REMNANT 2 - TEAM RWBY DORM ROOM

In Team RWBY's dorm room, Yang is walking around the room, muttering to herself. Blake and Weiss are throwing away their party supplies.

"I'm sure Ruby will be back." Weiss said. "She has to."

"But it's been like 4 hours." Blake said. "No phone calls. No text. No emails. No contact at all. Where is she?"

Yang stops moving and turns her head to Blake. "Weiss is right. She'll be back. I know she will."

Ring. Ring.

Yang quickly reaches for her Scroll from her bed and looks at the screen. She sighs in relief and answers it. Ruby appears on the screen, chuckling nervously.

"Um...hey sis. Sorry for making you guys worry."

Weiss and Blake walk to Yang to look at the screen.

"Ruby Rose!" Weiss exclaims. "You have been gone for hours! You left without explanation! Where are you?"

"...uh...that's a little hard to explain...yeah...sorry."

"Did you even get any of our calls or messages?" Blake asked.

"Oh I did. But signal disruptions were preventing me from answering back. I can only receive. Not send. Look...I promise to come back as soon as possible. But I have a very important mission. And I have to be here for a little while."

"Mission?" Yang asked with worry. "Is it dangerous?"

"Um...a bit."

"Let us help then, Rubes. We'll meet you somewhere and figure this out."

"I'm sorry, Yang. But I have to leave you guys out of this. Besides...I already got help here. But you three can do something for me."

"But-"

"No 'buts", sis. You have to trust me. And just listen."

Yang goes to the counter and places her Scroll into a stand so that WBY can sit down.

"Okay then...what do you need us to do?"

"Thank you. Now...you need to head to Ozpin's office...while he's not in there. You have to search for a file labeled 'Ozma'. O-Z-M-A. He should have it in his computer. Copy the file and email it to me."

"Wait." Weiss said. "You want us to go to the headmaster's office...and steal from him?"

"That's a bit risky, isn't it?" Blake asked. "Ozpin is almost always in his office. How are we going to get in when it's empty?"

"Well...we could just wait nearby...wait for him and Goodwitch to leave the tower." Yang said. "Even someone like Ozpin needs to sleep. Ok, Ruby. By tonight, you'll get the file. But we have to know why it's important to get it."

"Well...let's just say...it's 'saving the world'-kinda important. I have to go. Good luck, guys."

Ruby ends the call and the screen turns off.

"...what are we thinking?" Weiss asked. "Sneaking into Ozpin's office? Stealing a file that we may not find? 'Saving the world'? What is she doing?"

"It doesn't matter." Yang said. "I know Ruby. And when she says this is a 'saving the world' situation, I know that she's telling the truth."

"This is crazy." Weiss said. "But...alright. Fine. I'm in."

"Me too." Blake said.

"Awesome." Yang said. "It's time for a stakeout."

THE TURNING POINT

Ruby puts her Scroll away and sighs.

"Hold up."

Ruby turns to see Yang from her Remnant is talking to Jaune of Remnant-13.

"You are just a replacement?" Yang asks. She turns to look at the seat that has Juane's emblem. But it has an 8 on it. "Oh. I see it."

Juane chuckles nervously. "Yeah. Apparently, my Remnant-8 counterpart was too occupied to come. So I kinda was a backup. Are any of you guys backups?"

Ruby looks around the room, to see her Prime counterpart, Blake and Weiss from their worlds.

"Pretty sure, we aren't." Ruby answered. "Wait. We have backups?"

"Most likely." Blake said, while reading a book. "I almost said no. Big chance, you could've gotten a version of me that was different. Maybe...a bit more cheery."

Weiss is being cautious. Slowly walking around the small Grimm, Lucky, that's in the room.

"I still don't understand, how you made friends with a Grimm." She said, looking at Juane.

Juane walks to Lucky and it flies to its shoulder. "My team found him wounded at Forever fall. I took him in. Helped him recover. And we've been friends since."

"That is sweet of you to do that." Weiss said. "But it's a Grimm."

"On my world, the Grimm aren't as dangerous like in your worlds. In fact, a small portion of them are not hostile. And unlike the regular Grimm, who feed off negative energy, Lucky here feeds off positive energy. So...try not get angry or sad. He doesn't like it."

Ruby turns and looks at her Prime self, just sitting and her eyes closed. She decides to walk and sit down on her own chair. She waits a minute before Ruby-Prime opens here eyes.

"Were you meditating?" Ruby asked.

"It helps with stress and anxiety." Ruby-Prime answered. "And most importantly, for my PTSD."

"PTSD?"

"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I've seen and done things that I hope you never do or witness. Sometimes I have nightmares. Hallucinations too. So I meditate to help me get through every day."

"...you said that you went through a war. Was it a 2nd Great War?"

Ruby-Prime nods. "No. It was war between good and evil. Lasted for years. We has some peace in between. But in the end...I won't be able to forget all I've seen or done."

Ruby then notices Yang quickly rushing to the table.

"You guys got to check this out!"

Both Ruby's turn their heads and looks surprised. They see Lucky easily lifting Jaune up by his arm. Weiss looks at this with eyes wide. Blake also witness this, with amazement.

"How?" Weiss exclaims.

"Grimm are known to have incredible strength." Jaune said, before he is released, landing on the ground. "You'd be amazed at what else they can do."

"I wish I could see." Blake said. "But all the Grimm died on my world. All we have are zombies."

Ruby-Prime looks at her younger doppelganger. "I noticed that you contacted your team. Seems like you're the only one to have your team together."

Ruby looks at her older self. "What do you mean?"

Yang sits down. "Well...you know that in my world, you died. On Blake's world...you and me. And me too, in Weiss' world."

"What about Jaune?" Ruby asked, pointing at the guy. "Isn't there a Team RWBY on his world."

"Actually, no." Jaune answered, causing everyone to look at him.

"Seriously?" Blake asked. "You mean...I'm still with the White Fang?"

Jaune looks confused. "What's the White Fang? Is that a band?"

"Hold up." Weiss said. "There's no Team RWBY. There's no White Fang. Is there a Schnee Dust Company?"

"...You mean the Schnee Dancing School?"

Weiss goes eye-wide. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah." Juane answered. "On my world, there is a dancing school, run by your sister, Winter. And I don't know anything about a Dust Company."

"That's...shocking. Okay then. In my world...who am I? Who are we on your world?"

Juane chuckles. "You, Weiss Schnee, are a famous singer. You've traveled all over the world, inspiring others to follow their dreams." Looks at Blake. "You are the Headmistress at Beacon Academy. And you're also an activist for equal rights for the Faunus. Your kind isn't treated well on my world."

"Well, at least I'm fighting for something for my race."

Jaune then looks at Yang. "On my world, you are a famous writer. You wrote some of the most amazing stories out there. I practically own every book you published."

"...what genre?" Yang asked.

"A lot of Action. Some Adventure. A couple of romance novels. But mostly Action novels. You made a name for yourself out there."

Yang whistles. "Damn. At least I'm not doing anything lazy." She turns to the different versions of Ruby. "What about her?"

Jaune turns to look at both Rubys. "Um...well..."

Yang takes a few seconds to realize what he's trying to say. "Shit."

Ruby-Prime sighs. "Great. Another universe where I'm dead. How?"

Jaune puts his arms on his hips. "You and Yang were only little kids when you died. A huge storm storm was happening. And the plane that you were in crashed. Yang survived. But you died in the hospital. One of Yang's stories was based on what happened that night."

Jaune then notices Lucky lowering its head in sadness. He goes to pet it, comforting it. Ruby, listening to the story, just sits down. All of a sudden, the chairs move backwards.

"What's happening?" Ruby-Prime asked.

Ruby then notices that the round table is slowly getting bigger. And move chairs occupy the empty spaces in between. And emblems are appearing on them. When it stops, 4 more chairs have been added to the table.

"Whoa." Blake said.

"4 more?" Weiss asked. "Guess that means...more are coming."

"Yes...and no."

Everyone turns to look at Ozma, who had exited his room.

"It is true that we will be having new recruits. But unfortunately, I'm having trouble getting them here. It's as if...something or someone is interfering with the transport signal."

"ERROR!" Penny's holographic head said, as she suddenly appears.

Jaune yells in terror and quickly hides behind a pillar, with Lucky following suit. Weiss sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.

Ozma notices that Penny is flickering. "What is wrong?"

"Something...in my system...I can't..."

Penny continues to flicker and her speech gets more garbled. She then turns her head at a sliding door and yells. The door suddenly opens. With smoke coming out, a body falls out.

Ruby quickly runs to whoever fell. As she runs, they see the figure quickly get up and remove a device on their head. The smoke begins to clear, and Ruby then sees Penny looking around in fear.

"Penny?"

Penny then turns to look at Ruby, with tears falling down her face, sowing fear. Normal tears. Ruby looks confused and turns to Ozma, expresses shock.

"Is Penny...a human? Not an android?"

Everyone else looks surprised by this. Ozma just closes his eyes and lowers his head.

"What did you do?"

Penny turns to Ozma and quickly looks at Ruby. "It's not his fault. I volunteered to do this."

"...What?"

Penny lowers her head. "I'm sorry. But I'm not made of nuts and bolts. I am a normal human being. I'm just really smart."

Ozman turns to Ruby. "Penny is from Remnant-89. Her world was destroyed by a Great War that lasted for decades. It eventually reached her home. And I offered her a chance to use her knowledge to help the Multiverse."

Penny then turns and grabs the object that was on her head. "This helmet allows me to transfer my consciousness into Ozma's supercomputer. It allowed me to gain knowledge of everything that I needed to know. And I was willing to stay as long as I wanted to."

"For which I did not allow. Miss Polendina. Even someone like you need to have your 8 hours."

"I'm aware." Penny said, looking at her helmet. "But during a search for new recruits, I was suddenly hit with what appeared to be a firewall. A very strong one too. I attempted to break through. And when I tried...it tried to delete me. But I managed to get out before anyone horrible happened. I am very sorry, that you had to see that."

"Well...are you feeling okay?" Yang said, stopping next to Ruby.

Penny stands up and walks to Ozma. "I'm fine. I just need a some rest...and maybe an aspirin." She gives the helmet to Ozma. "I managed to save the data about the firewall. Take a look for yourselves."

The group watches Penny open a door to her room.

"Huh." Ruby-Prime says. "A Penny who isn't an android. That's a first."

"Is it safe to come out?" Jaune asked, he and Lucky peeking out from behind the pillar.

Weiss sighs. "Yes, Jaune. Come on out."

Jaune slowly walks from the pillar, with Lucky on his shoulder.

"That is still a bit unsettling." Weiss said. "A friendly Grimm."

Ruby then turns to look at Ozma, and suddenly sees an image of him. On an empty street.

"Um...Ozma?"

Ozma turns to look at Ruby.

"Have we...have we met before? I mean, after that day in Patch."

"...Why do you ask, Miss Rose?" Ozma asked.

Ruby walks to Ozma. "I...I just saw you...at an empty street...and I know that it was in Vale. Because I remember Simon's bakery." She then groans and grips her head. "Why does it hurt when I recall what I saw?"

Ozma sighs. "You'll know soon enough. Very well, Miss Rose. I believe the answer you're looking for...is yes. We have met before. Months ago."

Everyone turns to listen to the conversation.

"I believe it was the day, that you witnessed your friend, Velvet, overpower and defeat Team CRDL at the Beacon Academy cafeteria. Speaking of which...how is Miss Scarlatina on your world? I heard she was going through a tough time."

"She was." Ruby said. "She was manipulated into finding information for someone, who said that they could help her find her missing father. She eventually gave up and moved on with her life. But the person who tricked her was never seen again."

"...I see. Now then. On that day...I had communicated with you and your friends about the crisis. However...things changed...for better...and for the worse."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ozma then proceeds to sit down. "At the time, I had contacted you, the crisis was set to begin on your world the next night. But...Salem changed her plans. She decided that your world would be saved near the end. She wanted to go after the weaker universes, who have yet to know about her and the crisis. And so far, she's destroyed 13 universes, including Miss Polendina's. And she will be coming for your worlds soon."

"Okay then." Yang said. "Tell us...based on what your know, out of all of us here...whose world is next?"

"...do you really want to know?"

"We deserve to know." Blake said, who is shaking. "Please. Just tell us."

Ozma stares for a few seconds, before sighing. He then raises his hand and points at someone. Ruby-Prime reacts with shock, her only eye going wide. She then quickly sits down and grips the table.

"Salem will be striking Remnant-Prime soon. By my guess...maybe a few days from now."

Ruby looks at her older self and walks to her. She sees Ruby-Prime shaking, her tears falling onto the table. Ruby places her hand on her Prime-self's shoulder.

"I am sorry, Miss Rose. But I can assure you. There is a way to delay her attack."

Ruby-Prime lifts her head and looks at Ozma. "How?"

Ozma nods. "The Relics. You need to bring them here."

Ruby-Prime looks with confusion. "But...I can't. The Relics were destroyed years ago. During the end of the war."

"I'm afraid that they are not, Miss Rose. Well...at least one of them isn't."

Ruby-Prime stands up from her chair. "Tell me, then. Where is the remaining Relic? I'll get it, myself."

"If you are going to find the Relic's exact location...you'll have to figure that, yourself. However...what I can provide...is at least where on your world it is."

Ozma then presses a button, and a Map of Remnant-Prime is shown. And a part of the world is blinking red.

Ruby-Prime looks at the map with surprise. "Vale?

"That is correct. My advise, is that you got to Beacon Academy and speak to Oscar Pine. Through him, you will speak to Ozpin. He'll help you out. Just mention my name. He'll know what that means."

"I'd like to go as soon as possible. The sooner the better."

Ozma nods. "Very well. If you do manage to retrieve the Relic, you'll be able to buy your universe a lot of time."

A white portal appears, causing everyone to look at it.

"You don't have much time, Miss Rose. Find the Relic, retrieve it, and get back here as soon as possible. When you have it, I'll know."

Ruby-Prime then proceeds to look at the portal and walks to it.

"Hey."

She turns around and looks at her younger self.

"Good luck." Ruby said. "And be careful."

Ruby-Prime nods and is about to walk into the portal. But she suddenly hears a child screaming from within. Confused, her eyes glow and she flies into the portal, before it vanishes.

"Oh man." Jaune said. "This is getting dramatic."

Lucky nods in agreement with Jaune.

"Trust me, Jaune." Blake said. "Based on what we know...it'll probably be worse from here. We just have to prepare ourselves"

"I agree." Weiss said. "So better put on a brave face, Arc. It's going to get ugly, soon enough."

Ruby then turns to Ozma. "While we wait for her...what should we do?"

"Well for now...I'll be analyzing the data that Miss Polendina provided in regards to the firewall she encountered. In the meantime, you may use my computer to check on your worlds. Your friends and loved ones must miss you, already."

"Probably." Weiss said. "I need to check in on Ruby. My Ruby. I was supposed to have lunch with her..." Looks at watch. "An hour ago."

Ozma nods and presses some buttons on his computer. A screen is showing a café in Vale, with Ruby Rose of Remnant-4 sitting next to a table, looking sad and drinking her milkshake. Ozma then leaves to his room, while Weiss sits down to look at the screen.

"Oh man." Weiss said. "I haven't seen her in months. And here I am. Oh crap! I forgot to call her!"

She then takes out her Scroll and dials a number. As she calls, she sees her Ruby picking up her Scroll and answer it.

"Weiss?"

"Hey, Ruby." Weiss said, sadly smiling. "I'm sorry, that I'm not there. I got caught up with something important."

"It's fine, Weiss. I just wish you called earlier. Then I wouldn't be out here for too long."

"I know. But I got bombarded with tons of paperwork. I completely forgot. I do want to make it up to you. How about the Vale carnival at the pier? I heard it'll be open all week. Maybe in a couple days, we can meet up?"

"As long as you're paying, then great."

"Then it's a deal. But for now, you keep seeing Dr. Hart and take your meds. And I'll call you to let you know what time we'll meet. Okay?"

"Alright. Hey, Weiss?"

"Yeah?"

"I just...I just wanted to thank you. For all the help. It's a been a rough few months for me. The funeral. My dad leaving Vale. Us leaving Beacon. And Blake..."

Weiss then sees her Ruby shaking.

"Hey, hey hey! Ruby. Calm yourself. You don't want another panic attack. Remember your breathing exercises."

Weiss then watch her Ruby take a few moments to slowly breath in and out. After a minutes, she stops shaking.

"Thanks, Weiss."

Weiss sadly smiles and places her hand no the screen. "Of course." A tear falls down her face. "I'll do what I can to help. I promised Yang."

Her Ruby smiles and nods. "And you better keep that pro-"

The moment is ruined by a sudden explosion occurs, with Ruby being being in the blast zone. Weiss screams, causing the others to quickly turn to her. Weiss covers her mouth, eyes-wide in shock and horror as the smoke clears.

"What's going o-" Yang asked, before she sees the screen. "Oh shit!"

Ozma quickly walks out his room, and sees the screen. He looks at it with shock. Yang turns and sees Weiss with her arms around her head, shaking. She then turns to Ozma and walks to him.

"Open a portal. Take her back to her world. Now!"

Ozma goes to press some buttons and a portal appears next to Weiss. Yang goes to the girl and crouches down.

"You need to go."

Weiss looks with shock and fear at the portal.

"If there's a chance that your Ruby is still alive, you need go there and make sure she's okay."

Weiss quickly gets up and runs into the portal before it disappears.

"You know, she'll have to come back." Ozma said.

Yang sighs and stands up. "She is aware. But her loved one are her priority right now. Give her some time."

"Yang!"

Yang looks to see Ruby pointing at something. She turns to see the screen and sees something in the smoke. A person is emerging from the smoke, eyes glowing amber. Yang's eyes go wide as she sees a familiar face emerge from the smoke.

"Cinder."

Cinder Fall smiles evilly and she looks around at the destruction. She has a noticeable scar from her mouth to her ear, resembling a smile. Ozma looks in confusion.

"That can't be." He said. "What is she doing there?"

Ruby looks at Ozma. "What's going on?"

Yang shakily turns to Ruby, looking at her with fear. "Ruby...that Cinder Fall...she's from my world. I know, because I gave her that scar."

"Now it would seem that she is currently at Miss Schnee's Remnant." Ozma said. "But it's impossible. Traveling between universes can't happen unless..."

Yang looks at Ozma, whose eyes have gone wide. "Unless what?"

Ozman looks at Yang. "Unless Salem is recruiting. From all over the Multiverse. Looking for those who would work with her. She must've recruited your Cinder Fall and sent her to Miss Schee's universe."

Ruby walks to Ozma. "When my Prime self was heading back to her world, I could've sworn to have heard children screaming in fear. Maybe...maybe Salem sent someone there too."

Ozma then quickly goes to the computer and types on it. Jaune and Blake, who have been listening the whole time, quickly join the others. The screen then shows Vale of Remnant-Prime. But it's currently being attacked.

"Oh man." Ruby said, shocked.

REMNANT-PRIME - VALE

Ruby Rose of Remnant-Prime is hovering above Vale. The city has many building damaged or on fire. She looks in shock as the attack that she didn't know happened.

"MOMMY!"

Eye's wide, Ruby quickly flies down to a nearby park and lands. She quickly looks around.

"Summer!" She yells. "Summer! Where are you?"

A little girl emerges from under a playground, looking scared.

"Mommy!"

Ruby turns and sees her daughter, Summer. She then quickly runs to the little girl. She then crouches down and hugs her.

"Thank the Gods that you're okay." Ruby said, tears falling down her face. She then stops the hug and looks at. "What happened, Summer?"

"We were playing! And these big ships came out of nowhere! They started attacking!"

"Are you hurt?"

"No. Just some scratches."

Ruby then lifts Summer up, holding her. "What about Grandma Crystal? Or Weiss? Where are they?"

Summer then fearfully points to something. Ruby turns and sees a big ship nearby, hovering over the city.

"Ruby!"

She turns and she sees someone approaching. His shield ready, Jaune Arc of Remnant-Prime runs to Ruby.

"Jaune! Who is attacking us?"

"I don't know." Jaune answered. "But they're not from any of the Kingdoms. And they refuse to identify themselves. Whoever they are...they're not merciful. Emerald and Wesley...they're..."

Ruby closes her eye, taking on the news. She opens her eye and quickly gives Summer to Jaune. "Take Summer with you. Find someplace safe. I'm going to find Weiss and Crystal. Summer!"

Ruby takes her daughter's hand.

"I'll come back. Okay, sweetie? And I have grandma and Weiss with me." Looks at Jaune. "Go!"

Jaune carries Summer away, while Ruby flies up to the ship s above. She stops in front of a landing pad, he eyes glowing brighter. The doors near the landing pad open up. And someone is walking out.

"Ruby Rose. Great timing."

Ruby goes eyes-wide in shock as Weiss Schnee exits, wearing a military uniform, coldly looking at the Maiden.

"We've been waiting for you."

Weiss then takes out a sword, and points it at Ruby.

"W...Weiss?" Ruby said, still in her shock. "Wha...what did you do?" She then looks around the damaged Vale. "What did you do?" She then turns back to Weiss. Anger building up, she begins to get angry. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

Weiss continues to coldly look at Ruby, getting ready to fight.

At the streets of Vale, someone is running down an alleyway, clutching a wound on her leg. She yells as the pain from her wound gets worse. Sliding down the wall, Weiss Schnee of Remnant-Prime sits down, gritting her teeth in pain. She then rips a piece of her clothing off and ties it around her wound, wincing. She then looks up at the big ship and sees someone floating in the air.

"Ruby?"

END OF CHAPTER 3