Yoda, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, hummed in deep thought.
The old Grandmaster was meditating on recent events. He had just read the report that Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker sent. Terrible, the loss of the cloning facilities of Kamino would be. Loss much without the reinforcements of the clones the Republic would be. Possibly the end of the war it could. Prevented Grievous's planes they have for now.
Now the subject for what made him think so.
An explosion of force energy that links to the light. One that can overwhelm the senses if sensitive to the Force. But not detected the further the event is.
Such an event, familiar he was.
"Master Yoda."
The little Grandmaster opened his eyes to see a fellow friend. "Kenobi and Skywalker are inbound with their guest." Master Mace Windu informed.
Yoda stretched out into the Force and felt their presents on approach to the Temple. He also felt the incredible light that nearly eclipsed them.
A light he had not felt for a generation. More interesting the coming conversations may be.
.
.
Along with the Jedi, both Captain Rex and Cody joined in on her journey to the Core world.
At her request, they stopped to pick up Ruby's Crescent Rose. Upon seeing her sweetheart, she cuddled it in front of the Jedi and Clones. When she realized that she was being watched, she quickly stored her weapon away and hid her head under her hood in embarrassment. While also ignoring the sly smirks, the others were sending her.
Ruby and co boarded a dropship of the same design as the one that rescued her and the clones. When asked what kind of ship it is, Rex answered it is a LAAT gunship. When asked what that meant, he replied, Low altitude assault transport. Ruby liked how much firepower it had.
Soon their transport was underway out of the Venator-class Star Destroyers hanger.
Flying vehicles of different makes, tall skyscrapers that reached the sky, gigantic landmarks that make Beacon Academy look like a hole in the wall restaurant. All around them were ships whizzing by. If one looked closely enough, the dozens of alien species that populate this galaxy could also be seen piloting these flying cars.
The Remnant native was simply floored with what she was seeing.
"Weiss would love it here," Ruby said in wonder.
Obi-wan came to her side and pointed at a large domed building. "That building over there is the Senate, the heart Republic where representatives from across the galaxy meet."
"And where we're going…" Anakin picked up for Obi-wan. "Is the Jedi temple, the seat of the Jedi order."
Ruby admitted she was a bit nervous when they descended to one of the landing pads on the side of the Temple. It felt similar to her first day at Beacon. Hopefully, nothing explosive is nearby. When they entered the hanger, Ruby was greeted with more ships, from dropships to what she assumed to be starfighters. They came in many shapes as well as colors. As they walked through the Temple's hanger, the Remnant native was holding herself back from asking an assortment of questions on everything she spotted.
When they exited the hanger and into the actual Temple, Ruby looked in awe at the architecture and the sheer magnitude of the Temple and grandeur. It reminded her somewhat of the pictures she'd seen of Mistral. Rubys sharp eyes noticed the amount of craftsmanship that went into every little piece of wall or columns. They had lots of it, like a sculptor putting his whole life's work into this to become a masterpiece.
It was then that she spotted a bald, dark-skinned man in Jedi robes with...a small, green, imp-like creature hobbling towards them.
Ruby blinked then remembered her words from before and mentally facepalmed. 'Did I somehow get cursed or something for weird things to happen to me?!'
Before Ruby could say anything, the two approached them.
"Master Kenobi, Knight Skywalker, Padawan Tano, welcome back to Coruscant." The skinned man said, nodding to the three.
"Good to be home, Master Windu," Obi-wan replied.
Master Windu's eyes scanned the group before zeroing in on the lone redheaded Huntress. Ruby felt his eyes drilled into her, judging her for everything she is.
"This is the one that you reported at the Rishi Moon outpost?" The Jedi master said to the Clones.
"Yes, sir." The Clone officers replied. Windu looked back at Ruby, making girl nerves by the sold glare the man sending her.
It was at this point, the small green man made his presence known.
"Clam, yourself, Master Windu. Scaring the child, you are."
Windu back off. "Very well, Master Yoda."
The young girl felt relieved at the moment and focused on her little green savor as he approached her. He was a short man that barely stood up to her knees and had really long, pointed ears.
He walked with a wooden cane, using it for support. He was wearing clean-looking tan and brown robes, and his three-toed feet were bare of footwear. Ruby would bet that this creature was old, based on the gray-white hairs on its head, and a few coming out of his ear.
Ruby would bet her secret stash of cookies that this creature was old, based on the gray-white hairs on its head, and a few coming out of his ear. Eww
But what really really caught her view were his eyes. His small eyes were similar to that of elite Huntsman or vets form the great war. Like she has seen in her Uncle Qrow and Headmaster Ozpin,
The Jedi Master stopped about a meter from Ruby and looked up at her, observing her. Ruby didn't quite feel as much pressure as the other guy gave her but wasn't exactly sure what to do other than stay silent. Glancing at the others in the group, they too stayed silent as they watched her.
After another few seconds of observation, the creature suddenly broke the silence, saying, "Hmmm... long time it has been since I felt a presence similar to you. Bright, the light within you is. Stronger too, then the others. Still unknown, to me, yet at the same time, familiar. Tell me young one, your name, what is it?"
She felt like she needed to ask a bunch of questions at just what he was talking about but held them back for now. "Huntress Ruby Rose, leader of team RWBY... Sir," she added that last part as an afterthought. It couldn't hurt to be safe, she thought.
Ruby saw that Yoda was slightly amused by his address, first by the sight of its raised eyebrows, then he suddenly laughed.
"Now, now, no need for that. Many questions we have. Questions better answered together, hmm?" Yoda spoke with a voice conveying a layer of age gained wisdom.
"Answers sound more good right now," Ruby nodded.
"Then I think we've delayed long enough," Windu cut in. "We all like answers to recent events on Rishi."
"Yes," Master Yoda said solemnly. "Much to discuss, we have. The Force, directing towards you, it does."
"Then let's find a place more comfortable for us all." Obi-wan stepped in. "I'd rather us not stand around here for another few hours with one revelation after another with no explanation." The other agreed.
All were now present within a room that reminded Ruby a lot like the combat class Miss Goodwitch taught. It was ovular in shape with steps elevating upwards, acting as seats for many over a combat arena.
It was then Ruby was officially introduced to the Jedi High council.
The council consisted of Grandmaster Yoda, the small green creature.
Mace Windu, Master of the Order.
Obi-wan Kenobi, whom she has already met.
Then, of course, were the more unique nonhumans such as Ki-Adi-Mundi with a large cone-dome shaped head. Next came the equally aquatic green, tentacle headed Kit Fisto who held a mischievous smile that reminded the red head of a particular monkey Faunus. Followed by Plo Koon wearing a strange respirator mask type contraption and black metal lenses over the eyes.
Then was a dark-skinned woman with a strange headpiece that was akin to a crown of sorts named Adi Gallia.
And lastly was the strangest one of them all, the one named Oppo Rancisis, an alien with a long bushy beard, elongated fingernails, and a snake-like body from the waist down. Ruby had to suppress a shiver from when he slithered in the room. A female with an athletic build that reminded her of Phyrra with blue skin and two head tails, Aayla Secura.
There were other members of the Jedi council that were missing but were all were off-world conducting their own missions in the war effort.
"Introduced ourselves, we have," Yoda spoke for the collective Jedi and Clones. "The same in turn, you do."
"Okay," Ruby nodded. "As some of you already know me, for those of you that didn't. My name is Ruby Rose. I'm from the planet Remnant, living in the Kingdome of Vale territory. I'm Huntress in training and a student at Beacon Academy."
"Remnant," Kit Fisto said as he put his hand to his chin. "I'm not familiar with that Planet. Has anyone been there?"
"Know of Remnant, I do."
All eyes turned to the small Grandmaster.
"Master Yoda, you've heard of this word before?" Master Obi-wan asked.
Yoda nodded. "Years ago, it was, felt a disturbance I did similar to what you experienced." Pointed his cane at Obi-wan and Anakin. "Though did not meet one, but more with eyes like you." Now his stick pointed at Ruby.
"Eyes like mine?" Ruby pointed at herself.
"Both humans and Faunus, I believe their species be," Yoda answered. The answer made Ruby's eyes go wide.
"People from Remnant? Do you know where they are?" Ruby asked, nearly pleading to the Jedi. The thought of others from her home, even if she didn't know them would be a confer to know she wasn't alone.
The Grandmaster shook his head. "Searching for their home, they are, where they are based, I do not."
Ruby was looked down in sadness, before perking up in determination. "Then I will find them and help however I can in finding Remnant." Through the Force, the Jedi Master saw her light dimmed for a moment before flashing back up brightly. Making some of them blink as if they were being blinded by the glare of the sun.
"Before we continue. There is still the matter of just how you ended up on Rishi." Windu brought the discussion back to Ruby.
The teen closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. "I don't know..."
Windu raised an eyebrow, unamused. "You don't know?"
"I all happened so fast...just one thing after another before we were suddenly under attack," Ruby told them.
"How about you start from the beginning. Before moving forward from there," Obi-wan offered as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Ruby took another deep breath. Then she spoke, explaining the events of the Vytal Festival. The tournament between the four kingdoms. She told them of the White Fang attack of the tournament grounds and the launch of a massive Grimm invasion. And how her team was hurt and her friends were dying all around her.
.
.
Sidious hummed in displeasure. Something was amiss with the Force as felt suddenly a lot brighter. He didn't like it and felt its presence settle over at the Jedi Temple.
He interlocked his fingers and meditate, diving into the Force to see what this new presence. He found that he could not get close to it as it was like looking at a star. Bright. Pure. And utterly repulsive to him.
The Dark Lord couldn't believe something so bright exists. But what could it be? Did the Jedi somehow stumble on a relic of the past? Something ancient and one with the light.
The inner archived he had in his thoughts could bring nothing of such forward. His collection of Sith Holocrons would likely come up as a dead end as he would not know who among the ancient Sith could answer such a thing.
"What are up to now, Jedi?" Darth Sidious questioned from his seat in the Chancellors office.
.
.
"We are sorry for the hardships your people have suffered, Miss Rose," Obi-wan said, his voice filled with sorrow. The same could be said for the rest of the Jedi and Clones in the room after listening to Ruby recounted the events of the Vital Festival.
"Can you tell us more about these Grimm, Miss Rose?" Kit Fisto asked. Wanting to know more about these monsters that prey on the innocent.
"Only that they are soulless creatures, drawn to negativity and attack anyone they see. Humans, Funans, and animals that stand in their way have killed entire settlements if given a chance. They're the reason why there are only four kingdoms of Remnant. It makes it difficult to live outside the city walls and natural environments within."
"And you say you are a Huntress, correct? You and your team?" Aayla asked.
Ruby nodded. Thinking about everything she knew in school that Weiss beat into her head. "Huntsmen and Huntresses are the elite warriors dedicated to fighting the Creatures of Grimm, and it is our duty to support the peace of the world. We train for years, going to combat schools to train and learn how to fight before going to the academies. The academies teach us how things like leadership, teamwork, and Aura training. They even give us missions to prepare us for the future." Ruby told her.
"Sounds familiar, doesn't it?" Anakin commented.
"And you went to this 'Beacon Academy,' Miss Rose?" Oppo Rancisis asked.
"Yep, I was already finished with my first year there before I ended up on another planet."
"Which leads us to the main topic of this discussion. How did you end up on that moon?" Master Windu said.
The room was quiet, the Jedi and Clones looked at the little girl as she didn't speak. Plo Koon was the next one to talk.
"From what you have told us, and what we know. We may never honestly know what occurred on top of that tower. For all that we know, the living Force itself brought you to that moon to aid in those troopers in their time of need." The Kel Dor expressed. Many of the orders nodding in agreement.
"For now, there are other things we wish to know. Like what is this "Aura training" you mentioned?" Plo Koon pointed out. "What significance does that warrant mentioning and teaching?"
Ruby wore an expression of disbelief. "Y-You… Don't know what Aura is?" Ruby asked.
"Should we?" Master Windu asked, interested in what the teen is implying.
Ruby looked to the face of each of the masters in the room. Seen that they all were clueless about the mention of Aura. "Wow...never thought I have to explain this to a bunch of adults?" She said while rubbing her head.
The tentacle headed Jedi Kit Fisto, chuckled. "Then why don't you explain to us old dogs a new trick then, Ruby?" He said to lighten the mood. "I, for one, would like to hear what this about."
Ruby looked thoughtful, "Well, most people think of Aura as an 'extension of the soul,' much like how a common belief is that a weapon is an 'extension of the body'… I don't really understand the philosophy about it. But it's what given us the edge to fight back a lot of our enemies."
She looked around and saw what she needed. "Hey, Captain, can I borrow your knife?"
The Clone blinked at the request and looked to his Jedi General. Anakin nodded from the go-ahead and unsheathed his viro-knife and handed it handle first to the teen.
"Thank you." She said before she stood before everyone. "Now watch," She said, as she jabbed the blade down into her own arm.
For a moment, the Masters and Clones watch, horrified, expecting her to cut right through her arm and make a fatal injury. Instead, the moment the blade struck her flesh, there was a little shimmer of red energy around the impact point, almost unnoticeable. She pulled the knife back to reveal the only thing cut was the sleeve of her dress.
"That isn't the only thing it can do," Ruby continued. She carefully lowered the blade to her skin, gaining a look of deep discomfort as she cut a small gash into her hand. A moment later, a field of red closed around the cut before it faded away. The skin stitching itself together and not even leaving a scar, the small cut taking a minute to heal. "The only thing I wish it could do was block out the pain altogether, it still hurts when you get hit."
"Wow...how about that?" Ahsoka said in awe.
"What else can you tell us about Aura?" Asked Oppo Rancisis as he stroke his long beard.
"Well, Aura is in everything that has a soul. If you got a one, then you have an Aura," Ruby told them. "There is even a tree in downtown Vale that has an active Aura that's been around for nearly two hundred years."
"A tree?" Commander Cody scuffed at.
"And anyone with a 'Soul' can have one?" Master Windu clarified.
"My sister and I unlocked our dog Zwei's Aura when we were little."
"Unlocked," Plo Koon questioned. "What do you mean by unlocked?"
"Most of the time, someone with an active Aura unlocks it for you," Ruby answered. "Other times, it can be achieved by accident or in times of great stress.
"Can we see a demonstration of this?" Obi-wan asked, intrigued. Same as some of the other Masters were.
The Huntress looked slightly embarrassed to the Jedi. "I can try... I've never done it for someone and... it's a bit personal. Doesn't mean I won't; it's just..."
Ruby took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm literally using my soul to touch another to bring there's out. It's personal, and really I don't know any of you. I might be able to unlock Rex's or Cody's because I can see them as friends or people I've fought with. But that's stretching it."
"Understandable," Ki-Adi-Mundi said. "We don't want to push you if this is an awkward subject."
"But something we would like to see for ourselves," Master Windu pushed. His attention then focused on the Clones. "Captain, Commander, may one step forward and volunteer."
"Your choice, Rex?" Anakin said to the Clone officer.
The Clone shifted nervously before stepping forward. "If it gives me a chance to get a leg up over you General, then I'm all for it."
Rex walked up to a nervous Ruby. "So, how does this work?"
"Well, from what I can remember in school, the words are different and unique to the person. First, I need to make contact with you, umm," Ruby looked up at the Clone, "can you get down on one knee? You're kind of tall." Some of the Masters found that to be amusing but kept that to themselves. The Clone Captain knelt down to where he was below Ruby's eye level. Ruby then brought a hand to both the Clone's head and where his heart would be.
That's when her Aura flared.
Ruby thought back to all her classes in Aura from Signal and Beacon when she pulsed her Aura. It is the manifestation of the soul that all living beings possess. The Clone is alive, so he too should have a soul. That was when she found it.
It was a tiny thing, just a little blue light. Ruby sent some of her Aura to draw it out. Then she felt the words come to her. If someone was looking at her face, they would see her eyes dilated for a moment.
"Brothers by the many. Defenders of all, more profound than blood and bone. Our spirit is our sword and shield, and upon our death we pass into the halls of immortality. I release your soul, and by my side, protect with thee."
A soft blue glow covered over the Rex. "Whoa..." Rex stared at himself.
"Rex, you alright?" Anakin asked as he went to his friend's side.
"Yeah, its a bit strange, no, I feel great," it felt like he could run around a Venator and not be winded.
"Come find me later if you want some training on how to use your Aura, Rex. It works differently then what you are used to." Ruby advised to which the Captain agrology with a nod.
"Well, at least I know what I'm doing next," Anakin said next, drawing the other Jedi and Ruby's attention.
"And what's that?" Obi-wan inquired
"Find this place. It sounds like this place needs the help of the Jedi. I volunteer to help this girl find her home."
I'm probably going to get some hell having Ruby unlock Rex's Aura. But I say what the hell. He's my favorite Clone!
I have probably made more then a few grammar mistakes in this so I am sorry for that. I'll come back later and edit this later if I need to.