Chapter 1

(A/N: I've decided to go ahead and create this side story as an alternative of what I imagine could happen after V8 E14. Hope you all enjoy)

Chrome

Having fallen into the void, you would think that was the end. After all, everyone who fell seemed to be wiped from existence. But that wasn't the case.

Laying unconscious on a beach, on an island, in some form of reality, was Chrome Schnee Belladonna. Waves lapped onto the shore before retreating into the ocean. Wherever this place was, it was both realistic yet unrealistic at the same time.

Feeling a wave splash against him, Chrome slowly came to. His eyes opened as he sat up, rubbing the side of his head.

Looking around, Chrome was having a hard time remembering what exactly happened. That was until the fight with Cinder flashed through his head, as well as how she was the one who sent him over the edge and into the void.

Slowly, Chrome rose to his feet. Checking his back for his weapons, Chrome felt they were both gone.

"Figures." He said to himself.

Looking around, Chrome saw the only landmark in sight was a massive tree in the center of the island. Before he began to head there, he decided to walk around the beach for a little bit, see if he couldn't at least find someone else first.

Following the beach, the only sounds he heard were from the waves, and his own breathing. That was, until, a splash in the water echoed out.

Heading for the source, Chrome soon came upon Ruby, sitting on the beach and throwing rocks into the ocean.

"Ruby?" Chrome said, surprised by her being here.

Ruby looked back, making eye contact with Chrome.

"Hey, Chrome." She said softly, tossing another rock into the ocean.

"Ruby?"

"Yep." She wrapped her arms around her knees. "I died, too."

"Died?" Chrome repeated. "We aren't dead."

"Of course we are. What else would happen after we all fell?" Ruby asked. "This is the afterlife. A relaxing beach where we can all spend eternity, recalling our failures."

Chrome cocked his head. He was surprised to hear Ruby talk like this.

"Ruby, we aren't dead." Chrome said again. "We have to find a way out of this place. Get back to the others."

"There's no point." Ruby stated. "We've lost."

"We only lose if we give up." Chrome told her. He walked over and extended his hand. "Come on. We still have work to do."

Ruby took a deep breath and sighed before getting to her feet.

"Fine."

Liam

Out in the sand tundra of Vacuo, Liam was slaughtering Grimm after Grimm that approached. His face was contorted with anger, hate, pain, and despair.

Killing off the last Grimm of many, Liam stood, holding his and Blake's weapon in a tight grasp. His aura flickered, and he looked exhausted.

As he looked around for more Grimm to kill, the image of Cinder flashed through his head, as well as everyone she threw into the void. Anger surged through him as he let out a rage, and despair filled cry. His voice echoed through the wasteland.

"Liam?"

Weiss approached him from behind.

There was a heavy silence that fell upon them, but it was soon broken by Liam.

"I had a chance." He said through gritted teeth. "I had a chance to kill Cinder." Looking at Blake's weapon, Liam clenched his hand around it tighter. "Both of our auras were shattered, but I just couldn't fuckin' win! Nothing's CHANGED!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "I couldn't save anyone. Ruby. Chrome. Jaune. Blake. I'm fucking useless!"

"Liam, you-"

"All I do is fail." Liam continued. "And each time, I get a permanent reminder of that failure." He paused. "Why does it have to be us who save the world?! Why did this have to happen in our lifetime?! Why did it have to be my family who-" Liam's voice broke as his eyes filled with tears. "I've lost everyone..." dropping his weapons and falling to his knees, Liam punched the sand covered ground.

Weiss walked in front of Liam, kneeling down and taking his hands into her own.

"You still have me, Liam." Weiss said softly. "And I don't plan on leaving."

Using her thumb, Weiss wiped away one of his tears.

Getting to her feet, Weiss helped Liam up.

"Come on. Let's-"

She let out a small grunt as she held her side.

"Still not fully recovered?" Liam asked.

"Yeah." Weiss nodded. "Fighting off all those Grimm... ." She took a deep breath. "It hasn't helped that I've been working to make sure the people of Mantle are safe here in Vacuo."

Liam ran a hand through his hair.

"I should be helping." He said.

"You need to be recovering even more than me." Weiss stated. "Your wounds would have been fatal if not for Maya."

"I couldn't let myself rest after Beacon, and I can't let myself rest now." Liam told her.

Weiss gave a tiny smirk before groaning as she held her side again.

"Maya should probably look you over." Liam told Weiss.

"Yeah. I'm thinking so, too."

Minutes later

Back in the Redwood residence, Weiss lay on a bed inside the room she was staying in, while Liam sat on a chair beside her. Maya was standing beside Weiss, hovering her hands over her. Her hands glowed slightly as she slowly moved them up and down Weiss' body.

"I'm not seeing any sort of injury." Maya said. "I'm not sure what could be-" she suddenly cut herself off. "Oh. Well, that would explain it."

"What?" Liam asked. "What d'ya see?"

Maya took a step back, deactivating her semblance.

"Congratulations, Weiss Schnee. You're pregnant."

End of chapter 1