RWBY: Moon Reflection

Ruby held the relic of knowledge in her trembling hands. The faint blue glow pulsed gently, and the room fell silent as everyone watched her with bated breath. Taking a deep breath, she summoned the spirit once more.

"Jinn," Ruby called, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart.

In an instant, the relic glowed brightly, and Jinn appeared before them, her ethereal form hovering in the air. Her gaze swept over the room before settling on Ruby, her voice melodic and curious.

"It hasn't been long since we last met," Jinn said with a small smile. "What do you wish to know this time?"

Ruby hesitated for a moment, her thoughts racing. Then, with a determined look, she spoke. "I want to see everything my twin brother, Crimson Rose, has been up to since he left us."

Jinn's expression softened slightly, and with a graceful wave of her hand, the world around them shifted. The grand hall of the Nikkos estate faded away, replaced by a forest drenched in the muted hues of twilight. They saw Crimson walking alone, his steps heavy and his posture slouched.

Cheiron's sharp eyes took in the young man's appearance. "The look in his eyes… he is exhausted," the old warrior noted.

Time seemed to move faster as the group observed Crimson's journey. He fought off packs of Grimm with a practiced ease. He walked endlessly, not stopping to rest for an entire day and night. Finally, he reached a serene pond surrounded by trees and settled under one of them.

For days, Crimson remained there. He didn't eat, sleep, or speak, his gaze fixed on the still waters of the pond. The group exchanged worried glances, unable to comprehend what he was going through.

"What's wrong with him?" Weiss asked, her voice soft with concern.

On the seventh day, the silence was broken by distant screams—children's voices, full of terror. Crimson's eyes sharpened, and he sprang to his feet as though awakened from a trance. Without hesitation, he darted toward the sound.

The scene shifted to show Crimson arriving at the source of the screams: two young Faunus children cornered by a Grimm. Crimson dispatched the monsters in an instant.

They watched as he stood before the trembling children, his expression softening. Though he said little, his actions spoke volumes. He helped them gather firewood and silently escorted them back to their small, humble home.

"He still shows kindness despite his state," Pyrrha whispered, a faint smile breaking through her somber demeanor. The others nodded in quiet agreement, their spirits lifting slightly.

When the scene shifted again, they saw Crimson speaking with the children's father, a weary-looking Faunus man. Crimson's initial intention to leave was clear, but he hesitated at the threshold before stepping inside. They watched him asking if the nearby settlement had a doctor.

Blake, observing the exchange, shook her head sadly. "Discrimination against Faunus is everywhere," she said. 

The next moment, they saw Crimson rushing toward a settlement with a speed that defied logic, his exhaustion seemingly forgotten. The group marveled at how he managed such feats after days of restlessness. He found the village doctor and brought him back with an urgency that left no room for refusal.

They witnessed the doctor blatant racism and Crimson strangely phrased threat then snickered seeing the doctor enter scared of Crimson.

"He has a unique way of threatening people," Cheiron remarked with a faint smirk. "I like him already."

The group watched as Crimson waited silently outside the house. Hours passed, and then a cry pierced the air—the first cries of a newborn.

They saw the doctor escape and the father emerge, cradling his newborn daughter with reverence. With a glad voice, he asked Crimson to name her. Crimson seemed taken aback, but after a moment of deep thought, he spoke:

"Summer was the name of the woman who gave birth to me. If it is a suitable name, I would like to name her after her. In hope she will grow as strong... and as kind."

Ruby's breath hitched, and tears streamed down her face. The others smiled faintly, touched by him. Yang placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, her own eyes shimmering.

The scene shifted again, showing Crimson spending the next day with the family. He planned to leave, but not before offering advice to the children. His words were simple yet profound, carrying the weight of someone who had lived through far more than his years should allow.

Cheiron, observing the interaction, nodded approvingly. "The boy is much wiser than his age.". The others also agreed and felt sympathy that every word Crimson spoke reflected his own life and thoughts.

The group watched in silence as Crimson finally departed, leaving the family behind. The vision sped up, following Crimson's solitary journey. His path took him to the sprawling, ominous city of Kuchinashi. The dark alleys and grimy streets seemed to pulsate with malice, making even the most hardened among them feel uneasy. Cheiron crossed his arms, his expression dark.

"Kuchinashi," he muttered. "City of crime, a nest of evil. The worst city in the world."

Qrow nodded, his face shadowed by memories. "Not a place for anyone with a sense of morality," he said. "What is he going to do here?"

The others had only heard tales of the city, and now those stories seemed far too tame compared to the reality before them.

Crimson entered the city, his movements calm but purposeful, as if he knew exactly where to go. The group watched in silence as he reached a seedy establishment with a flickering sign that read Skillful Tavern. Qrow raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"He's been listening to my stories," Qrow said. "I told him about this."

The scene showed Crimson approaching the entrance, only to be stopped by two burly guards. They explained to him what the rules are for entry. Without hesitation, Crimson knocked one of the guards and handed his license to the other guard, his face betraying no emotion. When the second guard was going to strike, Crimson, his expression unchanged, delivered the same fate to the second guard.

Qrow burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "That's the best entry I have seen"

The others, however, were speechless. "Was he always this unreasonable?" Blake asked.

Inside the tavern, Crimson walked straight to the bar, his demeanor cold and unyielding. The bartender, an old lady, handed him a mission. The group frowned as they watched.

"A bounty?" Weiss said, her voice laced with disapproval. "Is he seriously going after people?"

Cheiron, however, seemed more thoughtful. "The mission is to go after a crime syndicate," he said. "They gave him this mission to make his life difficult. This is there way of paying him back for attacking the guards"

What followed was nothing short of astonishing. The group watched as Crimson went to the base of a dangerous crime syndicate. He walked from the front door, dispatching everyone inside mercilessly. Even their supposedly powerful leader fell in moments.

Cheiron's eyes narrowed as he watched Crimson collect evidence of the mission before setting the entire place ablaze. "Now I see why you think so highly of him," Cheiron said. "The way he fights… it makes the most skilled Huntsmen look like amateurs. Even Pyrrha couldn't compare to that kind of talent."

Pyrrha smiled slightly but said nothing.

The group followed Crimson as he returned to the tavern, claimed his bounty, and left without fanfare. They saw him find a cheap inn, taking the first room he came across without a second thought. His lack of care for comfort was painfully evident.

The next scene showed Crimson buying canned food. "Crimson's always been picky about food," Yang said with a sad face. "He'd never touch anything canned. but now…."

On his way back, they saw two young girls huddled together, trembling at the sight of him. The group's hearts ached for the pitiful children. Then, to their surprise, Crimson bent down and handed over more than half of what he'd bought, saying nothing as he walked away.

"He is a good person. Even when he's at his worst, he still helps others." Ruby said, her voice tinged with admiration and sadness. "But despite that, he thinks of himself as a monster"

The others felt pity for him. The days passed in the vision, showing Crimson meditating in silence, eating sparingly. Eventually, he encountered the two girls again. Their faces lit up with hope as they watched him. Crimson went and bought fresh food and cooked meals for the girls. When he handed it to them, he added a few quiet words: "If you're ever hungry, come find me."

The group couldn't help but smile at his actions, their respect for him growing with each scene.

They watched as Crimson continued to care for the girls, providing them with food daily. He also sent food to a third person he didn't even see or know. Weiss noted how the girls remained silent and how Crimson didn't attempt to engage them in conversation.

The turning point came when they saw the girls' mother for the first time. She was gaunt and frail, her eyes hollow from suffering. Her story of loss and despair was heart-wrenching, and the group felt a deep sympathy for her.

Crimson listened to her quietly before speaking. His words were calm yet firm, offering her hope and urging her to return to her daughters and find him the next day.

"What a man," Cheiron muttered, his admiration evident.

The vision shifted to show Crimson buying information about the Hana Guild. Cheiron's expression darkened. "The Hana Guild," he said. "One of the oldest and most dangerous crime families in Kuchinashi. No huntsmen dare to go after them."

Qrow nodded in agreement. "It's suicide to take them on alone."

But what they witnessed next left them in awe. In a single night, Crimson dismantled the Hana Guild. He moved through their bases like a demon, leaving destruction in his wake. By the time dawn broke, the guild was no more. Crimson had taken all their money before killing their leader and burning their base to the ground.

The next day, Crimson guided the girls' mother and her daughters to an airship. He handed her the money, urging her to use it to raise her children. When she asked for his name, he paused a little before walking away without responding.

The group was silent again. Pyrrha's mother wiped away her tears, her voice trembling. "You didn't give him the justice he deserved,"