Chapter 26: Purposes Revealed

Location: Southeast City Ruins, outside of Vale Year: Unknown

"Alright then, one of us should stay up for the first shift to keep watch. Any volunteers?" Oobleck asked out.

As I raised my hand, so did Ruby. Ruby replied, "I'll do it, doctor."

I also replied, "Same here, Doc. I'm used to staying up all night, so I could."

Oobleck nodded and replied, "Great!"

Oobleck looked towards Ruby and said, "Ruby, you'll watch that side of the building, through that opening."

Ruby nodded and proceeded to the said area. Then Oobleck looked towards me and said, "And Edward, you'll be on the opposite side from Ruby."

I nodded and proceeded to the said area, then I pulled out my Anti-Material Rifle and inserted a recorded holotape, with the volume turned down so that I won't disturb anyone, and played 'Blue Moon' by Frank Sinatra.

As Ralphie and I listened to the music, we kept out a watchful eye. Ralphie began to beep in question, as if asking, "Are we ever going to get back home?"

I replied, "No, Ralphie. This is our new home, at least, in the kingdom of Vale."

Then I thought of something. I pulled out my Scroll and began to type down a message to Ozpin about Ralphie and hit 'Send'. I want Ozpin to know about him so he won't get a surprise from us and... I don't know, get a heart attack. Probably not, but it's better safe than sorry. Then I send a message to team JNPR about him as well.

After that, we continued to watch out for any trouble while listening to the music.

XXXXXX

'Ozpin's POV...'

As I worked throughout part of the night, I received a message from Edward.

'Strange...' I thought to myself and then read the message...

It explained that Edward was reunited with an old friend of his that supposedly died in his world, and is named Ralphie. I then looked at a photo taken from him and showed that Ralphie was a robot of sort. A metal, floating sphere that he calls an Eyebot. Though Edward did mentioned that he has quite a personality.

I smiled at this and thought, 'We live in strange times, but they are always rememberable.'

XXXXXX

'Team JNPR's POV...'

Jaune woke up from his Scroll buzzing(?) as it received a message.

Jaune took a look and saw that it was from Edward. As he read further, this made him want to tell the others.

"Hey, guys! Wake up!" Jaune said to the rest of his team.

As everyone slowly woke up, Pyrrha asked, "What's going on, Jaune?"

"I just got a message from Edward, saying that he just met up with his old friend from the Wasteland, named Ralphie!" Jaune answered.

Then Nora asked, "Ooh, really!? Did he sent a picture, too?"

Jaune brought up a picture of Edward and Ralphie, and showed it to them.

Then Ren commented, "It's... a robot?"

The Nora said, "Awww! He's so cute!"

Pyrrha looked at Ralphie in astonishment, then smiled afterward and commented, "I can't wait to meet him."

Jaune followed up, "Me, too!"

XXXXXXX

'3rd POV...'

"Blake, are you awake?" Yang asked.

"Yeah." Blake answered.

"Why do you think he asked us about being a Huntress? Like... what was he trying to say?" Yang asked.

"Maybe he was just curious." Blake answered.

"Ya think?" Yang asked.

"No." Blake answered.

The Yang asked, "Weiss? Are you awake?"

"Of course, I'm awake! You two are talking. And I think he..." Weiss replied, but then hesitated.

Then she began, "When I said I wanted to honor my family's name, I meant it. But... it's not what you think. I'm not stupid. I'm fully aware of what my father has done with the Schnee Dust Company. Since he took control, our business has operated in a... moral grey area."

Blake commented, "That's putting it lightly."

Then Weiss began, "Which is why I feel the need to make things right! If I had taken a job in Atlas, it wouldn't have change anything. My father was not that start of our name, and I refuse to let him be the end of it."

Then Blake began, "All my life, I fought for what I thought was right. I had a partner... named Adam. More of a mentor, actually. He always assured me that what we were doing would make the world a better place. But of course, his idea of a perfect future turned out to be... not perfect for everyone. I joined the Academy because I knew Huntsmen and Huntresses were regarded as the most noble warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy... what will I-? How can I undo so many years of hate?"

Yang answered, "I'm sure you'll figure it out. You're not one to back down from a challenge, Blake."

Blake responded, "But I am! I do it all the time! When you learned I was a Faunus, I didn't know what to do, so I ran. When I realized my oldest partner had become a monster, I ran! Even my... Semblance. I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself; an empty copy that takes the hit while I run away."

The Yang began, "At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kinda always gone with the flow, you know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that for? I wanna be a Huntress... not really because I wanna be a hero. But because I want the adventure. I want a life where I won't know what tomorrow will bring. and that'll be a good thing. Being a Huntress just happens to line up with that. I'm not like Ruby nor Edward. Ruby's always wanted to be a Huntress. It's like she said. Ever since she was a kid, she dreamt about being the heroes in the books. helping people and saving the day, and never asking for anything else in return. Even when she couldn't fight, she knew that's what she wanted to do. That's why she trained so hard to get where she is today."

Then Weiss replied, "Well, she's still just a kid."

Then Blake said, "She's only two years younger. We're all kids."

Then they heard Edward, "We all have our reasons to do the things we did and what we want to do."

They all looked at Edward, who was sitting high above with Ralphie. He continued, "An old friend, named Ulysses, once told me, is that war... war never changes. But men do, through the roads we walk. Always look forward, never back, but always remember the reasons why we fight and the actions we did. Whether right or wrong, your actions or someone else's brought you here today."

He paused for a moment, then sighed and replied, "Ever since I left Vault 101, I didn't know what to do, except to search for my father. But, along the way, after all the events that unfolded between then and finding my dad... I knew what I must do and become."

Blake replied, "To become a vigilante."

Edward nodded and said, "Yes. Never for rewards or anything, only just because it's the right thing to do. I have experience near-death moments a thousand times when I helped and protected the ones who are defenseless. But... that never stopped me. I knew it was going to get me killed one day, so why not do something that gives hope to everyone that there is someone who's willing to help the innocent."

Then Weiss said, "Your parents must be proud of you."

Edward nodded once more and replied, "I know they are. Sooner or later though, I will see them again, one day, but for now, we must enjoy the moments we all have together, as friends." Then he got up a left with Ralphie.

Then Yang began, "Well, it looks like we're not kids anymore. I mean, look where we are! In the middle of a war zone and armed to the teeth?"

Blake agreed, "It's the life we chose."

Weiss said, "It's a job. We all have this romanticized vision of being a Huntress in our heads. But, at the end of the day... it's a job to protect the people. And whatever we want will have to come second."

As Weiss said this, unknown to them, Oobleck grinned at the statement.

XXXXXX

'Ruby's POV...'

"Huh?" I asked tiredly.

I slowly woke up and saw Zwei staring at something.

I then replied, "Zwei, it's late. Go back to bed."

I yawned and then Zwei took off.

"Zwei? Zwei!" I responded.

As Zwei ran off, I got up and went after him.

I then went searching for him, "Zwei? Zwei, where are you? Zwei!"

Then she found Zwei, who was... you get the point.

"Zwei, this is a wasteland. You literally could've done that anywhere." I said, earning a bark from Zwei.

But then, I heard someone, "What was that?"

I immediately picked up Zwei and hid behind a building.

Then another voice asked the first, "What was what?"

As I peeked around the corner, I saw two White Fang members, chatting.

"I thought I heard a Beowolf or... something."

"Let's just finish our patrol and get back to base. This place gives me the creeps."

As they left, I started to follow them, with Zwei following me.

Afterward, I held up Zwei around the corner and said, "Did they go in yet? One bark means 'yes'."

After a few moments, a pair of doors closed and Zwei barked once.

I let down Zwei and said, "Oh, this is it! This is it!"

Then I pulled out my Scroll and tried to call my teammates and mentor, but then it said 'Low Signal'.

"Oh man! Uh... Come on, we gotta get the others!" I said to Zwei and started our way back.

But then, the ground beneath me started to collapse in.

"Huh?!"

Then I fell in, screaming, with Zwei still safe on the side of the hole, along with my weapon.

XXXXXX

'Edward's POV...'

I jerked up from my sleep from a girl screaming from nearby.

Ralphie beeps in concern and I replied, "Someone's in trouble."

Then we saw Yang coming up to us and asked, "Hey, have you seen Ruby?!"

My eyes widened as I realized that the girl screaming must have been Ruby's.

"Oh shit!" I replied as I immediately got up and readied myself.

Then Oobleck came in and said, "Grab your weapons. Your leader may be in trouble."

After a few moments, searching for Ruby, we came upon Ruby's scythe.

Yang responded, "It's Ruby's scythe!"

Blake replied, "Oh no..."

We also saw a hole in the ground. Immediately, I grabbed Ruby's scythe, and jumped into the hole in the ground, along with Ralphie. I heard the others shouting to me, but I ignored. My main focus was to make sure that Ruby's safe.

I thought to myself, 'Hang in there, Rubes! I'm coming!'

To be Continued...