524A/N Pilot
Alt title: Flying into choppy waters
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Beta read by Infonticus!
I'm on a discord server now!
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Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY or any other characters in this work, other than my OC. All other characters belong to their respective properties.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
*Sounds/Actions*
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? POV
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My eyes open to a blinding light. Or rather, when my eyes adjust, the sunlight of a gentle morning.
I find myself sitting at a finely carved table, my hand sliding across the polished surface with a smooth hush. A field of soft green grass stretching out in all directions around the table- the breeze making gentle waves on the grass. And falling with the wind were pink petals falling from a great sakura tree over me. The lush pink crown of the tree forming a canopy against the clear blue sky. But what's strange is that the petals were falling, but never reaching the table as they faded into thin air like a breath.
"Where am I?" I ask myself.
"Ah, you've regained your senses." I hear a voice, echoing like a chorus, say to my right.
"Bout time." A similar, but even deeper voice says from my left.
Glancing at the sources of sounds, I nearly jump and fall over as I see the two beings who were definitely not there a moment ago!
One has skin like liquid gold had been molded into the shape of a man, spiraling antlers extending like a great crown or a halo atop his head, as he looks at me with the posture of someone relaxing.
'Oooohkaaaayy.' I think to myself as I run through the possibilities in my head.
The other one, shorter but stockier as if filling up space rather than reaching up like the other one. Purple and black swirling together for his skin, he is slumping onto the table and tapping inky black fingers on the surface in abject boredom. Thick ram horns sprouting from his brow and followed the curve of his head until they curled up near the back of his head.
"Do not be alarmed." The golden one says, soothingly.
"But do be on your guard." The purple one cautions.
"Umm." I hum out, unsure of what's going on. Much less what to do.
"Brother, we talked about this." The golden one chastises, turning his head towards the other.
"No, you talked. I listened." He says, lazily turning his head towards the bright one before adding, "As much as I could bear to do so at the very least. You certainly like to talk."
"Can I ask what's going on?" I ask the two ethereal beings.
"You are here to settle a bet." The purple one cuts right to it, the impatient drumming of his fingers on wood picking up pace.
"Brother!" The golden one, chastises?
"This is the fifth one! The. fifth. one." He stresses right back.
The tension eases from the golden ones' shoulders as if he was conceding the point.
"Very well." He compromises. "If he refuses, we'll take a break."
Am I still here? I feel like I'm not here.
"We are not ignoring you." The golden one says as though he read my mind. "We have simply- as you have well heard- pulled the fifth soul before us: Yours."
"Pulled?" I ask, curiosity gaining the better of me. "Pulled for what?"
"To settle a wager." the purple one drawls with a head motion as if to signal he was rolling his eyes, "Well, less of a wager. And more of a passing whim born of curiosity."
"I suppose that holds a grain of truth." The golden one says. "We have changed. In noticeable ways even. A 'wager' would be inaccurate."
"Um, what's the bet?" I ask, still unsure as to what's going on. But, when in Rome, listen to the glowy people.
The purple one raises an open palm to me, and from the swirling dark energies, a sphere coalesced. Blue with splotches of greens and browns and blacks with wisps of white clouds. A world... sitting casually in the palm of his hand. Just as casually, the purple god explains, "We peered down into the first world we had made. And we were- a bit- disappointed."
"RWBY." The golden one says.
An irate, purple hand slaps the table- an entire world crumbling into dust right before my eyes. He leans back, crossing his arms as I watch the breeze blows the dust off the table's surface. He grumbles, "Ruin my fun, why don't you."
"Do not pout." The golden one says. "You mentioned you were bored, I am speeding this up as you wished."
"Just like you to assume-"
"-I apologize." The golden one cuts off the other as he turns towards me. "Please understand, we argue not from a place of malice. Family simply has a tendency to quarrel. Even those of another plane."
"It's alright." I say, not knowing what else to say. "Um, you said RWBY. Does that make you two the Brother Gods?"
"Yes." The purple one says, as though it was obvious.
"We are not gods." The golden one says. "Merely creators. With more expertise and access to tools others do not."
"Gods." The purple one stresses, but his brother is apparently done arguing because he turns to face me.
"I shall cut straight to the heart of the matter." The golden one says. "We checked in on our first world, and found it wanting. Our discussions on how to proceed had reached an impasse, and ultimately, our decision settled on a wager."
"Yes... " The purple one leans forward, actually sounding eager for what was coming next, "A wager where we altered the rules and premise to the point that it is no longer a simple uninteresting bet, but more of a game we're playing."
A game with worlds and lives at stake. For ods? Sounds about right.
"What was the bet?" I ask, still unsure as the whether or not this is real. I've decided that if this is a dream, I'm going to play along. If not, then what the f*** can I do?
"I wanted to intervene." The purple one says, his depthless eyes swirling with divine volition. "Put an end to the endless back and forth Ozma and Salem are having."
"I say we are to refrain from interfering." The golden one says, eyes similarly aglow as to seemingly test his brother's will. "We've done enough damage, they don't need us. And they don't want us."
The purple one turns to his brother. The air alight with a tangible friction caused by the two gods opposing wills.
"So, we made a wager." The purple one says as they come to a silent accord. "We formed a mirror image to the world, and decided to cast a single, random soul who agreed to do as we desire."
"The bet was on whether or not we could, subtly, set things back on the correct path." The golden one continues.
"Only, when we were copying the world as a testing ground, we took some creative liberties. As is our right." The purple one nods as if it was obvious.
"You mean you took some creative liberties." The golden one says as his eyes glow challengingly at his brother.
"Not like you are any better, brother!" The purple one snaps, the ground shaking at his voice.
"A few genetic changes are inconsequential when compared to a keystone event!" The golden one snaps back, his golden horns growing- stretching up and out against the blue sky.
"I made one change!" The purple one says as he holds up a finger to count the world changing event. "How many did you make?"
"Why not just, start over?" I ask, hoping to avoid being the collateral in a divine brawl. "If you both changed it to the point that the premise is no longer, well, applicable. Why keep it?"
"It is not so simple." The golden one starts. "You see-"
"Because it's tedious work." The purple one cuts his brother off. "Work that is below us both."
The golden one doesn't offer a counter. Merely staying still as the knowledge sets in.
"Really?" I ask, they refuse to start over because it's hard work?
"The canvas already shines with our masterstrokes." The golden one offers as an explanation, "And the slate, filled with our edicts. No artist or craftsman would be willing to toss aside after coming this far. We will not cast our work into oblivion. No, that time has long passed."
That's fair, I suppose.
"At this point, we're just curious and want to see what happens when we toss someone in." The purple one says, the air stilling in preparation for his next question. The world itself seems to still: The sakura petals pausing in mid-air, the grass petrifying like stone and all sound fading away until only his words was all that remains.
"Do you accept it, or not?"
"Um, what all does this entail?" I ask.
The purple one sits up straight, more attentive now. Excited even. He says to me, "Participate in our little game, and receive a boon from each of us. And also whatever mortal trifles the average human on Remnant requires, I suppose. The game only ends when you die."
"By boon... " The golden one explains with a gentle tone. "... he means you may request a unique power from each of us. Something only you will have, apart from a weapon of course. We do expect you to take an active role, for this world is one of Bloody Evolution."
With a wave of his hand, the purple one materializes a porcelain teacup gilded with gold, and promptly throws it at the golden one's head. Only for it to shatter into butterflies that flutters into non-existence disappear before it even hits him.
"You said I was the fifth." I say, choosing to ignore the childish act. "What about the other four?"
"They refused." The purple one adds with a hint of disgust, grass wilting to black around his feet. "They lusted after the power of the 'Gamer' and would not accept anything less. Because of course, you mortals want a free ticket to a harem and godly power."
Okay. That's fair.
"You said I get a power from each of you." I start. "What if I-"
"No./No."
"Worth a shot." I shrug as I think on it.
The world of RWBY. A powerful one where certain things are changed, but I don't know what.
What could be a useful tool in such a scenario?
"Um, magic?" I ask.
"Excellent choice." The purple one's voice swells with pride. "But know that it will leave a mark on your soul. My children are drawn to me and all that I touch. If I grant you magic, the time will invariably arise when you will need to make use of it. Forget about any secrecy or hiding from Ozma or Salem, your confrontation will be inevitable."
"Alright." I say. "So long as you don't drop me in the wilderness. That should be fine."
"Already? Will you not ask about Grimm?" He asks, almost appreciatively.
"Not, at the moment." I say. "I imagine if this all turns out to be real I'll have a panic attack later."
"Ha!" The purple one laughs. The sound of his booming laughter causing the sakura trees to twist and crack, and the grass to turn to rot into blackness. "I like you!"
"He does seem lively." The golden one says jovially before turning back to me, a sense of eager anticipation also coming to his voice. "So you accept? May I ask what you would ask of me?"
"Hrmm, if magic already screws me over." I say as I think. "Then can I have the ability to negate magic used on me?"
He stares at me for a longing moment, and I notice that the purple one's laughter had stopped even before I finished my question. The tension in the air arises. They stare at each other as the air stills as if they were daring the other to make the first move.
A shiver going up my spine.
"I can fulfill such a request. In part." The golden one stresses the last part quickly. "I can make it so magic's influence is lessened on you. It is not an unreasonable request, but understand that immunity against my brother's gift is not something we are willing to grant."
The purple one nods.
"Accept the compromise and our boons will have some minor additions, you may appreciate. Otherwise... " The purple one says as his tone grows sterner and more warning, "... pick something else, mortal."
'High resistance and a few minor add ons to make up for rejecting my request for immunity?' I reiterate to myself.
"What are the minor boons?" I ask.
The air gains an ominous stillness as the purple one's face creases to form what could be considered a smile. A very amused and mischievous smile. On a god.
"Dealer's choice." He says quite ominously.
I look over to the golden one for additional help. Only to get a small shake of his head.
Fuck it. I always was one for risky odds.
"Deal." I say.
The world starts to crumble away like sand falling into a dark abyss. Disappearing bit by bit. Faster and faster until all that's left is the table, chairs, and the gods.
"Just remember." The purple one his voice echoes in the creeping darkness. "We care not what you do, only that you make it interesting."
'Interesting' As if that last ominous word was some kind of sentence, the chair I'm sitting on fades from existence, and I fall backwards into the abyss.
"Kid! Hey, kid!" I hear a gruff voice yell next to me. "You deaf or some shit?!"
Looking to my side, I see a pale man in a black suit with a red tie. Square sunglasses around distrustful eyes and black fedora sitting atop his head, all while warily brandishing a red machete in hand.
Glancing around, I see I'm in a store's book section. I notice a weight in my hand, and my fingers squeeze around an innocent hardcover book. Its title shining across the front, 'New Beginnings.'
"Um, what?"
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A/N
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