R.W.B.Y.
A Bleak end
Chapter 3
Aftermath, part 1
A.N.
To the readers: My most sincere apologies for disappearing this last month. My Thumb drive went missing then I got slammed by work. But I have convinced myself to write again. Let's go.
I do not own R.W.B.Y.
From on high
The stars shine brilliantly overhead.
Imagine a dirt road extending out before you. To your right is a Forest with leaves red as blood. To your left is a lake. This lake is not just "A lake" it reaches over a mile to the north (Your left is North) and is nine miles East to West. Behind it standing like peaceful guardians are two enormous mountains that are reflected off of the lake perfectly. The stars and moon, shattered as it is, are also reflected beautifully off of the still waters. It is the dead of night. So late but so early that the entire world sleeps. The nocturnal animals have retired to their dens and burrows for the day and the birds and beast that thrive in sunlight still wait for the sun to herald the new day. However Ruby Rose and Penny walk regardless of the late hour. After all they still have three days of walking to reach the Kingdom of Vales Northern Gate. So stopping to rest has become a luxury. At least that's how the two girls see it. Neither The enigmatic android nor the supersonic Huntress wants to close their eyes. Both of the girls fear what waits for them in unconsciousness. What they fear seeing are their own troubles and terrors. Ruby has come to the conclusion that Penny has feelings for her. Ruby Rose herself has discovered that she can quite easily love Penny back. However this is the part that is difficult. Ruby will not tell Penny what she has discovered. She will not allow herself to fall in love. The red clad teen's elder sister, Yang Xiao Long, Once referred to Ruby's mother as "Super mom; Baker of cookies and slayer of giant monsters." Summer Rose was indeed as she is described. But one day she embarked on a mission… And she never came home. Ruby was too young to really understand what was going on, however her heart was still broken. Ever after she harbored a private fear of strong emotional ties to others, especially Huntresses or Huntsmen. The only exception is her sister. Yang is Powerful enough, even in her youth, that Ruby never feared for her once. Ruby Rose's thoughts are chaotic. She's beginning to fall apart.
Penny is torn as well, however her attraction to Ruby (Ruby was VERY correct about it) is currently the farthest thing from her mind. Three days previous she and Ruby fought with a divergent Grimm. Frankly when the order came in to retreat from the first battle Penny was more than ready to do just that. Yet when she and Ruby fell from the escape ship Penny was not particularly keen on getting back to Vale. She felt compelled, since she was now back on the ground anyway, to track down and kill the divergent. She got help from Ruby, of course, the two of them becoming "Team CopperRose". The two of them fought the monster. Both of them nearly died in the process. Someone however did die. Not during that particular bout but certainly the girl did perish; a girl whose name was discovered to be "Blanca". Penny had so far been able to ignore the collective failures of so many Huntsmen, Huntresses and even Atlesian Knights. She was able to ignore the fact that so many (Penny included) had failed so miserably at their job to protect those who could not protect themselves; when a name was given to one of the deceased who she had been unable to save. It drove home like a bullet from a gun. Penny lost her self-control her level headedness. She freaked out. Crying and screaming. She was afraid. Penny had never been so frightened in her life (Young as she is). The Android had an emotional breakdown. She still is as a matter of fact; she just has a firmer grip on her self-control at this point.
As both of our heroines are walking in (slightly hysterical) silence and nothing else it is time to see what's going on across Vale….
Juan
"The public train charges WAY too much." I grumble to myself as the M.A.T. (Magnetic Acceleration Train) pulls to a stop in front the Industrial districts M.A.T. station in one of the somewhat shadier parts of said district.
"This place looks…" I look left then right "Like a slum." I conclude.
But I have stuff to do so I start walking. Why am I walking in a slum and what "Stuff" could I have to do hear? Well the goal is to find my friend Yang. After that? Well I just got off the train so give me a few minutes to figure the rest out.
After asking a guy in a black suit wearing sunglasses where I can find Junior Xiong's nightclub it takes me only another five minutes to find the place. Two guards are at the door. Both of them look like the guy I asked for directions. They look like criminals to me.
"Stop" Says the one on the left. "Listen kid this place is closed for the day. Get lost"
I shrugged. "I'm looking for a friend, another friend of mine said I could probably find her hear."
"I don't care." He stares at me like he wants to stab me. "Now get lost."
"Listen fellas I don't want any trouble, I just need to see my friend, apparently she can come and go as she pleases so she could easily be inside despite you guys being closed. So seriously can you just let me in?"
Both of the guards look at each other for a long second. "Well I'm bored. What about you?"
"Ha, OK let's waste this punk" Both men draw their…. Wait a minute, Red bladed Katanas? Oh crap.
"Get him!" The thugs charge me down.
The one on the right swings high, so as I draw my sword. I bring it in a full arch blocking him. My left side is exposed- Lefty swings, but I grab my scabbard and punch the button on it.
"Shink, CLInk" My shield is fully extended.
I've got both of their swords blocked, but just for a heartbeat, I shove back.
Lefty goes for a thrust, I block, Righty goes for the vertical swing, but my long sword is heavier AND I can use it as fast as he can use his Katana, I swing horizontal, "PING" I hit his sword HARD, his body jerks to his left, I Shove Lefty into the building and aim a blow at Righty from on high, He jerks away, but it's too late, I've got him.
The wound isn't mortal it's just his sword arm. I turn to Lefty He's up and swinging I block with my shield.
Then he swings vertical, I trap his sword for half a second between my shield and blade, I lash out.
"Spaat"
"Argh!"
I'd slashed him from right shoulder to left nipple. Once again not a mortal wound, but it was enough to incapacitate. I walk through the open door and close it behind me. Then I Drop it like it's hot. "Boom! I wish Pyrra had seen that!" I'm still dropping it when I hear a familiar voice behind me.
"I did see that." I winced around to see Pyrra right behind me.
"Pyrra, what are you doing here?" I asked. The aptly named "Invincible girl" blushed.
"Well Juan when Blake told me that you were trying to track down Yang AND that it was in a bad part of town I sorta kinda. Um…." She trails off but I get it.
"You didn't think I could handle the bad side of town buy myself did you?"
Pyrra's blush deepened. "I'm so sorry Juan, It was wrong of me to assume you couldn't handle this alone, you aren't angry with me are you?"
I give her a warm smile. "No way it's all right. Besides If you hadn't followed me you wouldn't have got to see me in action." I Shrugged. Anyone else might have been miffed but she only tailed me because she cared. So it didn't bother me.
"Come on Pyrra, let's go find Yang."
Pyrra smiled serenely. "You lead I'll follow"
As we walked through the complex the sound of dance music became louder; until finally we passed through a door into a huge dance hall.
The music was blaring loud. Both Pyrra and I could see dozens of goons like the ones I trashed, quite literally HIDING, from one Blonde bombshell slumped over the bar.
The music pulsed on…
"Listen up, strap in, notify your next of kin,
You're about to take a ride a little on the blazing side,
Guzzle down your Red Bull, you're gonna need a bucket full,
You're watching me accelerate and tear apart the interstate."
The two of us began to descend the small flight of steps into the large room.
"A certified monster I'm an absolute trip,
Like Otis Redding, hard to handle so you better get a grip,
A super-fast, superfly, bonafide wise guy.
Call the morgue and say goodbye, write your will; it's time to die"
Behind the bar stood another man dressed like he owned the place. He was in a cold sweat.
"Caffeine. I'm caffeine.
Caffeine. I'm caffeine.
I'm a bad dream.
I'm a rad scene.
I'm a tad mean.
But I'm not afraid to take you out."
We approached the bar. Yang was haggard. She looked like she needed sleep. She looked like she'd soaked her head in Scotch whisky and bailed on the water. She looked like a mess.
Pyrra looked at our friend in disgust. Drew her sword from her back and changed it to its rifle function. Twisted and aimed at the stereo.
I'm a cheetah on the plains, I'm a highway star,
A supersonic princess in a million dollar car,
Blood on fire pumpi-"BANG"
Yang jumped in her seat in response to the sudden gun fire and the song cutting off. Junior Xiong (I assume that's who the bartender is) also jumps, in response to HIS stereo system getting shot.
"What?! Who-wha?!" Yang spins around to see Pyrra with her rifle on her hip and myself with my thumbs in my belt. "Juan, Pyrra? What are you guys hear for?"
Junior seems to deflate as he realizes that the blonde she-bear making a den out of his nightclub is not going to turn on us.
Pyrra glares at Yang in disappointment. Then she speaks up.
"Yang coming here was Juan's personal mission. But I have words for you myself."
Yang cocked an eyebrow but otherwise remained still.
"Yang, this is pathetic. I know you're terrified by your sisters' disappearance. But it is no excuse to wallow in self-pity and fear."
"Hear, hear!" Said Junior.
"Shut up." Was Pyrra's response. Junior shrank back into his bar, sullen. Yang snickered at the criminal.
"You shut up too yang." Yang tried to NOT shut up. But Pyrra cut her off. "NO. I won't hear it. This needs to STOP. You need to take charge of your sisters' team. Weiss and Blake need you. Both of them are as distraught as you are at Rubys' fall, but they are even MORE upset at your absence. Two parts of their lives are gone. Ozpin is considering putting the whole team on leave, but it won't be for more than a week. Keeping in mind the monster in your report you might be asked to return to the field even sooner."
I finally decide it's time to interject.
"Yang." The brawler turns to me looking sullen and sick.
"Weiss has been sleeping in Neptune's arms for the last twelve hours. Blake has been sitting on top of a bookshelf in the library for just as long. They aren't eating. It was hard enough when Blake woke up and Ruby wasn't there. But now YOU aren't there either."
Yang seemed to be listening. Good maybe coming hear wasn't a wasted effort.
She smiled at us. Like she thought something was funny; turns out something was funny to her.
"Juan I remember when you were the womanizing dorky vomit- boy." She smiled warmly and turned to Pyrra. "I see why you've got the hots for him." She winked at Pyrra's bewildered expression.
"P-Pyrra?!" I try looking her in the eye… She won't meet my gaze.
Yang
I begin walking out of Juniors. (Without a backward glance at the loser in question)"I ship it." I say with a grin, as my stroll out the door turns into a hasty retreat. Pyrra has recovered enough to be pissed at me. I start dodging rifle fire laughing all the while. It was so good to laugh again. It was even better to know that once pyrra's tantrum passes. I'll have some of the best friends in the world.
Within five minutes I'm straddling my bike busting the speed limit wide open. As the wind whips my hair behind me like a cape of molten gold I relent. Pyrra and Juan are right. My teammates need me. As a matter of fact now that I'm not totally blinded by my own wallowing I can see that they need me the same way that Ruby so often has. They need a guide, a safe harbor. And the more I think about it I need Blake specifically in a somewhat more selfish way. Or you could say I want to kiss the friend zone with her goodbye. I'll wait for a healthier place before I tell her that I like her better as a more-than-friend. But until then I'll be there for her. Weiss should be alright for the moment. But I'll need to rescue Neptune from her soon. Poor guy he's probably totally at a loss for what to do. The days getting late and my teammates need me.
I burn rubber.
Blake
The Library lights go out. But I don't care. It makes no matter to me. I know what it's like to live in the dark to live alone. I know how it feels to watch my back even while I sleep. I know what it feels like to be afraid. I know how it feels to be alone. With team R.W.B.Y. I was never alone. Sometimes it bugged me. But I very quickly discovered that with Ruby, Weiss and Yang I had found family. I wasn't alone. When I woke up three days ago it was to see a bandaged Yang and a grim faced Weiss looking over me. When I started asking where Ruby was their reactions cut me to the quick. I only got as far was "Where's?" Before Yang's face twisted in pain and Weiss twisted around and left the room. They knew who I was asking for. And neither one of them could stand to say it out loud. Within the day I was recovered. The three of us found ourselves standing numbly in our dorm as Ozpin filled us in on the mission results. General Ironwood was beyond angry at Penny's loss. But the Headmaster could barely stand to watch us in our heartbreak. He looked on us with sadness equal to our own. "I'll leave you three alone." He left quickly, not wanting to disturb us any longer than necessary.
I awoke with a start. I had fallen asleep up hear. I wondered at what point my memory of Ozpins' visit became a dream. But then I realized that I hadn't simply woken up. Something was on top off my bookshelf with me. Before I could start running I was suddenly warm. Something soft and warm had enveloped me I blinked in surprise and then blinked more in continued surprise as I noticed the wetness on my face; tears. I'd been crying in my sleep, and still was, as Yang's arms wrapped around me and her hand began to pat my heaving back.
"Shh. It's OK Blake. I've got you now and I'm so sorry for running off. With Ruby gone you need more of me not less. I'm sorry." Yang didn't move me from the top of the self. She took me in her arms sat in my former position and rocked me slowly back and forth, rocked me to a snooze, crooning that she had me, saying that she loved me, whispering me to sleep. I felt safe and loved. After three days of fear I was home. I'm home.
The moon watched from on high.
At this angle it looks perfectly round. It looks whole. Like me.
For now.
AN.
Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to apologize for my extended absence.
I have been bogged down by work, distance from a library, death of a computer, and the passing of the esteemed Monty Oum the creator of Metroid, lead animator at Rooster Teeth, the creator of R.W.B.Y. and voice of Lie Ren in the same series. The passing of this titan and kind soul has humbled and devastated the RT community. And drove home the entire theme of this story for me; Mortality. For a heartbeat I considered giving up this fanfiction, but decided ultimately that I would not. Monty Oum was my inspiration while he lived. I refuse for his passing to dispel my admiration for him. This story will continue until I decide it has come to a suitable conclusion. I promise.
Any suggestions you may have will be appreciated greatly. If you liked then please comment. Thank you.
Rest in peace Monty Oum.
Hollowman1994.
