A/N: I feel the need to explain myself. I know I returned a month ago with promises of updating sooner - Well, this is kind of sooner - and all that.
First off, I had this chapter almost completed before everything happened. Working on it afterwards only lead to me rushing things and the ending was a lot different. I had to rewrite it entirely.
Secondly, the "everything" to which I was referring was my older brother winding up in the hospital in respiratory distress. He has asthma and well, things got bad. They had to sedate him and hook him up to a machine to breathe for him for 24 hours. He's better now and out of the hospital, but long story short, it scared the holy hell out of me. And I couldn't - and didn't want to - write for a while.
Thirdly, the reasons for me taking so long to work on this, I'm working on a couple other stories at the moment. One story I started at the same time that I started this one. (Back in October. Yes, I started this story back in October, along with another one.) And one or two others. As well as a few original, nonfanfiction type stories.
Fourth, the reason why I haven't been updating as frequently as when I started them is not that I don't want to or anything. Sometimes, I can't. Other times, I just scroll through the chapter and check it over, worrying that it feels off in some way.
Also, thanks to everyone who followed, favorited and reviewed.
Anyway, with that said..
anotamous: It's good to be back. And perhaps Ozpin or Ironwood had a hand in its disappearance.
lostgamer64: Wow, don't sound so disappointed. Heh. And well, he was with the Reds and the Blues. But...
blaiseingfire: Well, when she uses her Semblance, she runs at speeds too fast for the eye to track. But on top of all that, she was a bit distressed, confused and angry. And she'd never been to Menagerie. So, it was a bit confusing for her to traverse the island. And thanks!
Itharax: Thank you! You too!
Iron-ninja: Yeah. Sorry for vanishing so much. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again.
Drakefire: We'll see them soon...ish. Let's just assume that if they survived, they'd be scattered all over Remnant. And that they'd be confused (unless it's Tucker and he found attractive women, then not-so confused) and trying to find each other. And trying to find Church and trying to figure out what happened.
UNSC A.I Epsilon: I updated!
Chapter 6: I Was Going to Think of a Nifty Chapter Title, But...
Did you know there's a light?
A love you once knew?
So, let me reignite the fire in you.
When fear burns out the light, we'll carry on.
When dreams seem out of sight, we'll carry on.
You can make your life worth living.
Don't look back, just keep on giving.
When everyone's asleep and no one's chasing dreams,
We'll carry on.
Carry On – Bad Seed Rising
Ruby stood at the edge of the opening in the Bullhead, watching as aquatic Grimm swum the ocean below. "You know, now that I see it, I can understand Neptune's fear." Weiss said, peering down at the water. Ruby grunted in acknowledgment.
Weiss's oceanic hues settled on the hooded girl, "Are you okay?" Ruby snorted again. "We did the right thing. Ozpin will know what to do." The Ice Queen sounded resolute.
Rather than reply, Ruby pulled her Scroll from her pocket and switched it on, starting Chill in Remnant. Music poured from the tiny device's speakers and Ruby's teammates exchanged an anxious glance. Their leader certainly seemed to enjoy video games. Of the horror genre.
The Bullhead continued its voyage back to Beacon as Ruby battled an Onryo. The music and sounds that spilled from her Scrolls speakers were nothing short of terrifying.
"I wish you hadn't shown her video games," Weiss said to Yang, annoyance evident in her tones.
"Me?" Yang began defensively. "Blake was the one that introduced her to horror."
The Faunus merely shrugged and said, "I was only trying to help her get over her fear. I didn't intend for her actually to become addicted to it."
All their eyes drifted over to Ruby, who was entirely focused on her Scroll, and didn't seem to notice the translucent blue figure that hovered over her shoulder for a moment before disappearing.
Ruby saved her game and closed her Scroll as the Bullhead began its descent and noticed that her teammates released a sigh of relief in unison.
"What?" She asked, somewhat confused.
"Nothing," the others chimed, all at once.
They all exited the airship as one. Ruby looked around the campus. Something about it looked different. But, she couldn't quite put her finger on what. Maybe it was that she saw it in a different light. Especially given what had just happened.
"Hey, guys!"
Team RWBY turned to the cheerful voice of Jaune.
"Back already? That must've been the shortest investigation ever."
"Yeah," Yang said, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. "You could say that."
"Whew!" A familiar voice floated through Ruby's mind. "That wall was almost impossible to break down."
Epsilon settled into place at the edge of Ruby's vision. "So, what'd I miss?" He looked around before recognition clicked in. "Wait. What are we doing back here?" Indignation rose in his voice.
Instead of replying, Ruby pulled her headphones from her pocket, unfolding them and slipping them on. I Don't Care by Apocalyptica flooded her ears and drowned out Church's voice.
"Ruby, don't ignore me!" He snapped, attempting to regain her attention to no avail. "Damn it, Ruby!" Church snarled.
Ruby followed the group into the main building. She watched as they talked the entire way. It was a strange thing to witness as their mouths and hands moved. She hummed along softly as they entered the cafeteria. It must've been lunchtime, as it looked as though the entire school had attempted to fit itself in the one room.
Ruby's eyes fell on Mercury, Emerald, and Cinder and she waved at them, smiling. The trio waved back quickly before resuming their conversation. That's weird, the scythe-wielder thought before grabbing a tray. She felt a not-so-gentle prodding at the edge of her mind as she plonked bowls and plates of food on her plate.
Ruby grit her teeth and set her mouth into a firm line. Go. Away. She thought, inwardly seething. "Make me!" Was Church's childish response. She raised her chin and walked to the table occupied by her teammates and friends. Her struggle with Epsilon didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you alright?" Pyrrha asked, worry seeping into her words, her green eyes focused on Ruby's face.
"I'm all right." Ruby said, sitting down.
"You look pale," The redheaded warrior continued.
"I'm always pale," Ruby's sterling orbs shifted nervously.
At her cue, Yang took the lead in the conversation, turning it to the Vytal festival.
Jaune leaned against the table, murmuring to her, "Is it because of… Church?"
Ruby swallowed thickly, nodding to him. Jaune had kept her secret, and he was a good friend to her, but she wasn't sure how her teammates would react to learning that he found out before they did. Knowing Yang, not well… Ruby looked back to her tray pointedly when Blake and Weiss looked over to her and the blond swordsman.
"Thank you, Jaune." Ruby said aloud, smiling at him brilliantly. "Apple juice sounds fantastic. It should help with my headache."
Jaune blinked, confused at first before following her gaze to her teammates and nodded in understanding.
"Right," He began slowly. "I'll go get that for you."
He pushed away from the table and walked toward the line. Everyone, including Ren – who was usually unassuming – and Pyrrha turned toward the girl in the red hood.
"What?" Ruby said as haughtily as she could. Even Weiss paled at her behavior. Ruby's tiny hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I'm not hungry anymore," The young huntress said, her voice shaking.
She stood and bounded from the room. What's happening to me? Her head was spinning, and everything seemed to be moving fast and slow all at once as she leaned against a plinth.
"Hello, Rose." A familiar and annoyingly arrogant voice said from behind her.
Ruby narrowed her eyes as she pushed away from the column and turned to them.
"Hello, Cardin." She smirked at him, "How's your knee?"
The hunter-in-training scowled at her, "Better. No thanks to you."
Ruby chortled, which only seemed to annoy him further, "Oh, good times."
She brushed past him and walked to the dormitories. Ruby caught a sliver of movement as she crossed the courtyard. Mercury and the others of his group were walking toward the guest dorms. Ruby halted in her tracks, her eyes skimming over his profile.
Huh… It was just occurring to her how handsome Mercury was, almost as if she just saw it. Jaune's cute too. But, more in a, "Hey, my friend's puppy is kind of cute" sort of way. I don't think I'd like him in that way…. Ever.
Ruby felt dazed and lightheaded. I need to lay down… She walked into their building and jabbed the call button for the elevator. Does this mean I'm noticing boys now? Is that what it means? She recalled a conversation she'd overheard her worried father having with her uncle Qrow. Which ended with Qrow reassuring Taiyang that Ruby was far too innocent.
A burst of white-hot anger flared at the back of Ruby's mind, and she could almost feel Church seething. "Like hell you are!" He almost seemed to be saying. Ruby shrugged, brushing off his protective anger and entered the elevator when it arrived.
She pressed the button for their floor and leaned back against the wall. Ugh. I hate my life…. Ruby rubbed her temples, pouting before feeling annoyed. At everyone. No, wait. I hate everyone else's lives. And I wish they didn't have them.
Her cheeks tinted with pink as she stomped off the elevator when it arrived. She scanned her Scroll at the door and walked into the room, shoving the door closed behind her roughly before climbing to her bunk and flopping down. She had a few moments of blissful peace and the pounding in her head ceased.
Until…. BANG! The door slammed open, "Ruby!" Weiss stamped into the room, her hands on her hips. Yang and Blake trailed after her.
"What was that back there?!" Her voice grew shrill, which only brought on another headache.
"What?" Ruby groused.
"Your behavior was unacceptable!" Weiss continued.
"Really?" Ruby grabbed a pillow and covered her head with it to block out the Ice Queen's tirade.
"Weiss…." Yang gripped the shoulder of the heiress, pulling her back slowly.
"What?" The irate Heiress targeted the blonde with her anger.
Yang gazed back at her tiredly, "Just... leave it alone." She pressed past Weiss and entered the room, changing into her pajamas.
Weiss scowled for a moment before throwing her hands into the air, snarling, "Fine!"
Ruby rolled onto her side, facing away from her teammates and clutched her Zwei shaped pillow to her chest, closing her eyes and praying for a better tomorrow.