RWBY Reloaded Volume 9 Chapter 5: To Be a Huntress
Ruby Rose finds herself hunting for the Curious cat which had wandered off in search of a butterfly. She sighs a bit, used to having a dog for a pet that could get easily distracted. She pants a bit as her diminutive teammates ride along in her scarf.
Ruby: Here Kitty Kitty Kitty! Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!, Ah come on Kitty!
Little sniffs and squeaks.
Little: Eek! A cat's hindquarters!
Ruby stops on a dime, turning around, she walks towards what she thinks is the cat.
Ruby: Um, excuse me..
Cat: You're excused!
The voice from behind frightened her as she whipped her head around. The cat then trots out with its front legs and slowly reattaches its hind legs.
Ruby: Um, Hello Cat? Curious Cat? Which one do you go by?
The cat looks up at her
Cat: Oh, I don't go by, that belongs to the days and the years. But if indeed you are asking what I am, I suppose I am a cat most curious.
Ruby: Of course…um..
She raises her left palm.
Ruby: Look, my friends and I wanna get to that giant tree and so far nothing here has gotten us any further. Its like a whole reality loop…
Weiss: It looks to me like we're even farther!
Yang: Yea, I think that's because we're six inches tall.
Weiss shrugs.
Weiss: It could be both
Cat: The Tree! Tree Tree Tree Tree. Of course, that is most definitely impossible. You do not go to the tree, the tree goes to you, unless you are me, you see.
Yang: Not even a little bit.
The blonde looked very unamused.
Cat: I've been to the tree before, so, why would I want to go back?
Weiss implored the cat.
Weiss: Well, it worked for Alyx…
The cat suddenly got curious.
Cat: Alyx? How do you know about her?
Ruby: Ah, well, she got back through the tree, and wrote a book.
Cat: A book?! Oh! How was I portrayed? Is it well liked?
Blake: Well, its practically a childhood classic, everyone on Remnant has read it.
The cat seemed entertained, it was probably best to keep the cat interested, lest it wander.
Yang: If you take us to the tree, we can tell you more.
This enticed said curious cat who decided to lead them out of the Red Prince's domain. Of course, the team is hit with a barrage of questions as a result.
Cat: So the old man and the boy share a body now? Oh, that's got some uncomfortable implications. Who thought that was a helpful way to reincarnate? The same people who put a city in the sky? Also did that Ciel girl from the Vytal Festival ever come back in any notable way? And those two brothers, talk about a god complex, amiright? So many character to keep track of.
The cat rolled around before asking more questions
Cat: Oh! What about that Clark guy?! The one who personally fought against Ironwood! Or Cinder the woman with fire magic that knocked you off the bridge! What's her whole ordeal? She went from mysterious woman to deranged lunatic really quick!
The team looked as though they've answered 230 questions from this cat, and were only inching towards their destination.
Yang: Blake..its your turn
Blake: Yo asked about the origins of remnant.
The cat, not a bit less energized answers.
Cat: That's right Those two brothers have quite the god complex! I admired your retellings but some of those voices felt uninspired, and that bird man seemed to have a completely different voice, looking at you, Wise huntsman.
Weiss: Again, its Weiss, just Weiss.
Cat: Aha, apologies, to your credit, you four certainly know more about the beginnings of remnant than Alyx did. That girl could barely see past her own nose.
Ruby: Well, what do you mean?
Cat: oh, you know, just hilariously obsessed over trivial things.
Blake: Yeah, but she learned her lesson in the end.
Cat: I certainly say so.
The purple and blue cat floats elegantly through the air, then it snaps out of its conversation and floats forward.
Cat: Oh, would you look at that? The edge of the gardens Acre.
The quartet plus little are greeted to a sprawling forest filled with dark, vibrant colors. Each with individual shades of orange, purple, blue, and dark green. Giving it a midnight sort of feel to it. The wind blew gently by. It really, really did seem like this place is broken down based on topography. The dichotomy between the two areas was even more striking than before. Beautifully colored leaves fell with the wind continued to gently glide down towards the group. The cat, enthralled by it, went to go play with one of the leaf. The group wasn't out of the woods yet, just on to another more daunting part of the Ever After. Ruby's silver Eyes seemed to brim with hope. This place was so wonderful. All the corners of Remnant could never match its splendor in beauty, hidden away in such a world as this. Untouched and unmarked by even the faintest trace of grim or human conflict.
Yang: This entire world is put together like a bunch of mixed up puzzle pieces. How does anyone make sense of this?
Cat: Each acre is made specifically for its inhabitants and their goals. Is it not like that on Remnant?
Yang: N-no.
Cat: how strange. It never occurred to me to ask that question before.
Weiss: I have a question to ask. How much longer until we're back to regular size? That pint sized Prince never exactly gave us a timer on when we'd revert back from being pawns.
Cat: not long at all. The garden is just down this path. It is sure to have all the ingredients we need for a lovely grow-gurt parfait. Just don't go talking to anyone without me if you're not careful….
Blake: we might get our heads cut off.
These sounded like simple instructions. Then again, Ambrosius said the same thing before they all fell into the void. Falling for what seemed like hours, days, months, no years. It felt they were gone, simply wiped from existence until they woke up in the sandy beaches of the Ever After.
Cat: That is how we met, isn't it? Your friend went in her scythe and cut all those guards to pieces, and she almost took off the head of the monarch. Thankfully, she didn't make such a dreadful error. Ohoho, you remnant folk are such troublemakers.
It continues to walk off into the forest.
Weiss: Well, I'm sure we'll cause a lot less trouble when we get back to normal.
Cat: Bah I don't see what all the fuss about. Some of my friends are 6 inches tall. Hey, were you? I'd be more worried about what was her name again? That's scary sorceress you mentioned? Salim… salami. No. Salem. Just how many relics does she need to end the world?
Ruby started to process this, mind taking her to a not so fun place.
Cat: We've already discussed Haven having two of them. So by my math, wouldn't that be? 2? You did mention one was back in Vale but, Oh come on now, you also mentioned fallen, so getting that Relic shouldn't be that hard. And the other ones in the middle of a desert. Why? I believe that would stick out like a sore thumb.. In fact, I wouldn't be so surprised if she already had those two. While you all were off. Gallivanting here. How are you even supposed to stop her with Atlas gone?
Ruby fully stops. The cat was right. Her team had taken a major blow in the final battle. Heck, she wasn't even sure if there was a Justice League to go back to when they returned. Her mind continued to run a marathon. Why, why or why was she shown that vision? Penny Polendina, dead. Dead from the fall of Atlas. What could it all mean? It had to be an illusion, right? There's no way Penny was actually dead. She wasn't there. She wasn't there. She wasn't there. Why wasn't she there?
She closed her eyes like she's about to burst into tears until Yang consoles her.
Yang: Um, Hey Rubes?
Ruby: I…uh…
Blake: Maybe we shouldn't worry about home right now. We've got enough problems with..
Yang: The cat.
Ruby snaped up in Panic.
Ruby: Oh no, I wasn't paying attention to it. Where did they go now?
She lets out a defeated sigh as her eyes bolt around the area.
Little: Oh, they saw a bug
Yang: and you didn't say anything?!
Little: It was a very interesting bug?
Weiss sighs in frustration
Weiss: Of all the characters from the book, why did it have to be the cat? Why couldn't we have gotten help from the lively Carpenter or the rusted knight? One was sweet, one was handsome. And neither of them had the attention span of a goldfish!
Little: You know, I bet you could find a goldfish in one of these ponds.
She sighs and face palms.
Yang pauses for a moment, taking in the unfamiliar sounds of the unfamiliar world. She believes she hears something and alerts the crew.
Yang. Hey, do you hear that?
They could hear what sounds like insects, frogs, maybe in the low, throaty humming of something. They really couldn't determine what it was, but it was something. Not like any of them had ever heard before. Something backing them to venture deep into the shadows, and of course, not learning their lesson. They ventured deep into the shadows.
(Vacuo, Refugee camp Delta)
The citizens of Atlas should more or less adjusted to their new lives in the harsh vacuoan desert. Their opulence. Ivory towers torn away, to makeshift tents that fill with sand. The once revered and powerful Schnee dynasty was little more than a beggar on the streets. Not a single one of them had any useful skills. Whitley wasn't a fighter. His sister was, but, there wasn't really much they could do to survive. Salem, of course, wasn't keen to rest. She knew there were two maidens in Vacuo. Winter and Summer. She wasn't going to stop until the entire Kingdom bent before her will. She needed the sword of destruction, she had failed to capture the staff at Atlas, failed to secure the relic of knowledge failed to retrieve the crown from beacon. She needed a win. Superman. No. The entire Justice League put her up against the wall when that happened. Cinder was dead. She was now down a maiden. Perhaps her most valuable asset had been turned to dust in the final battle against the Superman. Nearly five years of hard work turned to dust. She couldn't find where this new fall maiden had gone to. She really didn't mind. Eventually. Eventually. She would be able to get back on track eventually. She should be able to turn another. Of course, she had all the time in the world. Winter, however, was mortal. Winter could get tired, Winter, Could bleed. Vacuo was a settlement built by humans, flawed in every sense of the word. And that's when she decided. To completely gamble all her cards and reducing Vacuo to a stain in the sand.
Winter: It's almost been a year since Atlas fell, feels way longer.
The white-haired woman muses. And she looks around at the fellow Border Patrol guards that had taken up roots. Yes, some of that Atlesian military spirit survived. Her icey blue eyes stare down at her recruits. Winter still had yet to find the summer made in herself. She had been searching with her troops into the deepest rooms that the desert had to offer.
Winter: As you all know. Our food rations from Vale have more or less dried up. There are not many animals that live in the desert. However, the recent surge of Grimm attacks on small outpost farms is probably the blame.
The patrol looked concerned. You would get the feeling that they weren't in the Border Patrol by choice, rather they were conscripted. Robin Hill had formed a provisional government. However. They still couldn't protect them against food insecurity. Vale's republic is also weak desperately propped up by Reuben Clark who tries to keep his own people pleased in Mistral.
Winter: As such, the government has authorized us to conduct expeditions. Deep in the Valetian countryside in hopes that we may secure food and water for our really good citizens. If we do not make war, then we will starve.
The fact of the matter was, 1/4 of Remnant is under ice. And third of its population, struggle with food insecurity. Vacuo looked to be the example that the rest of the world was to follow. The kingdoms hadn't protected them for Salem, the kingdoms had merely thrown Huntsman into a meat grinder, an unwinnable war.
Winter: Are you ready for food and victory?!
They all cheered in unison; warfare had returned to Remnant.
(Inside the mushroom, Ever After)
The girls enter into a vast room surrounded by objects. They really didn't know what they were, but Ruby didn't really make much of a fuss. This place was strange. Strange to the girls, but. They accepted, of course. Her eyes completely darted across the room. Examining every inch. Fascinated deeply by her surroundings. Told a picture unlike that of her fairy tale, better than Alex herself could ever describe, for it was reality. Weird slug man with four arms. Seemed to have this oddly enticing aura about him. As if he was hypnotizing the girls to trust him just a little bit longer. Stay a little bit longer. They didn't have to go back. It started to inhale something from one of the tubes. The girls really didn't know it was. Sucking deeper and deeper, pulling more of whatever chemical that was in it into its lungs producing a bubbling sound.
Slug: Please take a seat.
Blake feeling her Faunus instincts kick in, felt apprehensive and decided to make it known.
Blake: Um, actually. I think maybe we should be going. Right Ruby?
The six-inch-tall Huntress was trying to convince the youngest of the group to get them out of there as fast as possible without tipping off their host.
Slug: This won't take long.
These four words struck fear uncertainty and doubt into the mind of Ruby. She let out an audible um before turning her back and attempting to flee. The mushroom closed instantly. Making her gasp, her hands settled on her weapon. She should do what she nearly did to the Prince…. She should deploy it…. Slice this bug man in half…. For all she knew, it was just another villain. Her hands shake and she deploys Crescent Rose. Slamming it deep into the mushroom.
Slug: Just answer the questions.
With leaves in its hand and smoke in its mouth, it bellows out a foul curse.
Slug: Just what are you?
Still exhausted, Ruby Rose's lungs take in the smoke. She coughs, gags, drops to her knees and drops her teammates as her eyes water from pain. Her weapon could not save her from this.
Ruby: N- No!
Slug: Are you sure you know? You have to be sure.
Before enveloped in the smoke, easily taking it as well due to their smaller bodies.
Slug: Of what you are and of what you're going to be.
Yang coughs violently. Crying out for her teammate, her sister. As an apparition from the past forms. So many years ago. She was staring into the eyes of…Her old self. This was an illusion, a more powerful illusion than even Neopolitan or Emerald could cast.
Yang: What?
Yang (Illusion): You don't have to go forward you know. You could go back, back to before. Take his offer and allow him to make you whole again. In this world. You don't have to worry about the Grimm. You don't have to worry about mother…about summer. You don't have to worry about Raven. You don't have to worry about being better than Superman. You don't have to save the world. You can wake up. And live the life you've always wanted.
(In Blake's part of the illusion)
The two Belladonnas stand opposite each other, the illusionary one trying to pull on Blake's deep-seated desires.
Blake (Illusion): Its simple, really, you could just be human or just a cat, if you wanted. Really, is up to you. Like I said, is simple, much simpler than be a bridge between humans and Faunus, why struggle with that responsibility? You could live. Our cozy little island menagerie. You don't have to worry about this thing. The world is ever changing. Why should you have to lift a finger to save it? Oscar told us that it was a never-ending struggle, that we are just the latest in a war that has stretched centuries. So, Just kick back. Don't think about the world ending. Don't think about your old boyfriend too. Brutally hunt down and slaughtered. Think about waking up the next morning going down. Taking a few naps, enjoying a nice ball of yarn. Or reading, reading some good books. It's been a while since we've done that.
(In Weiss's part of the Illusion)
Weiss: The Schnee name, why bother anymore? Why does it even stand for now? Instead, be a nobody, could you imagine? Not a single bit of baggage upon your shoulders... Isn't that what you want? To go to school a Normal girl to have a normal life with Ruby. None of that overbearing baggage of our father, our reclusive alcoholic mother. Our strong but resilient sister winter, who never quite showed us just how much she loved us or our brother Whitley, The stuck up, arrogant teen who will morph just back into Jacques and continue to perpetuate a cycle of abuse. You said it yourself before Atlas is gone. You have nothing. Not one shred of clothing, not one picture book. Nothing. Not even the rubble of your home. It's all crushed under ice. You should yearn….
(Simultaneous)
Weiss (Illusion): To be free.
Blake (Illusion): To be something simpler.
Yang (Illusion) To be whole again.
(In Yang's Illusion)
Yang: No, my losses, my failures, those more than anything are what happened me into who I am. Show me how I need to grow. If there is something I'm missing, is not because I lost it, is because I haven't found it yet. And the only way to do that is to keep going. I might not like how Raven is running around with Superman, but I'm not exactly there to step in and try to ruin their happiness. I don't hold a deeper grudge, as you believe. I'm not willing. To fight him for a woman I've long wrote off as she did me.
(In Blake's illusion)
Blake: A simple life wouldn't be my life, my family, my friends, my culture, I belong to them just as much as they belong to me. To give that away wouldn't be simplicity, it would be betrayal. I won't go softly into that good night. I shall fight the good fights. I shall strive for equality between my race. And humans? We are the bridge. We are the generation that breaks the systemic racism that is perpetuated since the end of the Great War. We are the future of remnant.
(Weiss's illusion)
Weiss: I don't know who you think you are, but let me tell you who I am. I am the grandaughter of a hero, and the child of a villain. I am a citizen of a fallen kingdom and an heir to nothing. I would not be defined by my name because I would be the one to define it. I am Weiss Schnee.
(Simultaneous)
Blake: And I am a huntress.
Yang: I am a huntress.
Weiss I am a huntress.
(Ruby's Illusion)
Ruby (Illusion): So, are you a huntress?
The older Ruby looks back at the illusion. She knows it's fake. But she can't help it. Her past self is right in front of her. She's climbed so far, stepped on so many people. What does she have to show for it?
Ruby (Illusion): Like the ones you read about in books?
Ruby: I-I don't know.
Ruby (Illusion): They always saved the day, didn't they always knew what to do.
The illusion was growing more powerful, as if it fed off of each negative emotion, just like a Grimm. Was this…Herself from a different timeline? No, no. This had to be something else. This had to be an illusion.
Ruby (Illusion): They always won in the end.
Ruby: But life isn't like a fairy tale.
Ruby (Illusion): That's right. It's up to you. To make things better, isn't it? Everything all depends on you!
The illusionary Rose attempted to crush the real Ruby. Further compounding her misery.
Ruby (Illusion): Your sister needs you. Your friends need you. The whole Justice League needs you. All remnant needs you to keep fighting forever and ever against an invincible monster who took your mother.
Her eyes widened as something seemed to trigger deep in her consciousness.
Ruby (Illusion): Mom was the best, but even she failed. That doesn't seem fair. None of this seems fair. You can do whatever you want. Be whatever you want. You could even be the Atlas Superwoman… not even Ruby Rose…
She felt the imagery surrounding her, what power would lie within her if she took that mantle.
Ruby (Illusion): So, what are you gonna be?
Then, she snapped as her mind went blank.
(End of Volume 9 Chapter 5)