Chapter 12: The protectors.
"You buffoons ditched us!" Yelled Weiss.
"Actually, it's not that bad though." Ruby said.
"NOT BAD!? THEY LEFT US TO DEAL WITH THE POLICE! HOW COULD THIS BE FINE TO YOU?" Weiss shouted.
"I mean, Penny got us out of trouble. And, to be fair, if they stayed, they would be in trouble too." Blake spoke up.
"All of you are insufferable!" The heiress exclaimed.
"Hey! What did I do?" Asked Yang.
"Nothing. You simply are annoying in many different ways that irritated the police. You just don't make stupid puns in those situations!" The white dress girl said.
"You know what? I'm just gonna pun you guys harder." Yang said as her grin grew larger.
"Speaking of puns, where's Ink and Error?" Ruby asked.
"oh, they said they have something to discuss with the headmaster. they'll be back soon. i think." Sans stated.
"c'mon, let's just enjoy our dance night." He continued.
"*sigh* fine." Weiss sighed.
Almost as if on cue, the speaker rang outside of the dorm.
"Sans Gaster, please make your way to the headmaster office. I repeat, Sans Gaster, please make your way to the headmaster office."
"welp, that's my cue." Sans told them before he teleported to headmaster Ozpin's office.
There stood four figures. Ink, Error, Glynda Goodwitch, and professor Ozpin.
"you called, headmaster?" The blue hood asked.
"Sans, there is a serious matter we need to discuss." Ink said.
"sure, i'm listening." The masked boy told her.
"Remember the abomination you met yesterday, Fatal Error?" Error asked.
"i don't think i'm gonna forget that dude anytime soon." Sans said.
"We believe that since the barrier is broken, the gateway to this AU is opened. And also, the creators of this world have left it, meaning-" Ink was cut off by Sans.
"it has no Core protectors."
"Yeah, anyone can gain access to this world and take over it for themself." Error finished.
"so, what should we do?" The blue hood asked.
"We want you to become the protector of the Core. You are the most capable since you are one of the people that helped create it. The Core is what makes Dust an infinite energy source. So if the Core stops working, Remnant will run out of energy. Sans, please understand the weight of our situation." Ozpin told him.
"yeah,... yeah, i'll do it. can i at least enjoy the night before i leave tomorrow, prof?" The blue hood asked.
"Of course." The headmaster responded.
"thank you." The masked boy thanked them before teleporting back to his room.
As soon as he left, Ozpin turned to the other two and said.
"Are many AU in the multiverse being taken over?" He asked.
"Yes, that's part of the reason why we stayed here for a while. We knew that an anomaly was going to come to this world, so i wanted to help Sans." Ink answered.
"Why this world particularly?" Goodwitch asked.
"Maybe, I just wanted to meet an old pal." The protector of AUs answered.
"I see." Professor Goodwitch nodded.
"We are looking for conquerer of universes and take him down. While I am a destroyer, that doesn't mean I destroy worlds without any reasons. I only destroy anomalies of destroyed universes. Whoever this conquerer is, it isn't someone that you should take lightly of." Error told them.
"The sooner we get rid of this anomaly, the better." Said Ink.
"With that being said, I wish you two luck on your journey." Ozpin stated.
"We'll take our leave now." Error said.
The boy then snapped his finger and a portal opened immediately and the two jumped in it. They landed on the dorm room where team RWBYS was sitting.
"what'd he tell you after i left." The blue hood asked.
"We just told him that we need to go back to work." Ink told them.
"Yeah,... Before you go, can I ask you a question?" Ruby asked.
"You just did." The artist joked.
"Hardy har har,... Very funny. How did you guys even get close to each other? No offence, Error, but you and Ink are like ice and fire." The red Rose asked.
"Heh, none taken. We were each other's greatest foe before we became friends. It's actually a pretty cool story." Error answered.
Years ago
The two stood at an AU's Core as it slowly corrupted into an anti void. Ink was bleeding from their lost left arm while Error slowly stood up from the ground of the decaying world and stood over Ink.
"Why are you doing this? Are you unhappy? Do you not have anyone who cares about you? Please, just tell me. Maybe I can help." The artist offered their left hand to the destroyer, who laughed.
"heheheheh, do you really think it's any of that? You're so naive, it's adorable." The corrupted skeleton chuckled darkly.
"Look around you, do you see any life? No, they all wished for death. All they have all their life is suffering. Their creators didn't want them, they did not even want to see themselves. Do you think this world is happy? If their creators still want them, do you really think they'll make this world a better place, or a worse place?" He continued.
"B-But, you have no permission to destroy them!" Ink responded.
"Did you live a happy life?" The destroyer of worlds looked at them and asked.
Ink remained silent as he kept talking.
"Was I ever happy to be made like this?"
Silence again.
Despite how people viewed this little artist, they were never happy. They couldn't feel that ever since they were made. Their creator left them void of any emotions, except one. Sadness.
That's why they always carry vials of emotions around them. So they could feel something, anything other than sadness. They became the protector of AUs simply because they wanted to become something, anything other than a discarded, a thrown away creation.
But, even though they travelled to many worlds to bring others a happy ending, they couldn't find their own. An empty being is not allowed to feel happy, after all.
"Is that how you feel?" Ink asked as tears began to stream out of their eyes.
Error sat down to the artist's right and looked at them as they cried.
"We suffered, that doesn't mean these AUs deserve to suffer too. Sometimes, the best way to end their misery, is to kill them." He said before gazing at the empty space.
"But,... I don't want to hurt anyone." The artist sobbed.
"You don't have to." The destroyer explained "You can keep helping creators create happy worlds. But, ONLY happy ones. The corrupted ones should be erased."
"M-Maybe,... We go off the wrong foot. You are not as evil as many think you are." Ink smiled sadly.
"It's a thankless job. Gotta Hand it to ya, you're a pretty good fighter." Error said as his strings brought him Ink's left arm.
"Thanks." Ink said as they took it and attached it back using one of the smaller paint brushes.
"Maybe one day, we can go as far as being,... Friends?" Ink continued.
"I wouldn't count on it, buuuut, who knows?" Error told them.
"Heheh, one day, buddy." Ink chuckled.
Back to the present
"That's,... Uhhhh,... A crazy story." Blake said.
"You know,... Given that we literally fought a Sans from another dimension, I wouldn't be surprised." Weiss told her.
"Gosh,... I think we've seen so much crazy stuff that we are getting used to it." Ruby said.
"well, things are going to get more and more crazy from now on." Sans stated.
"Not helping, Sans." Ink sigh.
"C'mon, we got work to do." Error called out to them.
"Oh! One last thing! Is Ink a boy or a girl? Sorry, Error used 'they' in his story so I had some questions about it." Ruby asked.
"I'm an unfinished creation." The artist answered.
"No, like, are you a male or a female?" Blake fixed.
"I am a multiverse protector." Ink told them.
"What we meant to ask was, what's in your pants?" Yang asked rudely.
"That's rude, you brute! Do you not have any decency!?" Weiss yelled at the blond brawler.
"My broomies, sometimes." The AU protector stated.
"You are avoiding the question." Blake said, narrowing her eyes.
"What question?" They asked.
"God, how does anyone stand you?" Weiss asked as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"then you are welcome to Sit!" Sans told her as he pulled out a chair.
*Ba-Dum Tsss*
Everyone looked at each other before Yang, Sans, Ink and Error were dying laughing on the floor. Ruby just looked at the four as gears shifted in her head for a while. As soon as she realised that they were making fun of them, the red reaper groaned.
"Well, it was a fun vacation. Minus the Fatal Error part." Ink grinned.
"Oh! And before we go, remember this, Ruby. Do NOT mess with the SAVE files, Capiché?" Error told the little Rose.
"Uhhhh,... Sure." Ruby responded "Seeya next time."
They all waved as the two left through the portal. After the two left, Sans turned to his team and told them.
"i gotta leave tomorrow too."
"WHAT!? Why!?" Ruby shrieked.
"Oz decided that the Core needs a protector and that guy happens to be me. i'm one of the few who knows how to fix the Core so i'm the most capable. Punderstand this for me, will ya?" The masked boy asked.
Everyone just looked down sadly. They all were very close to Sans and he had been a part of them since they went into this school. Him leaving is what saddened them. After all, how do you call this team RWBYS without the S. Seeing everyone's mood, he tried to cheer them up.
"c'mon, lighten up, buckos. i'm still here for tonight's dance. ain't gonna miss it for the world and the team. after all, i still haven't given you all and team JNPR my Sansational gifts yet. can you guys get them for me?" The blue hood grinned.
Yang nodded as she went out of the room for a while before coming back with team JNPR. Jaune was the first to speak up.
"Sans, what do you need us for, man?" He asked.
"I'm leaving tomorrow so-"
"WHAT!?" Team JNPR said in a unison.
"Punfortunately, yeah. i will be leaving for a mission, so i want to give you guys a gift before we depart." Sans informed.
"can you guys stick your hands out in front of me?" He asked.
Everyone looked at the masked boy confusedly.
"Uhhhh,... Why?" Nora asked.
"just do it please." The blue jacket boy told them "c'mon, it won't bite."
The two teams hesitantly put their arms forward and Sans used his own magic to unlock their soul magic. Each soul trait slowly revealed themselves in front of him as they were unlocked.
Yang Xiao Long
LV 3
Soul trait: Bravery
Weiss Schnee
LV 4
Soul trait: Integrity
Blake Belladonna
LV 4
Soul trait: Justice
Jaune Arc
LV 2
Soul trait: Kindness
Pyrrha Nikos
LV 2
Soul trait: Perseverance
Nora Valkyrie
LV 4
Soul trait: Bravery
Lie Ren
LV 3
Soul trait: Patience
"there, done." The blue hood informed.
"Woah! I feel better already." Yang stated.
"Same!" Nora chimed in.
"I don't really feel any different." Ren said.
"yours is 'Patience', Ren. meaning, if you stay still, you will not be affected by any physical or magical damage." Sans told him.
"Oooooh. That means no one can hurt my Ren!" Nora said.
"Yang and Nora are 'Bravery', quad damage. Blake is 'Justice', perfect aim. Weiss is 'Integrity', telekinesis. Pyrrha is 'Perseverance', analyzing others weaknesses and strengths. And finally, Jaune is 'Kindness', the ability to heal yourself and others." The masked boy said.
"Cool!" Jaune exclaimed.
"The ability to find my opponent's weaknesses is very useful." Said Pyrrha.
"Wait, what's Ruby's soul power then?" Yang asked.
"'Determination' the ability to look into another soul like her and see their memory. only 'Determination' soul fragments though. she also has the ability to resist death. if she doesn't quit, time will just reset to her last SAVE point to save 'er." Sans told them.
"So, what you're saying is that this dolt cannot be killed no matter how you tried as long as she still wants to fight?" Asked Weiss.
"in a way, yeah." Sans answered.
"That is more useful than any if not all soul traits." Blake said.
"yup." Said The blue hood.
"This is a neat gift if I say so myself." Jaune said.
TIMESKIP
"So, are we finished with the ball yet? this is Sans's last night at this place, so might as well end it with a Yang." The blond brawler asked as she walked with her sister.
"Riiiiiiiight,... Yang, can I ask you something?"
"What's wrong?" Yang asked.
"H-How do you ask someone to go to the prom with you? Like, like I really want to ask Sans to go with me, b-but I don't-" Ruby stuttered.
"Ruby, look at me." The blond told her sister.
"I know that you have feelings for Sans and, damn. He got feelings for you too. Just go to him and ask if he wanted to come with you to prom. I bet he can't say no when you make those puppy eyes. You know, like when you got uncle Qrow to help you make Crescent Rose?" She told her sister.
"Ummmmm,... I don't know. I'm not sure." The red Rose said shyly.
"Just follow your heart, Ruby. It will lead you the right way." Yang advised.
"But,... Hearts don't talk?" The little red riding hood looked at her confusedly.
"What I meant to say was, do what you think is right. Let your feelings be free." Said the brawler.
"You're right, I'll tell him right now." Ruby said as she launched herself away, leaving behind only rose petals.
"Heh, my sister has grown." Yang said to herself.
TIMESKIP
Sans was walking down the hallway when he noticed a red blur coming right at him. The masked boy instinctively moved to the side to dodge the blur. Suddenly, the cloud of rose petals stopped right next to him.
"Willyougototheballwithmetonight?" Asked Ruby. The blue hood took a moment to comprehend what she just said.
'Crap. I did not just straight up ask him that!' The little Rose thought to herself in panic.
"sure." Sans answered.
'shit. no going back now.' Sans thought to himself frantically.
"G-Great, awesome. S-See you t-tonight." The little red riding hood burst into a cloud of rose petals and flew away.
Aaaaaand,... Cliffhanger. Seeya next week, guys.