Chapter 8

RWBY had arrived in a desolate asteroid belt on the edge of the solar system. There was debris of a fallen civilization all over. As if a great evil swept through with no mercy, leaving only death in its wake. Ruby gazed in horror at what was left over from the Collapse.

Two pieces of debris turned toward their ship, and jets ignited behind them, revealed to be jump-ships themselves. They signaled RWBY.

Debris ship 1: "Ship baring Tower signs. You are crossing into the realm of the Awoken. Identify yourself."

Yang: "Woah guys. We don't want a fight. We're Guardians from Earth."

Weiss: "We seek council with the Awoken..."

She looked at the Ghost.

W Ghost: "Queen."

Weiss: "Queen."

Debris ship 2: "Conform to our trajectory. Any deviation will be taken as an act of aggression."

Ruby: "I guess we're in the right place."

R Ghost: " Why is the right place always so terrifying?"

The ship matched the flight path of the debris-shaped ships. They reached a floating fortress.

Blake: "I think its best you guys wait here. I might be able to sympathize with them. Plus, they don't like humans."

Ruby: "Be careful. They don't seem very nice."

Blake and her Ghost dropped out of the ship, and the other two ships dropped two female Awoken guards. They escorted her to the chamber of the Queen of the Awoken.

Inside the fortress, the Queen was sitting on her throne by her advisor and groups of Awoken guards. The advisor saw Blake.

Advisor: "Welcome to the realm of the Awoken. Now leave."

Blake: "Wait. I'm a Guardian from..."

Advisor: "I know who you are. The Queen isn't taking any visitors right now."

Two Fallen guards appeared from behind the Queen's throne, dressed in dark blue cloth.

B Ghost: "Fallen!"

Blake tried to pull her weapon, but the Advisor stopped her placing a knife to her neck. He removed it shortly after. The Queen spoke.

Queen: "The animal lady is afraid. She doesn't know these are mine."

Blake: "Are those the House of Wolves?"

Queen: "They are. And I am Mara Sov. You aren't like the others are you? You are different. You're shunned from where you're from."

Blake: "How do you know all this?"

Mara Sov: "Because as an Awoken, my power is that I can see into your mind."

Advisor: "So you know what it's like to be shunned. Apologies for my rude behavior. I am the Queen's brother, Uldren Sov. Now why are you here?"

Blake: "We were told that you know how to get to the Black Garden."

The room fell silent.

Uldren Sov: "The Black Garden? You seek to strike the Vex at their heart?"

Mara Sov: "The Queen requests council with her brother."

Mara Sov and Uldren Sov had a private conversation.

Uldren Sov: "Yes. Yes that's good. I propose a trade, Guardian."

Blake: "What's the trade?"

Uldren Sov: "There is a way into the Black Garden. We will give you what you need if you return with the head of a Gate Lord."

Blake: "Why do you want the head of a Gate Lord?"

Uldren Sov: "We don't, but it's your only hope of getting into the Black Garden. Return to us with the head of a Gate Lord, and we'll tell you where it is and how to get into it."

Blake: "Deal. We'll be back."

B Ghost: "What?"

Blake left and was warped inside her jumpship.

Ruby: "So where is the Black Garden?"

Blake: "They said they wanted the head of a Gate Lord in exchange for that information."

R Ghost: "A Gate Lord? Hang on...Here's what I've got on Gate Lords. Three stories tall and highly armored, they protect the realms that the Vex keep...locked out of time? That can't be right."

Y Ghost: "Wait a minute. Time! Do you remember that one Vex Gate Lord the Vanguard tried to hit with Praedyth, Kabr, Pahanin?

B Ghost: "That's right! What was his name?"

W Ghost: "His name was Atheon. He currently waits in the Vault of Glass. We raid the place and steal his head, we've not only got what we need to get into the Black Garden, but we've also dealt a crucial blow to the Vex."

Weiss: "Let's talk to the Vanguard first and let them know what's going on."

Ruby: "Good idea."

The jumpship turned and flashed away to head to the Tower.