… Tired….so tired….
There is… nothing, just… floating in a sea of absolute nothingness.
And suddenly… I wake up.
I find myself surrounded by shelves, forming a corridor full of stuff. Food and toys and books, and it all looks so... clean… And is not just the shelves.
Above me, there are various lights attached to the ceiling, illuminating the building with a simple, White light. And the floor, I swear I can almost see my reflection in it.
This… this is all… it reminds me of… when people were still fighting, when they were trying to live the best lives they could…
When all the people were still alive.
But, this cant be real, can't it? How? Because someone must have build this, and that person most definitely wouldn't build such a place (she made it very clear) so… do-does that mean that someone else was-
"Alright girl, put your hands where I can see them".
And everything just stops. That was a v-voice, right?
And it came from right behind me.
Slowly, I turn around… and find myself face to face with another person. White skin, a black… suit, was it called? A hat and glasses. But it is more the face itself that scares me.
Because it doesn't have black veins in it.
A real person. A breathing, Moving, talking person.
A living person.
I can feel an entire flurry of emotions suddenly appearing. Panic, confusion, but more than all that… I feel hope.
I am not alone.
That's it, until what he said finally registers. My hands, in the air?
"Are you... robbing me?"
"Well, yes!" The other person answers.
"Oh..." I respond automatically.
He's a bandit. One would think that after the catastrophe, they would have stopped doing something so stupid like stealing from other persons, but I guess they don't care.
Wait… if he is a bandit, then that means that there are people to steal from. More people?! I truly am not the only one?
"Hey, is there, for any chance… m-more people? Out there, I mean." I finally ask.
"Well, of course there are more persons out there, don't change the subject!" He reaches out to me with an extended arm-
I grab his arm and hold it in place. He immediately recoils from the movement. Why? I didn't do anything weird, just grabbed it. Well, no matter, I have to shake my stupor, so for now I think about what I know: I am in a very clean building with a lot of stuff (and I still don't know how I got here) there are more survivors out there, and not just a few, but a lot more. Well, enough to actually be bandits that want to take their things. I-i have to meet them, the other survivors…
"W-well, stop grabbing my arm!"
But first…
Roman torchwick was... having an okay day, if you asked him.
All the dust he collected until now was enough to satisfy his... new boss. But she was getting tighter and tighter with the deadlines and the dust and get me this or there is not enough of that and bah! Honestly, if she wanted all that dust, why couldn't she get it herself? Furthermore, why was he, such and incredible, high quality thieve, doing something so low as just collecting simple dust?
Because she pays me for it...and because she would burn me alive if I didn't.
The fact that today was also a very slow day wasn't helping.
Neo even left a while ago, just to do something else.
Sighing to himself, he returns to the conversation at hand, making sure the shop owner doesn't get any funny ideas-
One of the goons he brought went out flying against the far wall of the building.
… now what?
Everyone present looks in the direction the other guy flew from, and walking comes out a girl, or more accurately, a teenager (or is it a young woman? It was hard to tell, actually) Who surprisingly looked like she just got out of a war zone: Her short hair was uncombed (or better said, downright wild) A bloodied bandage covering her right eye, and the left one, with a shining silver iris, had a very black eye bag, like she hasn't slept in a while.
Her clothing wasn't much better. A white, high-neck blouse with brown straps, connected to a small, gray travelling backpack, and black metallic gauntlets that reached to wristband- length (which looked ready to break any minute now), a black skirt with red tulle which looked very patched (so patched in fact that it looked as if it was ripped apart and putted back together one too many times), an over bust corset with a red strip, and a black belt bordered in red, from which hanged what looked like an Ornate golden lamp that apparently has seen better days: It was partially broken, and full of dirt.
She also has thigh-high stockings (with a LOT of tears), red-soled black boots who looked like they were waterproof, and a (incredibly ragged) red cloak, and, worse of all, she had a few stains of blood in her clothing: in the skirt, the blouse and the gauntlets, whetever you looked,there was a few dried up stains.
Of course, the more obvious thing about her was the holstered weapon that she was holding at her side.
Oh, a huntress, Wonderful.
And the idiots weren't doing anything about it! Do they even have survival instincts, or were they all muscle?! "Don't you stand there, get her!" At this, the goons finally rush her to take her down. He, like the good thief he was, took the briefcase with the dust and started running outside, with enough luck, the idiots would buy him enough time to get away.
And then she moved.
There was absolutely no warning. One moment she was standing still, the next, she was kicking one guy against a shelf. The three closest to her attacked immediately at the same time from different directions, only for her to appear behind them, grab the guy at the left by the back of his suit and unceremoniously threw him against the other two, sending them all crashing against the floor. One particularly brave (or foolish, depending of who you asked) goon decided to try to stab her in the back, only for her to just spin around and just... bat him aside (it actually looked more like what people do when trying to kindly move someone aside) an ended up sending against the window, easily breaking it, and sending the poor guy to the street. The last one, terrified of what just happened, tried to keep his sword pointed at her and hoped she won't close on him.
She just appeared by his side and headbutted him to the ground.
All of this happened in less than twelve seconds.
And with that, she calmly walked outside, like if nothing hasn't happened at all. She looked bored, even. Until she actually saw everything around her. Buildings, of various types, surrounding the street, and they looked in such a good state too! Like if there was not a single thing threatening them with absolute destruction. She was actually having a hard time believing this was all real.
Of course, she then watched the guy in white climbing a ladder at the end of the street, and decided that she could have some questions answered.
Roman reached the end of the ladder, and quickly jumped over a few rooftops until he decided he has put enough distance away from the scene and slowed down. Now calming down, he looked down at the briefcase full of dust he took. It wasn't much of what they were planning to take from that store, but it would be enough for his boss to no remind him of what the price for failing was.
Still, that could have gone a lot better. Where did that huntress came form anyway, we made sure to look through the rest of the place and there was no one else.
Of course, deciding that there was nothing else he could have done at the moment (except fighting, after all, why should he unnecessarily risk his hide fighting a huntress when there were other people that did it for him?) he straightened up, adjusted his hat, and turned around to leave-
Just to find himself face to face with the red girl.
Instinctively, he lashed out with his cane while jumping back, only for her to lazily step outside the range of the attack.
"Here already? Well, those guys clearly were worth every cent. Truly" Now in a fighting stance, he couldn't help but snark, "And while this has been and interesting night, I'm afraid that here is where we part ways, red" The last part was said while aiming his cane at her, ready to shoot-
"No, here is where you start to answer my questions" She responded, from behind him. He rapidly turned around, surprised, to try and hit her, just to suddenly stop in his movement and freeze in place. He tried to move, but for some reason, couldnt.
"So..." She started, simply walking around him, while he tried to comprehend what was happening, "I have a few questions for you, and I would appreciate if you answered honestly".
"... Questions? Really Red?, you followed me here, just to ask questions?" He responded, a little confused. If she was a huntress, then she would be arresting him, not asking questions. Was she of the unscrupulous type of huntress? The type that a little money would put you in their good graces. If that was the case, then he would do something that he is an expert of: talking his way out. "And if I answer your questions, would you let me go? Also, what you are doing to me, is your semblance work?" He finally said.
She smiled a little at this, so she continued, "Well, depending on how you answer, I will see what I can do. Also, no is not." She responded.
He was going to ask what she's talking about. Not her semblance? Because freezing someone in place is normal stuff for a semblance, but decide not to antagonize her now. She was probably lying to him anyway. Seeing his silence as confirmation, she continued "Now then, question one: Where am we?"
... That was a joke, right? Was she testing him? Because if so, then it was a terrible test, but decided to humor her, "Well, right now we are in a rooftop in the center of vale"
"... Vale?" She asked, while walking towards the edge of the rooftop, observing the city, full of wonder. It was all just so... enormous. "So, this whole city, is full of... people?"
"Obviously, it is. You haven't been in the city a lot, right, red?" Seeing her amazement -or more clearly, the opportunity- for what it was, he leaped at it "Well, I know that this can be a lot to take in for you outsiders, sometimes this can be too much to take in, and you can usually get lost" She started nodding along, still not paying much attention. Too easy. "Of course, you should always have someone to help you get settled to not be take advantage of, and what do you know! I know a few people that could help you with it..." He let the offer hanging around for a bit.
Of course, at the tail end she snapped out of her amazement, and gave him an amused look. "Oh, so that is what you were looking for, smart, but we didn't get to that part yet" Well, it was too easy, Roman thought. "Now, next question, how many people are there alive in the world?"
This random quiz was getting a little old a bit fast, Roman wanted to say, but thought better of it. The fact that the question was a difficult one made it more frustrating. Because of the Grimm, humanity was pushed back a lot, and the fact that outside settlements were built and destroyed semi-constantly, made it an incredibly hard task to keep track of how many people there are, but still... "There are about... one hundred and four million persons left, give our take a few thousand" There, a good enough answer.
Funnily enough, the answer stopped her dead in her tracks. The face she putted was the type of face that a person get one they were told that they were celebrating all their birthdays today, and that their entire family died in their house catching fire at the same time, -and don't ask him why he thought such an example- absolute elation, alongside absolute dread. "O-one hun-hundred mi-mi-million?" She finally said, looking towards the city, with absolute astonishment.
And she stood there, for a while, nobody saying anything, until roman started to hear the sirens in the distance. His time was running out. "Well Red, I would like nothing more than to leave you to your... reality shattering discovery, but do you have any more questions, because I have a place where I'm needed, and I don't think they would appreciate being left waiting."
That did the trick. Finally, she shaked her head, looked up, took a big breath, and, with renewed determination, looked back to him. "Very well, you did answer my questions..." Finally! Roman was getting a crick in the neck for standing in such a pose- "But I don't know if I should release you, you did order your men to attack me after all..." Oh, come on! The sirens were pretty much at the next street. He needed to leave, NOW. "W-well, how about we make a deal, Red? If you let me go, next time we meet, I help you make your way in the city, with all you need to achieve it, sounds good?" He said, trying to not let the desperation in his voice show. It was all a lie, of course, but he would take anything now.
The woman seemed to think it for a moment. He did attack me, and he's most definitely lying... but having someone to at least say where to go now would be good...
Making her mind, she decided "Very well, you have a deal." The sensation of freezing in place left him, and slowly, roman started moving, trying to look like hes is not ready to bolt. "Well then, I would say that it is a pleasure of making deals with you, Red-"
The sound of a very potent engine roared in the almost quiet streets.
"But we both know that would be a lie."
Suddenly, a Bulkhead rose behind roman, and from the door, a few armed persons, wearing a mask -that looked oddly like a Grimm face- appeared, shooting down at the girl.
With this distraction, Roman jumped into the airship, while the girl in red, actually surprised, jumped back to avoid being in the line of fire.
While the airship started rising, Roman, from his place in the door, screamed "Maybe we will actually meet again, Red! But until then, It Wasn't a pleasure talking with you!"
The girl in Red, while still avoiding the shoots, considered if this was a good time to use that, and being annoyed as she was then, decided to do it anyway.
With that thought, the girl started shining, golden light surrounding her. Then she extended her arm towards the Bulkhead, and taking a breath, was ready to Attac-
A storm of ice pikes raced at great speed towards the airship, impacting it, making it lose control for a moment, and forcing the passengers to fall back and grab to something to not fall out. Still, the airship held, and, being high enough, managed to leave.
Even with the blonde woman jumping down right at her side, the girl in Red took a few moments to understand what happened, and a few more to actually stop shining from... whatever she was going to do.
Now relaxing, she turned to the blond woman, who was looking at her with a critical eye . "Are you the one who held Roman torchwick at bay at the store he just stole from?" She asked her.
... Roman? Oh, right, she didn't ask his name. "Y-yeah, it was me," she responded.
With that answer, the other woman relaxed a Little. "Then, I must thank you for it."
"But I let him escape," She said back. After all, even if she did make a –dubious- deal with that guy, she didn't want to get on the bad side of someone who just helped her –even if she couldn't understand why she did so- "Did you not want to… capture him?"
The other woman hummed for a moment before answering, "Of course, stopping him here would have helped a lot, but he can be very elusive when he wants to be, the fact that you stopped him long enough for us to get here is more than we could ask for." She actually smiled a little at this. "Now, would you have any problems coming with us? We have a few questions that we would like to ask you about tonight" She said at the end.
The girl in Red, now thinking about her situation in more detail, actually didn't see much problem in it. If that all she wants, then it would be fine, and having someone to ask even more questions without them wanting nothing more than to kill me would be nice. Plus, If she does something weird, I just run.
"Okay, I don't see why not." She said in confirmation.
"Excellent. Please, if you were to follow me?." The other woman said, pleased, while turning around and walking towards the sirens in the background. The girl, knowing this was the best option, followed her. "Meanwhile, would you mind telling me who you are? I don't think I have seen you around," she asked, surprising The girl in Red by the sudden question.
In truth, she didn't want to tell her name, because of what it actually meant to her. I know it hurts, but if you don't tell her, she would get suspicious of you, A voice in her mind pointed out. The girl grimaced at it, because it was right. Even if she didn't want to, she had to. So, with a little pause, she said, "R-ruby. M-my name is Ruby".
A long distance away from the place, the (partially damaged) Bulkhead was flying, with his new passenger seated in the co-pilot place. "Now, before you say anything, here you have" He said while passing the briefcase to the pilot, a black haired woman with a red dress. "And don't say that Roman torchwick cant do what he decides to do" He ended, a little too smugly.
"Yes, Roman, you truly are a… mastermind of crime," The woman snarked, taking the briefcase. "Even so, you took too long. What happened," She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, Red appeared out of nowhere! Honestly, I didn't know they were giving ninja training these days," He responded, thinking about his weird... encounter with that girl.
"Red? You mean the huntress you were with?" she asked back, thinking about that Girl (or was she a teenager?) she saw through the window.
"Yeah, she was a weird one, I tell you. Luckily, I could convince her to let me go. Who knows? Maybe I could help you get a few more allies if you asked nicely." He answered back, trying to get her away from his almost capture. (Of course, he wasn't saying that little tidbit).
"I will lose sleep thinking about it" She said, not at all caring what he wanted.
But for now, her mind was in that girl. Because at that time, she saw, or better said, felt something in her.
I didn't imagine it, that I felt was the presence of magic. She concluded.
It looks like a new piece has entered the board.
Her Queen must know of this.
Author notes:
Before anyone asks, no. This Ruby is not a time traveler. What is she, then? That will come out in the next chapters, so hold that question for now.
Now, … this is a thing that exist. Oh, by the way, there will be spoilers for a lot of revelations of RWBY late seasons (Recursive spoiler warning, much?)
Of course, even if I just started trying my hand at writing a story, I want to know what you think of this. Is it good? Bad? What works and what needs improvement? Leave a review, leaving your thoughts on it.
Also, this chapter a lot of people started ther lines with "Well". I need to learn more ways to start a conversation.
And with that, this chapter is over. Until next time!
