Dear Christ, life/ writer's block has been an uphill battle this last month, and I am pretty sure you want me to just finish this season so you all can giddily await the next one. But the truth is that this is really hard, I'm trying to satisfy the needs of my family, myself, as well as you all because I hate to disappoint with my writing. So I'm tossing out this side chapter because I have to, it builds the story and explains what was happening in Vale during the last chapter. It is the conclusion of one of our lovely OC's stories I'm afraid, as his struggle with himself comes to an end as the brief moment of retribution is met with his untimely death. So read on, and expect a great and powerful many surprises at the end of this story as it will be my Christmas present to you.

RWBY: The Darkness Within

Season 2- Chapter 20

The Breach

And when the Wall was Breached, a great Evil entered the city.

"What the hell is going on!?" Zero exclaimed as he slashed through an Ursa, "I thought the Grimm couldn't enter the city!" He added, repelling the attack of a Beowolf.

"They can't." Rory added, whipping his spear and beheading a Beowolf that was about to attack a young woman. "Something is definitely off here." He finished as he helped the woman up and directed her to run home.

"Don't get cocky now." Their Huntsmen said as he approached, "We've still got to clear the stragglers." Their boss was a man in his late twenties named Sypher Woods. He wore a white shirt under a green sleeveless jacket. He wore dark tan pants and brown shoes, with two scabbards on his back for containing his weapons. He drew the twin katana, the grey steel segmenting apart to show the glowing green facets within the blade that allowed for his special skill. He combined the hilts of the blades and a hard-light bowstring formed as he drew on his semblance to create a glyph at the grip and the string and channeled his aura between them to form the outline of five arrows. Then he removed five Dust arrowheads and tossed them in the air as he flipped and landed them on each arrow before releasing the string, firing the Dust through the glyph turning them into nothing more than arcing projectiles of raw elemental power. Ice exploded ripping apart Grimm as Fire erupted and damaged more of them. Lightning snaked through the crowd and the Energy arrow simply exploded with force. "And that's how it's done children, hey where's Berti-something and Brandon?" The Sypher asked as he now noticed their missing comrades.

"I have no idea." Rory said with a great deal of worry.

"Hey!" A man yelled as he ran towards them with a bow staff in hand that had two large mace heads at each end. He wore a black shirt with an orange hoodie and jeans with hiking boots. He had red hair and a thick beard. Behind him was Luna's team, well most of it. "We're missing a girl, Ryzia, have you seen her?" The man added.

"No Adam I haven't." Sypher replied looking to Rory with worry before hearing the roar of more enemies, "Rory, go find your brother. Adam, do you mind helping me and Zero out?"

"My pleasure, I'm Adam Gambit." Adam replied.

"Zero Alighieri." He replied shaking the man's hand, before turning to face the enemy, "Please don't hop in unless you have to, I'd like to test myself." Zero said as he drew his blade slowly and began to count his enemies, "16, easy." He rushed in and cut down a Beowolf, easily moving on to the next and slashing through it. He saw the Ursa behind it and ran, kicking off it's chest and drawing the first of his handguns to open fire and kill the Ursa. He sensed the claw coming for him and he adjusted his trajectory moving slightly to the left and put a bullet in the Grimm's head. He stopped briefly and looked at the rest as they seemed to move in slow motion as he processed it all. He quickly unloaded the magazine of his pistol into the Nevermore's overhead, reducing the total Grimm from 12 to 7. He quickly dropped the magazine and as a Boarbatusk closed in on him he threw his backup magazine at it's head. It bounced off stunning the beast as it flew back in his direction, he moved his pistol so that it caught the magazine and reloaded. He quickly fired on the Boarbatusk and the Boarbatusks charging with it dropping the number from 7 to 4. The remaining Beowolves circled him and he tossed the sword into the air drawing his second pistol as he spun, ripping the beasts apart with his bullets. He quickly holstered the guns and grabbed his blade as it fell, quickly sheathing it with reverence.

Everyone gathered eyed him with dropped jaws, "Dude, that was sick." Xich said as Runa and Luna nodded.

"It uh, was nothing." Zero said blushing from praise.

"Get it together buttercup, we're not done." Sypher said as more Grimm poured from the breach as Team RWBY began to take action.

Adam joined him as he spun the weapon and grinned. "Let's bust some heads."

They all charged together towards their enemy, not knowing a great tragedy was about to occur.

A Breach in Trust, leads to the Death of Friendship

"What the fuck is going on!?" Brandon screamed as he waved to the city where the screams of people and the sounds of combat could be heard.

"I don't know, I'm trying to get in touch with the White Fang in Mountain Glenn, but I'm not getting a response." She said hanging up angrily, "This is all Torchwick's fault!"

"Ryzia look; who cares about that!? There's Grimm in the city, Torchwick is nowhere to be found, and this is most definitely not what I signed up for!" He cried as he got ready to walk out.

"That sounds like cowardice to me, you know if you betray us we will all hunt you down; Mercury, Emerald, Cinder, The White Fang, and me personally. So stay right where you are and help me figure out this situation!" She screamed as she turned to Brandon to see a mortified look on his face, Bertilak was standing right there before them. In their panic they must not have sensed him creep up on them.

"Brandon, what is she talking about?" He asked in a state of disbelief, "The White Fang, Roman Torchwick, this whole crisis, are you saying that they're behind it? And what's worse is that you're working for them!?" He cried with rage as he gripped his weapons tight.

"Look, mate, this has nothing to do with you or your brother so why don't you," Brandon started before Bertilak unloaded five rounds into his chest, they struck Brandon's aura but they hurt like crazy, it felt like being punched in the chest by Caradin or Yang.

"Do me a favor, and shut the fuck up." Bertilak replied coldly, "Do you see these people scurrying around, afraid for their lives? These are the people we're supposed to protect! Did you think I didn't know who you were Brandon Copper? I played along, acted like the innocent fool, because I knew you hated those in power but wanted to protect those they hurt or exploited. But now I stand here seeing you, with her, talking about this plan to attack with Grimm like it's nothing; people are dying Brandon, and it's your fault!" He screamed as he aimed his weapon at Brandon.

The heaviness of the statement struck Brandon, as he was always the thief, the rogue, the informant, he didn't want to be a killer. But Ryzia would have none of it; she rushed Bertilak and attacked him, fire exploding from her gauntlets as she channeled Dust through them. He jumped back quickly, firing both of his weapons as he quickly chambered new rounds in his lever action shotguns by spinning them and cocking the lever as he did. She ducked through his barrage and closed the distance as she wound back to punch. She delivered several swift punches to his chest as he flew back and she pushed her assault, Brandon swept in between the two of them kicking Ryzia back and shoving Bertilak out of the way. "Stop! Fighting isn't our problem right now!" He said trying to calm the situation before almost catching Bertilak's axe into his face. "Whoa!"

"Enough talking, I'm bringing you two in!" He roared as he pushed forward towards the both of them and put them on the defensive with his quick strikes and aggressive footwork. Brandon had to draw his blades to try and keep himself from dying, as he focused on keeping his aura up as trying to use his semblance now would end badly for him. However despite Bertilak's best efforts it was still two against one and Ryzia quickly exploited Brandon's pacifism by using him as a shield while getting her own offensive ready. Brandon swung wide to drive Bertilak back, and the boy stumbled away, while Ryzia ducked beneath the path of the blade and moved forward delivering a swift and merciless uppercut to Bertilak's jaw. He flew back and Brandon quickly got ready to rush in and knock Ryzia unconscious so he could run for it when he saw his worst nightmare standing before him. Catching the limp body of his brother was none other than Rory Farbe, who set Bertilak on his feet and slapped his face.

"Wake up, eyes forward!" He roared as Bertilak came to and looked at him.

"Rory?" He uttered in wonder.

"Yeah, it's me now get up! It's the first time I've honestly seen you fight since we got here and it's got my blood boiling!" He said with a grin, "So I'm allowed to fight 'em right?" He inquired eagerly.

"I like two on two rather than two on one." Bertilak said recomposing himself as he readied for round two.

"Well it's always better to bury brothers beside one another." Ryzia said as she got ready.

"Shame for you, we fight better together." Rory grinned as he dropped to one knee and aimed down the barrel of his rifle firing rapidly as Ryzia had to rush just to avoid his accurate shots as she ran right into Bertilak's trap. He rushed her and did a sudden sweep kick and delivered and open palm chop to the back of her neck. Her vision shook and she stumbled to the ground as she struggled to get up, the force of the aura enhanced blow making it hard for her to recover. She vaguely heard Brandon yell and she saw Bertilak winding back to strike again and she rolled out of the way and quickly spun firing Dust into his face that exploded. Bertilak stumbled back but continued his assault as they rapidly traded blows, he tried no to kill her so she could see justice, but she was not trying to do the same. Brandon rushed to try and help break up the fight, but Rory switched focus to him and opened fire. Brandon thought nothing of it and swung to deflect the projectile, but as it collided with his blade he felt his wrist almost snap with the force. He suddenly realized why Rory was so strong, because his weapon must have been exceptionally heavy with the weight of these projectiles. He braced himself and sheathed one of his blades as he focused on using both of his hands to deter the force of the bullets. Rory stood and charged, still firing as he drew closer to Brandon in order to make his move. He stopped firing when Brandon was in range of his spear-like bayonet and took up a stance as he lunged forward to strike. Brandon deflected the attack and danced out of range before crouching and lunging forward with an upward sweep, as this knocked Rory's weapon back Brandon went in for a stab. He met resistance however as Rory grabbed the blade with his robotic hand and slammed his forehead into Brandon's sending him stumbling back. Rory tossed the sword aside and aimed at Brandon as the thief quickly drew his second blade and made a mad dash for the first.

Time seemed to slow down as he went to make that shot, but what had gone unnoticed by them all in their in-fighting was that this much negative emotion was bound to draw in bigger predators. Rory felt the presence far too slowly as he turned to see the great Beowolf with it's bony armor drawing back for a strike. He turned as quickly as he could, but it wasn't enough, he saw the blow coming and braced his body for the impact when he felt a powerful shove moving him from his stance. He looked to see Bertilak moving him from where he stood as the strike came down and his eyes went wide with a combination of fear and despair as he watched his brother's arm fly through the air like his once had. Bertilak turned, pointing his one good arm with weapon in hand into the Beowolf's face and firing as all that was left was a stumpy body, "Bertilak, your arm." Rory said as he looked to his brother.

"I know, but you know I'm not that sad." He said as tears streamed down his face, "Because now we match, I finally know the pain you felt. It hurts so much, but at the same time I feel glad that I could protect you for once." He sniffled as he wobbled from shock. Rory stood to aid his brother, and saw the second attack coming all too late, the world seemed to go silent as he cried out for Bertilak to move as the older twin looked behind him as Ryzia's fist collided with his face and brought his head to the ground hard. Rory stood and started to run, as Brandon shot past him to try and stop it all, but as the second blow fell they saw Bertilak's body seize and go limp. Rory stood in horror, dropping his weapon, at what had happened as Brandon rushed after Ryzia before she vanished into the shadows with her semblance, Brandon then rushed to Bertilak's side before backing away in horror.

"You, it's your fault." Rory said emptily as he grabbed his weapon, "If you hadn't helped her none of this would have happened, Bertilak would still be alive, it's all your fault!" He screamed through a stream of tears as he leveled his weapon with Brandon's head. Brandon waited for death to come, and yet he didn't want to die, as if some cruel god had heard his prayers a chain came and wrapped around Rory's neck, holding tight as the man dropped his weapon once more and thrashed against the chain until he ran out of air and he dropped to the ground unconscious.

"Whew man, that was close, I've been out of practice for far too long." Xichmael said as he stood over the fallen behemoth and checked his pulse, "Oh good, still alive. Well now Brandon Copper," He said as the thief met the cold cruel eyes of the assassin, "I believe we have a lot to talk about."

Absolute special thanks to my Twitter friends for their OCs, and super special thanks to Cross writer453 for letting me use Rory and Bertilak as long as I have. They are truly magnificent characters, and from here on it will be on Rory to carry out the legacy of his brother. As for Brandon Copper and Zero Alighieri, I thank zero the raiden and Anything170 for their support and two of the coolest characters I've had the glorious pleasure of writing for. Expect more of them in Season 3 as we see their true potentials come to fruition. Again, I thank all of you for staying with me thus far, and I will try really hard to get these chapters out before Christmas...if I fail, then I shall have them before the end of the year. Also expect two new fics to show up after this one is over...and by that I mean wait till like February. One is a mini-series bridging Seasons 2 and 3 called "Intermission in Darkness" and the other will be a fun little crossover fic with Tokyo Ghoul X RWBY called, "RWBY vs. BRCT". I once again thank you all for your viewership, adios.