15,495 words when I expected 5,000… again. Well, I guess that's something. Can't promise this chapter is good though, as I personally hate it, but it does it's job. Next chapter will be much more comfortable to write. Which might make it faster coming out.

I'm also looking for a Beta if anyone wants. Mostly want a second pair of eyes, and to share ideas with, ya'know? Editing won't really be a issue, if you don't think it'll be your forte. I think I do a moderate job at editing.

Anyways, welcome to Chapter Two of Arc Two! I officially have a name for it now! It's called, Desire! At the end of this Arc, we will find out what Subaru's 'Desire' is! And thank you to all the Favorites and Follows! It means a lot!

As always, I answer reviews down below. If you wanna chat or anything, be sure to PM! But don't use the Apps PM's. They don't work. You have to PM through the website!

Beacon Academy

Hospital

Tuesday

He breathed. The sound of Oxygen leaving his lungs filled the room with sound. In and out, Oxygen and Carbon. A never ending cycle of breathing. With a slight flutter, his crust filled eyes opened, strained as light momentarily blinded him. Not that of Sun, but an electronic light that he had become accustomed to in Remnant.

The flaming electronic showered the room in light, other beds like his lined the room, yet all were empty. Pale white greeted him, as the walls were coated in a paint only he could describe as 'pure'. Sheets made of cloth covered the bedding, one of which he laid upon himself. A window shown in the far left, showing the light of the rising Sun. The smell of chemicals hit his nose like a bad aroma, but he didn't complain, for there was more pressing matters than smell.

Subaru didn't know where he was.

Memories flooded his mind. The painful walk to Beacon. The discussion with Ozpin, Glynda and Ironwood. The slow and calculated fight between him and Fox. The constant loops and painful deaths he experienced just because of his Pride. Yet in all of his memories, not once did he remember coming to a Hospital room.

He didn't freak out however, as this was a normality. Well, that could be considered a lie. Only five times within his life Subaru had woken only to be unsure of where he slept. It was just that that Subaru knew when to keep a cool head, and how to act in situations such as these.

With a deep breath, Subaru sat up, laying his bare feet upon the cold ground. It was only then that he realized the state of his body. There was no cloak, nor trench coat, nor shirt. His chest was plain, except for the scars and medical tape that surrounded his right shoulder. His feet had been stripped, as was his pants. Raising an eyebrow, he deduced that someone might've stripped him and… healed him? This was a normal practice within the Cult, but he couldn't remember being healed anywhere other than within a forest or some dug out cave.

That meant he must be in a hospital.

Sudden realization came over Subaru as he felt a lack of presence around his neck. Eyes widened, they darted across the room, trying to find his belonging. Subaru didn't need to look hard, as his eyes passed over a bundle of clothes next to his bed, folded neatly. A purple crystal sat atop it, glistening in the Light. Ignoring the cold sensations that rid their way up his legs, Subaru hurriedly made his way to the pile of cloth, tenderly grasping the Mauve Crystal.

Subaru eagerly put it around his neck, savoring the warmth it gave as it sat upon his bare chest. Subaru was unsure of what importance this Crystal was to its previous owner, but he knew what it meant to him. This crystal was… precious to him. Something that couldn't be replaced, no matter how many Holy Coins there were.

Glancing at the clothing, Subaru quickly donned his usual attire, quickly and quietly. As he put on his shirt, he couldn't help but wince, whatever was hidden within this bandages hurt. A lot. Continuing to the Coat he winced again. Finally, his torn and tattered Cloak, which he promised to sew once again, was an easy matter. Wrapping it around his collar bone, he clasped it tight around his neck, as so it wouldn't sway with his movements. He took extra care to avoid the crystal being seen, as was a habit for him.

Eyes focused, he made his way to the hospital door, as there was no reason for him to linger there. Hospitals were a place for healing; Subaru didn't need healing. Grasping the doorknob, he was surprised when it opened with blistering speed, hitting him in the face. Falling, he landed on his behind, a groan escaping his mouth.

"Crap! I'm so sorry! Are you ok!?" An angelic voice asked. Through squinted eyes Subaru looked upon the offender. Pink hair wrapped in a bun, white button up lab coat, black stockings and heels. If Subaru had to be honest, she was probably one of the most odd looking characters he had encountered in Remnant. She held out her hand, an offering to help him up. "Here, let me help you up."

Subaru stared at the hand for a second, before accepting the offering. It wasn't like there was a need to decline help. Heck, that was how Subaru survived most loops. With a heave, Subaru was lifted from the ground with surprising strength. Surprise seemed to show on his face, if the giggle the woman let out was any indication.

"I believe you must be Subaru, correct?" She asked, causing Subaru to look at her suspiciously. How did this woman know his name? He had only shared it with Ruby, Sun, Ozpin and Garfiel, one of which was dead. Unless this woman knew one of them, then he needed to keep his guard up.

"Greetings. My name is Natsuki Subaru. It is a pleasure to meet you." Subaru greeted politely, bowing his head slightly. The pink haired woman giggled slightly before greeting him back.

"My Name is Peach, Nurse Peach, or as you'll soon call me, Professor Peach." Peach greeted, walking past Subaru, laying a stack of papers upon his bed. "I was asked by Ozpin to keep an eye on you, but as you can see, I'm really busy. Why couldn't he have asked another Nurse, I'm not sure."

"Oh, so Ozpin asked you…" Subaru responded, an image of Ozpin coming into his mind. That explained why she knew his name, but Subaru didn't let his guard down. This woman was strong, and could easily take him down in the first loop if need be. Subaru backed up to the door, his eyes not leaving her as he planned his escape. "Well, I thank you for looking after me, but as you can see, I am perfectly fine."

"O~h no you don't!" Peach said, catching Subaru's left shoulder, spinning him around and pushing him onto his bed. All that happened within a second, surprising the Archbishop. "I promised the Headmaster that I would keep an eye on you until you were fine, and I don't go back on my promises that easily."

Subaru glared, standing up, only to be pushed back down by Peach. This ticked Subaru off, but he didn't show it. He wouldn't give the woman what she wanted.

"As I said, I'm fine." Subaru stood as he shoved his way past Peach, opening the door to the hallway, only to bump into something. His eyes widened in surprise as Peach stood there, her arms crossed and a triumphant grin on her face. Looking back and forth in shock, he marveled at how she had gotten to one place when she had been behind him just a second before. "How did you do that?"

"Trade Secret!" Peach winked as she grabbed Subaru's arm. Within an instant, he was back in his bed, his clothing removed once more, folded neatly beside his bed. Surprise was evident on his face as he sat up, grabbing the necklace and wrapping it around his head.

"Did… did I just die?" Subaru asked himself as the tingle of fear made itself known in his chest. The Professor had just touched his arm, and he died? That was… a terrifying ability.

"What? I'd never kill a student of mine!" A voice spoke next to him, surprising him again. Turning to his left, Peach sat there, going through the piles of paper in a flash. "I just put you back in your bed! Nothing wrong with that, right? Now if you'd wait a second, I'll heal you back up."

"Put… me… back?" Subaru repeated, his eyes widening as he covered his face. What exactly did that mean? Sure, the wording sounded simple, but for Subaru those words held much more than that. Due to experiences in the past, Subaru had become naturally observant. While he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he was able to pick up on tiny details that others wouldn't have notice. Subaru had been put back in his bed, that was for certain. The problem with this is that he was put back in his bed before he had gotten out of his bed. Before he had put on his clothes.

Even the crust in his eyes were back.

"Pe… Professor Peach?" Subaru spoke up, a feeling of dread forming in his stomach. Looking up from her work, Peach motioned for him to continue. "Is your Divi… Semblance the ability to travel through time?"

Peach stopped what she was doing, eyes widening ever so slightly. With a smile that could seduce any man, she turned to Subaru. Her eyes held… something Subaru wasn't able to read before it disappeared. "Boy, you're observative! I can see why Ozpin would want you to be a student here! Not a lot of people could piece together something like that that quickly!"

Subaru didn't respond, instead staring at her with shock. He wasn't sure what to make of this. On one hand, this woman was a person he was able to relate to. On the other, she was a threat. An extremely dangerous threat. Biting his lip, he formed a Claw over his shoulder, drawing slowly to the woman. He honestly didn't want to do this, he could relate to her, however she was a threat to him. Peach needed to be erased.

"Done!" Peach yelled, slamming her pen on the desk with a triumphant smile. Her cheer startled Subaru, causing him to jump, deforming the Claw. Peach turned to him, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Now, Subaru, we're going to patch you up good as new!"

"Patch me up?" Subaru repeated. Subaru couldn't help the grunt that escaped his mouth as he was pushed down onto the bed. Out of nowhere, straps of leather made their way around the bed, tying him into place. Confusion made its way to his face, as the sound of metal hitting metal hit his ears. Turning to Peach, who's back was turned to him as she dug through a drawer, Subaru's face contorted in anger. "Hey! What are you doing!?"

"Oh? I thought I said I was patching you up?" Peach said as she brought out a needle, the red liquid splashing around inside. She grinned wickedly as she turned to Subaru, flicking the needle with her free hand. In an instant, she was in front of him, her ability to time travel frightening him. "Now, this'll only hurt a little."

"Hey, wait, I told you that I'm fine!" Subaru said, paling at the sight of the needle. Even with his immortality, Subaru still feared a great many things. Specifically, it was dying in ways that would be considered abnormal. Being squashed, danced to death, or thrown into the world's orbit was just a few of the many scenarios Subaru had thought of. Normally, being killed by a needle wouldn't be considered abnormal, but after witnessing the Archbishop of Lust, Capella, kill a man with a thousand needles, it became a fear for Subaru to die by. In panic, Subaru struggled against his restraints, trying to find an escape. "H-Hey! Y-You don't need to put any sharp, pointy weapons into me, right!? That's just for show, right!?"

"Weapons? This is a needle, a tool to heal! Now, sit tight as I do my job!" Peach kindly said, her face portraying something vastly different. As the needle descended to his right shoulder, Subaru panicked. Forming a Claw, he grabbed her hand, keeping it back. Peach's face mirrored that of confusion. "Huh? Why won't it budge?"

"I-I'm not letting you stab me with such a vile tool!" Subaru said, his speech jumping from casual to formal. Peach stared at him for a second, her face unsure, before her smile returned in full force.

"Oh? You have an interesting power, Natsuki Subaru! Sadly, you can't fight against time!" Peach said, as her hands started to vibrate rapidly, slowly pushing their way past his Claw. Sweat pour down Subaru's face, the needle drawing ever closer. Forming another hand, he grabbed the needle itself, attempting to bend the tip. Yet no matter how much he tried, he couldn't grasp it.

The needle drew near, and there was no way to stop it. Subaru gave up on trying to grasp the needle, instead moving the hand to Peach's chest. It wasn't fast, as Subaru would have hoped, but dreadfully slow. As it drew closer to her chest, the Claw flattened, doing its best to imitate a sword. Subaru needed to kill Professor Peach.

"Ah, young Subaru, you're aw-." A voice spoke, breaking Subaru's concentration. The instant that his claws deformed was the instant time seemed to lag for Subaru. Time slowed to a crawl as the needle entered his right shoulder. Pain erupted throughout his chest as one, final, scream escaped his throat.

"I am terribly sorry for that, Subaru." Ozpin said, his back turned to Subaru as he continued to get dressed. Subaru sent him a glare, draping his cloak over his shoulder, tightening it so it wouldn't sway. "I know Professor Peach can be a… little radical when it comes to healing, but I assure you, she is the best Doctor in all of Vale."

"That, I can agree with." Subaru agreed, nodding his head as he pulled up his pants. While it was true that needle was painful, and more than a little scary, whatever it did had achieved its job. Moving his right arm up and down, he marveled at how the pain, which had bothered him minutes prior, had suddenly vanished. It was like one of the Cult healers, numbing the pain and fixing the body. Miraculous. Grabbing his Mauve Crystal, he hid it under his coat, unwilling to let anyone see it. Sitting on the bed, he went about tying his shoes. "So, Headmaster Ozpin, I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here? So early in the morning I might add. I doubt it's for my well being, correct?"

"Ah, you think so little of me, Mr. Natsuki." Ozpin said with a smile, unmoving from his position. "I merely came here to inform you of your success during my test. I am proud to say that from now on, you are a honorary student of my school, Beacon Academy!"

"Really?" Subaru asked, unsure how to feel about this. While it was indeed true that he wished to enter the school, after the whole Fox fight, he was unsure. Subaru was mainly nervous about how difficult the other students were. 'No matter. As long as I become more powerful, then I'm fine with whatever trial.'

"Indeed. While your fight wasn't as flashy or fast paced as my other students, you were able to outsmart your opponent. Even if it was after the match was over. Another thing I would like to point out is that you drew Fox, one of our top combatants, into a draw." Ozpin said, smiling as he stared at the door to the hallway. "I believe, with enough time and dedication, you will be able to pass Fox in both brain and brawn."

"That's good to hear." Subaru said, the smallest of smiles gracing his lips. That was good. That was his current goal anyways, and he planned to gain skills that'd make even Regulus' jaw drop. 'I still need to learn which Archbishop died. If it's one of the Gluttons, then my goal will be that much easier to pass.' "Is that all you wanted to tell me, Headmaster Ozpin?"

"No, I also came here to show you to your dorm." Ozpin said, as Subaru stood, raising an eyebrow. That was a new word for him.

"A dorm? What's that?" Subaru asked, as he passed by Ozpin, opening the door for the older gentlemen, who gratefully passed by the younger man. Ozpin gave a chuckle, leading the way out of the hospital. The lights in the hall flickered, as conversations from other occupants started to rise in volume. It was almost like the hospital seemed to come to life, Nurses and patients alike shuffling about with smiles adoring their faces. Weird.

"That's right, you're from The World Above, correct?" Ozpin asked, causing Subaru to give a slight nod. It wasn't as if he was trying to hide it, even though the people of Remnant seemed to be hiding facts from themselves. "So, they don't have dorm rooms or apartments from where you come from?"

"No, I don't believe so." Subaru said, racking his head trying to find those words within his mind. Ozpin glanced over his shoulder, and as if reading his mind, he gave a chuckle of amusement.

"Ok, then I shall explain what exactly that is as we head there." Ozpin said as they turned a corner, the light of the main entrance shining a brilliant red and white. Subaru listened, his words giving him the chance to learn more about Remnant. "A apartment, or a dorm room in this case, is similar to a home. You and three other students shall share this room, learning about teamwork and how to properly become a Hunter."

"Three others? Who are they?" Subaru asked, a feeling of annoyance settling in his stomach. While he didn't mind sharing a room with others, as he had with Regulus, Betelgeuse and Purpura in the past, the problem was that others tend to ask him a ridiculous amount of questions, each having little to no meaning. That could be described as typical chatter, and Subaru understood that the questions were to get to know him better, but still, annoying. They walked out into the burning light, the sun blinding Subaru momentarily as he followed the dark silhouette of Ozpin.

"Ah, It's only one student I'm afraid. As I said before, we had an odd number of initiates this year, so I was hoping to use you as a stepping stone to remedy those numbers. As for who it is, I'll allow you to meet them yourself." Ozpin said, continuing the walk. Subaru was tempted to try and see if Ozpin was willing to budge and tell him who was roommate was, but a gut feeling stopped him. Somehow, without even asking, he could already tell what his answer was going to be.

"Alright, I'll wait. Isn't like I'm going to know them by name, so it's probably for the better." Subaru shrugged, his coat and cloak moving along with him. "From the way you're describing these… dorms, they seem to be very reminiscent of Inns."

"Oh, so The World Above has similar concepts such as ours?" Ozpin said, sounding more like a statement than a question. If Subaru had to guess, it was because he most likely knew how The World Above operated. "Yes, in fact, Apartments and School Dorms could be described as extensions of village Inns. Actually, I'm pretty sure that was the original idea. Inns are very similar to apartment complex's, as they both house and feed their occupants. For a price of course."

"So I would have to pay for my housing then? I'm sorry Headmaster Ozpin, but I only have Holy Coins, and as I learned the hard way, Remnant doesn't accept this kind of currency." Subaru said as he took out twenty Holy Coins, giving an example to Ozpin. Ozpin looked at the coins, his eyes widening in surprise before resuming their normal visage. Ozpin smiled at Subaru, continuing their walk.

"It is fine, Subaru, as your stay here at Beacon is free of charge. Housing, Food and general comfort is all paid for by the school." Ozpin said, Subaru letting out a sigh of relief at this news. It would have been a pain to have to find a way around paying for everything. "However, would it be alright if you'd spare me five Holy Coins? Of course, you'll be fairly compensated in Remnant Currency."

"Are you sure, Headmaster? Holy Coins are extremely expensive and sought after. How can I know that you will fairly pay me in full?" Subaru asked, skeptical of the older gentleman. While he was grateful to Ozpin for the chance to learn new skills, that didn't mean he trusted the man. Anyone could claim one thing, but mean the other.

"Of course, young Subaru. I am in charge of a whole Academy, mind you." Ozpin reassured, his Cane tapping softly against the ground. Ozpin didn't say it, but he was probably the richest man in Vale, the fact that he practically owned the Kingdom a secret to most of every one in Remnant. "Besides, I don't think of myself as a conman, even if I may appear like so at times."

Subaru didn't respond immediately, instead staring at the Holy Coins in his hands. Twenty. With Twenty coins, he could buy an estate and live frivolously for months. With five, like Ozpin was asking for, he could live on the move for years without worrying. With a sigh, he picked out five Holy Coins and held it out to the man walking beside him. Ozpin smiled gratefully, examining the coins.

"Ah~, Flugel's Tree, The Ancient Dragon and The Sword Saint. Three of Lugnica's cherished symbols." Ozpin said, pocketing the coins for later. "I will be sure to provide you with enough Lien to compensate for the trust you have put in me."

"The more I talk to you, the more you sound like a scheming Merchant." Subaru pointed out, rounding the corner to a rectangular building. Windows and trees lined the sides of the building, some of the windows leading to balconies. If Subaru had to compare it to anything, it would have to be some of the newer residential buildings in Lugnica. Only, this building looked much, much fancier.

"A scheming Merchant? Hmm, scheming, maybe, but a Merchant? I am far from that, Subaru." Ozpin responded, giving a light chuckle. "At best, you could describe me as a trustworthy fox, giving hints but never telling the full truth."

"I'm not sure you're helping your case, Headmaster." Subaru forced a chuckle, years of practice paying off as the laugh came out as genuine. The laugh came to a crawl, as a realization dawned on him. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out his Gospel. Flipping to the last page, he checked, and hoped for a new entry. Alas, the same cryptic verse for Ruby rang out, annoying Subaru a great deal. It had been four days since the last message, and it was starting to grow on his nerves. He had found the Silver Eyed girl, so what now? Was he supposed to befriend her? Kill her? Manipulate her? It said it would lead him to what he desired most, so she couldn't be the goal, but a stepping stone. If she was a stepping stone, then what would lay beyond that measly step?

Better question, why was Ruby the catalyst for his desire? Why did this girl, who knew naught of Magic and Knights, have to be the stepping stone? What role did she have to play in the grand scheme of things? It didn't matter if she ended up dead to Subaru, as she was insignificant to him, but why her? What made her so special?

"We have arrived at our destination, Subaru." Ozpin spoke up, shaking Subaru out of his trance. Looking up, Subaru took in his surroundings. Most of it was concrete, bricks and all. Grass sat directly behind them as a Building, similar to the ones before, sat in front of them. The only difference was that they were gazing at it from the front. Stone stairs leading to a walkway that went to two glass panels greeted Subaru in an ordinary way. Ozpin smiled, the gentle expression reaching his eyes. "If you'll just follow me, I will show you to your room."

Subaru wordlessly nodded, walking alongside Ozpin as they followed the stone path. The sound of a tapping cane was all they heard as the continued to the glass panels. Subaru looked at Ozpin, confused as to what he was thinking. Were they going to walk into the Panels without any care? A sudden sliding sound caught Subaru off guard, but what he saw caused his mouth to drop. The Windows, which stood in front of him, slid to the side, greeting him to the inside of the building.

"I see that the Sliding Glass Doors caught you by surprise, Subaru." Ozpin noted, standing in front of Subaru, his body turned to the side. Subaru's head went back and forth between Ozpin and the doors, shock and amazement clear on his face.

"Of course that caught me by surprise!" Subaru said, his voice raised slightly as he walked in and out of the building, watching in excitement as the doors opened and closed. "This… this is revolutionary! I no longer need to open a door with my hands! All I need is my mind!"

Ozpin gave a chuckle at this, unwilling to spoil Subaru's fun. This just proved to the aging man that somewhere, deep inside the body of that Archbishop, was a child willing to see the light of the world. All Subaru would need was a more flammable, contagious light. That's where he hoped Ruby would step in. If all fails though… Ozpin vowed to end Subaru himself.

"Now, enough with the doors. Time is of the essence, and I need to show you to your dorm before classes begin." Ozpin said, walking ahead of Subaru, the younger boy following with earnest. Subaru took this chance to look at the inside of the building, it's tiles sparkling clean, the smell of chemicals in the air.

For Subaru, the first area could be categorized as a giant lobby. Couches and tables lined the area, sitting on a sewn carpet of black and peach. Rectangular boxes hung from the sides of the walls, some displaying some form of moving pictures. Subaru could only assume that they were A form of two way mirrors, similar to that of Lugnica's. Mechanical machines lined a counter in what Subaru had to presume was a kitchen. Students lined the area, some getting food, others just mindlessly chit Chatting

Ozpin moved past those however, ignoring the appliances that seemed rather ordinary to him, but miraculous to Subaru. Walking up to sliding doors made of Iron, Ozpin tapped a button right next to it, an arrow indicating upwards. Subaru had but a second to think of it as the Iron doors slid open, revealing a set of students in various Attire.

"Ah! Headmaster Ozpin! Good morning!" One of the more casual students spoke up, giving a slight bow to her head. Ozpin returned the greetings, the students leaving the metal box and continuing with their business. Without a moment's notice, Ozpin stepped into the metal box, Subaru hesitating slightly before following the older man.

With another press of a button, the Iron doors closed, a barely audible click resounding within the box. With a shake, one that startled Subaru, the box started moving. Subaru felt a little motion sickness as the box continued to move in a direction that was unknown by the Archbishop.

"Hey, Headmaster, what is this thing?" Subaru asked as he leaned on the wall, his face paling as he covered his mouth. This was a new sensation for Subaru, as he normally enjoyed riding in carriages. However, in carriages he was always able to see where it was going.

"This, Subaru, is a elevator. It's an instrument created by humans and Faunus to replace stairs. Both go up and down, leading you to higher or lower elevation depending on your destination." Ozpin said, watching as the numbers counted down until it hit the desired floor. With another, barely audible click, the door opened up to another hallway. Doors upon doors lead to a maze of twist and turns Subaru was sure to be lost in.

"I would be amazed, if it didn't mess with my head so much." Subaru said as he stepped out of the elevator, taking a breather to calm himself. Ozpin walked past Subaru, leading the way through the hall of doors.

"Of course, there are stairs if you so wish to take them." Ozpin responded, Subaru making a note to find them later. Subaru followed Ozpin in silence, the occasional student greeting the Headmaster in either surprise or delight. It soon became apparent that most, if not all, of the school held some form of respect for the Graying Headmaster.

"Ah, here we are." Ozpin said, turning to one of the many doors within the hallway. Subaru couldn't help but notice that all of the doors looked exactly the same, except for the numbers on the wall. 4-M. Subaru copied the sight into his head. Ozpin, taking out a white rectangle, slid it through a black box next to the door knob. It flashed a bright green, as another clicking sound was heard, before Ozpin reached and opened the door, allowing them both to enter the room. "This is where you will be staying for the next four years, Subaru."

Taking the initiative, Subaru walked inside. Four beds made up the majority of the room, red blankets covering the white sheets underneath. Books lined the shelf on the side, various novels and textbooks leaning on one another, but none falling. A window overlooking the courtyard hung between the four beds, shining light into the room. A door leading to a restroom sat on the right of the room, it's marble floor glistening wet, as either someone just cleaned or used it.

"Hmm, it appears your roommate is absent. No matter, for now, get dressed. There is a uniform that all students must wear during school hours. I have taken the liberty of designing you one, as you'll find on one of the beds." Ozpin said, closing the door slowly. Subaru watched this, before his eyes darted around the room, scanning for the uniform that Ozpin mentioned.

As Ozpin had said, a pile of black and red cloths sat on one of the beds. Making his way to it, Subaru picked up the clothing, the size appearing to fit him perfectly. From the texture, it felt of fine silk, yet Subaru could tell it was just an ordinary pair of cloth. A suit, tie, pants and socks. Looking down, Subaru noticed a pair of leather shoes placed specifically at the edge of the bed.

It didn't take long for Subaru to get dressed. After a series of events during the beginning years of his life, he had been taken in by a family friend, who appointed him as a Butler. While Subaru wasn't proficient at most of the work, he at least knew how to put a suit on and tie a tie. It was really the only thing he was ever truly good at; that and sewing.

A mirror sat next to the front door, a desk pushed in the corner without any care. Walking over, Subaru couldn't help but take in his visage. A view he hadn't seen in a very, very long time.

The view reflected his own. A black suit, red tie with a white colored shirt. Black slacks, leather boots with white socks underneath. Gold lined the zipper and shoulders, somehow fitting with the black, red and white color scheme. His necklace hung underneath, out of sight for any who tried to view.

It had been years since Subaru had worn anything other than the Cults uniform, given to him by the ever detestable Betelgeuse. At first Subaru hated it, as it was a symbol of what he used to hate, but it had grown on him. It had become something that could be described as… precious? No, that's not the right word. Something similar, but not to that extent.

Yet for some reason, it felt wrong. While the Uniform fit his body perfectly, and he was able to move around without restraint, something just felt… wrong. Like he had been stripped of his clothing, being revealed to the world without restraint. Like he was forgetting something. Looking to his discarded outfit, Subaru realized the issue. He had discarded his cloak. Reaching down, he grabbed the torn fabric, gently lifting it to his eyes. His iris glazed over, as he remembered the person who made this for him. A neat freak, monstrous, and although strict, kindhearted gentleman. A butler who made him nervous just thinking about him. Clind.

Without hesitating, he donned the cloak over his shoulders once more. Clasping the lock tight, to make sure it wouldn't sway with his movements. Subaru looked back into the mirror, the cloak covering his shoulders, falling to just above his knees. The edges were torn, something he would need to remedy soon… no matter how many times he kept reminding himself. In all honesty, the cloak didn't match the suit, slightly bugging him. With a huff, he removed it. Subaru wasn't willing to part with it though. With a snap of his fingers, he wrapped it around his waist, the fabric barely touching the ground. Spinning, Subaru gave a nod. This fit much better.

Steadily, Subaru made his way to the door, opening it to a patiently waiting Ozpin, who looked Subaru up and down.

"I see you decided to keep the cloak and necklace." Ozpin noted, motioning for Subaru to follow. Subaru, for his part, couldn't help his eyes widened as he spoke of the necklace. He swore that it was hidden extremely well. "While it isn't against regulations to change your attire as you wish, it isn't recommended. Most teachers are okay with the changes, while some of the more stricter ones will more than likely point out your changes."

"I'll deal with that when the time comes." Subaru said, not really caring. If a teacher tried to remove his attire, he would personally deal with them, even if it meant a reset. Subaru followed Ozpin in silence, before the older man seemed to stop, snapping his fingers. Reaching in his coat, he pulled out a white rectangle, similar to the one earlier, and held it out for Subaru.

"Here, this is yours."

"What is it?" Subaru asked, gently grabbing the device, the texture of the object feeling foreign to him. He held it up to his face, it swinging back and forth. Ozpin watching him for a second, before pushing up his optical lenses.

"That, Subaru, is a Scroll. To put it in simple terms, it's a device that'll allow you to communicate with others at long distances, and record how much health you have." Ozpin explained, Subaru looking confused at the word 'health'. "You will learn more on how to use it as time goes on. I'm sure you will find it most useful in your ventures."

"If you say so." Subaru said, pocketing it for later. He had witnessed Ozpin use it to open the door earlier, so it must've been some kind of key. If what Ozpin said was true, then it could also communicate long distances with others. This suspiciously sounded a lot like the Metia's The Cult made use of. "So, what's next?"

"I originally planned to have been gone by now, having your roommate escort you around. However, seeing as he isn't around right now, I will have to ask another student to do his task." Ozpin said, not sounding bothered with it in the least. Subaru nodded, following Ozpin without a word. There was not much to talk about, and Subaru didn't see a reason to mingle with the Headmaster. From what little he knew of schools in The World Above, Headmasters weren't that close to the students which they ruled. No doubt, the same rule applied to those within Remnant.

Although, the students greeted the Headmaster nonchalantly made him doubt that very much.

A sudden scream and crash caught both Ozpin's and Subaru's attention. Glancing at each other, they both picked up their pace, Ozpin in worry and Subaru in curiosity. Subaru couldn't bring himself to care if someone were to die, as long as it didn't interfere with his goal. Turning a corner, they were greeted with a mirage of students, all in different, but entertaining, positions. Some Subaru recognized as Team RWBY, some were less recognizable.

The room was large, large enough to hold multiple couches and three tables, two in what appeared to be a kitchen, the other in what could be described as a lobby of sorts. A wide array of food was laid across one of the tables, a dark haired boy flipping a pan, food flying up and down. A Blonde and muscular Brunette sat at an empty table, hands locked together as visible strain marred their face, the arm wrestle being intense. A scarlet haired girl watched, sat outside of the bounds of the kitchen alongside another blond, who seemed all too excited with the match unfolding. A Black haired girl sat, uncaring as she continued to flip through her book. A white haired girl sat in the corner, going through a device in her hands. Ruby, the only one Subaru truly recognized, seemed to be intensely watching the match unfold with a sparkle in her eyes. Same with a orange haired juggernaut of a woman.

Truly, a weird sight for one Natsuki Subaru.

"I'm not gonna let you win, Cardin!" Yang grunted, her breath hitching as she felt herself budge under his strength. Closing her eyes, she focused solely on her right hand, unable to tell if that was helping or not.

"Same here, blondie!" Cardin responded, unable to think up of a good comeback. Gritting his teeth, he did his best not to budge under the strength of Yang Xiao Long, his pride unwilling to take a hit like that. Cardin didn't mind losing to a girl, but if it was Yang, he wouldn't allow it. Couldn't allow it.

Yang and Cardin, huntsmen in training, were unwilling to budge an inch. A long standing rivalry between strength being put on the line. Sweat poured off their red faces, Cardin gritting his teeth while Yang taking a deep breath, trying not to lose her cool. The sound of Ren making his pancakes echoed through the room, no one willing to break the concentration of either participants. Yang could feel her strength leaving her though, Cardin's endurance being more than what she could handle on her own. She couldn't help but think she was finally going to lose. To cave in under the pressure of the Mace Wielder.

A quick glance at her sister changed that though. Images of her sister, on her knees, doing dirty work giving her strength to fight back against Cardin. With a grunt, and a puff, she gritted her teeth as she made her comeback. Cardin's eyes widened in surprise as he felt his arm budge, slowly drawing closer to the table. Frantically, he did his best to push back, but no matter what he did, nothing would work.

With one final heave, the back of his hand slammed against the table.

"YEAH!" Yang cheered, throwing her arms up in the air in victory, Ruby jumping in excitement as Nora flipped the table, her excitement being uncontainable. Yang pointed at Cardin, who was leaned back against the chair, looking up at the ceiling as his arms hung uselessly next to him. "Cardin! You lost! You know what that means!"

"Yeah, yeah, it's Team CRDL's turn on cleaning duty. Next week." Cardin said, waving Yang off. With a sigh, he stood up, smirking at Yang, holding out a arm. "But that was a good match, Yang! Same time next week?"

"You know it! And prepared to get your butt kicked again!" Yang said, grabbing Cardin's arm. While it couldn't be said that CRDL were friends with RWBY and JNPR, both could respect the others strength. That was really the only language Cardin Winchester spoke, and one Nora and Yang spoke fluently. It was only after the trip to Forever Fall that CRDL was willing to even talk though.

"Ha! You wish, Blondie!" Cardin said, letting go of Yang, who in turn did as him. Turning, Cardin aimed for the entrance of the lobby, only to stop in surprise. Sweat poured down his face, his eyes widening, and his muscles stiffening. Curious, Yang followed his line of sight, only to mimic Cardin's exact expression.

For what was standing there, his smile calm and amused, was the Headmaster of Beacon Academy; Ozpin.

"H-Headmaster!" Cardin said, straightening his back, standing at attention for the older man, Jaune mimicking his movements. Yang looked at them weirdly, trying to play the sudden appearance off, while Nora and Ruby went about fixing the table Nora had flipped.

"Headmaster! What a pleasure to have you here!" Weiss greeted, taking over for the shell shocked group. Apparently years of being a princess paid off, as she saw those in higher authority as just that, people of higher authority. Ozpin gave her a smile, unperturbed by the two girls distressing over the table.

"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Schnee." Ozpin courteously responded, motioning for Jaune and Cardin to ease their posture, which they did. Cardin, instead of sticking around, made for the entrance, brushing past Ozpin in his haste. "I see that you are finally getting along with Team CRDL. That's good."

"I wouldn't say that." Ren spoke up, his back still facing the aged man, flipping the pancakes he worked so hard to make. "We have come to an agreement. Nothing more, nothing less. Hostilities as that between Cardin and Jaune won't disappear over night, and they still pick on the weak, which we do not condone. We just merely have an understanding of strength." Rem stopped flipping the pancake, laying it on a plate before turning to Ozpin, a smile on his face. "Do you want a pancake?"

Silence flowed through the room. Everyone looked at Ren with a mixture of shock and admiration. What he said wasn't wrong, but no one expected him of all people to say, well, any of that. He usually stuck to short sentences, not bothering to waste as much breath as he just did. Ozpin smiled, shaking his head.

"No, I am quite fine, thank you. It appears that I still need to have a talk with CRDL then." Ozpin sighed, dreading the future that was to come. "That is not the reason I came here though."

"I don't mean to sound rude, Headmaster, but why are you here?" Weiss asked, the question being on everyone's mind. "I mean, in this dormitory specifically. I don't think Team RWBY has warranted a visit by the Headmaster himself, have we?"

"We haven't!" Ruby yelled, drawing everyone's attention to her. Her eyes darted left and right, sweat trickling down her face. "I-I mean, there's no way I snuck into the cafeteria and ate all the cookies!"

"Yeah!" Nora agreed, her face mimicking Ruby's perfectly. "I definitely didn't go in the kitchen and steal all the pancake batter! Pfft! Who would do such a thing!?"

"So that's where all the batter came from." Ren said, still flipping the pancake like it was the most normal thing in the world. Ozpin looked between all of them, judging and evaluating each and everyone of them.

"Ignoring young Roses and Valkyries midnight escapades, that is not the reason I have came to visit." Ozpin said, causing both Ruby and Nora to sigh in relief. "The reason I came to visit, is to ask a request of one of you."

"A request?" Pyrrha asked, causing Ozpin to nod, a smile still marking his face.

"Indeed. I suppose you still remember the Initiation that was held yesterday?" A chorus of nods and affirmatives made their way through the gathered crowd. "Well, to make a long story short, he has been accepted into the school. Not only that, I originally planned to have his roommate escort him around, but seeing as he isn't available at the moment, I have to ask one of you."

"I don't know, Ozpin." Yang said, scratching the back of her head. "That guy, forgot his name, he's a little… I don't know, creepy?"

A elbow made its way to her gut, Ruby looking panicked. Yang let out a breath, glaring at her younger sister. "Yang!"

"What!? It's true! Not only that, he lied to you about his powers! It's not Magic, it's his Semblance!" Yang yelled, irritated by the way her sister was acting. "He's just a filthy conman, trying to trick you into making you believe what isn't real!"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, if I were you." A voice said, startling Yang. Turning to Ozpin, she watched as the boy in question stepped out around him, his eyes narrowed, glaring in distaste. "I don't mind you not believing in Magic, but I cannot stand being called a cheat."

"Really!?" Yang asked, her tone unbelieving as she marched up to the boy. "You lied to my sister about Magic, and when you're caught, you can't even admit you're wrong!"

"I am not a liar!"

"Then prove it!"

"Now, now children, there is no need to fight." Ozpin said, stepping in between Yang and Subaru, one showing their teeth while the other calmly glaring. "Yang Xiao Long, I can understand your doubts of young Subaru's abilities, but I won't permit you to provoke a new member of the school. I can also assure you that he does wield a power that is… out of this world."

"With all due respect, Headmaster, I can't believe that." Yang responded, crossing her arms over her chest. "Magic isn't real, but Aura and Semblance is. This guy could be someone who claims to use Magic, but in reality is just part of his Aura!"

"It is Magic!"

"Then where's the proof!?"

"You want proof?" Subaru asked, gaining the attention of Yang. For a split second, Yang considered backing down, but her Pride wouldn't allow it. This guy had lied to her sister about who he was, and that was something Yang couldn't take lying down.

"Prove it." Yang said, her voice as cold as her eyes. To any normal being, the look in her eyes would have caused a chill to run down their spine. For Subaru, it was comparable to a kid throwing a fit. Subaru would have spit in her direction if they weren't inside, instead he walked up to her, glaring her in the eyes.

"Fine, then hold out your hand." Subaru said, causing Yang to raise an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Just do it." Subaru grounded out, Yang finally budging and doing as he asked. Subaru, grabbing her wrist, closed his eyes and gave a deep breath. Seconds passed in silence as everyone watched, wordlessly confused at what was going on. Yang raised an eyebrow, a smirk making its way to her lips.

"What? Is that a-"

"Shamak."

With that, it was like the lights had been flipped off. Instead of panic like Yang expected to hear, all she heard was nothing. Silence. She pulled back her arm, her eyes widening as she looked around the dark void she resided in. She waved her hands in front of her, the sound of cloth moving being absent as she watched the shadow of her arms move back and forth. Fear gripped her heart as she tried to feel around, yet no matter what she did, her touch felt nonexistent.

"-!" She tried to say, instead coming out as a nonexistent gasp. She grabbed her head, her ears ringing due to the overflowing silence of the world. She tried to breath, yet couldn't as she choked on her own breath. She couldn't tell what was going on anymore. If she was standing, laying down, or even moving. Yang couldn't even tell that her eyes were open.

"I think that's enough of that." Ozpin said, being the first sound she was able to hear. With a gasp, Yang opened her eyes, the light of the sun that filtered in through the Windows blinding her. Sitting up, she could feel the sweat across her body, her eyes darting around in panic. The worried faces of her friends greeted her, all not saying a word as she took in deep gulps of air.

"Yang? Are you alright?" Ruby asked, making her way to her frightened sister. As she reached out a hand to the prime Blonde, Yang slapped it away, startling Ruby. From the looks of it, Yang hadn't meant to do that, as she reached out to Ruby, before drawing back. Getting up, she hugged herself, not wanting to look Ruby in the eyes.

"I-I'm fine." Yang said, her words carrying no reassurances to the Teams gathered. She ignored that, and headed for one of the entrance of the lobby, avoiding the gazes of all gathered. "I just… need a breather. I'll see you guys in class."

"Ah, Yang , wait!" Ruby said, trailing after her sister worriedly. As the sisters left the group's field of vision, all looked to each other worriedly. No words were exchanged, but all knew what was on the others mind.

"What the hell was that?" Weiss asked, eyes narrowed towards Subaru, who was uncaring of what had just happened. "What did you do to Yang, you jerk."

"Jerk?" Subaru repeated, not really caring what he was called, but annoyed nonetheless. "How am I the jerk here? I merely showed her Magic, and she freaked out over it."

"Even so, I think you went too far."

"I don't care how far you think I went. I showed her exactly what she wanted, so she has no right to complain."

"I believe that's enough." Ozpin said, his tone taking on a dangerous edge. Everyone, including Subaru, froze as the temperature took a dangerous dip. Ozpin waited a second before speaking up, locking eyes with Subaru. "Subaru, as I said with Yang Xiao Long, I understand your situation, but I will not condone provoking other students."

"Y-yes Headmaster." Subaru stuttered, doing his best to remain calm. Again, Ozpin was able to make Subaru visibly nervous. Again, Subaru was angered by the reaction caused by such few words. Ozpin looked around, sighing before pinching the bridge of his nose. This was not how he wanted this meet up to go down. It may even put a dent in his plans.

"I am sorry, Team RWBY, JNPR, but I understand if you reject my request, but would one of you kindly escort Subaru around later? And show him to his classes?" Ozpin asked, hoping that maybe, with some slight pleading, they would ignore what they just saw in favor of listening to him. However, as he looked upon the expressions of both the Teams, he gained his answer.

"I will!" A over excited voice spoke up, startling Ozpin. Turning around, the familiar face of one Sun Wukong, followed by a Blue Haired boy, walked into the lobby.

"No!" Subaru said, waving his hand to the side, as if rejecting the idea physically. "I am not going to hang out with you again! How many freaking bars do we have to go to until you realize that you can't help starting fights!?"

"Hey! Hey! Don't say that!" Sun said, wrapping his arm around Subaru, who glared venomously at the blonde Faunus. Sun leaned in, his eyes half-lidded, "Subaru, dude, you need to be quiet about that! The bars didn't care how old we were, but the Headmaster and some of the others here might!"

"Like I care! You tricked me into walking through a Forrest!" Subaru whisper-yelled back, anger over the last series of loops coming into play. "Do you know how painful that was!? I had to walk for hours, then fight in a stupid initiation! I have never fought so many days in a row!"

"Haha… wait, you actually fell for that!?" Sun asked, pulling back so all could hear, JNPR and Weiss not understanding what was going on. Blake nodded, remembering the story Sun had told her, finally coming to believe such tales. Subaru shrugged off Sun, glaring at the Faunus.

"Of course I fell for that!? What did you think I would do, assume I could take an airship here!?"

"Well, yeah! Airships come and go, like, four times a day! It's like a freaking bus here!" Sun laughed, scratching the back of his head as Subaru felt like stomping on the ground, going on a rant. He stopped himself however, as that was something Regulus would do, not him.

"Ah! Sun Wukong, would you mind escorting Subaru around the campus, and showing him to his classes?" Ozpin asked, a last ditch effort to ensure Subaru had a partner for the rest of the day. Sun looked up at Ozpin, unflinching under the older man's gaze. Sun had a look of confusion, before giving a thoughtless shrug.

"Eh, sure, why not?" Sun said, causing Ozpin to sigh in relief.

"Oh, great. Here, this file contains the classes for Subaru. Be sure to show guide him there." Ozpin said, taking out his scroll, as did Sun. Subaru curiously watched as they tapped the two devices together, both flashing red before being overtaken by a bright green. With that, Ozpin withdrew his scroll, yielding his device to his pocket. Sun, instead, opened it, images flashing through.

"Woah! Subaru, almost all of our classes are together!" Sun said, causing Subaru to internally groan. It wasn't like he disliked Sun, but his hyperactive personality was just… troublesome to deal with.

"Now that that's settle with, I must take my leave." Ozpin announced, nodding his head to his students. "Subaru, I welcome you to Beacon Academy, and I hope you enjoy your stay. I expect a great many things from you."

With that, Ozpin disappeared from sight.

An uncomfortable silence overtook the room; Subaru, Weiss, Blake and JNPR all looking between each other, none willing to break the ice that had formed between them with what happened to Yang. Suns eyes darted around, confused as the usually cheery group silenced themselves. Almost a full minute passed before Sun groaned, sparking a flame in the icy atmosphere.

"Why the heck are you guys all silent!? It's really killing the mood!" Sun complained, causing Blake to look up at him, her eyebrow raised in amusement.

"Says the guy ruining the mood. Can't you tell we're all brooding here?"

"Why the heck would you do that!? Lobbies are meant to fun! Where everyone can chat and let loose!"

"Also, Why're you here?" Jaune spoke up, wondering why an exchange student was in a Beacon students dormitory. That, and his complex against Neptune taking hold.

"Cause I couldn't find Blake in her room, so I came here! Went through the window and everything!"

"Wait, what!? You went through our window!" Weiss all but screeched, Sun realizing too late what he said. Sweat dribbled down his cheek as both Weiss and Blake's eyes narrowed, a dark aura overtaking them.

"W-Wait! What I meant to say was-"

With that, Subaru's mind faded out, uncaring for the fate of Sun Wukong. While it was true he may have found some enjoyment in Suns demise, his prank having angered him, Subaru was unwilling to partake in Wrath. Until the day she died and he gained her powers, Subaru was unwilling to act in such a way. Even then, he didn't have any desire to become the insane woman that she was. Even if he did have a plan to kill her and the rest of the Cult.

Pride was tactful, not impulsive. Pride was observant, not intelligent. Pride was loyal, not to the Witch, but to himself. Even then, Pride couldn't help but think, with all the things that have went on these past few days. What now? Where was this heading? Why hadn't the Gospel updated? What is the meaning of Ruby Rose and who was the one he was destined to find? Was their even a destined one, or is she just a catalyst for his desire?

What exactly was his desire?

Beacon Academy

Classroom

First Period

In the short life of Natsuki Subaru, he had been witness to many spectacular things. Magic that would make gods tremble, powers that would make the most humblest of men jealous, and sights that would cause adventurers mouths to water. Of course, not all of these were as grand as they seemed. Families torn asunder, villages raised from the ground up, and a revolution that would put ordinary war to shame. Subaru been witness to what most would hope to do in a full life, in his seventeen years of existence.

However, he had never heard of dust.

Dust. A material made of rock and dirt, both lightweight, yet extremely dangerous. A stone that, although small, could produce a multitude of effects ranging from burning the air itself, to freezing the ground as if it had experienced a blizzard. To the residents of Remnant, Dust was the key to most of their technology. Lightning powering their airships. Fire lighting their streets. Ice keeping their food cold. Earth forming their dams. Wind cutting their trees. Without Dust, Remnant would have fallen eons ago.

In fact, without Dust, Humanity wouldn't have existed.

The legends go, that from Dust, Man was born. Wielding its power to fight their undying enemy, the Creatures of Grimm. That from the first days of their existence, Dust had been the source of all preservation. Take that away, and humanity would fall.

"That's about how it goes, right?" Subaru asked, turning to Sun and Neptune, both wearing rather weird expressions on their face.

"Uh, yeah, but…" Neptune said, twirling a pencil in his hand, looking kind of off put. With a sigh, he motioned a hand at Subaru. "Subaru, why did you word it like that?"

"Huh?" Subaru hummed, confused. At the astonished look by Sun, Subaru decided to dig deeper. There was no way he said something wrong, right? "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Well, not really, no." Sun said, scratching the back of his head while looking to the side. "It's just, you worded it really weirdly. Like you were speaking to an audience, or giving a lecture. Even did the 'Without Dust, Humanity would Fall' thing."

"What? Aren't I speaking to an audience?" Subaru said, motioning towards Sun and Neptune, who looked away. "I think you're just being picky on how I word things. That's pretty petty of you."

"What!? What're you talking about!" Sun scoffed, looking to the side. A glint caught his eyes as he spotted a familiar set of Green and Red hair, which he frantically stood up at, waving his hand back and forth. "Scarlet! Sage! Where have you two been!? We've been here for like, thirty minutes!"

"Sorry, we were cleaning up the mess you and Neptune left in our dorm." Scarlet responded, not really caring much that he had to clean. Sage sneered, flashing his teeth at Sun.

"You need to start picking up after yourself, Sun." Sage said, taking his seat next to the two Vacuo students. Sun didn't pay Sage much mind, laughing off his words as if they were in jest.

"I get you dude, and thank you! But anyways! Look who I brought with me today!" Sun said, wrapping a arm around Subaru, who looked mildly disgruntled. "This, my fabulous Team SSSN, is my pal, Natsuki Subaru!"

"Wait, you mean the Faunus hater?" Scarlet asked, causing Sun to nervously chuckle, Subaru glaring at the taller individual. Suns eyes widened as he wordlessly made a 'be quiet' motion. It didn't work however, as Subaru used his Claws to remove Suns arm from himself.

"I am not a Faunus hater, I hate Half-Breeds and the White Fang. I don't trust the Faunus, but I don't trust anybody I don't know personally. So, I'm not sure if I could be considered a racist." Subaru said, sitting down. Team SSSN all shared a look, before a collective shrug was given. Scarlet was mostly joking, but it appeared that Subaru didn't catch on.

"Well, anyways, guys! I have som-"

"What do you mean you're going to take another day off!" A girlish yell reverberated through the room, causing everyone to look in the direction of the scream. From what Subaru could tell, the voice belonged to that of a short girl, her attire consisting of, strangely enough, military clothing. A Blue hat, white shirt and sapphire skirt. She marched into the class, holding her scroll up to her ear, a furious look settled on her face. "No! Of course I'm angry! You're setting a horrible example for Atlas!... I don't care! You are a representative for not only Atlas, but General Ironwood himself! I won't have our team name… Penny? Oh you better not have hung up!"

Subaru watched this curiously. Was this one of Ironwoods subordinates? Subaru would have to keep a tab on her, as any friend if Ozpin, could potentially be an enemy of his one day. Actually, that could go for everyone within the school. Subaru covered his mouth as he contemplated the idea of him having to cut through everyone in the school. That would be a rough day indeed.

Team SSSN looked at each other, each giving a shrug before Sun himself gave a sigh. With a huff, he sat forward, thinking hard on his next choice of words. It wasn't easy talking to this girl, especially since her attitude always contradicted his own. While he was laid back, she was more strict, always being a stickler for time and the likes.

"Hey! Ciel!" Sun called, grabbing the Atlas girls attention. At the call, her head snapped, a sneer marring her face, causing the boys to flinch. Sun gulped, swallowing his fear of the girl. "What's going on? Is Penny okay!?"

"She's fine! It's none of your business!" Ciel said, stomping to the very front of the seats, her hands flying through her scroll. The whole of Team SSSN flinched, her attitude making the 'hot' group nervous.

"Worried?" Sun asked, to which the group all agreed with. Wearily sighing, Sun turned to Sage. "Hey, Sage, wanna take one for the team?"

"Huh? Why me!?" Sage asked, making Neptune scoff.

"Have you seen yourselves? You and Ciel get along great!" Neptune claimed, exaggerating his movements. "You two are like two peas in a pod, like Salt and Pepper, like fish and chips-"

"And peanut butter and Jelly!"

"That too!" Neptune agreed, Sun fist pumping at his use of the words. Neptune looked Sage in the eyes, who had trouble keeping concentration. "Dude, go to her."

"I-I-" A hand on his shoulder stopped him. Looking over, Sage took in the sight of Scarlet, shaking his head back and forth.

"Go to her." Scarlet said, causing Sage to hesitate. Closing his eyes, and shaking his head, he stood up, determination scribbled on his face.

"You're right!" Sage said, making a b-line for the Atlas personnel. Team SSSN snickered, exchanging high fives under the table. In reality, Sage's more laid back personality was a stark contrast to Ciel's militaristic attitude. The chances of those two working it out were extremely slim.

This was one glorified prank.

"Sun, who's Penny?" Subaru asked, his eyes watching Sun's face, who was doing his best to repress a grin. Sun glanced over at Subaru, before returning his eyes to the conversation down below. It was not going that great, which was great for the rest of Team SSSN.

"Penny? She's that girls teammate. Really nice person, if a little quirky. She's been absent for two days now, and Ciel down there is a stickler for time and presentation and all that." As soon as Sun said that, a loud, unintelligible yell resounding through the room. "She isn't normally like that, and we're just guessing here, but she's worried for Penny."

"Oh." Subaru didn't know how else to respond. It wasn't like he cared for the plight of others, except those he cared for. Made him wonder how Regulus was doing. While they weren't the greatest of friends, and there had been plenty of times when they had tried to kill each other, Regulus was still a friend.

At least more so than the rest of the Cult.

Betelgeuse was a self harming maniac. He was easy enough to deal with; Every time he was questioned by Betelgeuse, all he had to say was 'The Witch told me to' or something along the lines. Capella was just unbearable to be around, even if she claimed that he was moderately okay for her tastes. Gluttony was difficult to talk to, as each time he even went near them they tried to eat him. Wrath… well, after seeing who she was, they weren't on the greatest of terms. Especially since he had killed Bete previous body. She was definitely not happy.

Subaru watched Team SSSN, who were laughing at Sage, a red mark in the shape of a handprint on his face. Subaru leaned on his hand, silently wondering, did he even need friends? He could easily get what he wanted by manipulating anyone. Say Penny for example. If she was in a distraught enough state, Subaru could easily go in, manipulate her into thinking he was a friend, and he would have a pawn when the school finally goes against him.

Yet that wasn't the question, nor answer. Did he need any friends? People to talk to. People to laugh with. People to lean on when in times of need. The memories of the adventures of Regulus and him filtered through Subaru's mind. A small smile made its way to his face, one that managed to reach his eyes; maybe he did need friends.

A sudden crash drew him out of his stupor, a cloud of smoke filtering in through the open doorway. Covering his mouth, Subaru coughed out mouthfuls of the black dust, before it all cleared as a gust of wind blew it all out the door.

What Subaru felt wasn't amazement, like some would think, but fear. His blood ran cold, as a familiar set of Pink hair grinned at him, her hands holding tens of needles. Her eyes carried a dangerous glint, one promising pain just for him.

"Welcome to First Period, Natsuki Subaru!" Professor Peach, the local Dust expert, said as she tightened the grip on her needles.

Beacon Academy

Fourth Period

Fight Class was a strange tradition in the eyes of Subaru. While he could get behind the idea that experience was better than learning through words, the problem laid in what the students were learning. From his knowledge, Huntsmen were trained to hunt Grimm, the Creatures of Remnant, and protect the majority. Then why was it that, when they stood on the brink of annihilation, that they trained their students to fight each other?

Was there something Ozpin wasn't telling them, or was this just a game for them?

"I think you're over thinking it." Ruby said, taking her seat next to Subaru, waving at him in a greeting manner. Subaru raised an eyebrow at this; he really needed to stop thinking out loud. "Yeah, you do."

"Crap." Subaru said, causing Ruby to chuckle. "So, what're you doing over here? Won't your teammates be worried?"

"Yeah, they are." Ruby said, waving at the Black and White duo across the room, who didn't take their eyes off of them. Not even to watch the fight down below. Ruby sighed, her smile not leaving her face. "So, how was your first day so far?"

"Horrifying." Subaru shivered, the image of the mad scientist known as Peach chasing him down engraved in his mind. "Team SSSN showed me to my classes. Apparently I'm gonna be dragged around after school so they can show off the campus." Subaru paused, giving Ruby the chance to speak, yet she didn't. Instead, she hummed, signaling that she was listening. Subaru knew this behavior. It was the same method used by the maids where he used to work at. A sign that he was in trouble. Sighing, Subaru leaned over, placing his elbow on his knee, relaxing his face upon his hand. "Why are you here?"

"To talk about my sister." Ruby said, her voice low. She didn't look all that dangerous, no matter how much she tried, but even Subaru knew not to judge a book by its cover. Meili was a perfect example of this.

"The blonde one? Is she alright?" Subaru didn't care if she was alright, but Ruby didn't need to know that. Her face softened at his words, doing its intended job perfectly.

"She's fine. Took the day off though." Ruby said, Subaru acting out a sigh of relief. Her gaze softened even more. This girl was too easy to manipulate. Subaru almost felt bad, but that feeling washed away relatively quickly. It wasn't like he was tricking her into poisoning a Knight of Lugnica, or brainwashing her into believing he was someone dear to her heart.

"So, you're not mad?"

"Oh, I'm furious." Ruby said, glaring at Subaru. Ouch, shouldn't have said that. "But I'm not stupid. Yang was the one who started it, and you only did what she asked, but that doesn't mean I can't be mad at you. I just want to know, what exactly did you do?"

"You mean my magic?" Subaru asked, holding his hand to his face.

"That was Magic? But what about your Claws? And… claws?"

"Those Claws are something completely different. I sorta stole that from somebody else." Subaru shrugged, Ruby looking at him confused. Of course she wouldn't understand, Subaru sighed. "Ignore that last part. Anyways, those Claws aren't Magic. They're sort of like a… gift. Like your Semblance, but Magic Users are born with it."

"Wait!? So all Magic Users have those freaky Claws!?" Ruby asked, her eyes sparkling with glee, a complete one-eighty to how she was acting previously. Subaru smiled, at least he didn't have to act for this.

"No; do you know what Divine Protections are?" Subaru asked, Ruby shaking her head in response. That should have been a no brainer. Ruby didn't know about Magic, so she couldn't possibly know about Divine Protections. "Well, I guess that's to be expected. Divine Protections are… Hmm. I guess you could say gifts from the Gods. Almost everyone receives one, and a lucky few are granted two. There are millions of Divine Protections, all doing different things. Some allow Magic Users complete mastery over certain types of Magic. Some grant the User The ability to talk to animals, in other words communicate with every language known to Remnant and beyond. Another lets them see through the eyes of animals and people alike. Hell, there's even a Divine Protection that allows the user to ask for more Divine Protections!"

"So that Claw is a Divine Protection?"

"No, this is someone else's. I just took it." 'By killing them' Subaru finished that thought to himself. "I wasn't born with a Divine Protection. Someone gave me theirs."

"Wait, so people can give each other their powers!"

"No… well, actually, I don't know. Nobody has ever tried, from what I know. I doubt it though. The person who gave me their powers was someone who had the power to give out more. I think. I don't know her that well."

"Then why did she give you that power?"

"That's a good question." Subaru agreed. In all the years Subaru had been in the Cult, not once had that question been answered. Betelgeuse would claim it was her undying love, but kill you since she loved you. Capella would ask why he would even care. Regulus just gave a shrug.

Nobody had an answer to that.

"Anyways, I have to go back to Blake and Weiss before they come drag me over. It was fun, Subaru, and I hope you enjoy Beacon!" Ruby said, getting up and leaving. Subaru waved at her, his smile slowly fading as he gazed at the fight. So even the innocent Ruby could get mad…

Seriously, these fights were amazing.

Beacon Academy

Cafeteria

Thursday

"What… what is this!" Subaru asked, doing his best to stop from moaning in ecstasy. The flavor of the white cream rolling off his tongue. The texture, thick yet soft, coating his mouth in a shroud of snow white. Swallowing, he couldn't stop the breath of pleasure that escaped his mouth as ate more of the delicious cream.

"Um, that's mayonnaise." Scarlet said, looking more than a little perturbed by the expression the Archbishop was making. In the time Scarlet had gotten to know Subaru, he learned that the guy rarely showed a genuine smile, or positive emotion. So when he started eating the white condiment, moaning and groaning in pleasure, he couldn't help but be more than a little creeped out.

"Please, dude, stop that." Neptune pleaded, distancing himself from Subaru. A look of disgust crossed his face as Subaru grabbed the jar of mayonnaise, scraping the insides out on his plate. It didn't end there, unfortunately, as Subaru started devouring the condiment whole. Neptune covered his mouth, his cheeks puffing in disgust. "I think I'm gonna hurl!"

"Neptune! Don't! It will ruin your image!" Scarlet said, trying to save his comrade. Another look at Subaru though changed his mind, as he got up and ran, heading for the nearest restroom along with Neptune. Sage watched Subaru, eating his sandwich in peace. Along with Neptune and Scarlet, Sage found it a disgusting sight, but didn't let it bother him. He had seen worse sights in his life, and knee how to handle a disturbed stomach.

"This is so go~od!" Subaru moaned, laying his head on the table, a visage of ecstasy marring his face. It had been years since anything had tasted as good as the white condiment that sat on the table. The World Above didn't have anything that even remotely taste as fine as that of Remnants luxuries.

Sure, there had been similarities that Subaru had noticed. Baked Potatoes, Steak (although Remnants was juicier), and eggs, but that had been about it. It seemed that Remnant, even in its state of constant unrest with the threat of Grimm, had found a way to make use of culinary craft. Or at least expand on it in ways The World Above hadn't. 'Guess it shouldn't be a surprise, as Remnant is decades ahead of The World Above in terms of Technology.'

A tap on his shoulder startled Subaru out of his trance. Turning to the offending hand, Subaru was surprised to see a familiar set of blonde hair. Not happy, but surprised. She locked her hands behind her back in an attempt to calm her quivering hands, but Subaru was able to see right though it. While he wasn't able to read the atmosphere very well, the way her face twitched was enough to tell him that she didn't exactly want to be there.

"Hey, Subaru, can you come with me?" Yang asked, gritting her teeth all the while. Subaru's immediate reaction was to decline her, even going so far as say some colorful words, but stopped himself. As impulsive as he was, Subaru could tell Yang was at least trying, with whatever she was attempting to do. Looking back to Sage, as if asking for advice, Sage could only offer a clueless shrug. With a sigh, Subaru stood up.

"Sure. I'll be back, Sage." Subaru said, Sage wordlessly waving him off as he chewed on his sandwich.

Subaru followed Yang silently. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Team RWBY and Team JNPR (as he learned from Sun) warily watch them, Sun himself sitting next to the dark haired girl. Subaru couldn't help but think that Sun had something to do with Yang's behavior. Maybe even Ruby herself, as it was obvious by the way she was chewing her nails were any indication.

Exiting the cafeteria, Subaru could see a multitude of students littering the campus. Some sat on the ground, chatting or playing cards. Some stood, flexing to the girls in a vain attempt to woe them. Subaru personally didn't like that. While his body wasn't in what you would say a fragile or ripped state, it was far from being unfit. In fact, Subaru could probably be the most fit student on campus. If not that, then the most experienced, seeing as he was quite literally apart of a Cult that took a extremely radical view on things.

"Not here." Yang said, Subaru nodding. If she wanted to drag him out of the cafeteria, then that meant she wanted to talk to him. Alone. A public spot like this wouldn't be an ideal place to do that.

This made him wonder what she was going to do. She didn't seem the type to lead him in a stray alleyway just to attack him. Maybe challenge him to a fight, but set up an ambush like that? No, he expected something like that out of the Cult, not one of Beacons students.

"Ah! That's perfect!" Yang cheerily said, picking up the pace. Subaru followed her, confused in her rise in speed, before seeing what she meant. In the corner of one of the buildings, a large open area sat. Benches and the like sat all around, but no one could visibly be seen for a wide margin. A perfect area to relax, or in this case, chat in private.

Making their way to the middle of the vacant area, Yang came to a sudden stop, Subaru almost running into her. Backing up, Subaru gave her space, as her hands still shook, even with the minutes of silence that he gave her. Minutes passed before her silence started to gain his ire. He could be eating more mayonnaise right now.

"Is there something you need?" Subaru asked, crossing his arms as he tapped his foot impatiently. His waist cloak fluttered, the torn edges moving back and forth with his movements. He could see Yang give out a heave breath, balling her hands into fists. She violently turned, and for a split second, Subaru thought he judged Yang wrong, her fist flying to his face with great speed. However, that was just his imagination, as in reality, she turned, straightening her body, and gazing into his eyes.

"I'm sorry!" Yang yelled, her cheeks as red as roses. Subaru lowered his raised arm, his wide eyes expressing how out of nowhere the words were to him.

"What?" Subaru asked, more out of surprise than anything. Yang's beat white hands tightened even more, embarrassment visible on her open expression.

"I said I'm sorry!" Yang repeated. Closing her eyes, she took in deep breaths to calm herself, before her fiery gaze settled back on his hazel eyes. "Look, I'm not that great with apologies, so bare with me here. I admit, what I said on Tuesday was extremely rude. I mean, I don't want to take it back, cause that's what I thought you were; a conman. A conman that was going after my sister." Yang looked away, biting her lip. "What you did… I'm not angry about that. You proved that you have supernatural powers, which I still think is your Semblance, which your entitled to call whatever you want…" Yang stopped, before sighing. "Look, I'm not good with apologies. I'm sorry for provoking you, and all that." Yang held out a hand, one that Subaru cautiously looked at. "Wanna start over?"

Subaru stared at the offered hand, not immediately reaching out for it. Subaru should have just agreed and got it over with, but it didn't feel right. Thinking on a more pessimistic side of things, if Subaru accepted and played his cards right, he could even wipe some Hunters off the school, via mind tricks, but that also didn't feel right. What Yang had proposed felt genuine, something that came straight from the heart. To decline, or even corrupt, what she was trying to do felt… disgusting. With a sigh, Subaru reached out his hand, grabbing hers firmly.

"You terribly suck at apologies." Subaru started, smiling as Yang's eyes narrowed. "You accused me of being something I'm not, and even provoked me to go overboard on my powers. I hate that you did that, but I understand where you're coming from. If I were in your position, I'd probably do the same." Subaru said, expressing his understanding. Nobody could truthfully claim Subaru didn't feel empathetic for those around him. In actuality, he was probably one of the most empathetic person out there. When he killed, he specifically made sure that those who died passed on swiftly. He knew how it felt to die, to feel pain, and lose those loved ones. That's probably the only good quality Natsuki Subaru saw in himself. "So, let's restart." Subaru said, releasing Yang's hand. Stepping back, he put his right hand on his chest, the left behind his back, left foot forward and right back, giving a deep bow. This was just one of the many things he learned as a Butler. "It is a pleasure to meet you, my name is Natsuki Subaru. I am glad to make your acquaintance."

"Okay, first, stop. That's seriously creepy." Yang half joked, her words carrying half truths. Subaru had a gaze that couldn't help but creep her out, so him acting polite like this just added to the creep factor. Chuckling, she waved off Subaru's greeting. "My names Yang Xiao Long. Nice to meet'cha!"

Beacon Academy

Friday

After School

"Catch ya later, Subaru!" Ruby called, waving at the boy as she caught up to her team, Subaru loosing sight of them as they turned the corner, the halls engulfing them, naught to be seen again. Subaru's smile didn't drop however, as even with RWBY's presence absent, the warmth they left still lingered.

It was an odd feeling. Subaru never expected to make connections as quickly as he had. It might have been due to his constant ties to the Cult, the negativity of such a place being suffocating, but this rush of positivity and optimism being… refreshing. It felt nice.

Opening the door to his Dorm room, he couldn't help but think of his Desire once more. Flipping the switch of the lights, he pulled out his Gospel again, flipping to the last entry. His hope for a new message beeping unbound, even to go so far as to say desired. Hope clouded his heart, the last page coming to sight. Yet once more, disappointment took hold, as the same verse read aloud again.

"What the f #$!" Subaru yelled, throwing the Gospel to the ground in a fit of rage. Bringing back his leg, he gave a sharp kick to the accursed book. He walked over, stomping on the Gospel. "I've diligently followed every instruction, every command you have ever given me, Witch! Yet now, when I practically beg for your help and understanding, you forsake me! I joined this damn Cult to get stronger! To be guided in the right direction! Then what!? You give me this stupid poem, sick me on some Silver Eyed girl, and expect me to gain a desire I never even wanted!? I am strong! I have sacrificed so much for this stupid Cult and you want more!? What now!? Kill a village of kids!? Of infants or the elderly!? What now!? Answer me, Witch!"

Subaru continued to stomp on his Gospel, incoherent rage bubbling out of his mouth. Words that he didn't even realize he was saying, spilling out like a river of curses. Yet the Witch didn't respond. There was no new entry. No new command or sign of provocation like Subaru had hoped. Just silence. Even the Witch's hand would have felt good right now, as that would be a sign she was listening, yet nothing came. Only silence. Subaru's rage took control.

Grabbing the Gospel, Subaru went to one of the desks in the room, opening the drawer in haste. During the days that his roommate, that Subaru had yet to meet, had been absent, Subaru had taken it upon himself to scavenge through the room. Surprisingly, a lighter had been in the drawer, a piece of Technology Subaru actually knew of. With a swipe and a flick, Subaru held the Gospel under the fire of the lighter, its brilliant light casting shadows on his face.

No response was given by the Witch. This served to only anger Subaru even more, yet instead of lighting the Gospel aflame, he slammed it down on the desk, unable to bring himself to burn it. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but it was because it was fear itself that stopped him. Fear to what would come. Would the Witch take away his abilities? Would he die permanently, never to be able to rewrite his mistakes? What would happen once he angered such a god?

Would his soul even survive the wrath of the Jealous Witch?

A series of knocks shook him out of his fear. Gazing at the door, the knocks continued, before Subaru, shaking, went to the door, opening it just a smidge. Just enough for him to see who it was.

"Jaune?" Subaru asked, recognizing the Knight. Subaru didn't know Jaune as well as he did Sun or Ruby, but he did recognize him. The poor boy was probably the weakest of the school, even though his determination was immeasurable. Even Subaru could tell that he was doing his best, even if it was pitiful. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard you yelling and I got a little worried is all." Jaune admitted, looking past Subaru into his room, which Subaru blocked sight of. "Is everything okay in there?"

"Yeah, I'm just going through something personal." Subaru said, leaning on the doorway, trying his best to act nonchalant. If Jaune picked up on this, he didn't say anything, instead trying to look into the dorm.

"Are you sure you're okay? You sounded really angry in there. If you need any help, I can help out, you know."

"Thank you, but I have to decline. This is something personal, and I don't wanna drag those I barely know into this." Subaru truthfully said. Even if he knew Jaune or anybody on campus on a personal level, he'd be hard pressed to drag them into his problems. While he didn't mind using the likes of Regulus or Purpura for the sake of survival, dragging in inexperienced combatants, who could potentially jeopardize a plan, would be a horrible mistake.

"Well, if you say so." Jaune said, awkwardly looking to the side. "Well, uh, if you need us, we'll be in our rooms. Night!"

"Goodnight." Subaru replied, slamming the door shut. His eyes immediately darted to the Gospel, not leaving it for a second. Instead of opening it however, Subaru ignored it, heading to bed. Removing his clothes, he only left his necklace and undergarments on, tucking himself tightly into bed. He was lucky that he didn't have a roommate yet.

But as he drifted to sleep, Subaru couldn't help but think, one last time, what his Desire was. Why was it so important for him to stick close to Ruby and this school? Why did the Witch, even with all the provoking he did, not threaten him once?

Memories of the past week filtered through his mind. The rough first meeting between him and Teams RWBY and JNPR. The insane woman known as Professor Peach. The pranks Team SSSN pulled on each other. The talk with Ruby about Magic. The apology from Yang Xiao Long and his proper introduction to her Team. After that, it all seemed surreal. It wasn't a great time, but it was memorable. A sort of peace that couldn't be attained within the Cult.

Maybe this was what he desired? To be at peace, and to chat with those his age. Maybe, just maybe, his time here wouldn't be wasted.

With that, Subaru fell into blissful sleep.

Beacon Academy

Hospital

Tuesday

He breathed. The sound of Oxygen entering his lungs and Carbon exiting filled the silent room with sound. Lazily, he opened his crust filled eyes, the pale white of the ceiling being the first thing he had seen in a day. He didn't panic, as he recognized the same pattern as he had seen days prior.

Sitting up, Subaru took in his surroundings. White beds lined the room, an electronic light filling the room with a brilliant fire. It was of Remnants making, the electricity sizzling as the glass burned heavily.

"Wait… what?" Subaru asked himself, slowly coming out of his dazed state. Rubbing his eyes, he couldn't help the feeling of dread fill his heart as he slipped out of bed, the necklace he normally wore to sleep sitting on a pile of Cult clothes. Grabbing the necklace, he watched it swing back and forth before wrapping it around his neck, as with donning the rest of his clothes.

"No, no, no, no." Subaru repeated like a worn out mantra. Fear gripped his heart, as he hastily made his way to the door, forgetting his boots. Gripping the door knob with his right hand, two familiar pains rid its way through his body. The one in his right shoulder from the fight with Fox, and the one on his nose, the door swinging open and pounding him in the face.

"Crap! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" The familiar voice of one Professor Peach said, holding out her hand in offering once more. Subaru stared at it, wordlessly opening and closing his mouth in shock, sweat trickling down his face as the same exact scenario played out once more. Peach raised an eyebrow, worry across her face. "Hey, are you okay? You look really unwell."

Subaru didn't answer, instead holding his hand to his face, his hands shaking in fear. 'This can't be happening. Not again. Not again! NOT AGAIN!'

With that, Subaru fled the hospital, fear of the unknown killer that lurked within Beacons very own grounds.

Character Bio

Aura User: Peach AKA Professor Peach

Semblance: Time Distortion

Agility: A

Durability: D

Endurance: C

Strength: A

Speed: B

Intelligence: A

Peach, one of Beacons most trusted and respected staff members, wasn't always the cheery and happy-go-lucky individual she is today. Once upon a time, she was a sad and lonely child, yearning for nothing more than to reverse the things she had done. This translated heavily to her Semblance, as she gained the ability to travel forward and backwards through time.

At least, that's how it looks. In reality, all she really is able to do is reverse the effects and forward her own body to one point in time. The ability to heal wounds that'd normally be fatal, or speed up effects of a poison being a great help in the medical field.

Of course, with every positive there's a negative. Peach is unable to reverse the effects of someone's state once they fall unconscious, and is unable to go further than that. Also, whatever wound she heals, be it fatal or otherwise, causes the affected area to be deformed. This causes some patients to decline her help.

Note, she's a extremely dangerous combatant. Make sure to rid her as soon as possible. The Breach might be a perfect time for this.

World of Remnant: The Witch Cult

Oh, so you're curious about this group? Well, let me tell you one thing before we continue; Do. Not. Mess. With. Them.

This is a group nobody should involve themselves with, especially you kids. You think the Grimm are bad? If the Cult gets what they want, not only will Humanity be killed, so will everything else. Plants, animals, and that stupid mountain over there. Gone.

They burn villages, kill kids, and don't flinch an eye at killing their loved ones. No one knows what they think, or how they think. But we do know their goal- to release the Witch of Envy, Satella.

No one knows how they move. No one knows who leads them. No one knows where they come from. What we do know? They need to be wiped out.

Story Rant

There's not much to say. Again. Except that I personally hate this chapter. Casual chit chat isn't my forte, and that really shows this chapter. I hate padding, and that shows in this chapter. I feel like I rushed it too, which I need to remedy.

It's weird, Re:Zero's whole story is one guy going back over and over again, but somehow they make it so it doesn't feel like it's padding anything. Actually, each loop had meaning, and developed the characters in ways we wouldn't see in a single loop. That's where I have trouble.

I enjoy meaningful dialogue, and I think that shows a little too much in this story. I've been throwing information left and right, but I need to learn to calm down with that. I think I did good with that this chapter, as I only referenced two important things. What's going on with Penny, and setting up this Arc, with the killer and all.

So, I guess I should point out something else too. I think I kept overly pointing out how Subaru would 'manipulate' others to do what he wanted. That isn't inherently true. Subaru will manipulate others, but only if it makes sense. Let's use the Dark Lord IF as an example. He manipulated Ferris because he had an OP healing power. Subaru could lose a limb, get it reattached, and continue fighting. Everyone on Beacon? Useless. With enough loops, Subaru could kill every single one on campus. Unless the character has a specific task Subaru needs done, then Subaru won't manipulate. This'll become prevalent in Arc 3, where he gains a powerful pawn to use against his enemies.

I also want to point out another thing. As time goes on, Subaru will have a tough time trying to manipulate others. Not because he's unable to, but because of a personality change. He'll start to care for the main cast, and would go back in time so they don't die. Heck, that's what this Arc is technically supposed to do, as if he were to find out the killers identity in this point in time, they'll be dead. A little bit of a spoiler, that'll change. He won't be able to bring himself to do it.

This Arc is also to set up a later Arc, and give one of the lesser developed characters some development.

I think that's about it. Please, feedback is much appreciated.

Personal Rant

Ugh, I went through so much crap to get this done. I dealt with family. I argued with friends. And one of them gave me advice on what to do, even though she keeps saying I'm the better writer. Psh! If I was, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. Thanks though, K!

I also went through some fits if unmotivation. It mostly has to do with the chapter than anything else, but what pushed me through were people following and favoriting this. Thanks guys! Never though I'd see Arc 2. Hope I can see the end of Arc 3 though, cause I think that's my favorite part of the story so far. Besides the Dance Arc and Wrath Arc. But those are so far away, we might not see it for months.

Anyways, hey, I'm looking for a Beta, sorta. I sort of need someone to keep me on track what I write, so there aren't any inconsistencies. Like a fresher pair if eyes for me. Ya know? Or just give me feedback via reviews.

One last thing, new chapter will be short. I'm gonna try to hint at the killer too. This chapter didn't really give hints, but I'll try next chapter. Thanks for stopping by! See ya!