Chapter 6: Introspection Aftermath

(Ruby's POV)

I wasn't sure how to react to that. She never gave me the chance 'cuz she just up and left. Honestly, it made perfect sense, but it also destroyed every meaning of the word. A Huntress working with the most dangerous criminal in Vale? Correction. A Huntress who basically abandoned everything that she was working toward working with the most dangerous criminal in Vale. Yeah, it all depends on how you look at it.

What was it that I wanted to do really? I'd wanted to be a Huntress ever since I was a little girl. The heroes that stood by all that was right and just, and protected people from the creatures of Grimm.

I'm not sure what I want to do. Do I take Cinder up on her offer, or do I become the Huntress I want to be? After everything that's happened today, I don't know anymore. Then, a crazy, and I will emphasize crazy, idea comes to me. If it works, I can carve my own destiny. That's if it works. All I'll need is time. I know what I need. Now I need to work out how to get it, and what I need to do with it for it to do what I want it to.

I write a few things down on a scrap of paper I had tucked into my pocket. Then I walk back up to the bar to talk to Junior, as Cinder called him.

"Oh, you're still here?" he remarked disappointedly.

"Yep. But I'll be going soon. Hey, do you know where I can find a store that has all this?" I ask, showing him the paper.

"I have a few connections. But I can tell you that they won't just help you. Just tell them Junior sent you. They'll be more cooperative. Here you go. You know, Cinder was right about you."

"Cool. See ya. Maybe I'll come back. You got a nice place here."

A few days later. . .

(Narrator's POV)

Needless to say, team RWBY, or what was left of it, was in no condition to do anything or go anywhere. Their leader still hadn't returned, even after 3 days. Yang was most affected by this, naturally. Her little sister had confessed to being the criminal she was supposed to be after, and then, just as suddenly, she had jumped out the window and hadn't been seen since. There was one place she hadn't looked yet, but she knew she'd come away empty. Nothing, nada, zilch. Junior's club.

Weiss was more furious with her partner than she had ever been. No surprise there, either. Blake was trying to figure out what would drive Ruby to such a decision. If they only knew about half of what was going to happen. A knock on their door broke their thoughts. They opened it excitedly, hoping it was Ruby. It wasn't Ruby, but Coco.

"I didn't want to do this," she said slowly, her usual smugness gone. "We found Ruby. She's downtown."

The three of them nearly fell over from excitement. They ran past Coco before she had a chance to continue.

"They're not gonna like what they see. . ."

Downtown Vale

"They finally found her!" Yang yelled in her excitement.

"She has to be one of the worst leaders at Beacon, leaving her team alone like this," Weiss complained. Secretly, she was as worried about Ruby as Yang was.

"I'm sure that she had a reason," Blake said calmly. She wanted to throttle Ruby.

When they got downtown, they saw a huge crowd of people standing behind police tape, like a crime scene.

"It's just awful," a female in the crowd answered.

"This has never happened before," a man in the crowd said.

"So tragic," another figure continued.

"What is going on?" Weiss inquired impatiently, shoving her way to the front. Yang and Blake followed her.

Now anyone would be surprised to see a body inside an alleyway lying in a pool of blood. But when Weiss, Yang, and Blake saw the black clothes and that unmistakable red hood, you can probably imagine their reaction. Or lack thereof.

"You three are students at Beacon Academy, right?" a police officer asked them. "You know this girl?"

They were too shocked to answer him. They were too shocked to do anything, really. Well, except stand there and be shocked.

"I tried to tell you," Coco said, walking up to them. "But you ran off before I could say anything. We only found her this morning. I've already told Professor Ozpin."

"It can't be her," Yang said in that shocked tone that's always used for a plot twist (you know the one). "Tell me it's not her."

"Wish I could, Blondie. But it's her. They confirmed that it's Ruby Rose. It's all done here. Let's leave them to their work."

Of course, the three refused to leave, so Coco had to use a more. . . persuasive approach. Using her handbag, she knocked all three of them out. Fox and Yatsuhashi carried Weiss and Yang, and Velvet brought Blake.

"Why'd you do it, Red?" Coco asked bitterly.

A few days later. . .

A funeral had been held for Ruby Rose, and team RWBY was officially disbanded. Things couldn't get any worse, honestly. Even Cinder was somewhat depressed that Ruby was gone. She had missed the competition. It was all too easy now.

About a year later, a girl dressed in simple, albeit fashionable, clothes entered the From Dust Till Dawn shop in downtown Vale. The weapon at her side announced that she was a Huntress. She carried herself easily, like a professional should.

"Welcome. Can I help you?" the elder shopkeeper asked his customer.

Turning to face him, her bangs were grown out over her left eye. Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her right eye bore a beautiful silver color.

"I'm fine, thanks," she answered politely. "Do you still have Weapons Magazine?"

End of Chapter 6