Well here we go, last update for a while I'm afraid. I'll try to get my work done as quickly as possible but I won't even be able to start writing the next chapter for about to weeks. Keep in mind we don't really know a lot about the legal system in Remnant so I made some assumptions so please be kind about that. Next the RWBY+D-Grayman crossover, I decided not to write it since I didn't have enough time. Still the idea's out there now so maybe some with time will write it *hint hint* Anyway sorry about that and I hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
I don't own RWBY it belongs to Roosterteeth.
Red didn't move as she was dragged into the General's large airship, her mind still trying to comprehend what had just happened to her. Looking up she saw her captors dragging her into a small cell before groaning as she was roughly thrown in and plunged into darkness as the door slammed shut, her eyesight slowly returning as soft lights began illuminating the cell.
"Well look at what the cat dragged in, never thought I'd see you in here Red. Did you come all this way for little old me?" commented a teasing voice.
The reaper picked herself up from the floor and glared at the crook as her tattoos bathed the cell in a red light before Roman saw a hint of black as a mask appeared on her face and he was push up against the cell wall, "well someone's a little frisky today. What's the matter Red? Did someone steal your cookies?" he teased.
She just punched him in gut before dropping him and walking to the opposite end of the cell, leaving a confused Roman to stare at her. "That's all? I assumed after your display last week you wanted my head. Sure the good General probably wouldn't have allowed it but you could have at least roughed me up slightly, clearly you're not very good at this interrogation business Red," frowned the criminal in confusion.
The reaper just turned to face him with an equally confused look on her masked face, "you think I'm here to question you?"
Roman blinked at this response, "of course, why else would you be here? The big scary monster's come to intimidate the answers out of me, although bonus points for the mask and voice that was a nice touch."
"Mask?" muttered the reaper, blinking in confusion as she brought a hand up to her face.
Sure enough she felt a smooth but hard surface covering the top half of her face and immediately began panicking, 'what's going on? The tests said this wasn't possible! Did the shadow break out again?'
Why are you so surprised? You're me after all. Your power is part of me as well, I'm simply taking it back…
As the memory disappeared Red's eyes widened and she smiled before immediately taking deep breaths, trying to get her heart rate to a normal pace while Roman just watched her in amusement. Thinking back to Qrow's lessons Red closed her eyes and felt back for the two currents that ran through her body, causing her new cellmate to watch intrigued as her mask dissolved into nothing and the tattoos grew dull.
"Roman I'm in not here to question you and I'm in no mood for your games, so just shut up and stay to your side of the cell and we'll get along just fine," sighed Red as she used her cloak as a makeshift bed.
The crook laughed hysterically as he stared at her, "wait so you were really locked up? Oh boy now that's something. So what are you in here for then Red?"
"Killing a man who asked too many questions," she growled and turned to face the wall.
"Ouch now that was uncalled for, well like it or not Red we're stuck together so we might as well get used to it," informed Roman with a smile.
"Talk about cruel and unusual punishment," grumbled the reaper, hoping her cellmate would stop talking.
Whatever witty remark Roman had ready died unspoken as they both heard the door to their cell open as General Ironwood walked in, upon seeing this Red let out a low growl that Roman instantly picked up on. Ironwood just gave the crook a suspicious glare before turning his attention to the reaper in front of him, giving her a blank stare as she glared at him.
"Well Miss Rose do you have anything you want to tell me before the trial?" asked the general.
"Gee willikers mister! I sure am sorry for smashing all your robots and making a mockery of your military in front of all of Vale I promise I've learnt my lesson," replied Red in an innocent voice.
"I see and what about you criminal? Has your time in solitary confinement loosened up your tongue?" he sighed, turning to Roman.
"On the contrary General, could you get rid of my cellmate? I quite liked the peace," answered the crook with a grin.
"Very well," replied Ironwood as he turned back to Red. "Your trial will begin in two hours, I hope you are ready for it."
The general then turned to walked out only to pause in the doorway, "Ruby be careful in there both the Atlas and Vale councils want your head and…I'm sorry."
Without another word the door to the cell slammed shut leaving the two inmates with expressions of shock, each for different reasons.
"You really were arrested weren't you?" asked Roman after a brief pause without any trace of his usual smug tone.
"Look who finally started using his ears," grumbled Red as she walked back into her corner.
"Red this is no joke, if the councils really are gunning for you then you're in trouble. Damn what did you even do to get them so angry?" replied the crook.
"Nothing I'm innocent!" she cried.
Roman's expression softened as he sighed, "and you think that matters to them? Remember what I told you earlier Red? In this world you ether die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain and the council members have been alive for quite some time."
"What are you saying?" whispered the reaper fearfully.
"Did you ever wonder why, even though I was Vale's most wanted, I never got a bigger reaction then a couple of cop raids every now and then? Or why I'm only getting solitary confinement to get me talking? I'm a thief and a damn good one. I learnt long ago that the contents of a man's mail box can be fair more valuable than that of his wallet," lectured the criminal.
"Everyone has skeletons in their closets Red, it's just a matter of finding the right ones. Our dear Councillors are nowhere near the saints that they make themselves out to be," he continued before grinning at her.
"Red do you remember the deal I proposed a while back?" asked the crook.
"Yes and I believe I already gave you my answer when we blew apart your Paladin," replied Red as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Well if you reconsider I might be able willing to help you out of this mess," grinned Roman.
"How?" she asked, sceptically.
"Remember those skeletons I talked about? Well say one of those dirty little secrets just happens to get out in the middle of the courtroom, it would not only discredit the council members but force the trial to be postponed," he answered.
"And how does angering the people responsible for my fate help me?" question a confused Red.
"If the session is postponed you'll likely be put back in here with me and if certain code words are said during the trial my associates will know to extract me, when they come for me we will also bust you out," explained the crook.
"So Red what'll it be? Face the wrath of the Council or join the winning side?" asked Roman, leaning forward with a satisfied smirk on his face.
"Yang wait for us!" cried Weiss as the two of them tried to catch up to the blonde.
The trio eventually stopped in front of Ozpin's office where they all heard shouting and the sound of glass breaking, "YOU BASTARD!" roared a male voice.
Recognizing the voice Yang's eyes widened and she quickly yanked the door open, just in time to see none other than their headmaster go flying across the room before slamming into the wall. Blake and Weiss immediately drew their weapons and charged the blonde man who had attacked Ozpin but were both blocked by another man who wielded a weapon that made their eyes widen. Using skill that even surpassed Ruby's the man quickly disarmed the two members of RWBY before sheathing his scythe and turned to face Yang with a surprised look on his face.
"Hello Yang it's good to see you again," greeted the scythe wielder, causing the blonde man to spin around and face her, a happy smile replacing the angry expression earlier.
"Dad? Uncle Qrow? What are you to doing here?" asked the blonde.
"That's her dad?" whispered Weiss fearfully.
"At least we know where she got her temper from," replied Blake in an equally hushed tone only for both of them to look up as they heard a small chuckle escape Qrow's lips.
"Does she know?" questioned Taiyang, turning to Ozpin.
The headmaster simply nodded as he picked himself up from the ground, "your daughter has known about Miss Rose's condition for quiet sometime. She has been helping me keep you two in the dark until now."
Taiyang nodded, "I suspected Yang was hiding something when she started answering the letters I sent to Ruby."
"How'd you know it was me? I thought I answered those pretty well," replied Yang in confusion.
"You did and if it wasn't for the fact that I recognized your handwriting then I wouldn't have even noticed," answered her father as he walked up to her. "Yang I want to know the truth, why did you help Ozpin cover this up?"
Blake and Weiss just watched as they saw the fearless blonde brawler of Beacon begin fidgeting and refusing to meet her father's gaze, "I was scared at how you two would react," she admitted, ashamed.
Both Qrow and Taiyang gave a disappointed sigh, "Yang you had to know that you couldn't keep it a secret forever. Eventually you girls would have to come home at the end of the year and what would you have done then?" questioned Qrow.
"I arranged it with Ozpin that we could stay on campus grounds during the break, as far as you two would know we would be staying to get some extra preparation done for the next term," explained Yang.
"Did you really?" muttered her father, sending Ozpin another angry glare.
"Yang, Ruby is my niece and Taiyang's daughter, did you really think we'd hurt her?" frowned the scythe wielder.
"Yes," replied Yang seriously, causing both her family members to stare at her in shock. "I was her sister and I nearly killed her when I found out, if you two had the same reaction then she wouldn't have stood a chance. I wasn't going to take that risk. I lost her once, I'm not losing her again. I promised mom I would look after her."
"Yang…you're not the only one who promised," sighed Taiyang as he hugged his daughter.
The group just watched the embracing family members with a smile on their faces before everyone heard Ozpin's scroll go off. Frowning the headmaster got out his scroll and his eyes narrowed slightly as he saw the contact calling him and briefly left the room. When he walked back in everyone could feel an aura of anger surrounding him despite the blank expression on his face.
"The Councillor's changed the time of Miss Rose's trial without telling us," he announced.
"When is it?" asked Qrow.
"Now," replied the headmaster as he turned the office TV on and they all saw a familiar figure standing in the middle of the courtroom.
"If you'll excuse me I have a court trial to attend," growled the headmaster as the door to his office slammed shut.
"I haven't seen him this angry in a long time," frowned Qrow.
"Indeed somehow I think this trial isn't going to go how the Councillor's wanted it to," grinned Taiyang while the rest of RWBY rest looked at each other in confusion.
"Get up we're leaving," ordered the general as he and two guards walked into the pair's cell before cuffing her hands together.
Red just looked at Ironwood with an amused expression as she held up the hand cuffs, "ooooh bondage, remember General my safe word is cookies."
Ironwood just glared at her while Roman burst into laughter, "you would do well to mind your tongue in the courtroom. I don't think you realize just how serious your situation is Miss Rose, when I said the Councils wanted your head I meant it literally," informed the general.
The reaper just froze as she looked up at him with a fearful expression before turning to glance at Roman, "but I'm innocent!" she cried in distress.
"Don't convince me Miss Rose, convince the people of that, the Councils can't even touch you if you have the support of the people on your side," replied Ironwood and they left the cell before stopping as they both reached the courtroom doors.
Giving a tired sigh he turned to face her again, "Ruby I'm not telling you this as the General of Atlas' military or as the Headmaster of Haven but rather as a friend of Ozpin's…If all else fails than plead guilty, Ozpin and I will make sure you don't get the death penalty regardless of what the Councils want."
"Why do you care? You're the one who locked me up in the first place," hissed Red.
"Believe it or not I never wanted this, I just wanted you to be isolated somewhere I could keep an eye on you until an official investigation could be completed but the Councillors decided otherwise. I just wanted to protect my people from a possible threat, something you of all people should understand," replied the general.
Red just looked up at him in surprise as Ironwood pushed the doors open before she was blinded by the flash of many cameras going off in rapid succession. The reaper was then shoved by her guard and walked into a round stand in the middle of the room, which the guards then chained her hand cuffs to.
Red was silent as she stared down at her hands, watching as they clenched and unclenched in anticipation through the cuffs. All around her she heard the people taking her seats and glanced up to see cameras stationed across the room, 'clearly they want this to be a publicized event, lucky me. I hope Yang isn't watching, or any of the Ruby's family for that matter.' The sound of the judge clearing his throat echoed across the chambers as the crowd took their seats and silence filled the courtroom.
"Welcome everyone, today we pass judgment on the huntress in training Ruby Rose who has been accused of the murders that have been plaguing our city for the past week. The Vale and Atlas councils will be serving as jury for the trial," announced the judge as numerous silhouetted shadows appeared in the closed off jury box.
A soft mummer ran through the crowd at this, to have the council members attending a court session wasn't just odd it was unprecedented. Meanwhile Ironwood's eyes widened and a frown crossed his face as he gave a worried look to the door before taking out his scroll and briefly excusing himself from the room, returning with a relieved smile on his face. Red simply kept her gaze downwards as she heard the judge speak up.
"Does the defence have an attorney?" he asked and Red just shook her head in silence.
"The attorney is running slightly late and will be here momentarily, Your Honour," announced the general and causing Red's eyes to widen as she stared at him.
'But I never booked an attorney, I doubt I could even afford one anyway,' thought the reaper in confusion. The judge just frowned but nodded and soon everyone heard the sound of the chamber doors opening, causing Red to break out of her stupor and turn to see the welcome sight of Headmaster Ozpin walking in.
"My apologizes Your Honour, I'm afraid that I was misinformed of the time of the trial," said the headmaster, giving the jury box a quick glance before approaching Red's stand. "Thankfully I received a call to inform me of the change and rushed over as quickly as possible."
The judge just nodded in understanding and following the headmaster's gaze with a frown on his face before announcing the start of the trial. Feeling a hand gently squeeze her shoulder Red looked up to see Ozpin give her a reassuring smile and felt tears of gratitude begin to well up in her eyes.
"Don't worry Ruby just let me do the talking and everything will be fine," promised the headmaster.
She nodded and stayed silent as he presented his case to the court, "Your Honour, we have numerous evidence proving Miss Rose is not responsible for these killings, including medical information, witnesses and a proven alibi."
"The Councils were all aware of this already Ozpin, our verdict remains the same," replied a councilmen.
"I see if that is the case then can you please repeat it in front of the court Councilmen, because obviously you gave the evidence a serious examination before deciding the fate of Miss Rose," asked Ozpin, only to get silence as the crowd turned expectantly to the jury box.
The silence was quickly broken as the judge's hammer echoed across the courtroom, "I would like to remind the councilmen and the defence that the jury members are strictly observers and nothing more. Neither side is allowed to interact with the other, do I make myself clear?"
"Of course Your Honour," answered Ozpin.
The headmaster then continued his case and even showed testimony from all her teammates and yet even Red could tell it was a waste of breath. The council members seemed determined to have her guilty and Ozpin's proof might as well have been told to a deaf man for all the good it did. 'Ironwood was right they really do want my head,' she realized and her tears weren't able to be held back any longer as yet another shouting match erupted between Ozpin and a councilmen. The reaper quickly glanced at Ironwood to see him equally angry as he watched the exchange, remembering what he'd promised she took a deep breath.
"Your Honour, I wish to confess," whispered Red, causing Ozpin's eyes to widen as he turned to her.
"Don't worry Yang, Ozpin will get her out of this," encouraged Weiss as the remnants of team RWBY as well as Qrow and Taiyang watched the trial rapidly devolve into a shouting match with concern.
"…I wish to confess," announced Ruby, not looking up from her hands.
"What did she say?!" exclaimed the heiress.
"Ruby please…no," chocked out the blonde as her father embraced her while Qrow just stared at the screen in silence.
"You wish to confess?" repeated the judge.
They all saw the reaper's tattoos begin giving of a soft glow as she turned to face the courtroom, giving her teammates a clear view of her tear stained, angry expression. Ruby eventually came to face the council member's jury box and gave a triumphant smile.
"Yes Your Honour, I wish to confess. I wish to confess about a secret the Councils have been keeping over their citizens," smiled Ruby as she turned to face the cameras.
"People of Remnant listen up! You are not alone! For years the Councils have kept the existence of a separate world hidden from you for years. Imagine a world that has no Grimm, a world where the only danger is the people inhabiting it. A world that is thriving while you all continue to waste away in these pitiful excuses you call a Kingdom," she shouted eagerly.
"Ruby what are you doing?! Stop this before you make it worse for yourself!" cried Yang as she shook the TV screen.
Ruby then turned to face the rest of the crowd and everyone was silent as they listened to her with mixed expressions, "'but then why would they not tell us?' You might be wondering. Is it because then people would see a thriving world and begin to resent the Council's lack of progress? Or maybe, it's because we are the darkness you fight every day, you see we don't need Grimm on Earth…"
"You don't think she's going to…" trailed off Weiss as they prayed for Ruby to end this madness before it got more out of hand.
They watched the screen as Ruby's tattoos flared to life before the reaper was surrounded in a pure black aura and a chillingly familiar half mask appeared over her face, "because we are the Grimm."
"HOW?! THE TESTS SAID THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!" screamed Yang in fear as they watched numerous guards point their weapons at Ruby.
Both Blake and Weiss frowned as they stared at the screen, "hold on Yang, something's different about her this time," informed the Faunus while Weiss nodded in agreement.
"In what way?" questioned Qrow, curiously.
"She seems far more docile and clearly isn't becoming a rabid monster, in fact take the mask off and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference," replied Blake.
Not a sound could be heard through the TV speakers as Ruby slowly turned to face the crowd before turning to the council members again, "does it scare you? Knowing that humans can be just as evil as Grimm? At least we on Earth acknowledge it while you all ignore it, tell me how is it just to accuse and punish someone, let alone a child, for a crime without any supporting evidence? You're clearly just the paragons of justice aren't you council members?"
"Silence you monster!" demanded one of the councilmen.
Ruby just laughed in her dual toned voice, "oh I'm a monster am I? Name calling how very professional of you councilmen. Well then if I'm a monster, then perhaps you should speak to me more softly. After all monsters are dangerous and right now people are dying like flies."
"Looks like my little girl has grown some fearsome teeth while we've been gone right Qrow?" laughed Taiyang.
Qrow's frown just deepened at this threat while the rest of RWBY's jaws dropped open, "is she trying to make this worse?!" questioned Weiss.
"Enough! Does the accused wish to confess or not?" ordered the judge as he slammed his hammer down.
A silence again fell upon the courtroom as Ruby's mask disappeared and the aura faded, "yes, I'm guilty, guilty. Is that want you wanted to hear councilmen?" she shouted, keeping her gaze fixed on the jury box.
"You admit you murdered the seven victims?" questioned the judge.
"No of that I'm innocent, I'm guilty of a far more horrible crime. I'm guilty of simply being from Earth," hissed Ruby.
"What's she doing?" questioned Blake with a confused expression that was matched by her two teammates.
Qrow and Taiyang just smiled, "clever girl," muttered the scythe wielder while the remainder of team RWBY stared at them.
"Just watch," replied Qrow with a cryptic smile.
"You're not on trial for coming from Earth," scoffed one of the councilmen.
"Oh really? So explain to me why I was charged and found guilty without any evidence? How all the council members found themselves 'randomly' selected for my trial? And finally why the council members from the different kingdoms are the jury of a Vale matter? All you want is me either locked up or dead! You want a scapegoat for your own incompetence!" shot back Ruby.
"That is ridiculous, everything that comes out of your mouth is a barefaced lie! How dare you try to discredit us!" roared a councilmen.
"Actually as Headmaster of Beacon I can prove that there is indeed evidence to suggest that Miss Rose is not responsible for the murders however this was never even acknowledged before the trial," informed Ozpin to the shocked crowd and judge.
"Please, these medical test you performed are clearly wrong, just look at what she did earlier," scoffed the councilmen.
"You mean how I didn't go on a rampage and try to kill everyone here? How I proved that I'm in control of my power and not the other way around?" replied Ruby, cocking her head to the side.
"I thought I told you to be SILENT!" yelled the angry councillor as low murmurings were heard coming from the crowd.
"ORDER! THERE WILL BE ORDER IN THIS COURTROOM!" shouted the judge as he repeatedly slammed his hammer on his desk and a silence descended on the chambers.
The members of RWBY all watched with raised hopes as the headmaster then approached the judge, "Your Honour, Miss Rose deserves a fair trial and it is clear that the council members were biased against her from the start. As such we demand a retrial."
The judge frowned before he nodded, "in light of recent developments this court session is postponed while a new jury is found, until then the accused will remain in custody of General Ironwood until further notice. Dismissed!"
The screen then turned back to the outside of the court building with Lisa Lavender before splitting into two as her co-anchor Cyril appeared in the studio on the left half, "well Lisa we can honestly say none of us were expecting that outcome. What do you make of this 'Earth' business?"
"Yes Cyril, while the idea of another world is ludicrous to the extreme the fact of the matter is that we have both Miss Rose's aura colour and Semblance recorded and neither of them matched the display shown in the courtroom today," replied Lisa with a frown.
"Whether this means that what she said is true or not is still up for debate but it does point some very accusing fingers at the current councils. Even now our news teams are beginning their search for anything related to this 'Earth.' Tell me Lisa how could this effect the next election if this proves to be true?" asked Cyril.
The reporter's frown deepened as she heard this question, "well Cyril we can safely say that the members of the current councils will suffer severe setbacks in their popularity due to this fixed trial and cover up. Whether this will cost them the election though remains to be seen."
The screen the shifted to focus on Cyril as he turned to face the camera, "you heard it here first folks, stayed tuned to see what we find on this 'Earth' phenomena next week."
Yang just turned the TV off before collapsing back on her seat, the tension literally draining away from her body, "well… that was a thing."
Leah frowned as she saw the doctor run towards her with a panicked expression on his face, "Doctor I take it there was a problem with establishing contact with what's left of our forces trapped in Vale?"
Her companion skidded to a stop in front of her and would have collapsed to the ground in exhaustion if the captain hadn't rushed to support him with her shoulder, "no the long range communication equipment was successfully installed in our facilities through out the kingdoms. We've finally recovered from the White Fang attack," he informed her through rapid panting.
"Then what is the problem? You would not have been running around the compound like a recruit that insulted their drill sergeant or called me back on one of my few days off if everything was going according to plan," replied Leah.
The doctor finally caught his breath as he straightened up and led her to the communications room, "the situation in Vale has deteriorated to unbelievable proportions, you are aware of the murders that occurred throughout the city?"
Leah nodded, that had made the news in the other kingdoms giving them valuable insight into the current events of the city. "I'm aware of them Doctor, I doubt there is anyone in our work who isn't," she informed him.
Her companion frowned as he walked over to one of the rooms consoles before showing her the latest reports from one of their newly re-connected Vale outposts, making the captain's eyes widen in shock as she began reading through it, seeing her reaction the doctor nodded as he turned to face her with a Grimm expression.
"Doctor are these reports accurate?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so Captain. One of the Vale outpost commanders got suspicious of the murders and sent an agent to investigate them, to which it was determined to be the work of a Feral. Unfortunately the agent was caught snooping by General Ironwood and had to be extracted," informed the doctor.
"I don't know whether to reward the officer for taking the initiative while out of touch with command or to punish him for acting without authorisation. Have the Atlas outposts double their security staff and lay low for a while, we don't want the Atlas military to catch wind of us," sighed the captain.
"It may be too late for that I'm afraid," he stated with a frown as he brought up a video file.
"What do you mean Doctor?" replied Leah.
Her companion just started the video and the captain found herself watching some sort of trial with a very recognisable figure cuffed in the middle of the room. She was about ask what was going on when they both heard Red's voice from the speakers.
People of Remnant listen up! You are not alone...
The captain's blood drained from her face as the VIP continued until she activated her Earth aura giving the two of them a good look at her newly formed mask before the screen cut out, "Doctor please tell me that this isn't as bad as I'm afraid it is."
"I wish I could Captain but with the possibility of corruption in their Councils, the story spreading through the Remnant media like wild fire. That mixed with the display the VIP provided and well... It's only a matter of time before something slips through the net, either from our end or their's," warned the doctor.
"Get the commander on the phone, tell him...we have a worse case scenario," ordered the captain.
Well there we go Red certainly decided to go out with a bang didn't she? So do you think Red chose to deal with Roman or not? And now Earth isn't as secret as anyone would like, I wonder how this will effect things now hmm?