Regrouping with more new friends.
The warriors of Cosmos were starting to get ready to keep moving. Having spent the night resting and allowing Team RWBY to properly patch things up and restore themselves to their old team bond. Yang and Blake had finally made peace with each other, along with make a new promise that both was dead set on keeping. Ruby was really happy about that. There was little she wanted more than to see the team that was more like a family to her, being back together again with no hard feelings among them. Perhaps now at least one thing could go back to normal, even in this new and strange world.
Said red hooded girl was keeping watch while the others were getting ready. Using her sniper to scout the area, Ruby was ready to react to anything she saw... but what she saw next made her gasp in surprise. She saw Kain, along with the black haired man she saw before this whole adventure began, though she never caught his name. She would need to remember to ask him later. But they were not alone, a third man was with them.
He was a young man with shoulder-length white hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and a tinge of purple on his lips. He wears a suit of white armor, but with dark spikes on the knees and pauldrons, and a brown cloak with blue stripes around the neck. He looked really friendly, and if Kain and the other man was walking with him, then he should be trustworthy.
"Everyone! More of our friends are heading this way!" Ruby shouted in excitement.
Lightning walked up and looked "It's Kain and Cecil, along with that new guy. I shouldn't be surprise that they made it".
"Then let's hurry and meet them!" Ruby said before using her semblance to speed away.
"Hey don't run of on your... and she's already gone" Lightning said with a sigh. Ruby was so reckless at times.
Ruby ran towards her allies with a beaming smile "Hey! Kain!".
Said armored man stopped and looked up "Ruby?".
Ruby hugged his waist with a cute smile "It's so good to see you are alright! I haven't seen you since everyone headed out".
Kain managed a small smile "Good to see you too, Ruby. I am also relieved to see you unharmed".
"Oh, trust me. A lot of crazy things has happened" Ruby said before looking at the other two "Oh, sorry, I almost forgot. I am Ruby Rose, nice to meet you... I didn't catch your names".
The black haired man spoke first "I am Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum".
"And I am Cecil Harvey. It's an honor to meet another warrior of the light" Cecil said with an elegant bow.
"Nice to meet you both... wait you are a prince?!" Ruby asked Noctis.
He nods "I am. And the future King of Insomnia".
Ruby blushed in embarrassment and quickly bowed "Sorry your majesty. I didn't know".
"Hey, there is no need for that. I am not your prince, or the prince of anything in this world. Here I am just another warrior" Noctis assured.
"Ruby!" Came the voice of an annoyed Weiss as she arrived with the rest "Don't just rush of like that. What if one of the Chaos warriors had been hiding around here? You could've been attacked out of nowhere".
"Sorry Weiss. I was just excited" Ruby said sheepishly.
Yang smiled at them "Good to see you again, Kain".
"Likewise, Yang... I see you've gathered quite the party members" Kain commented.
"Yeah, all we need now is some cake and balloons and we can start dancing" Yang joked.
"I don't think he meant that kind of party" Noctis said.
Lightning walked up "Hello Kain. You are not confused by what side you should be on, right?".
"No. I promised I would redeem myself for my mistakes. And I am going to keep that promise" Kain said.
"Good, just making sure" Lightning said with a nod.
"Did something happen?" Blake asked.
"Long story. But the last time I was here, I learned that all our battles were just a part of a cycle of of death and rebirth; in order for the revival to work our memories of the last war and our original home worlds must be erased. And that no matter if we win or lose, we will keep being a part of that cycle, with no real end in sight. I decided I needed to defeat the other warriors of Cosmos before the manikins do, who are the only ones that can permanently kill the warriors summoned by Cosmos and Chaos. However, I was blinded to the truth, and my actions didn't help anyone" Kain said "Which I why I need to make up for my shameful decisions".
"This is not the first time I've heard about the whole thing that our fights don't matter. Is it really different this time?" Yang asked.
"I believe so. Unlike the other time, we can fully remember everything of our past and our worlds. I believe this might be the last war" Cecil answered.
"The last war..." Blake said to herself.
"If that is the case, then we need to win" Ruby declared.
"Don't be to hasty, Ruby. If this truly is the las clash between Cosmos and Chaos... then it could mean that all the deaths will be permanent" Lightning said as she made Ruby look at her "Meaning if you or anyone of your friends die. You will not be reborn, or go back to your own world".
Lightning's words struck a cord with Team RWBY. Of course, they suspected that they could die in this place, but now they fully understood the full gravity of their situation. If they die, they will never return to their home or families again. They should've realized this sooner. But with everything going on, there just wasn't enough time to consider all of the details. Ruby looked more worried than the rest of her team, since she was the leader, she would be responsible if any of them died under her watch... and their deaths would be on her hands.
"Worry not, Lady Rose" Cecil spoke as he put a hand on Ruby's shoulder "I promise you, that we will aid you in whatever may come. When it comes to war, always remember this: You are never alone".
Ruby smiled at him "Thank you Cecil".
"Hey, everyone!" Came a voice that was familiar to everyone except for Team RWBY.
Everyone looked to see a young man approach. He didn't look much older than Weiss, Blake and Yang. In fact he seemed to be within their exact age range. He is clad in black and blue armor with a flowing blue cape. He has silver hair tied in a ponytail, and covered by a brown, orange and white bandana. He also carries six different weapons: sword, axe, bow, staff, dagger and a lance. He pretty much looked like a walking switch army knife.
"Firion! Good to see you my friend" Cecil said with a friendly smile.
"It's good to see all of you again. I was worried I wouldn't be able to find anyone around here" Firion said with a smile of his own before noticing the new comers "Though I see there is a lot of new faces around".
"Well, allow me to introduce them all" Tifa said as she motions with her hand "Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladona, Yang Xiao Long and Noctis Lucis Caelum. All new, but all skilled".
Firion gives a polite bow "It's good to meet new allies".
Ruby was silent for a moment before she suddenly squealed and began speeding around Firion "So many weapons! How to you carry so many at the time!? How good are you with them? Do they have special uses? Are they magical!?".
Firion looked utterly confused until Yang had to pull her over hyped sister back by her hood "Sorry about that. She loves weapons. I think she's been gushing over all new weapons she's seen since we came here".
Ruby pouts "Hey, at least let me have some happiness in this war zone".
Firion chuckled slightly "If you wish, I can tell you all about my weapons as we travel".
Ruby's face lit up again "Really!?".
Firion blushed a little "Of course, I think I can trust you with that".
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ruby said while bouncing like a little school girl.
Weiss sighed "Ruby, you are embarrassing us".
"Hey, let her have her fun. Some foolery is needed every now and again. Trust me, I know" Noctis said.
"Yeah, don't be so Weiss Cold all the time" Yang joked... making everyone look at her due to her lame pun, making her frown "Really? Even people from other worlds don't like my puns".
"No offence, Yang. But I think you should leave the jokes to me" Tidus said.
"Honestly, I don't think yours are that much better, Tidus" Tifa said.
"What? Come on I'm funny. Right Yuna?" Tidus asked.
Yuna smiled "Of course you are. You make me laugh all the time".
Tidus looked at the rest "See?".
"Pity points don't count" Weiss said.
"Ouch. You really are Weiss Cold" Tidus said.
Weiss looked annoyed "Why you-".
"Enough already" Lightning spoke up, having enough of all the fooling around "In case you have forgotten. We still need to keep moving".
Ruby sighed "She's right, we need to keep moving. But you will still tell me about your weapons, right Firion?".
"I said I would, and I don't break promises" Firon answered.
Ruby smiled "Good. Alright everyone, let's be of".
With that, everyone continued their journey towards the ultimate battle with Chaos.
Meanwhile, Zenos was continuing his own trip through this strange land. But stopped when he felt something. He then pulled out his blade and pointed it towards the shadows.
"You can not hide from me, stranger. Reveal yourself" He demanded in a calm tone.
Ardyn walked out with his hands to the sides "Now now, there is not need for that, friend".
Zenos looked at him "And you are?".
Ardyn din his elegant bow "Ardyn Izunia. I am here to offer guidence".
"What kind of guidance?" Zenos asked.
"I can tell you are new around here. You, me and plenty of others have been brought here by Chaos, the God of discord. And he has granted us a small portion of his amazing power, all in order to help defeat his life long enemy Cosmos" Ardyn explained.
"So he brought us here to act as his pawns. If he thinks he can control me, he is dead wrong" Zenos said.
"Oh, no you misunderstand" Came the voice of Cinder as she sat on a boulder "Hello, I am Cinder Fall and to assure you of your worries, Chaos is not controlling us. We are free to act as we wish, as long as we don't try to go against him. But if we play our cards right, all the power of this world could be ours".
Zenos eyed her carefully "Power is important and all. But trust is not something I grant easily".
"Only a fool would blindly trust anything. In the end the only one we can truly trust is ourselves" Cinder said.
"But that does not mean we can't benefit each other. If you join us on our quest to reveal the true power of this world, we can promise you will have your part of it" Ardyn said.
"Or you both will get rid of me the moment you feel like I am no longer useful to you. I see no reason why I should even consider your offer" Zenos said.
"If we wanted you dead, you would already be bleeding out right about now" Cinder said.
"You underestimate me, child. My power is more than you can handle" Zenos said in a cold tone.
"We don't doubt your power. But it would be better spent on our shared goals. If you still don't believe us by then, you will have your duel" Ardyn said.
Zenos was silent for a moment before putting away his blade "Very well, I shall humor your scheme for now. But only because it could prove interesting".
With that, another deadly alliance was formed.
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