Amplify (A RWBY Story)

After Ozpin had told him to meditate to gain a better hold on his magic, he did just that. Ryder was currently in his dorm room meditating. Thankfully it was quiet and somewhat peaceful. Ryder figured that Kairos wouldn't be back till sundown. This whole magic thing is still somewhat ridiculous to even comprehend. Magic shouldn't exist. It's only stuff you see in fairy tales, mythology, fantasy and other works of fiction. Yet here he is, training to use it. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't geeking out a little. However, it's not noticeable nor is it potent due to the truth bombs that were dropped on him. Ideally Salem, the Relics, and the Maidens. He also has the Dragon Balls to worry about. As he meditated his mind was free to think. He thought about potential bad case scenarios. What if someone else knows about the Dragon balls? What if Salem has some of them? His anxiety was taking control and he struggled to contain it. 

It got so bad that he decided to stop meditating. He gets up off the floor and tries to think of something else to distract himself from the things that's triggering his anxiety. But he's failing to think of something. He begins pacing around the room as his anxiety grows like a raging storm. Ryder stops pacing and sits down on his bed as he tries to calm his breathing down as he realized he was starting to have a panic attack. His anxiety hits him like a speeding bullet and it's mostly hard to calm down. He wishes he had someone to talk to, that sometimes helps. He held his head in his hands as he looked at the floor. His breathing is shaky before he decides that he needs some fresh air. He gets up and leaves his dorm. As he left his room somewhat in a hurry, it caught the attention of someone who was leaving their dorm room. They decided to follow Ryder. 

Ryder gets outside and walks around. He makes his way to the main avenue aka the courtyard of Beacon Academy. He stops underneath one of the red leaf trees and puts his back up against it. His breathing slows down as he calms down slowly. He looked at the pond near the tree and saw his reflection. He was so focused on it that he failed to notice the person who had followed him reach him. 

"Ryder, are you okay?" They ask. 

Ryder looked towards them and saw that it was Pyrrha. She looked concerned. He was about to tell her that he was fine, but he quickly decided against it. He can't lie about his current state. 

"No. I'm not." Ryder said, still feeling the effects of his anxiety. 

"Do you wish to talk about it?" Pyrrha asks. 

"That... Probably would be the best course of action." Ryder said. 

He was hesitant because of his anxiety acting up. Pyrrha could tell something was wrong, that's why she followed him. She wanted to see if he was okay. 

"So, what's bothering you?" Pyrrha said. 

"Let's just say I was told a lot about this world. Things that don't necessarily happen back home." Ryder said. "it's triggering my anxiety." 

"Anxiety is a common thing everyone feels." Pyrrha said. 

"Yes, but for me it's worse. I just needed to get outside and distract myself from having a panic attack." Ryder explains. 

"Whatever it is, it must really have set off your anxiety. Want to talk about it?" Pyrrha asks. 

"I... can't. It's something Professor Ozpin told me, and I promised to keep it a secret." Ryder said. 

"That's fine." Pyrrha said. "How about we talk about something else? To get your mind off of what's triggering your anxiety." 

"Yeah. that could work." Ryder said. 

The two sat down on a nearby bench so they could talk to each other. Ryder was now glad that he had someone to talk to but he wasn't happy that he couldn't talk about Salem and everything else. They mainly talked about some Earth things such as what games Ryder played and what other activities Ryder did while he was on Earth. Talking about his home and what he used to do did help, but as they talked, he thought back to Salem and everything else. But this time he didn't get anxiety; he gained an idea. A plan. A new goal. Pyrrha also talked about stuff she's done on Remnant such as her time in the Tournaments and what she likes to do as hobbies. They shared a few laughs as Ryder would occasionally tell a joke or two. Ryder's anxiety cleared up thanks to his talk with Pyrrha. His mind was taken elsewhere and hearing more things about Remnant helped inspire him to forge a new goal. 

"Thanks for talking with me Pyrrha. If you didn't i probably would've shut down for the rest of the day." Ryder said. 

"No problem. Helping each other is what friends are for." Pyrrha said while placing a hand on Ryder's shoulder. "If you ever need someone to vent to, I'm always willing to help whenever i can." 

Ryder smiles. 

"I appreciate it. Really, I do." Ryder said. "Thank you, Pyrrha." 

"You're welcome, Ryder." Pyrrha said. 

"Well, I guess it's back to training then." Ryder said, standing up from the bench. 

"Trying to get stronger?" Pyrrha asks as she stands up from the bench. 

"Something like that." Ryder said. "Anyway, thanks again." 

Pyrrha nods before the two walk back to their dorms. When Ryder got back to his dorm room, he closed the door behind him and looked at the Dragon Ball he left on his bed. Ryder walked to the center of the room and sat on the floor before he resumed his meditation. But this time, he thought about his newly acquired goal. He'll stay on Remnant and help Ozpin fight Salem, he'll use the Dragon Balls against Salem, he'll train even harder to become a hero for this planet. He always dreamed of becoming a hero when he was a kid. So, he figures he'll make his former dream come true. After defeating Salem, he'll decide whether to stay on Remnant or go back to Earth. However, as he came to terms with his new goal and plan, he felt a rising sensation in his entire body. The same feeling as magic coursed through him like a flowing river. He opens his eyes and looks at his hand as he then conjures a tiny orange orb of magic. 

He then closes his fist, getting rid of the orb of magic. He stands up from his seating position. He then closes his eyes and lets the magic flow through him. He then levitates off the ground before he opens his eyes once more. While in the air, he moves forward towards the door. He flew over to the door and touched it. A smile grew on his face. He was ready to keep training with Ozpin. 

------------------------

Author's Note: This chapter mostly was about Ryder's anxiety and to show that it's still around and potent. I know how Anxiety is and how bad it can get. Though, I'm not sure if I portrayed it well in this chapter.