This is the Way the World Ends: Part 1
Welcome to RWBY: Age of Chaos. As I'm sure you noticed, if you haven't, it doesn't really matter. The new rating, M. This story will be much darker than the last two.
Listen, if you're just starting to get into this series, and you're beginning at the third entry, guess what? You're doing it wrong. Read the last two first.
The format of this FanFiction is slightly different. No flashbacks or World of Riders for the first few chapters.
Anyway, without further ado, let's begin.
Act 6: Dawn of a New Age
"I do not trust you." Iris states, "He may, but I do not."
"Okay." Ruby drags on.
Ruby, Iris, and other villagers from Anna's village are inside a train.
"My mother's trust is not the issue today, Huntress Rose." Anna says as she walks up to Ruby.
Iris turns away and leaves.
"It is my trust you must earn." Anna states.
"Anna." Ruby greets.
"You are a huntress, yes." Anna states, "A seeker of things."
"That's not the official job description," Ruby corrects, "but it's close enough."
"And now you hunt other Riders." Anna says.
"I'm not really hunting a Rider," Ruby says, "I'm hunting the Rider."
"You seek..." Anna begins.
"Onyx Rider." Ruby finishes.
"I was not told the identity of your prey." Anna states.
"That is why I'm telling you now." Ruby says, "We are talking about trust, after all."
Anna looks at Iris then back to Ruby.
"May I ask you something?" Ruby asks, "You two call him 'Demon.' Is that an insult or a compliment."
"An insult to be sure," Iris answers, "but one with a modicum of respect. He was indeed my enemy, but in time I named him ally, even friend. The events that forged this bond were... complicated."
The rest of Team RWBY and Winter walk through the war torn city of Vale. They take cover in a damaged building, avoiding the Atlesian dropship flying above. The dropship lands and six Atlesian Knights exit the vessel. Instead of blue lights, they are glowing a yellowish orange.
"They are standing in the way of us and the warehouse." Winter whispers.
She draws her sword. The three members of Team RWBY draw their weapons. Blake converts Gambol Shroud into it's pistol form.
"On my mark." Winter whispers.
She puts up her hand with three fingers extended. Winter slowly puts them down one by one. When she drops her last finger, Blake shoots one Knight, Yang charges and punches another, Weiss strikes a third with her Rapier, and Winter slashes the heads off of two of them. The last one is shot by Camo, who is using Flame's sniper, which is now fixed, while perched on a building.
"The path seems clear." Camo says into his Com.
Winter signals for the others to continue and they do, Camo following on the rooftops.
Umbra and Prodromus stand on a balcony at Beacon.
"The kingdom is secure." Prodromus states, "The Humans cannot stop us."
"At the cycle's end, the Pillars will be fully charged." Umbra says, "This is the victory I promised you so many eons ago... where we rule Regno, together."
"I have agreed to work with you so that our kingdom will survive." Prodromus states, "I will never work for you. And you would be wise to remember the difference."
Winter and her allies arrive at an abandoned warehouse. They go inside.
"Look around for anything useful." Winter orders.
They split up, gathering things like Dust, Ammo, and Food. Suddenly, three dropships fly overhead.
"Prodromus has found us." Winter states.
Atlesian Knights drop out of the ships and begin firing at the warehouse. The group takes cover. Camo cloaks and runs for an overwatch position.
"Our ancestors will not begrudge our excavation." Umbra's voice echoes from the Atlesian Knights, "By recharging this relic, we pay homage to their glory. When the dust settles, we will all see what I already know: here lies the Path, the start of the Cleansing. My Temple, the vessel that has so long been the focus of our worship, now rests on its true pedestal. Even now, its engines spark greater ones below, relics long without power, yet almost ready to fulfill their divine purpose. Stand fast! Keep our enemies at bay! Soon, my brothers, we will all have our reward!"
Cultis Ex Ipsis members rise out of the shadows join the Atlesian Knights in attacking the Resistance fighters.
Silicon reports to General Ironwood, leader of the Resistance.
"The communications link needs further calibration to be compatible with the CCTS." Silicon states, "The antivirus however is fully functional."
An Atlesian dropship crashlands in front of the Ghost's mansion, the Resistance's base of operation. Winter and her allies exit the crashed ship. Yang looks at Silicon and Ironwood.
"So Ruby's still not here." Yang says.
"Ruby went with Anna to find Onyx." Silicon states, "And Onyx dropped off the grid. Only he knows where to. He left to protect us. To ensure that everyone else... made it to safety."
"I saw watch the fight go down." Ironwood states, "Very little survived."
"Not that we could see." Blake adds.
"Even if Onyx's alive, I'm sure we can wait for him to show up." Weiss states, "Not with Umbra holding the kingdom hostage from his high and mighty perch at Beacon."
"I would be inclined to agree." Ironwood says, "We must stop Umbra, with or without Onyx Rider. We must do everything in our power to ensure Umbra's downfall. But, we will need to be smart about it."
Onyx stands in an area. Onyx's stubble has grown back and he no longer has the Shard of the Riders or his sunglasses with him. A large crowd surrounds the arena, including Choppa and Acid Bog.
"Allow me to introduce, Meral Tanner." Choppa says from outside the ring.
Meral Tanner was a dark skinned man. Covering his revealed chest were many black tribal tattoos. Meral also has black dreads.
"Bonafide Vacou warrior." Choppa continues, "We even liberated his tribal weapons from the property locker, special for the occasion. You boys play nice, now."
Meral takes out two daggers. The blades were curved and formed a hook at the top.
"Watch your back, Onyx." Bog warns, "That Meral Tanner cat thinks he's immortal. Something about stealing his foes' life force by eating his heart... Dude ain't right."
"Thanks for the tip." Onyx says.
Meral raises his daggers into the air. Onyx furrows his brow in concentration. Meral charges at Onyx and swings with the right blade. Onyx ducks backs away from Meral's next two swings. Meral swings and Onyx moves his body to the side to dodge. Meral stabs, but Onyx throws his arm back. Onyx hits Meral with a right hook and Meral reacts with a swing from his right blade. Onyx moves back, but the sword cut through his coat and turtleneck.
Meral lets out a scream as he charges again. Onyx blocks his blade with his forearm but is hit by a kick. Meral swings with his left, but Onyx catches his arm. Onyx chops his dagger, slicing the blade with his bare hand. Meral stabs with his right blade, but Onyx dodges and gets into his serious stance. Meral swings his fist, now free of the broken dagger, then stabs with the dagger. Onyx jumps on Meral, holding his arm and wrapping his legs around Meral's neck. Onyx flips Meral over and slams him on the ground, applying pressure with his legs until Meral passes out.
Onyx stands in the center of the arena as Meral is dragged out.
"Anna," Iris calls, "we are nearing the target."
"Prepare for action." Anna orders.
Iris and the other villagers prepare their weapons. Ruby extends Crescent Rose.
"What do you call him, Huntress Rose?" Anna asks.
"I don't understand the question." Ruby states.
"Onyx Rider, the Last of the Riders." Anna clarifies, He is not your friend, is he your foe?"
"He's disappeared and the Resistance want him back." Ruby states, "I'm going to bring him home."
"I admire your sense of duty, Huntress." Anna says, "But, if he has left the fold, he has his reasons."
"I'm sure he does, Anna," Ruby states, "and I'm going to find out what they are."
The train stops and the doors open as Anna draws her katana.
"I only know what I witnessed." Ironwood says, "Start from the beginning, how did this happened?"