Make sure Ren is doing alright.

Check his legs to see if they're hurt.

"Legs feel fine." He says as he begins sitting up, raising his left hand before him. "There's a hole in my hand..." He turns his head to look back at them. "But I can live with that." He then smiles warmly. "You came back for me."

Ruby gives him an exuberant thumbs up. "Of course! We promised!"

"Hey, welcome back, buddy!" Yang says with a small wave.

Blake scratches a forefinger against her cheek sheepishly. "Sorry about your hand..."

Ren then proceeds to stand, his movements a bit slow and jerky. "Nothing hurts," He assures them. "But I'm so stiff. I feel 70 years old. How long was I out?"

"Not 100% sure, but I'd say at least a full day." Weiss says.

"I see. That's a while." He looks off to the side with a small frown.

"Excuse me, guys-" Pyrrha carefully shoves past Blake and Ruby.

She runs toward Ren and wraps her arms tightly around him in an embrace, eyes clench shut in relief. "I'm so glad you're back...I-" She says with a shaky breath. "I heard everything."

Ren hadn't reacted immediately to her, standing motionless in her hold. It made Pyrrha worried, but she continued to hold him.

"I'm sorry. I just-"

Recognition finally dawned upon the boy, and tears were immediately brimming his eyes. "Pyrrha- It's really you?" He said with disbelief.

Time to put that crown polish to use.

At the same time Ruby asks Blake to use the crown polish to help clean Velvet's knife.

"Of course!" Blake says to Ruby.

"It's me, I'm here." Velvet calls to her, leaning against a wall for support as she lifts up the bloodied blade attached to her boots.

"There's not much to do, aside from simply pouring it on..." Blake squeezes the strange liquid onto the blade and it sizzles the blood off into a green mist.

"Gross." Velvet says.

After a while the blade it relatively spotless.

"There, all clean!" Blake announces.

Meanwhile, Pyrrha and Ren are still holding onto each other. Their bodies tremble as tears of joy fall from their cheeks.

"You're real." Ren says with hushed relief. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Velvet glances over at them before leaning with her back against a wall near Cardin, who had been observing the two as well. It doesn't take long for them to feel the wave of emotions hit them at the two teammates' bittersweet reunion.

Velvet rubs a hand over her eyes. "Odd ones out, huh?"

"Yeah." Cardin says stoically.

"Feels fucking awful to have something in common with you." She laughs bitterly.

"Amen to that." Cardin says with a small chuckle and a sad smile.

Check Port's office for clues.

Have Weiss keep an eye out for blood on the way there.

It's dark, but with the guidance of Velvet, Blake, and Ruby's flashlight, it's easy to navigate.

Ruby vaguely regrets telling Weiss to keep her eyes open for blood; she could do without knowing, at this point. Weiss sounds calm as she, again and again, points out blood signatures - both familiar and unfamiliar, but all of them undeniably deceased.

"Mint, from team UMBR."

"Umeko...Umeko Shirosaki, I think."

"I don't...remember the name, but...we took Advanced Aura together."

"Andrew Barry. Be careful with that blood."

"Teila Ceruss...She always seemed nice."

"Prof. Newcastle...I regret never taking Combat Attire & Upkeep."

"We took that!" Velvet says. "Coco got straight A's just for showing up."

The Academy Gardens are just as quiet and lifeless as the rest of the school.

Weiss takes a glance at the dead entity there, then looks away, already having confirmed everyone's suspicions.

"Dove."

Holding her forehead with one hand, Weiss scowls. "It really hurts now. Can I stop?"

"Yeah... thanks." Ruby says.

Ruby isn't surprised when they don't meet anyone else in the main building, either.

They don't look at the second story classroom hallway again.

They have seen enough.

Professor Port's office door seems normal at a glance, but upon close inspection, the door has been opened - forcibly.

The door simply slides open, revealing the shattered frame...and inside, the office.

It's empty, but someone rummaged through it at some point.

On the desk is a book laying open on a bookmarked page; judging by the lock, it is probably someone's journal. The lock is broken too; shattered with force to get into the book.

A familiar cane leans against a fallen cabinet. Ruby has a reasonable suspicion who was here.

They look at the journal in hopes of finding clues.

Sometimes, recognizing your leader's faults is the most important part of being a follower. I cannot stay and watch this farce any longer.

I don't know what he's thinking anymore.

I don't even recognize him. I have to do something.

He won't listen to me, so I'll go to others. I'm sure if I can just let them know what he's concocted here, I can get enough manpower to remove him from the project by force.

I hope he doesn't do anything rash before then.

"Does that mean he left before the dome appeared?" Yang asks as she peers at the journal alongside Ruby.

"He got out in time..." Ruby mutters with relief.

There's nobody here.

What to do now?

Pick up Ozpin's cane.

You can never have enough loot.

"Sure..." Ruby thinks as she grips its handle and lifts it up to examine it.

The blade is encrusted with flaky, dry blood. The blood is harmless now.

Well, doesn't look like there's much else to do.

Head up to Ozpin's office.

They have to ride an elevator to get there, luckily it works fine, and the doors slide open to reveal a seemingly untouched room.

It doesn't seem much different... Or... Well... Something feels off, but... Ruby can't tell what it is.

Everyone pans out into the room and cast cursory glances around them.

No one says anything for a long time, and it is completely quiet.

"What's the point of all these gears, anyway?" Yang asks, breaking the silence. "They're not even doing anything."

Ruby looks up at the giant cogs that decorate the ceiling above. "No, they're doing something." She says, and Yang looks at her questioningly. "For sure... They're meant to be turning, right? Always."

"So, wait..." Yang begins. "Where did that Monarch guy say the Dome Mechanism was?"

Ruby stares at the gears lost in thought for a moment before answering.

"Above."

The realization of its location springs on her quickly, and Ruby rushes over to her sister excitedly. "Yang! That's it! You figured it out!"

"It was mostly you, though." She says modestly.

"Good job!" Ruby continues. "I'm sure the gears have something to do with it..."

"We need to get them moving, you think? How-" Yang is interrupted as Velvet shouts. "Hey, guys! Ren found a staircase over here. Its aura activated!"

Everyone looks over to where Ren stands with his hand against a panel that glows with the color of his aura. Stairs that seem to be levitating in the air stretch out before him.

"Hey, good job!" Ruby praises.

"I guess that answers how we get above." Yang says.

Climb up to the top.

Disable the dome.

End it.

The stairs lead up to a small platform above the main room.

A single mechanism stands here, at the heart of a spiral of gears.

It's a small spherical glass object; there's a gear inside, and strange looking widget hovering above a hole in the middle of the gear.

"That has to be it, right?" Ruby asks.

"Likely so." Weiss replies.

"So, uh... How does it work?"

"Since the panel downstairs was aura-powered. I assume this is the same...I guess?" Velvet says.

"I remember learning about that kind of thing. In Advanced Aura, y'know." Pyrrha says in support.

Velvet nods. "Same."

Weiss hums at the logic of their words. "If that really is the case, all you need to do is touch it and use your Aura...but-"

Time to open the dome!

Open it open it openit openitopenitopenit!

"On it!" Ruby interrupts and places both hands on the mechanism.

"Would you let me finish." Weiss says incredulously.


On the outside of the dome the rest of the world is watching...waiting. An airship hovers near Beacon cliffs, the persons aboard keeping lookout.

"This is Lisa Lavender and VNN, reporting live from Beacon Academy. It is the sixth day since the school's emergent shield activated, and no changes have occurred. Hundreds of people have gathered around the school to wait. Family and friends to those trapped inside. Though little is known about the situation under the dome, information from Beacon professor Peter Port leaves us growing concerns. General Ironwood of Atlesian military is leading the efforts to break the dome. Dust-based explosive rounds are to be detonated in four hours."

Outside in the pouring rain many have gathered to wait for a response from those inside the dome.

Ruby and Yang's father watches it with a strong resolve of seeing his daughters again, even Zwei stays loyally beside him.

Penny stands out in the rain, closest to the border of the dome; remaining ever so vigilant.

Within a tent nearby, someone shouts to her.

"Hey!" The gruff voice of Hei Xiong calls out. "Why don't you come sit with us? You're getting soaked!"

Sitting with him are none other than the Malachite twins, sipping on warm tea and looking at the girl with worried eyes.

Penny turns slightly to look at them.

"Thank you! That is very kind! It's no wonder you are Yang's precious friends."

"I wouldn't go that far..." Hei says.

"-But I can't accept you offer. I am to remain here- alert and combat ready- and watch the perimeter."

Penny returns her gaze to the dome, and Hei shrugs.

"Alright then. Suit yourself." He grumbles, but continues to keep an eye on her.

In the airship the VNN crew gather more information relevant to the dome.

"We're here now with General James Ironwood. There's a lot of debate about your plan; most outspoken is Peter Port, who claims no explosive will be able to damage the shield. Any thoughts?" Lisa says.

"We won't know until we try." Ironwood says as he looks into the camera. "That's all I can say. However, I can say with certainty that I will break the seal, one way or anoth-"

Behind them the dome flashes a bright red, interrupting his speech and garnering all the attention.

"-er..."


"Ruby!" Weiss shouts as the mechanism rejects Ruby's aura and shocks her.

Ruby steps away and looks at her hands, they felt like they were burned with electricity. "That hurt! Why didn't it work?!"

"Ruby! Don't panic!" Weiss began. "I think it's acting up because you're too weak."

"H-Huh?"

"A device like this probably needs a lot of Aura. If you don't have enough, it'll backfire..."

"Do you think...we could all chip in? Combine our power?" Velvet asks.

"Well...Potentially? It might work, but there's no guaranteeing it..."" Pyrrha muses.

"We won't know until we try, right?" Ruby says optimistically.

Meeting each other's eyes everyone, but Weiss, sticks out a hand and hovers over the mechanism.

Bring back the sky.


"...It went back to normal..." Ironwood states.

"What just happened!? Is it opening?" Lisa exclaims.


Touching their hands against it, they transfer their Auras collectively, and the mechanism glows brightly.


A surge of energy exudes form the dome, as a flash of light occurs, and it shatters the glass on the airship.

"The windows!" Ironwood shouts.

"Again!?"

Shielding themselves from the shards Ironwood and Lisa gasp at the unfolding events.

The dome is lit with varying colored symbols encircling it, though a single, large red symbol sits at the top.


The group can feel the effect their Auras are making, as sparks of energy ricochet around them, causing them to flinch. The dome is starting to crack around them.

Inside the mechanism's glass, the small widget slowly moves and clicks into place in the middle of the gear below it. However as it tries to turn there is only a sound of resistance as it grinds obnoxiously; the gear unmoving.

"It's not turning...Does it need more power?" Ruby says over the commotion.

Blake clenches her jaw, one eye shut due to the strain the mechanism is causing. She looks up at the remaining member who has yet to join.

"Weiss!" The young girl is startled by her teammate's voice; an expression of hesitance on her face. "I know it's hard for you, but we need your help to! Come on, Weiss-"

"Jeez." The heiress says. "I was just preparing." Weiss moves her hand, touching her knuckles against the glass. "I haven't given up on you, Blake, so don't give up on me yet, either."


Outside the dome a flash of blue encircles the top portion of it. The Schnee snowflake constricting and digging its points into the dome; further cracking it open.

Everyone watches with bated breath to see the result of this miraculous moment.


Inside the dome the sound of a clock ticking reverberates throughout the room. The gears are moving once more.

"It's turning...We did it." Ruby says. "And the dome is..." After all the commotion, Ruby sees that the dome is truly breaking apart; finally opening.

Without another word Ruby dashes away from the pedestal.

"Ruby?" Weiss calls after her.

Ruby can't stop now. She has to see this.

The noise of the ticking is like a taunt in her ears as she presses desperately against the towers' glass window. Yang is next to her in an instant, and with a strong jab of her elbow, she easily shatters the barrier between them and the outside.

Light pours in immediately as the glass falls away, and everyone steps out onto a large balcony overlooking the Academy grounds.

...There is a certain feeling of disbelief;

Everyone looks skyward and watch the cracks expanding all across the dome. A large shard falls from above, and the sensation of rain pelts them.

disbelief which slowly turns into joy;

Almost at once the rest of the dome falls to pieces, and the gray cloudy sky raining down on them is the most wonderful thing they have ever seen.

...joy which, slowly but surely, bit by bit,

Everyone smiles as the barrier dividing them from the rest of the world is falling at last. Ruby spreads her arms wide and basks in the shower with a hoarse laugh.

is washed away, and replaced by mourning.

Ruby can't stop the tears from coming. Warm salt mingling with icy rain as she clenches her hands into fists.

Beacon is open to the rest of the world, but the events of what had happened, and the toll they took on their minds, will never be forgotten.

Suddenly, Ruby has no idea what to do...

Everyone is a mess. All of them crying and rejoicing simultaneously as they slump to the ground tiredly.

Ruby falls forward, and can't seem to find the strength to even bother sitting upright.

Velvet wraps her arms around Pyrrha's neck, openly sobbing against her as Pyrrha tries- but fails- to not do the same.

Ren sits back and covers his face with the palm of his hand in a weak attempt to hold back the tears.

Yang and Blake sit side by side, arms wrapped over each other's shoulders for support.

Cardin sits up, his expression morose and lost.

What now?

What is there left?

Go home. Be safe. Don't die.

Live happily ever after.

It'll be a long road till everything is "normal" again.

Yet, you have shown that the impossible is possible.

Please, go have fun for once.

Ruby isn't sure she knows how to do that, but she promises to try.


6 years later

Beep.

The time reads 8:00AM.


A/N: So. RWBYQuest is at it's end. There will be an Epilogue chapter once it is released, but overall this game is over. Gotta say thanks to the almighty GM for creating RWBYQuest, giving me permission to write a novelization of it, and inspiring me to write things in general because of it. Of course my gratitude goes out to you readers as well for sticking with me on here. I hope you enjoyed the ride as you watch my shitty writing grow progressively better alongside this Quest comic; as well as the emotional train wreck you likely had to endure as beloved characters died.

For those of you who enjoyed following RWBYQuest the gm has created a new, original Quest Game under the name of "Streetcrows". So far it seems quite interesting, and a few cameos of your beloved characters from RWBYQuest will occur in the comic. I won't be writing a novelization of that Quest as I don't think my skill is up to par for it, and I'd probably mess up a lot of stuff since I know nothing about this new universe the game takes place in.

Again, much gratitude to everyone. Keep doing what ya love doing, whether it's writing or some other fantastic label of art. If ya don't try your damnedest at something you'll never know if you'd succeed.

Link to that new Quest: streetcrows,com