won't let you down. Thank you Professor." Ruby says.
"Do not thank me for this. Teamwork and persistence have carried you far. But you must understand, the things that await you beyond the protection of the Kingdom will not care. Stay close to your Huntsman at all times, and do exactly as he says. He will be leading you on this mission, and he can send you back to Beacon, if he finds your skills to be unsatisfactory. Good luck." Ozpin says.
Team RWBYS gather their luggage and exit the Amphitheatre, walking to the Bullhead that would take them and their Huntsman chaperone to Quadrant 5, the Team speculate on who their Huntsman will be, until they see their chaperone walk out of the aircraft, Professor Oobleck.
"Why hello there! Who's ready to fight for their lives?"
xxXxx
Author's Note: I know I skipped over a good portion of Volume 2, but that's mostly because I don't want this story to just be a retread of RWBY. As stated at the beginning of the chapter, I want to get to the end of Volume 3 as quickly as possible so I can finally get to the MTG portion of this fanfiction.
I will begin working on the next chapter first thing tomorrow, I'll try to get Chapter 7 out faster than this one. I had a bit of writer's block in the past week or so.