Hey guys. SoapiestAuto780 here with some rather bad news.

I'll be honest with you guys, I never thought that I would have to make a chapter like this.

I'm sure that by now you all have heard the news of the hospitalization of Monty Oum. Well, on Sunday, Febuary 2nd, at 4:34 P.M. CST; our incredibly amazing and talented friend, Monty Oum, died of a severe allergic reaction.

To say the least, Monty's work was incredible and changed many, many lives for the better.

I first found Monty's work in the form of RWBY Volume 1, ep. 3, "The Shining Beacon pt. 2" when I was on Youtube just looking for something to watch.

When I clicked on the video, I did so thinking it was an Achievement Hunters Let's Play that I hadn't watched yet. I think it's needless to say that I was wrong.

Initially, I was honestly confused by whatever the hell I clicked on and closed out of video as it so happened that one of the other Youtubers that I watch had uploaded something. And so I left RWBY.

Eventually though – about a month later – I did come back to the video and jumped in head first with renewed interest.

Finishing that video, I found myself intrigued and confused. So – with me being my curious self – I searched for and found the Red, White, Black, and Yellow Trailers and began watching.

Soon enough, I was caught up with the rest of the world and, to say the least, I was intrigued.

Monty, through RWBY, successfully did something that no other show had ever done.

He captured my attention and my imagination; so much so that I began to look forward to Thursdays.

After finishing Volume One of RWBY, I remember wanting nothing else but to know more about the girls of RWBY and their backstories; so I searched for more. In a way, RWBY started my obsession with good backstories for characters.

While I didn't necessarily find what I was looking for – the truth behind Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang's mysterious pasts – I did find something that was equally, if not more, intriguing.

FanFiction.

Looking back now, I think I have put more hours into reading RWBY fanfiction than anything else meant for entertainment.

Something I have Monty to thank for.

After reading, and thoroughly enjoying, FanFiction for upwards of six or seven months and the trailer for Volume 2; I began the process of creating my own O.C.

Something that no other series, book, or game has ever driven me to do.

A few months later, I had a full team of O.C.'s and a desire to try my hand at writing the very stories that I spent so much time reading. Something I never would have done before I found Monty's brainchild: RWBY.

I have come a long way in my skill as a writer since I've started, this story is proof enough, and I'll never be able to thank Monty enough for grabbing my attention.

By now, I'm sure that I'm probably talking in circles; but the point of what I'm trying to say is this:

Thank you Monty.

Through RWBY, you gave me a world that captured my attention and triggered my imagination; which in turn, helped me find a community of people that I am proud to say that I am a part of.

Not too mention, making a few friends along the way.

In the end, Monty's passion for animating with the sole purpose to entertain allowed me to discover something about myself that I didn't know and, in a way, made the world a better place.

Thank you Monty Oum.

For you great works, for RWBY, for everything.

We will miss you forever, Monty.

As Roxas said somewhere in the Kingdom Hearts series, "Until we meet again, in the next life. I'll be waiting."