Arc III - Light At The End
Chapter 20: Your Turn
I was alone.
I lost, this internal fight against myself and my own unstable emotions, it was always so suffocating at the worst of times, but it can be hard for most to understand, even harder to help when you lack the experience the victim has. Someone did though, and now I'm a mere pawn at their fingertips, unable to leave this...grey world, my subconscious, an empty nothingness, devoid of color, emotion, hope...it was always cold, sensations numb the mind down to the atom.
"What point is there to fighting...I can't win, I don't want to anymore..." It was two days ago, back when everything was okay, but before that is where my mind can recall any glimmer of joy
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[One Week Ago]
The incident involving the Kingdom of Vale was felt through-out Remnant, reports of a train housing the White Fang that breached from under Vale, releasing Grimm into the center of Vale, and what many refer to as 'The Breach', simple, but all the more daunting for the aftermath. The White Fang, led by the now apprehended Roman Torchwick had been stopped by a collection of both Huntsmen from the school and students, with one notably handling four strange individuals that had attempted to turn the tide of the battle in their favor, this too was ceased.
This was a few days ago, and tension has risen among many of Vale's citizens, but to calm the hearts and minds of Vale, the teams, most importantly, Team RWBYS were to be honored by the government. Funny, it feels like we won, but I can't shake that something else is coming...and I don't think we'll be able to stop it.
Sometimes I really hope I'm wrong.
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"Remind me why we aren't inside enjoying the food?" Eric whined to me as I sat with my arms resting on a balcony's guard, looking towards the shattered moon in deep thought. "I mean sure, we didn't stop Mars directly, but we prevented a lot of deaths and stuff!"
"But that is just it." Iota commented
"I mean...we share thoughts day-in-day-out, but hey, humor me?"
"That warning of his...you feel it too, Kai?" Aye...I looked towards the hall filled with music and chat
"Mars knows this is far from winning the war, whatever that entails, I just hope we can find out what it is they're planning." I was still wrapped up in a mystery with little answers to my problems, while I'm glad the others took my words in stride and still see me as their friend and teammate, this lingering notion of darkness is still plaguing me. "Whatever is next, we'll be sure to stop it."
"Someone's grown in confidence?" Thank our friends. With a smile, I turned to rest my elbows on the guard behind me. Honestly, if not for all of them we might not be here to enjoy our breath of peace. "As much as I really, really hate saying it, we owe them everything."
"Just wish I wasn't so paranoid...yeah if mental problems could work that way." I mused half-heartedly with a snort
"But we can try," I opened my eyes at the sweet voice before me, seeing Ruby standing there with a relaxed aura and sporting her dress from the Dance. "If you ever begin to doubt yourself or who you are, you know we'll help, right?"
I chuckled a little. "I know...still can't over how easily you guys took the whole 'From another world' thing," I winced, remembering Nora's vomit of questions. "Still don't know if 'Can people survive being struck by lightning' really counts as a question, despite the aftereffects of such, but hey, what do I know, I gave up on the option of going home."
"Wait, really?" Ruby looked surprised to hear that leave my mouth, especially since I relayed how I have a sister and my loving parents back home, bar the little amount of friends I had to commune with. Taking a moment to think I crossed my arms
"The chances of going home are near impossible anyway, even if Mars did bring me here, I doubt he would be able to replicate the events that were required. Even so, my life back home was...tense, a mediocre life with people either deeming me unstable or others pitying my personality problem, it wasn't living, more so surviving 'till tomorrow." It was harsh, but that was how I evaluated my life, even with my family, it was tough sometimes
"But what about Erika and your mom and dad?" Ruby looked genuinely worried for me, it was nice, having a best friend like her...and a person I cared for more than I was willing to admit to her
"If I get the chance, I'll do everything in my power to contact them...but here...with Jaune, Nora, Ren, Pyyrha, Coco, Velvet, our team, you. It...I could give that up." I didn't see her expression since my head was tilted back to look up at the night sky. "Remnant is the life I always wanted, back home I'm at a dead end, but here, I'm...the person I feel I was before, and I can speak my mind, be who I want to be without the worry of being left alone anymore..."
I rested a hand on my chest, looking back to Ruby softly. "That part of me...that's somewhere in my soul, buried under what you've all managed to chip away at...I can never repay you Ruby Rose, and no amount of 'thank yous' can convey my gratitude."
For a while, Ruby just looked at me with a blank expression, her eyes mingling with emotions and thoughts I couldn't describe, instead, the little tomboy walked over and embraced me, holding her arms tight to my back as I contained my urge to blush from the sudden contact.
"I'm glad you're still here." Ruby looked up from my chest to me warmly. "Even if you have to go home someday, I'm just happy I got the chance to be your friend, to fight and laugh with you, everything as a team...thank you."
I softly held onto her too, my forehead against hers for a moment.
"Of course, thank you too, Ruby, even if I have to go someday, I won't ever forget you."
"I know you won't, because I won't either."
For a while we stood there, enjoying each others embrace, ignoring any that may have or are watching us, just standing here with her made my worries, doubts, hatred and fear all melt away for a while, her strength resonated in me, and I'll cherish it, until whatever awaits me in my future.
To Be Continued...
[Arc III Theme - Faith by MADKID]
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I know, I've been on my hiatus for a month now, but if I didn't I'd have lost my fire to write this wondrous story, also 12,000 views, you are the greatest humans alive, the other 99% I can live without, unless they convert too, hehehe. Hope you enjoyed this small introduction into the next arc, which won't be long, but just as significant to the story. I'll seeya all in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: The Legend Rises
Team RWBY and other teams get to star in their own game! Amity Arena. One downside, someone keeps demolishing every player in Beacon, so with determination, Iota taking over Sky's body, and the aid of Coco and Yang, the trio set out to hunt down the God of Amity.