A/N

This story came to me a while ago and I figured I'd try working on it. It's a darker story than I usually write, taking into account the general themes and atmosphere of the Fallout universe rather than the fairy tale vibes of RWBY's universe. This combination of RWBY and Fallout has probably be done quite a bit, given the popularity of both series. I decided I'd try to take my own spin on the idea and see how it goes. This is also incidentally my first crossover story. So I'm eager to see how I tackle this. It actually went through a couple incarnations, with plans for Ruby to be the main character. However, I decided to go with an OC character instead. Ruby still has a role to play however. I don't want to say any more.

This prologue is just a small taste of what is to come. I plan to update this story semi-regularly, so far as my schedule allows it. Hopefully I can get this one finished. As always, let me know what you think. Write a review, or simply follow or favorite the story. You guys should know how much it helps with motivation. So throw on some fifties tunes, sit back and enjoy the ride. Also remember to accentuate the positive.

Prologue – A Brighter Future.

I was alone. My team scattered around the city in their own battles. I stood inside the bullhorn gunship, waiting for my chance. I was scared. I had only minutes to make it through the command carrier and find the control room. I needed to stop this war before it escalated. Before the nukes were dropped. Before Armageddon. No pressure.

"ETA One minute!" The pilot called out. The doors opened.

Outside was a war zone. Ships blasting each other out of the sky, bullhorns strafing each other. I could see below civilian airships trying to get out of the city, some were caught in the crossfire. Even further below, in the streets, the battle raged on. Mechs and soldiers, civilians and militia. It was a bloodbath down there. I closed my eyes and said a short prayer. That this mission would be a success. I wasn't really religious, but I needed every help today.

I jumped from the gunship and used the recoil of Crescent Rose to slow my descent. I hit the roof of the command carrier. I found a vent and tore it open with my scythe. I dove inside. Navigating my way through was easier than I thought, however when I finally was free of the ventilation system. I was surrounded by Atlesian mechs.

My battle with the mechs was taking too much time. I decided to just run past them. I checked my scroll. Five minutes. Four minutes. Three minutes. I was running out of time and fighting my way through wasn't helping.

I wished the others were here. If only so I knew they were safe. My sister Yang, my friends Weiss and Blake. Jaune, Nora, Ren. I wished I knew where they were. But with all the chaos down below, they were likely doing something as important as I was. Something just as suicidal. It wasn't a comforting thought.

I reached the control room with just over a minute to spare. The general spun around with an assault rifle and opened fire. I slid behind cover.

"What are you doing?" I asked. "You'll kill everyone!"

"That's the plan!" He said. "The world will be reborn, from the ashes a new regime will rise. Atlas will survive, as it always does."

"You're insane." I said. "Please don't do this!"

"There's nothing you can do, there will be no surrender, no armistice, no retreat." He said. "We go forward, to a new dawn."

I lined up my shot. I fired. First grazed his shoulder. The next three went straight through his chest. He staggered back, blood splattering everywhere. He collapsed in a pool of his own blood. He coughed and wheezed. Blood sputtered from his lips.

"Tomorrow." He gasped. "Tomorrow will be a better day."

I ran to the control panel. I had ten seconds left.

"Command, how do I stop it! Command! Come in command!" I wasn't going to let this man win. "Command, please respond. I need assistance. How do I stop it! Command! Please!"

Nothing but static came. The counter reached zero. No, no not like this. I banged on the control panel. I started punching in codes. I needed to stop it. I watched as missiles began to launch. From sites hidden throughout the mountains around Vale. I watched as warships detonated all around. I looked up at the console. A map of the world, marking the trajectories of all the missiles launching, from Atlas, from Mystral, from Vacuo, from Vale. All of it. Every city, every town, anywhere people gather, they were about to be wiped off the map. Total devastation.

There was nothing I could do but watch. Tears rolled down my face. All my friends, everyone I knew. They were down there. There was nothing I could do.

"Ruby!" A voice called out on my scroll. Jaune's voice. "Ruby what's going on?"

"Jaune, where are you?" I asked.

"I'm in a bunker. I can't fight anymore. I took a bad hit." He said. He coughed hoarsely. "Some of the soldiers are stranded in here. Bombing collapsed the exit. We're trapped. What's going on."

"Jaune. It's all over." I said. "I didn't make it in time."

"Ruby. It's not your fault." Jaune said. "Just stay calm."

"But the others. They are still out there." I said.

"We all signed on knowing we could die one day." Jaune said. "I just didn't want it to be today."

"I'm so sorry Jaune."I said. Tears were streaming down my face. I watched in the distance as a bright flash of light detonated, far on the horizon. "The first missile hit."

"Ruby listen to me." He said. He wheezed. "It's not your fault. This isn't your fault."

"It isn't my fault." I repeated.

"Whatever happens. I want you to know. You are one of the best friend's I've ever..." Jaune said. The missile detonated just outside the city limits. There was a bright flash, communication cut out. The consoles on the ship cut out. The ships that weren't outright destroyed by the blast suddenly were free falling below. I held on for dear life. Mostly out of fear.

"Jaune?" I muttered. I watched as I headed straight for Robco headquarters. The city was burning below. The ship's temperature was increasing. I heard the ship buckling under the blast. This ship was built to survive atomic bombs, but it's generators clearly weren't properly equipped to handle the EMP that followed. Suddenly backup power turned on. Maybe it was after all. I slid over to the control, the ship was now nose diving. I needed to steer it. I aimed for the water. It was my only chance.

It was working, I was free falling but I was heading straight for the open ocean. With luck, I might be able to survive the crash. Then I could find my friends. If they were still alive. If I survive the crash.

The waves headed closer and closer. I closed my eyes, I readied my scythe.

The world may have ended, but I wasn't done with it yet.