(Well since I wrote over 6,000 words last chapter, time for something shorter)
A Nightmare, and a Prophecy
I awoke to the smell of smoke taking a stranglehold on my lungs, I catapulted awake to find myself in front of Beacon:
In ruins.
The sky was a sick, sanguine red...the clouds black and evil. Beacon collapsed into ruins: the clocktower collapsed, the architecture crumbling, the main building utterly decimated. But what was in them was something horrible
Balls of flame, black puddles with fanged maws and a thousand eyes, things that should not be. And four figures above them...watching like the things are mere ants: a humanoid thing in a yellow robe, with tentacles coming from bellow and a medallion around it's neck...it's face can't be seen. A swirling light with eyes and sharp teeth, the circle held by two columns of the same light. Another is a black humanoid dressed as one would an ancient king or emperor, with an open maw of teeth and two tentacles coming from it's back...and finally, one that is merely a mass of tentacles, gelatin, and eyes appearing and disappearing, changing in size, shape, all at once.
"Oh god...please tell me this isn't real" I whisper to myself in shock and horror, "It is not real child" a deep and gravely voice said. I turn and see a tall bald man with a black goatee wearing a blue jacket, jeans and boots, his face is solid...like he would be a general of an army or a leader. He has sharp, piercing brown eyes, and a hawkish nose. "At least...not yet" he says in an ominous tone.
"What is all of this?" I ask as I can feel my heart start to sink. "This, Axel Lind: is the Arrival, where the King, the Sultan, the Messenger, and Gate return...where their servants and brethren help the Creatures of Grimm exterminate all of civilization." He turns to look somewhere and points to someone fighting the black blobs of eyes and mouths.
Yang.
She's standing over a bloodied and unconscious Ruby, I try to cry out but no sound comes out. The things circle around her like beowolves ready to finish off a wounded animal...or huntress. "GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER YOU FREAKS!" She roars out trying to strike the things, but to no effect. Before she could land another: she vanishes
"Yang? Yang?! YANG!" I cry out looking around frantically, I turn to the man "WHO ARE YOU? TELL ME!" he looks at me with a sad look in his eyes, "I cannot tell you of such yet child. But I am one who will help you" he then manifests a blank white book with strange symbols on it. "This book will help you prepare for facing the creatures servants...and now I give a prophecy" he tells me solemnly
"'Beware, O child of Adam and Eve...the twins of autumn. The horseman are among you: Death, War, Conquest, and Famine. She Who Was Abandoned seeks righteous vengeance, and seeks to sow in man the seeds of doubt and mistrust. Seek out those who gave you life...for they have answers, yet they were taken from you to the land which none may enter. Two friends will suffer by the hands of one that mocks the name of his ancestor, one will despair when her name is taken by a man betrayed, another will be tormented by past ghosts: one of the grass, another of the sea, an old man with a larger purpose shall grant you strength...and you will either be the salvation of this world: or see it fall, and fall, and fall forever'"
When I look back up I see that he is gone, and I feel a tidal wave of emotions roll over me: fear of what will come, anger for not knowing who the man is, sadness, loneliness, sorrow, and pain. I turn back and I see half of Yang's lifeless corpse in front of me...her eyes wide open, and the lower half of her body gone. I jump to the ground and start shuttering in horror
I look up and see the yellow abomination pointing at me. I scream in primal terror as a tentacle rushes towards me.
I catapult awake in cold sweat, panting like I ran a thousand miles. I frantically look around and see that everyone sound asleep, I look down and see Yang and Ruby...Yang smiling soundly. I sigh in relief...everyone is ok, it's just a nightmare. I get up and see, oh God no...a white book with strange runes on it.
I pick it up and open to the first page, a blank white canvas with a sentence scrawled on it: 'DO NOT WORRY YET CHILD, YOU STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. C' I close the book, I need some fresh air. I head out through the door and head outside, and let the cool breeze blow on my face as I take deep breaths in and out...in and out. "What're you doing up?" I turn around and see Jaune in footsie pajamas looking at me.
"Oh...hey Jaune. Nothing, just couldn't get some sleep" I lie, he'd find me crazy if I told him about the nightmare. "Really? You look like hell man" he says walking up to me "I got up so I could use the bathroom, saw you practically jump out of your sleep" oh crap, I sigh and nod "Yeah...pretty bad nightmare." I mutter, "Really...what was it about?"
I shake my head "Sorry Jaune, can't remember much from it-" I say, stopping myself due to hearing footsteps. I look to see Yang with a worried look on her face...oh no, "You guys?" she says sounding just as worried as she looked, "Ruby is having a nightmare." I turn to Jaune with a silent saying: 'We need to help' I turn back to Yang and nod
We enter back in, when we arrive...Ruby is shivering and squirming around in her sleep, with a look of fear on her face. "Mom...where are you...please don't" she whimpers. Yang tries to shake Ruby back awake "Ruby!" she says whispering, fearful and concerned for her little sister "Ruby wake up! Please wake up!" Ruby moans and tosses off Yang, I look at Ruby fearfully.
What do I do? What do I do?!
Comfort the poor girl.
That voice...you're the guy from the dream!
That I am, but it's best you hurry now...before it all escelates out of control.
I look back at Ruby and hold onto her, shushing into her ear. "Ruby, you're going to be fine" I whisper as softly as I could possibly go "You're ok. You're ok" I say swaying her in my arms. There's a sharp pain in my chest that knocks the breath out of me, but I need to keep going: I keep saying it's ok over and over again. She finally stops and sighs, I smile and wipe away the tears with my shirt...she's going to be ok. Ruby starts slowly opening up her eyes, puffy and bloodshot from the crying
"Y-Yang?" She pleads quietly I start to pet her hair "It's Axel Ruby, you were having a nightmare...pretty bad one from what I could see. But you're going to be ok" I say still petting away and giving a smile to her, she smiles weakly and nods: "Ok Axel...I think I'm gonna be fine now, thanks for your concern" she closes her eyes and falls right back alseep.
I set her down and give a pat on her leg, "Sleep well Ruby" I whisper. I feel good...I feel someone wrap their arms from behind me, someone's breath on my neck giving me goosebumps. "Thank you Axel" Yang says, rubbing her face on my back before letting me go so I can see her eye to eye. "I was scared ya know? Big sis has to look out for her" she says putting on a smile...one that still seems so sad. I giver her a tight hug smiling, she makes a small 'huh?' noise: "You know me Yang...she's like a little sister to me too. I'm looking out for her with you" I say with my eyes drooping slightly
I can see Jaune giving a smile, I give him a thumbs up which he replies with the same gesture. The last thing I do before falling alseep again, I can feel Yang placing my body back inside the sleeping bag. "Good night...Axey" she says sweetly, "Good night...Yangy" I mutter before fully goijg back to sleep
No more nightmares. Only dreams now
(RWBY: Reckoning is always a good read, kind of got inspired for this chapter reading it again. And for fans of Lovecraftian horror...keep quiet for now, you're patience will be rewarded)