Chapter 1: Desolate Future
Remnant, once having a stable peace was thrown into bloody conflict through fear and confusion. Even when the confusion had settled too much blood had been spilled for either side to stop the violence. It was what Salem wanted after all, for humanity to turn on itself and tear itself apart from the inside. In doing so children were forced to fight against each other the world was already scarce on adult huntsmen due to Grimm attacks and recovering from the conflicts of the Great War itself. It was almost a repeat of history but with roles being slightly changed. Instead the sides were Vale and Mistral fighting against Atlas and Vacuo and the battle was far from fair. The vast amount of resources that Vacuo had and the advanced technology of Atlas tipped the balance against Vale making the war a very one sided effort but it wasn't a swift and easy victory like Atlas had hoped for. Ten long years the war had dragged on for and no one expected it to end any time soon.
Team Rwby though united were forced to choose sides however they pledged their loyalty towards Vale. Weiss though being offered a high position in the Atlassian Military declined on the thought of having to kill her own friends, it disgusted her. Ruby and Yang had a reason to fight for but Blake didn't have a great purpose in this war at least not as much as her friends had in it. The White Fang were still a prevalent factor in the war taking neither side the last few years they had been pretty quiet but there was recent activity that they were showing signs of life again. Adam, hellbent on destroying and enslaving humanity, had Illia as his trusted Lieutenant along with the likes of Yuma and Triefa who had served Adam well in destroying Blake's family along with Sun as well.
Jaune, Nora and Ren were lost in the fall of Haven after Cinder lead an attack on Haven Academy with the help of the White Fang. Though Cinder lost many of her own she retreated after losing to Ruby yet again.
The front lines of the battlefield were ruined and bombed to hell cities with rubble and dust filling the air. Ruby sat in a destroyed high rise casino about 10 stories up overlooking what used to be a market plaza holding her crescent rose sniper rifle. Ruby rubbed her eyes, sighing, growing ever tired of this never ending war. She looked up at the storm clouds that had darkened out the sun and twitch as rain suddenly splashed on her face. A quiet sprinkle then turned into a steady downpour as Rain drenched her covering over her body. Ruby pushed her hair, which had grown quite long in recent years reaching down to her shoulders, back and tied it into a long ponytail. Ruby wasn't much for fighting in an army and prefered lone wolfing it on the battlefield or working with those she trusted in small teams usually with her teammates.
The quiet crunch of rubble behind Ruby caused her to jump quickly reaching for her spare heavy caliber pistol only to turn and see Weiss glaring back at Ruby.
"Really? Who else did you think it would be?" Weiss asked sarcastically.
"Can never be too careful Weiss, you know Atlas has been working on stealth robots." Replied Ruby.
"I know... have you seen anything out of the ordinary down there?" Weiss jokingly asked as she plopped down next to Ruby resting her head on her shoulder.
Ruby chuckled at this question "No, you and I both know there hasn't been activity in over three weeks."
Ruby glanced over at Weiss looking over her outfit which was standard issue from Vale's Military but with a redesign from Weiss with tints of white added into the outfit to fit her own style. Ruby had done the same with streaks of red on the chest piece of her armor and boots. Thinking about it now Yang and Blake did the same thing as well adding their colors to their gear. As Ruby was pondering the thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and jumped up and flopped into the prone position and propped open a bipod for her sniper. Atlas troops indicated by the bright white on their uniforms were moving across the plaza.
Weiss laid beside Ruby looking through binoculars. "I count about 50 soldiers in that one group alone with some armour vehicles about a half a mile up the road back towards enemy held territory." Stated Weiss.
"Looks like the Intel recovered by Blake was right Atlas is attempting another push into our lines." Ruby said as she cocked back her rifle. "Yang you ready?"
"Yeah. Me and Blake are in position on the other highrise right across from you guys." Yang said quietly. "Once you take the first shot me and Blake will move in to keep the enemy distracted just keep them confused so they don't give us too much trouble alright sis?"
"I have faith in your sister Yang." Blake stated chiming in.
Ruby looked for the high ranking officer in the group and saw he was trailing behind the group near a troop transport with a stationary gun. Ruby took aim and fired her high caliber sniper rifle and watched as the officer's head exploded and blood burst hitting against the side of the vehicle. Surprisingly no one noticed or heard the gunshot thanks to the thunder and lighting from the storm so Ruby shot the gunner in the troop transport and watched as blood burst from his head and he slumped over his gun and fired his machine gun firing into the group of fifty soldiers causing confusion among their ranks. Ruby laughed watching the panic and took aim firing as the random soldiers thinning out the ranks. Thankfully they were too high for the soldiers too really nowhere the sniper fire was coming from. Ruby picked off more and more Atlas soldiers after racking up about ten or eleven kills before the soldiers got out of the open and into the floors below Ruby and Weiss most likely figuring out where they.
Ruby pulled her scroll up and spoke into it saying. "Yang it seems you were right without leadership they're charging straight into our building you're good to destroy the vehicles now just… don't go t-..."
Just then multiple explosions could be heard with multiple gunshots going off down below from what Ruby could assume was Yang.
"She never really changed did she." Groaned Weiss.
"Lets go we need to get out of here." Insisted Ruby as she put Crescent Rose on her back and pulled her pistol out its holster and pulled the receiver back.
Weiss had her rapier but she also had a compact submachine gun which she had become quite fond of Ruby and Weiss crept towards the doorway but just as quickly stopped hearing multiple footsteps quickly approaching their floor. Ruby and Weiss ran out down a hallway towards the stairwell but could hear the splashing of footsteps. Ruby and Weiss ran in opposite directions hiding in different rooms adjacent from one another and listened closely as the soldiers slowly crept into each of the rooms. A soldier had the unfortunate luck of not checking his corners and could only get out a quiet gasp for air as Ruby jumped behind him snapping his neck quietly. Ruby quickly turned back looking towards the hallway and making sure no one heard anything. Ruby pulled her pistol out and checked her left and right quickly and ran into Weiss' room. Ruby walked in to see two dead soldiers on the ground with Weiss huffing for breath and blood across her face and chest.
"I guess these guys were smarter than mine." Retorted Ruby.
"Yeah fucking great." Weiss spouted.
Just then Ruby heard the cocking of an assault rifle and in the instance of a second activated her semblance and dodged gunfire rolling to the side and firing off a round into the head of another Atlas soldier.
"So much for getting out quietly." Stated Weiss
Yelling and the clamping of footsteps were heard down the hallway the sound of about six more soldiers were approaching Ruby and Weiss quickly. Ruby and Weiss positioned themselves on the right side of the doorway. As another soldier ran into the room Weiss quickly smashed him over the head with her submachine gun and grabbed the body using it as a shield and fired at the group of soldiers killing two more before the others ran for cover in the hallway.
"Go!" Yelled Weiss as she was laying down suppressing fire.
Ruby sprinted down the stairs with her pistol in hand and jumped over the railing falling down down at least five stories and braced herself with her aura taking the impact of the fall. She looked up to see three surprised Atlas soldiers who were caught off guard. But before they could make a move Weiss landed on top of one plunging her sword in his back. The other two soldiers turned and fired at Weiss but Weiss leapt into the air pulling her sword with her and blocked the bullets. As Weiss came down she sliced open one of the soldiers neck before kicking the body away from her and threw her sword into the last remaining Atlas soldier's face impaling him to the nearby wall.
The first five floors of the building used to be shops and restaurants and gambling areas so the area was wide and spacious for use by the public. Ruby and Weiss ran towards the window and looking down to see Yang and Blake still fighting with Atlas forces below. Ruby took her sniper rifle out and blasted open the window and watched the glass fall down to the street below. Ruby took a few steps back and looked to Weiss who was watching their backs.
"Ready?" Asked Ruby.
Weiss turned and looked at Ruby and the shattered window and responded confused.
"Are you insane I can't make that jump like you could."
Just then the Atlas soldiers ran down the stairs and yelled and began firing at the two huntresses. Weiss quickly knocked over a table taking cover and blindly fired in the direction of the incoming fire.
Weiss clenched her fists closing her eyes and grinding her teeth until she burst out screaming "FUCK. Fine let's do this."
Ruby smiled and using crescent rose blocked shots as Weiss and her got out of cover and were about to jump but as Ruby was about to jump she heard a scream and quickly turned to see Weiss take a shot to her leg and collapse in pain.
"WEISS." Ruby rang out, her rage and anger coming over her.
In a swift movement with her Crescent rose she dashed at the eight remaining soldiers and speared one with the handle of her scythe and swung the body into the air and using the scythe slammed the mid air body onto the ground causing the soldiers chest to burst open with blood and crushed lungs spilling out of his body. The seven soldiers were taken aback by this brutal action and the sergeant of the group tried to give a command but in a whisp of roses found he couldn't get words out because Ruby was clawing into his throat with her hand. Ruby lifted the sergeant and and broke his neck causing him to go limp. Terrified the soldiers yelled and charged Ruby but it was pointless. Ruby fired her weapon flying back and swinging her scythe backwards cut a soldiers body in half causing his upper half to fall forward onto his severed legs. Five left. Ruby brought her scythe over head with one hand and with the blade end pierced through a soldiers helmet slamming the scythe down into the floor along with the skull and brain of another soldier. Four left. Seeing how they couldn't win at range two of the atlas soldiers charged Ruby but her speed was too much for them. Ruby using her scythe as leverage swung over and kicked one of the two soldiers away as another grabbed her and threw her away from her weapon.
"Not so tough without your weapon now are you bitch?" Snarked the Atlas soldier.
The soldier approached Ruby who was looking at the ground and and saw blood coming from her forehead. He grabbed his gun and proceed to slam the buttstock of the gun down on Ruby's head but missed as she quickly dove back and then ran up and smashed her head into the soldiers helmet. Dazed Ruby grabbed the soldiers gun and fired a hitting the soldier in the groin causing him to scream in pain and fall to the ground. Ruby threw the gun aside and grabbed the fist of the other soldier who tried to blindside her. The soldier was shocked a young woman was capable of such feats. Ruby twisted his arm not looking at the soldier causing him to fall to the ground as his bones broken and cracked under the extreme force. Ruby pulled out her pistol and executed both of the soldiers putting a bullet in each of the heads. Two left. The last two soldiers attempted to run away but fell as they were shot in each of their legs with quick succession. Ruby slowly walked up and grabbed one of soldiers and started bashing his face into the ground and the other could only look back as his friend's blood and bone were left on the concrete. One left.
"Y-You you're a monster" Yelled the last soldier.
Ruby looked up at the last soldier and walked up to him blood covered her hands and face.
"You're wrong...this is war...we're all monsters on the inside." Ruby quietly spoke.
Ruby got up and swung her scythe up grabbing the last soldier by the jaw and pulling him into the air with blood pouring out of his throat and down Ruby's scythe landing on top of Ruby until Ruby pulled the trigger of her weapon pulling the head off of the last remaining soldier causing blood to burst everywhere. Zero left.
Ruby took a deep breath and ran over to Weiss who looked up at Ruby a bit shaken up by what had just transpired.
"R-Ruby? Weiss' voice choked with fear. "What was that."
"We don't have time to discuss this you're hurt we have to move now." Answered Ruby.
Ruby helped Weiss up and was about to move to the stairs until the roar of an engine was heard outside the window. An Atlas gunship hovered outside the window.
"Shit!" Yelled Ruby.
"Weiss you're not gonna like what happens next but it's the only way." Cautioned Ruby.
"What do you me-." Weiss blurted out but was interrupted when Ruby in a wisk of her semblance threw Weiss out of the Window.
"RUUBBBYYY…." Echoed Weiss as she fell down to the streets below.
Ruby smiled and made eye contact with the pilot and fired her crescent rose sending her dashing left and right as the pilot fired at her but was unable to hit her with her incredible speed. Ruby leapt out of the window above the airship and landed inside the open crew doors that opened on both sides of the airship and kicked an unsuspecting soldier out and bashed another one's head into the wall of the air ship and fired her crescent rose at another killing him dead where he stood causing him to slump back into a seat. Ruby jumped on top of the ship and launched herself into the air with her crescent rose and then in the motion of a top spun downwards and sliced the air ship in half causing the air ship to explode and fall downwards to the streets below. Ruby dove down quickly and saw Weiss slowing herself down with her glyphs and flew down and caught her just before she hit the street level. Ruby and Weiss landed next to Yang and Blake who were taking cover behind a destroyed armored patrol car.
"Glad you two are okay." Remarked Blake.
"Hey sis welcome to the fun." Laughed Yang as she chucked a grenade over the vehicle in which screams followed an explosion.
Blake noticed Weiss' leg and ran over to her. "What happened?!" Yelled Blake.
"Just a gunshot wound you know this is a war after all. Weiss sarcastically replied.
"She'll be okay don't worried I've come back from worse after all." Stated Ruby. "How many soldiers are left?" Asked Ruby.
"There were more than we thought Yang and I cleared out about thirty or so but another fifty showed up." Informed Blake.
"Alright Plan B it is Blake call in an airstrike." Commanded Ruby.
"Got it." Blake complied and got out her scroll and made the call.
"Team Rwby to Command base come in."Blake said into her scroll.
"This is O leader go ahead." Replied a voice over the scroll.
"Plan A isn't going to work the enemy force is too large we need an air strike on these coordinates. 0-7-1-8-2-0-1-3 how copy O leader?" Blake asked.
"Affirmative airstrike en route eta 5 minutes get out of there now." Replied the voice once again.
"Copy that. We need to leave now!" Shouted Blake.
Ruby grabbed Weiss and picked her up and started running away from the enemy forces that were overwhelming their position. Yang jumped on top of the truck and fired off three rockets that destroyed more armored vehicles slowly the atlas soldiers pursuit. Yang grabbed onto Blake who shot her ribbon onto the rubble ahead of them and swung with Yang ahead of Ruby and Weiss to a safe location. Ruby sprinted as fast as she could and could hear the jets flying overhead. Weiss fired back at soldiers who were still pursuing them. Just then a ribbon wrapped around Ruby and pulled her and Weiss up out of the streets and up to the building above. Ruby and Weiss landed and looked down to see the fight jets fly by and leave mass destruction as the street below exploded with the dropping of bombs. All was quiet and dust and debris were floating in the air below no one survived.
"Well I guess that's mission complete let's head home." Stated Ruby.
Yang's eyes saddened as she frowned and looked at Ruby as she asked. "How long will we have to fight this damn war."
Ruby's expression hardened and she sighed and looked at Yang. "Until Salem and all that are responsible for starting this war die."