Holy Moly, I actually don't know how long since it's been since I worked on this one. Honestly this was always gonna be a chapter with little added but I have had this sit on the back burner for the last 4 months. So apologize everyone if this is short got to get back in the grove of this story compared to my other story Demon Slaying Shinobi. With that said Onto the chapter.
Disclaimer* I do not own either RWBY or Naruto. RWBY Belongs to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum and Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Please Support the Official release
"Talk"
'Thought'
"Comms"
The Sun and the Moon
Chapter 21: Wayfinder
The night blanketed the city of Vale in a serene, luminescent glow, interrupted only by the occasional hum of airships gliding over the lit-up buildings. From the landing docks of Beacon Academy, General James Ironwood stood alone, his stern gaze fixed on the bustling cityscape below. The air was cool, crisp, filled with the distant sounds of nightfall. Ironwood's thoughts were as restless as the airships patrolling the skies.
Footsteps echoed softly on the metal platform behind him, a familiar cadence that did little to break his brooding silence. Glynda Goodwitch approached, her presence both a comfort and a reminder of the burdens they shared.
"Trouble sleeping?" Glynda's voice was gentle, yet carried an undertone of knowing.
Ironwood, without turning, gripped his shoulder with his opposite hand, his eyes still locked on the horizon. "Arm was acting up."
Glynda sighed, a mixture of exasperation and concern in her tone. "Of course, so logically, you got out of bed, dressed yourself completely, and decided to gaze menacingly out into the distance." She moved closer, her expression softening as she looked at him fully. "What's wrong?"
Finally, Ironwood turned to face her, the hard lines of his face softened by a trace of vulnerability. "I've trusted him for years. We both have. I just... I can't help but feel like he's keeping us in the dark. Especially since I put my daughter protection in his hands"
Glynda's eyes flashed with a mix of irritation and affection. "Don't be ridiculous! You know very well that we are not the ones in the dark. And he will protect Robin with all his will you know this."
Ironwood let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head slightly. "That makes it worse! I refuse to believe that a man that I've trusted for so long would act so... passively."
Glynda placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her grip firm yet comforting. "You're a good person, James. You've always done what you think is best for the people, even against strong protest. It's admirable. But it's high time you stopped talking about trust and started showing it." She let her hand fall back to her side as they both turned to look out over the city together. "Ozpin has experience that the rest of us lack. And I think that's something worth remembering."
The full moon shone brightly over the ruined buildings of Mountain Glenn, casting eerie shadows over the desolate landscape. A lone Beowolf prowled among the rubble, its dark eyes scanning for any signs of life. It paused momentarily, sensing something, and looked up. In its gaze was the young girl, Ruby Rose, perched high above with her red crosshair scope trained on the creature. Despite the tense moment, Ruby lowered Crescent Rose and sighed, her weariness evident as she kept lookout over the destruction.
Down below, the rest of Team RWBY lay on their sleeping mats around a modest fire, their weapons close by, ever ready. Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck, their guide and mentor, was slumped against a wall higher up, near a gaping hole in the ceiling and floor. Though the three members of RWBY seemed to be asleep, only their eyes were closed. Yang Xiao Long was the first to break the silence, giving up the pretense of sleep.
"Blake, are you awake?" Yang's voice was a whisper, barely breaking the quiet.
"Yeah," Blake replied softly, her voice heavy with thought.
Yang hesitated before continuing, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Why do you think he asked us about being a Huntress? Like, what was he trying to say?"
Blake pondered the question for a moment. "Maybe he was just curious."
"You think?"
Blake's reply was more certain. "No."
Yang turned slightly, her voice louder now. "Weiss, are you awake?"
Weiss's response was immediate, laced with irritation. "Of course I'm awake! You two are talking. And I think he... When I said I wanted to honor my family's name, I meant it. But, it's not what you think. I'm not stupid. I'm fully aware of what my father has done with the Schnee Dust Company. Since he took control, our business has operated in a... moral gray area."
Blake's tone was dry. "That's putting it lightly."
Weiss sighed, her voice resolute. "Which is why I feel the need to make things right. If I had taken a job in Atlas, it wouldn't have changed anything. My father was not the start of our name, and I refuse to let him be the end of it."
Blake's voice grew softer, filled with old pain. "All my life, I fought for what I thought was right. I had a partner named Adam. More of a mentor, actually. He always assured me that what we were doing would make the world a better place. But of course, his idea of a perfect future turned out to be not perfect for everyone. I joined the Academy because I knew that Huntsmen and Huntresses were regarded as the most noble warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy, what will I - how can I undo so many years of hate?"
Yang's voice was filled with determination. "I'm sure you'd figure it out. You're not one to back down from a challenge, Blake."
Blake's reply was tinged with frustration. "But I am! I do it all the time! When you learned I was a Faunus, I didn't know what to do, so I ran! When I realized my oldest partner had become a monster, I ran! Even my Semblance! I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself; an empty copy that takes the hit while I run away!"
Yang sighed. "At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kinda always gone with the flow, y'know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that for? I wanna be a Huntress, not really because I want to be a hero, but because I want the adventure. I want a life where I won't know what tomorrow will bring. And that'll be a good thing. Being a Huntress just happens to line up with that. I'm not like Ruby; she's always wanted to be a Huntress. It's like she said, ever since she was a kid, she'd dreamt about being the heroes in the books. Helping people and saving the day, and never asking for anything else in return. Even when she couldn't fight, she knew that's what she wanted to do. That's why she trained so hard to get where she is today."
Weiss's voice softened. "Well, she's still just a kid."
Blake's response was immediate. "She's only two years younger. We're all kids."
Yang's tone turned somber. "Well, not anymore. I mean, look where we are! In the middle of a warzone and armed to the teeth!"
Blake's voice was steady. "It's the life we chose."
Weiss's final words hung in the air, a sobering truth. "It's a job. We all had this romanticized vision of being a Huntress in our heads! But at the end of the day, it's a job to protect the people! And whatever we want, will have to come second."
From his resting place, Oobleck, who had appeared to be sleeping, allowed a small smile to touch his lips as Weiss finished speaking.
Meanwhile, Yang had taken over Ruby's watch, allowing the younger girl and their loyal dog Zwei to sleep on the sleeping bag Yang had been lying on. Suddenly, Zwei stirred, waking abruptly and standing up. Ruby, sensing the movement, woke up as well, her eyes blinking against the light of the campfire.
"What's going on?" Ruby asked, her voice groggy with sleep.
"Just taking over for you," Yang replied softly, a reassuring smile on her face. "Get some rest, Ruby. We've got a long day ahead of us."
As Ruby settled back down, comforted by Yang's presence, the night seemed a little less daunting. The full moon continued to shine down on the ruins of Mountain Glenn, casting long shadows over the sleeping city.
Ruby stirred from her restless sleep, roused by the sudden movement of Zwei. "Huh? Zwei, it's late. Go back to bed," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. But Zwei, oblivious to her plea, bolted off into the night.
"Zwei! Zwei!" Ruby called, frustration creeping into her voice as she stumbled out of the building, following the small dog into the ruins of Mountain Glenn. "Zwei! Where are you? Zwei!" She finally spotted him, urinating on a dilapidated wall.
"Zwei, this is a wasteland! You literally could have done that anywhere!" she scolded, exasperated.
Zwei responded with a cheerful bark.
Suddenly, Ruby heard voices. She quickly ducked behind some nearby rubble.
"What was that?" one White Fang guard asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"What was what?" his companion replied, unconcerned.
"I thought I heard a Beowolf or something."
"Hmph. Let's just finish our patrol and get back to base. This place gives me the creeps."
Ruby watched as the two White Fang guards continued their patrol, unaware of her presence. She and Zwei crept along behind them, sticking to the shadows. Eventually, the guards reached a ruined building with a pair of metal doors. Ruby hid behind a corner, holding Zwei out to watch them.
"Did they go in yet? One bark means yes," she whispered.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the ruins.
Zwei barked once.
"Oh! This is it! This is it!" Ruby exclaimed, pulling out a small scroll to call her teammates. However, the screen flashed "Low Signal." "Aw man! Come on, we gotta get the others!" she said, frustration mounting.
Ruby and Zwei hurried down the street, but the asphalt beneath them suddenly sank, collapsing into a cavern below. Ruby managed to grab onto a ledge, catching Zwei and tossing him up out of the hole. She began to pull herself up, but the ledge crumbled, sending her plummeting into a massive underground cave filled with ruined buildings. She landed on a building against a cavern wall, groaning as she stood up.
A door burst open nearby, revealing two more White Fang guards, one of whom Ruby recognized as Perry.
"Freeze!" one guard shouted.
"Where did she come from?" the other asked, astonished.
Ruby backed away, finding herself on the very edge of the platform.
"You're a long way from home, little girl," one guard taunted.
Ruby reached back for her scythe, only to realize she didn't have it. Panic surged through her as the guards approached. One grabbed her arm.
"Hey! Hands off!" Ruby protested, jerking her arm free and throwing a punch. Her small fists had little effect, and the guard responded with a brutal punch to her face, knocking her to the ground.
"The boss is gonna want to see this one," the guard said with a sinister grin. He kicked her in the head, and everything went black for Ruby.
Yang stirred as the first rays of dawn began to filter through the ruined windows of their makeshift camp. Stretching and yawning, she glanced over at the sleeping mats. "Hey Weiss, it's your..." she began, then stopped abruptly. "Ruby? Hey, where's Ruby?"
Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck, who had been quietly sipping a cup of tea, looked up sharply. "What?"
Their attention was drawn to the sudden sound of barking. Zwei came bounding into the room, barking furiously and clearly agitated.
"Zwei?" Yang said, her voice filled with worry.
Blake, now fully awake, sat up and grabbed her weapon. "What's going on?"
Oobleck, sensing the urgency, stood up quickly. "Grab your weapons! Your leader may be in trouble."
Yang didn't need any more prompting. She grabbed her gauntlets and turned to Blake and Weiss, who were already armed and ready.
"We need to find her, now," Yang said, her voice filled with determination.
Zwei barked again, then ran towards the exit, looking back to make sure they were following.
"Lead the way, boy," Yang said, and the team followed the small dog out into the ruins of Mountain Glenn.
Ruby woke up suddenly she looked around and noticed she was a camp fire feeling the warmth from is, she looked around not knowing where she was.
"Hello? Zwei? Yang? Blake? Weiss? Anybody?" Ruby called out to try and get anyone's attention, but to no avail.
"Lost too huh." A voice called causing Ruby to jump up and turn to see a boy about her age. He has bright blue eyes, body build, and caramel blond spiky hair. His hair style also separates them, as the front concentrates the spikes on the right side of his head as if windswept, and the back is smoother and more feathered. He wore a jacket reminiscent of the Yin and Yang symbol. The collar of the jacket is red and pleated and underneath this, he had what appears to be a grey vest with a button and several white, angular patterns on it. He wore a third layer under this, in the form of a plain, high-necked, black shirt. He also has a chunk of dull green and grey blue armor on his midsection that appears to be under his vest, and another piece of armor on his left shoulder.
"Who-who are you?" Ruby asked looking to the blond as flash of light briefly caused the boy to look like Naruto.
"Ventus, but everyone calls me Ven..." Ventus introduced himself with a smile causing Ruby to blush slightly.
Ruby's eyes widened at the sight of the boy—Ventus—his bright smile putting her somewhat at ease despite the strangeness of the situation. His sudden resemblance to someone else—a brief flash of Naruto—made her feel unsettled, but the boy's friendly demeanor quickly grounded her.
"Ventus... Ven?" Ruby repeated, her cheeks flushing lightly as she realized she was staring. "That's a nice name."
Ven chuckled softly. "Thanks. You must be Ruby, right?"
Ruby blinked, surprised. "How did you—?"
"I... don't know," Ven interrupted, looking down in confusion, his brow furrowing. "I just felt like I knew. Weird, right?"
Ruby nodded, trying to shake off her unease. "Yeah, this whole situation is pretty weird."
Ven glanced around the campfire, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar woods. "You were calling for someone earlier—friends of yours?"
"Yeah," Ruby said with a sigh. "My team—Yang, Blake, Weiss—and my dog, Zwei. I don't know where they are. I just woke up here."
Ven gave her a sympathetic nod. "I woke up alone too. Don't remember much before that, just flashes. But... I feel like we're not supposed to be here."
Ruby's gaze softened. "Me too. It's like we were... pulled from somewhere else."
"Yeah but from where is the question..." Ven said his eye's narrowing in a way Ruby seen Naruto do when he is in deep thought.
"Hey Ven do you have friends?" Ruby asked catching Ven off guard.
"What kind of question is that, of course I do." Ven said as he pulled something out that looked like a green star. "Yeah, 4 Terra, Aqua, and my twin Vanitas."
Ruby tilted her head as she looked at the green star in Ven's hand. The way he spoke about his friends made her feel a sense of comfort, but also curiosity.
"Terra, Aqua, and your twin, Vanitas?" Ruby asked, her eyes widening. "You must be pretty close with them, huh?"
Ven smiled softly, his fingers gently tracing the star. "Yeah, Terra and Aqua, they're like family to me. And Vanitas..." His smile faltered for a moment, the look of deep thought returning to his face—much like the expression Ruby had seen Naruto make. "Vanitas is... complicated."
Ruby noticed the change in his demeanor and decided not to press further. "Complicated, huh? I think I get that. My Brother is the same way."
"Naruto right?" Ven said causing Ruby took at him with suspicion.
"And how is you know my brother name." Ruby said her eye's narrowing.
"Honestly I don't know it's just a feeling I have, like right now he fighting a uphill battle and slowly losing himself in the process." Ven said looking to the camp fire.
Ruby's heart sank at Ven's words. The way he spoke about Naruto, her brother, made her chest tighten with worry. She took a step closer to Ven, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her hands.
"What do you mean by that?" Ruby asked, her voice quieter, more urgent. "How do you know he's fighting and... losing himself?"
Ven looked down at the green star in his hand, his expression full of concern. "It's hard to explain, but I just feel it. Like... he's struggling with something big, something that's changing him. And it's not just a battle against an enemy, it's something inside him."
Ruby's eyes widened. "That sounds... like him." She looked away, biting her lip. "Naruto always tries to carry everything on his own, even if it breaks him. But I thought he was stronger now, that he could handle it."
Ven nodded slowly. "He's strong, no doubt about it. But sometimes, the strongest people are the ones who need the most help. They just won't admit it."
Ruby looked back at Ven, her gaze softening. She felt like he understood—like he really knew her brother, even though they had never met. The connection he had to Naruto, even if it was just a feeling, made her feel less alone in her worry.
"But, he'll get through this and maybe this time it will be different for him and Menma." Ven said solemnly confusing Ruby.
"Blake's Brother what does he have to do with Naruto?" Ruby asked looking to Ven as he got up and placed a hand on the armor piece causing him to appear in a suit of armor is mostly colored in shades of steel blue, black, and gold. Dull red lines decorate the armor as well. Ventus adds a greyish-blue cape to his armor that looks discolored, almost appearing rusted. The armor on his knee is gold and bears a sharp, upward-pointing hook on the outer side of each one. His gloves are a shade of brown, and the black mask on his helmet has a slight orange tint. Ventus's helmet appears more squashed and flat at the top. His helmet also has two prongs on either side of his head which point backwards and angle diagonally upward. Reaching out his hand shocking Ruby as a Keyblade appears. The shaft is dark grey, thin, and has a very slight curve outward. There are three thin, dull gold lines that decorate the middle of the shaft. Two short bars connect the main blade to the teeth. The teeth are dark grey like the blade and have a wing-like shape. They are comprised by five curved bars that decrease in size the lower they are on the Keyblade. The Keychain token is a green gem with two silver feathers spiraling around it.
"Good-bye Ruby, Hopefully we can talk again sometime." Ven said confusing Ruby further.
Ruby watched in shock and awe as Ventus summoned his armor and Keyblade. The transformation was sudden and surreal, leaving her confused and full of questions. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of his words and actions.
"Wait! What do you mean by 'Menma'? And what does Blake's brother have to do with Naruto?" Ruby called out, her voice rising in desperation.
Ven, now fully armored, looked at her through his helmet's visor. His expression was hidden, but his voice carried a weight of sorrow and understanding. "I can't explain everything right now, Ruby. It's... too complicated, and there are things even I'm not sure about. But trust me, Naruto and Menma—they're connected in ways that go beyond our understanding."
Ruby's confusion deepened. "Connected? How? And why are you leaving? We just met! I need answers, Ven!"
Ven paused, his hand still gripping his Keyblade, and for a brief moment, he seemed conflicted. "I wish I could stay and help, but there are things I need to do... places I need to be. This battle, whatever's happening to Naruto, it's part of something much bigger. But... I have a feeling we'll meet again. And when we do, I promise, I'll explain everything."
Ruby clenched her fists, frustrated by the lack of clarity but sensing that Ven was genuine in his words. She felt the weight of her concern for Naruto pressing down on her even more now. "Then... please, just tell me one thing. Is Naruto going to be okay?"
There was a long pause before Ven responded. "That's up to him... and to you. Don't give up on him, Ruby. He needs you more than you realize."
With that, Ven raised his Keyblade, and a shimmering light surrounded him. Before Ruby could say anything else, he disappeared into the light, leaving her standing alone by the campfire, her thoughts racing as she started feel like she was waking up collapsing to the ground.
Ruby's consciousness returned slowly, a throbbing pain in her head and arms making her wince. She realized she was being dragged, each arm gripped tightly by a White Fang guard. The dim, flickering lights of the underground city created a surreal backdrop as she struggled to clear her head.
All around her, White Fang members bustled about, engaged in various tasks. Some were piloting massive Paladins, using the mechanical suits to haul large shipping containers, while others worked on weapons and equipment. The underground city was a hive of activity, a stark contrast to the desolation above.
A loud crash echoed nearby as a White Fang member dropped a large, cylindrical device. "Hey, be careful! What are you trying to do, blow us to the moon?" a nearby guard barked.
"Sorry, sir!" the hapless member responded, hurriedly picking up the device.
Perry, one of the guards dragging Ruby, called out. "Hey boss! Found something you might want to see!"
From inside a railcar, Roman Torchwick's voice responded, laden with exasperation. "Is it good or bad, Perry? Because let me tell ya, I have had a day."
Perry hesitated. "Uh, it's a little girl?"
Roman leaned out of the railcar doorway, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Ruby. "That would be bad."
Zwei led Oobleck and Ruby's teammates through the labyrinthine ruins of Mountain Glenn with unerring accuracy. As they approached a large hole in the ground, Yang's heart skipped a beat.
"Ruby's scythe!" Yang exclaimed, spotting Crescent Rose lying next to the gaping hole.
Blake's face paled. "Oh no."
Weiss looked over at the hole, her voice trembling slightly. "Do you think she fell?"
Oobleck, who had been scanning the surroundings, suddenly looked up. "Fell?"
Weiss pointed toward the hole. "Down there."
Oobleck peered into the dark chasm, his eyes widening with realization. "Oh my. Of course! Of course, OF COURSE, OF COURSE!"
Blake stepped closer, concern etched on her face. "What is it?"
Oobleck slapped his forehead, frustration and enlightenment mingling in his expression. "How could I be so stupid?!"
Yang moved to stand beside him. "Dr. Oobleck, what's wrong?"
Oobleck began pacing, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Mountain Glenn! Yes, an expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm! Previously home to thousands of people! Working people commuting to the city, the main city! Developed a subway system to the inner city! Grimm attacks increased! Population in danger, now desperately searching for shelter! City evacuates into the metro tunnels and what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forests and deep caves!"
Yang, trying to follow his rapid speech, asked, "Doc, what are you saying?"
Oobleck stopped pacing and turned to face the group, his eyes gleaming with urgency. "My dear, we're not just looking for an underground crime network, we're looking for an UNDERGROUND crime network!"
Blake's eyes widened in realization. "They've been working in caves?"
Oobleck nodded, his excitement growing. "No, no, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period of time, thanks to an aggressive perimeter defense, and unique transportation; the city developed an elaborate subway system to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom! Sadly, without the many natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start! As the end drew near, the citizens of the territory made one last attempt at survival: They took up shelter beneath the city! In massive caves that they had cleared out for the subway. And they had cut themselves off from the surface!"
Yang's eyes were wide with realization. "An underground village?"
Oobleck's face was grave. "In a matter of speaking, yes. A safe haven. Until... an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. After that, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb. If Ruby is down there," he said, deploying his weapon, Antiquity's Roast, "we must find her..."
And Scene. Yeah this was gonna be a short chapter. Mostly cause I had no idea where I was gonna put certian things to come, But dont you worry we will be back to Castle Oblivion and Naruto at some point. I actually don't know when This story has always been a slow burn for me. Compared to the other story it's hard to write this story cause I am trying to make Elements of like Several different Franchise besides just RWBY and Naruto in a meaningful way that makes sense. But with That being Said Ven is here, I think I handled him pretty well hopefully we will get to see him more but we will see. So until next time...