RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth.
Little Nightmares belongs to Bandai Namco.
Chapter 9: Magical Surprises and Suspicions
After her team made their way back to Beacon. Under the direct and strict escort of Professor Goodwitch. They were reprimanded by the Headmaster. It left a pall of shame on most of them. Ruby felt nothing as in her mind, she did what had to be done to protect the unity of her team. If Ozpin and Miss Goodwitch did not like her methods, then they should appoint someone else to be leader. But she never gave voice to these objections as they stood in front of his desk for the first time. It was odd, she'd never gone so long in any school for close to four months without visiting the headmaster on a weekly basis. Beacon really was a different school. They allowed her to function as she wished without forcing her to go to another stupid therapist or clinical psychologist. They couldn't tell her anything she didn't already know, and she knew a whole lot more than they did now that her memories were resurfacing. Much to her chagrin.
While they were reprimanded, no extreme action was to be taken. Other than having their privileges as the top team being revoked until further notice. That meant no more trips into Vale. Meaning she would miss the next Mechashift magazine issue, unless extreme action was taken. Which it would be.
After the admittedly boring speech from Ozpin, chastising their rash actions and praising their willingness to confront injustice, they were dismissed. Ruby kept up a shamed poker face the entire time. If only to sell to the old man that his words had an effect. It was something she learned about him over their short interactions with each other. He tended to believe he knew people well and how they would react. Such confidence was a product of age, believing his experience would extend to the younger generation. What he failed to realize was that Ruby was more than aware of such mentalities. Curtesy of all the old men that constantly tried to examine her mental state over the years. As such, she knew how to dodge suspicion. A mask of normality, so well-crafted that even so-called experts could not see past it. The trick to not giving it away was dedication to the role.
As she suspected, Ozpin bought it hook line and sinker. Poor old man actually thought he had made an impression on her. When he just repeated the same rhetoric that he'd been spewing since orientation.
After they were dismissed and Blake was shortly interrogated by Ozpin, a long discussion followed in their dorm. Team JNPR expressed their concern. Worried that they might lose their friends. Well, except for Nora who was just disappointed that she missed out on all the fun.
Ruby and Yang managed to dissuade them until morning. What followed was a long discussion on what they would do moving forward. Blake was being a dunce. Stating that she still wanted to go after the White Fang again. Only to be shot down by everyone else. The foremost reason being that it was her rash actions that forced them to stay locked in Beacon.
When concerning her relationship with Weiss, the heiress was willing to look past it if Blake stopped being such a wuss by hiding her ears when it was just them. The faunus girl was hesitant but with a small nod from Ruby, Yang pulled the ribbon off and stated that Blake would only get it back in the morning. Blake surrendered shortly after.
Ruby looked around the now still dorm room from her bunk. All her friends were asleep. Leaving the mostly darkened room to suffer what tiny illumination managed to creep through the curtains. The broken moon above formed a perfect angle with the window. Ruby drank it in one last time as she allowed her muscles to relax. Silence. Sweet, blissful silence. After the events of the day forced her perception to stretch it out into what felt like triple the time, she felt like she could sleep for a week. She was so eager for it that she did not even bother registering that she might be exposed to another of her nightmares. She didn't care anymore. It was quiet. It was calm. It was safe. For her and her friends.
Ruby blinked at the last thought. Friends? Like real friends?
Glancing around again, she spied Blake, who had been forcefully relieved of her ribbon. Funnily enough, the act might have relieved her of the stress of hiding her secret. Something Ruby knew that she herself could never afford. No one would believe her.
Yang who slept on the bunk below. Splayed out like a ragdoll. Ruby could never understand her luck. Not only did she survive that… that place. But when she came back, she had a sister who was willing to accept her no matter what. Even when Ruby tried to push her away, Yang never gave up on her. When Ruby realized this unconditional affection, she never betrayed it. At least not in any meaningful way.
Ruby didn't bother to look down at Weiss. The heiress was a dunce sometimes, but she meant well. Under that snobby attitude and constant need to prove herself was a good person. Something Ruby could not say often. However, Beacon appeared to attract those kinds of people somehow. Or perhaps they were deliberately sought out? Selected over stronger but less principled stock.
Guess that made her the odd one out. But that was nothing unusual. It has always been this way and she's already made her peace with it.
And Team JNPR were another odd bunch. All of them were genuinely good. From what Ruby was able to tell, none of them had anything close to the inner demons Ruby kept locked away. Her Shadow not being among them.
This might have upset her earlier in the year, but now she felt genuinely lucky to have friends like them.
Snuggling under her blanket, she prepared herself for restful sleep.
As she closed her eyes, she became aware of something. A strange feeling in her gut began to form. It was a familiar feeling, but not one she could properly name.
The next moment, the window began to shine with light. It was soft at first, but then it grew brighter, and brighter, then brighter still. Its illumination became so bright that it began to disturb her team.
"Uggh. Rubes turn off the light." Groaned Yang as she covered her head with her pillow.
Weiss and Blake also groaned as they attempted to hide themselves in the peaceful darkness that remained in the room. This was futile as the light continued to grow until the frustration became too much.
The entire team got out of their bunks. When they saw the light was coming from outside, Yang offered to sacrifice her mattress to block it until whatever was there went away.
"Ugh! As if we haven't already delt with enough problems today. Now we can't even sleep!" Wiess cried in fatigue induced anger.
"You're fine." Blake said with a yawn. "It's Saturday night. We still have the whole day tomorrow to sleep in if we have to."
Ruby sat on her bunk as Yang managed to force her mattress into the window frame without breaking it. Now the only light was from the bulb in the room.
Dusting off her hands, the blonde grinned. "All done."
"Finally." Weiss yawned. "Now let's get back to sleep."
With everyone in accordance, they made their way to their bunks, with the exception of Yang who was going to share with her little sister, but their plans were cut short.
What happened next was so fast that only Ruby's attentive eyes were able to follow. And only in part because her gaze was somehow drawn to the disturbance without her active thought.
A pale blue light phased through the window and mattress. It shot towards Weiss who screamed in fright as the strange orb crashed into her chest and phased into her, forcing the heiress back a few steps.
For a moment there was silence while everyone stared at the pale Atlessian who stood up straight.
"Okay?" Yang muttered now on her guard. "Anybody know what the heck that was?"
"Nope."
"Not a clue."
Ruby hopped off her bunk and placed a hand on her partner's shoulder. "Are you alright? That weird thing didn't hurt?"
Weiss just shook her head, but the stiffness of her posture told Ruby that she was uncomfortable. Then Ruby flinched and jerked back as a sharp pain shot from her hand up to her throat. Ruby's sudden stumbling stirred her elder sibling's protective nature, who came to aid Ruby.
"Rubes?" Yang said holding the youngest member of the team by the shoulders. "Rubes are you okay?"
Before Ruby could properly bypass the shock of the pain, Weiss' aura flared, and it flared bright, brighter than any of them had seen before.
Ruby felt the pain return, but then it shifted from a sharp stab to a spreading ache. It crawled across her muscles and settled in her abdomen. Her eyes became wide with fear. Not for the strange sight of Weiss, but the recognition of this pain. It was not as potent as she recalled but it was enough to draw a worrying comment from her Shadow.
"He lied to us."
Blake shivered and rubbed her bare arms. "Is it getting cold in here?"
Yang's breath misted in front of her face. "Hey. You're right."
The light on the ceiling began to sporadically flicker as Ruby began to hyperventilate. "Not again. Not again. Not again." She muttered in silent panic.
"Ruby?" Yang was about to pose a question but was cut off by a groan from Weiss which was accompanied by a strong breeze swirling around the room.
The Schnee heiress fell to her knees clutching her scalp. "My head. I don't feel right."
Her aura flared even brighter. The flickering light eventually broke, shattering inward as if crushed by an invisible hand. This would have left them in darkness were it not for Weiss' aura providing its luminescence.
Then the breeze picked up.
"Hey what's happening?" Yang asked. "Did that light thing open the window?"
In response Blake tore down the mattress. "They're still closed."
"What the heck?!" Yelled Yang as the temperature continued to plummet and the brawler too, who was much more resilient than her partner also began to rub her chilly arms.
"What's happening to me?" Weiss cried softly as ice began to form at her knees.
"Shit!" Yang said when she spotted the ice. It began to spread like a cancer across the carpet, its menacing crackle like a rattlesnake warning all to stay away.
Ruby saw this and managed to push away that feeling. The Deja vu momentarily forgotten in the danger of the moment. "Get off the floor!"
Ruby hopped onto her bunk and proceeded to stare at the heiress in hypnotic fascination. Her mind struggling to process the combination of observation, memory, and hallucination simultaneously. Yang soon joined her while Blake got to her own bunk before long.
The ice continued to spread while the strong breeze sped up and became a whirlwind around Weiss. Books, pencils, anything that was lying around, now surrounded her in a tornado of debris. But Ruby's gaze remained fixed on Weiss as if her silver eyes had become Crescent Rose's crosshairs.
"Got a plan Ruby?" Yan asked, but Ruby did not answer.
"Ruby?" Yang asked again.
The younger sibling was not listening, and Yang felt her blood run cold at the glare Ruby was giving her partner. Gone was all the pretense of civility. Gone was the mask her sister had to constantly wear to hide her true nature. The eyes Ruby had shown were the eyes of a predator that had found itself threatened in its own territory.
Weiss managed to raise her head and their gazes met. What the heiress saw was not a sight she would soon forget, but it was not as if she understood what she witnessed. The air was beginning to mist with the sudden formation of snowflakes gathering around Weiss. Her vision turned white, and the entire room was censored out. She could still see her team leader. Only she didn't perceive her as her team leader.
What Weiss witnessed was a black stain in the white mist. The fog surrounded the shadowy figure that stared down at her with the eyes of a beast. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of this. A part of her was petrified with fear. It looked like fog but a part of her instinctually knew that it was anything but. The fog that was not fog grew from the figure. Then a cluster of eyes opened from it. All of them glanced around in curiosity. When on found Weiss, all of them snapped to her.
The feeling when from petrification to an internal scream of terror.
From Ruby's perspective, she saw a familiar but extremely unwanted sight. She saw a woman in a dark kimono, with long black hair and a plain white mask, on her knees staring at the red reaper.
Ruby felt it inside. The beast rising. Urging her to pounce and take what was hers by the law of nature. She was strong enough to take it so she should. This feeling was so powerful that her Shadow did not escape its effects.
"Do it! It's ours! It was always ours! We need it to fill this void between us!"
The image of the lady flashed back to that of her partner and Ruby flinched.
Realizing that she was going through a very dangerous relapse, she gripped the bedframe so hard that she started to splinter the wood.
"No." She growled as she fought against her inner monster.
The feeling did not abate, and Ruby felt like she was going to be pulled apart from the inside. As she continued to fight, she failed to notice that both bunkbeds were starting to shake like a pair of maracas in a parade.
"Yang!" Blake called out. "What's going on?!"
"I have no idea!" Yang replied as she vibrated with the shaking bunk.
Weiss continued to stare at the eyes in the darkness. They watched her. At first in curiosity, then something changed in them. They all widened as if in some strange homogenous union of recognition. Then they all changed, but now none of them were alike. As someone who had navigated the social elite of Atlas, Weiss was able to decern different emotions from just contact. But these things. She couldn't read them. Not properly. Some of them displayed signs she recognized. Outrage, surprise, bitterness, sardonic glee, and hatred, but these were the minority. The rest just watched her. They just kept on watching.
She got to her feet and backed up.
A loud crash could be heard behind her. Turning, she saw a gap in the growing snowstorm.
Standing there was a certain hyperactive ginger. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"
Nora took one step into the room and immediately back peddled as her nightwear was rimmed with hoarfrost. "Yikes! That's cold!"
Weiss glanced back at the black mist. The eyes were gone, but the icy glare of the monster at its center was zeroed in on her. With the constant urging of this new feeling and no real thought of her own, she ran out the door, shoving Nora out the way and running past the rest of team JNPR who were all shocked from their tired stupor by the wave of cold that followed the heiress.
As she fled down the hall, the rest of team RWBY huddled in their beds trying to cling to what little warmth they could, with Yang clinging to Ruby as she nearly pierced the wooden frames with her fingers.
Team JNPR all peaked through the door. Now that their line breaker, Nora, was pushed back, they feared the team RWBY had been in a bitter argument and feared retaliation from one of the sisters who were not afraid to do so.
Pyrrha eyed both Ruby and Yang. While the gladiator was not fearful of the two, she had a keen sense that if she had to confront them without her gear she might be at a disadvantage. Yang was a hand-to-hand brawler and that style favored unarmed combat quite heavily. While Ruby had proven over the past few months that she was not to be taken lightly in any situation. If Ruby managed to get close enough to get a hold, Pyrrha doubted she could shake Ruby off.
"Are you all okay in there?" Jaune asked from Pyrrha's side.
"No worries." Yang said as she slowly climbed off her sister's bunk. Pyrrha could see Yang's skin change in coloration to the sudden change in temperature, accompanied by a constant shiver. "We're cool as ice in here."
Ruby growled as she climbed down. A look of extreme displeasure on her face. She could count on her fingers the number of times she's seen the girl like that.
"Not now Yang." Blake said with chattering teeth.
The temperature in the room quickly normalized with the departure of Weiss and team RWBY walked out of their now soaking wet room.
"So?" Nora asked, dragging out the syllable. "Did you get into another fight?"
"No." Yang answered as she looked down the hallway that Weiss fled through.
"What happened then?" Jaune asked with a genuine concern that Pyrrha could not help but adore.
"We're not sure what happened." Blake answered. "We were all woken up by this light. It came in through our window and crashed into Weiss."
The faunus girl gestured to her room. "Then this happened."
"So, it wasn't dust?" Pyrrha asked as the frost slowly thawed from the carpet.
"No." Yang shook her head in bewilderment. "The little Ice Queen was doing it on her own somehow."
Pyrrha glanced at Ruby who looked like she was on the verge of either hyperventilating or going feral. She wanted to reach out to her but decided against it. Yang had warned that it was best to let the girl cool off on her own terms. In other words, do not interfere or you'll get hurt.
"We have to go after her." Ruby managed to say between breaths.
"Are you sure, Rubes? You don't look like you're doing too well." Yang placed a hand on her sister's forehead, but the smaller girl slapped it away.
"I'm fine." She snapped. "Weiss is the one we need to worry about. Whatever that was, it did something to her and she needs our help."
Yang paused, but then smiled. "You sound more like mom."
Ruby's expression softened for a moment, but only for a moment. Then that hardened gaze returned.
"Let's go." Was all she said as team RWBY broke into a run, following the frosted trail the heiress left behind for them.
Jaune had ordered that his team follow, and they complied. Pyrrha followed as well, but she could not get that look out of her mind. The expression Ruby wore was similar to those of her opponents in the Mistral Regional Tournaments. Those who had suffered extreme injuries but managed to fight on. Ruby was in extreme pain.
Weiss ran down the corridors in a frenzy. She had to get away. Away from that darkness. From those eyes. From that thing inside the black. She was barely conscious of her actions; she ran on instinct. This sudden primal focus on getting as far away as she could.
She ran and ran. Not noticing the cameras recording her as she jumped down flights of stairs. By the she registered the cool open night hair on her skin, she was already in the academy gardens.
Her ragged breaths caused her dry throat to burn as she slowed her pace to a halt. Looking ahead, she realized where she was. It was the fountain square where she first met Ruby and Jaune. The fountain that was destroyed by their argument that day had been fully rebuilt.
With the feeling of panic now gone, Weiss felt that she could take a breath. With a tired sigh, she sat at the stone edge of the fountain. Her loose white hair fell over her shoulder as she also discovered that she had just run outside in her nightgown.
It was such a relief that she had done this incredibly stupid act at night because she doubted, she would be able to live through the embarrassment.
Now that her thoughts weren't a complete mess, she began to assess what had just transpired. She and the rest of the team were woken up by a bright light. Then that same light had crashed into her, and her head became a hazy mess. She did remember the cold. How she was freezing everything she touched.
Looking back on the way she came, she confirmed this with the slight sheen of frost dotting the grass where her footprints were seen. This all but confirmed that she was not hallucinating. Well, not entirely.
She shivered as she recalled the black mist and those eyes. How could those be anything but a hallucination? There was no possible way those were real. That left only one alternative.
"I guess all the stress finally did it." Weiss chuckled mirthlessly. "I'm finally going insane."
That was it. Everything was just a figment of her imagination, and she might be trapped in her own head. She felt like crying. How could it come to this? After everything she had gone through, she decided to break now.
"I do not believe you have gone that far, Miss Schnee."
Weiss' head snapped to the side. To her shock, she saw Professor Ozpin standing at her side, cane and steaming mug in hand. A calm smile on his otherwise impassive face.
"Headmaster!" Weiss shot to her feet in greeting, remembering too late how she was dressed.
"I… I… umm…" Weiss stumbled with her words, desperately looking for something to say to justify her presence in the gardens right after being dismissed from his office.
Ozpin for his part did not appear to be giving it much attention. His focus was on the frost path the Schnee girl had made on her way here. Glynda was almost manic when she reported to him what she saw on the cameras.
He almost felt like chuckling. First a silver eyed warrior with a ruthless streak, now a rich heiress with family issues becoming a Maiden. And they were not only on the same team, but partners. Was it fate or just a joke? He gave up on trying to answer that question a long, long time ago.
"You don't look well, Miss Schnee." He said, using her insecurity for being seen as anything less than the pinnacle to silence her. "I take it something happened."
"Umm…" Weiss stuttered with a red face before she took the olive branch, he offered for her to explain. "Yes, sir."
"Well, I just had a full mug, and I don't plan on sleeping anytime soon. Would you care to explain?"
"I… augh." She stuttered again, and Ozpin almost sighed inwardly. This girl still had this much trouble adapting to situations she was not prepared for. This was a major reason why he flat out refused to consider her for the position of leader. Unlike her grandfather, Nicholas, she could not handle chaos like he or Ruby could. Weiss was confined to routine since she was a child. A routine that she knew by heart and could plan around, giving her control. But when that sense of security that routine provided was lost, she became lost along with it as she no longer had anything to fall back on. It was a weakness that he noticed creeping in as the Kingdoms became for technological and comfortable.
It made him almost want to praise Raven for demanding that she and Taiyang get married on the less technological island of patch. It allowed both of Taiyang's daughters to sidestep that weakness.
"Don't worry, Miss Schnee." He said in a cordial manner. "I just want to know what happened. I am not going to judge you."
The girl was still apprehensive, but there was some acceptance. "You won't believe me. You'll think I'm crazy or making it up."
"Oh? I highly doubt that." He said without condescension. "I have seen many things that you would call crazy. It would take a lot to catch me by surprise."
She still did not display full confidence. He was about to press further, until a voice called out for her.
"Weiss!" Ruby called out as she came running into the clearing with her team and that of JNPR in tow.
Ozpin watched the new Maiden's response to her team. She flinched and backed up to the fountain. When her hand touched the stone, all the water the fountain contained turned to solid ice.
Everyone stopped when they saw this, baffled by the sudden change without any form of dust being present.
"I think it's getting stronger." Yang said. "Whatever is it."
"Wow." Nora said. "For being able to freeze things solid, you have to admit it's kind of pretty."
Weiss turned to her latest form of collateral damage to see that the water at the base was turned completely solid, while the hose built into the stone at the summit of the decorative fountain created a flower like pattern from the stream that was frozen in mid-air.
Ozpin tapped his cane on the stony pathway to catch everyone's attention. Making those among the students who actually worried about their reputations stand up straighter.
"Well, I can see now that there's a lot you all want to discuss. But I am also aware that it is quite late." He looked at the gathered students. "Team JNPR. Return to your dorm please. I shall call on you tomorrow to discuss this. I would like to speak to team RWBY alone."
"Yes, sir." They said in disjointed unison, before quickly walking off not wanting to give their headmaster the impression that they did not take his word seriously.
Ozpin took out his scroll and dialed his vice-headmistress.
"Sir?" Glynda said through the device.
"You were right. Get the 'reserved' dorm unlocked, Glynda."
The call ended from her end. He didn't need an answer from the woman to know she heard him. It was slightly confusing at first, but it was that level of decisiveness that made her the ideal pick to help him run Beacon.
Now turning his attention back to the girls before him. The youngest among them stared at him with eyes that spoke of shock and distrust. It was the first time he found it so simple to read the girl. Normally it would take some dialogue before he got a firm understanding of what she was thinking.
"You know what's going on?" Ruby asked with a blunt attitude.
"Ruby!" Weiss protested, not wanting to escalate the situation by disrespecting the headmaster.
"Calm down." Ozpin said keeping his voice level. "I do have answers, but for now I suggest you girls get some sleep. It's been a very long day, and it has left you all agitated. What I plan to tell you will need clear minds. Else you'll think I'm crazy."
He looked at Weiss as he said that last part, emphasizing his previous point.
"Glynda will be along shortly to show you to your new dorm. Don't worry about your belongings, you'll be allowed to pick them up in the morning. And if you have trouble falling asleep, I have a special tea just for such an occasion."
Ruby stood at attention alongside both her team and Team JNPR. The giant gears of the headmaster's office clicked above them creating a regulated ambiance that did not help calm anyone's nerves. Especially Weiss.'
What happened the previous night was a rollercoaster of emotions. Everyone was put on edge, none more so than her, but Weiss was a close second.
Ozpin was right. For all his flaws and know it all attitude, he was smart. Whatever that tea was made from, it worked better than any of the shoddy medication she had taken in the past. It even gave her the mercy of a dreamless sleep for once.
And boy did they need it.
"Remember to ask where he got the stuff."
Ruby ignored her Shadow's remark on her thoughts. This was important and she had to put on the mask of caring more than she should. She wasn't her mom, but she was damn good at convincing people otherwise.
The two teams stood in a semi-circle around the room, all facing the headmaster's desk. Ruby and Jaune stood on opposite ends.
It was roughly midday now. The reason for this meeting being held now was because team RWBY and team JNPR had been relocated to new dorms. Given how Beacon liked to give their students a level of autonomy, they were required to move everything on their own so they could organize their new living space at their leisure. Another reason was that the headmaster had a fully booked morning with the Council of Vale. While what happened to Weiss was bizarre, it did not rank above the politics of the city.
As for the final reason. They were all dead tired from what happened last night. Especially Ruby's team, since they didn't get any sleep before the incident thanks to Blake's misadventure at the docks. A late morning was owed to them when there were no classes.
Ozpin sat in his chair, his back to the bird's eye view of the entirety of Vale. Elbows on the table and fingers interlocked, he watched them with calm expression that got on Ruby's nerves sometimes. But not now. Something was wrong with Wiess, and the old man had answers.
"I see you are all eager for answers." Ozpin said with Glynda at his side.
"We're just worried for her." Jaune said blinking he remembered who he was addressing. "Um, sir."
Ozpin gave a short nod. "Quite right. Seeing as all of you feel the same way, I shall alleviate your worries. Miss Schnee."
Weiss looked to be a nervous wreck; it was so bad that her shaking hands couldn't grab her comb when they were getting ready. For the first time ever, Weiss had to ask Yang for help doing her hair.
"Step forward please."
Weiss complied, now standing in the center of the semi-circle in front of Ozpin's desk, she looked like a frightened deer standing before a Beowolf.
"I'll cut the dolorous questions short. Miss Schnee, do you fear for your life or that something is wrong with you?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see." He said. "Well, I am happy to report that your fears are unfounded."
Ruby blinked. Unfounded? What did he mean by unfounded? Weiss nearly turned her team into popsicles. She was making ice from nothing. Obviously, there was something wrong. Ruby of all people would know. Unless it was your semblance, then something was off.
"Pardon." Pyrrha said, raising her hand.
"Miss Nikos." Ozpins replied, gesturing for her to speak.
"Does that mean she's not in any sort of danger?"
A twitch, it was subtle, but Ruby caught it. She stood the closest to Ozpin, outside of Weiss and Glynda. While it was a fleeting thing, she still saw it. His eyes witched for a split second before he forced his calm demeanor back on his face.
"Yes." He said in his usually manner. Calm and controlled. "Miss Schnee. You are in no danger; I can assure you this."
"So, then what happened?" Nora asked with even less tact than Ruby or Yang. "One minute, everything is fine, the next she's turning Team RWBY's dorm into an igloo."
"And with no ice dust on hand." Yang added. "Trust me, I make sure to check."
"A vigil we are grateful for, Miss Xiao-Long. As for what has happened to allow for such abilities to manifest. Well, that is slightly more complicated."
He paused for a moment. Preparing for what he planned to say next. "Tell me, children. Do any of you believe in fairytales?"
The teenagers in the roomed looked at each other in uncertainty while Glynda rolled her eyes after hearing the man's favorite way to break the ice on this topic. As for the teens, they were wondering if he was being serious.
Each of them answered in the negative. With the exception of Ruby who just shrugged. Fairytales stopped interesting her since they did not assist in her immediate goals or long-term survival.
"Well, what if I told you that some of those fairytales turned out to be true?"
Again, the teens responded with uncertainty. They never expected their headmaster to spout this kind of stuff to them. Ruby just gave another shrug. She was not opposed to them being real. She knew some, and they paled compared to what she went through as a child. She could write a full collection in a library with what she experienced.
"I see." Ozpin looked at Weiss. "And I assume, none of you believe in magic?"
Another round of questioning looks before stating their disbelief.
Ruby, however, blinked at the question, repeating the word in her mind.
"Magic?/Magic?" Her Shadow had the same opinion as she did.
A memory once again surfaced in her mind. That masked woman returned. Ruby watched her from the edges of sight. Seeing her glide across the ground with a specter's grace. How her scream could shatter glass. How she melded into the darkness while circling her like a predator that was toying with its prey. Then there was how she turned intangible while in the shade and made this move with her mind. While she walked the corridors of that chilling woman's abode, she could have sworn she saw the shadows of children stalking her when her back was turned. Waiting for her to lower her guard.
The memory faded when it came time for her to speak. "I would."
That earned a look of surprise from everyone. She ignored it. Their opinions were fleeting anyway, they'd forget she said anything within ten minutes tops.
"Interesting." Ozpin commented while Glynda stared with narrowed eyes. "I wonder where this opinion came from. Your troubled past I take it?"
Ruby said nothing. Not a word of that place would escape her lips. The less people knew about it, the better. That… That… Nowhere was best left alone, and she planned on dying to make sure it stayed that way.
Ozpin and Glynda continued to stare at her. When it became clear she would not speak of her history she got the message and decided to move on.
"Your disbelief aside. I have one last question. How many of you know the story of the Four Maidens?"
Pyrrha, Blake and Yang raised their hands. Ruby did not, despite having heard the name before. It must have been a story either Yang or her mother had told her when she was young. Before she was taken away.
"Miss Nikos, could you summarize the tale for the rest of us?"
"The story starts with an old wizard who lived alone in a cabin The wizard had grown old and weary of life and just wanted to remain shunted away for the rest of his life. The one day he was visited by four sisters, who each in their own unique ways were kind to him. The first encouraged him to meditate and reflect on his life. On what he had done and what his greatest mistakes were, helping him take accountability for his failings. The second brought him fruit and flowers and revitalized his garden. Showing him that a fresh start was always possible. The third convinced him to step outside and embrace the world. Destroying his fear of repeating those mistakes and giving him courage once again. The fourth encouraged him to be thankful for what he has. The wizard, touched by these gestures of care and the lessons they brought him, granted the four sisters his magic in return for their kindness. And as such the Maidens of the Four Seasons were born. Each sister became the embodiment of a different season within accordance to their individual temperance. After that, they traveled the world using their powers to offer aid to all who needed it and each year they all gathered at that same hut to visit the old wizard in his final days."
"Well put, Miss Nikos." Ozpin said.
"That was a nice story." Nora said. "But what does that have to do with Weiss turning into a living blizzard?"
"I have to agree." Ren said, finally adding his voice to this. "Unless you are saying that the story was real, then we don't see how this relates to our current situation concerning Weiss."
"Wait." Ruby said, getting the attention of everyone in the room again. "You're implying that the story is real, aren't you? Why else would you bring it up rather than just sending Weiss to be examined?"
Ozpin nodded, giving her that mentor's smile that she had learned to hate over the past few months. "Accurately deduced, Miss Rose. Yes. Despite your skepticism I can promise you that the tale is completely true. The proof is right in front of you."
He held out a hand to Weiss and it did not take much thought for everyone to get what he was trying to say.
"So, you're saying Weiss is one of these Four Maidens?" Jaune asked carefully not to sound like an idiot. Ruby noted that he still needed to work on his confidence despite his matching Cardin in the ring.
"That is correct."
"But how?" Blake asked. "That story has been around for generations. And as far as we know, Weiss has never been to any farm. Not to mention she only has one sister. Right Weiss?"
"Ye-yes. I've never done anything of the sort. Other than a few selective tours, I've never left Atlas until I came here." Weiss said, her tone smoothening out as she continued. "I don't see how this old story has anything to do with me."
Ozpin smiled; Ruby learned early that he enjoyed having these sorts of pseudo debates. Was it because he enjoyed seeing young blood show off their intellect, or did he just enjoy dunking on them? Ruby guessed it was probably the latter as it went for most people.
"I understand. Believe me. Until recently, we headmasters of the academies thought the same. That was until we learned the secret as to how the Maidens survived this long." Ozpin turned to the vice-headmistress. "Glynda."
"You see students. The wizard did not just grant the sisters his magic. He also knew the world needed people like them. So, he wove a failsafe to ensure the powers did not disappear when the women died for any reason. When a Maiden dies, the magic that grants them their abilities, such as the ones Miss Schnee displayed last night and this morning, are transferred to a new host. It was only by pure luck that we figured out how this transfer worked."
"How does it work then?" Yang asked, tapping her foot with her arms crossed.
Glynda narrowed her eyes at the brawler before continuing. "Upon death, the power leaves the body to seek a new host. As for how the host is selected, we discovered that it depends on the current Maiden's thoughts before she expires. As in the power is semi-sentient when not within a host and is capable of recognizing others based off their aura. That is the theory anyway."
"So, it's living magic?" Nora asked, confused, but that was no surprise.
"Not quite." Glynda continued. "How it functions is still beyond us, what we know for sure is that when a Maiden dies, the power will seek out the last person the Maiden thinks of before death. Should that person not qualify or be dead themselves then it is completely random."
"Then that's what happened?" Yang inquired. "Some old guy was thinking about Weissy here before he bit the dust."
"No." Glynda replied. "Some old woman was thinking about Miss Schnee before the end. The power only accepts females of relatively young age. If I had to speculate, this was likely due to the fame you managed to accumulate. At some point, one of the Maidens must have seen or heard your music."
Ruby could see Weiss stiffen as she fought to hold in a groan, which the reaper found amusing. This only further proved that anonymity was far superior to notoriety when it came to keeping people out of your affairs.
"Ha!" Yang laughed. "You got magical fans Weiss. Now you're a magical girl."
Weiss turned beat red at that. Remembering the time Yang brought back that Mistral comic. What was it called? Manga?
"Awww." Nora groaned. "Boo! This means I'll never have a magical Ren."
"Am I not good enough anymore, Nora?" Ren asked rhetorically in his usual monotone. A rare moment when he decided to tell a joke.
"This is a serious issue, students!" Glynda snapped, making all the chatter cease. "The powers of a Maiden are not to be taken lightly."
"And not no mention an enormous responsibility." Ozpin added.
"But one thing doesn't add up." Ruby said. "How do you know about the Maidens when no one else does?"
"Hey yeah." Jaune added only realizing this now. "The news of people with actual magic would be all over the news. Or at the very least be common knowledge. How do you know about this, sir?"
Ozpin unwrapped his fingers and took a sip from his mug. "Now we get to the big secrets. As it happens, we've known about the Maidens for at least a century. The last King of Vale revealed this secret to my predecessor who passed it down to me. By then the other headmasters were also made aware. We've been keeping our eyes on them ever since."
"Is this some kind of secret society?" Blake asked, already disliking the idea. Mostly because of her early memories of the Fang when it began to change.
"Yes." Ozpin said. "Children, you must understand that these powers are not something we can just let run wild. The wizard who granted them, while his intentions were genuine and good at heart, was naïve."
"He's not wrong." Ruby gave subtle nod while she listened on.
"To have such abilities pass from person to person without regulation is a recipe for disaster. It would only be a matter of time before the powers land in the lap of someone with little to no self-control and goes on a rampage. Or worse, the girl is exploited for this and has every choice in their life taken away from them. A prospect I am certain a few of you have some experience with."
Ruby glanced around the room. For a moment she thought she saw Nora lose her smile and Ren his composure, while Pyrrha seemed to deflate slightly. She didn't need to look at Weiss to know how the heiress felt.
"Our organization exists to help keep watch over the Maidens and protect them when their powers are not enough. Because as you all can guess from your little misadventures. There are people out there that are more than willing to do anything to get their hands on such power. For the sake of the Kingdoms, we safeguard the Maidens so they can continue to help those who cannot help themselves."
"And get rid of them when they become a problem." Ruby's Shadow added, saying what Ozpin refused to allow anyone to realize.
It took a moment for everyone to realize that Ozpin was finished. "Do any of you have questions? Feel free to ask. This is a lot to take in."
He let the silence hang in the air for a moment, but it did not last as a loud electronic buzzing noise echoed throughout the room. Ruby suddenly felt her head throb as she was suddenly struck by a massive headache. The pain was the worst she had experienced in years, but she bit it back and stood firm. This was not the time to lose composure. There were too many questions on her mind and if she wanted answers, she would need to get them indirectly. There was no way she would expose herself by asking. It would destroy what little leverage she had.
"Oh? Now is that who I think it is?" Ozpin asked, turning towards Glynda.
"Yes. It's James." Glynda answered in a dismissive manner that was uncommon for the woman. How curious. If she didn't have this headache, she would put more thought into it.
"I will admit, if he's calling for the reason I suspect, then this was a remarkable display of patience." Ozpin smirked. "Especially considering his normal approach to such things."
Glynda rolled her eyes, evoking a number of curious glances from the present students. They were not used to seeing their teachers acting so informally with the exception of Port, Oobleck and Peach. The last of which was always eager to help Ruby with preparing her personal ammunition for Crescent Rose.
"Put him through. Please be patient, children. This is rather important to the topic at hand."
The room darkened as metal blinders folded down the windows. Ruby felt her headache flare as a fuzzy blue figure appeared in the middle of the room. Ruby could not see it properly. She had learned some time ago that she lacked the ability to properly perceive holograms. Much for the same reason that she couldn't look at a TV screen anymore. At the very least this did not give her panic attacks.
The transparent blue figure spoke. His voice was firm and authoritative. "Ozpin."
"General." The headmaster said, making everyone in the room gawk at the figure.
"General Ironwood." Blake said with a twinge of fear in her voice.
Ruby's eyes widened. The leader of the Atlas Military. It made sense that Blake would be slightly afraid. Given that she had just recently confessed to being a part of the organization that was basically at war with their Kingdom.
"This should be interesting."
"We have a situation." Ironwood said in a straightforward manner that not many people used these days.
"I am aware that you are having trouble with Fira, General." Ozpin responded in an equally direct manner but that soon changed to a sober tone. "Or more accurately. I am aware that she is gone."
"You are?" The general sounded surprised. "Then you realize that immediate action must be taken. We must locate the new Winter Maiden before we lose the trail like we did with Spring."
"Your urgency is appreciated, General. I'm surprised you waited this long before contacting me about the matter."
Ruby couldn't see the general's face so she had no idea what facial expression he wore, nor could she properly read his body language.
"I was preoccupied with Jacque. He wanted to argue policy again." Ruby saw Weiss furrow her brow at the mention of her father's name. "By the time I got back, Fira was already long gone. The reason I didn't contact you right away was because we were checking to see who had inherited her powers."
"And since you want action taken, it means that no one whom you've set up as her replacement was picked."
"Correct."
Ruby grit her teeth. Both this conversation and this headache were beginning to annoy her.
"Even Specialist Schnee?"
Both teams blinked at the mention of that name. Weiss' eyes widened and a small smile formed on her lips.
"Yes."
"How disappointing. I heard that she and Fria had become quite close. It was quite surprising that she wasn't chosen."
"We combed every contact from Fira's history. Every person she knew that still fit the requirements. As you can guess, we came up with nothing. All the more reason we need to begin a search." Ironwood insisted.
Glynda for all her patience seemed to have enough of the general's attitude. "We are not beginning a search, James. We don't have the time for it."
"Glynda." Ironwood's voice shifted slightly. He sounded polite. "I am aware of the difficulties, but what other option do we have?"
Glynda crossed her arms in a defiant manner. "How about you listen to what we have to say instead of going gun ho again. I swear, you always do this. You've been this way ever since…"
Glynda paused, shooting a glance Ruby's way before continuing.
"Ever since STRQ retired. Without her to hold you back, you go in without consulting the rest of us anymore."
The hologram shimmered. "Hmm. I suppose you are right. It's been so long that I forgot how she would always talk me down when our teams worked together. Alright, I'm listening. What would you suggest Ozpin? You're the leader here."
Ozpin gave the hologram a calm smile. "You will do nothing."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, General. You will halt all preparations in regard to the Winter Maiden."
"May I ask why? This is a very serious situation. The last time we overlooked this a village was torn apart by a miniaturized earthquake."
"Why because we've already found the Winter Maiden." Ozpin turned to Weiss and called for her to step into the viewing arc for the hologram on the general's side.
"Weiss Schnee?" Ironwood asked.
"Indeed." Ozpin spoke first before Weiss got the change.
Ruby took note that Ozpin was doing his best to control the conversation. Not letting anyone steal it from him.
"I have video evidence of her abilities and witness reports if you wish to review. Not to mention I saw her freeze one of my fountains solid with just a touch."
"That is unnecessary." Ironwood waved his hand to the side. "I believe you. This makes sense actually."
"How so?" Glynda asked. "Do you have evidence that Fria knew Miss Schnee."
"I do and on good authority." Ruby saw the static hologram shift and another blue shape manifested.
"Winter!" Weiss said in both joy and surprise.
Winter. Ruby knew that name. It was Weiss' elder sister. She worked for the Atlas Military, and if Ruby was correct in her assessment, had an even bigger stick up her but then Weiss did during Initiation.
"Hello, Weiss." Came a female voice Ruby did not know. Which must have been Winter.
"Specialist Schnee. Would you care to explain how this came to happen?" Ironwood made it sound like he was asking but Ruby had the gut feeling that it wasn't a question.
"Yes, sir. I was ordered to be the previous Winter Maiden's caretaker. This was done in the hopes that the powers would go on to me when she passed away. However, a month ago, I noticed Weiss on the news. Fria found your singing soothing so she requested that I set up a sound system so she could listen to more. I saw no reason to refuse."
Ozpin nodded in understanding. "I see. Thank you, specialist."
"Now that we know who and where the next Maiden is, where do we proceed from here?" Ironwood asked. "Even after all these years, we've never had a student in one of our academies become a Maiden. Leo and Theodor have no records of such incidents."
"General. The answer is clear. She shall continue her studies as is."
The crackle of the hologram speaker was about to go off, but Ozpin spoke first. "There is no safer place on Remnant for her than here. Her studies to become a huntress just so happen to align with the usual preparations that entail teaching one of the Maidens to control their powers. As such, we shall keep this information to ourselves."
Ruby almost felt like grinning, Ozpin was playing a game here, but he didn't know that Ruby was on to him.
"Wait a moment, Ozpin." Ironwood interjected. "You said there were witnesses. How many people are we talking about here?"
"Two junior teams. Miss Schnee's own Team RWBY along with Team JNPR. They have been told this as they should."
Ironwood said nothing in response. Ruby deduced that this meant he accepted the circumstances but did not like them. Mostly because he had no authority over them from that far away.
"Do you disagree with this?" Ozpin asked, breaking the general's silence.
"No. However simply feel that it is not enough."
"Care to elaborate?"
"I do not doubt Beacon's ability to protect its students, but I am not naïve enough to believe it impervious. Especially when news of Fria's death leaks out."
"You really think people will find out?"
"People have loose lips Ozpin. Word always gets out somehow. And if it does that means the malefactors of the Kingdoms who are somehow privy to this will be on the prowl."
Ozpin took a sip from his mug again while the general spoke. "Referring to what happened to the Atlas relay tower again. With Arthur? What would your solution be then?"
"I recommend that we assign someone to oversee her development until it is safe for her to proceed alone."
Glynda stepped in again. "She had her entire team with her and another on top of that. I doubt she needs more. Not to mention this is a stressful time for her. She doesn't need one of your soldiers breathing down her neck."
"Then how about I do better than a soldier or her team." Ironwood said defiantly. "I propose Specialist Schnee be transferred to Beacon as a fellow combat instructor in order to supervise her younger sister."
"What?" Glynda gasped. "You can't be serious?"
"Indeed." Ozpin said, interlocking his fingers again. "You realize that this will look suspicious, James. You are giving up your best agent for this. Are you sure you can manage without her?"
"The Ace Ops can manage. No offense to my specialist, but I have been running this academy and military before she arrived. If I have to put myself at a slight disadvantage to ensure the safety of a Maiden, then so be it."
"Hmm." Ozpin hummed. "Specialist. What say you? Are you willing to give up your post for this?"
"Without a second thought, sir."
Ruby saw Weiss smile at that answer. The red reaper completely understood why. It was nice having Yang around, it wouldn't be the same. Not in the slightest.
Ozpin sighed in a way that made the fact that it was an act obvious for all to see. "I suppose I'm not going to prevent your Mettle from going haywire any other way."
Ruby noticed Glynda smirking. It must have been an inside joke.
"Thank you." Ironwood said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go. I'm getting reports that a giant hole has been blown in the Mantle Wall and I need to patch it quickly before the panic draws too many Grimm."
"Farewell, General. Specialist, I shall see to your smooth transfer."
"I look forward to it, sir."
With both holograms faded, Ruby felt her headache vanish and she felt like sighing from the relief. Ozpin looked around the room. "I trust that I have destroyed your doubts now, children."
Next came a series of affirmations. Ruby gave hers as well but did not allow herself to fully believe what Ozpin was saying. Listen to others but follow none. That was a rule of life for her. It kept her alive in that bent city and it gave her the edge here.
Team RWBY opened the door to their new dorm. While the day's events had been stressful, it did not come without a silver lining.
"Gotta say." Yang whistled as she strutted inside. "Despite all the bad luck, at least we get a good room out of it."
Ruby stepped through the door, taking in their new dorm. It was five times the size of their old room. Everything was larger than what was provided in the previous dorm. A bigger bathroom, wardrobe closet, work area with built-in desks, more space for beds. Even a small kitchen.
Given that this place was situated from the main dormitories it would make sense that they would use this place to keep them apart from the other students. Which was a no brainer as it was on the opposite end of the academy. It was a form of favoritism. But she wasn't about to complain. Any edge over the other students was something she would not overlook. The price for such a thing could be worked out later.
"It feels like the deluxe suite." Yang sighed as she fell on the much softer bed that was provided.
"A silver lining, we could all use right now." Blake said as she walked to the small fridge in their new kitchen.
Ruby did not add her two cents to this. There was something she had to do. Something personal and private. Walking to her luggage that was tucked away inside the closet, she dug into her back. There was something she needed to see.
"Ruby?"
Looking over her shoulder, Ruby saw her partner. She felt that feeling rise again from the pit of her stomach. An aching void that sensed the possibility of being filled. The sight of Weiss agitated it, almost making her flinch. Recalling the face Weiss gave her the previous night, Ruby fought it down.
"Yeah?" She responded, managing to keep her voice level.
"Are you okay? You've been really quiet today?" Weiss didn't have her usual confident rich girl demeanor. It was clear that all this had nearly traumatized her. Ruby understood that all too well. It would be a few days before Weiss felt safe with her new abilities. Not safe for her, but for her to be around other people. The fact her sister was coming here would definitely help with that. Weiss had often boasted that Winter was among the best Atlas had to offer. Weiss almost literally believed that her elder sibling was indomitable, hence why she did not fear hurting her sibling. While naive, it gave her some form of stability that her team could not provide.
"I'm just processing all this. Considering all the possible dangers that this could cause for us. All the roadblocks. We learn that magic is real, and my partner is now an ice wizard. You think I'm not going to give that some serious thought?" She kept her tone light to try and make herself sound aloof as per usual.
"Oh." Weiss said, looking slightly happier. "I guess I should have expected that from you. Always thinking of how to avoid the next bullet."
"Yup." Ruby said as she turned back to her bag. "Not to mention I'm thinking about ways to deal with your sister. If you're a smaller version of her then we need to kill the buzzkill inside her in order to have any freedom around here."
Yang laughed from her bed. "Ohohoho man. I just realized. Now we'll have two Ice Queens to deal with! And this one will be even more uptight than our current model."
"Hey!" Weiss shouted. "Don't say that about my sister!"
"She's in the military, Weiss." Blake said as she sipped some orange juice. "Being uptight is a job requirement."
Yang stared at Blake for a moment, registering the fact that her partner had just cracked her first joke. Then she burst out laughing again.
Ruby for her part still refused to listen. From her bag she pulled out an A3 binder containing all her old sketches.
"Ruby?" Weiss asked again.
Ruby bit down a growl as she looked at her partner again. "Yes?"
Weiss had her hands behind her back this time. "I know this may sound silly. But could you stack our beds again?"
Ruby's sharp eyes softened. "You want bunkbeds again?"
"Yes."
"Why? We have more than enough space for our own now."
"Well. I kind of lied when you first put them up." Weiss confessed. "When I was little, I always wanted to share a bunkbed with my sister. But you already know how that went."
Ruby watched the heiress now turned Maiden for a moment. Reading her expression, her body language. It all displayed a sense of embarrassment that was too difficult to fake for Weiss' pride to handle. Not to mention, Ruby also enjoyed the bunkbed too. It was nice to know that she was always close to one of her allies.
"Okay." Ruby said standing up, eliciting a smile from Weiss. "I'll get started when I get back."
Ruby walked past Weiss and made for the door.
"Where are you going?" Weiss asked slightly confused.
"To the library." Ruby lied. "I want to get some notes for our study session later."
Knowing that Weiss would try to accompany her as usual, Ruby activated her semblance, darting out the door in a flurry of red rose petals, leaving her team to ponder on their leader's actions.
{Six's Theme Part II-Tobias Lilja-Little Nightmares}
Ruby stopped running when she felt she was truly alone. There were trees all around her. Not a single camera in sight and not a twinge of a headache. The sun was in the later stages of the day, but the thick canopy gave her plenty of shade. More than enough for her Shadow to manifest herself.
"Are we alone?" Ruby asked. To an outsider, she would look like she was talking to herself. The funny part was that it would be an accurate assessment in a certain context.
"Yes. The closest person is by the main pathway." Answered her Shadow as she took form in front of Ruby. Black mist wafting off of her hooded form.
Ruby took a breath. But instead of calming down, she felt the floodgates open. She was tired of being calm, she wanted to be angry right now. Very angry.
"What happened back there!?" She snapped as her Shadow, who gave no reaction at all.
Ruby put her binder to the grass and started pacing. "You said we were fixed! You said taking her powers would end the pain!"
Her Shadow glanced around in response to a rustling noise. The surrounding tree branches were shaking and snapping. As if someone were pulling on them. She knew why but decided to keep quiet for now. Her physical half didn't seem to notice at all whiles in her rage.
"You said it would fix us! Why is it back? Why do I feel it gnawing at me again?" Ruby said pointing a finger at her incorporeal counterpart. More branches snapped and Ruby still did not notice.
"I don't know." Was all she could say.
"You don't know? Since when don't you know something? You're the one with all our memories of what happened back then. How can you not know?"
"WE WERE NINE!" Her Shadow barked back.
This was the first time Ruby got such a reaction out of her specter. While it would have been satisfying, it only provided further questions and unsettle the girl. The anger drained from her, and the trees became still once again.
"In case you forgot. We were a nine-year-old. Trapped in a world that wanted us dead. We didn't have time to ask questions then. We didn't have time to find out for sure if killing that witch would heal us. After that 'monster' tore us apart, we had no time for anything other than surviving. That was all that mattered."
Ruby looked down at the grass. Conceding the point. "Yeah. That's right."
Looking away, she walked up to a nearby tree. With a shout of anger, she punched it. Then she did it again, and again and again. When the stinging of her knuckles was enough to forestall her frustration, she sat against the tree with her knees drawn up to her face.
"So stupid." She mumbled as her Shadow shifted to her side, mimicking her position. "I can't believe we were dumb enough to take him at his word."
"You mean desperate enough. Besides, how were we supposed to know? We had days left to live and he was the only monster there that didn't immediately attack us on sight. Granted he did tie you up, but you wouldn't have followed him anyway."
Ruby looked up; she could see portions of the sky. It was so similar to that day. The day where that runny faced freak found her in that city. Somehow, he managed to track her down without any trouble and catch her like it was nothing. He put her on his little rowboat and carried them to that horrible place in the ocean.
Throughout the entire trip he didn't hurt her. He only offered her advice. Granted, he spoke in a funny manner, but she was able to understand him. Mostly.
"From one comes two by the will of the captive. Between the two a chasm grows broader. It must be occluded with the essence of being. Always sealed. Witness the heart of the Maw, she waits for you. To heal you must take the heart inward and unite once more. Be brave and live through the coming storm. Survive and you shall become inexorable."
His words echoed through her mind like a chant stuck on repeat. She didn't know why, but he was different from the rest of the beasts found in that nightmare world. Opening the binder, she placed at her side she turned the pages. Multiple sketches she made during her long months of therapy were found here. She recorded everything she could remember in here.
In the middle of the binder, she found the page where she managed to put pencil to paper and draw out her tormentor. What was on it was a hunched, broad figure, wearing a large dark trench coat and fisherman's hat. But the most bizarre thing about him was his face. It looked like it was dripping and melting. Like hot wax or slime. This was him. Her Ferryman.
"He lied to us." Ruby muttered. "He said we would be fixed."
"Maybe not." Her Shadow said. "What if it never went away? What if we've been feeding it for all these years and just haven't noticed?"
Ruby turned to her other half. "But. I don't remember how to do that. I thought it was done when she got back to Remnant."
"Just because you stopped doesn't mean you lost it. I think you are doing it without thinking. Remember how your aura fills up so fast."
Ruby's eyes widened at the sudden revelation. The fact that she was something akin to a vampire. "Oh. Oh no. I've been taking their aura all this time?"
Her Shadow shrugged. "Probably. All the clues add up. But I'm surprised no one's been hurt yet. I mean it's been close to eight years now."
"I almost hurt Weiss." Ruby said in a dour manner.
"I know. I was there too. I felt everything you did."
Ruby held her tongue. This was a train of thought she'd rather avoid, but that was out of the question now. The Maiden powers that attached themselves to Weiss had triggered old demons to make themselves known. Now she had to fight that feeling every time she was around her partner.
"Of all the things that could happen. Why did it have to be magic? We got enough of that back when we were nine." Ruby grumbled.
"What I'm wondering is why did we have such a violent reaction to the Maiden powers? I mean it felt like were starving and Weiss looked like a banquet."
Ruby grinned. "Don't say it like that."
Her Shadow chuckled. "My point still stands. There's more to this than just magic."
"I agree. Did you see what Ozpin was up to with General Ironwood?"
"Yeah. It was pretty obvious. He was using the conversation with the general to trick us into thinking that he was being genuine. By not letting the general know that we were there he was giving us the impression that he fully trusted us."
"Which we know for a fact he doesn't." Ruby continued. "If he trusted us fully, he would not have put so much effort into some of those backwards tactics of his. Asking Pyrrha to explain the legend. Offering as little information as possible. Then the general. Using a personal conversation to distract us and validate the points he had already made."
"Got to admit. He's a crafty man. Knows how to work people. But not us."
"He's been trying though." Ruby said recalling all the conversations they've had over the months whenever he managed to find Ruby alone. "It hasn't been working.
"What do you think he's hiding?"
"I don't know. All I do know is that there is a lot more to this than what he is willing to tell us. Did you see anything in his office? Notice anything odd?"
"No. Nothing out of the ordinary. But we don't know much about the tech in this place. It would take us weeks to cut into all the switches in that office."
Ruby sighed. This was a mystery that would keep her up at night. Standing up, she closed the binder and prepared to walk away.
"What's the plan?"
Ruby stopped and looked to her Shadow, who was manifest before her. Hooded face still shrouded by darkness.
"For now. All we can do is wait. See what they plan to do with Weiss. And continue studying to be a huntress. I don't care about all this conspiracy nonsense if I can avoid it after graduation. But until then we might as well play nice."
Ruby felt her Shadow grin and for once, she felt like grinning too.
"The long game then. I like it. Ready to be partners again?"
Ruby smirked and turned away. "We were always partners."
Making her way through the trees and back to the garden. Still not noticing the tree that she had uprooted in her anger or the fallen branches she had snapped from their trunks.
She was oblivious to this as her mind was focused on preparing the bunkbed for Weiss, as she promised.
There we go. I hope you all enjoy.
I have listened to The Sound of Nightmares. Holy balls it is good. Great stuff and it has helped me so much for solidifying my conception of The Nowhere. Now we have an acutal place for the location of Little Nightmares. It is going to be so good.
See yall next time.