"My champions are set. The world is changing. The Grimm are rising stronger, ready for their master's return. Yet I sense his puppet has other goals in mind. And I can also feel it; The human man who wishes to 'save the world', by metal. Fools! All them.
"My champions will set out, they will train under you. And when the time comes... I will rise again! No longer bound by the master, I will return the world as it once was. I shall burn it all. And then, I shall burn the rest.
"Magnificence is all that matters."
1 day after the events of "Different Simple Soul"...
WWWWWWWW
Weiss felt unusually happy as she dreamt. No nightmares of him, forests, Torchwick, falling, or Deathstalkers. As she was beginning to join the waking world again, she couldn't quite remember what she was dreaming about; but she did know it must have been good, as she could feel a leftover smile on her lips.
Speaking of feeling, Weiss felt superbly comfortable in this bed. It took some adjusting to get used to the sudden flashes coming from the side of the train due to a tesla overcharge, but she had managed to fall deep asleep without too much difficulty. After such a long day yesterday, sleep had felt so heavenly. And with this night gown, her hair down and free, and all of these amazing pillows; Weiss for a moment felt like she was a child again. She could snuggle here all day. The only thing that could possibly ruin it- and what was starting to gently wake her up- was this odd nasally sound. Most likely, it was one of her new comrades.
Weiss didn't feel like getting up yet, so she tried burying herself more between her pillows. The one on her left she was resting on was slightly larger than her, and had nice soft lumps to rest her head against. The one on her right seemed about her size, feeling more satin like as she cuddled against it for warmth. And then there was… one out of place. It didn't ruin anything, it was just weird that it was smaller and somewhat atop her.
...And it was moving. And making that nasally sound. And… was that a wet spot by it?
The to be queen forced her heavy eyes to open. She was looking straight up at their train car's ceiling. Or, was she? That looked more like the top to a small tent. There were no windows, yet it was bright enough to see. Weiss then realized that light, sunlight, was coming in from underneath. And the sounds of singing birds rang out into the early morning.
"Uh?" Weiss mumbled out; her brain now starting to make headway through the syrup of post sleep.
That's when she blinked several times, and then tried wiping away her eyes with her hands. One was available- her left- but her right seemed to be trapped under something. She tried wrenching it free, but whatever held it barely moved and made a mumbling noise that sounded suspiciously like a half hearted growl. It turned out to be her soft clothed pillow.
"Mom… You promised…" A mumble came from the end of the bed.
Weiss, now fully awake, fully realized her surroundings once she saw Ruby. She was curled in on herself, huddling against Weiss's legs above the comforter of the bed. For a blanket, she was using her red hood; And she was drooling all over the place.
Claustrophobia was starting to set in, as she also realized she was stuck in-between Yang and Blake. Suddenly Weiss was beyond any words for uncomfortable. And with all this fresh air, she could feel herself about...About to...
"Ah… AHCHOO!"
That woke everyone up: Causing scrambling, a chorus of surprised yelps, and their tent collapsing inward on top of the four. Not their most dignified moment as an official team.
Not to mention, that was the girls' first sign that this was gonna be another long day...
"So… Anyone wanna guess how they put us all in one bed and left us in the middle of nowhere without even waking one of us?" Yang asked, trying to break the awkward silence among the group.
Ruby, Weiss, and Yang were still in their sleep attire. The three of them were lounging around, waiting for Blake to return from scouting- having volunteering herself. Ruby didn't object, however Weiss had some concerns about safety in numbers. The deciding factor was Yang, saying she'd be fine on her own (And was really trying to show Blake she meant what she said last night). Blake left, still in her kimono, into the woods. While she was gone, Yang decided to climb back onto the bed and rest against the small headboard; Weiss was sitting stiffly at the end of the bed, back straight and unsure of what to do; and Ruby was digging through one of the four suitcases they found around their bed- this one having her name on it.
"Personally, I'm leaving it at we were all so extremely tired that none of us noticed. I refuse to consider any other possibilities." Weiss said with a scowl.
"You're not a great morning person, are you?" Yang followed. Weiss however didn't seem to be in a talking mood, and that silence was starting to return. That had to change, or Yang was sure she'd go crazy listening to birds much longer
"Ya know, if you need someone to show you how to 'go' in the woods, I'd be happy to show you. There's nothing to be ashamed of Weiss." Yang said with a smirk and brow raised. That was sure to get a rise.
"Gross." Ruby said nonchalantly as she picked out her clothes for the day.
"Shut up, Torch! Don't you have something you could go off and punch? Like a tree or something?" Weiss retaliated while blushing.
"Trees can't fight back. Wouldn't be fair."
Ruby followed her sister; still nonchalant in tone, though smiling as she said:
"That would be tree assault. Tree's have feelings too... and tree police."
"I highly doubt that." Weiss said.
"What do you think birds and squirrels are for?"
"Eating." Blake said from behind Ruby.
Everyone turned to Blake, who had at some point made a grass and weed basket. Inside were some eggs, berries, and two dead squirrels.
"Found some food. And a trail leading somewhere."
"Should we even ask about the basket and squirrels? Do you have claws or something?" Yang asked as she and Weiss got up and came over.
"After living about two and a half lifetimes, you learn a few things." Blake handed over the basket to Weiss- who foolishly handed it to Yang- before turning to the woods again to grab firewood. When she came back, she continued with the conversation. "Plus I'm still a kid. I won't get another trait like claws or a tail for another few hundred years."
"How old are you by Faunus years?" Weiss asked as the Roses scarfed down the berries.
"Same as you and Yang. Roughly seventeen."
"Fwaunus war weird." Yang said though a mouth of juicy berries.
"I cwan't stwop imagining Bwake with a kwitty tail." Ruby said with a full mouth laugh.
Blake just rolled her eyes at the sisters. Guess she and Weiss didn't want any of those.
"We need a fire to cook these." The rouge said as she set her haul of twigs down. "We can use my basket to help the fire start."
"Now hold on! What we need is to find out where we are and what happened to us." Weiss protested.
Yang swallowed before talking this time, giving what was left in the basket to Ruby.
"There's no sense worrying on an empty stomach. Let's eat, then plan. Maybe it's all a test by Ozpin anyway to see what we'd do."
Weiss was about to argue out of habit, though restrained herself. That wasn't the most outrageous possibility. Why else go through the trouble of explaining Last Light to them if they were just going to leave them in the woods? Seemed awfully time wasting for the real headmaster.
The heir sigh, then shrugged. "I suppose..."
Ruby had finished off what was left of her fruity victims, turning and rising to her feet to join the conversation. Her cheeks had streaks of berry juice along them, which she rubbed away while adding:
"Regardless, trying to fight Grimm on an empty stomach won't get us far."
The others nodded in agreement, though the impact of Ruby's words took a moment longer to register. They had all forget about the Grimm. The monsters, darkness incarnate… that could be literally anywhere at this very moment.
"I'll skin the squirrels." Blake said.
"I'll get a fire started." Yang added.
"I'll sort our belongings. See if there's any extra supplies." Weiss followed. Each of them now moved and talked with purpose.
"And I'll get our weapons together." Ruby said, overly cheery.
The four ate their food in silence, then dressed themselves in their normal attire (With Ruby taking extra time, needing to change in the woods for privacy). Each of them was given fresh, clean clothes; water cans, minimal ammo, and some Dust for Weiss. The gang loaded up, packed away their sleepwear, and decided to abandon the bed. However Yang volunteered to take down the fairly large tent and put it in her case, and Ruby couldn't help but not pack the pillow.
From there, the four girls strapped the suitcases onto their backs to free up hands. Then, they set off toward the path.
WWWWWWWW
They had been walking the trail for twenty minutes, and already Ruby was bored. Lagging behind everyone else, she tired of the dying autumn turning winter scenery, tired of walking, tired of being a bit chilly, and was silently praying for a Beowolf or something to appear- just to break up the monotony.
Blake and Yang were walking neck and neck in front of her, not really talking. Just walking together. For Ruby, it was kinda of a surreal sight. And above all else at this moment, she was at least glad that the two's little heart to heart from last night was holding up. For the time being anyway.
Meanwhile Weiss was leading. She was flexing her previously broken arm a bit- the cast having fallen off after Blake had left- probably trying to ease the stiffness and sore feeling it must still have. As she observed, Ruby wondered if she always had a scowl on her face; Though she figured, if she and Yang could get along, Ruby estimated she could too.
As she started feeling the bandage on the left side on her face, Ruby began retreating into her own world of thought.
Wouldn't it be cool to be best friends with a queen? She thought. I can imagine it now… INTRODUCING, HER ROYAL MAJESTY! AND HER FAITHFUL DUCHESS, AND GOVERNESS OF PATCH, RUBY ROSE!
The idea of being able to walk around a castle, and see behind all the curtains of her government, nearly made Ruby giddy. Not as much as being able to see prototype weapons and armor being made for knights, but giddy still.
I just hope I don't have to wear heels. I can't imagine walking in those. How can she even fight in them?
Ruby jumped over a rock in the road mid-thought. It was a funny shape, though the teen prodigy didn't think much of it.
That kinda looked like masonry. Anyway, what was I thinking? Oh, I remember. Heels. Egh. She does have great taste in combat skirts though. And I lover her jacket! The royal emblem on the back just stands out and looks so-
Ruby's thoughts stopped dead, along with the rest of the girls. Their path had become wider, and was filled with more masonry. Bricks and rusting metal pieces littered the road from here, into the distance, and even all about the forest.
"What happened here?" Yang asked.
"A battle of some kind?"
Blake shook her head, sniffing lightly around for scents. From what Ruby could tell of her scrunched nose and bleak face, she was getting the same result.
"Not just any battle." She said, grabbing the group's attention. "The battle. It's faint, but it's there."
Blake pointed off down the rest of the road. Something in the distance was poking off the horizon. Something tall.
"It's coming from there. Decay. The place reeks of it."
Ruby, just from those context clues, now knew exactly where they were and what Blake was talking about. And personally, she'd rather be anywhere else. Was this their test? What was Ozpin trying to make them prove? If they could hold their stomachs?
"I hope there's not many skeletons left…" The hooded girl said. Weiss and Yang only looked confused, but Blake understood. It didn't particularly matter to explain to the others. They'd see once they reached the ruins.
"Come on." Weiss jumped in. "We should get going. Stay together."
The group fell in line behind her, and were off again. The air now felt thick with tension (And a tad hint of fear). Ruby could tell everyone, herself included, were struggling to keep their nerves. And if the ruins of a massacre didn't attract Grimm, they would at this rate.
A tower. It was a tower that they had seen.
Its top right was torn open to the sky, and many parts of the tower from base on up were also blown open. It was surrounded by several other tall structures, most of whom were either barely foundations or nothing more than rubble. It was an impressive castle at one point in time. However, the academy now was nothing more than a reminder of a tragedy.
Ruby stood there and gawked at the scene before them. While the main castle still looked like fresh ruins, the courtyard and other smaller buildings had been overwhelmingly taken back by nature. The water of the great courtyard was murky and full of lily pads and pond muck. The decorative wall and arches surrounding the area were shattered and separated at several points, covered all in moss. The courtyard itself was full of craters, grass and weeds, scattered rubble, and…
"Students…" Ruby mumbled.
Scattered about, in various degrees and ways, were skeletons. Some had what looked to be different leftover cloth still attached- tatters of clothing most likely. Others had what looked to be parts of or whole weapons at their sides. All rusting away.
"My god…" Yang breathed.
"Welcome to Beacon." Blake said grimly. She seemed oddly unfazed by all this ruin. Though Ruby didn't dwell on that thought long; She couldn't stop staring at a mostly complete skeleton, holding onto what appeared to be another skeleton. To her, it almost looked like the large skeleton was trying to shield the smaller one from the Dust powered artillery that had rained on that day.
Ruby felt her her arm being tugged. And when she broke herself from her trance, she saw a concerned Yang there. She couldn't help herself, and hugged her big sister tightly.
"Shh. It's okay. It's okay."
"Yang… I don't remember when it all happened, so I'm not sure… Why didn't they come get the bod-" Ruby couldn't say it aloud. She's never seen such a scene before in all her life. "The students?"
Yang didn't answer right away. She just held and stroked the top of her sister's head. How should she explain? It wasn't a hard answer, and it certainly would make sense to Ruby (Considering what she does). It's just a hard thing to admit that happened.
"My father once told me that they couldn't afford to risk lives to save bodies. The worst part of the Beacon attack wasn't necessarily the airships. It was the Grimm."
Ruby pulled away from Yang, finding Weiss.
"After the attack ended, those who must have been left above-ground and not below were hunted by swarms of Grimm. They flocked here. Flocked to the negativity. It was just too dangerous to send the army in. Too many knights would have surely perished. And before other hunters and armies could arrive to aid, or by the time the Grimm dissipated… there wasn't much left to retrieve. So it was decreed to leave it as it was. Much like Mountain Glenn, it stands here as a reminder."
Ruby sniffled, then nodded. That sounded familiar. And it was reasonable that Ozpin couldn't send anyone up to help them. She thought it must have really upset him. It upsets her just thinking about it.
"Guys! Over here!" Blake called.
When the three turned to see where she was, they saw Blake had moved past the destruction further in. She had walked to the entrance of Beacon, and was standing by a monument of sorts. Weiss started over to her, followed by Yang and Ruby a moment later.
"I can't believe she isn't bothered by this." Yang thought aloud. Her tone telling Ruby she was about to say something she'd regret later.
"Maybe she is." Ruby offered.
"Or maybe she was here, and watched it all happen."
Ruby sighed, then stopped her sister a moment to look her in the eye.
"And if she was, then that gives her a bigger reason to get through this as quick as possible. She probably feels terrible being here Sis, more so than any of us. This is the biggest reminder of who she was. There's been a lot of change for her the last few days; So just give her a break, okay?"
Yang looked away for a moment, though was forced to look back into Ruby's silver eyes by a hand.
"Please, Solitaire. Don't fight with her again. You promised her."
"Are you two alright?" Blake called again. "You're going to want to see this."
Wanting to move on from the conversation, Yang hastily whispered a yes, and Ruby was satisfied enough with the answer. She knew her sister well enough that some arguing was inevitable, however that was a bridge to cross another day.
"What'd you find." Ruby asked when the four regrouped.
Blake pointed to a monument. It was a statue of a hunter and a huntress, victorious over a Grimm. Only the statute now had the top half of the huntress missing, and the hunter's head and sword holding arm were gone. The only thing still completely intact was the Grimm underneath. However, something newer had been taped to the statue. A piece of paper.
"I'll get it!" Ruby volunteered, her spirits starting to return. She vanished into petals, and in a blink reappeared with the note. "Oh! It's for us!"
She began reading it, and in all of their minds they could easily hear Ozpin through its words.
As fun as it would be to continue practicing my poetry again for you four, I'll spare you and skip straight to the matter at hand.
This is what remains of Beacon. And in the past, it was the most prestigious academy in the world. However, as you can see, it is nothing more than a mass grave. Despite this, our traditions and our morals will not die too.
As you may have noticed, we've left you all outside of Last Light, to honor the traditions of new students having to complete an initiation test- a final challenge of entry into the ranks. Before, the test was used to determine teams using pairs and artifacts; It was a simple game of retrieval. Today, you will be doing something similar.
There are two items necessary to enter into Last Light, and you must retrieve both of them if you hope to be amongst us before dark. The items are both part of a set, so it should not be difficult to identify them. They've been placed in random locations within Beacon's grounds.
We will also be monitoring the entire test for assessment purposes- and have been monitoring you since entering the grounds.
Take heed! While monitoring, our instructors have been told not to interfere under any circumstance. Therefore, do not hesitate to destroy everything you come into contact with; even if that means destroying what remains of Beacon. Lives are always more valuable than ruins.
Good luck, team RWBY.
"Team RWBY?" Weiss asked.
"It's an anagram of our names." Ruby stated matter-of-factly. "Huntsman use them to identify their team and members while under training."
"I'm sure that name won't cause any confusion." Blake said sarcastically.
Ruby vanished into petals, then reappeared on the statue foundation to take a heroic pose.
"Right! Team RWBY, let's split up and search for those keys!"
"Are you sure that's the best idea? There could be hundreds of Grimm." Weiss worried. "Though I suppose that would be faster…"
"We'll be fine. They said they were on the grounds. And I know exactly where one of them is!" Yang said confidently.
Everyone looked to her expectedly. The blonde brawler pointed to the signature tower.
"There! One of them has got to be there! It's as obvious as…"
"Don't."
"You."
"Dare." Each one of the other girls said.
"A Beacon!" Yang said with an open smile.
Everyone else just groaned.
"Fine. Then the other has to be near the cliffs." Weiss deduced. "I remember an old Beacon huntsman who served my father mention that used to be where all initiation tests took place. It only makes sense one would be there as well."
"Agreed." Blake said.
"So," Ruby called, trying to take charge as an impromptu leader. "I think we should separate into our teams from last night. Those worked for us, and Blake and I can easily run to the cliffs. Solitaire, you and Weiss can head up to the tower."
Yang's eyes and expression suddenly became sad. The sight alone threw Ruby off enough not to immediately shout 'Break!' and start moving.
"Oh... I was thinking you and I could partner up on this Sis."
"Ah. Well uh…"
Ruby stepped down from the statue, and started poking her fingers together while slightly blushing. She could feel the embarrassment coming off so strong, she was sure Blake would start gagging at any moment. She didn't understand what the problem was, her plan made sense; But she felt bad about hurting her sister's feelings somehow.
"I just, thought, ya know…" She stumbled.
"I'll go with Yang."
Blake stepped towards Yang and gestured to the ruins with a nod in their direction.
"I'd like to take it easy and look around for a bit. Plus trying to race Ruby is like trying to fly without wings."
She smiled at Yang, trying to ease the awkward moment. Yang raised a brow, though shrugged and just said neutrally:
"Sure."
"Well, I guess that just leaves us then." Weiss sighed. She could feel the headache coming already.
Weiss drew her sword, then stepped back to put it forward in their little circle.
"Here's to our first mission as a team!" She said, trying to sound enthused. Though it came out with a crack, and she stumbled a bit with some minor nerves.
The three just stood there, unsure what the Ice Queen was up to. They also weren't sure what they were supposed to do, so they just stood there and blinked at her.
"Um, hello? You're supposed to-" Weiss started. Though she just sighed and put away her weapon in sad defeat.
"Never mind. Let's go, Ruby."
So, the four split. Into the ruins, and into the woods again.
WWWWWWWW
How much farther?
Not far. Just keep up.
Take it easy on them. Some of us are in better shape than others.
Please… Can we stop a moment. I'm feeling lightheaded again.
Commander. We can not slow down. We must keep progressing. My electric manipulation is only a short term solution. They need real medical attention.
Do you hear that?
Quiet!
...Who is that?
Maybe she's a traveler.
I'll take her out. I'm not take any unnecessary chances.
I think she heard us!
All of you, stop talking! I will deal with this. Jaune, keep an eye out.
WWWWWWWW
Ruby and Weiss had been making their way through the treeline around the edge of Beacon's grounds for more than five minutes before stopping for a quick water break.
"It's definitely this way. Wait! I mean… this way! It's definitely this way."
Well, maybe they had stopped for another reason.
Weiss watch Ruby go back and forth, always doing a one-eighty in the other direction, and using her semblance to not lose speed. Petals were going everywhere, and Weiss was getting awfully tired of this charade. And would start sneezing if any more petals popped up.
"Ruby… We don't have any idea where the cliffs are."
It was something all of them had collectively forgotten- such a simple mistake looking back- and now it was a question of how they figure out where the cliffs were- there certainly weren't any maps around or directories. Ruby though was certain, and didn't want to give the impression she didn't know what she was doing. She really wanted the Queen to like her.
"I… Of course I do! Just… give me a minute to think your majesty." She said, before silently going back to pacing.
Suddenly Weiss's tone went from calm, to furious in the blink of an eye. She jerked up to her feet, and got in Ruby's pacing path to say right to her face:
"Do not call me that. My stature holds no grounds as of this moment. And I am not the queen! My father is still alive!"
With that, she walked past Ruby to continue the course.
It took the young girl a moment to realize what she had done. She chased after and quickly caught up to Weiss.
"I'm so sorry. I'd forgotten, and it just sort of came out, and I really didn't mean to imply your dad was-" She said in a rushed whine.
"Just. Stop. Unless you have a plan or a map, I suggest we keep walking until we find a trail leading off."
Ruby was about to say more, though held her tongue. She now felt like a complete jerk-face to Weiss. Not a great first impression.
"How is your dad?" Ruby asked in a more calm, serious tone.
Weiss didn't answer at first, though she didn't immediately looked angry either.
"I don't know. Last we spoke, he still wasn't great. But he could walk, and dress himself. Although when I left and for all he knows… I'm with Torchwick right now. Who he still thinks was Ozpin."
Weiss abruptly stopped walking. She had closed her eyes and was taking deep breathes to calm herself. She buried her oncoming feelings for now; they would do her no good in their current task, and would only bring flashes.
"How did they think he was Torchwick? I mean, not everyone in an entire castle could just forget what he looks or acts like."
Weiss opened her eyes, and saw Ruby patiently waiting for her. She didn't ask about Weiss needing a moment. She just carried on politely.
"That I do not know. No one, not even my father, question him. Which puzzles me to no end. Surely my father of all people would remember what the headmaster looked like."
"Hmm. Maybe he had…" Ruby wondered off in her own thoughts. Weiss didn't try and follow her through the rabbit hole though- it was a lost cause.
"Hey, Weiss?" Ruby suddenly came back after a good minute or so.
"Yes?"
"I think I might know a way to see where the cliffs are."
"Oh really? How?"
"Well, for starters, how high can your glyphs go into the air?"