R.W.3.Y.: All Fairy Tales End
Prologue; Story Begins
Characters: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long, etc.
Ships: White Rose, Bumblebee
Description:
RW3Y, the amazing art by Dishwasher1910 who has given me permission to write this, after the Salem Crisis RWBY went a many myriad of directions with their lives, but maintained close ties with each other and their friends. This is their story, their continuation, the end to their fairytale.
A/N:
All of this is done with permission from Dishwasher 1910, or Bach Do, as well as the use of the cover image so please thank them for their work. Enjoy!
"It is up to you to take the first step." - Ozpin
Kingdom of Vale, S.R.E.D. Forward Operations Base
"Ruby Rose!" The screech rings like a Banshee's howl down the white hallway. Glass windows to the left shuddering from the sound of it, and the walls bouncing it towards her. At least that's Ruby saw as happening before going wide eyed at the charging Schnee Specialist.
White hair fluttering as wind rushes past her, her speed scattering the papers and poor associates between the Specialist and her target. Ruby knows she should probably run, it's what she's best at, and it's what nearly anyone would do in her position, but she's rooted to the spot, staring at those piercing crystalline blue eyes. Their pupils contracted and angry conveying the murderous intent of their user. Ruby could feel the petals rolling off her in waves as her Semblance responded to her pounding heart as her wide eyes dart from door to door, trying to find an exit as she runs out of time.
It's an interesting concept for a speedster like herself, to be running out of time. Yet here she was, effectively staring straight down the barrel of a fired gun, if guns could fire Schnee wrath, and simply letting the bullet come right at her. Yang would probably make some snide remark, making the situation ten times worse and sending Weiss into full enraged Schnee mode, of course from the tension in Weiss' neck and tight line her full lips had formed it was possible she was already… wait when did she get so clo-
Cut off by the sudden impact of being tackled by someone only three quarters her height Ruby squawks unintelligibly as a weight moving at the speed of sound slams into her gut. Her breath is shoved from her lungs and her mechanical legs can't hold the up to the force. Ruby faintly feels gravity tugging at her, and then suddenly she's on the ground. Her eyes blurry and focused on the fluorescent lights above her, a slight dull pain emanates from the back of her head, but she's still trying to understand exactly why she's on the ground in the first place. Then Weiss, eyebrows furrowed, nostrils flared and water rimming her eyes flares down at her.
If one were to take a look at the pair's current position there'd be questions about Weiss being court martialed for suggestive behaviour against a subordinate and colleague, but the members and soldiers of Atlas' S.R.E.D. Had learned one very important lesson about working for Weiss Schnee, there was a list of times and places for questions, and that certainly didn't include while the officer had her legs straddling Agent Rose and her arms holding her body over the top of the younger woman. And so, without a single word every agent, soldier, and associate simply passed by as of this were an everyday occurrence, which given Ruby's recent return to active duty it might as well have been.
"Ruby. Rose." The words were enough to send a shiver down the red and black clad woman's spine and forced her to gulp quite loudly. Her eyes still wide, those silver pools searching for any intentions hidden in Weiss' eyes. "You have just returned to active duty as an S.R.E.D. Field Agent, and you start your first operation back by not only refusing to follow my orders but, going so far as to countermand them. If I didn't know any better I'd have thought you and Yang had switched bodies."
"W-w-well you s-see Weiss…" Ruby gulped again, sweat began bead across her forehead and her brows scrunched together, she bit her lip, chewing on it. Weiss straddling her partner and best friend couldn't take it. After all these years Ruby was the only one who could melt Weiss' frozen anger with a look. Weiss bit her own lip, trying to bottle up her laughter as she watched Ruby, literally, squirm beneath while coming up with an excuse, an excuse Weiss had already heard a thousand times before… the same one that had cost Ruby her legs. The water around Weiss' eyes thickens she bites down on her lip harder, her chest and breathing starting to shudder as she looks at Ruby's face… but before Weiss could begin to blubber over the past, getting sucked back into the stream of memories that haunted her sleepless nights a quiet cough sounds from above them. It was Weiss' turn to lose cohesion as she looked up at her elder sister.
Brigadier General Winter Schnee, her Snow White hair pulled into a tight bun atop her head, with some of it covering her face. The single crystalline eye staring at Weiss and Ruby, her eyebrow raising only a fraction and the corner of her lips quirk upwards. Her shoulders lower and her head tilts to get a new angle on the situation.
"Am I… interrupting something, my dear sister?" Winter's amuses tone questions. It was amusing to say the least. Winter had been watching her sister command the Spec-Ops team Ruby was leading from her Command and Control Centre near the heart of S.R.E.D.'s operations base. Had it been any other officer, or specialist under her command Winter would have filled out the harassment paperwork herself, regardless of the afflicted's wishes. As it stood, knowing about the peculiar relationship Weiss shared with her partner Winter simply allowed a slight breezy chuckle to fill the rising tension in the air.
A lesser officer would have run, a colleague would have assumed Winter had lost her mind, but Weiss knew different. Joy was hard pressed to come by these days, with the Grimm still encroaching on hardwon territory and The Liberation Front making progress against SDC and civilian targets of interest there seemed to be a line drawn across the world, and the only question was who would cross it first. Weiss knew her sister was laughing, letting herself enjoy the moment, it was a rare spectacle for the younger Schnee, and a small, if well earned, pride entered her eyes. Winter refused to open like this to anyone, and yet somehow after Ruby whittling away at her and the darkest days of the Salem Crisis had done what Ironwood and all of Weiss' insistent perstering couldn't, it had set Winter free from the demons she had held within her own soul. The elder woman would never dare to reveal this side to anyone but family and friends, and would likely kill anyone if word of it got out. To Weiss though it was a sign that she'd made the right decision. Winter's mirth slowly fades, of course there hadn't been much let out to begin with, and that hard set expression of a military leader takes right back over.
Ruby still stuck beneath Weiss looks from her friend and commander to the reset general standing in an angle that made it hard to see her. She was quickly set free as Weiss' cheeks reddened enough to give the cloak Ruby wore a run for its money and Weiss got up. Ruby didn't move, waiting on bated breath to see if the… tirade would continue.
Weiss simply tugged at the hem of her short skirt, something Yang still gave her and Ruby crap about to this day. Brushing away at imaginary dust Weiss clears her throat into her hand and her back goes rigid like a stone wall. She snaps a quick, robotic like salute to Winter and then holds a hand towards Ruby.
"N-Now as I was saying Agent Rose. You're conduct while admirable, went against the direct orders of your superior officer, what do you have to say for yourself?" Weiss' eyes darted between Ruby and Winter, her cheeks still carrying a heavy scarlet tint that had yet to die down. Ruby, for her part had taken to heart her partner's lessons on etiquette and military protocol. Accepting the hand and standing about as still as she could, bouncing ever so slightly on the balls of her feet, Ruby exchanges looks between the two Schnee sisters. How in Remnant did you get here Ruby Rose? Standing between Weiss and Winter Schnee, both technically your superiors even though you're the go to field commander? Where else would I be?
"My actions while… regrettable, and neglectful of superior saved millions of Lien of S.R.E.D. equipment Colonel Schnee, had it not been for me we would have lost the entire Artillery battalion, instead we only lost a single battery and… and a quarter of its crew…" Ruby whispers the last part, her words barely heard over the resumed din of noise in the hallway. Head downcast and eyes ghosting with tears Ruby suddenly shoots her head up, ready to vehemently defend her position she instead sees something else. Weiss has water pooling around her eyes, and her hands are squeezed tightly around each other, knuckles white.
"It's okay Ruby… you can't save everyone, no matter how much we may want to," Weiss answers placing her hand on the younger woman's shoulder, and from the weak smile on Ruby's face Weiss knows she did what's best. "Now Brigadier General Schnee, you came to discuss a mission involving Ruby and I?"
"Yes, though I feel it would be best we continue this discussion in… private, Colonel Schnee," Winter says and turns on the heel of her foot with military precision and begins taking long strides towards Weiss' office leaving the pair in her wake. Turning to look at each other confused they quickly begin walking when a slight cough before them reminds them to keep moving.
Kingdom of Menagerie, White Fang Council Room
Blake groaned as she looked at the council of chapter leaders. Reforming the White Fang after the hell that had been Adam's leadership had been no easy task, a task that only grew in importance and as a headache with every passing day. Days like today made Blake yearn for her and her team's younger years, running across the continents of Remnant trying to beat the wicked Salem, but those were things of teenagers, not adults. Blake's ears perk up at the lack of sound in the room, it was deathly quiet, like everyone was frozen in shock. Raising her head and looking out Blake is greeted by all of the holographic, and some flesh and blood, chapter leaders staring at her.
"I apologise, I had a late night last night. You were speaking about the S.R.E.D. problem? And wondering exactly how the White Fang and Menagerie should react to it?" Blake's tone is inquisitive, and sharp as a scalpel, she could hardly afford to waste time at the moment, not with her next meeting coming up.
"S.R.E.D. has moved Forward Operations Bases into every Kingdom and on every continent of Remnant. I know that the Kingdom's Council agreed S.R.E.D. was abiding by all laws and that it was being carefully maintained but-"
"But what Leader Renko? S.R.E.D. is now the primary line of defense between the Grimm and all of us. I have already stated the Colonel Schnee and I have our differences of opinion on the matter of S.R.E.D.'s morals, but I can promise that their objectives are above reproach. Colonel Schnee will never risk civilian lives, Faunus or Human, to attain any of her goals," Blake's voice barks, silencing the elder lizard Faunus, who's tail swishes quickly from side to side. "I trust my former teammate, she may be an Atlesian Specialist, but she is a Huntress first and she will never forget that. For now S.R.E.D. is off the table of discussion, if events or actions cause you pause or discomfort talk to me personally and I will bring it up to the Council again if need be. Now are there any other topics of interest to discuss?"
"I would wonder about the negotiations between Vale and our own organisation after The Liberation Front's most recent attacks?" Velvet Scarlatina questions. Blake bows her head once again, bringing a hand to her forehead and massaging her temples gingerly. Velvet's eyes drop slightly.
"The LIberation Front has once again escaped our grasp. I refuse to kill them outright and even with the help of trained Hunters and coordination between Atlesian Military units and our own Search groups we have… been unable to find their most recent base. I wish there was more to report, but sadly I do not have anything else. Now if you'll happily excuse me I have another meeting I need to prep for."
The Chapter Leaders all get up and leave, the room being filled the sound of scooting chairs and some grunts. They file out just as orderly as they had come in only… Blake took a look at her watch let her head fall onto the large oak table before her.
"You know, resting your eyes never hurt anyone Blake," Her ears shot up like periscopes from the depths and her head quickly followed, her amber eyes giddy with delight at the voice. Standing in the door frame was her father, the big hard as a rock muscled Cat Faunus rubbed his greying beard and smiled, the lines showing on his face in the yellowing lights of the room.
"Dad!" Rushing out of her chair, all thoughts of class and manners tossed aside, Blake hugged her arms tightly around her father's waist. Even now in his old age and her adulthood he still towered over nearly everyone, especially his daughter. "I knew Winter wanted to talk to me so I didn't think I'd have a chance to come say hi while I was here!"
"My little girl, I'll always make time for you, even if you can't. Remember what I told you when I passed the mantle of White Fang Leader to you?"
"No matter how many steps you take, no matter how far away you are, despite the distances, the blood, and the politics. You are a Belladonna, and I will always be here for you," Blake whispers, her lips pulled taunt as she stares up at her dad like he was the wisest man on the fact of Remnant, which in fact he might just be.
Ghira Belladonna had aged well, his hair was starting to go grey, and his muscles were still as tough as they had been when he'd resumed control of the White Fang at the end of the Salem Crisis. His age showed in other ways though, he wasn't as fast as he used to be, his booming voice didn't quite make it through the halls anymore, and his words tended to fail him more than he'd care to admit. All in all, for a man who'd spent much of his young life as an activist, fighting Grimm, and playing politics he was still very much in good health.
"Now how about I walk you to your next meeting, I feel like your mother and I never see you anymore."
"Of course you don't dad, you left me to take care of The Fang for you, and to run Menagerie. It's all I could do to get you to at least represent us to the other Kingdoms on the Vytal Council." Ghira looks at his daughter, studying her growing worry lines, and the bags underneath her eyes. How much she'd taken on at once, it was no wonder she was struggling to keep it all together sometimes. She clung to him like a life preserver, and he was fine with that, it was nice to feel needed these days, when words seemed to be doing less of the fighting.
"It'll be okay darling, whatever it is Schnee wants you to do, it'll be okay. I'll watch after The Fang while you're gone, but do me a favour and bring that Wukong boy with you? I can't handle his antics anymore, he visits us far too often." Blake just smiles at her father's discomfort. Ghira may have never really liked Sun, but he at least grew to tolerate him, which was good considering Blake had asked the Monkey Faunus to watch over her parents personally.
"I won't make any promises dad," she answers, pulling him slightly tighter and leaning her head on his chest as they walked. He laughed, and Blake listened closely to his powerful beating heart thundering lungs, it felt good to have him close and feel his life… it gave her strength while she was away.
Kingdom of Vacou, unknown location
Yang Xiao Long felt the wind whipping her hair around behind her as she pushed the throttle on her hoverbike, Bumblebee, and blasting off across the scorching desert at an even faster pace. The arms around her waist suddenly cling harder to her, and she has to bite back a laugh or risk getting sand in her mouth. Her jacket was buttoned up over her chest stopping sand getting into annoyingly awkward places and her sunglasses were keeping out the glare and dust from her eyes. Her face felt like it was being bitten by the tiny insignificant grains of sand striking it as she flew over kilometres of land in seconds. Oh how she loved this thing, Weiss had even footed the bill, saying something about making certain her agents, which definitely didn't include Yang, were always best equipped. Yang saw through the excuse, it was just a way to justify spending military money on a friend to buy an amazing gift. Another squeeze across her abs brings her back out of her thoughts and into the now.
Easing off the throttle and coming to a painfully slow stop Yang looks over her shoulder at Sun. The Monkey Faunus had offered his services to Yang when he heard she was looking for Bandit groups. His tail, only half the length it had been, and his arms were covered in scars. He still wore the open button up, but the colour had changed, he'd switched out the white for black, it contrasted with his skin and made the scars show up even more, highlighted like words on a page. His bleached blonde hair had almost completely re-grown, kept in small braids, over the scar that stretched from the centre of his forehead all the way around his head, covering about three quarters of his scalp which it runs over. Metal plates are strapped to his shoulders and it looks like he's let himself get a little scruffy on the jawline.
"You sure this is the place Sun?" Yang grunts, her thighs were sore, felt like she'd been riding for hours and the sweat from Vacou's heat hadn't helped either, neither had the sand. Her mood was deteriorating fast and she was having trouble dealing with Sun's latest set of issues, not that they were even his fault.
"Yah, the pillars for our First Year Relic hunt for Shade Academy should be right over there, and the reports said the bandit camp's remains weren't too far off from it. They probably set up here because Grimm levels have been at an all time low since the Vacou Assault…" Sun's voice slowly lowers and he looks around again, like there was something he'd suddenly forgotten. "Yang? Where's Neptune?"
Yang knew it was coming, she'd originally tried to keep Sun from finding out she was here on a hunch. Current condition or not Sun's memories had been coming and going long before Adam had gotten his hands on him. She fought back the water in her eyes as she kept a level gaze with Sun. His eyebrows were raised and he simply waited, he'd walked far enough away that he probably couldn't see the tiny pools of tears on her lashes.
"Sun… N-Neptune isn't with us," Yang stutters at first buts cuts it off, she doesn't want to have to tell him again, it broke her heart to see a friend in so much pain.
"But I thought we were on patrol? All three of us? Salem might have an entire horde of Grimm just over that ridge, we can't let him walk into it!" Sun's voice was raising in volume and his arms started moving animatedly. He turned and was about to keep walking when Yang strode forward. Placing her metal hand on his shoulder she stopped him dead.
"Sun…. Neptune had to go back early, we called Ruby and told her to expect him back early remember?" Yang's voice is shallow and her eyes just beg him to go with it. Sun doesn't completely understand why Neptune would just leave while they were on patrol, it wasn't like him at all. "We have to head back too, Grimm are converging on the area and Ruby isn't willing to risk any of us out here tonight. Just hop on and we'll head back to Shade."
As they walk back towards Bumblebee and Yang climbs on Sun stands there staring into the vast dunes.
"It happened again… didn't it?"
"... Yah…"
"Third time today… When was I?" Sun turns looking at Yang, but this time his expression was somber, his eyes not meeting hers.
"Right before it happened… I tried to get you to stay in the city… but you know how insistent you are sometimes. Come on Sun, let's head back I've got a meeting Winter called me for and I'm certain Blake would like to know we're both still kicking," Yang motions to the seat behind her on the hoverbike.
"Yang? How do you put up with it? The stress, the horror, any of it?"
"I remember that all we have is each other, and that when push comes to shove we're better off standing side by side than we would ever be alone. I learned that the hard way when Blake left, it got worse after Ruby too. I never told the rest of my team but… there were days I simply didn't want to go on. All I ever had was my spirit Sun, my ability to be strong and protect those I love… Adam took that security away with a single sword stroke on the night that changed my life." Yang isn't meeting Sun's eyes now, instead she too stares off into the expansive desert of Vacou.
"What about Raven?"
"I've waited this long, she can wait a little longer."
Kingdom of Vale, S.R.E.D. Forward Operating Base, Main Meeting Room
Weiss and Ruby exchange looks as holographic images begin to fill the empty chairs along the table. Winter is seated in firm and hard looking office chair at the opposite end of the table from her sister. She can't help but notice the way Ruby lingers next to Weiss, choosing to stand to the Colonel's right instead of taking a seat in one of the soft cushy chairs next the younger Schnee.
Ruby's eyes dart between Weiss and Winter, while the pair seemed to have no power struggle between them the rooms that contained them seemed fraught with tension, like the unaired grievances and slights had taken hold and clogged the atmosphere. Weiss took off her, in Ruby and Yang's opinion, ridiculous hat, taking the extra time to straighten her hair out slightly. Ruby never could help herself, running a finger through Weiss' silvery locks had just become a soothing habit. Not that Weiss minded, the pair had grown extremely close over the course of the Salem Crisis, add to that the near constant working together and Ruby's recent injuries and there was no surprise as to the two becoming more connected. Weiss now secretly loved Ruby's annoying quirks, from twirling locks of Weiss' hair to some of her own, the binges on cookies, and hiding away, something she figured might have happened much earlier had they the time to get to know each other that well. Just as Weiss had learned Ruby's stunts, so too had Ruby figured out Weiss'; the Schnee didn't yell because she was angry at you, she was afraid, to this day some of the tension between Winter and Weiss lingers from Winter's decision to leave. Weiss also tended to fluster easily, still not completely at ease that she'd gotten close enough to someone that they could read her like an open book. With nearly all the holograms accounted for though, the stuffy air seemed to slip away and the atmosphere, despite being filled by the greetings of Hunters was somehow calm.
"As you are all no doubt wondering why you have been called here, I shall make it apparent without delay," Winter states. Standing from her chair and pressing a button hidden in the tables finely carved wooden panelling a projector in the centre activates, and the glass windows to the hallway are shuttered by metal plates. "Before I begin I will say this now, this operation is off the books and not for the faint of heart, if you wish to back out, do so now, no one will think less of you."
None of the holograms disappeared. So Winter continued as she paced the room.
"Three days ago Arthur Watts, Doctor and chief scientist for Salem escaped custody from Mistrailian authorities in charge of his incarceration. It would appear that he engineered his breakout from within the walls of the SDC. The White Fang Agent Ilia Amitola, advisor to Director Belladonna, and Ironwood's Special Investigations Unit are looking for the connection already. I have assembled you here in order to find, and with any luck capture or kill Dr. Arthur Watts. If news of his escape breaks before we have regained custody of him we will have panic, only increasing the number of Grimm attacks we're having in trying to defend our current holdings. This team will operate under the command of S.R.E.D. Operative Agent Rose, as she has seniority in Field Command positions. As far as objectives go, there is only one; bring Watts back, dead or alive. Colonel Schnee will serve as second for this mission and will begin prepping assets at the required facilities. Yang Xiao Long, I hope we can count on you for this one, I've already booked passage for you to Mistral and a ticket for Mr. Wukong back to Menagerie. Director Belladonna your presence has also been requested both due to the high Faunus population in Mistral villages but also due to a possible Liberation Front activities funding the escape. Everyone else I've bought out your current contracts and found Hunters to replace you, you are requested to return to your respective Home Points or S.R.E.D. Operating Bases to await further instructions. I will not let him slip through our grasp, if we have to scour the entire surface of Remnant we will find Arthur Watts. Are there any questions?" Winter finishes, her breathing is even, and her posture impeccable, but her fire filled eyes betray the seeming calm of her state. Not a single hand raises, the die had been cast, with Watts back on the board we were no longer dealing with the Grimm like pawns, one of Salem's Bishops had returned and that meant anyone who got in the way was fair game. No one in this room had moral quandaries about putting Watts in the ground, not a single one.
Kingdom of Mistral, S.R.E.D. Forward Operating Base
The soldier stumbled onto the base, blood leaking out of the gaps in his armour. His legs are like weights and it takes more of his energy to pull himself forward with every step he takes. The guards are converging on him, their weapons raised, vaguely in the background he hears shouting but the words are foreign, nothing makes sense. His head begins to pound, like a hammer repeatedly striking his skull. Bam, crash, bam, crash. The cycle repeats and finally he simply collapses, head in his hands then a voice, startlingly clear bellows in his ears.
"DIE!" It shouts and his body explodes, his pain melts, fading into nothing as he is torn apart into millions of pieces, taking with him to two closest guards. He hopes in vain they will forgive him, the voice was too powerful, he couldn't fight it.
A/N:
Thank you so much to Dishwasher for giving me permission to use the idea and artwork they created. I hope you all like this so far. This is only a taste, the ultimate end game is to have main story lines with interconnected short ones between the large plot installments, allowing me to focus more on building up this amazing world and the characters that Dishwasher came up with. Note that some of these are written before certain arts were released that is the main reason for any inconsistencies, otherwise I'm doing my best to keep with what the art has. If you haven't checked out their art go do it NOW It is absolutely amazing, anyway see you next time, the plan is to have this be huge updates for plot, with small snippets that may be non-sequential added in from time to time. I'll try not to make it to hard.