AN: So this is rather short for prologue compared to my other series(es?) Like seriously though how do you pluralize a series to show that there are multiple series? Anyways I hope you guys enjoy because I only have one idea left before I put up a poll and let people vote on which story I focus on. of course I'll still update my others I'll just be focusing on that particular story. Anyways please enjoy.
The Butterfly Effect. One thing will happen and more paths will open up, some bad and some good. You shoot a vase and it shatters into millions of pieces, one bullet to change everything. You make a decision and somebody gets angry, you could've done something else to change the outcome.
This is a world where Ruby Rose didn't return back to the Xiao Long residence for long that night. That night where everything changed. One person decided to take action and it changed everything. From mental states to body counts, altering the world we knew as Remnant.
The effect rippled across the universe like some child throwing a stone into water. The events leading up to The Fall twisted and churned, regurgitating new paths for a Rose to bloom. Will it be Red and beautiful? Black and indecisive? White and spotless? Yellow and happy? Full-bloomed and shining? Withered and riddled with thorns? Maybe all of them at once?
…Let's Find Out…
But remember… every decision comes at a price!
The moon slowly rose into the sky, appearing over the horizon and spreading its dull, grey glow across the forest surrounding the farming village of Patch. A sole, rust red wagon squeaked along the dried dirt path, two honest souls accompanying the soulless wind whistling overhead. A small cottage appeared in front of them, the red cloaked girl's sleeping form staying that way while the blonde looked back at her sister, "just a bit longer Ruby, we'll be there soon and then we'll have a full family again." Her smile glowed just as bright as the mass of blond hair.
Ruby didn't even stir as the girl, the older sister, continued on ahead towards the house, oblivious to the dull crimson pairs staring at her through the thicket. The wagon made a hideous sound yet again as they arrived at the clearing of their destination; no light seemed to emanate from the house but the blonde was too ecstatic to even realize such a huge detail.
The stars twinkled above them, silently watching the duo as their fates set in stone. A snarl echoed around the forest line, glowing crimson eyes appearing in the darkness. The blonde whipped around, lavender meeting dozens of red orbs.
They rushed in, no communication required between the pack for they already knew; there were two young souls defenseless and waiting to be devoured. Their paws and claws tore up the ground in their mindless sprint toward their pray, their downfall was that they didn't even check their surroundings.
A scream ripped through the silence, coming from the blonde as they reached her. Her legs kicked into gear and she jumped out of the way, dirt flying into her face and hair.
A sound behind her made everything in the clearing freeze, "Yang?" A questionable voice rang out amongst the forms. All heads whipped towards the rusty red wagon, a package of practically newborn innocence bundled up in it.
A hunger entered the beasts' eyes as they slowly stalked around towards the small soul. Gleaming silver teared up at the sight before them. Massive beasts stood in front of the girl, black as night and eyes a burning crimson; absolutely terrifying. She wailed, arms flailing and trying to break out of her cloak-y restraint, until something made the beasts go away.
A crow's feathers dropped onto the ground one soundlessly setting itself on the beast's snout. Suddenly the sound of metal tearing through the air burst out. It was almost like a machine's mechanisms spinning faster than they were supposed to (1). A blade cleanly cut through the beast's neck, severing it and the ends melting from the speed the metal was traveling.
A tall, lanky man stood a few feet away from the decaying body, it's minimal skeletal plates resting on the ground from where the darkness used to be. His crimson eyes burned with just as much fury as the Grimm's, red met red in a silent clash. An alpha versus a scythe-wielder. A howl escaped the beast before it whipped around and sprinted out of clearing, its tail between its legs; the rest of the shadow beasts soon followed it.
His grey and black suit jacket and pants blended together along with his red and black cape. He strode over to the blond-haired girl, the older sister. "Yang? What are you doing out here, with Ruby no less?!" He shouted out, questioning the girl with his raspy voice.
"I-I… I just wanted to find momma!" She burst into tears, they slid down her cheeks for a moment before he swooped down and brought her into a bear hug, the saltwater seeping into the shoulder of his jacket and cloak.
He bit his lip in silent contemplation, debating whether he should go along with his just now made up plan. "Alright Yang… I'm going to be taking Ruby home with me after I get you back to your dad, I want to make absolutely sure that she can be defended and I can only do that if I'm with her."
"No!" She screamed out at him, renewed tears flowing, "you can't take her away, she's all I have left…" The last part was muttered.
"But if she's with you guys, she can't be protected. What's better? A dead sister or an away and living one?" He had to lay it straight, no matter how much it would break her; he had to make sure Ruby would stay safe, it was his last promise to Summer.
"I- ah. Alive…" She mumbled out, the tears slowly stopped until her eyes were just bloodshot. She quickly fell asleep after he set her in the wagon next to her sister and drug them back to the island town of Patch.
"No! No! And no! You can't possibly be thinking about taking Ruby! She's all Yang has left!" Taiyang shouted out towards the man he had always seen as a friend her could rely on.
"Well what if another incident like this happens again! Who'll be there to save them! No one will! They're lucky I was patrolling the forest tonight or else they would be dead!" Qrow shouted back at the man, his gravelly voice reverberating around the porch of the Xiao Long residence.
"I'll be there to help them!" Taiyang shouted back in defiance.
"She's my fucking daughter for Dust's sake Tai, let me be a father for once!" the words slipped out of his mouth before he could even think about them. A shadow fell across both of their faces, anger turning to sadness.
"Do whatever you want with her…" the blonde muttered before stumbling into the house, Qrow waited there for a minute before realizing that the other wasn't coming back with his daughter.
He stepped into the house, a yellow glow surrounding him and allowing unsavory memories to flash by, he dispelled them just as quickly as they came, only a white cloak remained and a frown on his face. His black shoes clopped against the floor, the heel making it echo around the hallway. A slightly cracked open door sat on one side of it, he gently pushed it open.
Taiyang sat there holding the little Rose, her giggles filling the air and bringing a smile to the normally stoic man's face. The hammer-wielder heard him and his happy smile turned sad, a reminiscent look in his eyes.
"She would be glad to know that you're finally taking up your duties as a father."
"Yeah…" Qrow's voice cracked slightly as the mention of the white cloak wearing former team leader. He stared into the silver eyes of his daughter that reminded him so much of his past wife, his composure broke and a single tear ran down his cheek.
"Should Yang?.."
"No, she needs some rest after what happened today. I'll… let her know what happened tomorrow, you should get going now."
"Yeah… thanks for this, Tai. I hope you know how much it means to me."
"No problem. Anything to help out an old friend, yeah?"
"I'll… see you soon I suppose." He took the delicate rose into his hands and walked out of the room. He practically ran out of the Xiao Long household before activating his semblance and flying off. A small rumble followed at the activation of his speed semblance and black feathers slowly floated down.
And that his how the Remnant everyone knew shattered into a million pieces and each piece allowed a different path. Now we just have to wait and see which the Rose chooses. Will it flourish into any color or will it wilt in a crow's midst? We'll find out… eventually… she just has to grow her stems and thorns first. Then we can see the delicate bud that will alter the course of Remnant itself, defying the gods and playing a chess game of her own…
AN: So that was the prologue to this story The Shatter Effect. I tried to think of a different name for the butterfly effect but I think I failed, meh it's whatever. Reviews are greatly appreciated and help me work faster and better so I'd be grateful if you left one, it helps out a lot! :)
See y'all next time!
1) Kind of like a Night Fury from DreamWorks Dragons.
