Enter Shadows (Dark AU RWBY)

New Arrivals

I'm on my way to Beacon to start my first year at the world renowned school. I worked hard to get this far, like most people here, a few got in on luck and influence, I just hope they understand what they're in for. The transport moves slowly and silently, the city of Vale stirs below us as the morning sun rises, most people here are talking among themselves and others sit silently like me, preparing ourselves. I take my greatsword off my back and sharpen it to pass time. 

As we arrive the transport docks outside Beacon releasing a stream of teenagers in varying degrees of coloured clothing. I pull my white cloak closer against my body, everyone moves towards the main building without much hesitation. The dark grey brick forming the academy showing it as battle ready, huge cannons rest on top of turrets watching the sky for any threats. 

I feel a knot form in my stomach as the sound of thunder rings in my ears, blast after blast devastating the ground around me. Men dying all around me as they fight to protect those they love, charging with swords in hand only to be scattered to the ground and killed.

"Wake up Blanche" a voice brings me to, he stands in front of me but not really. I shake my head and he disappears. Swallowing the lump in my throat I enter the hall, at the front there's a stage, we all line up and gaze forward as Ozpin stands on the stage.

"Boys and girls of remnant, you've all decided to join me on this day so that you may become a survivor. The weak amongst you will die, that is unavoidable, but the strong will become stronger. Those of you that do survive your time here will be the best of the best and will avenge your fallen friends. The world we live in is harsh as I'm sure most of you know. Tomorrow you will fight for your lives to complete a task that will decide who your twin for life will be, sleep well for tomorrow the fight starts." He walks off the stage leaving us in the care of Glynda Goodwitch. Famed huntress, twined with Ozpin himself. 

The two pale white ears on top of my head twitch as I hear people whispering behind me "he's a white bear faunus" one of them states and I remember I'm not accepted. Luckily I'm taller than most humans so they rarely challenge me. I look round at them and they scatter, I could crush them if I wanted to. My hand clenches into a fist my nails digging into my flesh. 

"Don't let them piss you off, they're not worth it." A short boy says walking up beside me, a pair of ram horns on his head, he looks up at me. "You look even taller up close jeez" he chuckles. "I'm Aries" he holds out his hand.

"Blanche" I shake it. He smiles at me. I hope he survives the task tomorrow.

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I hang my cloak up on a hook, the crimson eyes on the back staring back at me. People are setting down for bed. Dressed in pyjamas that match their colour schemes. Strange, how we all constrain ourselves to the colours we are named for. I take off my shirt and fold it beneath the cloak. Scars mark not only myself but seemingly everyone. Now would be a good time to make friends, I don't know who's help I'll need in the future.

I approach a dark haired girl sitting alone, her head engrossed in a book "what's it about?" I sit opposite her folding my legs against my chest. She barely glances up at me before looking back at the book, then she looks at me again. "Tall" She says in an almost simple minded way before shaking her head and blushing. "S-sorry. It's about a world without Grimm." I smile at her.

"It's good to escape reality sometimes isn't it. Imagine not having to check behind you every five minutes." I chuckle lightly, she produces a light smile. "I'm Blanche and you are?"

"Blake. It's nice to meet someone who shares my view on books. People say they're ridiculous and a waste of time as I should be training more." She smiles, her attention taken off her book. "I probably should train more but I can't help but want to escape this world."

"How about we make a deal then? I help you train and you teach me how to read." I ask her, I've always been weak towards those who need protecting. My biggest flaw is that I care too much about people.

"Really? I'd love to." She says. 

"First step to training is getting plenty of rest" I tell her. She nods in agreement closing her book and getting into bed. I head over to my bed, closest to the door. I pull the sheets over myself and drift into the abyssal sleep.

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Thunderous cannon blasts obliterate the ground around me, my sword in my hand. My brother stands beside me holding his axe. Together we charge ahead through the battlefield taking out grimm after grimm. The smaller ones are easy and fall without much difficult. 

An Ursa appears and punches me, I block with my sword while my brother beheads the beast kicking its head into a beowolf. We fight for hours growing more and more exhausted. It looks like help isn't coming, our friends and neighbours dead around us. 

"Come on brother we have to hold out, I'm sure they're almost here!" I shout tearing through grimm after grimm. Our clothes torn and bloody, both our auras are running low, almost non existent.

An earsplitting roar breaks through the sounds of slaughter. The ground shaking under the feet of something huge. Charging through the countless smaller grimm is a huge grimm. Two large legs support its bulk, tiny arms lead up to a massive head, a spiked tail works as a counter balance to its head. It roars again before charging towards us...

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I wake up panting in a cold sweat. It's that dream again. Night after night it comes to me, crawling like an insect up my spin. Penetrating even the deepest crevices of my mind. Leaving me feeling empty and bringing back memories of what I've lost. 

I sit up pulling my knees to my chest, quietly I start to hum a tune to myself. The song of my village, the lullaby my mother used to sing to me every night. A tear rolls down my cheek, I close my eyes and steady my breathing before laying back down. I don't fall asleep again.

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Author's Notes - So yea I'm writing again. Or at least trying. Let me know what you think of this. I know it's not an insert but hopefully you all like it. Zenith out...