Chapter 10: The Bright Side of Life
And here we are, ready to see the afterlife. Did any of you figure out whom I'll show and or mention? Well, stop guessing because you're about to find out, as well as a bit about where Adam went. This song was also recommended by my Beta-Reader.
This was it. Everyone in the audience was now ready to see whom they thought was going to be shown. Some were more eager than others. Unfortunately the first person they saw in this vast, barren, expanse of white was someone that most of them did not like.
"Ow!" Falling down from seemingly nowhere was a man wearing a white suit, gloves, shoes, and holding a cane. For some reason, he didn't have his iconic bowler hat. The person landing on his butt was none other than Roman Torchwick, who blinked and looked around. He didn't know if he was hallucinating or not, but he knew that this definitely wasn't the place he had been moments ago. He was in a world that was completely white and barren of any signs of life.
"Torchwick, ugh, please don't tell me we'll be seeing just him?!" Glynda exasperatedly asked the Keeper.
"Nope," Mayden replied, a bit disappointing the cast apparently had no ears. "I told you, you'll be seeing familiar faces. Some you may not want to see, but still familiar. In any case, please keep watching babies."
Some of the members felt like complaining, but refrained from doing so, realizing it would only make them look childish. Admitting that Mayden did in fact explain what they would see beforehand.
"Where the hell am I?" Roman asked aloud, scratching his head.
"Well, it's certainly not hell, if that's any consolation." Roman jumped in fright at the sudden voice.
He turned on his heel, raising his cane to defend himself, and faced the possible threat. To his surprise, and confusion, the "threat" was nothing more than two people. One was a teenage orange-haired girl in a white dress, staring up at him with big, friendly green eyes that were somehow literally glowing. She also looked familiar for some reason.
She waved and greeted with a smile, "Salutations, my name is Penny!"
"Penny…" Ruby couldn't be any happier. She was glad to see her friend; the friend that Mayden stated was from their dimension. Oh, what joy! Ironwood was also happy, and also joyfully relieved that what Penny's father had said was true, that Penny did indeed have a soul. He was glad that she was in better place now.
Inside the head of a young boy Ozpin narrowed his non-existent eyes. Believing this was the afterlife he had been. No, not the 'true afterlife' that he believed in, just something else.
Roman blinked again, wondering if he had gone crazy, and hesitantly replied, "Uh... Hi?"
He lowered his cane, not at all threatened by the young. She didn't seem like a threat. But he'd learned that one should never underestimate their enemy. His encounters with an annoying little red hooded wannabee Huntress taught him that. He'll keep his guard up for now.
He looked over to the other person, whom was also female, but unlike Penny, she was definitely a woman. A very beautiful woman at that, he noted. She was honestly breathtaking with unblemished tan skin, having brown shoulder-length hair and eyes that seemed to glisten like honey, under which one had a beauty mark. She was dressed like a traveler, and much like himself and Penny, her clothes were white.
She seemed different compared to that fire-bitch, Cinder.
Said fire-bitch twitched a bit. She wanted to know if there was a way to harm dead people even further.
'And boy, does she seem nicer than her.' Roman bowed, taking one of the woman's hands in his right, as his left held his cane behind him. He then coolly flirted, "Now I know I mustn't be in Hell, because I think an angel is standing before me. No, forget an angel, I see a Goddess…""
Neo just rolled her eyes, unamused by her former partner's very poorly-made attempt at flirting. It was a sentiment that was shared by many of the women in the room. The men, of course, couldn't help but share Roman's thoughts about the girl. Mercury earned a slap to the shoulder from Emerald. Jaune felt bad, since he had thought this strange girl was quite the looker. Even Ren admitted she was quite beautiful, almost like a princess from a fairy tale.
"She seems fine at least." Qrow whispered quietly. Compared to her comatose self from before the fall, this was an improvement. Ozpin, Ironwood, and Glynda were glad that the girl they tried protecting is no longer permanently asleep. Still, it was a shame that she had to die to regain her health, in the afterlife, that is.
The woman rolled her eyes at the remark. She has honestly heard better, and from far more respectable looking people. Roman continued, "Where are my manners? Hello, my name is-"
"Roman Torchwick, a known felon wanted in Vale for numerous counts of homicide, sedition, fraud, theft, and a new crime he invented called "Burglebezzlement". Known associates: Hei "Junior" Xiong and Neopolitan, among others. I know exactly who you are." Penny interjected with a smile, completely surprising the thief.
The audience laughed at Roman's moment getting ruined.
The woman laughed at the thief's face, using the hand Roman had held to muffle her laughter. Roman glared at the still-smiling Penny, upset that she had ruined his chances with the fine woman.
"My, aren't you… informed?" He remarked through a forced smile, but one can tell that he looked insulted. He didn't like people hanging his dirty laundry out for everybody to see. How she knew about his criminal record, and so perfectly, was beyond his knowledge.
'Ha! I Knew adding Vale's criminal records to her database was a good idea. And Ozpin said I was just being paranoid!' The General of Atlas thought, glad he ignored Ozpin's advice on downloading all of Vale's files. Although he was rather curious by that last crime Penny had mentioned.
Seriously, what is "Burglebezzlement?" What in the name of Dust was that?
Neo just whistled innocently. Recalling that day Roman had come up with that new crime. It didn't end well… for everybody involved.
The woman ceased her laughter and introduced herself, "My name is Amber, just Amber."
Roman was just glad that he finally knew her name. It was a small victory in the war that is romance. He then turned to the strange know-it-all girl and asked, "So, Penny, since you seem to so smart, you wouldn't mind telling me where we are, would you?"
Penny frowned and answered, "I'm afraid I know as much as you do, Mr. Torchwick. I've been here for only a while, and I barely know anything. Amber came just a bit after us, I presume. But I've met someone who's been showing me around."
"And who would that be?" Roman asked, as he hadn't seen anyone else.
"That would be me… And I heard everything." An older woman's voice said from behind him.
He jumped again, this time clutching his heart, as he began to hyperventilate. He looked at the new presence and immediately regretted asking. This new person before him resembled little Red, only she looked older and far more womanly, and her hair was longer. She was dressed in a white cloak, over which she wore white clothing.
"…Mom!" Ruby shouted with Yang also smirking. The two sisters were glad to see their long-dead mother after so many years.
"That's your mom?" Weiss said, looking at a person one would describe as an older Ruby. "She seems... nice."
"You got that right." Yang boasted. Qrow was also in agreement, chuckling at a few memories of Summer.
From inside the mind of a blushing Oscar, who was staring in awe at the woman, Ozpin smiled, glad to see one of his favorite students up and well. Glynda also smiled, feeling nostalgic for the times she spent with the elder rose. Cinder oddly also happy. Though only because she was glad this silver-eye warrior is dead. A threat level such as her could ruin many plans.
He glared at the woman and growled, "Don't do THAT!"
The woman just crossed her arms and snorted, "Oh please, you think that's intimidating? Please, I've gone up against actual Grimm, I can handle any two-bit crook in a fancy suit."
Penny immediately hugged the woman. "Summer, I was wondering where you went!"
Summer laughed, reciprocating the hug, telling the young girl. "I'm sorry, Penny. I learned that Perry was in a slump again and I had to talk him down. He's still hung up on that train crash."
Roman was surprised by the name he heard. 'Wait, Perry? As in Perry, the only Fang I ever came close to moderately respecting? But, didn't he die…'
All color immediately drained from the thief's face. A brightly white and blank space, white clothing, and he had just met two strangers, one of whom he finally remembered as having been dismembered by Pyrrha Nikos in a tournament match.
The tournament that he and his boss…
'More like leash-holder,' he corrected himself, much to his outrage.
… Had sabotaged; the same tournament where he and his ever-faithful assistant, Neo, had commandeered an Atlesian warship and rained death upon the rest of their fleet. Yes, an Atlesian warship upon which they fought the runt again, only for Neo to disappear into the grimm-infested skies. And on the deck of that warship, he had finally gotten the better of the blasted red-cloaked girl, delivered the greatest speech he had ever improvised, and then…
He got himself eaten… by a giant, flying Grimm… for saying negative things…
"Oh, shit, I'm dead, aren't I?" He finally realized, though he made it sound like a question.
"Hold on, he didn't realize he died?" Ruby asked out loud.
"Eh, can't really blame him." The Keeper replied. "It's kinda like how some people who fight don't realize they have a wound until after. You know that "heat of the moment" sorta thing?"
The audience thought that kind of made sense. Granted, only a few, like the General, didn't like how the Fall of Vale ended. Ironwood remembered the total destruction Roman and his little partner had wrought, using his own flagship to fire upon the other ships in his fleet, killing all the soldiers on them. Some of the audience glared at Cinder, knowing that she had caused all of that destruction; and for what, power?
The woman who caused said destruction just turned away, not at all bothered by those glares. She just wanted this thing to be over with.
The three stared at the thief, having heard his not-question. Summer, out of sympathy, told the man what he needed to hear, "Yes, you're dead."
Roman's posture slouched dejectedly, as he brought his hands to his face, intent on hiding his shame from this strange afterlife he now found himself in. The shame he felt was immediately replaced by pain as Summer punched him in the gut. The woman reeled her first back and growled, "That's for trying to kill my daughter."
"Ha! You go, mom!" Yang yelled out, smiling that the thief finally got what was coming to him. Qrow also laughed; glad to see that Summer's time in the afterlife hadn't changed her. Although, he hid have one question in his mind.
"How'd she even know about that?" Others also started realizing the same thing. How in the world did Summer know that Roman had tried to kill her daughter? Qrow's question was not without reason, as she is technically dead.
"That, right…" Mayden just told them without too much clarity. "A small ghost thing that Summer can do or whatever… I don't know."
"Really," Emerald said, raising her brow, unimpressed by the answer.
"Hey, I know stuff, just not everything." The Keeper said defending himself. In any case the cast just went back to watching.
Roman keeled over, clutching his stomach and wheezed, "She *ack* started it…"
"Wow, and so mature too," Summer scoffed before mockingly adding, "You know, I don't even hate you anymore, I just feel sorry. Not for you, but for that poor Neo girl."
Neo can't help but agree slightly. She didn't know why, but she had had a feeling she'd have liked Summer Rose, if she had live.
"Yeah, but you probably don't feel as sorry as I do…" Another voice said, one that sounded equal parts defeated and upset.
Upon instinct, Amber, Summer, and Penny turned to face the new speaker, only for the dead android to recoil in shock. Standing before them, dressed in the same combat uniform that the cybernetic being saw her in, only this time in white, was her accidental murderer, Pyrrha Nikos. The formerly invincible girl was equally shocked to see the young girl as well, but immediately ran to her and hugged her.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" The redhead whimpered, holding on to the girl she had killed for dear life.
Penny, despite her hesitance, reciprocated the hug, comforting the inconsolable girl. She told her, "It's alright; it's not your fault. It's Cinder's fault."
"No doubt..." Jaune muttered with fury, glaring at the witch who had caused her death. Nora and Ren glared at her too. Because of Cinder everyone in this room suffered in their own way. Jaune was glad to see Pyrrha, his Pyrrha. Which only made him feel worse, realizing that she was still dead.
"Penny." Ruby could still recall the look of shock the robot girl had. Torn to pieces then spread by the wind. Hopefully the two could reconcile in this strange afterlife. This made her resolve in stopping Cinder's plan all the greater. Her team, and nearly everyone else in the room, also found their second wind.
'We'll see about that.' Cinder of course could tell what they were thinking. As if she'd allow these children and fools to stop her. Mercury and Emerald were also thinking the same thing.
They had reason to after all.
Upon hearing her own killer's name, Pyrrha's anguish increased tenfold. She fell to her knees, crying her heart out. Despite her best Cinder was able to still secure the last of Amber's powers, making her a full maiden. Where she then fought her… and then... and then...
"I'm so pathetic…" Pyrrha whimpered pitifully, fully believing in her own words.
Many in the audience save for the obvious few, honestly felt badly for the girl. They wanted to just reassure her, to tell that she wasn't pathetic at all. Well, except for one, and the comment came from the most shocking source of all.
"It kinda was a pathetic death, I'm not gonna lie." Startled, everybody, even the so-called bad side, looked up. They never thought they would hear those words come from Mayden himself. All of them didn't understand why he would ever say such a thing. A certain blonde knight took umbrage at his comment.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Jaune roared, his eyes bulging in anger, his aura screaming bloody murder. This shocked many, but not as much as what the Keeper had just said. How dare this being mock Pyrrha's sacrifice?!
"How… How could you say that?" Ruby couldn't believe it. The Keeper was a bit weird, but he always seemed nice. Yet he just insulted Pyrrha's death like it was nothing.
"That's just cold, man." Qrow said, with many of the teachers nodding in agreement. They disapproved of what Mayden had just said. Mayden honestly care for their outrage.
"Hey, not my fault that it's true. The Girl ended up killing herself by being a reckless idiot." Cinder's underlings oddly found themselves agreeing with their host, knowing what happened thanks to Cinder. That excluded Adam and Neo, since they weren't with there at that time.
Teams RWBY and JNR though didn't take it as well. The final three members of the former team JNPR stood up in anger.
"Take that back or I'll break your legs!" Nora threatened, with Ren showing a steeled determination in his eyes. Jaune was the most livid, having not liked what the Keeper just said. The girl he loved had selflessly sacrificed herself, giving up everything for everybody, and then the Keeper decided to mock her. He wouldn't allow it.
"Apologize, NOW!" Team RWBY had never seen Jaune act like this. Even the Adults and "villains" found his anger impressive. The Keeper just laughed.
"Ha! Nice one, kid. But no, I won't apologize. I stand by what I say." The Keeper then used his power to force them to sit. This act only served to further fuel Jaune's anger.
"And why not, from what I Saw, Ms. Nikos did a noble thing standing for her beliefs." Glynda chastised the higher entity. She was quite displeased by his words.
Yeah. What you said was uncalled for." Oscar added, with many agreeing with his comment.
"Sure." The Keeper said once more not bothered by the cast thoughts. "Listen, I don't hate Pyrrha, I really don't. Sure she wasn't my favorite, but I don't exactly hate her either."
"Then why would you say something so insensitive?" Winter asked, wondering why the Keeper would insult the girl's death.
"Because the girl knew she was going to die, even when knowing that Cinder killed Ozpin. Yet she chose to fight anyway. In my opinion, Pyrrha was the one who killed herself. Cinder may have been the one to deal the killing blow, but Pyrrha was the one brought it on herself."
Jaune has never before wanted to retort that damning opinion… and yet, he couldn't do it at all.
In fact, nobody could.
Ozpin had told Jaune and Pyrrha to run. He died trying to protect them and faced Cinder alone. It had all been for naught as Pyrrha, for whatever reason, decided to fight Cinder, knowing she would die. A death that was truly her own
'Hmmm, for once, the Keeper and I actually agree.' Cinder thought, a bit surprised. In truth, she would never have really bothered killing those fools who ran from her. Yet the so-called Invincible Girl came to her, challenging her to fight.
In the end one could say that the Keeper was right. Pyrrha had the choice to leave and live. Even possibly return to battle Cinder when she was stronger, and with full support from her friends and allies. She probably would have won.
Only to die because she wished to fight for what was right.
"In any case, back to the show." Mayden said with really bad timing, but perhaps this was what the group needed to distract them from this depressing discussion. Jaune, in particular, was now wondering a bit about the Keeper's words.
'He's wrong...he's wrong...But...why did Pyrrha battle Cinder? Why had she been so... stubborn?'
Ozpin, on the other hand, could not fault the Keeper for his opinion. He did indeed tell Ms. Nikos to retreat with Mr. Arc, but she instead went on to fight the more-powerful Cinder on her own.
Ozpin sighed from within his mental space, thinking. 'I agree with you, Mayden, Ms. Niko's death was indeed her own fault, although, you should have more sensitive in sharing your opinion."
Amber looked at her would-be successor in pity and offered a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Nah, you're not pathetic, at least you got taken out like a badass. Me, on the other hand, I got snatched by a Nevermore before I even had a chance to fight back." Another voice added.
The group of lost souls, including Roman, turned again to see that another had joined them. He was a dark-skinned young man with brown hair styled in cornrow dreadlocks. He also had sawblades on his wrists. He too was dressed all in white.
"Uh, who are you?" Pyrrha asked with a few tears still in her eyes.
"Roy Stallion," The newcomer introduced, "Member of team BRNZ, or at least I was until, well, this."
He waved his arms about, pointing out their new surroundings.
Roman, having heard what the boy said, asked, "And how did you go, exactly?"
"Like I said, I got snatched by a Nevermore. Spent a few minutes in the air before I freed myself…" Roy paused before palming his face, "Did not account for how high up in the air I was. Aura is great and all, but it doesn't do well once you reach terminal velocity, as I tragically found out."
"Who is that guy exactly?" Nora asked Ren, who just shrugged.
Jaune, forgetting his anger at Mayden, only looked at Nora in disbelief, 'Really, Nora? We fought his team during the tournament."
Nobody else knew who this person was. The man may have said his name, and what team he had been a part of, but they honestly didn't know the man personally. It did make some realize that it wasn't just them that had lost someone. Many people, hunters and civilians alike, had died during Beacon's fall, not just Pyrrha. Many people had died, like this poor young man.
"Wow, and I thought I went out like a punk." Roman remarked, feeling slightly better. He received another punch to the stomach from Summer for that insensitive remark.
"You… crazy… bitch…" Roman groaned as he gasped for air.
He was honestly starting to miss life. Sure he was being held on a tight leash by a pyro-maniacal psycho, but at least he still got respect on the streets. There was no such thing as street cred in the afterlife, and even if it did, it would amount to nothing. Oh, he can only imagine how his protégé Neo was holding up…
Not too well honestly. Neo was loathed to say this, not that she could, but without Roman, and with the majority of her contacts having been lost in the fall, life had been more than difficult to for her. It was just another reason why Neo wanted to gut Cinder like a fish.
…Wherever she was. Since she wasn't there with them, he can only assume she's still in the land of the living. It'll take more than gliding through the air on a parasol to kill that tiny terror.
Still, at least he didn't go out like a punk, just like this Roy kid. He stood up and adamantly retorted, "Yeah, hit me all you want, Big Red-"
Roy leaned next Penny and whispered, "Did he just call her a wad of gum?"
The girl only shrugged. She never quite understood the practice of "nicknaming". Now that she was dead, she'll have all the time in the world to learn about being a person rather than a weapon.
As the two teens look on, Roman continued, "… But you won't stop me from telling it how it is. Roman Torchwick is many things, but a bullshitter is not one of them… I may lie, but I don't bullshit people like you!"
Summer pouted, looking quite childish for a woman her age. She ignored Roman as he continued his rant, "And furthermore, I don't see the need in sugarcoating anything anymore, since we're dead. So I'll say it: "Wow, I may be dead, but at least I didn't go out like a total punk." I mean is there a way more pathetic than death by self-induced fall?"
"It's not his fault entirely." Ruby argued in Roy's defense, recalling how when she had flew through Vale's skies. She had Jumped off the battleship herself, and the Nevermore during her initiation. Then again, she hadn't been as high up as Roy, so she could use enough of her Aura before it ran out. She also had her trusty weapon with her, which helped stop her from reaching terminal velocity by controlling her descent.
Roy didn't have such a luxury, as she doubted his wrist-sawblades turned into guns.
Roy felt the urge to rip this jerk a new one, but he is restrained by Amber, who gives him a knowing smile, as though she knew the thief was going to get his comeuppance. Suddenly, a pair of hands clawed at Roman's face, causing the man to fall back and clutch his face in pain. He didn't understand how that worked. They were dead, but they can still feel pain?
Unless this is hell, and my punishment is to be someone's punching bag. He grimly thought.
"Interesting fact, one can feel pain in the afterlife, or so I heard. Roman should be glad that he didn't end up in hell." Many in the Audience shuddered, having heard just what kind of place Hell was. Even Adam felt a cold chill. It wasn't because of the fact he nearly ended UP there, but because he recognized that claw.
But the question of who had clawed his face was still unanswered.
"What the- You're not Taurus!" A new voice shrieked. Roman's question had been answered.
Crouched over the fallen thief with claws bared and teeth gnashing was Sienna Khan, the (former) leader of the White Fang. Like the others, she too was dressed in the same clothing that she had died in, and they too were in white. The Tiger Faunus glared at the humans around her and snarled, "If this is some kind of elaborate trap set by that upstart brat, then you'll find that I'm not as easy to-"
"ALL HAIL KHAN! ALL HAIL KHAN! WE'RE NOT WORTHY! WE'RE NOT WORTHY!" Two voices cried out in jubilation.
Everyone, including Roman, turned and saw that there were two White Fang members on their knees, bowing reverently to the newly-arrived Sienna. One was a rather scrawny man, who somehow was able to wear glasses over his mask. The other was a monster of a man, having muscles on his muscles, and an intimidating mask that finished the terrifying aura he tried to project in life. These two men were named Perry and Banesaw, respectively.
Nobody knew what the latter's real name was, but he had a giant chainsaw, so they just named him Banesaw.
"So they did die..." Adam said. He had to admit, he wasn't too pleased to hear that his second-in-command had fallen. Although, he probably should have realized the truth, thought he was more worried about what Sienna had told him. Contrary to what the majority of this room thought, he actually ended up in that white space. There he met with Sienna, who spent the few minutes he was there mocking and actually hurting him. He had been too weak and shocked to fight back.
But it wasn't a single strike that she inflicted that hurt him. In fact, what him most as much as what she told him after. After he left Haven, and had been wandering the woods before being transported to this strange dimension, word had traveled back to Headquarters about the failed attack.
She had told him the truth of how the White Fang now viewed him.
Khan, for once, was stunned to find two Fangs treating her with such respect and in full view of humans, as well. It was enough to convince her that this wasn't a trap. She stood tall and commanded, "Rise, my warriors, and look upon your leader."
The two fangs quickly complied and rose to their feet.
Perry bowed and said in awe, "My lady, it is an honor to be in your presence at last."
Banesaw bowed too, saying, "Indeed, High Leader, I never imagined that a humble servant such as I would ever be in your presence! My humble personage quivers at the sight of your radiant beauty, whose radiance shines brighter than the sun's! Yours is a true gift from the divine, no, all of divinity itself is jealous of you, for they cannot compare to you!"
"...Are all the White Fang members really like that?" Weiss asked Blake, who gave a shrug in return.
"Kinda. She was a respected leader after all." Blake then took a peek at Adam who seemed nervous. She had heard Sienna mentioning Adam's name, and in anger.
Pleased with herself, Sienna smirked, "Hmmm, I could listen to this one all day…"
Those who didn't personally know the muscular Faunus were simply awestruck by his eloquent speech. How such words can come from a man who looked like he could crush a watermelon with his pinky was beyond them. Still, they had to admit, he had quite a way with words. If it weren't for the fact that he had been a criminal in life, and possibly psychotic, they honestly would have found him quite endearing
'I've said better,' Roman thought bitterly, unimpressed by the Brainy Brute's words. He then groaned, "Could this not get any weirder?"
"DEAR GODS, I'M ON FIRE! HELP ME, I'VE BEEN PINNED AND I'M ON FIRE!"A fox-eared man in white robes cried in alarm, appearing right behind the thief, who jumped back in fright.
Roman picked his ear and angrily shouted, "Can't you people stop doing that! It's bad enough I've got some crazy psycho-mother sucker-punching me, but I don't want to spend my afterlife dealing with eternal Tinnitus!"
The new arrival just kept viciously patting himself, trying to stamp out the nonexistent flames. Did he seriously not notice he wasn't on fire?
"Albain, I command you to stop! You're not on fire!" Khan shouted, annoyed by the man's shameful display. Though, she admitted that she could not blame him entirely. Being constantly on fire did sound like a pain. Just to get him to stop talking, Sienna just aided in stamping out the nonexistent flames.
The now-named Albain, having heard his (deceased) leader's voice, immediately stopped and looked at his hands. He saw, much to his relief, that they were not burnt, which meant that he, Fennec Albain, was no longer on fire. He looked around and took notice of all the people staring at him. When he found Sienna, he immediately sweated and asked, "I'm dead, aren't I?"
He realized this must be his punishment for doing what he did in life, which had been trying to kill the Belladonnas.
"You deserve worse." Blake muttered. She found solace in the fact that the man was being properly punished for his crime in nearly murdering her parents. Yang patted her partner on the back in support.
Glynda, Ironwood, and winter were a bit surprised. They hadn't realized that Ghira and Kali Belladonna had nearly been assassinated. Then again, it was to be expected. Unlike the traveling students, the adults had other matters to attend to, such as stabilizing order in Vale.
"Oh, he did actually suffer worse." Mayden began before adding, "That platform that fell on him? It didn't kill him, he was trapped under it. He burned to death."
Blake suddenly felt pity for Fennec, despite her fury at the man. Honestly, that sounded far worse than any punishment she could imagine.
"Yes, you little cretin, you're dead." Sienna bluntly explained. She honestly would've called him something far worse, since she never liked him and that brother of his. The Albain twins have always gave off a strange vibe whenever they were around her. Esecially the unnatural worship they made of the Fang. The last thing she wanted people to call the White Fang was a cult.
Plus, there was the chance that he and his brother, Corsac, were involved with Taurus' plan, maybe even supported him assassinating her. She is now starting to regret taking the small burden in taking over. Mainly how by being a leader, she couldn't train as much in combat as she used to. She's honestly ashamed of herself for not keeping up her training. If it had been five years ago, she would've wiped the floor with that edgelord punk of a brat, Adam Taurus.
"WHAT!" Everyone then turned low Adam himself. Blake was Shocked that Adam, of all people,had been the one to kill her. Yet it made some sense in a way.
"Just how low have you sunk, Adam?" Blake seethed at her former mentor. She heard that a human huntsman had killed Sienna. Now it appears the truth has finally come to light.
"Busted," Mercury smirked at the Bull Faunus, who growled in turn.
"For someone who says they're fighting for the Faunus, you sure don't act like it." The old huntsman, Qrow, added.
Qrow had heard about Sienna before. Sienna may have been a terrible person, but she still had much respect in the White Fang. She did her best to limit casualties, and while she didn't like humans, didn't overly hate them either. Finding ways to merely strike fear with respect than just plain murder.
In Qrow's opinion, killing her just to take control of the White Fang made Adam a pathetic excuse for a man.
'Jerk…' Neo said through a sign, having joined in on the action. The diminutive assassin was many things, and had done terrible thing, but she would never backstab her comrades. Like her mentor, she believed that there was such a thing as "Honor among thieves". It was one of the reasons why she and Roman got along so well. Adam clearly had no sense of honor. She heard on the news what the bull Faunus had done, and she honestly wasn't pleased. What kind of leader abandons their people? A coward, that's who;
"..." Adam so dearly wanted to strike back. Too bad that barrier kept him from doing so. That and that a part of him felt... like he deserved it?
'Did I really just think that?' The Bull Faunus asked himself.
Summer cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention. Once everyone's eyes were on her, she began to speak, using a speech that she used far too many times to count. "Okay, now, I know what all of you are asking. "Where am I?" no doubt being one of them, so here's the answer to that question… The afterlife, and no, it's neither heaven nor hell. In fact, I'm not even sure if they exist, considering that I've spent the past ten years here, waiting to pass on."
"She's been there for years?!" Qrow had to admit, he didn't expect that. With what Summer was like in life, she would have a first class ticket to heaven. Either it didn't exist like she had said, or maybe something was making her stay there, in that limbo. Did she have some kind of regret, maybe?
He looked over to Yang and Ruby. He just answered his own question.
She paused to let that bit of information soak in. She then continued, "As for where we are specifically? Well, I guess you can say it's a sort of way station to the next plane of existence, a sort of purgatory for those who have unfinished business. So, all of you are here because you all have regrets in life that have carried over here, but it's unresolved. It's kinda like you're waiting for your luggage at an airport, but it never comes. Well, unless one's unfinished business is resolved, and then you're free to move on. But as far as I've seen, very few people here pass on."
She then snapped her fingers and a bottle of Lemon-Lime soda appeared in her hand, "But unlike an airport, this place does actually provide for you while you wait. It's sort of a consolation prize."
Perry chimed in and added, "You even get your own personal space. Mine looks like my old college dorm room back at Vale U."
Roman just looked skeptically at the man and asked, "You went to college?"
"Oh, is it so hard to believe that a Faunus can go to college!" Perry angrily retorted.
"No, it's not; I'm just asking why specifically you went to college. I mean why join the White Fang when you had a degree, especially since Vale is the most Faunus-Friendly kingdom in the world?" The thief asked.
"He... does have a valid point." Weiss said, not pleased that she actually agreed with the thief. But what he said did make sense.
"Maybe he had problems, ones outside of his control." Ren mused, having heard how some Faunus joined the White Fang due circumstances beyond their control. This Perry may have been one of them.
"Well, first, my major was Anthropology-" Perry tried to say, only for Roman to cut him off.
"Say no more. I understand it's a tough job market, especially for a useless degree like that. Gods know we have enough spider species in the world."
"That's arachnology! Anthropology is the study of-"
"I know what it is, Perry. I just don't care."
"Man, Roman was kind of an asshole…" Yang said aloud, earning a glare from Neo.
Emerald and Mercury, for once, actually agreed with the blonde brawler, having been on the receiving end of Roman's verbal barbs.
"Will you two stop it?!" Summer shouted, "I'm trying to talk here!"
Once the two men quieted down, she cleared her throat and spoke, "Anyway, to summarize: You're all dead. You had regrets in life, or your killer remains at large, and you're staying here until then. Now, are there any questions?"
The group of people stayed silent as they thought about their questions. Seconds pass as they considered the numerous inquiries they could ask. Then, Roman, this time being completely serious, raised his hand. Summer saw this and asked, "Yes, Grimmbait?"
Mercury laughed at the insult, remembering to use it later.
Letting that insult slide for now, the thief asked, "Okay, so what do we now?"
"I beg your pardon?" Summer didn't know how to respond to that.
"We're dead and were probably going to be stuck in this place for, well, probably an eternity. So I ask again, what do we do now?" Roman said, with everyone present sharing that same thought.
"Yeah, what do people in... limbo, or whatever, do?" Surprisingly, it was Mercury who had asked this. Though it was more because he figured he might end up there. It was best to know if there was some kind of entertainment.
"Again, I say I have no idea how heaven actually works." The Keeper declared, truly not knowing the full details of the afterlife. Sure there were many dimensions where there was such a thing, yet those were other dimensions. The Keeper didn't have the authority to see what heaven or hell did to their inhabitants. He's only managed to make some assumptions and presumptions at best.
Summer tapped her chin, considering the man's question. She thought long and hard about it, considering everyone's feelings as well. She can tell that they were all depressed, some more so than others, and she wondered how she can lift their spirits. She then remembered when she had first come to this space, when she was greeted by none other than Nicholas Schnee. The Old man, who had yet to pass on, helped pull her out of her depression and in a most interesting manner too. He sang a song, one that she always sang to herself when she feeling down.
She smiled, knowing exactly what they can do.
"We're going to sing!" She exclaimed happily.
Roman's response pretty much summed everybody's response, "Wut?"
"What?" Everyone in the audience also asked.
"I should have seen that coming." Qrow always knew Summer had a tendency to doing strange things when she was down in the dumps, singing being one of them. It was second only to eating tons upon tons of cookies.
"Yes." Ruby showed more joy, taking out her scroll ready to record. She had a chance to see her mother sing in so many years. She wasn't wasting it.
"So, Grandfather is there…" Winter had a good guess why he was there. She had reason to believe her father may be the cause. Hopefully her grandfather will pass on in peace one day. Until then she decided to listen, believing she knew what song Summer might sing. It was one her Grandfather had liked to sing.
"I said we're going to sing. I happen to know one very good tune that can lift anyone's spirits." She said, snapping her fingers. She then took Roman's cane despite his protest, and then an Opera hat landed on her head.
"Are we really going to do this?" Roman asked only to hear a strumming guitar. "And where is that music coming from?"
"Okay everyone, a song's coming up." Everyone then felt like some kind of invisible tape had placed upon their lips. "Now you can comment within your minds, but make no noise. I'll lift the spell later."
Reluctantly the cast had no choice. They might as well see what Summer had in store. Ruby and Yang were most excited. Mercury took out his scroll again, ready to get more blackmail.
Everyone else was equally confused. Many who had felt sad were now just bewildered, wondering what this strange woman was doing. Summer ignored her glances as the guitar continued. She began to sing softly.
"Some things in life are bad; they can really make you mad!"
She pointed to Roman, "Other things just make you swear and curse!"
"When you're chewing on life's gristle," She then walked over to Pyrrha and smiled, "Don't grumble! Give a whistle…"
She then twirled back to her own spot and pointed her cane at everyone, "And this'll help things turn out for the best…"
"Aaand..." Summered drawled out, causing the music to pick up, this time with a piano and drum accompanying the guitar. Summer's smile grew and she started tapping her toes, twirling her cane.
She then sang, "Always look on the bright side of life…"
Suddenly, a chorus of whistles sounded off, surprising everyone. "Always look on the light side of life…"
"But we're dead…" Roman began, only for Perry to shush him. The Faunus liked the song so far. He always had a thing for musical theater. Another whistling chorus sounded off.
Summer pointed her cane at Pyrrha, who jumps slightly at the action. "If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten…"
She snapped her fingers, causing a cane and an Opera hat to appear on Pyrrha. "And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing!"
Pyrrha, feeling better than when she had arrived, joined the dancing woman, forming the beginnings of a chorus line. Amazingly, their movements were in tune. Summer than gestures to Amber and Penny to join them, "When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps!
The two girls smiled and summoned their own canes and hats, joining the chorus line. The four girls tapped in unison, twirling their canes. Surprisingly, Banesaw also joined in, his massive frame bounding over to join them. "Just purse you lips and whistle - that's the thing."
"Really, is that all there is to it," Penny asked, somewhat confused. Summer ignored her question, continuing on with her song.
"And…" The chorus line then sung together, "Always look on the bright side of life of life…"
They join in the whistling as well, and again sang. "Always look on the light side of life…"
As they whistled again, Summer called out to everyone. "Come on!"
Roy and Perry joined in as well, their spirits lifting, as they sang along. "Always look on the bright side of life…"
Summer then snuck behind Sienna and sang, "For life is quite absurd, and death's the final word."
Amber and many others piped up, "Agreed!"
Sienna pouted, crossing her arms. She will not be swayed by this strange, dancing human. Summer saw this and continued, "You must always face the curtain with a bow."
She then took Sienna's hands and began dancing with her, the Faunus woman getting flustered by the sudden action. The deceased Huntress than twirled her over to the chorus line, which the woman joined in, finding herself beginning to smile.
Summer then pointed away, as though addressing an audience. "Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin! Enjoy it! It's your last chance anyhow!"
She rejoined the chorus line and sang with them. "So always look on the bright side of death!"
'Wait, what?' Ozpin thought, surprised by the sudden change in lyrics.
They whistled and then sang, "Just before you draw your terminal breath!"
Then those in the chorus sounded off their deaths.
Sienna sang, "Even when pierced."
"Sliced and diced," Added Penny.
"Drained of life," Amber spoke angrily.
"Eaten alive…" Roman hesitantly added, wondering when he starting singing.
Corsac joined in, "Or burned alive!"
Pyrrha said, "Or turned to dust."
"Or falling through the sky," Roy sang.
Saw added, "Don't forget about going up sky-high!"
Perry then joined in, "Same for me, guys! Always Look on the bright side of life, you know, I mean there are worse ways to go, because let me tell you something, life is a challenge… I mean I could sing and dance, tell jokes and I could act…"
The music died as the man began to break down, tears falling from his eyes. "I could've been a BIG… a big deal if my agent had called me back…"
"Damn, this suddenly got depressing." Qrow mentally remarked, having not seen that coming.
"That's just sad." Ironwood thought rather bluntly. He was a bit upset that the music had died down.
Everyone was now starting to get worried. Perry then sang pathetically, "Why did I agree… To join that stupid plot… I have a degree in freaking anthropologyyyy…"
Adam, for once, actually felt slightly guilty that he led this man to his death, but only slightly.
"You're kind of going off track here, Perry." Summer stated, causing the man to end to snap back to reality.
"Anyway…" Summer cleared her throat and the music started up again. "Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it!"
Mercury, Yang, and Qrow gave a silent laugh at that line. Some wondered if they even acted their actual ages.
She turned to Perry, "Life's a laugh, and death's the joke, it's true,"
She then turned to her imaginary audience, "You'll see it's all a show,"
"A truth I only know." The Keeper said quietly with glee.
"Keep em' laughing as you go," She raised a finger, "Just remember that the last laugh is on you!"
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"Always look on the right side of life…"
"C'mon Roman, cheer up!" Summer said to the thief, whose face started to twitch as he tried to stop a smile from breaking out.
Neo got out her phone ready to record.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
She then reminded everyone, "Worse things happen as sea, you know?"
"Definitely," Blake muttered inwardly, recalling the sea Grimm that she and Sun had fought.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"I mean what have you got to lose?" She asked.
"A life…" Ozpin thought, lamenting his lost life.
"Beacon…" Glynda also thought.
"Relic and a hand…" Cinder gazed at her hand.
"Legs…" Mercury frowned.
"Respect…" Adam glumly thought.
"The average life you know…" Sadly this was Oscar.
"You know, you come from nothing, you're going back to nothing."
"What have you lost? Nothing," She joked.
The cast disagreed.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
She then wondered aloud, "Nothing will come from nothing, you know what they say."
She turned to Roman, "Cheer up, ya old grump, give us a grin!"
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
Roman shrugged and immediately did as told, his spirits having lifted up, joining in on the fun with everybody, now singing.
She then faced the audience as the camera began to pull back, "There ya see, end of the show. Incidentally, this song is available for download on your scrolls."
"No, not talking to you." Mayden told the cast.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"I mean, even in the afterlife, we gotta earn our keep, you know." She said.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"How do you think this place stay so spotless? Even we have janitors here." She noted.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
"They're not gonna make their money back, you know. I told them, I said to him, Nicholas, I said "they'll never make their money back." And he just looked at me and said…"
The camera continues to pull back as Summer goes into her story, the chorus reprising the same line over and over again, as their voices echoed across the vast expanse of white.
Sure they were in the afterlife now, but at least they wouldn't be bored. So long as they don't need to sing a song about Spam.
"Always look on the bright side of life…"
The screen faded to black.
"… Well... That was a thing." Emerald broke the silence, showing everyone can now speak.
"More or less… Nice song I guess." Mercury said putting away his scroll. Having actually liked the song, but only just a bit… Okay, he can admit he had found his new ringtone.
"It was alright, I suppose." Cinder heard worse.
"I can't believe it, we saw and heard mom." It was disappointing Ruby couldn't speak with her, but she was sorta okay with this. Yang supported her younger sibling, having also liked this viewing. "I just wish we could see her here, you know, for real."
"For real, huh," As though on cue, a portal opened up above, surprising everyone as they looked up. "Wish and you shall receive."
Then just like that, the audience heard some screams.
And so ends this session. Now onto an intermission, where the cast can talk a bit, and see meet the new guests that have joined them. Can you figure out who they are? Until next time, I'm out.
(Beta's note: FYI, I don't think Pyrrha's death was pathetic. In fact, it was meant to be tragic, in the sense that she arrogantly thought she could save everyone. I actually wrote a short paragraph as part of this viewing that explained her actions. It got taken out, due to need of shortening the text. In fact, a few details were taken out. The paragraph in question went as followed,
*Upon hearing her own killer's name, Pyrrha's anguish increased tenfold. She fell to her knees, crying her heart out. Because of her own foolish actions, Cinder was able to secure the last of Amber's powers, making her a full maiden. She knew she was going to lose, that she was probably going to die, but she thought that she could've at least enough time for more Huntsmen to arrive.
But they never came. She gambled everything and lost it all.
People would often tell her she was a nice girl, but they never got to see the arrogance that she buried deep beneath that kindness. That arrogance had cost her to lose her life. She can't even begin to imagine how her teammates must be feeling.*
(Pyrrha's death was caused by her own arrogance. She was inspired by Achilles, whose arrogance left him blind to his own weakness, which was an arrow to the ankle.)