RWBY: Choices of Light and Dark

Chapter V: Crimson – A Prodigy's Dilemma

A/N: Taking down beasts since the age of six, that's what makes Crimson so OP.

Santi Village

A young white haired boy and a larger auburn haired boy circled one another. Their eyes were sharp and focused as each tried to find a weakness in his opponent. The large boy struck out first with a small dagger and tried to cut his opponent. The smaller child ducked and weaved out of the way avoiding the attack before countering. Armed with the twin wooden kali sticks in his hands the boy struck out at his target.

First he flipped forward and smashed both sticks overhead onto the large boy's shoulders. As his target cried out in pain the white-haired child continued his attack by slamming the right stick into his opponent's stomach. He continued the string by striking out hard with the left stick, so hard that he had excess momentum that made him spin.

Rather than trying to correct himself the fighter moved with the motion and swung both sticks across the face and chest of the large boy before bringing them back across in the opposite direction in quick succession. From there he jumped and kicked his opponent in the chest before slamming the sticks onto the boys shoulders. Te large auburn haired boy crumpled from the impact and refused to get up.

"Crimson Carmine, victor." a man dressed in a white gi said raising his left hand.

There was cheering as crimson looked around at the spectators. The nine-year old Crimson was currently competing in annual martial arts tournament for his village. As the two year reigning champ for the junior division consisting of children seven to twelve, Crimson was obligated to defend his title against all challengers. The entire prospect however was insane to the child.

People he had already beaten were challenging him knowing they couldn't win. As he continued to scan the crowd Crimson's eyes rested on a man wearing an eye patch who had dark silver-white spiky hair. The man was Rojo Carmine, Crimson's father and right now his expression was one of indifference. He, like Crimson already knew what the outcome would be.

Scanning the crowd for his mother, Crimson noticed she was absent and instead walked off the arena as the next contenders were called to fight. Walking from the fighting area into a nearby hall Crimson sighed and started to head towards the exit when the air filled with a familiar presence.

"You should have ended the fight in less moves Crimson. Was your opponent to tough for you?" Rojo Carmine's deep baritone voice spoke as the man materialized in front of his son.

"No Father, I was just bored. I thought prolonging the fight might give me some enjoyment." Crimson answered looking into his father dark-burgundy colored eyes.

Everyone on Crimson's father's side of the family had the unique genetic trait of red-hued eyes. It was proof of the heritage of the Carmine family. His mother, whose eyes were soft blue had been considered unfit to marry into the family. They believed she would dilute the blood too much and that any child she had would not bear the trademark of the Carmines. When she proved herself stronger than many of the other candidates to marry Rojo and Rojo himself they all had a change of heart.

"You are not some common brawler Crimson. You are part of the elite, a Carmine. Our family has been hunting and eradicating Grimm for generations. The only family known to have been doing it at our level would be the Oregenera" Rojo stated as he began to walk. Crimson knew he had to follow and began to walk after the older man.

"If you did not wish to see me fight why do you insist I defend my title?" Crimson asked.

"When you won the title two years ago, you had entered the tournament against my wishes. Now that you have it you must hold it until such time you are no longer eligible to defend it. Anything less would bring shame to the Carmines." Rojo answered.

"Father, I am not the only carmine in this tournament. Scarlett, Ruby, and Cornell are all competing as well. It can't shame the family if one of them holds the title. We are all Carmines." Crimson protested.

Rojo chuckled as he and his son exited the building and out into the crisp frozen air of their village. Santi Village was located in the far north of Valethornia near its ice capped mountains. Its villagers trained in seclusion. Their worth to the Kingdom were their warriors. The entire village produced huntsman and huntresses with almost unparalleled skill. The greatest among them being the Carmine family.

"You speak truly Crimson, but for me and your uncles it is personal pride in our children that make us push you. Your cousins should be the only ones giving you trouble here." Rojo explained.

"This combat is a waste of time. I've already proven myself, what more do people want?" Crimson asked sitting down on a bench.

Rojo sat next to his son and looked up at the sky. It was the afternoon and the mountain sun reflected off the snow in an almost dreamlike manor.

"You will be a soldier Crimson. Everything you do, you must do for the mission. What we want from you is to be the best. You are my son and I have trained you the way my father taught me." Rojo replied.

"Father, ours is the way of stealth. We eliminate Grimm with precision and speed. Always acting, never reacting and controlling all hunts as we want them to be." Crimson stated turning to look up at his father.

"Yes Crimson, this is true but you must be proficient in other areas as well. It shows in your martial training. You know the movements but you don't make them your own. For now that is acceptable but if you rely on it to much you will become predictable." Rojo spoke.

"I don't understand, If my speed is better than someones than they cant avoid my blows. My form and strikes are perfect so how can they be predicted?" Crimson inquired.

Rojo smiled, more to himself than to his son. The conversation had been turned successfully from what could have been conflicting teachings from what Crimson learned from his mother and what he learned from his father to a learning conversation. He had Crimson curious on how to better himself and that had been his goal all along.

"As you are now Crimson, you are like stone. Strong and powerful, but rigid and unwavering. You must break out of your stone-self and open your mind." Rojo stated

"Open my mind?" Crimson questioned but in a way that brought out his childlike curiosity.

"Yes transform from stone. Become formless, shapeless, like water." Rojo continued to explain.

"Father but water is weak. it splashes on impact and can only move where ever someone directs its." Crimson argued.

Rojo laughed and looked over to his son who stared back at him with wise eyes.

"Crimson, water is flexible and you are wrong about it being weak. Water tears down rock and earth. It adapts to its environment. If you put water into a cup it will become the cup. If you put it into a teapot then it will become the teapot. Like water you must adapt your skills to suit your environment. Like water you must be able to flow from one form to another. Like water you must be able to creep, silent and deadly. Like water you must be able to crash, striking at the most opportune moment available. Be water my son, be water." Rojo told the child as they heard the announcement for the semi-finalist to appear at the arena.

Taking one last look at his father Crimson stood up and exhaled softly before bowing slightly to Rojo and running back in the direction of the tournament. Rojo sat on the bench and began to look once more at the sky. Being a father had always been a challenged. Balancing caring with discipline was one of the most difficult things for him to do. Rojo cared for his son but he also knew what was expected of Crimson as well as himself from the family and so he could only give Crimson a certain amount of affection.

"You don't think he is a bit young to be learning this method of fighting?" Rojo heard a soft female voice say before arms wrapped around him from behind.

"Aquamarie, my love how I've missed you so." Rojo stated as the face of his wife appeared, staring down at him.

"And I, you my love." the white-haired blue-eyed woman replied before kissing Rojo's lips.

Fighting Arena

"First semi-final match, Crimson Carmine versus Scarlet Carmine." the announcer declared.

Crimson looked at his long haired female cousin as she tested out the bo staff she would be using for the fight. He had switched out from the kali sticks to stronger bokken, wooden swords. Twirling the two weapons Crimson tested the balance of them before switching out for a different pair. Switching out once more Crimson found a pair that felt more natural in his hands and nodded before getting into the ring.

Scarlet entered after Crimson and smiled at her cousin with a playful glint in her eyes. She twirled her staff and held it off to her side with one hand in front of her open palm. Crimson go into his stance and locked eyes with Scarlet as he mentally prepared himself. Be water my son, be water. Rojo's words echoed in Crimson's mind and he felt his body relax. He didn't realize how tense he had been and exhaled with a small smile.

"Fight!"

A/N: Yes short chapter but its planned. Here's my response to my anon-crowd

Dark Lord: I didn't want much dialogue for the way Crimson got presented. I wanted the actions of his mother to speak for how their relationship is. It is explained why he is who he is by the way he was trained but I get what you're saying. Glad you enjoyed Roanos (not Roane) intro. I do plan on exploring everyone's semblance and the significance behind their activation in their prequels. I don't know how AFD feels about the chapter nor do i know if they'll post their thoughts on the matter.

Anubis: I've already posted the first chapter for the second arc. It's a completely separate story, Journey of Light and Dark. That and my Zoids story will be my main focus while all my other LaD RWBY-verse stories will be kind of like filler. I cant really do much with Crimson because he's a prodigy so i have to give him some kind of conflict while still keeping true to his prodigious nature.

Ice Queen: If by next release you mean the second arc, I've already posted it as RWBY: Journey of Light and Dark. I don't do any stories about Crimson but his prequel segment has two more chapters.