A/N: This story takes place after Volume 8 of RWBY. At the time of publishing this story, I have no idea what Volume 9 will be (except for them being on an island looking at the sneak peek). This story has taken inspiration from DC's Injustice. After Volume 8, Ruby, her friends, and Neo are now stranded on a mysterious island. Ruby will then learn about Penny's second death and fall into despair. It's most likely in canon she'll move on and fight to avenge her. But what if she snapped? What if she has had enough of losing the people close to her and resulting in killing (the thing she would never come to as a result)? She becomes a tyrant and follows no one, but her own. How will her friends react to that? Will she accomplish her new mission and defeat Salem? Or will it make it worse and strengthen Salem's power? Read on to find out!

A/N 2: RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth.

Shattered Ruby/Wilted Rose

Chapter 1:

Denial

It hurt…

It hurts…

It hurts so much…

Ruby Rose is in so much pain. It was like a knife had been plunged to her heart. Or something inside her was causing her so much pain, like a stomach ache or maybe a heart attack.

But she's not in pain. Not physically anyway.

When she saw Penny for the first time, she thought she was this weird girl who just needed a friend. After a while, she started to grow into the weird girl. It wasn't until the surprising truth came out that Penny was a robot. Of course, Ruby didn't mind but was surprised.

Nothing changed after that. They started hanging out more. Talking to each other. Playing games at the arcade. Laughing at their jokes. It was nice.

Then came the Fall of Beacon.

Penny was the first victim. She was torn in half by Pyhrra by complete accident.

All because of Emerald's damn illusion.

Ruby only salvaged Penny's weapon: Floating Array.

She never really showed it to her friends. She just kept it safe and near to treasure the memories she and Penny shared.

Then came the arrival at Atlas. Penny was found to be alive. Ruby couldn't have been happier.

Working for Ironwood and trying to save Atlas was…a complicated situation to say the least. Why did Ruby lie to Ironwood? Would things have changed? Would Ironwood have not lost his mind and cooperated to save Atlas and Mantle?

Would Penny still be alive?

That question may never be answered. But the fact remained that Ruby still lied to Ironwood. Just like how Ozpin lied to them. And that cost her everything. Her home, her friends…and now her Penny…

And now she and her friends are in the middle of nowhere, with no knowledge to get back. She was now lying on her knees, tears dripping down her cheeks. Losing all the hope she had. Evacuating the people of Mantle and Atlas to Vacuo was supposed to be a piece of cake. There would be some difficulties, but nothing serious.

So why?

Why the hell did she forget about Cinder?!

Now she killed Penny.

Again.

Ruby might have been dense, but there was no way Jaune would just kill Penny like that. Jaune desperately told Ruby and the others that he had no choice cause if Penny would've died, Cinder would've also gained the Winter Maiden powers.

It was Penny's dying wish.

But it still hurts. And now Penny is dead and no longer the Winter Maiden.

Weiss' sister, Winter, is.

How ironic.

How cliche.

.

.

.

How unfair and completely unacceptable!

Not because of the name, of course. Just how can Penny trust Winter that much to give her the powers? Granted Penny thought she was dead, but still. And now she should trust Winter and the Ace Ops? After all the things they've done?! They fought her, her friends, and arrested Qrow! They wouldn't be in this situation and Penny would've had a chance to live if they would've just listened! And now they decided to work to save Mantle?! Too late for that!

Not to mention Ironwood! How hard is it for a leader to listen and evacuate everyone, not just Atlas?! She can't believe she has ever been inspired by that evil machine! He was an evil maniac! An asshole of a leader! A complete bastard! He was no different than Salem! Or Lionheart! She hoped he was dead! She hopes he burns in Hell!

And, of course, there's Emerald! She was sole heartedly responsible for Penny's first death and many others before! She almost killed them at Haven! And she knows for a fact she helped Cinder in stopping the communications tower! And now she decided she wants to join sides?! What if this is what she was planning?! That she would trick us into agreeing that she switched sides for them to be too distracted to notice anything about Cinder?! She always gets into people's heads! This could be her fault as well! If she does ever get back home, she's going to go straight to Emerald and force her into…

.

.

.

Ruby was now starting to blame others. Was it the right thing to do? Was she just in denial of being responsible? She was the one who lied, after all. Now, she knows that both Mantle and Atlas were destroyed. She doesn't even know if her friends or the evacuees made it to Vacuo safely.

She doesn't know anything anymore…

Just then in the middle of her big episodic thought, she hears footsteps. She moves quickly to grab Crescent Rose and aim it in the direction of the sound. She has an angry expression, baring her teeth and snarling.

It must be her.

Seeing past the nighttime darkness, it was Weiss who emerged with a sad and pitiful expression. As soon as Ruby spots her, she relaxes her expression. She lets go of Crescent Rose and continues to look at the ocean, giving the hint that she wants to be alone.

"…Ruby?" Weiss asked in a sad tone.

Ruby remained silent, not moving an inch.

Weiss sighed and moved next to her, giving Ruby some space.

"Ruby, please. Talk to me."

Ruby continued her silence, just looking at the waves of the ocean in a night. Why was Weiss talking to her? She and the others were here because of her. If only her stubbornness and overconfidence didn't confine her, she should've acted like a true leader.

Now, they're trapped.

On a mysterious island.

Running out of food and water.

And alone.

Alone.

alone.

"I'm sorry about Penny." Weiss broke the silence. Ruby's eyes began to water, but it would seem her voice ran out to develop sobs. She roughly swallowed as a tear streamed down her left cheek.

Weiss continued.

"We were cornered, Ruby. Cinder was just about ready to kill us all. I did all I could to fight back. I thought I lost you three. I was beyond furious so I gave it my all. Even that wasn't enough. I'm sorry I wasn't quick enough to save her." Weiss said as she began her sobbing. "We all loved her Ruby. And we all miss her just as much as you do. But her death will not be in vain. As Jaune said, Winter is the Maiden now. Hopefully with her having the power, she can safely-

"You still trust her?" Ruby interrupted. Not looking at Weiss, but still holding on to some aggression in her tone. Ruby's tone stopped Weiss' sobbing as she looked at her with a shocked expression.

"Wha-Of course I do. She's my sister."

"Your sister put a target on our backs. Obeyed all of Ironwood's orders. Almost set off a bomb with Yang, Jaune, and Oscar still inside the Grimm whale. And you still trust her?"

"Ruby, please. I know you're still mad at them and the Ace Ops. But we should still have hope they'll come around and help us defeat Cinder and Salem. Like Oscar said, we should give them a chan-"

Ruby suddenly stood up and glared at Weiss, as she was still seated next to her.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this! They refused to listen to us! Attacked us! Almost killed us! And now you're telling me to work with them?!"

Weiss still shocked decided to hold her ground as she stood up also to level with Ruby.

"We have to. We need to work together. As a team." Weiss extended her hand, calling for Ruby.

Ruby just stood there. Looking at Weiss and her hand. Back at Beacon, she would remember Weiss lecturing her about being childish and not wanting to work in a team led by her. Calling her mistake.

Maybe she was right.

Ruby turned and just walked away as Weiss kept her arm still for a moment until ultimately dropping it.