| “ | My name is Shion Zaiden. I'm a Nightmare Hunter. | „ |
| ~ Shion Zaiden |
| “ | The river isn't trying to deliberately drown you as it flows. When you enter, the flow of the water changes. (...) A dream is a large river where many different souls assemble. If some are evil, others are good. Lies and truth are but small parts of a dream. Don't let it swallow you up. You must face it head on. | „ |
| ~ Shion explaining Weiss' dream to Ruby. |
Shion Zaiden is a supporting character from the anime television series RWBY: Ice Queendom, an alternate timeline spinoff of the American animated webseries RWBY. They are a special type of Huntsman that specializes in hunting and eliminating Nightmare Grimm.
They are voiced by Hiroki Nanami. In the English dub, they were voiced by Kdin Jenzen, who also voiced May Marigold in the main series.
Biography[]
Nothing is currently known about Shion's backstory, but it is known that they serve as a Huntsman specializing in hunting Nightmare Grimm, known as a Nightmare Hunter.
Shion first appears on the day of Beacon initiation, having tracked Nightmares to the Emerald Forest the students are fighting in. Shion states their purpose to Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch, who wish them luck on their search.
Later, it is revealed that Jaune Arc was possessed by a Nightmare Grimm. Nightmare Grimm posess their target and trap them in their own mind, leaving their bodies comatose while mentally attacking them with insecurities, feeding off of their Aura and allowing their bodies to become breeding grounds for more Nightmares before killing the host off. Jaune's teammates immediately notify Beacon staff, and Shion arrives to help.
Shion explains Jaune's possession, and reveals that a person can be freed if friendly minds link with the victim's and free them from within the mind. Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren volunteer, and Shion uses their Semblance to link their minds. Jaune's teammates find him within his own mind, being harassesd and attacked by Grimm representing his insecurities, and fight them off. The Nightmare flees Jaune's body, and Shion captures it and allows it to go dormant, asking the teachers and students to remain vigilant, unaware that Weiss Schnee is currently possessed as well.
Some time later, the Nightmare takes hold and Weiss is left in danger. Shion is called back in and helps link Ruby into Weiss' dream, a surreal Empire based around Weiss' views of the world. Shion maintains contact with Ruby, guiding her through the dreamscape. Ruby uses dream "coins" to interact with the environment, using a lot despite the fact that they deplete Shion's Aura, as she is desperate to find Weiss. When Ruby begins to be weighed down by the oppressive environment as well as the various hints that Weiss hates her, Shion comforts her and encourages her not to be swayed by the extremes of the dream, as they are not truths or lies. When Ruby is attacked by Weiss, Shion pulls her out in time.
As Shion's Aura regenerates, Ruby explains what she saw, and how wicked Weiss seemed. Shion assures her that this is the fault of the Nightmare, and that Weiss is not acting like her true self and is being swayed by the Grimm. Ruby is sent back in, accompanied by Yang and Blake, who advise her not to use the dream "coins" so recklessly. When Ruby finds a relic resembling the one she found during her initiation, Shion advises that it may be a remnant of Weiss' resistance to the Nightmare, and to keep it so it may be used to help wake her up.
Shion continues to help until Team RWBY are forced to flee the dream due to Neagtive Weiss' power. Shion reveals that they will have to wait for their Aura to recharge before they can send anyone back in, and that it will be the last chance because Weiss will die if they fail the next time. Fortunately, Team RWBY develops a plan that involves Jaune. Shion reveals that Jaune, having been recently possessed, will still appear that way to the Grimm and will be able to move freely in the dream. They send Ruby. Blake, Yang, and Jaune back into Weiss' mind.
Complications arise, but a new plan is formed. Blake and Yang reach out to Shion for permission to enact it: have Blake possessed so she can too move freely and have her Negative side oppose Negative Weiss. Shion reluctantly agrees, sending the Nightmare that was extracted from Jaune into Blake. As Negative Weiss battles Negative Blake, Ruby tracks down Weiss' Grimm and defears it, sending it fleeing. As Shion captures it, it is completely destroyed from the sheer force Ruby used against it. Blake's teammates then work to free her from her possession, causing the Nightmare to flee as well and Shion to capture it just as their Aura runs out.
Team RWBY and Jaune wake back up in the real world, Shion proud of the work they accomplished.
Appearance[]
Shion is a short person with pale skin, long silver hair, and lavender eyes. Their attire consists of baggy white, lavender, and black clothing with gold belt and keys. They wear a large lavender mage hat with a black collar.
Powers and Abilities[]
Shion possesses a Semblance, a unique power linked to their soul. Shion's Semblance allows them to link the minds of people to others', useful in the combat of Nightmare Grimm. While in the dream, the people can use "coins" to conjure up various items, such as doorways, maps, or telephones that allow them to contact Shion, though the amount of coins are limited by Shion's Aura, with the Aura depleting each time a coin is used. If all coins are used, Shion is unable to aid the person anymore, with the person becoming incapable of leaving the mind.
Shion carries around a case of tools, and uses a staff that generates soul-based bindings that resemble dream catchers to link minds and ensnare Grimm. Among these tools is a telephone that can receive calls from people inside the mind of another.
Like all beings with a soul, Shion possesses an Aura, a physical defense generated by their soul. Aruas typically have to be unlocked through mental concentration or outside aid, and rarely are used outside of combat or defense. In Shion's case, their Aura is used in conjunction with their Semblance to aid people in another's dream. Each time the person uses dream "coins" to perform tasks, part of Shion's Aura is depleted.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The name "Shion" is the Japanese word for "Aster tataruis", a type of flower which comes in various colors, usually lavender.
- Shion is considered non-binary.
