All That Matters
AN: This is it. The final chapter in the story and it's going to be more of an epilogue. There's some emotions that need to get aired out. At the end of this chapter, there will be a tease for the final arc of RWBYond Home, and I'm looking forward to that.
Chapter 10: Departure
I'm sitting in a chair on a ship heading back home to Vacuo. Dad is tending to the scrapes and bruises I've accumulated over the days. Mom is standing between Mrs. Ruby and Yang. I can feel the tension rising in the air. Despite the victory, nobody seems happy. I don't get it, we won, they saved me, why isn't Mom happy about that.
"You shouldn't have gotten in my way." Yang says.
"Is that what she turned you into? A murderer?" Mrs. Ruby asks.
"I do what needs to be done."
"You lost control."
"I was completely in control."
"That's even worse!" Mrs. Ruby shouts.
"We're not like you Ruby." Mom interjects. "I agree that we should have captured her and given her a trial. But when someone threatens the peace we all fought to achieve, that person needs to be eliminated."
"Not everyone can be the shining hero Ruby." Yang says. "Some of us have to get our hands dirty so you don't have to."
"We, had her, and because of you, she escaped."
"Because of you she was alive and able to escape!" Yang's eyes flash into red.
"That doesn't matter now." Mom says as she gets between them. "We need to find them."
"I overheard them talking about making contact with Baloo." Dad says.
"Then they'll be heading for Menagerie." Mom says. "I'll leave there immediately."
"What?" My heart snaps. She's leaving again! It's only been a few days since she came back!
"I should head back to Dragna." Yang says. "It's been a long time. I'm sure my mom has a lot of work for me to do." Mrs. Ruby's expression tightens in frustration and it doesn't go unnoticed.
"If Yang can't go with you, then I am." Dad says as he stands.
"No!" I shout. "Don't go, tell her to stay!"
"Nova." Mom sighs. I run to her and wrap her in my arms.
"PLEASE!" I scream. "Don't leave me alone again, you just came back!" Tears start to swell in my eyes. Mom does nothing to comfort me. She doesn't say a word. "Please!"
"This is important work." Mom says.
"More important than me?"
"It's important because of you." Mom tries to reason. "They came for you, I can't let that slide."
"Then take me with you." I try to bargain. "Grandpa and Grandma are on Menagerie, I can stay with them."
"I can't." Mom says. "The route I'm taking is too dangerous for someone your age."
"Please don't." I drop to my knees. I feel herself pulling my arms off her. Before I can open my eyes and react I feel a comforting hand on my head. I look up, expecting my mother to reassure me that she'll be back soon, just like she always does. But instead, it's Mrs. Ruby.
"You can stay with me while your parents are away." She says with a smile. Something about her aura dries the tears in my eyes.
"Don't worry Nova." Dad says. "I'll make sure she's not gone long."
"Nova...there's time when kids have to be strong for their parents." Mom says. "I need that from you. I'm doing this so you don't have to deal with the mistakes of my past when you become a huntress. This is a path you can't follow, not yet."
"I…" Mrs. Ruby sighs as she eases me up. "If that's your decision, I won't intervene. But please, consider what the consequences of your actions are." She looks at Yang. "The reason I haven't helped Blake is because I think she's right, killing Sienna Khan, will only make her a martyr and assure that what comes next is a lot worse."
"Then I'll fight against them too." Yang says.
The conversation ends there. I walk over to a window with Dad. This is all still too much for me. I grab Dad's hand to try to comfort myself, and comfort him. I used to think I wasn't good enough, or that Mom didn't think I needed her. Now I have a taste of what they're up against. I've seen first hand what they can do and now more than ever….
"I don't get it." I whisper.
"Huh?" Dad says.
"Kuso!" I scream in frustration. "I'm not weak! I'm not! So then why...why does she think she has to leave me every time?"
"Nova...your mother cares about you a lot. I know she does." He says. "But she's always been like this. She used to always run from her problems. Now she can't stand when her problems gets her loved ones hurt. Her mentor, Eve's father Adam, he's the one who cut Yang's arm off and he did it because of her."
"It's cowardly." I say. "Mrs. Ruby brought me along because she knew she could defend me and that i wouldn't get seriously hurt. But my own mother continues trying to coddle me because she's scared?"
"It's not just you." Dad tries reasoning but I tune him out.
"I wish I could just turn these feelings off. I hate her!" I fume as I stomp off.
I sulk to myself as we arrive home. Mrs. Ruby says Jaune and Citrine have already returned home. She gathers some of my things and returns to the ship. Yang and my parents didn't return with her. She sets a suitcase with my stuff next to me, sits down and brushes some dirt off my knee.
"First thing you're doing when we get to my place is taking a bath." Mrs. Ruby says with a smile. I nod my head in acknowledgement as the ship lifts off. The crushing reality that Mom really was going on a mission and taking Dad with her began to set in. A crippling feeling takes hold of my heart. The only comfort is Mrs. Ruby's presence. In this moment, I feel like she's the only one I can tell what's weighing on me.
"Sometimes...I wish she'd just die on a mission." I admit.
"Nova, that's a terrible thing to say." Mrs. Ruby chastises.
"I know." My voice is cracking. "But then I'd have closure, and I wouldn't have to keep worrying about her breaking her promises over and over again." I want to cry but I can't. All my tears are gone. In their place is a burning anger at everything my mother is doing.
"Hey." Mrs. Ruby puts a hand on my leg. "I know that might be how you feel. I've been there myself. But trust me, losing a parent is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through. And both of mine died fighting monsters. I don't want that to happen to anyone else. I don't agree with what your mother is doing, and I hate what it's doing to you. But that's the fate of the children of heroes. Now is the time to be strong and carry on. It's for the best."
"I...didn't realize you lost your parents." I sigh. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, you have every right to be angry, but don't let that anger control you. Don't let it define who you are." Ruby looked to the floor. "All your pretty words…."
"What?"
"It's nothing just….something someone told me once. You're going to be okay. Things will get better, I promise. That's all that matters in the end."
"I believe you." I say in earnest. "You're the only one I feel I can believe anymore."
"Thanks." Mrs. Ruby closed her eyes. "But please, don't put all your faith in me. I'm...nevermind. My own issues aren't what you need to hear right now."
I don't believe her when she says that. It does make sense that Mrs. Ruby would have her own hangups. But I still can't see her as anything other than the hero I wish to be. But more importantly, after everything I just went through, she's the one hear with me. Not Dad. Not Yang. And certainly not Mom. And that's all that matters to me.
AN: Bittersweet ending. But the purpose was to show how Nova went from hopeful for her mother, to the pessimistic brat she was at the start of RWBYond Generations. And also develop her relationship with Ruby because of what's all going to happen in the last 26 chapters of RWBYond Home. Speaking of which, here's the preview:
King Daphnes: Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to mobilize our forces.
All the best fighters of Raiment gather at a table.
Oscar: There was an idea.
A young Abraham protects his brother from King.
Oscar: That to unite the world against the Grimm, one strong and charismatic warrior would stand on the frontlines.
Zeldon puts on his mask and stands at the front of an army.
Oscar: To inspire hope and courage in the next generation.
Ruby puts her hand on Prim's head.
Oscar: Whenever the world is at stake.
Hue is blasted into a wall by Spite.
Oscar: We would find our Guardian.
Zeldon and Prim clash blades. Sparks fly in all directions as the ground splits apart.
Auro: I know what it's like to lose.
Kurome: He's the most powerful being in all of Raiment. His power is second only to Salem.
Auro grabs Avarice by the throat and starts choking him.
Kurome: He's unlike anything we've fought before.
Nova covers her hands in flames. Her punch is blocked and absorbed by Auro.
Kurome: Zeldon and Prim are equal in power. But the one we need to be careful of is the wizard.
Johnny is pinned to the wall by Urboa Naboo.
Kurome: If he gets his hands on any more relics, it'll be the end for us.
Auro puts his hand on Johnny's head and starts squeezing it, causing Johnny to scream in pain.
Oscar: Tell me his name again.
Kurome: Auro.
Auro fires an energy blast. Ebony Sterling catches it in a magic glyph but it shatters, knocking her out.
King: Insolent humans, always fighting amongst themselves.
Johnny: We have one advantage, they're coming to us.
Nova flies towards Castle Dagon as flying beasts pour from its hanger.
Johnny: I have what he wants.
He puts the Relic of Knowledge on his head.
Nova: Then that's what we'll use.
Glade: Everything we're doing is to clear a path for Prim so she can deal with Zeldon.
Prim's aura cascades in a wave, knocking out a room full of people.
Prim: Let's talk about this plan. Without them, we're at a serious disadvantage. So I'm making the executive decision to take the fight to them and free our friends.
Avarice and Ventus sit in a prison cell alongside Thorin Kaye and an old man with scars on his face.
Prim crashing into Beacon tower, destroying it. From the smoke, Prim, Glade, Nickel, Chenzi, Johnny, Nova, Citrine and Avarice stand tall and ready for battle.
Prim jumps off a building and descends into the burning city of Vale.
Prim: Cities can be rebuilt. What I'm fighting for is the future.
Chenzi travels through the Mistral marketplace with Grace.
Argent and Sumire share an awkward moment while flying in a ship.
Citrine, Eiess and Ruby play with the new baby.
Hina brings a plate of food out for Glade.
Prim pulls her sword out.
A hand reaches through the bars to grab her.
All her victories flash before her eyes.
Prim's Fighting Dreamer kicks Zeldon's Black Dog.
The skies start turning purple as Prim runs into a dark fog.
Nova clashes with Rudania. Johnny uses a cloth to ride the explosion into the air and tries to kick Naboo, who catches him in midair with a single finger.
Zeldon marches the the rift alongside all the warriors of Raiment.
King throws a massive, building leveling punch that blasts Prim backwards. She lands on her feet, draws her sword and charges at him.
Prim and Glade stand back to back fighting a dozen soldiers with spears. An airship pulls in to evacuate the group. Prim creates a lasso construct to latch on the ship.
Prim jumps from a ship and flies through Vale with her armored wings construct.
Prim flies around, dodging debris and trying to land a hit on Naboo. She flips around and thrusts her sword but the old Gatekeeper blocks the attack.
Glade blocks an attack from Rudania's hammer and counters with a spear thrust.
Chenzi's punch is caught by Medoh's fist. He spins around and kicks her in the face.
Nickel's blade is caught in Ruda's trident.
Citrine scatters and pulls Argent and Sumire away from a blast.
Avarice flies through the air and throws spikes at Void.
Argent slashes through a Nevermore and lands on a balcony, coming face to face with the Gatekeepers.
Johnny swings from a chain and fires a blast from Amon's Rod at a large man with red hair.
Eiess lands on a rooftop and summons a giant titan Grimm apparition.
Prim leads a charge in the streets of Vale, carving a path through the Grimm.
She passes Nova by. Nova turns to face Fury. The spirit of the Summer Maiden lingers behind her as she fires a blast of violet flame laced with red lightning.
Nova launches Fury in the air with a punch.
Yang lands a powerful blow to King's head.
Argent and Sumire fly through the air after slicing apart a titan Grimm.
King Daphnes, Zeldon and Princess Arryl stand in a field of flowers.
Chenzi catches Zolomon and throws him out a window.
Abraham's spirit clashes with Cinder.
The Old man with scars on his face sits in alone in a prison cell, sighing in despair.
Glade runs through a dark void alongside Prim. Prim pulls ahead and intercepts Zeldon's attack.
Prim looks up at the violet skies, wraps a red cloth over her head, her eyes turn silver and she prepares for the final push.
RWBYond Home: The One World- Coming Soon.