Reed POV:
The rest of the day was uneventful since Glynda's class ended. Pyrrha and Blake said that we could maybe order a pizza and do something but I declined.
It sounded like a decent time but...I just can't. As much as I do want friends, I can't let any crack in my psyche show or someone may take advantage of it...
As people are starting to go to bed for the night, I call Ozpin on my scroll. He gave me his number so that he can contact me whenever I'm needed.
Ozpin: "What is it Mr Rose."
Reed: "I need to use the training arena."
Ozpin: "So late at night? Is this a normal occurrence for you Reed?"
Reed: "Both yes and no. Now that I'm near Ruby and Yang again, I should probably continue doing my mental training just like when I lived at home."
Ozpin: "Hmmmmm. Alright. Don't try to make a scene please. I'll have Glynda give you an extra pair of keys for the arena. Are you sure you can't just do your training in your room? You said you just meditated."
Reed: "If it was that simple I wouldn't have asked."
From the few times I did meditate with Wail, my aura during it can knock things over like bookshelves and tables. I wouldn't want to clean this up every single time.
Ozpin: "Fair enough. She should be at your room in a couple of minutes."
He hangs up and I decide to wait by meditating without using Wail.
Right now I don't need more actual power. I suppose having a more tactical approach to things would be nice if I don't have my semblance but I don't know of a time where that would happen.
No. What I need right now is to increase my mental fortitude again. Just like when I ran. For a few seconds, even as a defenseless aura-less child, I wasn't afraid of mom anymore. I faced her even with her semblance.
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A few minutes later I hear a knock on my door. I open my eyes and go to open it. Of course, there's Glynda.
Glynda: "Here's the extra key. Don't give it to anyone else. You know you're a very special case Reed."
Reed: "I know Glynda. Thank you."
She begins looking me up and down...
I'm not naked or anything so...?
Glynda: "Do you consider your combat attire your casual clothes?"
Oh. That.
Reed: "For the most part. Ever since living in my old home, I've learned to keep my guard up at all times. Fighting in normal clothes is uncomfortable to me. This feels way more natural. I wash it often so it's fine."
Glynda: "sigh...alright. I'll leave you be now."
She steps aside and walks through the halls, whether or not she's leaving to go back home or to her office I don't know.
Right. Training. Now.
I step out of my room with the keys and close my door, making my way over to the arena in Glynda's class.
Bzzz...bzzz...
Huh? A message? From Ozpin?
Ozpin: Whenever Glynda doesn't have a class you may use the training room. You are of great importance to us. I have another question about your interaction with the Brother Gods. Did they mention anything about alternate versions of the other people you know? Surely with this Blace Belladonna boy you told me about, I would assume others exist.
Reed: They didn't say anything about that but now you're having me question if that's possible. Considering it's nearly endless I'm sure they exist. I wonder if they have ended up like me and Blace. We can talk more about this some other time.
Ozpin: Right. Goodnight.
Hmmm. I'm sure in another world Yang had a twin that would be me and Blace's equivalent. Maybe even a Schnee or a Nikos.
Heh. I wonder if the Brother Gods will let me and Blace explore the multiverse once we're passed. I would very much enjoy that.
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I open the arena and step inside. There's a control room with all the options I need. Not only does it have a bunch of different Grimm at varying levels of strength and how many there are, but I can enter anyone's name here in Beacons database and have a clone of them fight. I won't be needing that right now. I step into the middle of the arena. I have a lot more room for mental training then normal.
Good. Let's begin.
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Pyrrha POV:
Now that my team is asleep, I finally have time to actually just think for a bit.
It feels really nice that all of my new teammates aren't ones who put me on a pedestal. I mean, hell, Jaune disrespected me in front of Weiss!
I'm not saying I liked that but it does prove that my popularity couldn't mean anything to him. And that makes me really happy.
But on the other side of the pond...RWBY and Reed.
Will Reed be okay? He's kinda forced to be close to his old sisters almost everyday. He seems nice so I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...
Huh? At this hour? It's pretty dang late.
I open the door and...speaking of RWBY...
Pyrrha: "Blake? What're you doing up?"
She's also in her pajamas. Did something come up?
Blake: "I was taking a walk around due to needing some air and I overheard Glynda giving Reed some keys to the training room. I followed him from far behind and he's in there right now. Wanna go sneak around and see what he's up to?"
Ooooh. A stealth mission.
Pyrrha: "Sure. Let me get out of my pajamas. They're more comfortable for sleeping then walking around.
Blake nods and waits for me outside my room. I come out in a red sweatshirt and black sweatpants.
Pyrrha: "Alright, let's go."
We both stealthily head towards the training room. As we get closer we can almost hear grunting and a weird purple light coming from the room.
What's going on in there?
The door is slightly cracked open. We both slowly open it and sneak ourselves in, staying up in the stands where students would watch fights to not be spotted.
The entire room is covered in a purple light! There's a violent purple fire around him!
Pyrrha: "Is he okay...?!"
I whisper over to Blake but she covers my mouth before I can say anything. She takes her scroll out and types a message on it, showing me the screen.
Blake: Don't talk. We'll communicate like this. He's very much deep in thought and concentration. We can't expose ourselves here.
Right...good idea.
I take out my scroll and type my message for her.
Pyrrha: So what's going on here? You have an odd obsession with him even if it's only been 2 days.
Blake: Something really weird is going on about his aura and that semblance of his. I won't explain it till it's debunked or confirmed.
Really? I haven't noticed anything weird with his aura. His semblance is the really strange part to me, but I think that goes for everyone.
And whatever is happening in here is...concerning.
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Reed POV:
Damnit!
I knew meditating and training like this with Wail for the first time would be a struggle...but this is ridiculous!
But...I need to push myself like this. The only way of overcoming your traumas and fears is to face it head on and beat it. Which is why doing the meditating normally wasn't cutting it anymore.
Beacon is a new opportunity here. I can't falter. I can't break. Never. Never again!
Reed: "NEVER! AGAIN!" I yell out as a few red flames appear in Wails aura.
Only for a few seconds do I feel the aura expanding and growing stronger and stronger before my body grows exhausted. I fall to the ground on my knees and punch the ground over and over out of frustration.
Reed: "How did you do it Blace? Is it because it's yours? Can I never properly wield this power like you did?"
I feel more frustration bubble up in my tired and sore body, giving me a second wind as Wail erupts again.
Reed: "GOD DAMNIT!"
I punch the ground one more time and feel my fists really start to hurt. Before Wail can go any higher, I take in lots of deep breaths and feel the tension in my body fade away finally.
Reed: "I'm noticing the downsides of Wail already. I figured it was just mental exhaustion, but no. There's physical exhaustion from your emotions fluctuating too much. Maybe...maybe I need my own aura and semblance. That could be the key to mastering it. My soul and aura is still heavily locked down with the trauma. If my semblance and yours combine, it might cancel eachother out..."
I pant and slowly sit on the floor of the arena. I cross my legs and put my hands together and start to go back into my thoughts. A pink aura comes out of me but it's very light and gentle, almost just being an outline around my body.
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Blake POV:
What just happened?
How much energy is in him?
Who is Blace?
What did he mean by what he said?
How did you do it Blace? Is it because it's yours?
Two people can't have the same semblance...and then Reed said something about his own aura and semblance.
Maybe...maybe I need my own aura and semblance. It might cancel each other out.
But that still doesn't explain why his aura is so familiar and like mine! His should be red!
...Wait a second...
When he first screamed there were red flames mixed in with his purple and pink flames.
Is he...slowly unlocking "his own aura"?
Could he possibly have two auras?
N-No! That's impossible! Even if someone's semblance was to steal other's semblances they wouldn't be able to use two at once like that!
This is unreal...
Pyrrha taps my shoulder and shows me her scroll.
Pyrrha: Reed isn't normal. Besides the obvious, he seems to have two different auras. Yang and Ruby said that he couldn't develop an aura due to both physical and emotional trauma. Yet he's talking about Wail like it isn't his. Even if that wasn't his semblance, the aura is off too. Since he's twins with Ruby, they should share a color. He shares it with you. There were also hints of red in Wail's aura.
Blake: I was just thinking that. He also keeps bringing up this Blace person. Reed is talking like he now has this "Blace" person's aura. But I don't know anyone of that name...how would he have an aura like mine? I'm an only child!
Pyrrha: Maybe this goes way deeper then we realize. We need to investigate further without outright asking him.
I think now is a good time to leave before this headache gets worse. I nod and we both get up slowly and leave the arena without making a sound.
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Wow. That was freaky.
I wouldn't want to be Ruby or Yang...they turned him into a monster, power wise.
The walk there is silent due to our brains trying to process it all. Pyrrha waves goodbye and goes to her dorm. I enter mine and make a sound that's a mix of a groan and a sigh.
Reed Rose. You're an interesting individual. I NEED to know more about you.
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Next morning, Reed POV:
When was the last time I had breakfast? I don't really think I ever ate breakfast much in my life.
Let's break that old habit.
I make my way over to the cafeteria in my pajamas and notice a giant stack of pancakes.
Who the fuck can eat all that? You must be huge if you can even dream of it.
I slowly approach the mini crowd and everyone sees me and steps out of the way.
Is this what Pyrrha feels like? Having all these eyes on you at all times? I see why she hates it.
Reed: "So who's the guy with all the pan-...Nora?!" I yell out in surprise at the orange haired girl sitting with Ren with a huge stack of pancakes.
Ren: "This is more normal then you may think."
Wow...that's...huh.
I sit down across the two and take another look at the literal mountain of food.
Reed: "If I can just get two of those I'll be happy."
Nora: "What! Get your ow- oh Gods Reed!" She says with a tinge of fear. I sigh and grab two of the pancakes from her stack and put it on my plate.
Reed: "If you don't treat Pyrrha like a god then don't treat me like one please." I say taking a bite of my breakfast.
Ren: "I had no plans on it. Neither did Jaune or Pyrrha. Pyrrha especially."
I feel like Ren is the type of person I need to be friends with. Not an overcharged battery like Nora or Ruby, not pissy like Weiss and not as...incompetent as Jaune.
...that was a bit mean, I'll admit.
Ren: "If you don't mind me asking... how did you defeat Cardin yesterday in one attack? That was ridiculous. The whole school learned of it in less then an hour."
I look around and see some of the kids staring at me. This is starting to get really annoying.
Reed: "Is that why I'm being treated like this right now?"
Ren: "Better get used to it."
Fantastic...
Reed: "As you saw yesterday, it's Wail, my semblance. Emotions equal power. Negative emotions and memories equal more power. You know of my home life and how it's effected my way of living. You can probably piece it together now."
Ren nods and does something unexpected after that explanation.
He...laughs. What's so funny?
Ren: "It was quite funny seeing you tank his mace though. He has no strategy whatsoever."
Oh. Yeah. Was a bit funny to them I guess.
Reed: "Yeah. If someone like him wasn't a douchebag and was a strategist then he could probably be an excellent fighter."
Ren: "Agreed. That won't happen though."
I nod and continue eating. It's refreshing to be able to sit and talk with people and not worry about everything. Though my guard is still up. I see Pyrrha out of the corner of my eye as she walks over to our table.
Pyrrha: "Good morning you three!"
So is she going to ignore Nora and her Saiyan-like eating habit?
Ren and Reed: "Good morning."
Ren: "Nora's a little busy but she also said it in her head probably."
Nora takes an entire pancake in her mouth while nodding and giving a thumbs up.
You are no girl Nora. You are a whole different breed of something else.
Pyrrha: "You ready for the day Reed?"
Hm? Why me?
Reed: "I guess? The only class I need to go to now is Ooblecks because I'm not going to any other class besides Glynda's."
Ren: "Huh?"
Pyrrha: "What?"
Reed: "Oh. Right. You guys weren't there for that. Due to my...circumstances of being raised and being self taught AND my position as a specialist one man team, Ozpin only requires me to go to Glynda's class to train myself or others."
Ren: "Wow. Aren't you lucky." He says with a grin.
Pyrrha: "You might as well be a teacher here Reed!"
Reed: "No. I hate people. And remember that I'm younger then all of you. I'm still only 15 like Ruby. Though if I was somehow older then 15, I wouldn't know, I don't keep track of my birthdays anymore."
I finish my last pancake and put my plate next to Nora's.
Reed: "Anyways. I'll see you guys later in Glynda's. I'll be in the training room if you need me."
Pyrrha: "Glynda's arena?"
Reed: "Yep. As long as it's not in use for a class I have free reign."
I wave back to them and head back to my dorm to get changed and mentally prepare myself.
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Pyrrha POV:
Ren: "He's quite a character."
Pyrrha: "It gets even weirder after what me and Blake saw and heard last night."
Ren and Nora both look at me confused.
Nora: "Did he do something bad? Did he try to hurt you and Blake? I'll break his legs!"
Pyrrha: "No No. Nothing like that."
I look over and see Jaune coming over to our table. Perfect timing for story telling.
Ren: "Good Morning Jaune. Just in time for a story."
Jaune: "A story? What's going on?"
Pyrrha: "About Reed. Me and Blake witnessed something...perspective changing yesterday with him."
Jaune: "Oh? Tell us then!" He says excited and intrigued.
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I go over the details of Blake overhearing Reed getting extra keys to the training arena, him meditating while surrounded in purple and pink flames from his own aura, his conversation with himself about mastering Wail, a new person, Blace, and their struggles with Wail, a promise he made with this Blace person and him talking about combining his aura with his current one.
Ren: "So...wait. We haven't confirmed anything...but you make it sound like Reed isnt wielding his own aura. At all. He's using Blaces aura, whoever the hell Blace is. You also said how Reed's aura and by extension Blace's aura are near identical with Blake's."
Jaune: "Blake and Blace. The names are pretty similar. Maybe it's a family secret and Blake doesn't know."
Pyrrha: "I don't even know where to begin with it all. I don't want to invade his privacy but he has potential to be the first person in Remnants history to have two different auras and semblances. And considering how strong Wail is, if it works with another strong semblance, he's literally unstoppable."
They all nod and look really intrigued still. I guess the idea of using two semblances sounds pretty insane.
Jaune: "Maybe it's a family secret on Reed's side with his family then. Him and Ruby both have silver eyes. Maybe that's something."
Ren: "Could be. We have a decent amount of pieces but no clue where they go, if they're even supposed to match together. The eyes could be involved or not at all. Same with Blace's name being so similar to Blake's."
This is all giving me a headache. Too much stuff to process in such little time.
Pyrrha: "We just need to wait and see."
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Next chapter: Origins II