Chapter 4

"The shadows are still avoiding us." Rise reported. "But there are three powerful ones waiting for us just ahead." Sure enough, a little further down the path there were three shadows waiting in another arena-like clearing. These shadows took the appearance of deformed Ursai. Each had a slightly different appearance. "They've each got different properties." Rise said. "For some reason I still can't get a good scan in this place, but I'll keep trying."

Yu opened up with Izanagi. He launched a light electric attack at all the enemies. One Ursa shadow collapsed in pain, one seemed only slightly deterred and the third seemed to grow more powerful. Yu motioned Kanji at the downed shadow, indicating he should follow up with an electric attack of his own. "Takeji Zaiten!" Kanji summoned his Persona. A white figure with oversized arms, adorned with flames and carrying a massive sword appeared. With a swipe of its sword, a bold of lightning shot into the injured shadow. It howled in pain before exploding and dissolving away.

Ruby fired a series of sniper shots at the remaining shadows. They seemed to have little effect on either. "I don't think physical attacks are going to work." Ruby warned. Yukiko stepped up and summoned her Persona, delivering a wave of fire to the remaining shadows. One recoiled in pain but the other seemed to grow stronger; it was the same one powered up by electricity as well. The now super-powered shadow headed straight for Yukiko's Persona and hit it with a devastating swipe of its claw. Yukiko cried out in pain as her Persona began to fade to static.

"Bearsona!" Teddie shouted, summoning his Persona. Even in the heat of combat, Yang could not help but smile at the pun. His Persona scooped up Yukiko and carried her away from the shadows before healing her. She was still dazed but would be alright. Teddie then turned his attention to the shadows, commanding his Persona to assail them with a torrent of ice. The ice had no effect. Teddie wisely withdrew, though the way he fled screaming made it appear to be more of a rout than a tactical retreat.

The shadows were now closing in, using their imposing size and strategic positioning to pin the group in an ever-shrinking area. "We've still got to do something about the one weak to fire." Rise implored. "Yukiko is the only one of us with fire based attacks. Senpai, can you change Personas?" Yu shook his head.

"I've got an idea." Weiss said. She pulled out a vial of unrefined red dust. She kept it in case she needed to refill Myrtenaster. Weiss tossed the vial toward the shadow and the vial rolled in front of the shadow as it charged. "Shoot it!" Weiss shouted. Blake shot the vial which erupted in a brilliant flame, engulfing the shadow. The shadow struggled and swiped at the air as it burned before falling to the ground and evaporating.

"Wind doesn't work on this one either." Yosuke reported. The group was now able to move around the area more freely and they had spread out around the last remaining shadow. His Persona dodged out of the way as the shadow swiped at it.

"Light and dark are not effective either." Naoto added. "I've got one more thing left to try." She stepped forward and took a deep breath. "Megidolaon!" She shouted with intense concentration. Her Persona raised its sword high into the air before bringing it down. A blinding light appeared in the sky above the shadow, expanding to engulf it and most of the area. The light was followed by the sound of a thunderous explosion and a wave of heat and wind that knocked everyone off their feet. When the smoke cleared nothing remained of the shadow, just a smoking crater.

"Why didn't you just do that from the beginning?" Blake asked, back on her feet. The others were standing back up and dusting themselves off. There was no reply. "Well?" Blake turned to see Naoto on all fours, hyperventilating. The others rushed over to her.

"I'll be…alright." Naoto mumbled, struggling to catch her breath. Yu knelt at her side and helped her to her feet. She tried to stand but immediately stumbled, grabbing Yu's shoulder to avoid falling. "Sorry."

"Come on now, let us help you." Kanji grabbed her under the arm and Yu did the same on the other side. "Good job killing that shadow, but you've got to take better care of yourself." Naoto nodded weakly.

"Powerful attacks like that take a lot of concentration and energy." Rise explained to Team RWBY. "It's why we don't just use our most powerful attacks all the time. She's not injured, just exhausted, which is something Yukiko and Teddie's healing abilities can't fix."

"I don't think I'll be much help to you the rest of the way." Naoto said. "I should head back to the entrance; I'll just be a liability."

"You're not going alone." Kanji admonished her. "There're shadows all over the place. They might be weak but in your condition so are you. I'll take her back." Kanji waved his free arm at the others. "Senpai's got electric attacks, you don't need me. We'll be fine." Yu nodded and they headed off.

"He really cares about her huh?" Ruby asked after they had walked out of earshot.

"It's the most awkward crush I've ever seen." Yosuke laughed. "Even more awkward because she's totally oblivious to it."

"You said your healing doesn't help with exhaustion." Blake said. "How do you guys not get tired fighting in this place? It's so tiring." The looks of concern on the faces of the other members of Team RWBY indicated that they were thinking the same thing.

"Oh, it must be because you don't have Personas." Chie answered. "Before we got our Personas, being in the TV world was really tiring for us too."

"Are you guys going to be okay?" Yukiko asked. "You shouldn't push yourselves too hard."

"We'll be alright." Yang said confidently. The others nodded in agreement. Still, it was less than convincing.

"I'd be happy to carry you." Teddie said. "Who wouldn't want a Teddie-back ride?!"

"Is he always like this?" Weiss asked, annoyed.

"You have no idea." Yosuke confirmed.

"That strong shadow is just ahead." Rise cautioned. She paused for a few moments. "Kanji and Naoto safely reached the entrance."

"You can communicate with your Persona too?" Ruby asked.

"It really comes in handy." Rise said. "I can provide support from a safe distance, and help if we get split up."

"Come on, we're wasting time talking." Blake admonished them. "There's someone in here who needs our help." They walked over a rise in the path. It opened into a wide, open field at the edge of a cliff.

"Oh no." Yang said. She recognized this place. Ruby did to and rushed ahead of the others toward some sort of stone monument. "Ruby, wait!" Yang yelled after her. It was hard to see because of the lack of contrast with the snow, but there appeared to be a figure near the monument wearing a white cape. "It can't be."

"Mom?" Ruby said weakly, approaching the figure.

"Be careful!" Rise warned. "That's the shadow." Rise spun around, surprised. "All those shadows that were avoiding us, they're heading this way!"

"I'll hold them off, you guys go on ahead." Yosuke said, standing at the spot where the previously narrow path opened into the open field. "Takehaya Susano-o!" He summoned his Persona. It was the image of a man in a long yellow coat, his hair replaced by a blazing sun, a large circular blade floating around him.

"If we stop that shadow, the others will probably back off." Yukiko advised. "We need to hurry."

Weiss, Yang and Blake rushed forward. Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose and swung it out to her side and planted the blade firmly in the ground, blocking their path. "No." She whispered.

"We have to." Weiss said, starting to push the weapon aside.

"I said no." Ruby repeated, louder this time. She turned the blade threateningly toward the others. "I can't lose her again."

"Ruby…" Yang said, putting her arms around Ruby's shoulders. "I know how you feel, but that's not mom."

"I could use some help!" Yosuke called. He faced a torrent of shadows. They came at him in the forms of various Grimm – Deathstalkers, Ursai, Beowolves and Nevermore. They were not particularly large or powerful, but there were dozens, maybe hundreds.

"I'll help!" Teddie shouted with enthusiasm. He rushed to Yosuke's side and the two began fighting the oncoming tide of shadows.

"No matter how much you want this to be mom, it's not." Yang said. "Mom's gone and there's nothing that will change that. We just have to go on living; it's what she would have wanted." Ruby dropped Crescent Rose and fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

"What I would have wanted?" Shadow Summer Rose said. "I would have wanted a better daughter." The shadow laughed. "You're such a failure!"

"What is this?" Weiss asked.

"Don't listen to it!" Chie shouted. "This is what the shadows do."

"What a loser." The shadow hissed. "You're a total social incompetent. The only friends you can make are the ones forced upon you or people who are just as pathetic. What kind of friends are they anyway? Weiss resents you being the leader, Blake didn't even trust you enough to tell you she's a Faunus and how much do you really know about any of the others? And you're so stupid! Even Yang gets better grades and she's not even trying."

"Please, stop." Ruby cried. The other members of Team RWBY charged the shadow, but with a wave of its hand, the shadow threw them back with a blast of wind.

"Don't get me started on your leadership!" The shadow persisted. "For one thing, you've lead them all to their deaths!"

"We're going to need more help!" Yosuke called. "They just keep coming."

"I'm exhausted." Teddie added.

"We've got it!" Chie yelled. She and Yukiko rushed to help Yosuke and Teddie. The torrent of shadows seemed to have no end.

Shadow Summer began to transform. After melting into a black mass, it reformed into a gigantic, grotesque hybrid of Summer and a Beowolf. Weiss, Blake and Yang regrouped and launched another attack. They cut and blasted large chunks off the shadow in a frenzied assault. "Even your team is weak!" The shadow raised its claws into the air and brought them dramatically down, unleashing another, stronger blast of wind in all directions. All the damage that had been done was instantly repaired.

The blast of wind flung Yang off the cliff. Acting quickly, Blake slung half of Gambol Shroud, extended on its ribbon, to Yang as she tumbled toward the dark abyss below. She grabbed it by her finger tips and used her momentum to swing back up to relative safety. They renewed their assault but still could not make any permanent gains. Yu summoned his Persona and joined the fight. Izanagi launched a bolt of lightning into the shadow. The shadow reacted as if in pain but it was fleeting.

"Even the fools you dragged here are doomed." The shadow said. A focused blast of wind was all it took to deal with Izanagi, which faded to static and disappeared. Yu collapsed with a grunt of pain, apparently unconscious.

"Senpai!" Rise shouted in horror.

"What are we supposed to do?!" Blake shouted. "Rise! Focus!"

"You're hurting it, but it keeps healing itself." Rise said. "You've got to do damage more quickly."

"We can't do this any faster!" Weiss said, still taking swipes at the shadow to no avail.

"Do something quick!" Yosuke yelled. "We can't hold them off for much longer." The shadows were attacking in what seemed to be ever increasing numbers. The Persona users were getting weak, not from injury but from exertion. They were being pushed back.

"You're all going to die here!" Shadow Summer cackled.

"No." Ruby said softly. "You're a lie. It's all lies!" She screamed. "This whole place is a lie!" She stood, tears in her eyes, and swung Crescent Rose into position. The shadow staggered, as if injured solely by Ruby's newfound resolve. "I won't let you hurt them!" Ruby charged the shadow with the full speed of her semblance, swinging her scythe in fury. In a blur and a shower of rose petals, she sliced into the shadow, literally cutting it to pieces.

The shadow collapsed into a black mass. Cracks, filled with brilliant light, appeared all over its surface and it exploded in a blinding flash. The wave of shadows that had been close to breaking through the Investigation Team's line receded, the shadows now fleeing in fear. When the light died away, there was Ruby, standing beside her mother's grave, surrounded by a purple flame. A tarot card descended from the sky and shattered in front of her. Above her appeared the figure of Summer Rose, not as a shadow, but as she had really been. The figure faded and Ruby collapsed, unconscious.

"Ruby!" Yang yelled, rushing to her side. She rolled Ruby over into her lap. "Please wake up."

"She'll…be fine." Yu said weakly, still badly injured.

"Does she…" Weiss started.

"Have a Persona?" Rise finished for her. "It certainly looks that way. She's perfectly fine, awakening a Persona is just as tiring as using one." Rise walked over to Summer Rose's gravestone. "I had no idea your mother was dead; I'm so sorry." She said to Yang.

"I'm her half-sister." Yang explained, still cradling Ruby in her arms. "Summer isn't my mother, but we both miss her terribly. I knew it affected Ruby deeply, but I had no idea…"

"Is everyone alright?" Yukiko asked as the others rejoined them. "Oh my God, is she…"

"She just got her Persona." Yu said, now barely standing. He was clearly in pain.

"Let me heal you." Yukiko said to Yu. He shook his head and motioned to the others. They were pretty banged up as well. "We got our Personas by facing our own shadows." Yukiko explained. "It's hard enough to hear yourself listing your faults and insecurities. This is a whole new level of evil." Everyone was silent; they could not help but agree, but it was difficult to talk about all the same. They also had to consider the fact that three of them still lacked Personas and could be in for the same brand of torture.

"The victim in here, where is he?" Yosuke asked, breaking the uneasy silence.

"Under here." Rise replied, pointing to the gravestone. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to move it." With unease on written across their faces, Blake and Weiss pushed the gravestone aside. Beneath it was a chamber, and inside laid an elderly man, apparently asleep. He looked familiar. Blake shook the man's shoulder, waking him. His confusion at the situation was obvious.

"We're here to save you." Weiss said.

"Where am I?" The man asked.

"That's going to be hard to explain." Yosuke said. "We should get out of here first."

They all walked out of the snowy forest, Yang carrying the still unconscious Ruby. They met Kanji and Naoto just outside the portal. When the last of them stepped out, the portal shattered and disappeared, leaving the fortress gate open. They decided to get the victim and Ruby to safety before exploring further.

Ruby opened her eyes, struggling to see in the dim light. She sat in an eerie blue room. The room looked like a fancy restaurant, but there was only one table. Ruby was seated at one side and across from her were two men. "Where am I?" She asked.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room." One of the men said. He appeared to be quite old and had an unnaturally long and pointed nose. "My name is Igor and I am delighted to make your acquaintance."

The group arrived back at the village. In the time they had been gone, night had turned to day. The citizens of the town seemed confused by the presence of the large and unorthodox group, but generally ignored them. The man they had saved led them to his house. "Please, come in." He said as he opened the door. They entered the house and joined the man in his living room. "I can't thank you enough for saving me, though I still don't understand what happened." He closed his eyes, searching his memory. "I went to sleep one night, and then I woke up in that place when you found me. I had a strange dream that a voice called me into the forest and I followed it, but I thought it was only a dream." He paused. "How long was I gone?"

"Two weeks." Naoto said. "At least that's when you were reported missing. Your customers were worried when you did not open your shop on time."

"Is there anything I can do to help you all?" The man asked. "Anything, just name it."

"Well, we are running a little low on dust." Weiss said.

"You can take as much as you want from my shop." The main said. "No charge."

"I'll see to it that you get the best rate possible from the Schnee Dust Company." Weiss said.

"Then it's not much of a thank you." The man said. "Is there anything else?"

"Well, we've been sleeping outside in the forest for the last several days." Blake said. "Is there any way we can sleep here? We don't even need beds, just a place where we don't have to worry about Grimm attacking us in our sleep."

"Of course." The man replied. "Make yourselves at home. Is there anything I can do for her?" He gestured toward Ruby.

"She'll be fine." Yu said confidently. "She just needs to rest."