Hey everyone! It's me, ONCE AGAIN, Shadow 264 and WELCOME to the second episode of the FOURTH VOLUME of RWBY: (Genius Gamer Shadow) Ex-Aid Reader x Ruby Rose! So, to recap once again, I DO NOT OWN RWBY AND I DO NOT OWN KAMEN RIDER EX-AID!! RWBY is owned by RoosterTeeth and Kamen Rider Ex-Aid is owned by Toei. So, now sit back, enjoy and LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!
*hits gong real hard until money comes out from it*
Mr Krabs: (Grabs money)
My POV:
With a gasp Ruby open her eyes. She's lying in a red sleeping bag on a clearing in some woods. Mitchell, Tenka, Rachel, Nora, Jaune and Ren are also in sleeping bags around a long burned-out campfire. Magnhild, Nora's hammer, rests beside her. Ruby sits up and looks around. Birds can be heard tweeting and all seems peaceful. Ruby, however, puts her hand to the side of her head and sighs as though she's in pain. It was silent until her eyes were drawn to my sleeping bag, where I were tossing and turning with a pained look on my face.
Ruby: Shadow? Are you okay?
She quickly rushed over to me, grabbing me gently by the shoulders.
Ruby: Shadow?! It's okay! It's just a nightmare! Shadow! Please!"
Me: NO!!!!! Cronus!!!
I eyes suddenly opened, sat bolt upright, with my hand stretched out as I unintentionally let out a chilly air around me, unfortunately waking up the others. After realizing it was just a dream, my breathing relaxed as I rubbed my forehead. The others got up from their sleeping bags and went over to me.
Ren: Are you alright?
Me: I'm... fine, Ren. Just some really bad nightmares.
Ruby: It seemed more than a nightmare to me, Shadow. I'm worried. Who's cronus???
My eyes widened in surprise as I heard Ruby ask about the name.
Me: I..... would rather not talk about it, Ruby.
I averted my gaze, trying not to make eye contact with her. I didn't want her to get involve in this, since this was only my problem, as it is your fatal flaw.
Jaune: It's okay. We're here if you ever need someone to talk about it.
Me: We.... We should just get moving.
They all nodded as they went to their sleeping bags and prepared everything they need for the journey ahead, a look of concern still on Ruby's face, as she watched me pack my sleeping bag. I set aside how I felt about the dream for now as I started packing my sleeping bag, and started preparing my gear as well.
---TIMESKIP---
3rd Person's POV:
When Weiss was called by her father, she walks alone in the hallway, never having looked up the entire time as she makes her way there, until she has a startled reaction to hearing her brother's voice coming from right in front of her.
Whitley: Good afternoon, sister.
A teenage boy, somewhat younger than Weiss, stands before her. He's got his hand on his chest and he affects a bow.
Whitley: A pleasure to see you out of your room for a change.
Weiss sidesteps him and turns to speak, and since he moves to face her the effect is that of the two of them briefly circling each other.
Weiss: Hello, Whitley. You're in a cheery mood today.
Whitley: Klein made crepes for breakfast.
He then clasps his hands behind his back and smirks at her.
Weiss: What do you want?
Whitley: I heard Father shouting with someone in his study earlier.
Weiss: Mother?
Whitley: No, she's already drinking in the garden. I think it was a man. I heard a man's voice inside.
Weiss looks up at him on this, feigning a concerned look.
Whitley: I just wanted to warn you. I heard he had asked to speak with you.
Weiss: I'll be fine.
Whitley: I know you will. You are strong, like Winter.
Weiss: You never liked Winter.
Whitley: True, but you can't deny her resolve.
Weiss crosses her arms as she furrows her eyes at him in suspicion.
Weiss: You... seem different.
Whitley: And you've been gone. I'll have you know I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon.
Whitley then turns and walks away.
Whitley: Anyway, good luck with Father!
After he is gone, Weiss responds.
Weiss: Thank you.
She continues walking, until she stops to look at their family portrait. Clockwise they are Jacques Schnee, Weiss, Whitley, Winter, and Mrs. Schnee. Jacques has black hair that is graying and a full mustache. Mrs. Schnee has a stern look on her face, Winter and Weiss are frowning, Whitley is smiling, and Jacques has a neutral expression.
---MEANWHILE---
My POV:
My team of Team STRM and all four members of Team RNJR were walking down a sunny road, with Ruby in front, looking at the map.
Ruby: So the next town is... uh-huh... uh-huh... We're lost.
Me: Are you sure you're handling the map the right way up, Ruby?
Ruby: What do you--- Oh.
Ruby lets out an embarrassed laugh as she turns the map the right way up, while I just face-palmed.
Jaune: We're not lost. The next town is Shion. My family used to visit it all the time.
Ruby: Oh yeah. Don't you have, like, four sisters?
Jaune: Uh, seven.
Ruby giggles at Jaune's cringing response. I heard Mitchell and Rachel giggling as well
Nora: You know, that actually explains a lot.
Me: Uh-huh. Like how Jaune was able to handle a dress flawlessly.
Jaune: Wait, what?
Ruby: So, what did you guys do there?
Jaune: Oh, all sorts of stuff! Over here is a great hiking trail, and over here is where we went camping all the time. I got my own tent because I was special. Also, so my sisters would stop braiding my hair.
Me: I'm guessing the reason why you have your own tent because you were the only boy in there.....
Jaune hesitates to speak for a moment before he gives up and looks down.
Jaune: Uh..... yes.
Ruby: Didn't like the look?
Jaune: Yeah, they just kept doing pigtails, but personally, I think I'm more of a "warrior's wolftail" kind of guy.
Ruby: That's just a ponytail.
Jaune: I stand by what I said.
Nora stops short, raising her hands to her lips as her eyes widen. Soon after, Ren stops, visibly tense. My team looked up ahead and our faces, turning instantly paled at what we saw.
S/T/R/M: Uh, dudes and dudettes.....
Nora: Uh, guys?
Ruby: Huh?
Jaune: What?
Jaune and Ruby look up from the map. Their eyes widen and jaws drop. In front of them is a desolated village. Buildings and trees were burnt to a crisp, destructed rubble covering the streets, and smoke coming from many areas around the village. At least one dead body can be seen on the side of the road approaching the town.
The map is dropped and all eight rush forward, but I picked the map up before it was blown away and followed behind. We all briskly move into the town, looking around. Ren tosses his backpack on the ground and moves ahead while the other seven gather in the middle of a road. I examined the smoke in the area, and saw embers on the wood.
Me: Judging by those embers and the smoke, it only happened recently
Ruby: There could be survivors!
Ren: Over here!
We all turned towards Ren, and rush to where he was leading me. On the ground, sitting propped against a broken building wall, is a young man in armor. He breathes heavily and holds his hand against a small, but deep, bleeding wound in his abdomen. Ren drops by his side and puts his hand on his shoulder.
Ruby: A Huntsman!
Jaune: What happened? Who killed all these people?
Dying Huntsman: Bandits. The whole tribe... Then, with all the panic...
The Huntsman can't finish and coughs repeatedly.
Ren: Grimm.
The huntsman nods at his guess, and Ren stands and walks a few paces away, placing his hands atop his head. Mitchell, Rachel, Tenka, Ruby, Jaune, and Nora step away to confer, while I just rushed to the man's aide, crouching down in front of him and trying to cover up the wound, while the six discuss about what they can do.
Ruby: Alright, we can get him to the next village and try to find a doctor there!
Jaune: Yeah. Ren and I can take turns carrying him there.
Nora: I don't know if he'll make it.
Jaune: He will. He has to.
Tenka: We must be resiliant. I know he would make it.
Mitchell: We need to make a stretcher...
Rachel: ...and fast!
Ren turns back and walks over to the Huntsman. I was still trying to freeze the wound, but too much blood started to come out and it kept melting the ice. My hands started to tremble in exhaustion, when I suddenly heard my mother's voice in my head.
Isolde: I'm sorry, son, but there's nothing else you could do. His wound is far too fatal. I can already feel his life force fading away.
Me: Then why can't I help him! He can't just... leave him like this!!
Unfortunately my mother was right. I looked at the huntsman letting out his final breath his head and the hand that was covering his wound went limp. I looked down in sympathy, with Ren patting me on the shoulder.
Ren: You did your best, Shadow.
I just let out a trembling sigh as I stood up.
Ruby: If we get going now, our chances will be better. I can run ahead and look for help!
Ren: Guys.
The other six turn and discover that the Huntsman has already died.
Nora: Should we bury him?
Ren walks right past them without a backward glance.
Ren: We should go. It's not safe here.
Nora: Ren...
Nora turns and follows him. Ruby puts her hand on Jaune's arm, looking stressed and sad.
Ruby: It'll be okay.
Jaune: I'm just tired of losing everything.
My team and Ruby saw me stood a few feet back from the body, and began rolling the sleeves of my right arm.
Ruby: Shadow?
I ignored Ruby's call as I closed my eyes and focused my Aura into my right hand. I placed my left hand on my right wrist, and as I opened your eyes, a soft beam of ice went to the huntsman's body. It slowly turning the body into an ice statue, starting from the feet up to the top of his head.
Jaune: What are you doing?
When the body was was finally an ice statue, I waved my hand, and a snow flurry encircled the statue, slowly dissipating as it followed the snow flurry in the wind. Me, Ruby, Jaune and my team watched as the snow flurry drifted farther and farther away.
Me: (tears coming out from my sockets) Be with the wind, noble one. For you shall be remembered that you've fought well... as a hunstman.
Ruby walked over to me and places her hand on my shoulder. I turned towards her, a mournful look still present in her face.
Ruby: Thank you... For doing that.
I gave Ruby a faint smile, before I walked over to where Ren is. He stops and looks at something on the ground, his eyes widening. A cloven hoofprint is impressed into the ground. Nora comes up to his side. She sees the same mark and her eyes also widen in recognition. The two of them silently make eye contact. When I finally caught up with the two, I looked down at what they were looking and stared at it curiously.
Me: Ren? Is there something wrong?
Ren: I don't want to talk about it.....
---TIMESKIP---
Weiss' POV:
I am now standing outside my father's door and listening to the discussion inside. I hesitate to put my hand on the door knob as there seems to be a heavy argument inside, and I recognized the voice inside as this voice belongs to General Ironwood.
Jacques: I'm not talking about the good of my company; I'm talking about the good of Atlas, our entire Kingdom!
Ironwood: I am sorry to say this, Jacques, but that is a load of garbage and you know it.
I quietly open the door and peered in. I saw Ironwood sitting in a chair in front of a bookcase.
Jacques: I beg your pardon?!
Ironwood: Jacques, will you please, just hear me out?
Jacques places his glass down on the table roughly.
Jacques: You are a trusted friend and ally to this family, James, but what you're suggesting is absurd!
Ironwood: You are blowing it out of proportion.
Jacques: The council will never agree to it!
Ironwood: You forget,
Ironwood stands up from the couch as he stares at him firmly.
Ironwood: I hold two seats on the council.
Jacques: Your Dust embargo has already cost me millions! I can promise you, I have not forgotten!
Ironwood: So this is about you.
I continued to peer inside as they argued.
I then entered the room, and I watched the people inside awkwardly while the door shuts behind me. I was startled at the sound while James and Jacques turn and look at me.
Ironwood: Miss Schnee! My apologies. I should have been gone by now.
Me: It-it's okay.
Ironwood: We'll continue this at another time.
Jacques: Indeed. Klein can show you out.
Ironwood: Don't worry, I know the way.
I stepped aside so that Ironwood can reach the door. He turns and looks at my father.
Ironwood: Until next time, Jacques.
Jacques solemnly nods back at Ironwood, who turns to me.
Ironwood: Please know, you'll always have a home at Atlas Academy, Miss Schnee. We'll be back in session before you know it.
With that, Ironwood leaves.
Jacques: Did you forget your manners while you were away?
He turns and walks to his desk, which is a a few steps up from the chairs and tables. I looked annoyed at the comment but calms down with a sigh.
Me: No, Father. I'm sorry.
Jacques: Can you believe there are still people in the world that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon? To Vale?
Me: Well, they weren't there.
Jacques: It's a wonder Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank.
Jacques finally sits down, swinging the seat so that his back is facing me inside the office.
Jacques: I suppose the council trusts him, for better or worse.
Me: I trust him.
Jacques just sighs, turning toward me..
Jacques: Thanks to him, Atlas is forbidden from exporting Dust to other Kingdoms. "A precautionary measure," as he puts it, "until we're certain no one is going to declare war". How anyone could possibly find that to be sound logic is beyond me. Which is why the Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks.
I looked up at him in surprise.
Jacques: We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side. That we are all victims of the fall of Beacon.
Me: That's... wonderful news.
Jacques: I know. And I think it would make a lot of people happy if you performed at the event.
Me: Excuse me?
Jacques: Many forget that you were there. My own daughter, a Schnee, on the grounds, defending another Kingdom! We need to remind them! And we need to show them that the Schnee family is just as strong as ever!
Me: Are you asking me if I'd like to sing, or telling me?
Jacques leans forward and makes a tent with the fingers of his hand as he meaningfully gazes at me.
Jacques: I think it would make a lot of people happy.
Me: (sighs) I'll... I'll start practicing.
Jacques: That's... my girl.
When I shuts the door outside to my father's office, I turn to find the butler, carrying a tray of what seems to be a coffee mug.
Klein: Hot coffee, Miss Schnee? I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold.
I took the mug off of the tray with a smile.
Me: Thank you, Klein.
Klein: You know what I think?
Klein lifts the tray to cover his face before dropping it dramatically as he leans forward toward me making a less-than-formal face, his brown eyes having turned red, and his changing in an accent with a gruff voice.
Klein: I think it's to balance out all his hot air.
My eyes widen in delight and I turn and look over my shoulder at the closed office door. I then turn back to Klein with a giggle.
Me: Klein!
They both then giggle together before the butler fakes a sneeze, and his eyes turn blue, and his voice turning back to normal.
Klein: Uh, apologies, madam.
Klein pretends to sneeze again. I giggled merrily, hiding my smile behind my hand. Klein wiggles his mustache and looks up. His eyes turn yellow.
Klein: Ah, there's my happy little snowflake.
I sighed to release some weight off my shoulders, and I gave the butler a genuine grin.
Me: Thank you, Klein.
---TIMESKIP---
My POV:
Eventually after travelling for a few more hours, it had begun to turn dark, and so it was that we all decided to set up camp for the night. However, I had found it very hard to sleep due to the same nightmare I have been having over and over. I forcefully closed my eyes and hoped I could have a nice, peaceful sleep just for one night. Then suddenly, I heard a voice that I am all too familiar with.
Pyrrha: Jaune.
I suddenly sat up from my sleeping, and saw Ruby sit up as well.
Me: You heard it too?
I whispered to Ruby, who just slowly nods. I started looking around and saw little will-o-the-wisps floating around. The campfire is still burning, but has died down. Tenka, Rachel, Mitchell, Ren and Nora are asleep while their weapons are once again at their sides. Jaune's sleeping bag, however, is empty.
Through the trees beyond Jaune's sleeping bag, Pyrrha's voice can still be heard, but it is muffled.
Me and Ruby got up from our sleeping bags and walked toward the voice. Along the way, Ruby takes a moment to play with one of the wisps as she looks around, uncertain. While I kept moving forward, and finally spotted something. Ruby soon catches and her mouth falls open at what we both are now seeing. Gazing with concern, Ruby moves next to a tree and watches from there, while I hid behind a large rock beside the tree.
I watched as Jaune draws his sword. He poses with it and the shield, before dropping his shoulders and turning to his right. His Scroll is set up on a stump, and I found where the voice was coming from. I was surprised as I was able to make out the image of Pyrrha on the screen of his Scroll.
Pyrrha: Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield up.
Jaune lifts his shield so that only his eyes up are not protected.
Pyrrha: Keep your grip tight.
Jaune tightens his hand on his sword and shield.
Pyrrha: Don't forget to keep your front foot forward.
Jaune hasn't forgotten and doesn't need to move.
Pyrrha: Ready? Go.
Jaune steps forward with the sword, cutting at the air and making a fighting cry.
Pyrrha: Again!
Jaune moves forward with his other foot, again slashing the air and releasing a cry.
Pyrrha: And again.
Jaune spins in a circle, putting a lot of feeling and effort into his next cry and slash. It has cost him a bit, and he pants.
Pyrrha: Okay. Now, assuming you aren't cheating, we can take a break.
Jaune stands upright and lets his head fall forward a bit, closing his eyes.
Pyrrha: I know this can be frustrating...
Jaune turns toward Pyrrha's image on his Scroll.
Pyrrha: ...and it can feel like so much effort to progress such a small amount, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I've never met someone so determined to better themselves. You've grown so much since we started training. And I know this is just the beginning. Jaune, I-I...
Pyrrha's speech paused for a moment as she looked away from the camera as she seemed to struggle to find what to say. I knew from the way she acted, she wanted to tell him how she felt.
Pyrrha: I want you to know that I'm just happy to be a part of your life. I'll always be here for you, Jaune.
The Scroll rewinds the video of Pyrrha without being touched. Jaune stands before it, holding Crocea Mors, his head bowed.
Pyrrha: Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield up.
Jaune sighs in pain before belatedly re-following the instructions.
Pyrrha: Keep your grip tight. Don't forget to keep your front foot forward. Ready? Go.
Jaune resumes the exercise. Ruby watches with pained eyes before turning away and leaves Jaune be, while I just stayed and watched. As I watched Jaune practice, a sudden idea came upon my head. I slowly turned into my snow form and glided off.
Pyrrha: Again. And again.
Jaune makes one extra fighting cry and slash, and was surprised when I suddenly appeared in front of him and blocked his slash with Parablade. Due to the power he has driven into the sword, the clashed knocked his sword out of his hand, and fell down on his back. Jaune groaned as he sat back up.
Jaune: Shadow?! Jeez! Are trying to give me a heart attack?!
I chuckled at his ridiculousness as I held my hand out for him, which he grabbed and I helped him get up on his feet.
Me: Practicing in the middle of the night are we?
Jaune: Isn't it obvious?
He bluntly responded as he picks up his sword and turns to me.
Jaune: What are you doing out here, Shadow? Shouldn't you be asleep?
Me: Can't. Been having the same nightmare in my head over and over.
Jaune: Yeah, we noticed.
Jaune said as he picked his Scroll up from the stump and turned it off, and sat down on the stump himself. He retracts his shield back into its sheath form and sheaths his sword in it.
Me: You know, I could teach you a thing or two of what I learned when I was gone.
Jaune: Okay.... And about that, where did you go for the past months? One day you disappeared, and after a few months, you came falling down from the sky.
I answered his question evasively.
Me: Let's just say: I went to a place where you couldn't go to by normal means. Now, do you want to learn what I've learned or not?
Jaune: Well, yeah! I did promise I'll try to get stronger, and even find out about what my Semblance is. So, I'll do just that
Me: Good. But, you could put your weapons down, because we will be only using your mind, soul and Aura on this one.
Jaune: Huh?
Me: When fighting an opponent, it's not all about strength and power. It's about the presence of your mind and iron will in your mind and soul. Having the capacity to resist blows is not enough, we also need to be aware of the distractions that we have within us in the past. And unlocking your inner peace is the best way to avoid these distractions. In other words, you must find inner peace in your soul.
Jaune: Okay....
Me: But first, let us be on our knees.
With that instruction, Jaune and I are on our knees to begin our meditation.
Jaune: So, how exactly are we going to do it?
Me: It's quite simple, Jaune. You will meditate, while I try provide distractions in your surroundings and inside your mind.
Jaune panicked as I mentioned the last part, and held the sides of his head.
Jaune: You're going inside my head?!
Me: Going inside your mind? Don't be ridiculous than you already are, Jaune. I'm just going to give you the occasional brain freeze as part of the distraction. So, let's begin our meditation.
Jaune: Wait, what?
After a few minutes of assuring Jaune that everything is going to be okay, our meditation began.
To be continued....
And that's all, folks! The second episode of the Fourth Volume for our RWBY: (Genius Gamer Shadow) Ex-Aid Reader x Ruby Rose. If you ladies and gentlemen and other deviants really, really love it, comment down below on the comment section if you want me to try something and make up for it. So, thank you so much for reading this. And if you enjoy it, please do leave a comment and add the story to your faves cause' that would be "Muteki" awesome and greatly appreciated, but if you didn't, please do leave a comment on how I can improve myself as well.
And,if this happens to be the first literature that you have seen by me, pleaseconsider leaving a watch to become part of "Ride-Player Troopers" (It's what Iprefer to call my watchers) today if you want to see more of the rest of RWBY: (Genius Gamer Shadow) Ex-Aid Reader x Ruby Rose insert. Apart from that, thank you so much again forreading this, and I'll see you Ride-Players (readers) on the next episode ofour RWBY: (Genius Gamer Shadow) Ex-Aid Reader x Ruby Rose! Until then! See you on the next game! Staylighted up! Stay Frosty! Stay Brave! Be Nice! SEE YA!!!!