Author's note: This is the first of several spin-offs for my main fanfiction, taking place during Chapter 53.
Ladybug fell out of another shadow and heard Mantle's Grimm sirens blaring around her. Her Grimm sense told her that there were a dozen Sabyr coming her way, and she heard Atlesian Knights shoot at them, though none of the Grimm died. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her, followed by a familiar voice.
"Who is that?" Ruby asked, and Ladybug turned around. She saw her friends, as well as Ruby and Blake, stand on the road like they did the day they arrived in Mantle. Also, Yang's eyes were purple and her prosthetic arm was damaged, and Blake's sword was already broken.
"You look… familiar," Nora said.
"Who… are you?" Blake asked. The Sabyr approached, and Ladybug petrified them with her silver eyes, without even turning to look at them.
"My name is Ladybug," Ladybug answered, and Ruby and Blake gave each other confused looks.
"Like our team attack?" Ruby asked, and Blake shrugged.
"Exactly like that," Ladybug answered.
"Wait, what?" Blake asked.
"I'm as confused as you are," Ladybug answered and asked, "Could I ask Jinn about this?"
"Sorry," Ruby said, "But we'd rather keep the question for later."
"Alright then," Ladybug said, "I'll just ask Sirena about it."
"Who?" Ruby asked, and everyone gave Ladybug confused looks.
"Wait, you don't know her?" Ladybug asked and said, "Then again, she did say there were timelines where she didn't exist."
"Hold up," Yang said and asked, "Are you telling me the multiverse is real?"
"Seems like it," Ladybug answered. Suddenly, Penny landed between her and her friends, much to everyone's surprise.
"P- Penny?" Ruby asked and rushed over to hug her, "But how? I thought you were killed."
"And I thought… nevermind," Ladybug said and let her other self have this moment, while she sat down on the roadside and went into her soul core to learn how to use Weiss, Yang, Nora and Qrow's semblances, since Ruby already knew how everyone else's worked.
"My past supports my today and paves the way into tomorrow," Weiss' voice said as Ladybug touched her emblem. Same as Whitley.
"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger," Yang's voice said.
"I'm a force of nature," Nora's voice said.
"You shall reap what you sow," Qrow's voice said, surprising Ladybug the most. She returned to the waking world and saw her friends talk among each other, with Pietro and Maria, still old and without eyes, walking up to them.
"What do we do?" Ruby asked mentally.
"I don't know," Blake responded, "But we need to figure out why we're in another timeline, and how, and get back to our friends."
"I mean, those people are also our friends," Ruby said, "Kind of."
"Never a dull moment," Ren said. Ladybug drew her weapons and shot the bolases before they could hit her friends, snapping the strings. Ruby and her friends turned around to see the Ace-Ops drop onto the street. Ladybug walked up to the Ace-Ops, her Kusarigama in gun form, and aimed at them.
"Explain yourself," Ladybug said, "You just assaulted an associate of General James Ironwood, if you didn't know. I will have to ask you to come with me."
"Is that really me?" Blake asked, not sure if she liked how the fusion, whatever that even meant, acted.
"What's your problem?" Harriet asked and readied her weapon, and Elm also got ready to throw down.
"Guys, come on, don't fight," Ruby said, trying to deescalate the situation.
"I guess you're right," Ladybug said and put her weapons away, "I'm sorry. I just had some bad experiences with people ambushing random people instead of talking to them, or asking questions first."
"We were following orders," Clover said defensively.
"I'd like to hear those orders, then," Ladybug said.
"We were sent to investigate a stolen airship," Clover said, "It was detected making an unauthorized landing, followed by reports of use of weapons by unauthorized huntsmen."
"Then you were not ordered to risk starting a fight," Ladybug said, "If you wouldn't have succeeded in capturing them without my help, they would have likely started a fight, drawing Grimm into a city and putting lives in danger. You chose this approach, all five of you, and it put innocent lives on the line. Now, take us to your superior." The Ace-Ops tried to look tough, but Ladybug reduced her aura's suppression a bit and her soul's strength made them back down. The group was led to a Manta that would take them to Atlas.
~o~
As soon as Forest made the Manta's pilots roll up the window, Ladybug let out a sigh of resignation, catching everyone's attention.
"Oscar, how good is your acting?" Ladybug asked.
"Not good," Oscar answered and asked, "Why?"
"Because Ironwood needs someone to give him orders," Ladybug answered, "And your friend is the only one who can do that. Robyn can be trusted, and will help with his plans, if she knows them. Ruby, tell him about the lamp. Not everything, but that there is still one left. I'll catch up with you later." Before anyone could ask what she meant, the Manta arrived in Atlas and everyone got off, safe for Forest and Ladybug.
~o~
Ruby's Group, General Ironwood, Winter, Penny and Ace-Ops were standing in a large class room in Atlas Academy, with Ruby holding the lamp. Just as Ruby was about to summon Jinn, they heard commotion outside when the guards tried to keep someone out, followed by Ladybug throwing the door open.
"Sorry I'm late, had to pick up some gifts," Ladybug said and threw Tyrian and Arthur into the room, both barely conscious.
"What?!" Ironwood asked, composed himself and said, "Let her be." The guards, still trying to restrain Ladybug, stopped, saluted, and left the room.
"Now isn't this a surprise," Arthur said, and tried to sit up.
"Stand down," Ladybug said and shot him through the right shoulder, much to everyone's shock.
"Was that really necessary?" Ruby asked.
"It was," Ladybug answered, "He would've caused too much damage otherwise. Now, if we're ready."
"Of course," Ruby said and asked, "But, what should I ask?"
"How we can destroy Salem," General Ironwood answered.
"I disagree," Ladybug said, drawing the military's attention to herself, "If we destroy her, there will only come another one later. But by then, we will be complacent, and not know how to fight her forces. Also, our entire huntsman system is based around fighting Grimm that have a ruler. There is no telling how the Grimm react if the ruler is gone. She is human, after all, and humans make mistakes. Instead, ask what our weaknesses are that allow her to control us."
"Alright," Ruby said, "Jinn."
"Welcome," Jinn said, noticed Ladybug and said, "You're not supposed to be here."
"I know," Ladybug said, "I just don't know why I'm here anyway. But I'll make the best of it."
"It's your semblance, and your ability to see into alternate timelines," Jinn explained, "You can come out of any shadow near a Grimm. And since you can detect any Grimm across the multiverse, you can freely travel. But once you leave a timeline, you cannot enter it again."
"Thanks," Ladybug said.
"You're welcome," Jinn said and asked, "Now, what is your question?" Ruby looked around among her friends, who all nodded.
"Jinn, how does Salem control us?" Ruby asked, and everyone found themselves in a white void. Ladybug pulled out Ruby's scroll and began recording the vision. Blue smoke appeared and turned the void into Ironwood's office. General Ironwood sat on his chair, and time moved faster than usual, only occasionally slowing down when someone entered the room. Slowly, his posture became less stable, but he forced himself to look strong whenever someone came to speak with him.
"Sir, what are your orders?" Winter asked.
"Yes, sir," Harriet said.
"Of course, sir," Clover said.
"The fall of Beacon hit James badly," Jinn said, "He needed someone to guide him. Someone to help him see the way. But there were few with that courage." The scene changed again, to show a flashback of General Ironwood and Robyn Hill talking.
"You can't just leave Mantle so poorly protected," Robyn said.
"I have to make a decision," General Ironwood said, "And I choose to protect Atlas."
"You chose wrong," Robyn said and stormed off, followed by younger versions of the other Happy Huntresses.
"It's alright, General," Winter said, "She does not know what she is talking about. You made the right call."
"Robyn was right," Jinn said, "General Ironwood surrounded himself with people who, albeit unknowingly, drove him to follow Salem's plans to the letter and sabotaged his efforts by eroding his mental health." The scene changed again, to show General Ironwood and the Ace-Ops, minus Marrow, standing in a conference room.
"This is your new teammate, Marrow Amin," General Ironwood said as Marrow walked in, "I expect you to treat him as you did Tortuga." Harriet choked a bit, but ignored her feelings.
"Pain is powerful," Jinn said, "It teaches mankind the meaning of love. When experienced, confronted, and dealt with, it is a powerful motivation. When suppressed, ignored, and denied, disaster follows. Salem knows that more than anyone." The scene changed again, now showing Salem crying over Ozma, while also showing Harriet crying over Tortuga, and Harriet stared in horror at the similarity of it all.
"Impossible," Harriet said. The scene then changed once more, to show Vine and Elm fighting side by side.
"Strength and flexibility, and a good plan," Jinn said, "Those are good, certainly. But they mean nothing if the plan is all that keeps the team together. Fighting without a plan requires communication, and a deep understanding of one another."
"Wait, what?" Elm and Vine asked simultaneously.
"Another way is by robbing you of your skills," Jinn said, and the vision showed a young Clover.
"I don't need to study," Clover said, "I have my Good Luck semblance." The vision then rapidly changed multiple times, showing Clover mention his luck so much that it lost all meaning to the people watching the vision.
"Those who have yet to break free from abuse are also easy targets," Jinn said, "They are too loyal to oppose authority, and reinforce the exact traits and habits Salem preys on." The scene changed again, showing a vision of a younger Winter.
"Yes, father," Winter said and left the room. The door opened again shortly after, and an older version of Winter came in. The room now looked like Ironwood's office.
"Winter, come with me to Vale," General Ironwood said.
"Yes, sir," Winter said, in almost the same tone and posture as when she got an order from her father. Seeing that she hadn't changed much, Winter gasped.
"But her easiest way to control you, is fear," Jinn said, "It clouds your judgment, makes you give in to hate, turn on your allies, and abandon those who rely on you." The scene changed one more time, showing Salem walk through the ages as an ominous shadow. Before her were people coexisting peacefully, in harmony and friendship. Behind her, however, the images were countless. Distrust, hatred, war, death, Grimm. And in the end, a vision of General Ironwood in front of his robotic army.
"No," General Ironwood said in disbelief, as he saw Salem proudly smile at the vision of him.
"But the one thing she cannot control, is light," Jinn said, and everyone saw a vision of countless silver-eyed warriors, including Maria and Summer, with Ruby in the front. They stood behind her like Ironwood's machines did behind him, yet everyone knew intuitively that this army was the one they needed. The vision ended, and the lamp fell to the ground.
"What was all that?" Marrow asked, "And where were Penny and I?"
"Yeah, or you guys," Harriet said and asked, "You haven't had any military training, and Marrow and Penny had the least, so shouldn't they be in the vision, too?"
"Think about it," Ladybug said, "The fact that those with the least amount of military training are not in a vision showing which people Salem can easily control should tell you something."
"It tells me the relic is broken," Harriet said angrily. Ladybug used Tranquility on Harriet to calm her down.
"It means you're wrong," Ladybug said sternly, "It means that acting like a machine is a liability. It means that Salem knows which buttons to press. When you blindly follow orders, regardless of who gives them, you will die."
"Is that a threat?" Elm asked, and Ladybug smiled.
"It is not," Ladybug answered, "I am simply trying to prevent Salem from destroying another kingdom."
"Hold up, did you just use my semblance back there?" Ren asked.
"Yes," Ladybug answered, "And if you focus on saving people from Grimm, you can disappear into any shadow, and come out of any shadow near a Grimm you can detect. But now, I'll leave it to Ruby and Ozpin to save Atlas. Whether from an outside enemy, or an inside one." Before anyone could react, she disappeared into her own shadow and was gone. General Ironwood still had trouble coming to terms with the fact that he had helped Salem with his methods, Winter had to sit down after realizing that she never made any progress at breaking free from her father, and Vine tried to talk to Elm. Harriet and Elm were too busy being upset that Ladybug left them like this to talk, however.
~o~
Watching the timeline from outside, Ladybug saw that the military did a bit better, but the revelation that Ozpin hadn't really been around sent Ironwood down a dark path again, especially since Cinder was still on the loose. She fell back into a similar timeline and petrified the Grimm, then saved her friends from the Ace-Ops and started talking to them like before.
"Guys, come on, don't fight," Ruby said, trying to deescalate the situation.
"Don't worry, it won't be a fight," Ladybug said, and the Grimm sirens came on.
"Now look what you've done," Harriet said.
"I am perfectly calm," Ladybug said, "Your childish temper, on the other hand, is currently putting civilians in danger. And here I thought you were trained professionals." A pack of Sabyr approached the corner, and Ladybug used her silver eyes again.
"What was that?" Clover asked, and walked over to the petrified Grimm.
"I'd be careful," Ladybug said and focused all her anger about Clover's recklessness on him, using Qrow's semblance.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Clover said. He touched a Sabyr and its leg gave away, causing the Grimm to fall on Clover's foot.
"Sorry," Qrow said as Clover hopped around in pain for a few seconds.
"Wait, how's that possible?" Harriet asked and said, "With your semblance, this shouldn't have happened."
"Which is why I countered it with Qrow's," Ladybug said.
"Wait, what?" Qrow asked.
"The light you all just saw was my soul," Ladybug answered, "When it touches another person's soul, they leave a mark on one another. This mark can be used as a mold, allowing a person to make their aura behave like another person's aura, and emulating the effect of their semblance."
"You're joking, right?" Harriet asked.
"Nope," Ladybug answered, "The five of you can make your aura behave like mine, to disappear into any shadow and come out of a shadow near a Grimm."
"If that is true, then you have to teach us," Elm said.
"You could've asked, but alright," Ladybug said, "So, due to your horrible attitude, we'll go with the bird method. Try to get back here using Shadow Step." Ladybug grabbed Elm with Vines pulled herself to her, then made both disappear into Elm's shadow. Just as the other Ace-Ops were looking for the two of them, Ladybug came running up to them again with Super Speed and grabbed Harriet and Clover, before disappearing again. She then repeated the process with Marrow and Vine.
~o~
When Ruby's Group met with General Ironwood in his office to tell him what had happened, Ladybug came in through the door, drawing all the attention to herself, and General Ironwood assumed an imposing pose.
"Where are my men?" General Ironwood asked.
"Hello, I'm Ladybug. Nice to meet you, too," Ladybug said, "Your men are alive, if that is what you're asking. Also safe, assuming you weren't lying about them being an elite team."
"No, I am asking where they are," General Ironwood said.
"Elm rudely demanded I train the team to use my semblance," Ladybug said, "I mean, I was going to anyway, but that attitude needs to change. So, I changed my approach to training them."
"Where are they?" General Ironwood asked and pulled one of his guns.
"I brought them away," Ladybug answered, "They know how to get back. I told them all they needed to know to use my semblance. Once they get into the right mental and emotional state, they'll be back in an instant. And since you insist they're the best huntsmen in the world, I honestly expected them to be back already."
"Where did you bring them?" General Ironwood asked and cocked his gun. Ladybug remained completely calm.
"Pull the trigger, and I'm gone. For good," Ladybug said. General Ironwood hesitated, but put his gun away again.
"Now please, tell me where they are," General Ironwood said.
"Of course," Ladybug said with a smile, "I brought Clover and Harriet into a swamp in Anima, where the local ambient aura disables luck-based semblances and the terrain makes moving at high speeds much more difficult. Elm is in Vacuo, and Marrow and Vine are in Vale. But we will have to work on your tone. It's still too robotic to gain anyone's trust, and without trust, Salem doesn't even consider you worthy of a footnote in her plans."
"Why did you bring them there?" General Ironwood asked.
"Because they're supposed to be the elite," Ladybug answered, "Harriet has yet to have any ranged capabilities. A single Manticore can kill her in a one on one fight, just by flying five meters above the ground and shooting fireballs until she gets tired of dodging or runs out of aura to use her semblance. Clover relies too much on his semblance. In another timeline, his aura broke mid-fight. In less than five seconds, he was dead. Elm can't use her weapon at full effectiveness without her semblance, which is why I brought her somewhere where she can't easily use it. She'll have to work, train, get better, and learn to grow deeper roots."
"And Marrow and Vine?" General Ironwood asked, "Why bring them to Vale?"
"Combat training," Ladybug answered, "Mostly battlefield awareness. But also as reinforcements to help get rid of Grimm. Anyway, I'll go now."
"Wait!" Qrow called out, and everyone looked at him.
"Yes?" Ladybug asked.
"What did you mean earlier?" Qrow asked, "When you said you countered Clover's semblance with mine. How did you do it?"
"Your semblance is an expression of your aura," Ladybug answered, "You are also misunderstanding it. It doesn't just bring bad luck. It changes probability based on your emotional state. Control your emotions, and you can control your semblance. I was mad at Clover for his recklessness, so he had bad luck. Anyway, if that is all, I'd leave." Ladybug waited a moment, then disappeared. Just as she disappeared, Qrow's scroll rang. He picked up and someone told him that a local cookie company was giving away a year's worth of cookies to a random number, and he had won.
~o~
Outside the timeline, Ladybug saw that Marrow and Vine returned first, but ended up in the tundra and needed to be picked up. Clover, Harriet and Elm took a lot longer, though. Clover eventually ditched his fishing rod in favor of a spear, and Harriet had double-barrel guns mounted to her weapon, while also learning to traverse unsteady surfaces more easily. Elm learned to grow deeper roots, and also decided to downgrade her hammer a bit upon returning home. Things went a lot better, but Salem still arrived.
~o~
Just after Clover pulled the Geist out of its body, Ladybug fell out of its shadow and caught it in her hands. She dropped to the ground and used her silver eyes to petrify the Geist, letting everyone copy her semblance again.
"Wait, what?" Harriet asked, "Who are you, and how did you do that?"
"I'm Ladybug, and you just saw the powers of the silver eyes," Ladybug answered.
"Silver… eyes?" Clover asked, and the Ace-Ops turned to Ruby.
"The light from within my soul," Ladybug answered, drawing the attention to herself, "It collided with your souls and left a mark on them, as yours did on mine. This mark, a mirror of who I am, can be used as mold to recreate the structure of my soul."
"In Vytalian?" Marrow asked.
"You can use my semblance, and I can use yours," Ladybug answered.
"No, seriously, what do you-" Marrow asked, but stopped when Ladybug used Vines to push herself upwards. She came back down, and all eyes were on her.
"Harriet, try it," Ladybug said, "Save the people from Grimm."
"I don't have to take orders from you," Harriet said.
"There are people dying in Mantle," Ladybug said coldly, "And you are letting them die. Like you did Tortuga." When she heard that name, Harriet was gone.
"That was uncalled for," Elm said.
"I just needed to prove a few things," Ladybug said, "For one, that you guys do actually care about each other. Secondly, that those emotions can help you. Harriet's love for Tortuga just saved a bunch of children that would've died otherwise. Do not lie to yourself, Elm. It is the first step down a path that leads to Salem's victory." With that message, Ladybug disappeared again, leaving the remaining four Ace-Ops and Ruby's Group in the mine to ponder her words.
~o~
Ladybug watched the timeline. The Ace-Ops began training to use Shadow Step, but unlike them, Ruby's Group had virtually no problems using it. Over time, all of them became nicer and more supportive of each other, and while Atlas did still fall, the people were saved. And a few years down the line, new silver-eyed warriors emerged.
~o~
Ladybug dropped out of a shadow in Mantle and stopped in front of three Sabyr running from Yang, Jaune, Ren and Oscar. She created a fire-dust clone of all four, just before the Hound tackled Oscar. The clone exploded, and her friends appeared behind Ladybug. The Hound got back up and looked at its targets. Ladybug used Tranquility to hide the others, then recharged their auras completely.
"Run," Ladybug said.
"Are you sure?" Yang asked, "What about you? Who are you, anyway?" Before Ladybug could answer, the Hound grabbed her and threw her around, slamming her into various walls to break her aura and follow its target again. Ladybug focused Qrow's semblance, and her hatred for Grimm, on the Hound, and it slammed her into a street light, electrocuting both of them.
"Run," Ladybug said, her voice now distorted with electricity, "A river is coming from the Whale. Stop it, or Atlas will fall today. And Yang, focus your anger on a smaller point to increase damage."
"Thanks," Yang said, and she, Jaune, Ren and Oscar others drove away as fast as they could. The Hound attacked Ladybug again. She clenched her right fist, entered her Alpha State to regenerate her aura faster, and punched the Hound. She focused all the energy on a pea-sized point. As soon as she made contact, a blinding light erupted in the street. Ladybug went blind and deaf for a time, but when she regained her senses, she saw a blackened skeleton of a faunus on the road. She decided she had done enough, and left the timeline.
~o~
Outside the timeline, she saw that Atlas was saved, but Salem got the lamp. General Ironwood was arrested for murder, and supporting Salem, and Penny, now in human form, took over Atlas Academy, while Winter became the new General. Two weeks later, Salem returned and destroyed Atlas with an even bigger aerial army than before.
~o~
After a few more failed attempts, Ladybug tried again in Mantle, with her friends arriving. She petrified the Grimm, explained copying semblances, sent Robyn a message promising to explain a few things if she could meet near Pietro's Mantle office, and waited for the Ace-Ops. As soon as the relic came unhooked from Ruby's belt, Ladybug snatched it with Vines. Robyn and the Happy Huntresses arrived to see the Ace-Ops attacking random people, and drew their weapons.
"Just on time," Ladybug said, "Jinn."
"Wait, what is happening?" Clover asked.
"Did you send this message?" Robyn asked, looking at Ladybug.
"Yep," Ladybug answered.
"Robyn, look," Fiona said and pointed at a fan, which had stopped moving. Suddenly, the relic began emitting blue smoke, and any sense of hostility disappeared.
"Hello, I am Jinn, a being created by the God of Light to aid mankind in its pursuit of knowledge," Jinn said, and the Ace-Ops and Happy Huntresses stared at her in awe.
"For your last question," Ladybug said and asked, "What is Salem's end goal?" Everyone found themselves in a white void, and blue smoke appeared. It formed a scene showing most of Salem's past, up to her first attempt at ending her endless life.
"Immortality, a wish held by many at some point, is a curse," Jinn narrated, "It damns you to a never-ending existence, no matter the pain you experience. Salem knows this only too well, and made an attempt to end her life. Another followed. And another. Throughout the ages, and especially when she was the last human alive, she stabbed herself, hanged, burned, crushed, got purposefully trampled by wild animals, or let them tear her to bits. Even after jumping into the Grimm pool, more attempts followed. She even mentored the occasional silver-eyed warrior, with the goal of them disintegrating her. But nothing worked." Jinn showed a few such lessons, where Ruby actually learned a few things about herself and her powers, while the Ace-Ops and Happy Huntresses stared in shock at what they saw.
"Salem… can't be killed?" Clover asked after the vision ended.
"But she can be fought," Ladybug answered, "Ozpin has kept victory out of her claws for centuries. Longer, even. She wins by making you stop caring about each other. So, Ace Operatives, stop doing what she tells you to do, and start actually fighting her. Anyway, as you just saw, silver-eyed warriors always intuitively make the right decision to stop her plans. So, just let Ruby take the lead, and you'll probably be fine. Also, Fiona, keep this safe, will you." She tossed the lamp to Fiona and disappeared, leaving the others a bit confused.
~o~
Outside the timeline, Ladybug saw that Ruby gathered the Ace-Ops and Happy Huntresses behind herself and saved Mantle, capturing Tyrian and Arthur in the process, and managed to prevent most of the damages. However, Ironwood declared the Ace-Ops enemies for disagreeing with him, and built a new team.
~o~
Ladybug dropped into the relic room in the Whale, just as Oscar was about to summon Jinn, and punched Neo in the gut with her right fist. She then grabbed the back of Neo's head with her left and slammed her right knee into her face.
"Wait, what?" Oscar asked, and he, Emerald and Hazel turned around, "Who are you?"
"I'm a friend," Ladybug answered, "And I'm here to try and kill Salem." She used her silver eyes, petrifying the entire room, then went to take the relic and left. With everything turned to stone, the alarm didn't sound. Ladybug quickly found Salem, who was furious to see the relic not in its place.
"You," Salem said, "Give me the relic."
"Or we can make a deal," Ladybug said.
"Why should I?" Salem asked.
"Because I know the password," Ladybug answered, "I'm willing to give it to you, if you let me ask the last question." Salem pondered the decision for a moment.
"Alright," Salem said.
"Thank you," Ladybug said, "Jinn." Time stopped around the two, and Jinn appeared. Salem looked at the spectacle in awe, finally seeing the being that would allow her to achieve her goal.
"Do you realize what you did?" Jinn asked when she saw who was present.
"I thought I was supposed to ask questions," Ladybug said and asked, "Now, Jinn, how can Salem be killed?" Salem and Ladybug found themselves in a white void, and a vision of the domain of light appeared, with a human Salem standing in front of it.
"Let. Him. Rest," the God of Light said.
"No," Salem said with determination in her voice.
"And this is your crime," Jinn said, addressing Salem directly, "You disrespected the Gods, who just tried to help you feel better. As punishment, until you accept Ozma's death, you will not be able to die." The vision ended and Ladybug handed the relic to Salem.
"Here you go, as promised," Ladybug said, "Also, if you need help, crazy as it sounds, you can always ask Ruby. But now, I'm off." She disappeared, seconds before Yang, Jaune, Ren, Oscar, Emerald, Neo and Hazel came around a corner, seeing Salem with the relic.
~o~
Outside the timeline, Ladybug saw that her friends would fight Salem for the relic, and while Emerald kept her busy with illusions, Oscar killed the whale and incapacitated her. Atlas still fell, but more people survived.
~o~
Ladybug dropped into the relic room in the Whale, after picking up a white plastic bucket in Mistral, grabbed the relic just after Jinn had disappeared again and disappeared again, only to pop up next to Salem.
"Jinn," Ladybug said, waited until Jinn was done talking, and asked, "What does Salem need to see in order to move on from Ozma?" After the vision was over, Salem smiled, then began screaming as her Grimm side destroyed her. Ladybug put the bucket down and pushed her into it, and she dissolved into black sludge that slowly evaporated. Ladybug entered her Alpha State and sunk her claws into the wall, using her silver eyes to overcharge her aura even more. Cracks formed in the wall and slowly spread. The Whale, now without a master, roared and started to fly away again.
"Let's go," Yang said, and she, Jaune, Ren, Oscar, Emerald and Hazel left the Whale, only to run into Winter and the Ace-Ops.
"What have you done in there?" Harriet asked, and she and Elm reached for their restraints to handcuff them. Suddenly, dark purple cracks began to appear in the Whale's skin. They spread across the entire monstrous creature, which then went up in smoke.
"Nothing," Yang answered, "But whatever that was, probably did the other thing, too." A white shape with light blue lines on it appeared in the black smoke, and Ladybug, riding a summoned Hound in its winged quadrupedal form, came towards the others, holding the relic and a white bucket in her hands, the latter of which emitted black smoke.
"You're the one who took the lamp," Oscar said and asked, "What did you do?"
"Wh- what happened to your arms?" Harriet asked in shock, staring at the limbs that were covered in the same cracks as the Whale's skin.
"Did you really kill that… thing?" Yang asked.
"Yes," the Hound answered, and Ladybug summoned Salem.
"Winter Schnee, Harriet Bree, Elm Ederne, Marrow Amin, and Vine Zeki," Ladybug said, "You are all under arrest."
"Wha- you can't do that," Winter said.
"Listen here, princess," Ladybug said, "I just killed something that your glorified firecracker could have barely put a dent into, and saved the entire damned world. I almost disintegrated my arms by overloading my aura for half an hour, and I am riding something that your kingdom's elite was too afraid of to even admit that it exists, and you guys only heard of it. All five of you, and Clover, spent the entire time since Beacon fell sabotaging Ironwood, putting more pressure on him because you were too weak, immature, and scared to actually think for yourselves. Your decisions caused this. You allowed a terrorist to install a virus on Penny, making her open the vault and then self-destruct, because you disagreed with her decisions. You would have handed the relic over to Salem, just because someone didn't agree with you once. And yes, I can arrest you. Salem." Her summon made runes appear on the military members' backs, and Grimm arms restrained and gagged them.
~o~
General Ironwood waited in his office, when a summon of the Hound ran into his office, followed by Ladybug, Salem, the Ace-Ops and Winter, who were still restrained and gagged, but compliant.
"Who are you?" General Ironwood asked, "And what are you doing?" Ladybug tossed the bucket onto General Ironwood's desk, and the black ooze splashed all over it, him, and the floor.
"I brought you Salem," Ladybug answered, "She's dead. And you are under arrest."
"No, Salem can't be killed," General Ironwood said, staring in shock. The black crystal from Salem's forehead bubbled to the surface and evaporated in a puff of smoke.
"She was cursed with eternal life," Ladybug said, "But that curse had conditions. I made her meet them, and it was lifted. Now, if we're done here."
"We are not," General Ironwood said and drew his guns. The Hound summon jumped at him and tackled him out of the window. They wrestled in the air, and the Hound slammed him into the side of Atlas Academy, pressing him into the concrete until his aura broke and he passed out from the pressure his supposedly most trusted had put him under for over a year. Qrow came to take Ironwood and his men into custody, and Ladybug left after giving him instructions on how to save Penny, as well as the people of Atlas.
~o~
Outside the timeline, Ladybug saw that Atlas was destroyed, but everyone got their fair trial, and it would later be rebuilt. And with Salem dead, the world could relax. Ruby and Jaune had two children a few years later, twin sons, who grew up to father many more silver-eyed warriors, mainly due to Yang's influence in their early teenage years. Grimm became more aggressive, but easier to defeat, and stopped adapting. A few centuries down the line, there was peace. The Gods returned, approved of mankind, and lived among them once more. Ladybug went into another timeline, where Ruby was a magical girl, and waited until her body had recovered from overcharging her aura so much.
~o~
Ladybug sat in a room in the Vale police station, a few days after saving Amber from Cinder, Mercury and Emerald. She had learned to only take short naps, allowing her to keep her aura active even when she rested. A police officer opened the door, and a young girl, no older than fourteen, entered the room. Ruby was a bit unsure why she had been called over by the police, and why this mystery person would only talk to her, but all her unease disappeared when she saw Ladybug's gentle smile. The officer closed the door, and Ruby sat down on the chair opposite of Ladybug.
"Hello, Ruby," Ladybug said, "My name is Ladybug. I have been meaning to speak with you for a while now." Ruby caught herself staring at Ladybug, and nervously looked away.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare," Ruby said, "It's just, you remind me of my mother somehow. I barely remember her, but I could never forget that gentle smile, and those silver eyes."
"It's fine," Ladybug said and asked, "Now tell me, Ruby, how many people with silver eyes do you know?"
"Well, there's you, and me, and my mother," Ruby answered and asked, "It seems to be really rare. Why is that?"
"Are you religious?" Ladybug asked.
"Religious?" Ruby asked and answered, "No, not really. I mean, I don't understand a lot of the world, but I'm sure there is a good explanation for everything. And I'm sure if Gods and stuff existed, there would be proof."
"There is," Ladybug answered and pointed at her eyes, and Ruby gasped.
"You mean… wait, what does that mean?" Ruby asked, getting excited at first, but had no conclusion she could blurt out.
"It means the Gods of Light and Darkness are real," Ladybug answered, "The God of Light, the older one, created life. But his younger brother would always destroy it. One day, the younger brother was fed up with life always returning, and made the Grimm. Then, both created mankind as a peace treaty, and that was the last thing they created."
"What happened then?" Ruby asked, treating the situation like a bedtime story, rather than the true history of the world.
"I miss that innocence," Ladybug said to herself, then answered, "Salem. She was in love with a hero, Ozma. But when he died, and the Gods refused to bring him back, she revolted. They punished her with immortality, forcing her to live until she accepted his death and moved on, but she didn't. She led mankind into a war with the Gods, and humanity was wiped out. A long time later, mankind regrew. This time, with the faunus. But also a new weapon against the Grimm. The God of Light had left some of his powers with us. The light of preservation. Ozma was also returned, and made to reincarnate in a new body whenever he died."
"That is a lot to take in," Ruby said, "But Ozma… that name sounds familiar."
"It is a lot, yes, and I had issues myself when I learned it," Ladybug said, "But maybe you can figure out where you heard that name if you let me finish my story. Ozma was sent to guide mankind, gather the silver-eyed warriors, and help them lead mankind into prosperity. He has lived countless lives, and made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child on this planet. But he maintains hope. At times, he was a wizard. Other times, he was a king. After he ended the war, he realized that ruling was not his duty, and decided to form the next generation instead."
"So, he's a teacher?" Ruby asked.
"Yes," Ladybug answered, "And you will meet him soon."
"Now, what about my eyes?" Ruby asked.
"Right, sorry," Ladybug said and answered, "As I've said, the God of Light left his power with the new mankind. Those with silver eyes can strike down any Grimm with a single look." Hearing that, Ruby gasped.
"Really?" Ruby asked, jumped up and happily bounced around the room. Ladybug smiled, but was also a bit sad that this innocence would likely end soon.
"Please sit down, so I can tell you how to do it," Ladybug said. Ruby stopped bouncing and sat down on her chair, looking attentive.
"Ok, I'm ready," Ruby said and leaned in a bit closer.
"I can tell," Ladybug said with a chuckle, "Now, to use the power of your silver eyes, you have to be near Grimm, and think of life itself. Your family, your friends, or Zwei that one time Yang made him wear a Beowolf costume." Remembering the moment, Ruby laughed a bit, then realized something.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Ruby asked.
"I was there," Ladybug said.
"No you weren't," Ruby said, "It was just Yang and I."
"True," Ladybug said, and left it at that.
"Wait, hold on," Ruby said and asked, "You you me from the future?"
"I am you from another timeline," Ladybug answered, "But yes, I am, in a sense, from the future. Just not yours."
"That is so cool," Ruby said and asked, "But wait, you're a faunus. Is everyone in your timeline a faunus?"
"No, there are still humans in my timeline," Ladybug answered, "However, I am not entirely you. I am also someone else, and that other person is a faunus."
"You're two people?" Ruby asked, "How?"
"It is… complicated," Ladybug answered and said, "In any case, when using your silver eyes, it s important that you remember all you hold dear. And protect it."
"Of course," Ruby said and asked, "Can I go now? Dad is waiting to pick me up."
"One more thing," Ladybug said, "The eyes are the windows to the soul. The light you unleash upon the Grimm is your soul. If someone looks into it, your soul collides with theirs, and you both become able to use each other's semblance. If you use another person's semblance, you become more like them."
"This is so cool," Ruby said after some consideration and asked, "Can you use any cool semblances?"
"Yes, I can," Ladybug answered, "In any case, when you meet Ozma's current reincarnation, tell him about this. Get him to contact General Ironwood, and have him bring his elite to Vale. Then, let them copy your semblance, and tell them about it. But do not tell them that it changes them."
"Wait, why not?" Ruby asked, "I mean, I get the other things, but why shouldn't I tell them that it changes them?"
"So they use your semblance more often," Ladybug answered, "And if they use it often enough, then their children will also have silver eyes. And mankind will be better equipped to fight Grimm. And let Qrow know that he misunderstood his semblance next time you meet him. It manipulates probability based on his emotions. If he is happy, good things happen. But if he is sad, bad things happen."
"But he is always sad," Ruby said.
"That is why only bad things happen," Ladybug explained, "He grew up in a bad situation, so he was always sad, which meant that only bad things happened. So he came to believe that his semblance only made bad things happen, which made him more sad because he couldn't be near those he loved without hurting them."
"How do I prove that to him?" Ruby asked, a tiny flicker of her future maturity coming to life in her eyes.
"Copy his semblance, then tell him about it," Ladybug answered, "Since you're happy, good things will happen around you, and he will realize that what you're saying is true. Also, when you meet two redheads with secrets they share with you, encourage them to share their secrets with one another as well."
"Got it," Ruby said, "Thanks." The two bid their farewells, and Ruby headed back home. As soon as she got home, she focused on all the things she loved. A few months later, she went to spar with Yang one more time before she headed off to Beacon. When the Big Ursa appeared, Ruby turned it to stone.
~o~
After leaving the timeline, Ladybug checked how it would turn out. Ruby explained her silver eyes to Yang, and their father, and Qrow, who took her to meet Professor Ozpin. She was accepted into Beacon, realized that Ozpin was Ozma during his speech, and mentioned Salem to him. Ironwood had his Ace-Ops come, a lot of people copied Ruby's semblance, and Ruby got Pyrrha and Penny to tell each other their secrets. The Atlas military got better at fighting Grimm, and a few years later, when Ironwood was forced to retire due to his increasingly amoral decisions, his successors split the academy and military again. A few generations later, Atlas was let down to the ground, and the staff was used to turn the tundra into perfectly fertile land that allowed the kingdom to grow any plant they wanted. Then, finally, Ladybug found her own timeline, and returned to it.
Author's note: Ladybug had no idea what Jinn would show anyone at any moment, but imagine Harriet's shock when she saw that she was going through the same thing Salem went through, after hearing that there would be another Salem if they killed the current one.
Also, writing young Ruby was pretty tough, all thins considered, since I'm used to writing her as mature and responsible.
