Here we are at Chapter 89. Time for the gang to see what Jaune's been up to. I do not own RWBY or Transformers. They belong to their respective owners. Here's chapter 89. Enjoy.
Chapter 89: Confessions
The ground bridge opens up, allowing everyone to return to the scrapyard safe and sound. There, the rest of the group wait for them. Once inside, those from Remnant notice Jaune among them.
"Jaune!" Weiss and Ruby walk over to hug him, happy to see their friend back.
"I've missed you guys. I'm glad you're all okay," Jaune replies.
"We've been searching for you. It's good you returned to us," Dreadwing notes as he joins them. "But, you seem a bit different somehow," he notices his look.
Jaune rubs his head, "Yeah, some stuff happened. I'll fill you all in, but first," he pulls out Crescent Rose and presents it to Ruby. "It was the first thing I found. I've been keeping it safe. Even taught myself how to use the sniper part of it. But, I'm not you. I'm not the one who put her heart into making this weapon,"
Ruby stares at her weapon before slowly taking it, "Um... thanks, Jaune,"
"Don't mention it," Jaune replies, but the others notice Ruby's demeanor.
"What happened out there?" Dreadwing asks.
"We encountered Steeljaw, but he wasn't alone. There were... multiple copies of him, all lined up in an ambush waiting for us. Megatron believes it was the work of that Neo girl you all mentioned. If that's the case, she's with Steeljaw's crew now," Bumblebee explains.
"But, that doesn't explain the clones? When could Neo do that?" Yang asks.
"I am unsure. But, the fact remains that she's gotten more powerful now, and she has her eyes set on us. This has just made things more difficult. But, back to the topic on hand. Jaune, what happened to you when you arrived on Earth?" Megatron asks.
Jaune sighs, "Well, somehow I ended up getting to Earth before everyone else. But, I knew that if I waited long enough, you guys would fall and catch up to me. It threw me for a loop, but I figured out that I was stuck on Earth, the world you told us about. I knew that as a human, I could blend in okay, but my armor and sword were a different story. I kept those hidden when I could. I learned about where exactly I was, about how everything works around here, and did my best not to get too many eyes on me. Suffice to say, it was... VERY hard. Lien doesn't work here, scrolls don't work here, and a huntsman from Remnant can't exactly find similar work on Earth when there's no Grimm to fight against. It was rough for a while, but I kept pushing forward. I got back on my feet, and started trying to find a way back home for when you guys showed up, and in my investigation, I eventually stumbled on the cybertronians. I remembered that Megatron said that the battle for Earth ended a long time ago, so they shouldn't be there. I got a little worried, so I kept my eyes peeled and learned what I could. I stayed out of sight because I knew if they spotted me, I'd be dead meat,"
"Hey, uh, sorry to interrupt, but care to explain this?" Yang points to the motorcycle Jaune brought with him, happily inspecting it.
"How'd you get a motorcycle? Actually, I'm a little surprised their motorcycles are so similar to ours back home," Blake notes.
"It reminds me of Bumblebee... well, not you Bumblebee, but my motorcycle, Bumblebee. At least, until I lost it back in Anima," Yang sheds an anime tear for her precious bike.
"I, uh, well, I didn't exactly have any Earth money, and I really needed something to move around in so... I stole it," Jaune confesses, much to his embarrassment.
"You stole it?!" Weiss yells.
"It wasn't exactly by choice! Besides, the thing was going to be turned into scrap at a local junkyard, so I grabbed it, fixed it up a bit, and the rest is history," Jaune retorts.
"Well, I can actually believe that. Besides, we did try to steal an Atlas military airship back in Anima. We're not exactly ones to talk," Predaking notes.
"I understand your desperate situation, Jaune Arc, but I cannot condone breaking human laws, on this or any planet," Optimus says.
"Like you hadn't secretly broken any laws on this planet during your war with me and the decepticons, Prime," Megatron notes, making Optimus hum as he glances away.
"Okay, back to the main story here. What happened later on, before you found us?" Weiss asks.
"Well, I began monitoring the cybertronians here, while staying out of sight. Some of them were the ones you might've already encountered, but a few new ones seemed to have joined the fray recently. I've been tracking their movements, and I've found some stuff you guys might want to see," Jaune pulls out a few pieces of paper with his notes on them.
"Fixit, see what you can see with Jaune's notes. If this coincides with what Yang told us about this island, then we might've finally found a good lead to locating Steeljaw's new base," Bumblebee asks.
"Sweet, but first..." Jaune's stomach growls. "You wouldn't happen to have something to eat, would you?" Jaune chuckles, making the others roll their eyes.
While Jaune goes with Fixit to help with his notes, and with Denny to get something to snack on, the members of Team RWBY approach their leader.
"Ruby, can we talk? Just the four of us?" Yang asks her sister.
Ruby's been relatively quiet for most of the conversation, sticking close to Soundwave. She hesitates, but eventually nods. The four girls walk off to another part of the scrapyard, though Megatron and Soundwave are not far behind. Once they find a good spot, they all sit down on some old junk.
"Ruby, Optimus told us... that something's been bothering you lately. That you needed... healing. Are you okay?" Yang asks.
"I... I'm fine, Yang. I'm fine," Ruby says, but the others remain unconvinced.
"Ruby, you're our leader, but we're your teammates. Your family. There's nothing wrong with telling us when you're not okay. And you're clearly not okay," Blake says.
"But, I-," Ruby begins until Weiss takes hold of her hand.
"Ruby, please tell us. What's wrong? You've always been there for us. Let us be there for you now," Weiss says.
At this point, tears start to fall from Ruby's eyes, "I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I just... don't know anymore. Salem has two of the relics, Atlas is gone, and we're all stuck here. And it's all my fault! We couldn't stop her. I couldn't stop her!" she cries.
Yang's heart breaks at seeing her sister like this and she takes her into her arms.
"Ruby, no one's perfect and we're not asking you to be," Yang says.
"But how can I not try when everyone looks to me? When everyone's counting on me?!" Ruby shrieks, but Yang just holds her tighter. "I just... I wanted to be like Mom. I wanted to be a huntress like her... A hero like her... But, I'm not. I'm nothing like Mom. She tried to stop Salem, and she failed. How can I do what she couldn't do?!" Ruby just continues to cry in Yang's arms.
They all can't help but feel a little at fault for the state their leader is in. Ruby has always led the way, and they've always pushed her to do so. She's picked them up time and time again. She's had answers to their questions, and kept moving forward when others would simply give up. She kept going because she had to. Because she was the leader. Their leader. But, Ruby isn't some powerful deity. She's not immortal, she's not a god. She's just Ruby. How could they have forgotten something so simplistic? She's the youngest on their team, and yet, she's had to carry this burden all by herself all this time. Worse, the person they're up against, the one responsible for so much loss and pain, including the pain they've all felt: Salem. She's the one who killed Ruby's mother. She's the reason her family was torn apart. She's been afraid this whole time, but put on a brave face for everyone else. Because if she falters, how will the others react? She couldn't tell them because she didn't have a choice. Honestly, since she enrolled at Beacon, she's never really had a choice. The moment she was born, her path was already chosen for her because of her lineage.
"We are so sorry, Ruby. We're sorry you had to carry all this by yourself," Blake joins them and wraps her arms around Ruby.
"We never really thought you'd be in this much pain. We're sorry for being poor teammates," Weiss also embraces her crying leader.
"Ruby, you've always been there for us, even when we weren't really there. Even when we didn't deserve it. Please, let us be there for you. Let us shoulder this burden with you," Yang says.
Ruby cries a little harder now, as do the others. At least now, they've finally helped Ruby release all that despair she's been keeping inside, setting her free. She'll always be their leader, but now they remember that she's something else. Something far more important. She's their family. Their decepticon partners watch from the sidelines, giving the girls their space.
…
A little while later, Ruby had fallen asleep from all the crying that she did earlier, resting her head on Soundwave's leg. For the first time in what felt like a long while, Ruby had a peaceful expression on her face while she slept.
"Looks like she's much better now," Yang notes, sitting nearby.
"Well, she's always given us a shoulder to cry on when we needed it. Now the roles were reversed. She needed a break. I'm just glad she's going to be okay," Blake says.
Yang turns to Megatron, "Hey Megatron. Did you ever go through stuff like this back when you were playing leader on Cybertron... well, before the war and all, maybe?" Yang asks.
"I was not 'playing' leader, I was a leader. Even if a misguided one. And, I never really relied on anyone for that sort of thing. I had already been through Hell plenty of time by that point, in the mines on Cybertron, and then in the Pits of Kaon. Even the slightest sign of weakness in the arena could end up being the last moment you ever have before someone snuffs out your spark," Megatron retorts.
Yang rolls her eyes, "Killjoy. Well, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on... maybe I could volunteer," Yang offers, blushing.
"Why would I cry on your shoulder? Wouldn't that just get in the way?" Megatron doen't get it, making Yang pull her hair.
Blake sighs, "Soundwave, can you look after Ruby for a bit?" she asks, and Soundwave nods. "Thank you. As for you two, now that Ruby's gotten everything she needs to get off her chest taken care of, it's your turn now,"
"Huh?" Megatron and Yang cock their heads.
Blake facepalms, "Ugh, just come with me," she grabs both of them and pulls them away, with Predaking following them.
Weiss shakes her head as they leave, "I was wondering how long that was going to take,"
"Will they be alright, Milady?" Dreadwing asks.
"I'm sure they'll be fine. Let's go Dreadwing. I want Ruby to get some rest," Weiss stands up and walks away, with her knight following her.
A few minutes later, Ruby's eyes flutter open, "Uh, wha..." she slowly rolls her head to spot Soundwave looking down on her. "Soundwave, what's..." quickly figuring out her current position, with her head on his lap. Blushing, she bolts up off of him. "S-S-S-Sorry! I didn't mean to fall alseep on you! I was just-," Ruby looks around to find the others gone. "Um, where are everyone else?"
"...I want Ruby to get some rest..." Soundwave plays what Weiss said a moment ago.
"Oh, so they left to take care of other things," Ruby rubs her head.
"...Are you okay?" Soundwave asks.
"Yeah, I'm okay, Soundwave. I'm... actually feeling much better now," she looks out across the scrapyard. "I guess I was holding it all in harder and longer than I thought. I just didn't want to fail anyone because I was the leader. I never really stopped to think about just giving myself a break. I'm only human, but I guess I tried to be more than that," Ruby says.
Soundwave reaches over and pats her head, "...Let us be there for you..."
Ruby blushes, but accepts the head pats, "T-Thanks, Soundwave. You're right. We can't quit. Not until Salem and anyone working with her are stopped. So many have been lost, but so many more at still at risk. If we quit now, then it'll all be for nothing. I know I've said stuff like that before, but now I really understand it. I truly believe it. But, that wouldn't have happened if not for everyone else... and you, Soundwave. Ever since you first showed up, you've always been there to help me. Even when you really had no reason to. You came here for redemption, but as far as I'm concerned, you've already achieved it. And yet, you continue on anyway. Why?"
Soundwave removes his visor to look her in the eye. He slowly raises a hand to her cheek, freezing Ruby in place. He raises his second hand to her other cheek and leans in until their foreheads are touching. If Ruby's face was any redder, it would make her cloak look pink.
"Ruby Rose.. Special... Soundwave... wants to be... with Ruby," Soundwave confesses.
This only makes Ruby's blush grow even deeper; even her ears are blushing now. Just as Soundwave leans back, Ruby finally gains the courage to grab his face in her hands.
"Soundwave, if you're going to confess like that, then you need to do... something like this," Ruby leans in and plants her lips upon his.
It was faint, so faint that just about anyone who wasn't that familiar with Soundwave would notice, but Soundwave's expression froze up a tiny bit; the slightest sign of surprise on his face. They remain like this for a short while until Ruby finally separates from him. However, she immediately starts pouting.
"Hey, that's not fair, Soundwave! I'm about to die from embarrassment, and yet you still look as stoic as ever," Ruby puffs her cheeks.
Soundwave remains silent as he puts his visor back on. He stands back up, only to extend a hand to Ruby. Ruby eventually smiles and accepts the offered hand as they head back to the others; their fingers intertwined.
Meanwhile, Yang and Megatron are in another spot on a hilltop overlooking the scrapyard. Blake brought them up here to talk and then left with Predaking to return to the others. Suffice it to say, the pair are unsure of what to say.
"Can you think of any reason why Blake would bring us out here alone? She only said for us to 'sort things out and get some stuff off our chests', but I am unsure of her meaning," Megatron asks.
"I... I don't know," Yang replies, hiding her blushing face from Megatron.
Megatron looks over the scrapyard, "You know, I never thought I would ever return to this place. Long ago, I once saw humans as weak, as insignificant. And yet, during the war for Earth, the autobots had human allies that helped them achieve more than one victory against my forces. I swore I would never underestimate the autobots again at one point, but I failed to show the humans that same respect. I suppose that is another reason why Optimus had me turned into a human. To understand the true strength that humans possessed,"
"Oh yeah. No wonder," Yang notes nonchalantly.
"It is the same strength I see in you, Yang," Megatron catches her attention. "When I first met you, I thought you as weak and pathetic. You knew there were battles to be fought, and yet you chose to run from them. Even after you acquired a prosthetic arm to replace the one you lost, you were still afraid. And yet... you eventually overcame that fear,"
Yang scratches her cheek, "I, uh... didn't exactly do it on my own. Dad, Professor Port. Dr. Oobleck, and... you. You all helped me figure out some stuff when I was down in the dumps,"
"And that can be another form of strength. I commanded an army, but I only ever trusted a select few among them, such as Soundwave. But, in the end, I only ever fought for myself. Only ever relied on myself and no one else. Being a slave, being a gladiator; that kind of life forced a stifling reliance on self, on action, and nothing else. It was how I survived the life I once had long ago. But, after living like that for so long, I... didn't know how else to live. And you know how that turned out for me. Now, I'm human, but more than that, I've learned what it means to respect others, to truly trust and rely on others. Then I see you with your sister. How you two act together; care for one another. I did not have siblings, but I once considered Optimus Prime to be a brother. Until my ambitions destroyed that. I sought to become the next Prime at the time, but he proved himself truly worthy of such an honor. At the time, I felt betrayed by Optimus, but the truth is I betrayed them. I betrayed what I originally pledged to my people. That I would build a new Cybertron where all of its people would be treated as equals. I wonder what might've been if I had done things differently. If I had been more like... you, Yang," Megatron confesses.
"...You've done many bad things, Megatron. More than I could ever care to think about. You were evil, truly evil, but... you've also been through so much. Lost so much. Never had the chance to enjoy life before you became a warlord. Maybe if you had, you would've been someone worthy of being a Prime," Yang walks up and holds a hand on his chest, over his wound. "You've been killed, resurrected, and enslaved by an evil god. Who used your body like a toy while torturing you. I don't think I'll ever know what that feels like, and honestly, I hope I never have to," her hand moves to his left arm. "You cut off your own arm to understand what I was going through. Even though you didn't have to; even though you've already experienced that before. You've been harsh, but you've also been kind. You don't let anything stop you. No matter what. You face adversity, even when you may not get what you wanted out of it in the end. You punish yourself when others would run or put the blame on someone else. You're more than your past, Megatron. Who you are now is someone much better than who you used to be, even if you don't see it," Yang holds his hand in hers.
"Perhaps I do see it... in your eyes, Yang Xiao Long. Through you. I still don't quite understand these kinds of feelings, Yang. But, this I do know. As long as you live, I will never stop fighting. Because you are my reason for living now," Megatron declares.
"Megatron..." Yang blushes.
Yang becomes so overwhelmed with emotion that she ends up kissing Megatron on the lips. Megatron freezes in place as Yang pulls back. Yang thinks she's made a mistake until Megatron pulls her in his arms and kisses her back. Yang melts into the kiss as they remain intertwined on the hilltop, feeling happier than she's been in a long time.
And that's the chapter. Team RWBY sort out things with their leader, helping Ruby heal. More importantly, Ruby and Yang finally confess their feelings with Soundwave and Megatron, and vice versa. Who knows what will happen next? Until then, please Read and Review.