A/N - I don't say it often as I should, but thank you so much for reading this, debatably decent, RWBY fic of mine. Chapter 40 with over 44,000 views, a number I never expected to reach. So again, thank you and enjoy!

Act V - Life's Pieces

Chapter 40 - Who You Are

It was nightfall, fireflies danced around lanterns hung on poles leading up a path off the main road, well-hidden too. It was a completely roofed forest up this high in the mountains, and yet I wasn't cold, the mysterious atmosphere was certainly inviting, and the anticipation of where Summer and her allies have been living did have me curious too.

"Ahh... home at last," Summer breathed in happily, motioning for me to gaze with wonder. "Welcome to the Hideout, short and simple name, but it suits."

"It certainly does," I muttered, stepping through the redwood archway and into the garden. The entrance was a flattened plot of land, equipment sat at the edges and under trees, with a pond toward the left. At the far back was the one-story building styled like a traditional Japenese dojo. The lights were on, and Albatross already waited by the door for us, removing his cloak

He wore rather bare equipment, a black jacket with fur cuffs and collar like mine, though the zipper was red, and he wore a purple scarf. His jeans were grey, with black and white boots with plating, a small pauldron and bracer were strapped to his left arm, while his right remained bare. On his back was that black sword too.

"Come on, I bet you both are starved for some homemade food?" That had Summer's attention piqued, while Amber rolled her eyes, but looked just as interested. Must be good food

"This place certainly has charm, I'll admit." Iota murmured, while Eric sounded amazed

"The architecture and colors, the scenery too! Does it have a garden!?" Eric was in a world of his own now

"I have never seen a place quite like this, it feels very old but in a good way," That's called rusty, Penny. "Ooh, I see, then I like it - Oh, and scan of the whole house is completed!" Thanks, Penny

Taking a quick look through my blind eye's augment, a small display for the house came up. It was equipped with standard living essentials. An open kitchen into a spacious dining room and cozy living room, two hallways either side of an open garden in the center of the square-shaped building. A bathroom and four bedrooms, with a back garden at the far end that overlooks a cliff-edge.

Finally, inside and out of the lingering rainclouds, I took my coat off and saw Albatross already in the kitchen prepping something, while Amber took a seat on a sofa, stretching out her wings for a moment before pulling out a scroll. Summer sat down on a chair opposite her, and I sat down on the sofa too, feeing my joints pop with a sigh.

"Now this is better than dirt and trees, and scalding water..." I groaned happily, ruffling my hair while I faced Summer with a slight serious topic in mind. "So..."

She opened her eye, mask off along with her cape. "So... I guess I should start by explaining who Albatross and Amber are?" I nodded, with Amber's gaze flicking to me

"I was the first to aid Summer since I have no other home to go to, this is the only one I've known, and Summer has been the only person I've known until Albatross came along, and now you," Amber answered rather briefly, and with a tinge of resentment. "My parents were travelers... until they couldn't do that anymore... and here I am, since not many humans have seen a dragon Faunus, so it makes... life a challenge."

"Umm... sorry to hear that, I've seen how Faunus are treated at times, so believe me I know," I assured her, though that did little to phase that stare of hers, making me sink into the seat. "Please don't kill me."

"I doubt she could..." Iota murmured under my own voice, catching her eye while I slammed my hands over my mouth. "Stop doing that! It never works!"

My hands removed themselves, Iota's aura form appearing, looking just as peachy as ever. "Hardly, you just lack the commitment to standing your ground when you speak your mind to anyone who's not the enemy."

I smirked. "Oh? Ever heard of a 'good first impression'? Oh wait, you just hate everyone." I retorted, and he leered

"Because, I'm still a fragment of you, so in other words, 'you' lack the capability of a good first impression." I... couldn't rebuttal that, dammit! Iota turned his gaze to the curious eyes of Amber, shrugging. "I don't know you and you don't know me, so let's just start with this. I'm Iota, Kai's logic and Anger given a spiritual form and consciousness."

"You certainly live up to the information provided, I'm Amber," She breathed, going back to her scroll. "I know you mean well, both of you, just... don't pry into my life, that's all you need and ever will know." I can accept that. With a rapid nod, she removed her stare while Summer rubbed her temples

"Having a student is harder than it looks... Amber is quite the handful at times." I saw Amber fidget at that, hiding her face from us, though Summer meant well by it. "But that is Amber's story, although if she ever wants to tell you more is up to her."

"As for the wonderful cook over there, Albatross is... well, like you, honestly," Summer said, while my gaze lingered on the man calmly cooking without woes. "He can be rather timid at times, and carries alot on his shoulders, but he strives to help people no matter the cost, he'd never waiver from that mindset even if it were to put himself in harms way, but he's here in Remnant to help us, atleast, that's what he's told me."

"All you're gonna get less time and space tears itself open!" He called back while I blinked

"You traveled through time?" I didn't know someone could without... whatever device Mars used?

He smiled, tapping a finger to his nose. "There's alot to the Multiverse than you realize, believe me, it was... quite the culture shock the first time I traveled between worlds, ended up in a literal hellscape, not fun, but what a journey..." He looked so lost in nostalgia that he forgot about the cooking. "Ah! The veg!" He quickly flew back into the kitchen

We laughed, say for Amber, and I finally let myself relax for the first time in over a month.

[Somewhere...]

The halls of this unknown fortress rung silent say for the maniacal laughter that echoed down its empty halls. Purple lights danced through the halls like sickening embers, with crystals of void decorating the walls, and pillars like vines. But inside the main hall, the whole group of individuals went near silent in a second, at the sound of heavy footsteps.

When the crimson glow from the tall, crooked windows shined upon the shadows that covered the wooden and iron doors, the glimpse of scarlet eyes narrowed, before the steps reached out from the darkness that consumed them. Mars finally stepped inside, shutting the doors behind him gently.

"I apologize for keeping all of you, I am here now," Mars spoke, devoid of emotion

Sat on the opposite end of the long table, a pale hand tapped on the surface with a black nail, her eyes lingering on a floating, jellyfish-like Grimm, tendrils wrapped around her arm for a moment. After a pregnant pause, her eyes turned to Mars, a frown ever-consistent on her face.

"About this boy... the one that was present at Beacon and who aided in injuring Cinder here, he has arrived in Anima?" Salem was hard to read, her voice never changed pitch and those cold eyes of hers made it harder to read her thoughts. Mars wasn't phased, simply, he placed a device on the table, displaying Cognitum's three forms. Iron Regalia, Echo, and Frenzy

"Yes, and with him, he brought along company too as Morana has informed me after his... recovery," Mars was surprised Morana had lost to the Summer and Sky, but now there were two more? Must have been this 'Albatross' and his accomplice, his hunch was correct in passing on information to them instead - His episodes were hard to control as of late. "As for the Corridors of the Lost, it has yet to form properly so I cannot gain access yet, and any weaker Grimm seem to steer clear of the area."

"I see... so this changes nothing?" Again, she made no real inquiry toward anything else, Mars nodded. "Good, then plans for Haven Academy will continue as planned. Tyrian, see to it you capture the girl, anyone else, feel free to whatever you desire."

"So we are to bring her here, why? Normally, all Silver-Eyed Warriors are killed on sight," Mars asked, then noted Cinder's glare, hand gripping the table's edge. He sighed. "Very well, I see your reason, though if she uses them again you may not survive the backlash. Divine light may not kill us directly, but the results of a human and Grimm infusion may prove to be fatal."

"Now. Let me make this clear. If anyone dares to harm Ruby Rose, we'll all die, including Salem." At Mars' words, Salem looked slightly bemused, but he continued. "You think that little match I had with those bots and him was a mere fluke!? Someone unleashed his aura and semblance from my locks, and he grows stronger every-time he uses my Project."

"'You sound as though you are afraid of a little girl, she is worthless without those eyes,'" Emerald relayed for Cinder, as he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes glowing suspiciously back at the Maiden

"It is you that should be, even if she is not Summer Rose, if she learns to harness their power you won't be so keen on vengeance without a plan - And that's coming from a Grimm, so take it to heart." With that, Mars took his leave, while he himself wanting to inform Summer of this news but he knew fine rightly Ruby Rose could handle herself. He rubbed the back of his helmet, snorting once "Like Mother like Daughter... what a pain."

[The Hideout...]

Food was long behind us, and while I enjoyed not being the target of some murderous Grimm, the fact of the matter was now clear to me, this wasn't the time to be kicking back and relaxing. The moment I left Patch had been filled with traveling and gathering intel, the most elusive question remained, where was the Vex hiding? Or in general, what is a Vex? We knew Mars had answers but he never filled in anything and always avoided the question, saying 'it wasn't the time', it got old after the tenth time but then he outright refused to mention it.

Now, we had a new message, one that was solely toward me and had my skin crawl, the atmosphere was thick with dread, the others had seen it before me, and it was clearly bad news, or akin to the severity of bad news. If it were about the countdown on Cognitum I may have figured it out, but my speculation would only lead to worry.

"Okay, now that you're here we can just skip to the end and say that this... is alot to take in." Summer began, Albatross handing her his scroll. Her eyes met mine gently. "Sky, are you sure you want to know this?"

With my hands clasped together, I only nodded once. This was big, and I had to know what Mars had discovered, we had every right to know since it was his fault I'm even here in the first place. "You guys ready?" I gulped toward Iota and Eric's astral forms

Iota crossed his arms. "Better to take a leap of faith than to remain in the dark."

Eric leaned forward with wide eyes. "I hate all the secrets so I'm okay with this!"

"I have already scanned the file myself, Sky... it's... a heavy burden, I must warn you," Penny's specter spoke on my shoulder, looking to me with sad eyes. "I... am unsure of how you will understand."

Hesitantly, my smile formed again while I played with my long, white lock of hair. "Heh, when's this world ever been without burdens for me? Let's be real here, I'm never sure of how I'll take any form of revelation centered around me."

She only nodded solemnly, my eyes meeting Amber's briefly a hand on her chest. "You have been hurt alot, while it's not my place to say, do know none of us wished to have kept this from you, I may not know you well, but I do harbor some semblance of guilt."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." I smiled, then looked to Albatross. "Play it."

Albatross looked uncertain, a level of uneasy understand washed over him. "Well... it's best you hear it for yourself I suppose..." He played back the recording on his scroll, static and white noise popped for a moment before a familiar voice crackled through

F-For years the concept of reality's fabric astounded me, e-even as my conscience was driven i-in two, I can retain my dream, s-see worlds beyond our own, w-what would they hold? How do they thrive? D-Do people beyond G-Grimm and Humanity live t-there? Every time I look at the s-stars, I almost feel a sense of... bliss. O-Of freedom.

Sky Zaffre, Kai Amadeus, he has been a catalyst to this dream. S-Salem believed it to be a mere l-lifeform to bring about the Vex, a true being t-that despised the Gods as much as h-her. I brought him here as the perfect candidate for Project Eclipse, n-no one else could, n-no Grimm or human without the e-expectation of several unknown sources across R-Remnant.

Magic. T-The key to a perfected b-balance, the more m-magic, the stronger the bond. But Ozpin is w-weak, Salem was no longer anything human. T-The first Maidens were the key... all gone now until He came along.

Why didn't I like where this was going? Is Mars referring to me? That aside, he had... a dream, a Grimm given thoughts and desires beyond calamity, and he... had a dream too. At the cost of intelligence came his complete loyalty to Salem, he wasn't anywhere close to that dream. Somehow, that made me furious.

Let me explain. K-Kai was of course born in Remnant, t-that is indisputable. His memories lost to a young age he cannot r-recall. I had traced his very acute fragment of magic back to its source, t-took months of trial and error, h-had no choice but to go along with the Breach plan to get close, t-the sample proves it, the blood, the sweat, e-even a tear and some hair too. K-Kai Amadeus... was the son of the First Maiden, Summer.

I blinked once, it echoed off the corners of my mind. "What?" All eyes were on me, Iota and Eric astral forms merely sat with wide eyes

At first, I-I did not believe, but evidence of t-temporal manipulation occurs between our timelines. Our world and E-Erika's are tied by t-time and space to the point that bending does little to change history, the time between us is vastly different, ever-changing, and so, Kai w-was sent to Erika's world, the centuries went by on R-Remnant, the First Fall Maiden's child long f-forgotten by time. Until now

Static blared and the scroll's recording cut itself off with a few pops, but now silence deafened the room, say for any ambient noises or the tick-tick-tick of a clock. I... was... wasn't just from Remnant? Are you serious? My heart was pounding and it hurt. Happiness? Anger? Grief? I didn't know... I feel just as... lost as I was when I arrived in this world.

Was it all just some sick joke? Did someone simply toy with me a no one else in this world? Why can't I just have my life back, was that too costly, did I have to be subjugated to all of this for some semblance of normality!? Why... why! Why!?

"Sky-" I stood up at Summer's voice, my head low enough to hide my eyes, leaving only my bitten lip that started to draw blood from visible anger, Amber merely sighed, patting Summer's shoulder

"All. This. Time." I wanted to scream bloody murder, to break something, anything. "Are you kidding me? Why, why is it always me?" My head shot up, anger scorched my eyes. "I never asked for this!? I just wanted my life back, not this destiny bullshit!"

"I...!" My anger wouldn't stop seething, and I didn't want it too, I have it, I can't keep this going any longer, not once inch more. With a sickened scowl, I dug my nails into my palms. "I'm DONE! I want nothing to do with Mars, the Horseman, the Vex, NOTHING to do with Remnant!"

"W-wait, uh, um..." I refused to listen to Eric, storming through the house with haste that burned through my soles. No more, I can't do this anymore. Ruby... I'm sorry...

Stepping out into a small garden pond, I didn't so much as blink while the door shut behind me, leaving me coated in the cool night's air, the tree on the other side of the pond rustling. Tears finally struck down my cheeks like raindrops as I threw my head back a primal scream that pierced the very night that had been so tranquil. I finally fell to my knees.

"Leave me alone." Bitterness laced my words, and yet that shadow didn't disappear

"I will once you talk to me, then go back to your groveling." Was he trying to piss me off? I turned, facing Albatross who wore a neutral face, arms crossed while looking off toward the stars. "Good, now talk. How are you taking this?"

"What do you think?" I replied he shrugged at the rhetorical question. "It was alot to take in back when I found out this is my homeworld, not the one I grew up in, and now I find out I'm related to the first Summer Maiden? What, so I can do what they can now? Am I some Deus-ex-Machina in this whole situation? Who was she? What was my Dad's name? Who am I!? I've got nothing!"

"No, as I found out, magic is scarce in this world, say for a number of sources and individuals, as you've seen fire dust can enhance your recovery, both for wounds and energy but that's about the extent of it, no ex-Machina," Albatross worded simply, twirling his finger. "I can do magic myself but this world has none to give, so I'm stuck with an aura and 'Soul-Forge' - Er, sorry, 'Semblance' as this world calls it."

Well... good, how stupid would that be? Being able to do what Maidens can? That breaks the whole rule of Maiden power transfer otherwise. "But I still don't know anything... about me... this Vex..." I wrapped my arms around my legs, resting my chin on my knees. "I'm lost."

"I know, I've been there too," Albatross murmured. "I was actually a complete coward long ago... I still get nervous at times and I'm afraid of fighting too. But... I had people to train me, teach me more about myself and how to accept my flaws, it took a long time, but here I am, and I'm still afraid, both of conflict... and of failing everyone who never gave up on me."

He cleared his throat. "What I'm saying is that you should sleep on this, give it time to sink in before doing anything. And remember, no matter what you find out about your past, it doesn't define who you are, just gives you the starting point of who you're going to be."

That had my head tilt up. My eyes lingered on the stars, silver... just like Ruby's eyes...

"...I wish she was here..." We blinked, turning to each other for saying the exact same thing. He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck with a bashful blush

"Yeah... I miss someone too, I really do wish she was here, even just to yell at me or something," He paused, then looked to the sky. "It's like, no matter how bad things get she's the one to push me, even if she doesn't realize it, hell, she still is giving me that push even now."

"I know what you mean... Ruby... is the very reason I am who I am, my friends too, of course, but she offered me her hand," I reach out, feeling as though her hand held onto mine. "I want to take her hand again, even that would be enough." I miss her... "She was the first person who ever needed me. Heh, 'Me' of all people and she accepted me... just that alone was enough."

I heard Albatross sigh happily. "Go on and get some rest, then come give me an answer tomorrow, I'll be out the front training anyhow, goodnight." With that, Albatross left me to my own devices, while I mulled over his words, and watched the stars go by

I was born a Maiden's son, have some form of control over fire dust judging by how it never hurt me and seemed to rejuvenate me temporarily, that was handy, but with this endless list of questions topped with the impending doom of a Vex, Mars is my ally and Cognitum constantly counting down to something. My work had been difficult from the start, each day only applied more pressure.

I grinned. So what? I've struggled to grasp life in Remnant since day one, Coco's training had broken me down and my friends molded me into who I am, I've been psychologically tormented by others and still came out on top. This isn't any different, my goals haven't changed. We'll stop the Vex, find the truth to everything, and I'll find my friends again, be it through Hell itself.

It was bright and early across Anima, the sun pierced the thin sheet of clouds as Albatross continued to train, his strikes to the air were quick and precise, each struck with the force of a blade, his right arm and left leg more-so with a sizable gust of wind. Amber watched from the porch beside me, noting my entry while I said 'Good morning' to her and walked across the yard.

A second later, my eyes snapped wide as I bent my body backward, falling to the ground in a heap from the fist that narrowly skimmed my shirt, the other threatening to slit my throat open with an ominous, onyx sword. Albatross stared down at me with a calm exterior, his mood was so tranquil but underneath his eyes was something primal.

"Well, made you choice I assume?" He inquired

"Of course, though is the near threat to my life necessary?" I winced, himself chuckling with rubbing his nose, flicking the sword around in his palm. "I'm still coping, that hasn't changed overnight, nor do I expect to be pitted, so save your breaths," Sighing, I turned my eyes to his again, maintaining eye-contact. "I want to put an end to the Vex, to Salem, anything to save them."

For a long time, he continued to twirl that sword of his around, effortlessly guiding the blade over his palm while shaving his skin. With a quick smirk, he held out his hand. "Sorry, I... just had a trip down memory lane, I'll help however I can, Summer and Amber too."

My hand slowly reached out for his, but he pulled away momentarily. "Ready for hell to come kick your teeth in, you noobie?"

Was I?

"Of course you are, we've put up with your antics this long." Iota, you're in? "Was there any other way?"

"I want to help too, if you make a choice, of course, we'll follow it!" Eric... "I don't care if we're separate minds now, I'm still just as much Sky as Iota is you too!"

"My body was left unrepairable, without your assistance I could have never regained both my directive to protect and the memories we shared!" Thank you, Penny. "Anything, bestie!"

With a soft chuckle, I dared Albatross with a cunning look. "We don't care what you throw at us, I'm not going to leave myself tied to a fate someone else designed, I have every right to live how I see fit, so do my friends."

His hand clasped to mine. "Very well then," If I didn't know any better, I swore his right eye radiated darkly with scarlet. "Let's dance."

To Be Continued...

The life of a flawed character continues to chug along, while it may seem as though Sky's over his ordeal it is never truly that easy. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: Kindred Spirit

Alot of time has passed since Sky left, and alot of time since Team RNJER had set out for Haven Academy. They've gone through many trials, revelations, and hardships and now their greatest test appears in the forsaken town of Kuroyuri.