Here we are at Chapter 11. Things are just getting crazier and crazier in the Ice Queendom. I do not own RWBY Ice Queendom. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 11. Enjoy.
Chapter 11: Place to Be
Teams RWBY and KEPL regroup as they stare up at the big statue with six arms looming over them.
"So, uh, how do we fight something like that?" Yang asks.
"Not directly, that's for sure. Remember, our goal is to get inside and wake Weiss up," Khazhak says.
"He's right. We need to get inside. If I can get in there, I can make a door for you guys," Ruby says.
"I'll go with you," Khazhak says.
"Got it. Meanwhile, the rest of us will keep them busy," Reaper says.
"Come on, why must you be so reckless?" Yang pouts.
"I'm not a child, Yang. I need you to trust me," Ruby retorts, making Yang step back.
"Yang, let's believe in Ruby. In our leader," Blake says.
Yang sighs and then smiles, "You got it. Let's give them a show!
Yang, Blake, Reaper, and Porphyrius race off towards the statue. Meanwhile, the statue of Nicholas Schnee reaches down with one of its hands, and the little and giant little Weiss' start rising up into the air under it. In the city, Lloyd, Jaune and Dream Pyrrha race for safety.
"Damn it, I know we wanted to create a little mess as a distraction, but this is ridiculous," Lloyd curses. Once they reach a safe spot, Lloyd uses a coin to create a phone. "Professor Shion, it's Lloyd. The dream has gone completely haywire here!"
…
In the real world, Shion listens to Lloyd's words, "...If the changes are too much, Weiss' heart will start to resist and reject them. The Nightmare is using this to its advantage. However, you have no choice but to keep going at this point. If you can't reach Weiss' heart this time... then Weiss will never wake up again.
…
Back in the dream, they peek out a corner to see the statue holding some of the little Weiss' in its hand.
"Yeah, easier said than done," Jaune mutters.
The statue's eyes light up light blue and fire beams at the giant little Weiss', turning them back into their original state. It then tilts its hand, causing the little Weiss' to fall into a glyph that sends them all back into the fancy jail cell they were in before. Lloyd looks around and spots Negative Weiss along with a walking suit of armor with a scary face doing the same thing to Dream Ren and Dream Nora. After returning them to their original forms, she sends them all back into the jail cell through her glyphs.
"As long as you are locked away forever, you'll have your freedom. That way, you can remain pure," Nega-Weiss says.
"Freedom my ass. She's even more tyrannical than before now," Lloyd mutters.
Back with the others, Blake, Yang, and Porphyrius fire off shots at the statue, causing it to throw a fist down on them. Reaper sends out two skull phantoms that scream their shockwaves at the fist. The fist gets held back by the screams, allowing them to move before it comes crashing down on them. Porphyrius takes flight and flies around the statue, firing off his rifles to gain its attention while the others flee.
"I doubt my semblance will work on something this big," Porphyrius mutters before flying around to avoid getting caught by its hands.
Reaper sends out more skull phantoms to scream at two more fists that come down on them.
"Not that I don't like this little improvement, but this thing is really irritating," Reaper notes as he runs for it.
While the statue is distracted, Khazhak and Ruby run towards the bottom of the statue. Just then, a weird looking bat with white hair flies in front of their faces.
"Looks like I found two dummies, Weiss," Batley says.
"What is this thing?" Ruby gasps.
"I'm going to let my sister know that you're all running-," Batley says before Khazhak grabs him.
"Oh, shut up!" Khazhak throws him far away.
"Wait, sister? Was that Weiss' brother?" Ruby wonders.
"Probably, but not time for that. Let's move towards the manor," Khazhak says before he and Ruby head towards the Schnee Manor.
Once they reach the manor, Ruby fires off a flare shot for them.
"They made it inside," Yang says as the other join her.
"Then let's get ready to join them," Porphyrius notes before they make a break for it.
Inside the manor, Ruby uses a coin to create a door for them. They move through it the second one appears on their side.
"Nice job, Ruby!" Yang cheers.
"No time for celebrations yet. We still have a job to do. And remember, there's no room for failure this time. This is our last shot," Khazhak says, to which the rest of the group nod in agreement.
They move deeper into the manor, coming to the repeating room they were in before. Soon enough, they reach the white room with the infinity snake symbol. Ruby reaches up with the yellow relic to create a path for them and they move forward. Back in the city, Lloyd, Jaune, and Dream Pyrrha look as the armored knight takes down more robots and they retreat into Negative Weiss' glyphs.
"Okay, this might be our chance. We can't give up now," Jaune readies his sword and shield.
"There you are," they look back as Negative Weiss approaches from behind, causing them to jump out into the street. "You really think you could escape. It's time for you to return to where you belong," Nega-Weiss commands.
Lloyd raises his claws, "Sorry, but I have an issue with authority figures like you, Ice Queen. Tell me something, have you fallen so low that you confuse tyranny with freedom? Or maybe, that's what dear old 'Daddy' always did to you. Locking you in a cage and calling it freedom," his words make Negative Weiss angry.
"You would dare to talk to me like that, Lloyd?" Nega-Weiss looks upset.
"You know what I see when I look at you? One big, cold, stupid, hypocrite. Brother was right... Nicholas Schnee would be ashamed of you," Lloyd says.
This pisses Negative Weiss off. A moment later, the three of them fall through a glyph into the jail cell from before.
"Stay where you were meant to be for eternity. If you escape again, you will receive judgment," Nega-Weiss says before the glyph closes.
"Screw you, Ice Queen!" Lloyd yells as they get back up.
Jaune looks around, "Wait, were back here again," he moves to the door. "Hey, open up, Doppy Klein! I know you're awake. Open up!" However, the door starts to freeze over and vines pop out around it. "Ah crap, the Nightmare! Run for it!"
Jaune grabs Dream Pyrrha as the vines reach out and grab Dream Nora, Dream Ren, and a few of the little Weiss' Lloyd picks up several of the little Weiss' and runs too. They run until they find the weird arrow sign from before, covered in vines.
"Oh, that's so not good. Is this because we left with the relic?" Lloyd notes. He looks back as the vines get closer, but then a thought occurs to him. "Wait, Jaune, the door. Use a coin!"
"Right!" Jaune uses a coin to make a door and they escape the jail cell, though the vines grab one of the little Weiss'.
They move and see the train from before below them, "Everyone to the train, now!" Jaune yells.
Running like there's no tomorrow, they get inside the train as the vines get closer. However, they seem to stop when they get close to the train.
"Wait, why'd they stop? I don't get it," Jaune notes.
Dream Pyrrha looks up, and so do they, spotting Jaune's large sword sticking in from the ceiling.
"Oh yeah, because of your condition, the Nightmare can't detect you. When the sword stabbed the train, it must've done the same thing to it. I guess as long as we're in here, we're safe for the time being," Lloyd looks out the window. "I hope the others made it inside the tower,"
…
Deeper inside the manor, Ruby and Khazhak's group are back in the garden from before. As they do, Ruby gets a call.
"My scroll... It's Jaune. Hey, Jaune, what's up?" Ruby calls him.
"Negative Weiss... the professor... her heart is resisting..." Jaune's call is barely coming in through the static.
"Jaune, we can barely hear you," Ruby replies.
"Something's wrong," Khazhak says.
Just then, Ruby's scroll gets consumed by vines and she drops it; it freezing on the ground.
"The Nightmare must've figured out we're here. We're running out of time," Reaper says.
They move deeper into the dream, finding themselves back in the room with vines everywhere. Ruby raises her relic and gets the vines to clear the path for them and open the door. Moving inside, they return to the amphitheater from before, and the Nightmare waiting for them. Above it, the blue gown is still there, though it looks more tattered and torn now. The Nightmare sends out its vines at the, but they cut them down with their weapons. Racing towards the grimm, Khazhak spins his swords in their spear form to make a path with Ruby right behind him while the others move on the sides.
"I've had enough of this. It's time for your verdict," a glyph appears before Yang.
"What the-huh?!" Yang gets sucked in.
"Yang!" Porphryius exclaims.
A moment later, Negative Weiss and her armored knight appear, "After all the chao you've caused, you know what comes next,"
"Knock it off with this crap, Weiss!" Khazhak yells.
Negative Weiss sends her knight after them. It swings its sword down on Khazhak, who blocks with his blades. Reaper sends out his phantoms to force the knight back, but it swings its blade through them. Porphyrius and Blake move around them. Blake throws her chain-scythe at the chandelier above to propel herself towards the grimm while Porphyrius flies at it. Negative Weiss conjures some glyphs and fires energy shots at them, but they dodge them. When the pair get close, they swings their blades at the vines, cutting through them. The Nightmare seems to scream in pain, but it wraps more vines around the blue gown. The two go for another attack, only for two glyphs to appear in front of them and suck them away.
"Blake! Porphyrius!" Ruby yells.
"Damn it! Come on, Weiss. You have to wake up!" Reaper jumps into the air and sends out more skull phantoms at Negative Weiss, screaming at her.
Negative Weiss blocks the screams with a glyph and then creates another underneath Reaper, sending him away.
"Reaper!" Khazhak calls out in vain.
Ruby jumps back as the knight takes a swing her. She pulls out the yellow relic, but drops it and notices vine marks on her left hand.
"Ruby! Khazhak sends his blades, sending out lightning bolts at the knight and Negative Weiss, who blocks them with more glyphs.
The knight swing its sword wide at them, forcing them to move back. Ruby loses the yellow relic, which ends up at Negative Weiss' feet.
Negative Weiss picks it up, "And now you all will be banished from my empire forever... And you'll never see me again," she says as vines come out of her hand to wrap around the relic.
"Weiss, don't do this!" Khazhak asks.
"You won't need this anymore," Negative Weiss crushes the yellow relic.
"Weiss..." Ruby gasps.
Negative Weiss creates a glyph in front of them and starts pulling them in. They struggle to break free, but end up vanishing in a flurry of rose petals and blue sparks.
"Farewell, Ruby and Khazhak..." Negative Weiss says before she and her knight leave the room.
…
Outsie the amphitheater, Ruby and Khazhak reappear thanks to her semblance. They peek around a corner in the darkness and get ready to move. A hand on Khazhak's shoulder stops them and they turn, ready to fight, only to find Jaune behind them.
"Don't worry, it's just me," Jaune calms them down.
"Jaune, you okay?" Khazhak asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about the others?" Jaune asks.
"Weiss interfered again. She used her powers here to banish them. Most likely, they're somewhere outside the city," Khazhak replies.
"I'll try and look for them for ya," Jaune offers.
"Thank you, Jaune. Khazhak and I are going back in," Ruby says as she looks at the doorway.
"Just the two of you?" Jaune asks.
"Why not?" Ruby asks.
"I'm sorry, it's just... we need to think of a new plan here," Jaune says, making Ruby pout. "Okay, how about this: let's use a coin,"
Khazhak pulls out a coin and uses it to make a door. They enter through it to find themselves back on the train. Inside are Dream Pyrrha, several little Weiss', and Lloyd.
"We're back... on the train?" Ruby looks around.
"Brother, Ruby, you're okay. Where are the others?" Lloyd asks as he looks for the others.
"That's... a bit of a story. I'm guessing you guys have one as well," Khazhak replies.
"Yeah, sounds like a plan," Jaune nods.
…
Far outside the city, in the frozen wasteland, Yang finds herself in front of an old-looking mansion with a beat-up fence, and the mansion itself is tilted to the right at a weird angle, and covered in vines.
"Yang," Yang turns to see Blake, Porphyrius, and Reaper walking up to her.
"Hey, you guys are okay. I guess you got sent all the way out here, too, huh?" Yang greets them.
"Unfortunately. Though, we haven't seen Khazhak or Ruby. They might still be in the city," Reaper notes.
They all look to the old mansion, "This is weird. I figured we were sent to the beginning like before, but this..." Porphyrius trails off.
"Yes. I don't think that's the case here," Blake adds.
…
Back in the city, Ruby, Khazhak, and Jaune go over what they know, "So, thanks to that sword, the Nightmare can't get in here. I guess it's because I'm immune to it," Jaune says.
"So, when you took the relic, it made those girls turn into monsters and go crazy?" Ruby asks.
"Pretty much. It's probably because we set them free," Jaune thinks.
"Huh?" Ruby asks, confused.
Off to the side, Lloyd plays with a few of the little Weiss' while Pyrrha fixes the hair of another and the rest watch.
"I remember Pyrrha saying that Weiss was protecting something important to her. I think she was protecting all of them. Not imprisoning them," Jaune explains.
Ruby looks to the little girls, "Then, why'd she lock them up?"
"I think for Weiss... becoming an adult means locking away all of those childhood, care-free feelings. She probably thought that she had to get a hold of and control those feelings. In order to become the responsible adult she always wanted to be," Jaune explains.
Hearing this makes Ruby depressed, "Did I... just end up making things worse for Weiss? I thought I was helping her, but... I never stopped to think about how she felt about all of this," she starts to cry.
"Hey," Khazhak kneels before her and wipes away her tears. "That's not true. Maybe you misunderstood, but it was never out of ill intent. You were trying to help Weiss in the only way you knew how. Even you crying here shows how much you care about her,"
Ruby smiles sadly at the two of them, "Teams KEPL and JNPR are amazing. You understand each other, and empathize with them. You help and look out for each other and know when something is wrong. Pyrrha saw that with you, Jaune. And you guys were able to quickly help Porphyrius settle his own issues,"
"Little rose," Khazhak mutters.
"I wasn't even worried about Weiss. I never noticed that something was wrong until it was too late. Even though your team helped you when you were possessed by a grimm, Jaune. Or when Team KEPL helped Porphyrius after his possession. Both in just one go," Ruby says as the sillies form around them. "But I... I never noticed it was happening to Weiss," her mood gets worse as vine marks form on her hand.
"Ruby, that's not true. You're helping Weiss right here, right now," Jaune tries to consul her.
But Ruby doesn't feel any better, "I have... no right to be Team RWBY's leader. I'm such a... failure," Ruby starts to fall sideways as new tears form.
"Ruby!" Khazhak catches her in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Weiss... I'm so sorry," Ruby cries as she falls asleep.
…
Back with the others, they get a close look at the creepy mansion before them. They see puppets of men in suits in poor conditions, monstrous statues, and other things.
"Man, whoever designed this place has terrible tastes," Yang notes.
"B-Big Nicholas," the front door speaks, revealing another goofy face like the others.
"Another talking door, huh. Man, they're everywhere," Porphyrius says.
"Hey, what is your name?" Blake asks.
"I-I'm B-B-Bashful Klein. I l-l-lock up people who aren't supposed t-t-to b-b-be here," Bashful Klein stutters.
"And who would be that exactly?" Yang asks.
"You're talking about Faunus, aren't you," Blake figures it out.
"Of course... That reminds me, h-h-how did you t-t-two get out here?" Bashful Klein looks at Blake and Porphyrius.
"Blake, Porphyrius," Yang feels for them.
Porphyrius looks up, "It seems that to Weiss... this is the place we're meant to be," he says as they stare at the mansion.
…
Ruby gasps for air before she opens her eyes and sits up. She finds herself back in the real world, but she also finds that no one else is there.
"No one else is here. Where is everyone?" Ruby mutters.
A pair of doors open up and in walks the rest of Team RWBY and Team KEPL, including Weiss.
"About time you woke up, little rose," Khazhak smirks.
"Ruby, thank goodness you're awake again!" Weiss says happily.
Ruby almost tears up before she jumps on Weiss in a big hug, "Weiss! I'm so happy you're awake!"
"Yes, Ruby. I'm awake. And it's all because of you," Weiss says as they separate. "You really are my friend. The best friend I could ever ask for. And you're also the best leader in the world,"
Ruby rubs her head, "Well, I didn't do it alone,"
They start clapping for Ruby, but then more people appear and clap for her as well. However, things get strange when she sees her dad, Taiyang, her dog Zwei, the little Weiss' and robots from the dream also appear and clap for her. She gets confused and scared as they all circle her and continue clapping. A moment later, they all disappear and string dolls take their place. Ruby freaks out as she realizes this is not the real world, as vines start to appear and creep towards her. She cries as they reach her feet.
And that's the chapter. The plan goes awry, and everyone find themselves in a worse situation than when they began. The teams are separated, and Ruby falls under the spell of the Nightmare herself. Will Ruby awaken from her dream within the dream? Will Teams RWBY and KEPL figure out a new plan to save Weiss before it's too late? Until then, please Read and Review.