Prologue

Ruby woke up with the strange feeling that she was floating. To tell the truth, it wasn't the first time something like this had happened to her. When she was little she used to wake up half dizzy, not even knowing what was up and what was down.

However, when she opened her eyes she realized that it was not a simple illusion created because she had not yet fully awakened. It was real.

Her bed was nowhere to be found. She was floating in a black void, surrounded by her team members, who were still asleep. Despite the darkness that reigned, she saw them with complete clarity. Because it was not darkness, she realized, but absence.

Ruby stood up slowly. She didn't understand what was going on, but at least she had her baby at her waist. And her cloak. That made her feel better.

Until she realized that didn't make any sense either. Because she had gone to bed in her pajamas, like everyone else, and no matter how much she loved her scythe and her cloak, she always left them on one side of the bed. But now she had them on her again. And she was wearing her huntress outfit, not her pajamas.

Realizing what that meant, Ruby's first reaction was to blush, but it didn't take her long to turn pale and tremble with impotent rage.

Someone undressed me, changed my clothes and put all this on me. As if they were pieces of a toy.

And yes, just her. The others were still in their pajamas.

Ruby shook her head vigorously.

In the middle of a situation like this, that was the least of it. In spite of everything. Part of her wanted to believe that this was a dream and she would soon wake up in her bed, warm and safe, with nothing out of the ordinary happening. But she wasn't a child. She knew the truth.

Dreams weren't so... realistic, for lack of a better word. Although nothing of what had happened to them made sense, it had happened. That was clear to her.

It has to be the Semblance of some pervert. It didn't help at all, but that idea made her feel better. Because it made sense. Because it meant that a solution could be found, no matter how much it didn't seem possible.

Ruby took a deep breath. She summoned up her courage.

It wasn't the first time she had to deal with unwanted attention. Thanks to her genes, her breasts had grown quite quickly. To be more exact, by the age of eleven they had already grown to a considerable size. And since then she had been chased by the stares of unsavory men. The kind of people who would harm children without hesitation to get what they wanted.

This was not the same thing, but it was close enough. And like the other times, she wouldn't let herself be intimidated, deceived.

She wouldn't allow the enemy to lay a hand on her, whoever he was. Her nor her friends. Before that... Before that... Ruby placed a hand on Crescent Rose. He squeezed it until her knuckles turned white, until her hand began to tremble.

She grabbed Yang by the shoulders and shook her to wake her up. After all, she was the strongest of them all. And she was just as determined to get her into trouble as she was to get her out of them.

"Yang, come on! Wake up! Wake up!" She tried to keep the fear out of her voice. In spite of everything.

It looked like she wouldn't wake up, but Yang suddenly opened her eyes, got up so quickly and with such force that she almost knocked her down into the ground.

"Ruby! Ruby! What's going on?"

Yang looked into the darkness around them.

"I need your help," said Ruby.

"This... Oh. Oh, gods, tell me this isn't a sex dream. I'm not that depraved!

Ruby slapped her. Without a second thought. And why lie: she enjoyed it.

"Fuck." Yang put one hand on her red cheek. This isn't a dream, is it?

"No. It's not."

"What the hell happened to us?

"That's what I'd like to know."

Ruby spun, turning around, and unfolded Crescent Rose.

She thought she had heard something. One whisper. Footsteps. Whatever. But she had made a mistake, she realized that it had been nothing more than the wild beating of her heart. She gritted her teeth. She didn't want to cry here. Didn't want to collapse.

I'm supposed to lead them, she said to herself. But the thought sounded false. It sounded like a mockery towards herself.

Yang woke up the others.

"This is a joke, isn't it?" That was Weiss' reaction. And her voice sounded louder than usual when she was angry. Of course. "Very funny. Haha, haha."

Ruby rolled her eyes. She loved Weiss, seriously. But sometimes she wanted nothing more than to push her head under the water to make him shut up for a while. Like now. One of her tantrums was the least they needed when they were all in grave danger.

"Come on," Yang said, "you know I wouldn't joke about something like this."

"Yes, of course." Her sarcasm couldn't be more evident.

Weiss turned and blindly groped, she assumed, for the light switch.

"Don't go too far away," she said.

"Shut up, Ruby. I'm sure this nonsense was your idea."

There was a click. In the middle of the emptiness now shone a spotlight, as if they were on an invisible stage. And in the circle of light appeared, one after the other, wooden chairs.

Four chairs. The message was clear. Although she didn't like one bit.

Weiss, of course, stared open-mouthed.

"How did you do that? This joke is going too far. Seriously, it's not funny."

"I didn't do anything!" Ruby replied, "Neither me, nor my sister, nor... Hey, Blake, can you do that with your Semblance? You know, create something other than clones of yourself? Because that would be so cool."

"No. I can't."

"Shame."

"Ruby, focus," said Yang.

"I'm focused," she replied as she sat in one of the chairs at random. Seeing that the others weren't doing the same, she turned her head and looked over her shoulder at them. "What are you waiting for?"

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Blake asked.

"It's the only one we have. Unless you've come up with one."

Her team took a seat, unable to fight her infallible logic.

Ruby leaned back in her chair and smiled despite the situation. She loved the moments when she really felt like the leader of Team RWBY and not like their mascot.

A man appeared in front of them.

His beard made it clear that he hadn't shaved for at least three or four months. He wore a black trench coat... and a fedora hat. Ruby bit her lower lip. She knew it could be a serious mistake, but as soon as she saw him the whole feeling that they were in danger evaporated. Now she wanted to laugh at his ridiculous appearance.

Apparently the other three didn't share her amusement.

"As always," the man said, "Ruby turns out to be the smartest of the four of you."

A chill ran down her back.

The sense of danger had returned stronger than before. He had spoken her name as if savoring it. As if he wanted... to savor her. And it was so. She had to be his target.

She looked for Yang with her gaze and hand, wrapping and squeezing one of her older sister's hands.

"So you're the son of a bitch who brought us to this place," Yang said. Her eyes had become red as blood. "Come here, big guy. I'm going to give you such a kick in the balls that they'll fly out of your mouth."

"And how is that possible, if you can't even get out of that chair?"

Yang tried immediately. And she failed. Of course, the result was the same for Weiss, Blake and her. They were trapped. In more ways than one.

"I'll rip your dick out with my teeth, motherfucker!" Yang shouted. "I won't let you lay a hand on my sister."

"What? Oh, no, no. I'm not a pervert. Well, no more than any other man, I mean."

"Don't play dumb." Yang clenched her teeth. "My sister is dressed and she couldn't have done it alone, given the circumstances."

"I changed her, that's true."

Those words froze her blood. Ruby turned her head. She noticed, with shame and rage, how a few tears flowed down her cheeks. I'm going to need a lot of baths to feel clean again, she thought. If ever do.

"But I did it the same way I brought you all here and created the spotlight and these chairs. That is to say, magically. Because she looks much more sexy like that. But didn't touch her. I wouldn't do anything to her that she wouldn't want me to. But of course, if she wanted to, I wouldn't complain.

"As soon as I get out of here, I'll beat you to death!"

"She'll do it," said Weiss. "Or my family, as soon as the people who work for us find you. I am Weiss Schnee, the heiress of..."

"Shut the fuck up, please. I know very well who you are. And I have no interest in asking for ransom. Nor, don't worry, in stealing your virtue. I have gathered you here so you can watch something."

"What?" Ruby asked with all the strength she could muster.

"I'm glad you asked. Universes, my dear. A variety of universes."

"You're crazy."

"No. I'm preternatural, an aut... I mean, God."

"And why does it say prenatural there?" Blake asked dryly.

Ruby took a look.

Blake was referring to something like an name tag he had on his chest, just above his heart. She hadn't noticed until now. But even now she couldn't see what was written there. It was strange, because the man wasn't that far from them.

"Because the name was already taken when I had to write my name in the God Registry... I mean, Author... Shit." He snarled in frustration.

Either he's completely crazy or he's a complete imbecile, she thought. None of those options are good.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life," Blake replied.

"Shut up." Preternatural... or prenatural, whatever, snapped his fingers. Blake tried to say something but was not able to. He held them in the palm of his hand. They had no choice but to obey.

He must have done the same thing to Yang without her noticing, as she had been silent for some time. She simply twisted in her seat, trying to get up. Without success. And maybe she should do the same. Not resign herself. Not yet.

"Anyway, as I was saying. Universes, etc, I want you to see them on that projector over there," he said, pointing a finger behind him.

The projector appeared out of nowhere.

"And when will you return us to Beacon?" Ruby asked. "You said universes. How many? How long would that take?"

"Zero seconds. You could spend a lifetime here and then go back to your normal lives as if nothing had happened. And even though I said universes, I mean stories within those universes. Stories of parallel versions of you all... and your acquaintances."

Prenatural remained silent for a long time.

"I'm not good at explaining things."

"I had already noticed that," Ruby said.

"Really? Thank you for paying attention to me, my dear. Anyway, one more thing: above all, these experiences will be focused on you and Jaune."

"Why?"

Weiss was paler than usual and motionless. Even if she could have spoken, Ruby suspected she wouldn't have said a word. And Blake... Blake was as quiet as ever. It was impossible to know if prenatural had silenced her or not.

In any case, it was up to her to ask the questions.

"For stupid and completely arbitrary reasons," he readily admitted, "that you shouldn't worry about."

"There's one thing that worries me."

"What?"

"You didn't really answer my question."

"I know, I'm sorry. We'll talk about it when you finish watching the first story, okay? All right." He snapped his fingers. The projector turned on, at the same time she and the others were set free. To talk and move.

Of course, prenatural disappeared without a trace immediately afterwards.

"What do we do?" Yang asked, frustrated.

"What else can we do?" Blake replied. "Let's do as he says. If he's telling the truth, and I think he is, it could have been much worse. For everyone."

"I suppose you're right." Yang sat down again.

Despite the situation they were in, Ruby felt excitement grow in her chest. How could it not? Alternative versions of her and her friends. Different worlds, perhaps worlds not ravaged by the Grimm.

Surely in many of those worlds her mother hadn't died.

A strange symbol appeared on the screen. Some kind of triangle. And a song played that sounded familiar, even though she was sure she had never heard it before in her life.