Chapter 36: The End is Where we Begin

Location: Beacon Academy, Vale Year: Unknown

After fighting through the city, we finally arrived back at Beacon, but something was wrong, beside the fact that all but Liberty Prime had vanashed.

Weiss turned to us as we approached, "Ruby! Edward! Where have you two-"

"Don't worry, we're fine!" Ruby replied.

But then I asked, "What's going on?" as I switched back to my Desert Ranger Combat Armor.

Weiss fell into silence and Ruby began to worry, "Weiss, what's wrong?"

Weiss stepped aside, and we saw something that we never thought we saw. Yang and Blake were on the ground, injured. Yang was missing an arm while Blake had a stab wound to the stomach area.

Blake was still conscience as she grabbed Yang's hand, and replied, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."

I walked up to both of them, pulled out two Super Stimpaks and used the first one on Blake.

"It's alright, Blake. This will help you." I said as I inserted the Super Stimpak

Then I turned to Yang and inserted the Super Stimpak into her, making sure she stays alive.

I heard Ruby replied, "Yang..."

As I stood up and turned to Ruby and Weiss, and Sun walked up and said, "Hey... she's gonna be okay. The soldiers have a ship ready to take you guys to Vale."

But then Nora said, "But Jaune and Pyrrha are still missing!" then let out a groan of pain.

Both me and Ruby responded, "What?!"

Sun yelled out, "Look, we need to go... now!"

"No!" I yelled.

All of them looked towards me and Sun asked, "What do you mean 'no'? We need to evacuate!"

"I am not leaving this war, unfinished. I have to do this! I must! That Cinder bitch must pay for her crimes, my way." I replied.

"Your way?" Ren asked me.

I pulled out my 'A Light Shining in Darkness' and cocked it, then Ren nodded and understood what I meant.

Weiss then asked, "You're going to kill her!? She needs to be in prison!"

"She's too dangerous to be left alive!" I yelled out.

After a moment of silence, Ruby said, "We'll find them... we'll find Jaune and Pyrrha."

I nodded and replied, "Yeah, let's go, Ruby."

But then, Ralphie was about to follow me, but I stopped him.

"No, Ralphie, stay here. We'll be back, I promise." I said, and Ralphie beeped as he understood.

Weiss said to us, "I'm coming with you both, and no arguments."

I simply nodded at her, then I turned to the others and replied, "Watch over Blake and Yang. We'll be back."

I then looked to Ruby and Weiss, and said, "We should split up."

Ruby and Weiss nodded and she took off running while I activated my Heaven's Trinity, and flew off towards the tower.

XXXXXX

'3rd POV...'

Both Jaune and Pyrrha ran outside from the wrecked building and Jaune replied, "Okay, I think I have Glynda's number. Oh, where is it?" as he searched through is Scroll.

Pyrrha looked back to the tower, and Jaune finally asked, "Pyrrha? What was all of that?"

"I-I-" Pyrrha was about to reply, until they heard fire bursting up to the tower. They knew it was Cinder.

"But... Ozpin..." Jaune said with sorrow.

Pyrrha then said to Jaune, "There's no time... Go! Go to Vale, and call for help!"

"Huh? What're you gonna do?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha looked back to the tower and Jaune knew what she meant.

"No... no, Pyrrha, you can't! You saw how powerful she is! Pyrrha, I won't let you do-" Jaune began, but was interrupted by Pyrrha kissing Jaune.

After she kissed Jaune, Pyrrha said, "I'm sorry." and shoved Jaune to a nearby locker.

She began to type in coordinates as Jaune tried to reason with here, but to no avail. after that, the locker blasted off.

Pyrrha then turned towards the tower, and walked in.

XXXXXX

'Edward's POV...'

After a few minutes of flying, I saw a locker flying by to the others, and heard Jaune's voice.

My eyes widened as I realized what Pyrrha was going to attempt. She was going to fight against Cinder, and I knew I had to fly faster. I then started to witness the tower in the distance being destroyed from the inside, and after a few minutes, it calmed down, that's when I went overdrive, as I fly to the tower.

I arrived as I saw Pyrrha was wounded on the ground, and the Cinder bitch walking up to her.

I flew in between them and made a shockwave, only forcing Cinder to fly back.

I turned to Pyrrha, pulled out another Super Stimpak, and inserted into her, and said, "What were you thinking?!"

"It had to be done, Edward!" Pyrrha argued.

"Well, now you get to live to see another day." I said.

Pyrrha was silent in shock, then replied, "Y-you're going to-"

"Yes." I replied.

Pyrrha was about to argue, but I didn't let her. I walked away from her and said, "Just know that just in case if I don't make it, just know that I had a wonderful time with you all. All the memories I made was thanks to you and to the others."

I paused as I then turned to her, and said, "But I have my doubts that I can be killed. Afterall, I'm the Courier AND the Lone Wanderer. I'm a one-man army."

I paused again, then said to her, "Go."

Pyrrha nodded and ran off, seeing as the Super Stimpak healed her, and I turned to Cinder, who has stopped before me.

(Insert your own epic music)

It's obvious, she was pissed. She said, "What? You think you can defeat me? You have no chance, insect."

I was silent, unfazed by her itimidation, and I replied, "I have defeated people like you. The Monster of the East, the Enclave, the Legion, and so much more. I have fought wars, and survived. You don't scare me, not even a little. For I have cheated Death, a thousand times more than not. I am the Courier. I am the Lone Wanderer. I am the Messiah. But I am never alone. God and the Heavens are with me. My parents are with me, even in death. All of the Angels of Heaven are cheering my name from above, even if you can't hear them. I am now the Protector, the very descendent of the lone Wizard that granted the Four Maidens their powers."

That took Cinder by surprised, since she now had the expression on her face, and I continued, "I am from a different world, a world scorched by war, where not even you could survive."

Again, that took Cinder by surprise, as I announced my origins, I then asked out, "So you tell me, you Pyro Megalomaniac. Do I have a chance, or are you a coward?"

That pissed Cinder off as she blasted me with the power of the Fall Maiden. Damn! This hurts like Hell! But that's not going to stop me. As I slowly walked up to her, with my Jingwei's Shocksword and my 'A Light Shining in Darkness' drawn, and when I was close enough, I stabbed her in her stomach. She hacked and cough, and as she was in shock, she slowly looked up to me, eyes widdened, I then pointed my gun to her head, then pulled the trigger.

She dropped down dead, in her own pool of blood, but then I became weak. As I heard footsteps from behind, and heard Ruby's voice, "E-Edward?"

I fell to my knees, then fell on the floor, losing consiencness as I thought, 'Heh, guess the power of the Maidens were very powerful. Damn.'

As everything was turning to a white flash, I heard Ruby's voice, calling my name, then nothingness.

XXXXXX

My eyes began to adjust, until I heard a familiar voice, an voice that I would have never thought I would hear again.

"Hello, my son."

My eyes widdened as I saw my Dad, standing before me.

"D-Dad? Is that you?" I asked out.

"Of course, my son! It's me!" my dad replied.

I looked around and asked, "Where's Mom?"

Dad chuckled and said, "Well, I'm afraid it's not your time yet."

"Oh." I replied.

Then out of nowhere, a familiar figure in a white cloak came up to us, and Dad said, "Ah, Miss Summer Rose. What brings you here?"

My eyes widdened. This was Ruby's mother! She's here, right before me!

Summer said, "Hello James. I'm here to speak to your son. I want him to bring a message to my daughters."

Dad nodded and said, "Ah, I see."

Summer then turned to me and said, "I want you to say these words to both Yang and Ruby, is that alright?"

"Anything, Miss Rose." I replied.

"She gave a warm smile and replied, "Thank you."

Then she began, "Tell them that I'm proud of them for their accomplishments. That I will always love them. And call Yang by Flame Dragon and Ruby, My Little Rose."

"Got it." I replied.

Then Dad turned to me and said, "Now, my son. Go and rejoin your friends. They need you and beware, Edward, Salem now threatens all of life itself."

"Salem?" I asked.

"Not enough time, Edward. You must go now." Dad said.

I nodded and said, "Alright. I hope to see you again, Dad."

"Same here. Take care."

"You too."

And with that, everything went white.

XXXXXX

As the white flash begins to fade away, I started to hear Ruby's voice.

"Edward! He's waking up!"

My eyes opened, and I was meet with team RWBY's faces as they looked down upon me. I even saw that Yang now has a synthetic arm now.

I simply said, "'Sup."

Then they gave me room as I began to stand up and I asked to them, "How long was I out?"

"Almost half a month or so." Weiss answered.

"Damn! Being in Heaven for a short notice is really time consuming." I said.

Their eyes widened as they heard my statement and Ruby replied, "Y-you were dead?"

"Momentary, yes. But I have a message for you two from your mother, Summer."

They all were shocked to hear this, especially Yang and Ruby.

I said, "She says she's proud of you both for your achievements. that she will always love you both, and to say your little nicknames. Flame Dragon and My Little Rose."

Both Ruby's and Yang's eyes widened once they heard it. They then began to tear up from this.

Then they both ran up to me and gave me a hug.

XXXXXX

'A few minutes later...'

After I got the run-down of everything, about Penny being brought back to life, Ozpin surviving, and everything else, I told them that we should be warry of Salem, who I found out was supposed to be a legend, that is the source of all Grimm, even the Dragon. I knew from that moment onward, it was war. We prepared ourselves for a journey to face the so-called Salem and stop all of this, once and for all.

XXXXXX

'Epilogue'

'The End is where we Begin', it's the phrase when everything ends and a new beginning takes place afterward. Things like after certain events, like the end of a war, a civil rights movement, and the like. It even involves with everyday life, when a person's view on the world changes, through words or sight, and even after death. Death is not actually just the end, it is also a beginning, and not just reincarnation, but when you go to the afterlife, like Heaven, or possibly Hell, depending on what you did in life; if you have sinned, like murder and such, and enjoyed it without regret. But where ever and whatever our afterlife is, it does exist. You see, all living beings, animals and sentiant beings like a human being, have souls; an aura of life. When we die, it doesn't mean that both our bodies and souls die, souls are eternal; never ages and never dies. Bodies are just mere vessels for our souls that ages throughout time, like a house, for example.

But for me, my life began anew in a whole different world, a world lush of green and teeming with life, but the dangers also lingers there. My old life ended when I was transported to the world of Remnant, away from a world scorched by war; dead, barren, and very dangerous. Madness and Greed taken hold of the minds of men and women, murdering each other for horrible reasons, to mutated creatures that will tear you limb from limb. Even though I made a name for myself during my travels, it feels like my time, my story, had came to an end, leaving an opening for someone else to take my place, and continue with my goals: to help and protect the innocent, even if it costs you your life. They always do, because people have said to me that I have taken the place, the role, of the one known as the Chosen One, who took the place from his father, known as the Vault Dweller. I had no doubt that all of my friends would be wondering where I went, but I know they will carry on without me.

In any case, my new life began when I first met a new friend, Ruby Rose. Her personality, her goals, and everything about her, reminds me of myself, willing to risk her life to protect those who are defenseless. Her dedication can even rival mine, for say. From there, even during battles against enemies, monsters, and the like, the friends I met along the way never gave up and will not leave anyone behind. From the way I see them, they are the symbol of hope; the beginning of something great. I take no claim of any fame, only they did, if they desire it the most. Even after my battle against a false Fall Maidon, Cinder Fall, I still do not claim to any fame, even if everybody says otherwise.

Back in the Wasteland, an old friend once told me, is that war... war never changes, but men do, through the roads we walk. His road ended with me, after we fought together, side by side, to the very end. But I guess for me, when my road ended at that moment back at Big Mountion, I, instead, found a new path, that continues on, as far as I can see. I do not know if I will ever go back, or if I can, but, for now, my life continues onward, as the Huntsmen of Vale. Everyone I met after the tournament and the Great Battle, they have taken the priviledge to call me the Messiah as well, since the rumors about me, who fought against a god-like megalomaniac, and emerged victorious. Heh, it seems that where ever I go, I always ended up to be some kind of hero, but this time, I wasn't the only one.

As Team RWBY, JNPR, Penny, Ralphie, and I continued to hunt down this Salem person, who was released from some sort of imprisonment. We continued to train one another, preparing for what ever the future has for us, because WAR... WAR NEVER CHANGES.

'In Memory of Monty Oum...'

(Continued in the sequel: Ranger of Remnant: Chronicles of Sera)