Well, let's see how far this story goes. Hopefully to the end. Let me know what you think!
Summer Rose's thoughts drifted to happier times.
The time when she first got accepted into Beacon Academy. She was so excited. She was going to become a huntress!
She thought about the time her team was formed. Qrow was moody, in a skirt of all things after the prank she had played on him with Tai Yang. Raven was, for the lack of a better term, scowling and Tai, bless his soul, was smiling. She couldn't help but smile with him.
She thought about the time Tai had finally worked up the courage to ask her out after Raven had left. He was stammering like crazy, trying to get his words across and blushing like a little schoolgirl. It was adorable...and, yeah, she was maybe, kind of, sort of, blushing as well. Though he doesn't remember that. She had helped him finish his question.
She thought about their very first night together... Leave it to him to be completely different than how he usually was. He took charge, made it a wonderful night, one she wouldn't forget. And she didn't, though thinking about the actual details...Well, she would save thinking of those for another time.
She thought about the first time Yang had called her mom. It was a bittersweet memory. It wasn't her place to be here. And although it made her happy beyond words, she knew this wasn't her place. Though Yang didn't need to know that she thought as she smiled at the young girl.
She thought about the night she had first discovered she was pregnant with her daughter. She couldn't believe it. She was going to be a mother. Yang was going to get a little sibling. She was thrilled...and very much craving cookies. Tai had passed out and Qrow had a very good laugh about it.
She thought about the first time she had held Ruby. She was a little bundle of energy, if the lungs on her was anything to go by. A hard labor, and she had finally decided to grace them with her presence, only to start screaming as the doctors handled her. She had only calmed down as soon as she was passed over to her.
Summer Rose thought on many happy times in her life and she wanted to think of more. But she wouldn't have the time. She knew that. Which was why she was doing as much thinking right now...As the black sludge of malevolent goo started to swarm her body.
Ahh...She had failed...Failed quite badly actually. She was dying...But she wouldn't give that woman the satisfaction of thinking bad thoughts. No, she would think of the happier times, pass on happy just to spite her...
But it was hard to be happy about any of this...
It wasn't fair. She was a mother to two sweet young girls. Had a wonderful husband who was waiting for her at home with a hug and kiss ready. She had a job she liked, a wonderful life, wonderful friends. And now it was going to amount to nothing...She would die here; her body probably forgotten and would rot nobody the wiser. It just wasn't fair.
She felt her eyes burn up as tears threatened to fall out. She grits her teeth, trying to hold them back as the black sludge started to ooze into her field of view. She would have knocked it aside, wiped it away, if she could move her body. But it was well past the point of being able to move. She had no aura left, her body was overcome with exhaustion, she probably would've cringed as the sludge covered her eye if not for the fact that she could no longer feel anything either. As it was, Summer was barely holding on.
Why? She thought. Why was their such an evil in this world such as Salem? Why were there so many Grimm in the world, threatening to swallow up the world and annihilate humanity? Why did her daughters, her precious little rose Ruby, and her little spitfire Yang, have to live, no, survive in this sort of world, when she would've loved nothing more than for them to grow up normally?
Just why?
Her vision waned, darkness slowly creeping out from the edges of her eyes. Whether it was the sludge or her finally losing her sense of sight, she didn't know. What she did know, was that soon. Darkness would be her entire world.
And so, Summer Rose, for the first and last time in her life, prayed. Prayed for her girls to be alright. Prayed that her husband wouldn't grieve too much and ignore their daughters. Prayed that Qrow would find her body, or what was left and bury her.
She prayed. Prayed for something to correct the wrong of this world. Prayed for something to help light the dark of this world. She prayed for something...someone to save her.
She prayed for a savior. For her. For Remnant. For the world. She prayed.
And then she felt a tug, briefly saw a bright little light. And then, she felt no more.
On that night...A one and a million-chance occurred. A connection had been formed. A miracle had occurred.
Summer couldn't feel anything. Not her hands, not her legs, not body or face. She couldn't feel or see or do anything. Was she dead? Was this what death was?
But then...How did she know who she was? How has she still retained her ability to think?
"Oh?" she heard. "It seems we have a guest." a voice said.
She could still hear. But she couldn't see, couldn't turn to the voice who had just spoken.
"Oh my. Your soul seems to be corrupted. Are those shadows covering your soul?" The female voice asked.
Shadows? Corrupted? What was? Her soul? How? What?
"Hmm...No, not shadows. What is this? At first glance the two seem similar, however, what is corrupting you is nothing but malevolent energy. No will of its own, as the case with Shadows. Curious." The female voice stated a hint of intrigue in her voice.
"Still, while you are an interesting soul, I'm afraid I can't let you go further. Beyond here is something that no shadow or whatever energy you harbor, is allowed to interfere with. At least not while I am here." She heard the voice get closer.
"However, I can feel something pure underneath it all. Tell me, under all that negativity, are you, still there?" The voice asked, coming from right next to her.
Was she talking to Summer? If so, Summer wanted to say yes, she was still here. She didn't know exactly where here was, but she was here, nonetheless. But no words came out.
"Hmm?" She heard. "You want me to help? Yes, I was just about to. It's not every day we welcome guests here after all."
Was someone else there? Wait, help? This person was going to help? Yes! Yes! Yes! Help was good!
"Now," The voice said next to her again. "Listen to me, I need you to remember yourself. Remember who you are."
Who she was? That was easy, she was Summer Rose. She knew who she was. Seconds passed and nothing changed.
"I suppose that was a bit vague. I don't mean what your name or what your identity is. I need you to remember what it was that was taken from you." The voice clarified.
What was taken? Summer didn't know what she meant. Nothing was taken except...Well, everything was taken from her she supposed. She had died after all.
"Hmm? Still unclear, am I?" The voice asked, clearly sounding puzzled. "Very well then. Allow me to help."
Suddenly, Summer felt warm…And saw a bright light in the mind-numbing darkness.
"Now, your soul, though extremely unique, has no form at the moment. Tell me, do you remember what you look like?" The voice asked.
What she looked like? Of course, she did…She did…Didn't she? She was…She had…
Panic started to seize her, and the bright light diminished for a second, before instantly coming back in full.
"Now, now. There is no need to be frightened. This dark malevolent energy seems to feed off your negative emotions. The more you show fear, the more it tries to consume your soul."
Off her negative emotions? Like Grimm?
"Now, I want you to take a moment to calm yourself." The voice said
Summer did. If she had had a body, she probably would've breathed a deep breath. She needed to focus. Whatever this voice was doing, it didn't seem harmful. In fact, it seemed to want to help. She just had to put her life? In the voice's hands.
"Good." The voice soothed. "Now, I want you to remember. How did you look like? Start from the top. What color hair did you possess?"
What color hair? Well, that was…Red. She had red hair. Very dark red hair, towards the top of her head, but as the strands of hair went down, the color got lighter. She had red hair, shoulder length. Yes, the image was starting to clear up.
Her face was smooth, some may even consider her to have a baby-face. And her eyes were a distinct silver color. Her special eyes. She wasn't very tall either, slightly shorter than women her age. But she still imposed a bigger than life aura with her smile, or so people had told her. She was fit as well, her…training had kept unnecessary fat off her body, and while her womanly figure wasn't anything to brag about, she took pride in it. Well, at the very least, she knew Tai had appreciated it. And she had her dress on too! The black one, that came up to her thighs, and had lace strings to tie it up near her chest. She loved that dress, but of course, not as much as she loved her cloak. Her white cloak with a red inseam. She would take it everywhere with her.
"Very good!" The voice yelled, snapping Summer out of her reverie.
Summer eyes, opened, and she realized…that she had eyes again for one, and that she could finally see. A woman clad in velvet stood before her, one arm outstretched and holding her own. The woman had platinum colored hair, done in a bob cut and she had the most peculiar shade of yellow eyes Summer had ever seen. As thought those eyes were staring at the very foundation of her being. She was smiling at her.
"While I suppose introductions are in order, they will have to wait for now." The woman cut Summer off before she could speak. "You may have regained your form; however, your soul is still in a bit of a…Riddle? Fiddle? Tickle?"
Pickle, Summer corrected in her mind.
"I digress. Your soul is still in harms way. Take a look at your body." The woman said motioning her head down.
Summer looked down at herself and flinched. There was her body, however, black clouds of darkness blanketed parts of her body. A spot on her arm, another on her legs. One by her stomach. But the biggest one, one that seemed to ooze out darkness, was the spot by her chest, where her heart was.
"Look at me." The woman commanded.
Summer looked back up at her. The woman's face was now stern, almost looking a little disappointed.
"I hate to repeat myself, but as I said, this dark energy, feeds off your fear. You need to calm yourself and not give in to it, less your soul be lost to this darkness forever." The woman stated.
It was easier said than done in Summer's eyes. But, nevertheless, she tried doing as she was told. Realizing that she was hyperventilating, Summer took deep breaths this time. This energy thrived in negative emotions, like Grimm, so she needed to think happy thoughts.
Once again, her thoughts went towards her family. Her husband, Tai, her stepdaughter, Yang, and her little rose, Ruby. Summer felt herself calm down, her breathing returning to normal.
"That's it. Keep doing what you're doing." She heard the woman in front of her.
Summer kept at it, remembering anything and everything about her family, about her friends, about her life.
Slowly, she felt something, like a heaviness start to travel through her body, leaving it through the hand the woman was holding.
"Alright. Now, I need you to tell me. Who are you?" The woman asked.
Summer opened eyes and stared back at her. Silver eyes locked onto yellow ones.
"I…" Summer let out. "…Am Summer Rose."
And in that moment, she felt the heaviness, the darkness trying to cloud her mind, disappear from her body. The woman let go of her hand, and brought it up, palms facing up to show Summer. There, in the woman's hand, was a dark mass of pure dark energy. Tendrils of shadows lash out, trying to find anything to grip on. It tried gripping on to the woman's hand, tried traveling down it, only for it to fizzle out of existence a moment later.
"Now, what could have made you?" The woman, hummed out, staring at the mass in her hands.
She stared at it, and a moment later, she started to squeeze her hand. The black mass, tried to resist, tried to squeeze through the cracks of her hands, but once again, started to fizzle out of existence the minute it left its main body. The mass became smaller, and smaller, the more she closed her hands, until finally, in a little pop, the she finished closing her hand, and the black mass disappeared completely. As if to make sure, the woman opened her hand again, and stared at it, turning it over, before nodding to herself.
"Well, that was an experience." The woman giggled. "But where are my manner."
The woman straightened, her arms coming together in near her waist. She closed her eyes and took a bow in front of Summer.
"My name is Elizabeth. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Summer Rose." The woman said as she straightened out again.
Summer quickly straightened herself out as well and tried replicating the bow Elizabeth had performed.
"I-It's nice to meet you too, Ms. Elizabeth." Summer said.
The woman nodded and stared at her. Summer squirmed under her gaze, wanting Elizabeth to say something, but she kept quiet. Summer, to avoid and awkward silence, looked around, and her eyes widened at what she saw.
Stars. The night sky was all around her. It didn't make sense. Everywhere she looked there were stars. In every direction she looked. Up, left, right, behind. She gasped as she looked down and slightly jumped as she saw nothing but stars and darkness once again. The only direction that didn't hold any stars was in front of her. For there, rising as high as the biggest building she had seen, was what looked like a door.
"Wh-Where am I?" Summer squeaked out, looking up at the humongous thing in front of her.
Elizabeth, ignoring Summer's obvious plight answered her. "This is a rather…special place. I'm afraid we do not get too many visitors here, if at all, save for only one unsavory one. Which is why I am rather curious. How did you manage to find your way here?"
Summer broke her gaze away from the door and looked back to Elizabeth. She had finger to her chin in a thinking pose as she stared at Summer, likely waiting for her answer.
"I-I don't know…" Summer said. "Last I remember…"
And then it all came back to her. Her last battle…She had lost. She had died.
"I…I died. Last…Last I remember…was dying." Summer said, her voice coming to a whisper.
"Yes, your mortal body has perished." Elizabeth said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "As I said, this place is rather special. Only those who have a connection to it are allowed to come here. And even then, it would only be under special circumstances for the body to come as well. You seem to meet none of the requirement, and yet…here you are."
Elizabeth was looking at her, her expression confused, as if she was trying to figure out a puzzle. Summer on the other hand, was quiet, thinking back on her death. She didn't want to believe it but as she stared around her, no other conclusion came to mind, unless she was going crazy.
"Is this…the afterlife?" Summer asked tentatively.
Elizabeth looked surprised, before she relaxed into a smile. "Not quite. While your mortal life has ended, you soul somehow managed to find its way here, albeit a bit damaged."
Summer nodded, and then looked around once again, "Well…Where is here?"
"I suppose you could say it is a prison of sort." Elizabeth answered.
That grabbed Summer's attention. "Prison? This doesn't look like the kind of prisons I've seen before. What kind of thing is this prison holding?"
Elizabeth smiled. "The embodiment of death herself. The goddess of the night said to bring about The Fall of the world."
Summer quickly looked back to Elizabeth, eyes wide. The embodiment of death? A goddess of the night? That's what this prison was holding? Where had she ended up in? She connected the dots and stared back at the huge door in front of her. Looking closely, halfway up the door was something that seemed to be going across the door, blocking it from opening.
"While I said that this place was like a prison, I do not mean it in a conventional way." Elizabeth started. "It's true that this being, is imprisoned, however, there is no chance of her escaping. Rather, this prison is here to make sure nothing can get in and reach her."
Summer gave her a puzzling look. This place wasn't meant to contain, rather keep out? It didn't matter what this place was used for, having a being like the Goddess of Death herself locked up and not out bringing…death all over the place, brought her peace of mind. Though this did bring a question to mind. Who or what wanted to break the Goddess of Death out of this place? No, she knew of one person who might want to…but somehow, looking at this place, she doubted the person she thought of knew of this place at all.
"Soooo…Does that make you this prison's warden?" Summer asked, curiously.
Elizabeth looked back at her, smiling, but shook her head. "I'm but a humble elevator attendant. If you're looking for a warden, I believe you might be looking for my younger sister."
Wait, so her sister was the warden? Wait, she was an elevator attendant? Summer would be the first to admit that she didn't know many, but somehow she doubted, any normal elevator attendant would be in a place like this, let alone be able to do what she did with that black energy.
"…Summer?" Elizabeth called, break Summer out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Sorry, Elizabeth I kind of space out." Summer explained.
"Ah, my apologies." Elizabeth bowed. "I simply asked if you had any idea as to how you arrived."
Summer thought for a minute, before slowly shaking her head. "No. I don't even know where here is, honestly."
Elizabeth closed her eyes in thought, her hand rising to her chin once more. She was murmuring something under her breath that Summer didn't catch, but then Elizabeth's eyes opened, then looked back to her.
"Tell me, what was the last thing you thought of." Elizabeth asked.
"I-I'm sorry?" Summer stuttered back.
"Ah, my apologies for not explaining clearly," Once again, she bowed, "I would like to know the final thought you had before you soul left your body. In other words, your final thought before you died."
The point-blank question caught Summer off guard, and she flinched back at the mention of her death. She wanted to retort back. That her death wasn't something she could just talk about, it having happened just recently, but when she looked into Elizabeth's eyes, she could see no ill will.
Summer sighed before she closed her eyes in thought. What had been her final thoughts? Was she thinking of her mission? No. That wasn't it. Was it her family? That seemed close but not quite. She was dying, agonizing about how it wasn't fair…. Yes, it was coming back. It wasn't fair how she had died and left behind her family. It wasn't fair that her family would grow up without a mother, the second time for Yang. It wasn't fair that her daughters would have to grow up in a world like that, wondering when death or the Grimm would come to claim them.
Tears, threatened to spill from Summer's eyes, recalling the memory. The world of Remnant wasn't fair. And so, she wished for a miracle to happen. A dying wish, for something to change in their favor.
She opened her eyes and wiped them, then looked back to Elizabeth and explained to her, her final thoughts. She looked pensive as she listened.
"I…see. So, you wished for a change in your world? For something or someone to save it." It was more of a statement than answer, but Summer nodded.
Elizabeth once again had a thoughtful look on her face, before she turned to look at the door once more. Summer could hear her something about a "connection" but couldn't make out the rest.
She looked back to Summer before nodding, more to herself, "Summer, I would like to ask something of you."
Summer tilted her head at the question. "Yes?"
"Would you please tell me about your world? This… Remnant." Elizabeth asked.
Summer looked back at her confused. "Tell you about it? Don't you already know about it? Remnant. The world we liv…lived on?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm sorry to say Summer, but this world of Remnant, I am not familiar with it. Your soul traveled quite far from your world it seems."
Summer's eyes widened. Her soul had traveled far? What did she mean? Was this not a place located on Remnant, or the afterlife? Or something like that? What did Elizabeth mean that she had never heard of Remnant.
"W-Wait…You really don't know about Remnant?" Summer, asked, hesitantly.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm afraid that while I have indeed traveled to quite a few worlds already, this Remnant was not among them."
A few other worlds? There were other worlds apart from Remnant? Other worlds other than her own world? Her legs started to shake, wanting to give out. Elizabeth gave her a questioning look.
"Is there something the matter?" She asked innocently.
"N-no…Just…Everything I know breaking down around me. No problem." Summer gave weak laugh, her mind still reeling.
Elizabeth gave her another confused look, but nodded, nonetheless. She waited patiently for her reply.
Summer once again, took a deep breath, calming herself down. This wasn't something too bad. So what if there were other worlds? It wasn't that big of a deal was it?
…Yes, yes it was, actually. BUT she needed to get past it. She took another breath, and then another.
"It…It might take awhile Elizabeth…I'm not sure I can roughly explain it in such a short time." Summer finally said.
Elizabeth's eyes brightened at the answer. "Worry not! We have, as they say, as much time in the universe."
World. Summer corrected in her mind, and she supposed she was right. She was dead. It wasn't like she had other important things to do now. She smiled, at Elizabeth's expectant face and began to speak.
Summer told her all about her world, the world of Remnant. She told her about Vale, about Mistral, Atlas, Vacuo. She told them about the two races that lived on Remnant, the Faunus and humans. She told her about the Grimm, the manifestation of evil in her eyes. She told her about the ones who protect them from Grimm, the hunters, and how she was one herself. She told her about Beacon, the academy she trained at, and the other schools as well. She told her about aura, this subject being one in particular Elizabeth wanted to know more about. She told her about her family, and how she loved them. And finally, she told her about the plight her world faced.
How the Faunus and humans were fighting to avoid extinction due to the Grimm and how devastating they could be.
She paused at times, Elizabeth asking questions, and Summer taking the time to elaborate. She went off track a lot as well, the topics going back to her own experiences at times. This continued for what seemed like an eternity until finally, Summer found that she had no other things to explain.
Halfway throughout her story, Summer had sat down, not wanting to be standing the entire time. Elizabeth had moved to follow her and was sitting down as well. They continued, just sitting there in silence, Summer, thinking back to her world, and Elizabeth having a pensive look as she continued looking at the door.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth spoke up. "Your world…while troubled, is fascinating. To think there is world out there that uses their own soul in battle, not only to fight, but also defend their bodies.
Summer looked back at her. Aura. That had been a topic that Elizabeth had been heavily interested in, having asked the most question on it when it came up. She briefly wondered why Elizabeth was so interested in it.
"Tell me Summer, as thanks for your wonderful explanation, would you like me to tell you a story?" Elizabeth asked, a small smile on her face.
"Story? What is it about?" Summer asked, curious. "Also, you don't have to do anything as thanks Elizabeth."
Elizabeth shook her head. "It is quite alright. I believe you need to hear this story. A story about a young man and his one-year journey."
This time, it was Elizabeth's turn to talk. She told her a story. A young man, apathetic to everything going on around him, arrived in a certain place. There he met, a certain group. This group, though unknown, was tasked with defending humanity from beings known as shadows. Though the young man had no reason to join, he did. From there, the story took off.
She learned about the various friends the young man made along his journey, how he got close to every one of them. How they became irreplaceable to him, and how he had opened up to them. She learned of how his parents had died at a young age, and how death had been sealed inside of him. She learned about the disaster looming in their world, and how the young man and his friends decided to fight against it. She learned about their final battle…and how utterly futile it was to fight it.
Then she learned about how the young man, having found the answer to life, awakened an unprecedented power and used it to Seal the one bringing about the Fall on their world…at the cost of his life. She learned about how he struggled on, his body rapidly deteriorating, until the day his promise with his friends could be fulfilled. And when they day finally came…he died peacefully, in the arms of one of his dearest friends.
By the end of the tale, Summer had tears running down her cheeks, continuously pouring down, no matter how much she wiped at them. Elizabeth patiently waited, her eyes closed and her smile still on her face.
"Tha-That isn't fair. Why?" Summer hiccupped. "Why did he have to sacrifice himself at all. Couldn't he have done something else?"
Elizabeth did not answer. Summer knew she wasn't being fair. But it just wasn't fair.
Summer sobbed for a few more minutes before she wiped her eyes one last time, and looked up, once more at the door.
"That's…That's him, isn't it." Summer stated.
It wasn't hard to find the connections at all in the end. Elizabeth made no move to hide them, and so Summer connected the dots. She stood on the final resting place to the young man who gave his life, not for humanity, but for his small group of treasured friends. Summer would've found that a bit tacky if not for the fact that it actually happened.
"…Yes. Forgive me for the late introductions." Elizabeth stood up and gestured towards the door. "Summer Rose, I would like to introduce you to Makoto Yuuki, the young man from my story."
Summer stared back, her eyes drawn back to the object that ran across the door, or rather, the humanoid object in the middle. She stood as well looked up and bowed.
She looked back to Elizabeth. "I appreciate you telling me his story Elizabeth, but you said I needed to hear it. Why?"
Elizabeth looked back at her, a knowing smile on her lips. "Because…He is your answer Ms. Summer Rose."
Summer looked back, confused. "My answer? What do you mean?"
Elizabeth walked forward, up to the door, and Summer followed. "Exactly what I said. You wished for something, for someone, to save your world. Well," She turned around and gestured once again, to the door. "Why not someone who has already saved their own?"
Summer's eyes widened. She looked back up to the door. Could he really be the answer to her wish? But…
"But…he's…" Summer didn't finish her sentence.
"Preoccupied at the moment, yes." Elizabeth finished for her. "However, that could change, depending on your choice."
Summer, confused, looked at Elizabeth. "What do you mean?"
"I have traveled to many different worlds. In every one I've been in, there have been none like the one you have described to me. A world where the soul could be harnessed as your world has. I believe you hold the key to helping Makoto out." Elizabeth explained.
"Me? But…I'm nothing special. You said it yourself, I just happened to wander here." Summer said, before being cut off.
"And wandering here, is by no means, an easy thing to do. Meeting such as these, my dear, are destined." Elizabeth said, left hand opening.
Light started to form above it before a book, a rather thick one at that, appeared and landed on her hand. She opened it and brought her right hand above the book. The pages started to turn, rapidly before settling on one. Light emerged once again, this time, from the book, and in Elizabeth's hand, appeared a card.
Elizabeth's smile widened, and she flipped the card around, showing it to Summer. It showed a shadowy figure, a sack tied to a stick over his shoulder and the number 0 at the bottom.
"The Fool. Marking the beginning of a long journey." Elizabeth explained. "I believe you were meant to come here Summer. When you wished for a Savior, a connection was formed that brought you here, to the person who could be the one you were looking for."
Summer stared at the card, then to Elizabeth, then to the door. Her eyes narrowed for a bit, before she looked back to Elizabeth.
"What do I have to do?" She asked, having come to a decision in her mind.
Elizabeth's smile got wider. "Before I explain to you what you have to do, I will warn you about your coming fate."
The card and book disappeared from her hand, and she once again gestured to the door.
"You will need to form a connection, from your soul to Makoto's. This will be the key to getting him out of the seal. This will also be needed to establish a connection between Makoto and your world. With it, we can send him to Remnant."
Summer nodded at the explanation. "I sense a but coming,"
"However, to extract Makoto from the seal, would leave it empty, allowing Nyx to be called upon once again. That would be the worst-case scenario and one Makoto, I'm sure, would want to avoid."
Summer nodded again, no need for the goddess of death to do her thing. She was fine letting it keep quiet behind the seal.
"Which is why I propose this..." Elizabeth started to explain her plan.
"Will that work?" Summer asked, after listening to Elizabeth's plan.
"I do not know." Summer fell flat on her face. "However, I believe it is the best plan we have at the moment."
Summer stood back up. She looked back at the door, pondering if she should really go through with it. If she did, there would be a chance. A chance for things to change for the better. Remnant would have a future. Wasn't that what she wanted. To give them, especially, a better life. Honestly, the answer was a no brainer.
"I'll do it." Summer said, looking back to Elizabeth, her eyes burning with resolve.
"You realize that if you do this, your souls would be bound together, for as long as the future lasts? I have no idea if it will be reversible, so your two souls may end up sharing eternity together. Knowing this, will you still accept?" Elizabeth asked, a moment of seriousness on her face.
A small price to pay thought Summer. One that she would gladly pay.
"Yes." Summer nodded once more.
Elizabeth smiled. "Very well then. Take your hand and touch the seal. Let your soul reach him."
Summer nodded, a smile of her own on her face. "Thank you, Elizabeth. For giving me hope again."
Summer reached out, touched the seal, and closed her eyes.
Makoto slowly opened his eyes. A vast white expanse filled his vision. He looked to the left. White. He looked to the right. White. Back behind him, up above him, and down below him, all yielded the same results. Nothing but white.
Many would've started to freak out, panic, or started questioning their own sanity at this point. Makoto instead brought his hands up, looking down at them. He tested them out, opening and closing his hands. Satisfied to see that they indeed worked and moved like he wanted the to, he moved them towards his pockets, as he continued to look around, no visible expression on his face.
Not much could genuinely bother or shock the young man. He had, after all, lived through the Dark Hour, had death sealed in him when he was young, even faced Nyx down and won. Being in an empty white expanse of nothing seemed relatively easy compare to those events. At least he wasn't in any danger.
His ears perked up at a sudden sound.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Maybe he had spoken too soon.
Footsteps. Just one person by the sound of it. Makoto turned to his left and noticed a ways away, a figure, stalking toward him. Not in any kind of rush, the figure took its time walking forward, her steps echoing around. Their arms were being their back, their face and head blocked by a white hood they wore. As they got closer, Makoto noticed that they wore a black one-piece dress, coming down to her thighs, and judging by the mounds coming from their chest, he guessed his guest was female.
Soon enough, the mysterious woman stood in front of him, withing arms reach. He saw she was smiling under her hood. Makoto, for his part, was still not showing emotion.
"It's nice to meet you, Makoto Yuuki." The woman in front of him, said cheerfully.
Makoto took a moment, then nodded. "Nice to meet you…?"
The woman, smile still on her face, reached up and lowered her hood.
Silver eyes locked on to his own. If there was a word, he would use to describe her, it would have been, simply put, beautiful.
"My name is Summer Rose. I'm a friend of Elizabeth's." Summer Rose, explained.
Makoto's eyes slightly widened at the name, thought Summer thought she may have imagined it.
"Elizabeth? Is she here?" Makoto asked.
Summer shook her head. "She's waiting outside. You…probably won't be able to see her. Do you know where you are right now, Makoto?"
Makoto took another look around. Still white. He looked back at her.
"The seal." Was his answer.
Summer nodded. "Elizabeth tells me you've been here for quite a long time."
Makoto, tilted his head, confused at the amount of sadness in her voice. Was she upset for his sake?
"I guess." Makoto said. "I feel like I just woke up from a deep sleep."
As if to accentuate his point, Makoto yawned into his hand, before shaking his head, as if trying to get rid of his cobwebs.
Summer smiled sadly. "I see."
She stayed silent a moment, looking away from him, lost in her thoughts. As if coming to some conclusion she looked back to him.
"Would you like to leave this place?" Summer asked.
Makoto stared at her, wondering if she was being serious or joking with him. But as looked into her eyes, he found no malice, only kindness. She was telling the truth.
"…How?" Was all he asked.
Summer smiled. "Just…take my hand, and you'll be released from the seal."
She reached out her hand, waiting for him to take it.
He stared at it before looking back to her.
"Why?" He asked this time.
Makoto had no reason to distrust the woman, in fact, but this seemed to good to be true. He had already accepted his fate, thinking that once it happened, there would be no going back.
She was hiding something.
Summer looked conflicted. She sighed and brought her hand down.
"I'm not doing this just for your benefit." She let out.
Makoto nodded, motioning her to continue
"My world…My home is in danger. If it continues at this pace, I'm afraid it will cease to be. The people living there will be brought to extinction by the Grimm." She explained.
Summer stayed silent, before hardening her eyes and looking back at his, fierce determination radiating from them.
"I want you to save it." She requested.
Makoto blinked. Then blinked again for good measure.
"You…want me to save your world?" Makoto asked slowly, unsure if he heard right.
"Yes." Summer answered, no hesitation.
Makoto stared at her once more.
He then brought a hand up and pinched himself. Still awake. Summer sweat dropped at the display.
He looked back to her.
"Why me?" He asked.
"Because Elizabeth said you can help." Summer answered, her voice wavered.
Makoto nodded at her explanation. Honestly…it sounded like it would be too much of a hassle. He had already saved his own world at the cost of his life. Why did he need to save another? It wasn't like it was any of his problem.
But….
He looked around once more. The vast white expanse stared back.
He supposed anything was better than staying here.
He looked back to Summer and nodded.
"Alright."
At his affirmation, Summer released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She then started to giggle, before full on laughing. She gripped her sides as she struggled to regain control.
Makoto just continued to stare at her, hands in his pockets, slightly confused at her laughter.
Once she had calmed down, she wiped a tear that was threatening to fall from her eye.
"I'm sorry, but that had to be the best thing I've heard all day today." She explained, smiling brightly.
Makoto, confused, could only nod hid head.
"Well then," Summer once again, raised her hand. "It's a pleasure working with you, Makoto."
Makoto, once again, confused by her statement gave her a look, before reaching out to grab her hand.
Right as he grabbed it, Summer said, "And please, take care of my daughters, will you?"
Then, her eyes started to shine, brightly, before he was blinded by the light completely.
In hindsight, he probably should've asked more questions.
He felt a tug at his hand and blacked out afterwards.
Elizabeth smiled as Summer body started to glow, the shrink into a ball of white. Slowly, from where her hand had been touching the door, blue started to cover the ball of white. It mixed and swirled around, as half of the white from the ball instead moved towards the door. When it was all over, the ball in front of the door, now was completely half white, half blue.
And in an instant, the ball floated upwards, then shot itself off, going in a random direction. The ball got smaller and smaller, until Elizabeth could see it no more.
She stared for a second more, before turning back around and smiling at the seal, or more accurately, the middle of it.
For there, hanging up as if crucified, was a figured. One side of it was the same, the features of his face and hair instantly noticeable to her. But now, split down the middle on the other side, the figure had changed. Now, instead of the other half of the face she knew, stood one she recently met.
Half the figure of a woman, the seal, capturing her face, as well as the cloak she wore, crucified as well.
"I believe it is I, who owe you my thanks, Summer Rose." Elizabeth said, staring at the other half of the seal.
She turned away, summoning the compendium to her hand. She flipped through the pages and summoned a tarot card at random. She smiled as she saw what card she drew.
"Velvet~ Oh, Velvet~ My master has a long nose~" Elizabeth sang as she started to walk away from the seal.
"Birdie, no!" One Ruby Rose cried out as she hit a bird in flight.
As she struggled to move it off her body, she didn't notice the bright light that appeared above her and disappeared just as fast.
She also didn't notice body that appeared from the light, or how it seemed unresponsive and was simply free falling down.
Yes, Ruby Rose, had more important things that preoccupied her mind right now. Namely, how she was going to tell Yang that her first kill was not in fact Grimm, but instead an innocent bird that had wondered into her flight path.
He heard the rushing wind first.
He already had a bad feeling. Slowly opening his eyes, Makoto started at the scene before him.
He blinked. Rubbed his eyes. Then blinked again.
Nope, the scene didn't go away. The forest below him was still rapidly approaching.
And done! That was the beginning. Next comes the initiation at Beacon, with Makoto randomly dropping out of nowhere into it.
Honestly, I had planned this story out , 3 times before finally deciding on where it was heading and even now, I still have my doubts. I'm trying to decide if I should just have Makoto stay with Team RWBY, or have him lead team JNPR in Jaune's stead, and have Jaune's transcripts be rejected...but I like Jaune.
On the other hand, Makoto would have no idea who Pyrrha is either and would match well with her as well. Like I said, I still can't decide.
I won't give an exact timeline. I want to finalize the direction the story goes before continuing I have most of it down, which is why I started it. I hope to have the next chapter up within the month.
Anyways, thanks for reading and hope you look forward to more.