203Red like Roses
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, Kingdom Hearts, or the characters associated with them as they are the property of Monty Oum, Rooster Teeth, Tetsuya Nomura, and Square Enix in respect to who they are associated with.
"Talking"
Thoughts
Ch. 1
~ Patch island ~
Ruby Rose was just enjoying life like any happy go lucky kid her age would. Out running and playing all day. Eating as much candy as you could. Falling asleep whenever you just felt like it.
That was the simplistic innocence of youth of just enjoying life.
But sometimes life was not always as simple as that. Sometimes under the most incredible circumstances, something akin to miracle could happen.
For something like that to happen it has gone by a few names. Some would call it fate, others destiny, or even chance. But in life, all it takes is a single moment to change your world.
Playing with the neighboring kids out in the forest Ruby ran right behind her sister Yang. But for a few days now her big sister had been leaving her behind going out with the other kids for a few hours deep within the woods only to come back with laughs and chatter over whatever they were doing. Not wanting to be left out, she had pestered her for days on end to tell her what everyone was up too.
After about a hundred 'pleases' later, "alright! Alright! I'll tell you! But you have to promise not to tell dad, uncle Qrow, or anyone else OK".
With her eyes twinkling in excitement Ruby was bouncing all over the place unable to keep herself steady at what she was about to hear. Walking out to the forest, "so what is it Yang? Did someone find a dungeon? A ruins? A maze? Some really cool place to explore?!" as little red felt like she was going to explode from just anticipation alone.
"Actually it's just a plain old tree" Yang simply answered.
". . . . What?"
"As I said, it's just an old tree. But what's inside is what was interesting" as a wide smile stretched on Yang's face.
"What was inside?" Ruby then asked.
"Some sort of weird looking sword".
"If it's just that why can't we tell dad or uncle Qrow about it?"
"You'll understand once we get there".
Pushing further into the forest they were soon joined by other kids as they all seem excited. Arriving to a massive tree there was an opening just small enough for a child to fit through. Once inside other kids were already present as at the center of it all was that strange looking sword.
Standing in the back amongst the large group of children Ruby scratched her cheek curiously at this. However the blade in question looked extremely old and partly damaged with it's faded colors and cracks all over the frame. "It really is a strange looking sword. If you ask me . . . . It kind of looks like a big key".
"Yeah it really does".
"But why are we keeping it a secret?"
"Just watch" as Yang pointed out a boy who was going to try to pull the sword.
"You got this!" as the children started to cheer.
"Just pull it!"
"Good luck!"
As the boy went up he rubbed his hands together grabbing the handle. Pulling with all his might his face started to turn red from exertion. Finally after a few minutes of struggling, the base started to wiggle free. In one good push the boy had successfully pulled the sword out. "I did it!" as the surrounding children cheered.
"It that it?" asked Ruby.
"Just keep watching" Yang smirked.
In the next moment, the blade like key dissolved into bright light reappearing back to where it was.
"Ahh!" as the boy rummaged his hair while everyone else talked and laughed.
"Me next! I want to try now!"
"No! It's my turn!"
"I want to go next!"
"That's why I want to keep it a secret" said Yang. "Dad or uncle Qrow would probably tell us not to come here anymore".
With her eyes twinkling in amazement, "was that magic?! Actual real magic?!" shouted Ruby. "Have you already tried to pick it up yet?!" as she was having a difficult time controlling her excitement.
"Not yet" as Yang was busy just trying to make room for them. "Everyone wants to have a turn. But I definitely want to try my hand at it".
But being bumped around a few times the sisters had to settle for just watching as kids tried multiple times and strategies to pull the sword. Some succeeded in pulling it only for it to move back. Some didn't even get as far as wedging it out of it's base. For the rest of the day that's pretty much how it went until it was late afternoon and it was time for everyone to go home. Having dinner, bathing, and going to sleep, one little girl couldn't quite rest yet as she was still brimming with exhilaration.
Still lying awake in her bed, Ruby couldn't get her mind off it as she definitely wanted to try and pull the sword. But equally to that she hadn't told her sister about the strange feeling when she came near it. She wasn't sure how to describe it, but something about that sword was calling out to her as something inside her was calling back to it. Waiting a few hours to make sure everyone was asleep she got dressed and was ready to sneak out of the house. Though it crossed her mind to bring Yang, she really didn't want her to laugh at her if she failed.
So bringing a flashlight, she remembered her way back there as she had to be extra careful. Hearing rustling in some branches, Ruby quickly hid in some bushes as she worried they might be Grimm.
Though little is known about these soulless pitch black monsters, one thing was very clear. They attacked humans and fanus with extreme hostility.
Holding her breath the branches rustled louder only for a little rabbit to pop out. Ruby gave a sigh of relief as she moved on. Pushing deeper into the woods she finally arrived as she climbed into the hollows standing before the blade like key. But being alone with it, that same strange sensation came over her as if her heart was reaching out to it. Calling to it as she didn't understand this curious feeling. This strong warm feeling building up in her chest the closer she got to it. Reaching out her hand, her fingers grazed the handle as a bright light had begun to shine.
But not only that as the young Ruby was put in a trance like state as hundreds of images began to flood her mind. Being too young to understand, she was only able to pick up a few things here and there. Though from what she was able to understand, this sword was a keyblade.
It came here countless years ago in a terrible war between darkness and light in which this world like many others had been caught up in. After a titanic battle between two powerful keyblade wielders, one fell and one survived. However their injury was far too severe for them to go on as it was here at this spot that this blades master had passed away. But in their final moment, the master knew that this war would only end in mutual destruction between both sides and with it their extinction.
". . . . I have finally found you . . . ."
"What?" as Ruby looked around to where the voice came from until realizing the keyblade was directly talking to her. "Who are you? Do you have a name?"
". . . . A name? . . . . I don't remember anymore . . . . But it doesn't matter either . . . . I have finally found someone worthy of a keyblade . . . ."
"I don't understand" as Ruby shook her head. "What are you talking about? What do you mean?" she asked patiently to the old key.
". . . . My master saw an end to an era . . . . With the last of their power I was kept here . . . . Waiting . . . . Watching . . . . For someone with a strong heart to become an inheritor . . . ."
"Inheritor?" as Ruby's young mind couldn't keep up as these strange random images bombarded her mind. "What do you mean? I don't understand".
". . . . And with this . . . . I now name you Ruby Rose a keyblade bearer . . . . Finally . . . . I am so tired after all these years . . . . I can finally rest now . . . ." as more cracks started to appear on the nameless keyblade startling the young girl.
"Wait! I still don't understand. What do you mean?"
But it was too late now as the blade shattered like glass in Ruby's hand as the vessel was empty completely depleted of power.
Standing their alone and confused, Ruby returned home not understanding anything the keyblade had said or showed her. But also the fact she didn't want anyone thinking she broke it. As the children came back the next day to discover this, many gave groans of disappointment upon missing their object of amusement. But alas children are easily amused as they quickly found something else to do.
~ Patch island ~
Several days had passed since then as Ruby still didn't understand what that all meant. Nor did she care to allow it to constantly dwell in her mind. Thus she continued to pass on the rest of her days as a normal kid.
However on this day things were not going to be so normal.
With Yang's mother Raven missing and Ruby's mother Summer passed away the two sisters were usually home alone as their father Taiyang was a huntsmen who had to go make a living. However there has not been a day that has gone by that Yang hadn't thought about her mother. Receiving a clue to where she might be, she did what most kids her age did, be reckless at she left home to look for her.
But she couldn't leave her sister alone as she carried Ruby along on a little wagon.
Wandering deep into the forest as it became night, they were warned not to go beyond a certain point as Grimm were in the area. But the young Yang didn't care as she needed to see her mother again as that was all there was on her mind disregarding how weak and tired her body was becoming without rest or food. Walking all this way and carrying her sister losing any sense of time.
Arriving at an abandoned house it was then that those black monsters had appeared to attack.
But there just in the nick of time was their uncle Qrow. Taiyang had returned home to discover his kids were gone. Growing worried the scythe hunter was called in to help look. However there were many Grimm in the area as Yang had just fallen unconscious from fear or fatigue while Ruby was sleeping in the wagon.
Thus Qrow had to make sure none of them got past him in order to keep his nieces safe.
~ inner world ~
Unbeknownst to them was that Ruby was going through a big change. Each night since her encounter with the keyblade she had been having these strange dreams lately. Dreams about falling into a deep dark ocean. Though ominous, she didn't feel scared as she continued to sink deeper down. But as she continued to fall she lost any orientation of what was up, down, left, or right as everything was just darkness.
On this night within her dreams, Ruby saw light from 'below' her. As she got closer her fall began to slow as she landed lightly on a strange platform. It seemed to be some sort of pillar she was standing on. On it was a person she never seen before as everything that decorated it told their life story.
But then out from the darkness, "power sleeps within you . . . ." as stages started to pop up. "If you give it form . . . ." as weapons began appearing on them. "It will give you strength . . . . Choose wisely".
Ruby wasn't afraid in the slightest as she somehow felt this was all natural. Surrounding her were quite a few weapons as she didn't know which to choose. But from the corner of her eye, she saw the weapon she wanted most. Thinking about how cool her uncle Qrow was, she wanted the scythe as she climbed onto the stage to take it. Upon taking it, it dissolved into light as Ruby gave a startled look.
"You have chosen the power of a reaper. Justice within balance. A blade that equalizes all. Your path is set . . . . Now what will you give up in exchange?"
Looking around to the other weapons, she chose to give up her shield as it too dissolved into light. Once that was done she had started to fall again as the platform shattered away only to land on another platform similar to the last one with a stained glass image of someone on it.
"There will be times you have to fight . . . . Keep your light burning strong . . . ." as suddenly weird little humanoid Grimm had appeared. Though sudden, Ruby understood she had to fight as the scythe appeared in her hands. Regardless of it's size, it didn't actually feel heavy to her as she was able to swing it around easily. Remembering how her uncle wielded it, she gave it one good swing cutting one of the shadow creatures in half causing the rest of them to flee. But once again the platform had vanished as she fell once more.
Before she knew it she found herself right back in her house within her living room with her sister Yang, her uncle Qrow, and her father Taiyang sitting around her. Curious to what this meant, they started to ask her questions.
"What's most important to you?" Yang asked.
Looking to her sister and the rest of her family, it was a very serious question. So she needed to give it some thought before answering. Being the young child that she was, she spoke sincerely from the heart. "To be with my friends and family".
"What are you afraid of?" Taiyang then asked.
" . . . . Letting people down" as Ruby looked down sadly.
"What do you want out of life?" Qrow finally asked.
It was a simple answer as it was something she aspired too. "To be a hero that can protect everyone!" she answered proudly. Blacking out once more she found herself once again on a new platform with a different stain glass painting of someone.
"Be warned . . . . The stronger the light so will be the shadows . . . . But don't be afraid . . . . You have the mightiest weapon of all . . . . And don't forget . . . . You are never alone . . . ."
With those final words, Ruby fell back into darkness.
~ Patch island ~
"Why are there so damn many of them?!" as Qrow was getting irritated at how many beowolf Grimm just kept on coming. He had to be on the defensive in order to protect Yang and Ruby. But it didn't make sense in why would all these Grim gather here and be so interested in two little girls? However it was something he had to sort out later as there was just a few of them left. With the last group of them coming at once, the scythe huntsmen recoiled back making a big swing slaying all but one as it jumped over him. Eyes stretched wide in horror, "Yang! Ruby!" as he turned back to save them.
Though a skilled and veteran huntsmen anxiety coursed through his veins as he needed to catch this bastard before it could touch his nieces. Pushing his legs to his utmost limit, he knew he wasn't going to make it as the Grimm was about to attack. But he wasn't going to give up as he started to swing his scythe
As time slowed to a still, an intense bright light had flashed overtaking the area stunning both Qrow and the Grimm. Recovering first, the scythe huntsmen didn't miss his opportunity cutting the beowolf in half. Wiping his forehead while giving a relieved sigh, he was happy everything turned out alright. But looking back to his nieces there standing in front of them was a strange sword shaped like a key.
This strange sword was primarily black covered in red layer plates with metallic silver trimmings. It was about three feet long with an oval hand guard and an odd curved bladed tip with red and black plates over it.
Warily approaching it, Qrow picked it up only for it to dissolve into a light of red petals before reappearing right next to Ruby in the wagon. Stunned at this display of magic, actual real magic the scythe huntsmen eyes went wide at what this meant.
He had traveled the world and learned many things on his journey. But this thing was supposed to be a myth as there has never been proof of it existing let alone being real. Yet here it was slapping him right in the face as he couldn't believe it.
Staring at his youngest niece, "Ruby . . . . A keyblade wielder huh . . . ."
To be continued . . . .
Author's notes: A pilot chapter to gauge interest in the story. I've gone through the archives of this crossover and basically they were stories of Sora or someone from the KH universe coming to Remnant. But I really wanted to see Ruby and the gang get a keyblade of their own and completely turn the common sense of their world upside down. So we'll see if this idea flies. Now onto some commentary.
So credit goes to LobbyRinth on deviantart as I took inspiration of what Ruby's hypothetical keyblade would look like.
I've actually gone through many forums discussing just how alive a keyblade really is as they can actively choose who they want to serve. As noted by Xehanort in the keyblade graveyard, it's safe to assume that when their original master die their blades become lifeless without them. However as noted by the lingering will (Terra), it's possible for a keyblade to keep on going under certain circumstances. So I don't think it's too much of a stretch if a keyblade master's last will was to preserve his keyblade in order to one day find an inheritor.
Furthermore as we see in the beginning of the story and the gameplay mechanics, the keyblade takes on the form reflective of their master and the choices they make. Through this, the keyblade and their master can evolve learning new skills and abilities growing stronger the more they train and fight such as Sora when he beats bosses and learns certain skills from them. Of course the keyblade can change shape and perform different functions with modifications or will, but that will be covered later when Ruby starts training with it.
The Grimm are kind of like the heartless in many ways. But are they connected it will be something I'll think about if I choose to continue the story.
If there are any questions or concerns feel free to ask as I'll try to answer them the best I can.
So thank you for reading and I further extend my gratitude if you can review as well.