A/N: Hey everyone, I have returned as promised with another chapter of OOO on a Monday. The time I post this, I will be working my butt off as an assistant manager so you know I will be very busy, especially in the summer. I have been trying to rewatch anime and read manga and light novels to keep myself on track given work has been keeping me busy.

Aside from that matter, let us begin this chapter just as I promised to you all!

NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ REMNANT OF DESIRES, READ IT BEFORE YOU START READING THIS STORY.

NOTE 2: RATING WILL CHANGE TO 'M' IN CHAPTER 17

NOTE 3: THIS CHAPTER WILL BE IN THIRD PERSON POV

'Thought'

Greeed/Yummies


If there was anything to best describe how the day was...

It's a pain in the ass.

With the incidents that happened since we came to Menagerie, things haven't been going well. With the Yummies and the presence of the White Fang, we had to remain on alert of another attack.

It was honestly tiring but not like it was the first time given we had to deal with problems back in Vale. My eyes wandered to the window across from me, seeing the shattered moon and the light it cast in the night.

It really has been a rough month for us in Menagerie. With the White Fang and the Yummies, what else could we ask for with more trouble bothering us?

Even more so, almost two years since I arrived in Remnant. Time truly flew over like a page being flipped in a book. Everything was moving so fast in some places, yet slow in others. While I wished it could just return back to the days where we all were carefree and relaxed, I knew that it wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Blake, Weiss, Yang, JNPR, and many others of Beacon. Some I missed dearly, while others not so much, but hope they are doing alright. But also… Ruby.

The scythe wielding, cookie lover. She was a true surprise for me, even more so than Blake and my feelings for her. The moment I saw Ruby, I thought for a second… just a second, that my sister came back to me. While it didn't turn out to be true, she reminded me so much of her, that I knew I had to protect her in some way.

We may not be related by blood, but she is now my sister, and I want to protect her, and keep harm away from her. My fingers dug into my locket at the old memories. I know Ruby couldn't replace my late sister but everyone… Everyone I met here became part of the family.

I knew I had to fix the bonds should Blake, myself and Pyrrha reunite with them. With the year that went by, there were things that I had to make up for.

Some would hopefully be easier than others, but I knew a few who are going to be extremely hard to repair our bond over.

"I hope Ruby and the others are doing alright…" I murmured before drifting to sleep for the night.


Remnants of Desires: After the Fall


Chapter 13: Answers, Alone Together, Bonds

With the early morning rising a pair of silver eyes revealed themselves groggily. Ruby Rose yawned tiredly and rubbed her eyes upon waking up for the new day. Sitting up from the bed, she stretched and sighed in content. It has been a couple of months since she and her friends arrived in Mistral. However a few weeks ago, her sister and Weiss showed up much to her joy.

Yang and Weiss were finally back.

Grabbing her combat outfit, she walked to the bathroom and took a morning shower. One of the few things to enjoy after the harrowing travels. Of course, that didn't stop her from the occasional snack of a cookie. She hasn't eaten as much as she did in the past - it was part of growing up. But again… never really stopped her. Old habits die hard as someone once told her back at Beacon.

Not to mention the words that she took to heart, 'Enjoy the little things in life'. Something she will always remember to do as she had her short fill.

With the process done, she placed her outfit on and made her way to the patio. It was still early so the others were still asleep.

As the young girl walked around, old memories once began to fill her mind again. Seeing her friends together, chatting, laughing and enjoying their lives. Ruby and Enrique bonding over things. Yang being a tease of a sister, but one she truly loves. Weiss's 'tsundere-ness' as Enrique put it, Blake's quiet yet relaxing mood, and the joys that JNPR gave. It was something she truly loved and truly misses.

Oh and Ankh being Ankh. Can't forget about him. Although he gorges on ice cream like it was his breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

And her friends say she has problems with cookies? Ha!

Staring at the training room floor, she reminisced an old memory of a day she spent training back at Beacon, before the whole Gara appearing and whatnot. It felt like it merely happened not too long ago.


"Oof!" Ruby dropped to the floor from the blow that was delivered by Enrique.

The older teen shouldered his sword, giving a look of pity for Ruby. "Come on Ruby, you gotta do better than that."

"I thought I had it! The armor helped you all the time!"

The raven-haired Rider sighed. "Well, yeah it does. But Ankh pestered me to train and fight without it since he told me I have to balance my fighting - with and without the armor. You do realize he wants me to adapt my form for each Full Combo." Although it was still an ongoing process to adjust. He still felt the fatigue upon using the Full Combos he currently possessed.

The scythe wielder puffed her cheeks. Despite using a sword, he also was training without it given that using the armor made him focus on close combat. If she had to compare how well she is in close-combat… she was bad at it.

"Let's try again!" Ruby declared. "No more ties!"

"You do realize I am two points ahead, right?" He hummed, jabbing his thumb to the board. He knew Ruby. She may be good with a scythe, but she lacked a secondary form of combat unlike the others.

"Then this is all for nothing! All for the cookies!!" she declared loudly.

"Whatever floats your boat."

"Uh… what?"

The otherworlder facepalmed. Him and his occasional wording of Earth's phrases. "It's slang for whatever you say."

"Oh." Unlike Remnant, she was reminded Earth had more masses of water than them despite the number of continents. The history of naval travels creating an important impact in Earth history.

"Ready?"

"Locked and loaded!" She spun her scythe and readied a stance. She watched as Enrique held the sword with one hand but in a defensive reverse hold over his torso.

Ruby used her Semblance to speed towards her friend and went for a horizontal strike. Enrique blocked it with a grunt, the curved blade colliding against the straight edge of the Medajalibur.

He shoved the scythe down and aimed for an overhead slash which she leaped back after pulling the trigger of Crescent Rose.

Her eyes saw the student charge towards her, making her squeak and aimed downward, allowing the recoil to launch her up and forward.

'Crap!' Enrique cursed in his head and spun on his heel, nearly getting Ruby by the waist. It grazed her Aura, forcing the girl to embed the red weapon against the floor and launched her foot against his torso.

Ruby twirled her Crescent Rose while Enrique took a quick breath.

"Give up yet?" Ruby challenged cheekily.

"Not a chance, Ma-" He paused and shook his head. "I mean, not a chance, maybe."

"Time to give it all I got!" She was wrapped in a flurry of petals, heading towards her sparring partner and ready to end the fight.

"Hiyah!" Ruby swung her scythe to catch her friend off guard and win the fight. However, Enrique ducked and swept her off her feet. The young Huntress yelped and nearly kissed the floor of the training mat but she was tugged by her cloak.

She blinked and was pulled back onto her feet, seeing her friend smile thinly. "That makes me the winner."

"Awww…" She pouted but felt a hand, making her lift her gaze to see her friend kept his smile.

"You'll get there Ruby. I have faith in you."


The Huntress giggled softly at the memory. She had some things to learn back then but at least now, she was getting better thanks to the training since. Walking over to the patio, she plopped onto the ground and laid on her back to see the sky above.

Ruby hummed softly, her hands gently resting behind her head and watched the early morning sky. It was always nice to see the early morning sky at this hour. Her silver eyes could see the clouds and then a small flock of birds - five of them.

At first, the birds remained as a group but then, two parted from the three. Her face faltered slightly, reminded of how it was for her after Beacon fell.

She watched them fly before a shadow loomed over her. Tilting her head upward, she saw her sister.

"You're up early."

The red hooded girl smiled at Yang. "Hey sis."

"Boop." The blonde allowed her hair down, tickling Ruby's nose. The buxom blonde saw her sister giggle and sit up while she sat down next to her. However upon seeing her, Ruby sighed. "What are you doing up?"

"Can't fall back to sleep." Yang replied.

"Ah, me either."

"Well, fortunately, coffee exists." A familiar prideful voice informed the duo. Glancing over their shoulders, they saw Weiss carrying a tray holding three mugs of coffee. She approached the sisters and lowered the tray for Yang to grab. Then, she offered the second cup to Ruby.

"No please!" Ruby declined.

The former heiress rolled her eyes and said, "Don't worry, I put blasphemous amounts of cream and sugar, just for you." She held it in front of her partner, much to the girl's joy.

"Oh yeah! Nice Weiss strikes again!" Ruby cheered.

Just as Ruby planned to grab the mug, Weiss retracted it from the leader's reach. "I will pour this on you and it will burn, trust me."

Ruby elicited a nervous giggle and accepted the mug while the Schnee sat down with them. She too had a mug in hand.

Deciding to start a conversation, Yang said, "Can't believe we're actually in Mistral."

Her sister looked at Yang questionably. "That's what you can't believe?"

"Well, yeah! And all the other magic and stuff. But…" The blonde trailed off. "Okay, you know what I mean."

Weiss sighed. "I honestly wasn't sure if I'd ever see you two again."

Yang chuckled and raised her mug. "Well, here's to defying expectations!" Weiss clinked her mug against Yang's but Ruby on the other hand drank her own in one go. The scythe wielder opened an eye to the others. With the two talking, it wouldn't hurt to mention Blake who was the other member of Team RWBY. "I just wish Blake could be here with us."

Yang's mood changed the moment Blake was mentioned. She huffed. "Yeah well, she made her choice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss asked.

"I mean, she could've been here if she stuck around. It's no big deal. We'll be fine." She said with bitterness as she began to drink her coffee like it was alcohol.

"Don't you want her here?"

"Why would I want her here?" A brief scowl was noticed.

Ruby asked Weiss and Yang, hoping to change the subject, "Um.. did Enrique call you guys before you got here?"

"He did in fact." Weiss admitted but huffed in amusement. A thin smile was present. "I'm just glad he is okay." She remembered the encouragement he gave a year ago as well as a few months ago. Perhaps his encouragement led to her opportunity to make the proper summon.

Yang however nearly crushed the handle of the coffee mug the moment they brought up the mention of Enrique.

No more. She didn't want to hear any more mention of Blake. Not even him. Yang finished the last of her coffee and harshly set it down. She stood up, her hand shaking slightly and marched off.


The brawler disliked what she heard earlier. No, disliked wasn't the right word. She hated it. After what Blake did. What Enrique did.

"Yang!" The blonde stopped when she noticed her sister jogging up to her.

"What is it, Ruby?" Yang asked.

"I know Enrique-" Ruby started but was interrupted by her sister. Yang frowned, fully facing her little sister the moment she brought up the mention of the Multi-King. "He chose to go with Blake. The rest of us all thought he died. You thought the same until he called you after how long? After a year?"

Ruby flinched.

"He never said anything back then nor did he tell the rest of us he was still okay. He could have told us after Beacon fell!"

"Was… that why you didn't respond to his messages or calls from the Candroid recently?" Ruby realized.

"He left us, Ruby!" Again, Ruby saw Yang's eyes having the crimson hue. "He saw us as family Ruby but what did he do after Beacon fell? He vanished and never said a word to us until now!"

When Beacon fell, she always kept track of the listed casualties but his name never appeared. Sure he was from another world but his stay in Beacon would have put him in the school records. Not once she saw his name and deep down, Yang prayed he wasn't dead. Ruby may look up to him as family, as a brother, Yang saw him differently back at Beacon. She still liked the guy; her first crush.

Yang knew Enrique loved Blake but the blonde cared not just for her own partner who was her best friend, she also cared about the Multi-King as someone she liked. She trusted him as she trusted Blake. Only to see him abandon them, abandon her to go with Blake.

She wanted answers from him - answers to his reasons for leaving them. More so than Blake.

"I-I know he didn't mean to but-"

"The only thing he did was hurt us! Hurt ME!" Yang snapped, her crimson eyes gaining the onset of tears.

"Yang…" Ruby was starting to put the pieces together. While Blake was Yang's partner, Ruby failed to realize that her sister saw Enrique differently; more than a fellow teammate. More than family - Yang harbored strong feelings for the Multi-King.

"I don't want any mention of that asshole for abandoning us and going with Blake!" The buxom brawler marched off to her temporary room. Ruby winced when she heard the door across the hall slam shut.


The village was subtle as many come and go. In the inn of the village, a girl with black, twin ponytails and emerald eyes was in the midst of 'speaking' to the owner. Well, using her Scroll to talk given her lack of speech.

The said mute girl tapped the screen with a glum look in her eyes.

"Oh you must mean the four that left months ago? Hmm, I do recall them leaving for Mistral. Although not sure if they're there already." The owner explained.

Four? That got her attention. She recalled from her boss the Bird Greeed hung around only the Faunus and that other person who was using that belt - OOO if she heard her boss briefly mention.

"Four? I thought it was three?"

"Oh no. No. The fourth has been with them for quite some time. Although during their meals, I would see them depressed about something. Probably with the incident that happened at Beacon a year and half ago."

"Oh. Thank you."

"Not a problem. I'm sure you will reunite with your friends."

The girl nodded but the owner swore her eyes changed color. Odd but shrugged it off as the young Huntress left the inn and out of the village.

The moment she exited the village, she eventually walked the path until she ended her steps. Her eyes took brief notice of the familiar green Greeed who leaned against the tree, out of sight. Despite the year that passed for the verdant Greeed, he was able to control his emotions here and there but that didn't mean he controlled his anger completely.

"Well?"

The girl shifted out of her disguise, revealing none other than Neo who shook her head whose clothes remained repaired. The mute girl then raised her Scroll to display the message for the Greeed. "They left several months ago towards Mistral. Just east of here is the path they took."

The Insect Greeed clicked his mandibles in annoyance. "Lead the way then." He ordered.

Neo nodded and marched ahead with the Greeed and his group in tow. The mute glanced at the people who followed Uva like it was their given purpose.

The supposed descendants of the Multi-King's followers. Seems history never truly died given they were practically borderline fanatics. The history where a king nearly conquered the world as a god while his generals wiped out any Grimm in their way.

Alas, with time passing, so does who to follow. Thus why the small group that followed saw Uva's reasons and presence as worship.

Freaks… the lot of them.

Her fingers slowly gripped the object she held in her hands tightly against her. The hat worn by the guy who looked out for her. She still kept it over the year and never left it behind. Not once. She was grateful to find it but angry for why.

"Letting your desire to kill her grow?" Neo jumped to Uva's voice as they walked. He scoffed. "Just know I have no qualms making a Yummy from you. It's a waste for me."

She shuddered at the thought of a mummy-like creature spawning from her. However, internally grateful her boss wasn't going to create a Yummy from her. Neo wasn't an idiot. She saw Kazari make a Yummy from Torchwick in the past. Watched her new boss use the Trash Yummies as banks within each of his followers, slowly creating a Cell Medal for him to collect and strengthen his form.

Was she scared of Uva? At first, she was but adjusted. What she feared was being lost again.

As Neo followed the group more, she quickly saw them stopping as the followers were looking confused as Uva seemed… distracted for a moment.

"Master Uva? What is it?" One follower questioned.

"Quiet." He hissed. His focus turned to the dirt around them and felt it. There was a surge of Core Energy focused in the dirt.

He slowly took a few steps and his claw brushed across the dirt until he felt it. Plucking it from the dirt, he found a Cell Medal.

His 'eyes' looked ahead and saw tracks. Four sets. He walked ahead of his group much to their dismay as they witnessed him move around to each track.

Uva kneeled down, his fingers brushing against the tracks. While there were obviously four sets of tracks, the fifth was something he didn't expect.

"These prints…" The Greeed recognized the footprints. "OOO and Ankh brought back Gamel!?"

This left the Insect Greeed with questions. Why on earth would they bring back Gamel?! Did Ankh convince Gamel to help OOO?! What made Gamel join those bastards?!

Neo mutely stared at Uva who glared at the footprints with irritation. She watched her 'caretaker' stand up furiously, his horns conducting lightning before he struck a tree with his arm. Then, the tree fell to the ground within a few seconds. His anger wasn't one to get in his way. It was worse than the blonde girl's anger. It was one of the reasons why she rather not upset him.

"Your orders, Master Uva?" One of the followers asked.

Uva breathed after venting out his anger. "We keep moving. What matters is getting back the rest of my Core Medals before Kazari obtains the rest of his own. Once we get them, he, Ankh, and OOO will be dealt with."

"Understood." They obeyed and followed the Insect Greeed and Neo.

One day, Neo will get that red-hooded girl and that Birth bastard for killing Torchwick.


Yang sat on the bed, staring at a team picture of Team RWBY. It also said 'New Friends!' But when her eyes saw Blake, her gaze turned shallow. It was a bitter memory on that day when Beacon fell. She lived but at a loss. Looking at her robotic hand, she remembered the old message she got from him. He returned the favor to that Faunus and cut it off to make that redhead monster feel what she felt.

Was she glad? …. a part of her did feel satisfaction but a majority of her felt the lingering sense of defeat. To have a friend leave them. To have him leave her.

The blonde was brought out of her meddling when the knock of the door startled her. She quickly hid the photo and said, "Yeah?"

She didn't need to look up but heard the door open. "Look, Ruby. I don't want to talk about it, okay? Can't you just leave me alone for a bit?" Looking up, she realized it wasn't Ruby but Weiss instead. "Oh. Hey Weiss, need something?"

The former heiress quietly entered before sitting next to the blonde.

"I… overheard what happened." Weiss said. "Did you really see him that way, Yang?"

The blonde glanced at the heiress then at her own hands. The Schnee overhead the outburst towards Ruby. "... What is it to you, Weiss?" She bitterly questioned.

"Just trying to be of help. I may not know how you feel about him, but I can at least be an open ear for you." Weiss offered. "I know it's not much for me to say but at least explain it to me."

The blonde gave a glance at Weiss then at the floor.

"Do you really like him? Not like as a friend I mean, Yang."

"Yeah…. I do…." She acknowledged, "I started to see him as more than a friend..."

"When?"

"It was before we had to investigate the matter with Torchwick, White Fang and all." She murmured, her lilac eyes averting.

"Oh… during the food fight."

"Y-Yeah…" She nodded, "After he caught me in his arms, I just felt like I was well…. 'His girl' for a moment… But after that moment? I began to wonder if we truly could become a couple… But it never came to be."

"So that's also why you teased him a lot. To get him to notice your feelings?" Weiss added as Yang nodded in response.

"I thought…" Yang's fingers dug into her thighs. "I thought he would look at me as someone who is more than a friend… but instead…" She felt her eyes burn in tears.

"Instead you realized he was in love with Blake, not you." Weiss finished. Yang wouldn't show it; she would always keep a happy facade when Enrique began to date Blake before and after the relationship.

Enrique was one of the very few people in this world, well, worlds considering his origins, to truly draw people's emotions together, to open their eyes to the reality of their troubles and misfortunes. His selflessness to help those in need, never asking anything in return - not once.

Yang was heartbroken as Enrique couldn't see her feelings. Never acknowledged them. Never responded back to her.

To watch him be around Blake, she would feel the growing pit of jealousy rise within her. Was she happy for Blake? Yes but it was the fact the guy she cared about so much was the one Blake loved and he did so in return.

"Then why didn't you tell him in the first place?"

"I guess…. I was hoping he would tell me first, so my heart would soar? But it only ended with it dying inside me…" Yang sighed heavily.

"Is that the reason you hate him? Just because he broke your heart?"

Yang's fingers curled into her palms. "It was more than that."

"Was it due to being family or was it just out of jealousy, Yang?" Weiss accused.

Having enough, Yang furiously stood up and glared at the heiress in frustration. "I understood him! I respected him! We respected him! Even trusted him to protect Ruby!!" Yang exclaimed. "And you know what he did in the end?! He left all of us just to be with Blake and not help Ruby and the others!"

"Do you honestly believe he left just for that? Do you truly believe that he won't even try to come back?" Weiss questioned. "He told us he wanted to but couldn't."

"I don't believe anything he says anymore!" Every time the Candroid would ring, she would flat out deny the call. Ignore the messages. She may have listened and believed his story about cutting off Adam Taurus's arm, but the rest was no more to her.

"Shouldn't you give him the benefit of the doubt? Just like I did with Blake when she told us as part of the White Fang once?" Weiss pointed out. "That part I am seeing right here, right now, is no different than what I did in the past to Blake."

Yang's crimson hue slowly faded before she gritted her teeth and looked away. A part of her wanted to believe it but she couldn't bring it upon herself to do so.

"You're hurt, I get that from losing out on something so special like that. But you can't just blame him or even Blake for everything. At least consider that."

The blonde ignored the statement as she furiously sat back down on the other bed.

Weiss closed her eyes to give the brawler a moment to calm down before before asking Yang, "What about Blake then? She's our teammate."

"...I know she's our teammate, but I'm not just going to change my mind. I'm sorry, I just... I don't think you know what it's like to be left. You have a giant family, recitals to perform at, dinners to attend. I didn't have any of that. My mom left me. Ruby's mom left too. Tai was always busy with school and Ruby couldn't even talk yet. I had to pick up the pieces. I had to keep things together. Alone." The blonde caught Weiss' stare, the corner of her lips twitched which made it evident that the heiress wanted to say something. "If you have something to say, say it."

Taking it as permission, Weiss decided to tell Yang her side regarding how her family was. "When I was ten, my dad finally admitted to my mom that the only reason he married her was for the family name." She took a brief moment to sigh. "It was actually on my birthday. He missed the big dinner, she got mad, he finally snapped. I think she already knew. Looking back, I think I knew too. But hearing him say it finally pushed her over the edge." Weiss moved herself from the bed and sat down on the one Yang currently resided.

"First it was separate lunches and dinners, opposite balconies at my recitals, a glass of wine here, a glass of wine there. Then it was no dinners, no recitals, a bottle of wine here and… well you get the idea."

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have assumed-"

"You're right though. I don't know loneliness like you do. I have my own version. And I bet Blake and Enrique did too before we met them."

"They should have stayed with us! We were all here!"

"Yang, Blake was afraid to open up back at Beacon. Enrique wanted to do his best helping people. While they had their own ways to protect us, they had their reasons due to their pasts. Afraid of their pasts coming back to haunt them. The universe proved it one way or another to both of them."

"If Blake had talked to us! If Enrique had just allowed us to reach out to him from the beginning, they should've known that we were here for them!"

"See it from their views. Blake was an Ex-White Fang Member. Enrique was from another world, people would find it crazy. Blake felt blame the moment the walls she put up came down. Enrique hesitated to be closer to anyone because he didn't wish to have his life repeat itself." Weiss placed a reassuring hand on Yang's shoulder. "I know it's not easy. I wish they hadn't left too. The only thing we can do now is to be there for them when they're ready. When they come back."

"If they come back…"

"They will ,Yang. You, Ruby, Blake, even Enrique are like family to me than my brother or even my own father. I would do anything for you guys and I bet the two felt the same way. So, be there for them. And just know we are here for you too."

Yang felt her eyes burn before she cried, the heiress gently patting the blonde's back to allow her friend to give time to control her emotions again.


Ruby tapped her feet together, her silver eyes staring at the sky again. The whole conversation she tried to have with her sister in the morning didn't go so well which was a bummer. She craned her head down, reminiscing about the good days in Beacon Academy. She really missed those days. She was worried about the other four who weren't here - Blake, Ankh, Pyrrha, and Enrique.

She was glad Pyrrha was back but it was the fact Gara did it for his greedy goal. A part of her was glad Gara was defeated but the man was still human in origin. Just… a very bad person he was like Cinder. Only more maniacal and having a god-complex.

However she was still worried about Enrique especially. She wasn't sure how he was feeling mental-wise. After what happened at Beacon, it would have affected him, even after a year. He looked tired from the call.

She prayed he doesn't end in the same fate as the late Multi-King. That was the one thing that scared her to this day.

"Worried about your friend?" Ruby noticed her uncle.

"Uncle Qrow." The scythe wielder sat up. "I'm just wondering how the others are doing right now - Blake, Ankh, and Enrique." She wasn't sure how her uncle would take it upon learning Pyrrha was alive.

"I'm sure they're alright. Well, minus that Birdbrain."


"Achoo!" Ankh sneezed, dropping his ice cream onto the table.

"Bless you!" Gamel said to the Bird Greed. His eyes saw the delicious cold treat. "Ooh! Ice cream!" Just as he reached for it, the Beast Greeed got a swift fist to the top of his head. The gray Greeed kissed the floor as smoke left the homunculus's head while Ankh snatched the bowl he tried to eat.

"Not a chance. And why did I get the feeling I have to beat someone for calling me by a damn nickname?"


"Ankh can be a jerk sometimes…" The young Huntress mumbled. "Just being so critical at times towards everyone and you."

"True, but how long has he lived? Of course he'd have to be really harsh." Qrow noted. "Well, not like Oz of course." Unlike Ozpin, Ankh was cold towards people. A guy whose crimson gaze held bitterness under the soul. A guy who had made mistakes that were forever unforgivable.

"Did you get a chance to talk to the two?"

"I talked to Enrique previously but he didn't want me to talk to Blake given…"

"Ah right…" His eyes glanced at the hall within the building.

"But he said they're doing alright and helping Blake! Just like what we are doing right now here."

"You really look up to him, huh?" Qrow noted.

Ruby paused and looked down. "He's… a good person. Ever since we met, we've become best friends." She smiled at the memories. Enrique was her first friend she made shortly before her enrollment in Beacon. "Whenever Yang, Blake, or Weiss weren't around, he would help out… it was starting to feel like..."

"Like he was really part of the family?"

The young Huntress hugged her legs, her chin resting on her knees. "I realized why he wanted me to be safe. During the trip here, I saw a video message he left for me for the tournament. His sister… looked just like me…" It felt like she looked at a mirror but with slightly longer hair and brown eyes instead of silver.

'It explains why he looked out for Ruby as Yang did in Vale.' Qrow noted. Every moment the Multi-King looked at Ruby, there was no doubt he saw his late sister in her place. It explained a lot to the young man's brief reactions of gloom when he looked at Ruby in the past.

"I often asked myself what I did wrong… but seeing that, I realized why he was sad whenever he looked at me." Her gaze shifted to the grass. "I once heard him call me Marie once. I thought it was nothing until I saw why."

"Kid never mentioned his family much to me nor did the Oden Eater explain about him given he was around the kid." The scythe wielder scratched his head. "Not that I care but from your explanation, you make it sound like he is seeing double."

The younger scythe user handed the Scroll to Qrow, showing the paused footage of the old recording. He raised an eyebrow and took a look, only to see the eerie resemblance of the girl.

'Forget spitting image, this girl could pass as her twin.' Qrow was astonished at how identical the girl looked. Despite the brown hair and matching eyes, it looked like he was seeing a younger Ruby without the silver eyes.

"She was someone he cherished a lot…. He blamed himself for what happened to his family. So much that he believed this was karma for him failing to keep her safe." Ruby noted. "To have a future…"

'Guess that explains why he was so attached to her when I arrived. He was worried I was a bad influence on her. Heh, hard to believe he saw right through me.' Qrow mused within his thoughts as he was about to take a swig of his drink.

"Speaking of which!" Ruby snatched her uncle's flask from his hand. "I thought I hid it from you!"

"Can't get between me and my flask, squirt."

"But you promised you'd stop when we got to Mantle!" Ruby frowned, cheeks puffed in annoyance.

The Brawen Huntsman plucked the flask from her hand. He popped the cap open but saw Ruby's stare. His eyebrow twitched before he sighed heavily. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll lessen it."

"... Promise?"

"Yeah, yeah. I promise."

"Good!"

Qrow ruffled her head and had one swig before pocketing it to honor at least that promise. But on the subject of Enrique, one part of him always confused the veteran, and this was as good as a time to ask.

"I just realized, you or Oz never told me much about where your friend was from either." Qrow took a quick sip of his flask. The kid was rather secretive about his origins but never dwelled on the matter until now. The headmaster wouldn't say much but did say 'far away from here.'

Ruby scratched her cheek nervously. "Ehehehe… about that…"

"What?"

"He's… well… not from this world."

The Huntsman had to do a double check of his flask and made sure he wasn't drunk. He had to stop for a moment and take in what his niece said. He opened his mouth but Ruby immediately explained everything regarding the case of the Multi-King. Being from a world that was named after dirt, a very long history that spread across seven continents, more specifically the land the Rider was from. The advancements of the technology. At first he assumed it was paradise but it wasn't. There were also grim events that would put the Great War at a lesser scale in number of deaths. No Grimm or Faunus existed but discrimination still existed be it from religion, sexuality, race, even skin color. Qrow would have laughed at it but the look in Ruby's eyes prevented it.

The entire explanation was the truth. It was unbelievable but it explained a lot to the Kid's name. There wasn't much meaning to it in the culture of Remnant.

"Another World, huh? Geez… and here I thought magic and gods were the crazy part…." Qrow sighed, "Does he even want to return home? He knows how dangerous Remnant is, especially now with this new problem."

Ruby shook her head. "He told us Remnant is his home. He… doesn't have anything to go back to on Earth."

'Me and my big mouth.' Qrow cringed. It sounded rather depressing for someone like the Multi-King but given the look in the kid's eyes, he developed a bit of a hero complex - helping others. "This is a lot to take in."

"It was the same for the others. I mean, would you find it unbelievable that there were other humans out there? No Faunus living amongst humans or Grimm scaring everyone, every day?"

"To be honest? Yeah."

"Weiss still found it unbelievable about the fuel source! No Dust! Everything bio, thermal, fossil, hydro, wind, and whatever else Enrique explained to us!"

"Okay, let me rephrase, it is unbelievable."

"He had proof! His er… 'smart phone' showed it all to us."

"Smart Phone?"

"That's what his world's Scrolls are called. Not with clear screens but rather it's almost like that but the screen is projected via device it is implanted to." Ruby recalled. "Small but very unique. Oh! Even those watches that connect to those phones! There is stuff they invented that we don't have!" She waved her hands in joy. "Don't get me started on the way they do their laws! He said if I was there, I wouldn't be able to carry Crescent Rose in public!"

"Heh."

"It isn't funny!"

"Well, if I were someone seeing a girl your age carry a large scythe that shoots and cuts things in half, who wouldn't?"

"Awww!" Ruby mulled in defeat by her uncle's point.

"So what else does his home have? Reality AR Games?" He chuckled.

"No, but they have been able to go to their moon." Ruby pointed out, as that actually made Qrow shocked at the answer.

"Hold on, are you telling me-"

"Yup."

"And they landed on-"

"Yup."

"And that they invented ways to go to the moon?!"

"Yu~p!" She made a pop on the last letter of her response. "They have done it for 60 years already, last he remembered!"

"Wait, in a span of 60 years?" Qrow gawked, "They may have the potential to grow until they even reach our own tech."

"He even said, they sent drones onto their other planets and even beyond!"

Qrow chuckled as he rubbed his head from this information, "Reach our own tech… I'd say they'd reach it in about 32 years at that rate if they can do that already. Kinda envious on what their drinks are like."

"Don't even think about asking him about their booze" Ruby frowned. "That's a big no for you!"

"And you say I'm the spoilsport."


After the long conversation with her uncle, she complained missed lunch no thanks to it! While she managed to have a good meal (without Nora leaving the leftovers empty) she giggled at how things were. Guess her uncle has a lot of thinking to do regarding the differences and similarities between Earth and Remnant. They both may be ahead in certain views of technology, they have other pieces that are still behind.

The young scythe wielder stopped mid step when she heard yelps and rapid footsteps. She leaned over, only to be toppled to the floor. "Ow…" She sat up and saw Oscar who did the same. "Oscar?"

"Ruby? U-Um-" He jumped to the sounds and hid behind her.

"What's wrong?"

"Those!" Ruby looked ahead and saw a hopping metal grasshopper and a slithering eel. "I-I was thirsty and saw those two cans but when I opened the caps- I-I-"

"Ohhh, you turned on the Candroids!"

"Can… droids?" He repeated. "You mean those weren't soda cans?"

"Nope." Ruby stood up and allowed the two machines to hop onto her palms. "See? They're harmless. They were just following you because you activated them."

Oscar stood up and slowly approached the two drones. He poked them and noticed they weren't attacking him. Instead the hopper leapt onto his shoulder while the Unagi Candroid coiled around his wrist.

"Oh, just don't gather two other Unagis with that one."

"Why?"

"Oh I don't know, they can connect together and become electric restraints that make your hair go poof!" She teased. "Happened to Nora when I accidentally tested it out."

"They were too weak!" They heard Nora shout from across the hall with a huff, "Not even a flinch from me."

"See what I mean?" Ruby pointed to the now gone hammer wielder. She walked towards the living room as Oscar followed after.

"I-I see…" Note to self, carry only one and not get shocked by three. "Who made these things anyway?"

"Mr. Kougami made them. Heard of him before?"

"Um…. can't say I have… I was living at a farm for most of my life, after all." He responded meekly.

"Oh, right. Forgot about that." She fiddled with her fingers. "Let's just say he has been helping us out regarding special monsters. Especially helping Enrique with the sword…" she mumbled in continuous jealousy at the fact he got a sword that can cut through everything and repair it while the Grimm and Yummies are slain. She still wants her Crescent Rose to do that!

"So… that's why you guys carry those coins?"

"Yeah! We usually get them whenever our friend uses the armor to transform. For the time being, we're just careful with how we use them."

"Armor? Since when does transformation grant armor?"

"Oh you should see it if you meet our friend! He gets all focused on fighting a monster and puts them into a buckle!" Ruby humorously imitated the movements her friend did whenever he transformed into OOO. "And with a scanner he says 'Henshin' and goes into hero mode!" She thrusts her fists like claws to mimic the Tora Claws of OOO's armor.

"I still remember you trying to use it when he slept." Jaune sighed, now joining in on the conversation. "He had to keep it on himself so you didn't take it again."

"Only once! Once!"

"Let's not forget Nora suggesting him to make his Semblance create an ice launcher." He shook his head.

"Hey! I thought it would be badass!"

"That's you being you."

Nora pouted. "Party Pooper."

"Can I ask you guys something?"

"Yeah?"

"This Enrique… What is he like?" While Oscar heard Ozpin mention him once, he heard the same name on occasions from the others. Aside from Yang, the others seem to hold the person in friendly regards.

Ruby tapped her chin as she looked up at the ceiling. She could recall the day they met. "Where to start…" She pondered. "Well, he is older than us in the group by two years. Three years for me though."

"So he was your senior in the academy?" Oscar guessed, only for Ruby and the others to laugh. "Did I say something odd?"

"No, it's just funny you assumed that. He was enrolled in the first year as we were." Jaune continued.

"He may be older but he was… late in enrollment." Ren added. "He didn't fight in the beginning from what he said to us."

Oscar blinked in surprise. It sounded similar to his own predicament. "He… never fought before?"

"At first no." Ruby giggled. "But he learned on his own before Ankh had to teach him."

"Ankh?"

"One of the Greeed who are homunculi - embodiments of desires." Oscar heard Ozpin answer in his subconscious.

"Oh…" the farm boy noticed Ruby's confused look. "Er, Ozpin answered it."

"Ah… well, as we were saying, Enrique was always there for us." She smiled at the memories. "Reaching out to help whenever we're down. Always fighting for the sake of others. Not afraid to call anyone out. He's family to all of us." Personally, the young Huntress saw him as a brother figure. Whenever Yang wasn't there to help, he would be there. Be it for homework, training, even free time. "He may have been living a normal life, but he wanted to learn how to fight to help people."

"He sounds like a nice guy…" Oscar couldn't help but feel the sense of envy to learn of the person the group was mentioning. Enrique may have lived a normal yet quiet life like his, but he eventually accepted the choice to join Beacon and help people while fighting monsters. He himself on the other hand didn't have a choice on the matter.

What brought this person to help people? Was it something that drove him to do so? While Ozpin had taught him several things, he never understood how to accept this responsibility. If he talked to this 'Enrique' someday, maybe then he can understand the acceptance of a burden.

"Now speaking of which!" Nora grinned deviously and presented the other Unagi Candroids. "Who wants shocky time!"

"N-Now hold on Nora! I think now's not the right time!" Jaune panicked.

"Looks like it's your turn, Jaune!" Nora grinned deviously as she activated the three cans and started to spark up. "Clear!"

"Aaahhh!"

Oscar watched as the four began to create trouble with the three Candroids. He saw a cup of water handed to him, allowing him to notice Weiss. "You'll get used to their antics."

He accepted the drink and watched. The corner of his lips twitched upward and laughed slightly. The people he was with sure have their quirks.


CURRENT MEDALS:

Blazing: Taka (x2), Kujaku (x1), Condor (x1)

Scorching: Lion (x1), Tora (x2), Cheetah (x1)

Strongest: Kuwagata (x1), Kamakiri (x1), Batta (x1)

Legendary: Kobura (x1), Kame (x1), Wani (x1)

Water: Shachi (x1), Tako (x1), Unagi (x1)

Gravity: Sai (x3), Gorilla (x1), Zou (x2)

Invincible: Ptera (x1), Tricera (x1), Tyranno (x1)

Ultimate King: Super Taka (x1), Super Tora (x1), Super Batta (x1)


(NEXT TIME)

"S-Silenced?" Ilia was taken aback by the task.

"I'm fine. But my parents! They are in danger!"

"What have you done…" We darted our attention to Corsac who regained consciousness. "You ruined…. EVERYTHING!" I was about to grab Medajalibur but a familiar whip ensnared the Faunus, electrocuting him and knocking him out.

Next Time: The Ambush, The Hatred, Ilia's Redemption


A/N: Seems things have taken a turn with some development amongst the group as Oscar has more insight regarding OOO. You guys just have to wair and see what comes next. I know you guys want to see more of the story but you will have to wait next Monday. Til then, don't forget to leave a review of this chapter, favorite and follow! See you all in the next chapter!