An Apocalyptic RWBY AU

A Fusion to Remember

The Present Day

It was late at night and the fractured moon is always present, always fading ever so slowly into the dead of darkness. The sky was riddled with stars above that twinkles ever so brightly. But down, down where Vale is. Is where sight is to behold.

The beautiful structures of what you once saw were in desolate ruins. The street fissured with cracks and holes, decorated with the lumps of debris and a greyscale of dull colors flooding the view. Every store, torn down and raided was left to decay into the ether, glasses scattered and wood splintered from tables to chairs that littered on the ground. Craters made their marks and left sure evidence of an explosion set in charges.

If one were to walk beyond these empty streets, it would feel as if a pair of strong eyes would loom beyond your soul. The air is stagnant, sour rust and a hint of dead bodies would scrape your sense of smell, edging you to tremble in fear and anxiety. Perhaps, you would run to the nearest shore and drown yourself from the deafening silence of Vale, or you'd go perpetually insane, alone, and left to die.

Anyone could have saved themselves the trouble of entering the doomed town. Yet team RWBY still walked its perilous path without a shred of doubt.

Ruby Rose, an undergraduate of her status, had her hands behind her back as she peered at each side of the road, her temporary partner at her side. "Vale," she sighed. "I wish it could all just go back to normal."

The Leader of the team, a young girl with the iron will of a determined Huntress, looked optimistic despite the view. While sadness is another spirit breaker, Ruby would still try to stay happy as best as she could.

"I'm sure it will, sis." Said Yang, her Ember Celica automatically rolling a round of bullets in their chambers. Yang Xiao Long, a rather hot-tempered girl these past years is Ruby's older sister. A natural blonde with natural ways. Getting her angry however, might strike as another end of the world series to anyone that crossed her path.

The town wasn't exactly as quiet like the previous nights. In every corner there was a strange sense of being watched, tins and cans clinging and clanging through the alleys. Every rack of metal would break the silence once in a while with an accompanied wind howling. Weak hanging glass from windows would fall, making another chill-inducing sound. Some young Hunters that have scouted this section reported footsteps that followed, turning them on their heels from fear.

Yang groaned, "I know predators are supposed to stalk their prey and all, but I'm getting really irritated." The mysterious sounds that emitted gradually grew, which in this case Yang had found extremely annoying.

Behind wrecked cars came a big bear, fur as black as charcoal and white spikes thick and sharp as needles on its back. It sniffed the air for a while before its eyes landed on the two girls, its glowing red eyes standing out in the night. It has a bony mask that was carved with the familiar red linings that every person on Remnant is aware of. It growled, low and steadily, giving attention to those who were daring to trespass its territory. The bear stands on two feet, its height dominating the two girls that were small in comparison. It looked down, taking in the scent of its prey that obscured its vision with bloodlust and hunger. The bear roars.

"Speaking of prey," Ruby said slowly, stepping back as she raised an eyebrow, particularly at Yang.

The bear charged with all fours, its size and shape growing bigger as it came running closer. Yang playfully punched her palm as if this was all but a friendly game. "I'll handle this."

Ruby sidestepped away from her sister and the bear. Without a second before the animal could even think about what was happening, Yang had pulled back her fist and threw a demonizing punch right at its stomach with a bang of a bullet. The creature shot through the surface of the pavement before crashing into a wall to be buried beneath rubbles.

"Done and done." Said Yang, dusting her hands in a clapping manner, somehow satisfied that she finally gets to be cathartic.

In the distance of where the Ursa was buried, it bursts out of the rocks, roaring again, not a single scratch seen but speckles of dirt.

"Oh come on, no ordinary Ursa could have survived that." She scoffs, clearly disappointed that her one punch kill wasn't as lethal as she trained it to be. "Don't tell me it's one of those dust fused Ur-"

Faster than light could have reached, another Ursa had pounced Yang in surprise, pinning her to the ground. This one was bigger and taller than an Ursa Major. Its body covered not only in bone armor, but red crystal shards that decorated its body. Yang had managed to capture its mouth before it could use its teeth to bite her, struggling in between the grips with her hands.

"Yang!" Ruby shouted. She was already reaching for her Crescent Rose stationed at her back until a rolling Boarbatusk charge with the speed of lighting at the girl. Quick instincts sank with just enough time and precision to catch and grab hold of both its long humungous tusks. It pushed Ruby back causing her to slide with her boots as she mustered a percent of her strength to stop its tracks.

The Ursa that was on top of Yang had its mouth glowing in yellow-red, and in a few seconds, it breathed fire all over Yang's face.

Beneath the fiery flames that no ordinary human can survive, Yang only smirked and released an explosion from the heat of her own body, sending the Ursa away violently till it landed on its armory back. Yang did the Chinese get up and landed on her feet, her aura spreading immensely around the area that anyone or anything would shiver under its ferocity.

Back to where Ruby had herself challenged by the Boarbatusk, one effortless swoop and her hands swung the creature to the side, breaking the tusks in the process. "Whoops." She muttered, dropping the surprisingly light horns. The Grimm cried in agony like a slaughtering pig and squirmed. Still, it went back on fours and glared with its four eyes. It shivered its fur, thick plates of bone armors growing from the skin, spreading from its feet towards its belly four times thicker than the previous with the extra spikes coming from the shoulders and legs, the tusk that was formerly ripped regenerated and grew, the tip sharply sculpted with red crystals.

"Um, Yang, I think you should handle this one instead," Ruby urged, turning her head to take a look if her sister was still busy with the Ursa.

Yang was pounding her fists at the poor Grimm, bullets doubling the impact and making it look more painful. The reason Ruby had called for Yang was because of the Boarbatusk's thick plated armor. She did stop its tracks and ripped off its precious tusks, but she was never the punching type despite her strength that nearly matched Yang's intensity. It was going to be hard to have her Crescent Rose cut through the plates without breaking them.

Yang threw the Ursa to an intact window, destroying whatever was still inside the dusty old shop. Yang had heeded her sister's need and took her place instantly. Before the Boarbatusk even hit Ruby with its fueled charge, Yang had stepped in and slammed her first at its side, rolling the other direction and completely missing them.

Two roars came after the other. The Ursa that was buried was already running into the battlefield with newly grown red crystals on its claws, and the other, a fire breathing Ursa that was thrown into the windows had slipped out, a second round commencing.

Ruby took out her weapon, flipped a switch and twirled the unfolding scythe around before stabbing the ground on hold as she waited for her enemy. Through observation and knowledge, she knew that these types of Grimms with the red crystals were either fire breathers or regeneration. But if she was fast enough, no regeneration can be able to save them in time and fire be able to touch the tips of her red cloak.

Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna did not remember agreeing to the plan of separating into two. But nevertheless, did it make the search go a little faster. A bit of a hinder though when Grimms were in vast numbers, not that it was difficult for them to handle, yet the process of dealing with the creatures was rather slow.

Blake reformed herself back into physical form from the shadow she possessed from a dead Beowolf, there were blue crystals on its back. She flicked Gambol Shroud's blade attached gun, the blood spitting across the ground.

Before Weiss sheathed her Myrtenaster, she used her white-gloved hand to wipe the blood from the blade with a thumb and finger. "I curse the time when even my own handkerchief is soaked by these creatures," she commented. "I only hope my gloves would last these few battles we face."

Blake understood the part of needing to be clean, but being too conscious about it made her nod without the need to even agree towards Weiss. After all, a Heiress stays true to her name. Even so, she could not help but suggest, "you could always wipe your weapon on one of the Grimm's fur? You know, before it disappears?"

"Why that's absurd! Myrtenaster does not need to be wiped from a soulless creature other than stripping its life away." Weiss replied, a little bit shock at her partner's suggestion.

"At least you wouldn't have to complain about your gloves."

"My gloves are fabricated from one of the company's best tailors, this is royalty! I'd rather have it drenched from battles I truly deserve wiping from."

"Suit yourself, Ice Queen."

"Great, even you start calling me that."

"When did I not?"

"Try not getting used to it if you please."

The two continued their walk through the parched town, not a single life seen or heard, but the howls of Beowolves in the distance remains.

General Ironwood has sent the team on a search for any survivors that still trudged in Vale's abandoned part of the city. It was one of their so-called extracurricular missions that were fit for training, and also for a serious mission that was not to be taken lightly. Surely other Hunters and Huntresses would have done the job themselves, but risks and casualties would be high at this point.

One whole team containing these four girls would already weigh an army of teams together. Team RWBY is, perhaps in all of Remnant, the strongest set of Huntresses. With great power can also mean danger, one of them having the risk of abusing their power and destroying anything or anyone. Without guidance, they fall into the possibility of being ferals, and no one, especially the Headmaster Ozpin, would allow that to happen to his students.

Taken under General Ironwood's wing, Team RWBY has grown to control a part of their powers and fully (forcefully) accept a power that can be so evil and yet so helpful at the same time as their acquired semblance to protect and serve the people since the 'Incident' that happened around three years ago.

RWBY's potential required no further assistance other than communication given to the team. One has to think that it's beneficial for other people's lives so they won't die in battle or lose time rescuing one another. The resource of dust has been growing scarce to further supply an army. One needs that logic and emotion of feeling for others, but one doubtful Weiss Schnee is near to being disagreeable. "It rather feels insulting that we were sent alone in a mission," she said. "We can't always handle everything."

Blake had only managed to shrug. "How do you think you earned that title?"

Weiss glared. "It doesn't mean I have no concern with people's lives. I just feel as if the General would think so much of us as the super soldiers he's dreamed of. He just expects too much of us and I fear of dying from his cockiness."

"I think it should be Yang who'd say things like being tired." Blake mused. Weiss shook her head in defeat.

The search was long and dreadfully tiring, but the mission still stands. It wouldn't be marked as completed unless they find something useful to report if they can't find life itself. Years of leaving Vale abandoned and welcomed towards Grimm lowered any chances of ever finding anyone who lived out of the walls without being killed.

Blake's cat ear twitched. A reverberating sound of unpleasant noises reached the corners of her hearing. This made her stop on her tracks, identifying what it was and where it was coming from. Weiss knew what she was up to and only waited, staying vigilant in their surroundings.

Blake's face flinched at the sound that was becoming clear. It was the sound of flesh ripping from the skin, torn apart and gulped down. Blake took a step towards the source; daring to sniff the air for the sake of finding its location. It could be a Grimm eating a normal animal that inhabited the town, which is highly unlikely, or maybe another Grimm who knows?

Curiosity killed the cat. A dire pun at the instant made her cringe, all thanks to Yang.

Weiss followed with caution in her steps. Blake shoots a hand to her mouth, covering her nose and shutting her eyes tight. "It smells," she managed.

"What is it?" Weiss asked, she did not need to know what it was as a guess can easily be said, but she asked to be sure to confirm her readings.

Blake continued to walk where it came from while replying beneath her breath, "Blood. Heavily reeks of iron, thicker than a Grimm's." She coughed at the growing smell, "possibly a human's, I actually wouldn't want to know."

Weiss nodded and unsheathed her Myrtenaster. Blake reached for her orange-yellow scarf tied around her neck and pulled it up towards her nose, tying the cloth close that acted as a mask. She then took out Gambol Shroud in preparation. "We have to enter this building," she pointed, gesturing to walk inside through the knocked down double doors.

And so they did and began to survey the area. It was an old bookstore but barely many books that scattered the area to be called one, it must have been wiped out and only left hardbound covers strewn and ripped papers messily mope around the wooden floor, three lonely bookshelves standing ever so lonely.

Weiss did not need to know how human blood smell like, or any dead animal for that matter. The Faunus's sense of smell is strong and as well as her hearing. Sticking true to her nature, she had them ever since she was born, the 'incident' only doubling them. Blake's senses were heightened that she can even smell fear out of anyone. It was very useful, and also a nuisance if you were in Blake's current position.

The two teammates climbed the vast stairs, the sound becoming clear towards Weiss. It was gruesome and revolting.

Nearing towards the corner of another room, Weiss and Blake looked at each other before nodding once. Blake had taken the first shadow that led inside the room and was nothing more than a mist of black traveling on the ground while Weiss touched the wall, a single finger on the surface drew a snowflake of itself from the center until it expanded three inches wide and tall.

Yang's aura must have attracted hungry crystal fused Ursas that was siding with Beowolves when they were meant to be against each other. Instead of being worried about the swarming numbers of illegal pairings, Yang was excited.

"Yang come on! We don't have much time for slaying monsters right now." Ruby complained out loud, she pulled a trigger and sent a bullet at an Ursa's bony head that split and cracked in two upon impact, the recoil sent her flying backward, perfectly landing behind Yang who was hyped in the whole thing. Her Ember Celica puffed out the empty shells, and with her hands taking out fresh chained bullets from her belt, she threw it in the air. With just a swing of her arms, the bullets landed perfectly on her weapon. It cocked, locked and loaded once she pulled back in a fighting stance.

"Aww, but it would be a waste not killing all these Grimms we just invited," Yang said. "I'll make it fast, no sweat."

Ruby snapped a shocking look back at Yang, she knew what the older Blonde was up to and she wished she never even complained.

"Oh no, don't use it Yang, don't use it h-"

She was too late, not that her words would reach her anyways. Yang's entire body began to haze and pop with a burning sensation, fire blazing at every corner and not once did the heat burn a piece of her dust sewn clothes. She glowed brightly in the night that anyone from a distance could see, it was hard to miss.

Yang punched her fist together and the fire intensified. With a dashing foot, she quickly stepped towards the Grimms and flashed a great deal of punches and bullets altogether.

Bang, pow, boom, pow, bang, bam!

It was terrifyingly in synch like a rhythmic beat of a Boxer.

Aiming her weapon at one of the Beowolves, a wind of devilish flames swooped them like a tide of a furious ocean, upsetting the wolves and howling at the accursed sky as their fur burned in ashes. Her weapon rolled in another setting while she knocked an Ursa to its back. Throwing her fist at a locked target, the bullet fired like a firework, it came in contact with its body and a scatter nut of little bullets sprayed in the area which affected the other Grimms within a mile radius fall and eventually die.

A Boarbatusk that looked equivalent in size with a car charged at Yang. The Blonde waited in time, and before the Grimm knew what was happening, Yang grabbed its tusk and used the running Boar's momentum to swing herself on its back.

"Yeehaaww!"

Ruby's Crescent Rose had decapitated a Beowolve's head. She fired round after round at incoming Ursas and used each recoil to slip up front at a Grimm and slash her weapon's bladed side to cut them through, petals of roses lying at its wake.

"Yang!" Ruby scolded her sister.

Yang was enjoying herself, "Nora was right. Riding on Grimms is fun!" The Boarbatusk kicked and jumped, desperately trying to get the Huntress of its back. "Time to crack some shells." Emphasizing the last word, her right gauntlet cocked a bullet, and with one flaming fist, she straightforward brought down a hellhound of fury at its back.

The entire armor that it grew from its body came off like a cracked eggshell, some bits and pieces turning to ashes and some left falling like porcelain on the ground. Yang then yanked its black fur, making the Boarbatusk unconsciously halt. The Blonde jumped off and sent an uppercut towards the Boar and made sure it was in the air twenty feet in one sweep. Jumping from the ground and using her weapon to boost her height, she came face to face with the confused and squealing Boarbatusk. "Slice em up Ruby!" Yang shouted.

"Strawberry-" She said while pulling back a fist.

Ruby hesitated but got her head in the game and decided she would talk to her sister about nearly burning her into oblivion. After knocking back an Ursa Major, she put down her goggles that had red eyes like her sleeping patch, readied her Crescent Rose and let the barrel end face the ground. Slightly jumping, she pulled the trigger and the recoil sent her flying towards the Grimm and Yang's position.

"Sunrise!" Ruby completed the name of their long practiced Move. And with that, Yang had put another flaming fist at the Boarbatusk and hit the Grimm towards where Ruby was coming like a baseball-hungry for a home run.

At a satisfying distance, Ruby began twirling in the air with her weapon, a spin of visible red Aura swirling around the girl. The Huntress and Grimm closed in, and in defying seconds, the bladed scythe straightened and cut through the Boarbatusk's immense flesh. Not enough to cut it in two, Ruby continued her onslaught of having her weapon crisscross its body, and with one final sweep, She X'ed the creature. The body was hanging in pieces but still whole, it passed Ruby and finally crashed to the ground with the loudest thud of a corpse, rose petals swirling around and about in the air.

Yang was the first to land on three points, and the last, Ruby, who landed fair and square with her two feet.

"Awesome!" Yang boomed, smiling broadly at her little sister who made her proud for tonight. As expected, the Boarbatusk's flesh was in near thickness with the armor, thus making it hard to slice through. Yang let her arm go around the back of Ruby's neck and brought her close, a tight one-armed hug probably suffocating every ounce of air out of her little sister. "You make the best names for the best moves, ever! I'm so proud of you!" Before Yang could even think of nudging her sister's head with her knuckles, Ruby used her semblance to get out of her grip, some misfit of roses flying behind her.

She coughed a bit before saying, "Thank you, sis." Almost awkwardly.

The view is as much displeasing as it was to the ears of Blake. Two normal size looking Beowolves with green crystals scaling their bony armor, was feeding on something, or rather, someone. The room was big and it was covered with moss and nature's branches, hints of splattered blood left stained on the walls scaling paint. Blake moved from shadow to shadow she could possess after the other, one from the cracks then next to the darkest area of a corner where the moonlight did not shine. She could see now on what the Beowolve's were eating.

It is sadly confirmed that it was indeed, a human, a bulky male human. Its intestines were being gulped down by the Grimm, the next part torn for a share. The Majority of the body lost a limb or two, the whole mutilated, parts eaten, and face unidentifiable. This lust of hunger these Grimms were having was another effect of the Dust fusions. Most especially the green types for their hungry needs are vastly widening, and they will stop at nothing just to get a taste of skin and blood.

Blake stopped dead on her tracks when a Beowolf started sniffing at the air suspiciously. Its buddy took heed of its actions and did the same. The food they were eating was dangling by the side of their mouth full of teeth armed to the bone, the sight itself making Blake want to gulp down a lump in her throat. And in the process of gulping, it made a little, teeny weeny sound.

The Beowolves stood erect in guard, their ears twitching in irritation. Their movements were stiff in search of that eerie noise. Blake could only curse in her mind.

BAM!

A sound of a large object fell in place that came from downstairs. The Beowolves immediately took action and started running towards the intruder they hope to feed on again. Once they disappeared behind the corner of the door, a slice crippling sound of a stab accompanied with a yelping sound of dogs filled the building. Blake 'blinked' in one of the nearest shadows towards the exit, unsurprised at the two Grimms that was pierced against cold spikes pinned to the wall. Their lifeless eyes still bright red. The ice eventually melted in a second, making the Grimm corpses fall and slide onto the stairs and toppled one another. Blake jumped out of the shadow as her physical form returned in place, she ran down the stairs to discover what Human or Faunus would ever make such a noise in this part of Vale, only to discover Weiss lifting the fallen Bookshelf that was on top of another person who yelped in pain.

"Assistance would be much appreciated," Weiss said, her eyes almost perceived as a glare towards Blake.

The cat Faunus only looked at her with a skeptical face and proceeded to help the Heiress lift the heavy bookshelf away from the unknown person. Successfully throwing the shelf out of the way, they helped what seemed to be a girl in clothes of a Huntress, ripped, bruised, and bleeding almost to death. With one arm around Blake and the other around Weiss, they heaved the girl to her feet. The girl took a glimpse of the new faces. "Am I dead?"

"No, but it's like you're about to, we should take you back to the safe side of Vale," Blake said. The girl was practically crying tears, both from joy, and sadness. "But my team.. they all died... Eaten by those... Those Grimms!" She only manages to choke it out, jumping slightly in anger and fear from the hold of Weiss and Blake. The two was at loss for words at this situation, but did feel a heavy heart for this poor huntress, having to experience a near-death experience and a brutal scene to watch her own team die could tear any spirit from being sane.

They slowly, but surely walked out the door, stopping from time to time if the girl could manage to move with her own feet.

"We're going to have to report to General Ironwood." Weiss said, "Hold her while I make the call." Blake held the girl and made her lean towards a wall for a while.

Weiss took out her scroll that was inside one of her pouches from her ribbon belt, the little gadget opened to form a screen, icons, and folders of the sorts appearing. She tapped on the calling screen and under a short list; she selected the General's name. A few seconds passed and the call was answered, Ironwood's face appearing in static before it stayed clear.

"Weiss Schnee reporting in, General."

"Ahh, Weiss, what news have you brought at this time?" The man stroked his slightly stubble chin, face showing eagerness of at least good news.

"We found one survivor, a Huntress. Injured and bleeding, but conscious. Her team is presumed dead."

The General sighed but nodded his head in satisfactory. To know that someone was out there, still alive, was good news nevertheless. "Well done. We will dispatch transportation 31 in your area once our tracking of air type Grimms is cleared from the skies, E.T.A Ten minutes. If you find anyone else. Please, bring them to safety."

Weiss nodded in response. The screen then closed back into the menu of her scroll. She closed the portable gadget and returned it back to her pouch.

"By the way, Blake," said Weiss, turning back to face her. "What did you see up there?"

The Faunus bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before answering, "It was a man. Barely unidentifiable."

Weiss only nodded, already knowing what the rest of the story would sound like. However, the girl that was being held by Blake reacted, "What?!" With her free arm, she put a hand on the Faunus's shoulder and put what energy was left to shake her in shock, her legs nearly fell in place and Blake had to hold her from falling who was rather surprised at the Huntress's reaction.

"H-How did he look like?!"

Blake looked at Weiss, hoping to find a hint of what to do. The Heiress only looked back without an answer.

"Um. I uh. It was a man." Blake replied. "I haven't stayed long to inspect further."

"Please, please let me check." The girl was desperately pleading. Her heart was being clutched in fear of who it was. Blake let her sit on the floor and gently put the girl's arms away, "I'll do it and see what I can bring back. Stay here."

The girl's heart was getting heavier; she felt like she was going to cry but sucked it up. "T-Thank you.." She croaked. Blake stood and walked back into the bookstore, she can only hope that this person that was brutally killed and eaten by the Beowolves may not be who the girl was looking for.

Meanwhile, Weiss bent down to the girl's eye level and asked, "Which team did you belong to?"

The girl looked into the eyes of the Heiress, it was not a very welcoming crystal blue, and without guessing, she was the type of person that's cold at first glance. "STAR."

"Name?" The question went out as sudden from Weiss.

"A-Abbey."

"Do you know where the others are?"

"W-We got separated when a group of Beowolves attacked us. We were actually finding a missing teammate when we heard that he went alone in this part of Vale. I even lost my weapon.." She added the last sentence in a whisper that surely only both of them could hear.

Weiss was looking at Abbey, finally having the chance to study her features. Amber short hair, pale skin from the amount of blood she might have lost, eyes in hazelnut color that is dull and weak, and structure slim and about to break. Almost everywhere is dry blood, fresh leaks from the side of her head and her stomach. She figured that her Aura would be kicking in any moment to heal her wounds from how she was talking properly, a little bit of a stutter here and there, but so far so good.

"And what right mind would make him go out in a place like this?"

Thinking about it, even Abbey doesn't even know why. What right mind is indeed the exact question she wanted to ask if ever she meets face to face with her teammate.

"I don't even know.." She replied in defeat, "He never said anything about his departure, nor did he say anything that would give us a clue."

"And everything went wrong that got your other teammates killed in action. Next time, rethink about setting foot in dangerous places. Hunter, or not."

Abbey looked down in sadness. There was no next time with her team, she felt the burden weigh down on her shoulders like a ton of bricks named guilt written all over. Weiss stood, her words were true and they both knew it. Despite its harsh reality and the feeling of being helpless, it is what is needed to be said.

Leaving Abbey to work on her despair, Weiss continued to wait for Blake.

"Weiss!" Someone shouted from a distance.

It is inevitable. That happy, childish high pitched tone is never mistaken. Weiss looked towards the caller of her name, not surprised and certainly not amused. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "At least we don't have to waste time searching for you two-"

Her words were never finished just as Ruby had set a trail of roses and suddenly hugged her willingly, the force of the semblance making both of them fall. "Ruby! For the love of-, get off me!"

Ruby pulled away to look at her but never let go, "But I missed you."

Canine ears that ranged from black and faded to red at the tips that no doubt belonged to a wolf appeared on Ruby's head, it bent like an ordinary puppy that was being scolded by their master. She even had a tail that goes by the same color scheme. Her nearly crying face and adorable silver eyes looked like it was asking for a pat on the head, to be touched and comforted.

Weiss wanted to shout but her mouth was shut, her teeth gritted unto why she had to think about what she was ever going to do with their team leader. She didn't have to think, she can just do. The fighting thought inside her head is what's making her angry and blush all at the same time.

When Ruby noticed another person who was looking in confusion, she quickly went to her side and off Weiss. "Hey, I'm Ruby."

The young Huntress was clueless, but still, she gets to say her own name at this energetic, Faunus? Or is it just a Girl?

"A-Abbey."

Yang walked up towards the bunch. "Survivor?"

Weiss stood from the ground and dusted herself from Ruby's earlier assault. "Yes." She simply replied.

Blake was scanning the result on her scroll. The blood sample she managed to drop on the helpful gadget took a little time to compute who she was identifying. While the loading bar had started to progress near the end, she could hear the voices of Ruby and Yang. It won't be long before she joins them again. The progress had finished just in time and a picture with a name and other little details filled her scroll.

Sunny Jansen
Age 18.
Hunter studying under Signal Academy and the Team Leader of STAR.

Blake gave a sad sigh. STAR as she heard from the depths of her cat ears capability to catch, and STAR she read in this very result that confirmed the dead body before he is the person that Abbey and her team were looking for. Poor Huntress will be struck hard by the news. She closed her scroll and put it away.

Sooner or later she would have to go down there and say the confirmation out loud for Abbey to hear. She took a last glimpse of the mutilated body before her, the stench still wavering horridly in this room. She bent down at the corpse, hoping she could find something that would present the evidence and a reminder of his death. She also put into thought and consideration that at least she could convince the girl to see that evidence instead of forcing her way up here to see such a horrid sight.

His midsection was clawed deeply; a huge hole that was devoured earlier and some of his leftover insides were still hanging out much to her disgust. The belt held a lot of things and she could maybe get something from there?

Using no choice but her hands to search, she poked about his belt. His pouches were empty and rings that were held for bullets are nowhere to be seen. She tried to turn the belt around, a little snapping sound coming from the body as she did, making the Faunus flinch a little. There was another pouch she and used one hand to open its pockets. Inside was his scroll. One side was bent and the other cracked. She let the corpse back into its position with the slightest movement to prevent any more grisly sounds, the sight and smell already more than she can handle.

"So where's the kitty cat?" Yang asked, turning her head from side to side to see if she could spot the Faunus.

"Here."

Yang jumped and turned around to see Blake with the usual scowling face she always gave when she heard 'Kitty' or 'Cat' instead of calling her normal name, Blake.

"Where did you-"

"From the window to your shadow, end of story."

Blake walked towards Abbey who used the wall to support herself as she tried to stand up. She was going to ask the question until Blake answered by lending over the scroll.

Abbey's heart had stopped beating. She stared at the gadget that Blake was handing out. It was Signal's scroll design. Her hand started to tremble as soon as she touched the scroll that even Blake could feel.

She did not want to believe it. It was impossible. Sunny was a strong man who just turned 18 years old last month. That's right, she said man, and to finally confirm it, he was 18 and proud of it. Sunny is a Man who did his responsibility as a Team Leader, a good one, and upheld that responsibility. Denying his death, she opened the scroll, surprised to see it was still intact.

The name hovered and shook on the right side of the scroll.

Sunny Jansen

And that was it, Abbey slid onto the wall and sat back on the ground and cried like any little girl would do when she lost her favorite toy. Except her Team Leader wasn't any toy and she cried twice than a little girl could have. He was her Best Friend and she towards him. All that was in team STAR were friends. Crushed feelings started to overwhelm her body that made her muffled sobs harder to control. It came pouring out and everything to everyone didn't seem to matter if they saw her crying like a horrid mess.

Team RWBY could not do anything to help this Huntress. Blake, who mostly saw and heard about everything, bent down to hold her on the shoulder, the only comfort that she could provide she thought was good enough. Ruby, with the heart of a child, had her goggles down to hide her escaping tears and hugged the blood-drenched girl. She understood the pain of someone's death that reminded her of the day she lost someone as well; all she could do was give a warm hug that she thought was good enough.

Yang and Weiss stood side by side. Yang was a tough nut and only looked away, but deep inside she could feel the hurt and manage to at least hold back a lump in her throat that can break her figure away if it slipped.

Weiss did not hold the emotion no matter how long she would look at the broken girl, but like Yang, she felt the same way. Having to lose a Team Leader is a heartbreaker. And she hoped, prayed and wishes despite her cold attitude and boisterous personality.

That it wouldn't ever happen to Ruby.

To her Teammates.

Or even herself that would bring RWBY into pieces.

The transportation arrived exactly a second early, the flying machine that looked like a mini fleet of a ship was hovering for a touchdown. Without breaking a sweat, it landed safely and easily. Soldiers and a few Altesian Knights came out of the loading bay and secured the area. Team RWBY had brought back a survivor, bringing relief to the soldier's visor covered faces of Ironwood's men.

The fleet took off without a second to waste into the night sky, the engines of the airship breaking the silence until it was switched to stealth mode to avoid Grimms that could still be lurking nearby.

Vale had come to a point of total darkness. Almost every structure had been asymmetrically broken down a part of its body, and in a part of every corner, the Creatures of Grimm can be seen running to their hiding places, their crystal backs twinkling slightly from afar that can give their spots away quickly.

Vale had become another part of the forest where these ugly creatures hunt people instead of people hunting them. Rather than Grimms fearing the strongest Hunters of Remnant, Hunters now feared the Grimms of darkness that pursued its prophecy.

When these creatures started to have Dust growing from their backs they possessed certain types of abilities that you'd have to guess what they were at first. A Red Dust may have regeneration and fire. Blue has ice and speed, and other Dust that has powers depending on their color had other effects, but you never knew what ability they truly have unless they show it, putting men into a disadvantage that they were fighting a normal Grimm until they finally grew Dust.

Grimms began to turn into a more brutal savage as they pillaged any living camp and village just for the sake of tasting flesh. They became predators that can turn their hunters into prey. Intelligent, bigger, and stronger than any normal Grimm and ordinary human thinking.

Rare Grimm encounters were the mixed Dusts. A Grimm where multiple Dusts grew inside, and outside the body, making it even harder for any type of Hunters to take on without having a group of Teams, and, a group of casualties.

Ever since Team RWBY had been practicing under Ironwood. They were Remnant's hope of getting the continents back to peace from the Grimms. Their abilities, powerful and destructive can turn any situation into a disaster. Having to master at least a part of it was enough to take down Grimms despite their numbers, swiftly turning one swarm on its back after the other.

The only tough leaders they had to beat were Dust fused Nevermores, wings fueled with destruction and power and always depended on the air to fight. Another would be a giant Deathstalker that has the Red and Green Dusts. If they're fast and possess the power to regenerate, then it would take time unless Weiss and Yang work accordingly to the plan without having to argue over Ruby which move would work.

If they are high in agility then heavens they be damned and the Team would depend on speed against speed, meaning, Ruby against Death Stalker, which was insane and often whined by the girl in the red cloak and goggles that she wouldn't go without her Crescent Rose in action. But since she had the strength of Yang and the speed in competition to Blake's 'Blink' semblance (and Weiss's convincing trade), it works.

Vale's loss and being overrun by Grimms was disheartening news that stretched to Vacuo, Haven, and Atlas. Every continent that a map named or unnamed knows about its fall, how Grimms began to develop, casualties and numbers of deaths rising in a chart, and how vast the numbers of these creatures are starting to pile. It was rumored that the Grimms are starting to advance to Vacuo. As great as a threat it was, any media or military news avoided to share it publicly to evade a state of panic from the people of Vacuo's citizens and Vale's evacuees who sought refuge.

Dust fused Grimms.

RWBY's fusions.

And Vale's great fall.

Have the Creatures of darkness decided to finally put a grim reminder on those who were meant to be prey ever since the beginning?

It all depends on the decision Team RWBY will be taking into their hands.

For Fate. Is Fate.

And how did this all start?

Well, it started in one huge company. In one huge incident.

A/N:

(A Blink is an ability to teleport from place to place. If you played Dishonored, LoL or WoW and Games that has teleportation skills and skills that are named blink, then you know what I'm talking about.)

This is my first time actually to have written a RWBY fanfiction (And the first time to have written a long big butt chapter). It is a RWBY AU that I was heavily inspired to put my lazy butt into work by the AU Masters Kuma and Funblade. They are amazing and if you don't know them yet, I suggest and/or recommend you get to their Tumblr and I shiz you not that you'll be liking every post.

And since you noticed, or just noticed now, Kuma and Funblade is a fan of White Rose. And so am I. Expect the story to be full of it with Bumbleby as well. I will sink with this ship.

Constructive criticisms, kind reviews, questions or just a comment you want to leave are appreciated. If I miss anything, please don't hesitate to tell me in PM or the comment section. I'll be sure to reply to all of them in a jiffy. But I will eat flames, don't even try.

*EDIT 12/7/18*

Oh, that's awkward, it's 2018 and this was written in 2016.

I did a little clean up on this as I have been taking a comment into consideration about how my writing is too descriptive and flowery. Yes, I thought about this for 2 years, love me damn it.
I also fixed some grammar, spelling and awfully awkward formed sentences.

*EDIT 16/5/19*

Made another cleanup on the first half to improve narration.