I don't own RWBY,Fate, or the fanfic being reacted to. The fanfic being reacted to is called the Huntsman of Red V2 give it a read.
Not even a minute after Jaune said that Yin's voice was heard asking with a small amount of genuine curiosity, "What are your opinions on her after seeing the collapse and war?" Bringing everyone away from their momentary staring at the two leaders.
For the younger hunters along with Mercury, and Emerald, it forced them to think. A world that's been engulfed in war lasting hundreds of years; it's no wonder someone like Apollyon showed up, and that's not even considering the impact she left. That didn't mean they like her choices or her in general, but they could understand her at least. The older members of the audience along with the criminals/minions already had an idea on what her background was.
"She was smart, vicious, and ambitious is what I gathered from what we were shown." stated Cinder just wanting to get this over with but being honest with her words. There was no point hiding what she felt about something that wasn't happening in her world after all and she wasn't acting out of character to those from beacon. Her answer was what really all they could say about her besides the combative skill shown which; was ordinary for any student coming to beacon.
"A waste of an amazing leader. If she wanted peace, she would've gotten it no matter how long it took her but instead she dies and fails remembered as a Warmonger. She got what she deserved in the end, but I feel her life was wasted." said Ironwood letting his opinion out in the open. He didn't know of Apollyon's past, but from his point of view as a man that has worked towards achieving peace nearly his whole life with Ozpin it didn't feel right to see potential so utterly wasted.
"I see…." spoke Yin, "Would anyone else care to speak?" Seeing everyone stay silent he guessed they were either in deep thought or had nothing else to contribute. "Ok then; there will be three more viewings and then a break. Is that ok with everyone?" He didn't really care for their opinion, but he didn't want to have problems with them later down the line. Seeing as everyone nodded their agreement or communicated nothing, he went on saying, "The next timeline will be a crossed timeline. A crossed timeline is a timeline that has crossed with another universes timeline or has an element from another universe. This timeline shall be mostly showing Ruby and a man named Archer." Instantly suspicious Qrow and Yang's protective instincts activated. "Nothing…. indecent is happening between the two of them." spoke Yin immediately shutting down that line of thought, and though they couldn't see it they were sure there was a flat stare being directed at them.
"Uhm who's the Archer guy?" squeaked out an embarrassed Ruby at the thought of being in a relationship.
"Your about to find out. Also, could someone wake Maria up?" asked Yin. 'Can't believe I forgot she was here' shaking his head at the thought he went to turn the screen on while they woke her.
"I'm awake, I'm awake." spoke a grumpy Maria. "I've been awake since we got here. I just wanted some more rest jeez." Before anyone could reply the screen turned on.
The screen shows Ruby in a forest walking. Words could also be considered a type of magic. An art of persuasion and vividness that could breathe life into a world bereft of a much sought-after peace.
The narrator sounded familiar, but they didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet after all the voice sounded older and matured.
Yet at the same time, they gave hope, an idealistic imagination of myths and monsters leading towards an eventual 'good' conclusion. Even now I could still remember them, the words spoken by Yang in my childhood.
"OK the narrators Ruby but she sounds like…." stated Yang then trailed off. There was no need to continue though as everyone had an idea of what she meant. It worried Ruby the most because she always imagined herself not losing that hopeful part of herself and seeing that a version of her sounded so disillusioned worried her.
Fairy tales of heroes and Magic, about the protectors that had once guarded Remnant in a tumultuous time of violence and death. They whose strength could cleave mountains and create miracles, spurred on by the shackles of Oaths and Duties. Legendary figures and Mankind's Last Guards in the times before Dust.
'I don't recall any tales reminiscent of what she's saying. Could it be an element of the other timeline?' wondered Ozpin with Salem having similar thoughts.
As such, for the greatest duration of my life that's what I and everyone else thought of him as, a manifestation of a Hero from the fairy tales. He who remained by her side despite her numerous faults.
That got Qrow to sit straight up and ignore the thoughts of getting a drink and Yang's eye to flicker red as their protective urges once again came up. It also got Ruby embarrassed since it sounded like the other her had a crush. It didn't help that JNPR, and some others were giving her teasing smiles.
It wasn't until it was too late that I realized what he meant to me and just how much he had done for myself and Remnant, creating even Vermillion its newest kingdom. Honestly speaking, it may have been one of my greatest regrets that I take with me to my grave.
The new Kingdom bit had nearly everyone choking on air but the ones who weren't were still surprised.
'He's dead but another kingdom came up because of it. I assume he was working with Ozma since he raised a kingdom instead of destroying it. What a waste.' thought Salem tapping her finger on the chair.
'I hope he's on my other self's side. I don't need another wildcard like Raven on top of Salem' thought Ozpin now paying closer attention to the words being said.
The fact that she I had taken him for granted.
Ruby winced at that knowing she'd regret that too.
The fact I could never repay his favors.
'It couldn't get worse, could it?' she jinxed
And the fac that I had been too indecisive.
That had her lower her head thinking, 'What could that mean?' and the older hunters wince knowing that being indecisive could've resulted in him dying.
Her hands balled into fists, a silver gleam shadowing her weary eyes as the cloak over her shoulders billowed in a turbulent wind, rose petals drifting into a storm with every step she took.
Looking up for a moment Ruby gasped at how strong her other self's semblance looked and how angry she was along with her friends.
'I definitely need to prepare some harder curriculum if she's to be that strong. Another thing to discuss with Glynda.' pondered Ozpin while sighing.
'Silver eyes… I'm not the last?' Maria thought looking at Ruby on the screen and the Ruby in the room. 'I need to teach her what I can before it's too late for her. I'll talk to her during the break.'
The area around her turned dark, the clouds up above writhing with tendrils of electricity before the rain began to fall. Withered trees bare of leaves and blackened like the aftermath of a forest fire paved a way towards an ominous tower in the distance surrounded by pools of black filth whose apex was reaching towards a void in the sky.
'She's coming to me… Great.' thought Salem gaining a small smile.
'NO.' thought just about every hunter in the know.
'I am going to kill that version of Oz if Ruby dies.' darkly though Qrow not thinking very straight seeing his niece walking towards her death.
The lessons he taught me.
The memories she cherished with him.
All of it was threatening to explode out from her rage that she had never truly felt before.
Why was why,
Salem was going to pay.
Fate had brought us together, something he once said to her on an occasion she had felt the most helpless. Two individuals sharing similar goals and carrying similar ideologies; neither willing to give up on anyone or wishing to see others suffer.
'Sounds like a male version of Ruby if there ever was one.' thought WBY and JNPR. They didn't know who Salem was, so they weren't that worried thou the ominous castle made them a bit creeped out.
"I want that castle." stated Nora. It was clear to everyone that this was her new goal in life, and they didn't know what to say.
"We should let her know Salem is just so she doesn't run into the Badlands for it." whispered a genuinely worried Glynda to the rest of the group getting unsure nods in return. She might be crazy enough to do it.
"It might not exist in our world Nora so don't get your hopes up." Phyrra gently tried to persuade only to get a pout in return.
"I'll block your pancake supply for a week if you try to find it." stated Rin getting a horrified look and nod form Nora. If anyone bothered to look, they would see a noticeably relieved Salem at not having to death with a hyperactive child in her castle.
Allies of Justice.
'That sounds way better than just being a hero.' thought Ruby putting a hand to her chin.
Her lips thinned as she felt the patter of rain over her face. He had saved her, the memory still clear in her mind. Then again, that was where it all started.
'I get an Origin story too so freaking cool!' thought Ruby now hopping up and down in her seat getting small chuckles from a few but not caring at the moment.
The fairy tale of a little girl, with a Hero by her side.
The Huntsman of Red.
'That's a cool name for a Huntsman.' thought Jaune and Mercury unknowingly sharing the same thoughts.
"We will now be looking at what happened years ago in that timeline." informed Yin.
Her name was Ruby Rose, the youngest of the Ex-Huntsman Taiyang Xiao-Long, a graduate from beacon, School of Huntsman and Huntresses tasked with defending the people from Grimm. She didn't know much about who or what the Grimm were do to her relative scope of her limited exposure to the world of Remnant, but she had always heard that they were monsters her mother and father fought against.
"Ok this must be when she was around 5 or so." said Qrow knowing his niece encountered Grimm early so this must've been before that.
"Aww you look so adorable Ruby. Where did it all go?" gushed Yang while hugging her sister. Blake and Weiss just snickered at Ruby's "help me" expression.
All kinds of thoughts occupied her mind as she thought of them. Were they tall? Did they have claws? Did she have to fear one hiding under her bead or in the closet?
'You were a cute kid little red.' read Neo's sign.
"Uh Thank you." said an awkwardly smiling Ruby to the smiling Neo.
She shivered at the concept as it seemed all to likely for her five-year old mind to believe. More so when the outer boundaries of her worldly experiences defined solely by the reaches of the menacing plastic play-fences her father set up to keep her in. However, this time was different. She was going to see the world outside her home in the island of Patch.
"Oh, it's that day…." spoke Yang confusing the others in the room. Qrow just wished he had a drink for what he was about to see, and Raven just sighed knowing what this will be about. Ruby barely remembering this day didn't have any reaction.
Fumbling with the hood of the over-sized cloak she had over her head, she eventually loosened the straps around her neck such that a rounded and pudgy-cheeked face popped out, flushed red from the effort. Tufts of red colored hair, tussled from her earlier actions fell over her eyes, but she could hardly care less before she brushed before she brushed them off looking around her excitedly.
'She is such an adorable child. To bad she has to die.' thought Salem while sighing.
The sound of rolling wheels echoes into her ears as she adjusted herself on the small wagon she was sitting on, hands finding purchase at the edges before lifting herself up to get a better view of her surroundings. It was all forest, the thick foliage impairing her view, yet the experience itself was new enough that she still felt that she on an adventure.
'Since she's managed to hide from me this long then her father and mother knew about me. They were smart to live in a forested area.' reasoned Salem. After all she had agents and followers everywhere if a silver eyed family was living in a city she'd know.
The only thing she though to be missing was the presence of her mother and father, then everything would've been perfect. Recently though, she was slightly troubled to why her mother hadn't come back yet, but her by father explained to her before that it was probably a minor setback, and she would be back soon.
'So, either mother is dead, or she was abandoned which I doubt. We silver eyes care to much about our family just to give them up.' believed Maria with Salem having similar thoughts.
Young as she was, however, she failed to notice the anxiety present in her father's eyes, happily returning to her playpen to distract herself with toys. Still, no matter how much she tried to put the matter aside, by the third day of her mother's absence it was all she could think about.
'She's dead.' everyone that didn't know previously thought.
As such, her sister's sudden decision to take her outside on an adventure was a welcome method of distracting her.
'Least I did something right that day.' thought Yang while tightening her fist. Ruby noticing this gave Yang a little hug and smile to relax. Giving a small smile back she ruffled Ruby's hair before turning back to the screen.
Realizing that she seen enough of one side of the forest on one side of the wagon, she immediately shifted her position to state at the other side, a clearing in the forest revealing a field of red roses. She was captivated, and for a moment, she didn't realize that she had been moving too much in her daze, but the one pulling the wagon did.
"Ruby, can you keep still?"
The voice that called out to her was childish, with a high pitch similar to her own. It was her elder sister Yang Xiao Long. Unlike herself, Yang had long flowing golden-colored hair that she generally kept unbrushed and falling down her back. Unlike her wide silver eyes which glanced away in guilt, Yang's lilac eyes were somewhat more narrowed as she lightly admonished her.
"Ugh my hair was a mess back then." spoke Yang trying to relax while watching the screen. It noticeably failed as every close to could see her fist getting tighter, but they didn't say anything knowing her temper.
"Sorry." she said, head drooping as she relaxed herself back in the wagon.
"Mhm." Yang only grunted, a troubled expression over face.
"It's so weird." commented Ruby suddenly gaining everyone's attention and making herself uncomfortable, "I mean we're looking at young me and Yang in a different timeline. I was wondering if we might see other versions of people we know?" Inspiring some thoughts into the hunters and criminals. What if they saw evil versions of themselves? Or a world where there not human or faunas?
"You will see other versions of yourselves, but not often." Yin informed them before turning silent once again.
'I hate that were not getting more information. I'll need to speak with Ozpin when the break starts, I'll speak my mind then.' Ironwood thought a bit distressed.
Ruby peaked up at Yang subtly when she that Yang wasn't looking and pursed her lips. Young as she was, she couldn't understand what was happening in her home lately. Yang always seemed like she was about to cry, and her father was speaking to her less as the days went by. She didn't like it not a single bit. If only her mother would come home sooner, she'd definitely find a way to cheer them up.
'I really wish could skip this part.' Yang thought. Bringing her sister into the forest that day was a stupid idea.
Small bruises ran up and down Yang's arms, but most of them had been caused due to her own negligence and inexperience when pulling the wagon through the forest. In the end, the thing affecting her most was still her exhaustion. Yang was panting, her breaths coming out in clouds of white vapor due to the temperature of the Fall season.
'Ah I remember this incident now. Qrow was ranting to me about his nieces nearly getting themselves killed searching for Raven.' remembered Ozpin setting his cup down to watch the screen more intently.
Ruby felt bad that she was adding onto Yang's exhaustion by continuing to sit in the wagon, but Yang insisted that she didn't get off. It was the duty of an elder sister or something like that.
"Stubborn even as a child, but you're a good sister Yang." Weiss commented playfully.
"Awe thanks Ice queen." Yang said hugging Weiss as she struggled to get away.
"Let go you brute." Weiss said and kept shoving, but eventually gave up and went back to watching the screen.
Eventually, Ruby got bored of staring off into the scenery as a child would and began to simply stare off into space. Of course, Yang noticed this and eventually began recounting the fairy tales she had read and heard form both her mother and father to pass the time. Yang's voice, the soft crunching of leaves, dirt beneath, and the babbling of a five-year-old were the only sounds to echo in the silent forest of Patch.
'Aren't there still Grimm on Patch? Why is Yang taking Ruby into a Grimm infested forest?' Jaune thought confused, 'It might be a small island but even they have Grimm in some places. Did she not know back then?'
Although Yang was the eldest sister, she was only two years older than Ruby. The extent of her stamina could only take her so far, making it fortunate that the two eventually discovered an abandoned building.
"Your lucky they didn't die that day Raven, or I would've come for you." whispered Qrow. Seeing his nieces in danger again right in his face brought up some old being near enough to hear him scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"I was watching them that day Qrow. If you hadn't stepped in I would've no matter how weak they are I wouldn't let Summers, or my daughter die if I can help it." whispered back Raven with a cold stare softening Qrow's anger a bit. She might be ruthless, but she isn't a monster they both know that.
Worn and brittle looking, the planks of wood and timber that made the foundations of the building reek with the pungent smell of moss and rot, yet the building itself seemed to be in good condition. Patterns of some sort were etched on the ground, some like ancient runes, while other resembled magic circles that Ruby only briefly remembered seeing in a show Yang had once been watching.
'Those were not anywhere in our house.' thought Raven narrowing her eyes, but not saying anything yet.
'Those are barrier symbols, or a summoning circle. Either option is worrying considering two children are near what appears to be a recently drawn ritual. It doesn't look finished as of yet, maybe there is still a catalyst needed?' the only two related to magic in the room thought.
"I-It has to be here," Yang muttered to herself, but Ruby couldn't understand the context and just stared curiously. Wheeling the wagon besides the house, Yang pulled Ruby out and held her by the hand as the two entered.
"Yang," she called out softly. "What are we doing here?"
"It's okay Ruby just trust me." Yang brushed aside the question, eyes falling onto a table found past the entrance of the building. On the table were messily laid out papers and strange looking books. However, that wasn't what Yan was interested in as her eyes focused instead on the food left behind. It wasn't rotten, and that was all Yang needed to know someone had been here recently.
'My other self is sloppy with tracks.' disappointedly though Raven shaking her head imperceptibly.
In her excitement, she let go of Ruby's hand before running towards the table to search it for clues.
Seeing Yang already beating herself up over it internally no one felt the need to berate her for the mistake. She's seven decision making isn't exactly a seven-year-olds forte.
Left behind, Ruby placed a hand on her chin, and decides to explore, moving away from Yang and towards a room that appeared vacant. Dust clung onto the furniture within which was scattered around haphazardly, and there were no signs of footsteps evident on the floor. The dust still remained completely settled, meaning that she herself was the first to enter the room.
Looking at everything, there wasn't anything that really caught her attention, but due to her small stature she did catch sight of a red jeweled necklace tucked away within an old tome left thrown in a corner. It was the shining glow amidst the grey, her curiosity taking the better of her she crawled towards it; a collapsed hutch propped up by a worn chair blocked her way.
'Someone left that there. It doesn't belong to or Tai unless my other decided to randomly put jewelry outside a secure place.' Raven now even more suspicious thought.
Determined as she was however, she toddled on the floor to make use of her small size and slipped through a narrow opening. Her arm reached forward, her tiny stretched until they were just able to grab the tome. Smiling in victory, she pulled the book and jewel toward her, curiosity filling her gaze. The red jewel was interesting enough, but she was more interested in the book as Yang had told her all the fairy tales, she had read to her originated from them.
"If only you were interested in schoolbooks as much as fairy tales. You'd be a straight A student." chimed in Blake with a bit of snark; getting a snicker from a few and Ruby it's a friendly joke.
Ruby had long since heard many stories Yang had said and it as to the point Yang had even repeated some. As such, she was excited at the prospect of discovering another sorry depicting Heroes. or she herself wanted to be one. Nonetheless she was bound to be disappointed. All she saw when she flipped open the old tome was a strange marking designed in a circular fashion and depicting something resembling the circles she had seen outside. Face scrunching in disappointment, she was just about to toss aside the book when Yang's panicked screams echoed.
'Grimm. Must be Grimm. Otherwise, she wouldn't sound so panicked; she'd just be angry.' thought just about every who knew her.
"I'm so glad I heard you scream Yang. If it wasn't for that I might've been too late." said Qrow and sighing a second later. Just remembering that day exhausted him.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled desperately. "Where are you!?"
She stiffened as a result, before scrambling back towards where Yang was, assuming that Yang was mad at her again for doing something wrong. In her haste, she ended up bringing the old tome with her in her hands.
"Yang I'm over here!" She said apprehensively shying away from a scolding. However, the anger she expected to see on Yang's face when she appeared was different rom reality. Instead of scolding her for leaving her side, Yang pulled her into a tight hug and gestured with a finger to be quiet. Deep guttural sounds were coming from outside, and the scaping of claws against the wooden walls were distinct.
While nearly everyone was worried, they all knew both of them would be fine.
Held in Yang's arms, she could feel the way she was trembling.
"G-Grimm," Yang whispered, pulling her to hide behind a piece of furniture. Hearing the word Grimm, Ruby furrowed her bows, not knowing the significance, but understanding they were the monsters she feared were hiding beneath her bed. She shivered, her arms clinging around Yang, but not finding any warmth in them, rather, when she stared up at Yang's face, it was to see that it had paled considerably.
"R-Ruby get behind me a-and close your eyes," Yang stuttered
"W-Why?" She replied back attempting to glace behind her.
"That's not going o help either of you much, but good job protecting your sister at least." muttered Mercury.
"Don't turn your head."
The desperation in Yang's voice was enough to stop her actions immediately. Currently, Yang was still pressing Ruby to her chest, making Ruby unable to see what Yang was seeing, but the growl and warm breath that washed over Ruby was enough indication that she wouldn't like what she would see. Yang's grip slowly relaxed around Ruby before Yang quickly forced Ruby behind her.
"A-Are your eyes closed?" Yang asked, the fear in her tone evident as the growling intensified.
"Y-yeah," Ruby lied, her eyes set on Yang's quivering back.
"Good," Yang said solemnly, her shoulders drooping in helplessness. "I just want you to know Ruby, I'm sorry." Ruby stiffened unable to understand why Yang was apologizing. Even now, Yang's back prevented Ruby rom seeing what's going on.
"What do you mea-" The words died in Ruby's throat along with a pitiful scream as she watched a clawed hand strike Yang's side. One moment Yang was there, and in the next, she was gone.
"Did you get hit like that too Yang?" asked Nora less energetically.
"Yeah, luckily Uncle Qrow showed up straight after." told Yang rubbing sides at the memory. Meanwhile, Yin was watching them taking notes; and wrote down the minor injury Yang sustained when she shouldn't have.
"YANG!" Ruby cried out, tears falling down her eyes as a pale masked visage stared her down. The Grimm, black bodied soulless monsters, and creatures of destruction. They who preyed upon the Humans of Remnant, drawn by negative emotions. The sadness, despair, and fear Ruby was feeling was more than enough to draw the attention of the Grimm before her. A black beast with a muscular hide and standing on its hind legs.
The Beowolf, a more common variant of the Grimm that resembled werewolf-like creatures. She had never truly understood just how frightening Grimm were just from the stories, but seeing one before her now, she could understand why they were said to be so frightening. She cowered backwards, falling to the ground before pushing herself away with her hands.
Her mind was spinning, the tears in her eyes causing her cheeks to puff up as she desperately attempted to locate Yang, yet she could find nothing through the dust cloud conjured up from the Grimm's attack.
"How did you even live from that?" Phyrra asked in a sort of horrified fascination. Jaune was thinking that even as a child Yang was tougher than him.
"Luck and Aura." Yang responded.
"Yang!" She screamed, watching as the Grimm slowly approached her. Silence. Yang didn't respond frightening Ruby even more.
Help! Someone Help! Daddy! Mommy!
She began trembling, her hands pulling her knees to her chest, and dropping the old tome upon the ground. Unbeknownst to her, in her struggle to back away from the Grimm, she had pricked her hand upon a splinter, leaving a trail of blood on her palms which soaked into the pages of the old tome originally still in her possession.
It was the workings of fate. The unseeing hands that wound the realities of the world. That which should not have existed yet existed anyway within an axis parallel and independent of a continuum.
Magic.
"They have Magic in their world?!" asked Ruby completely forgetting the Grimm for a sec.
"Yes, so do a lot of versions of Remnant." Yin decided to answer.
"Do we?!" Nora joined in practically bouncing in her chair.
"You'll find out soon enough." and with that ominous answer he was gone, and the screen started again.
An ethereal light basked the room in its radiance, archaic symbols floated in the air. An ancient magic, a means outside the common norm.
'I won't be able to perform this ritual. But it's nice to see magic used again.' thought Ozpin and Salem reminiscing about the past.
Shut and fill.
Thy cup that holds thy blood and dreams.
Connecting together two individuals that were most suited to working with each other. A connection made to the Throne or Heroes.
'Throne of Heroes?' everyone thoroughly confused thought.
A fairy tale given life, a power distorting reality itself. And ion her moment of desperation, all she saw was a flash of red, followed by the pained howl of the beowolf before its body faded into motes of black light. Bronze colored orbs stared into silver, the silence between the two deafening before the man acted, inclining his head.
"By your summons, Servant Archer has answered your call."
'Yeah, were going to need some explanation for that.' staring just as blankly as Ruby staring at the man.
She stared dumbly at the man before her, wincing only when she saw the red crest that appeared at the back of her palm, but unable to pay too much attention to it as the man knelt gingerly before her.
"Henceforth, my bow is your bow and your fate, is my fate," he said, brows furrowing. "Now can you tell me," The man paused, as if debating whether or not to ask the question but doing so in the end anyway. "What exactly is going on here?" he asked, only to receive the most illogical of answers.
"Logic and Ruby don't mix very well. I imagine it's even worse for a child version of Ruby; that poor guy has his hands full." Weiss stated much to the charging of Ruby judging by her pouting face.
"So just like you and fun?" was Blakes comeback making Weiss splutter and blush at the suddenness. Also getting a few laughs out of some others else before looking at the screen.
"Yang!" was all Ruby said before dashing off, confounding the man who stood in a daze before sighing.
Why was it always him?
"I have a feeling he'll be asking that question a lot and I don't like why." Qrow stated his eyes glinty at hearing the 'Archers' vow and how he was summoned.