Chapter 1 – St. Fall Day
Pyrrha
25 years have passed since Salem was killed by Cinder Fall…
And a new Age of Peace was born.
In her home, a matured Pyrrha Nikos sat down with her breakfast, and picked up her remote controller, switching the television on, and watched the live show that was playing all over the world right now.
On this day, St. Fall Day, a large crowd stands before a large stage where a woman clad in a dark blue suit and with dark blue hair tied back in a ponytail stood before them all as she spoke. Her voice was powerful, showing a great degree of authority in her presence, the microphone making her voice echo through the streets of Vale.
Her name was President Amara Zure.
"Twenty-Five years ago today, the greatest evil Remnant has ever known was slain by a great hero. Someone who once was also an enemy. Like many of you, I was not born when Cinder Fall was once our enemy, a woman full of scorn, and a hunger for power, who tried to bring down Beacon Academy a long time ago." Amara said, gripping the podium before her. "But when you listen to her words back then… it shows how far she came in the decade since that day, to when she gave her life to destroy Salem, once and for all."
She turned to a beautiful bronze statue of Cinder that was erected a few years after Salem died, and she gestured towards it. "A woman who was dying from a sickness given to her from the mistakes of her past, long after she became a new woman. A cruel irony that she knew she couldn't escape. And when the time came, she acted and sacrificed her life to the Relic of Destruction to ensure Salem's death. Therefore, we named today St. Fall Day… for none of us would be here today, if it weren't for the bravery of the Fall Maiden who gave every last bit of herself to Remnant… and her daughter." Amara said, gripping the podium once more as she spoke.
In the crowd, many of the people here were younger, all paying their respects to the Fall Maiden, all grateful for her sacrifice, and giving them all an existence they never would have had if not for her. But amongst them were people who not only would have been children during Salem's Rule, but there were those who no doubt were adults back then, and maybe even fought against Salem.
"But Cinder was not the only brave soul who gave her life. Many, many more… thousands of brave people gave their lives, fighting against beasts that have been long extinct. And we have some of them stood here with me today." Amara turned, holding out her hand to a collection of individuals.
Dutch was the first, and the past twenty-five years are very present on him, with his grey hair and wrinkled skin, now in his sixties. Yet even now, he continues to hold his promise to make sure that the corruption of the Black Gallows would never return, and that so many sacrifices were not in vain.
Winter was here as well, alongside Joanna, May, Fiona and Marrow.
In the quarter of a century, things have changed for all of them. Fiona and Marrow were now married, and Winter wore both her engagement ring and wedding ring on her finger when she married Eryka.
And stood beside them was Oscar Pine, and he held the Long Memory down against the floor, his palms resting upon its pommel. And Penny was here as well. Her model had been updated to look a little less young and matured, even if at heart she was still just as bubbly as she always was. She looked so much happier than twenty-five years prior, and like many others on stage, she had a wedding ring on her finger.
"Brave Huntsmen and Huntresses, who, despite how we treated them when living underneath Salem's rule, they took up the fight for us. And inspired so many to fight with us… an honour we must never forget. And furthermore… we must never forget the dark times that are now written in our history books." Amara stated, stepping aside as a large holographic image showed Beacon Academy, thirty-five years ago, back when it was still standing.
Everyone watched the old footage from Beacon Academy, seeing the old clips from the Vytal Festival. Team R.W.B.Y fighting against Team A.B.R.N, J.N.P.R against B.R.N.Z and S.S.S.N against N.D.G.O.
And then… the footage of the Attack on Beacon.
"The first real event of Salem's presence we all learned about was when Cinder Fall launched her attack on Beacon Academy after infiltrating the school. And when the battle seemed to lead to our defeat, Pyrrha Nikos went after the Fall Maiden after a failed attempt to transfer the power to her. And Ruby Rose narrowly saved her life with her Silver Eyes, also turning the Grimm Wyvern to stone."
Old footage showed the titan turned to stone after the blinding white flash, and some people in the audience watched in awe. Many of these people have lived a life without ever seeing a Grimm, so seeing what once lurked across Remnant… and how massive they got? It was terrifying to imagine.
"We tried to repair things, but the Grimm remained close… a Black Smog… that haunted the Emerald Forest, just waiting for any spike of negativity in Vale to attack once again. And that they did… manipulated by Commander Nathaniel Killian of the Black Gallows." Amara narrated, showing a photograph of the long dead and mostly forgotten villain.
Only his Dark Deeds have been remembered.
His divine punishment for his actions.
Winter glared at the picture when he was on screen, then looked away, remembering the day she, Dutch and Eryka put him down. She glanced at Dutch, and he was not even looking at the picture anymore, he had long moved on from his old friend, and now just wanted to ensure that the things he did would never happen again.
"More people died when the Grimm inevitably attacked Beacon, but once more the brave Huntsmen and Huntresses defeated the beasts. And for four years we knew peace… but that would never last. For one day, we learned someone had infiltrated and manipulated the crews who were in charge of Beacon's reconstruction. A mad Serial Killer, who went by the name Jackdaw Branwen. Or as history remembers – Jack the Ripper." She said, now showing his face on the screen.
Oscar glared at that picture but returned to bowing his head, never forgetting what Jackdaw did to his Aunt and Uncle.
The blood… it still was clear as day in his mind all these years later.
"Jackdaw lead a brutal and bloody path across all the Kingdoms, becoming one of the most prolific Serial Killers in Remnant's History. But his ties to certain individuals at Beacon made him even more dangerous, and he orchestrated events that would lead to Beacon's Destruction. With his men paid to load explosives into the cement used, when Salem attacked Beacon, a brave Huntsman, sacrificed his life to kill as many Grimm as he could and hopefully kill her. Beacon Academy, overgrown now and still in ruins? It is still a dark reminder of that terrible time."
Beacon's ruins were near to where this speech was being held, and some still remembered the sound of those explosions and the plumes of smoke that rose from where Beacon Tower once stood.
"It was a dark, and terrible time indeed. One that lead to Salem's Reign, one that saw so many people dying in horrible ways. Huntsmen and Huntresses hunted down and butchered, people kidnapped by Abductors and turned into nightmares… Salem may be gone, but I can still see the marks of what she did. And like many of you… I was only a child back then. A daughter of a Huntsman and Huntress, and they were dragged away by Black Gallows, and I was taken in by my grandmother. I still remember seeing their bodies hanging from the Gallows… it is a way of living that I vow to never let happen again. Nobody will ever fill Salem's place… and we will never suffer the way we suffered." Amara promised.
The footage continued, then showed the cheering in the streets. "And yet… against impossible odds… Cinder Fall, Pyrrha Nikos, Penny Polendina and Ruby Rose were the first to lead the charge on Evernight. Knowing that victory was in no way assured. But together… the bravery of so many men and women, like Blake Belladonna, High Leader of the White Fang, and Robyn Hill, who sacrificed her life to ensure that Nathaniel Killian would be exposed, and that Salem would fall. Together… and with great sacrifice… Salem was defeated… and the Grimm were left without a leader. And now… we finally live in a free world, one united… one not divided by the discrimination of our race… one where we are finally… at peace."
Pyrrha turned off the television after finishing her dinner, standing up from her sofa and walking over to the kitchen, opening the dishwasher and placing it and her cutlery inside. She turned as Jaune walked into the living room, smelling fresh after a nice shower. "Hey hon." Jaune said, kissing her cheek.
"Good morning to you too." Pyrrha said as she smiled at him.
Pyrrha seemed like a vampire, as somehow she showed practically no signs of aging whatsoever. Her hair was still just as red as when she was young and not even a trace of crow's feet on her, either. Jaune showed more wear and tear from time than she did, truth be told. His hair was already white, the pigment lost after his first resurrection by Salem, but thankfully the Grimm features that his body had when under her and Thaddeus' control were gone, courtesy to the Brother of Darkness fully resurrecting him. His hair had grown longer, and tied it back into a Warrior's Wolftail as he still liked to refer to it, and had a very nice white beard, one that Pyrrha enjoyed stroking due to how soft it was.
Above the fireplace were many beautiful photos, showing the day they married. It was the happiest day of their lives, and there were plenty of pictures of their daughter, especially baby ones. And in the middle was a little plaque.
Our precious little family
Pyrrha, Jaune, Athena and Oriana.
Our love is eternal for you both.
"Is Ori up yet?" Pyrrha asked with a sigh.
"I heard her moving around. She should be out in a minute." Jaune reassured, Pyrrha was moving quickly as she was getting things ready, passing by Milo and Akoúo hung up on the wall, weapons she had rebuilt from memory after losing them when Beacon was destroyed. And above the fireplace was where Ira Red was hung, Juno's old sword and the very weapon that Pyrrha used when she was part of Team C.P.P.R.
"Gods… I'm running laaaaate." Pyrrha stressed.
"What're you looking for?" Jaune asked.
"My keys." Pyrrha answered. Jaune immediately started lifting cushions to find it.
"AH-HA!" He cheered, finding them tucked between two cushions.
"My hero!" Pyrrha squeaked as he chucked them to her, and she yanked them into her palm with her polarity. "How do I look? Presentable?"
"You do know you are literally the most beautiful woman I've ever met, right?" Jaune asked with a smile, making her blush.
"Very sweet… but it's St. Fall Day. I gotta look presentable for the fights I'm gonna be judging with Coco." Pyrrha said.
"You look fine, and hell, you know Coco. She's probably gonna get you to use her makeup, anyway." Jaune said with a shrug, which made Pyrrha nod.
"Good point." She agreed. She looked around and picked up her handbag, and put on her brown jacket, flicking her red ponytail out of the way of the collar. She wore a crimson shirt underneath and smart trousers. "Okay…" She paused, then furrowed her brow. "C'mon Ori, what's taking you so long?"
Oriana
In her bedroom upstairs, the daughter of Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos was sitting in her comfy gaming chair. She still had her birthday cards sat on her desk from when she turned fifteen, sent to her from her large family, and her great friends at school. She had messy red hair with blonde highlights. Her hair, in fact, looked a lot like how Jaune's hair used to look back when he was a kid.
Her large blue eyes also reflected her father's, but her face looked so much like her mother, almost like a perfect copy of her. A perfect blend of her parents. She wore a zip up Pumpkin Pete's hoodie, which she had half zipped down and part of it folded over her shoulder, revealing her knitted brown cardigan underneath. She wore brown fingerless gloves and wore short jeans, and had long black tights covering her legs, and she had her brown boots on.
Tied around her right thigh was a red sash that her father passed on down to her for good luck, and on her belt she had a screwdriver hanging from one of the loops.
Down on her desk was a sketch of something she was working on, drawing away with her headphones completely blocking out all outside noise, listening to bouncy music that she couldn't help but mouth the lyrics to, in between blowing bubbles of pink gum that she was chewing. She hummed the song away with a bright smile, shifting her body to the song, using her pen as a make-believe microphone.
"… iana!" A muffled noise echoed from behind the sound of her music. She continued to sketch out the blueprints for her hoverboard she had been working on. All around her in her room were electronics. She was quite the crafter, loved making stuff with her hands, and she was easily one of the cleverest kids at her school. She also had a very cute fluffy teddy bear sat on her messy bed as well, alongside a photograph from her Auntie Ruby from that time the two of them went to the park recently and had so much fun.
She couldn't wait to see her Auntie again when she came back from her recent mission.
"… iana!" That same sound happened again, but she still didn't register it. She glanced at another picture she had on her desk, one of her best friend at school, Misty Razzmatazz.
Suddenly her door burst open with a very frustrated Pyrrha Nikos stood there. "ORIANA!" Pyrrha shouted, making Oriana help and fall backwards off her chair and onto the floor. Pyrrha tapped her finger against her watch. "Did you forget about School today? Because I sure didn't!"
"CRAP!" Oriana yelped, scampering off her chair and bolting past her mother, nearly knocking her over as she ran inside, past her dad, who was drinking his coffee.
"Aah, she lives!" Jaune chuckled.
"Smee!" Ori yelled, and a little pink drone with glowing blue lights and hovering pieces chased after her. "You are the worst alarm clock in the world!"
He beeped and the word "Sorry!" appeared in holographic text appeared above his head. Oriana frantically got slices of toast and loaded them into the toaster. Smee hovered and used his gravity dust charged fins to levitate the jam over to her.
Pyrrha groaned. "We never should have got her those headphones. I swear they make her deaf." Pyrrha groaned.
"I mean, they help her with her studies… just a shame they work too well when we need her." Jaune chuckled.
"It's okay, I still got time!" Oriana assured, as she bounced around the room, getting everything she needed, filling up her bottle of juice.
"Yeaaah totally." Jaune sighed, checking his watch to see they had five minutes until they'd be too late to get her at school on time.
"Still time!" Oriana repeated, catching the toast as they popped out and placed them on the plate so she could quickly spread the jam on it. Her blue eyes widened and the bubble of gum popped when she realised. "Oh shit, my bag!"
"Language!" Jaune called out as she bolted back into her room, scooping her open backpack up, dropping her books and pencil case on the floor.
"Shit…" she grumbled, quickly piling everything back inside before zipping it up and slinging the bag onto her shoulder, running back into the kitchen, picking up her toast and now standing at the door. "SEE! NOT LATE!" she panted, with sweat trickling down from her face.
Jaune sighed, shaking his head. "I dunno where she stores all that energy." Jaune said to Pyrrha. "Alright, have a good day at work, hon. You'll be on tv at twelve, right?" He asked her, giving her a gentle kiss.
"Yeah, I hope these fights will be good." She said, moving some strands of red hair from her eyes.
"Alright, c'mon Ori. Let's get to school." He said, straightening his yellow tie. As a teacher, he wore a smart suit to look the part, even if he'd prefer to wear something comfier. He walked to the door and opened it, where Oriana skipped ahead towards their family car. But just as Jaune was about to go, he felt Pyrrha's arms around him.
"Oh, we're not done here, mister." Pyrrha whispered, turning him around and pulling him by the tie and giving him a long and passionate kiss. Oriana looked back at her parents kissing, deadpanning at them with a sigh.
"Now, who's the one taking too long?" She mumbled. They continued to kiss, then Oriana groaned even louder. "Gross!"
Her parents stopped, and Jaune chuckled whilst Pyrrha just stared at Oriana with a raised eyebrow, which Oriana just reflected right back at her. "You know… you'll one day you will have someone like how I have my little Jauney." She teased.
"Goooods please kill me now." Oriana groaned, opening the car door and sitting down in the passenger seat.
Pyrrha giggled. "Have a good day at work, honey." Pyrrha said, giving him another shorter kiss, then hugging him tight.
"Always." He assured, turning back and walking past the patch of dead grass in the corner of their front garden, not even looking at it. He walked to the car, scratching at the faint scars that had once glowed purple twenty-five years ago. But now they were just old scars, just a bad memory.
He got in the driver's seat and he got the car going, and Smee sat on Oriana's lap. "Let's rock 'n roll." Jaune said, driving away from their home, with Pyrrha waving goodbye to her beloved family.
Oriana leant her head against the window as she looked at the countryside of Vale, passing by old Grimm Tar Pits that had been completely sealed with the mysterious purple crystals that formed after Salem's death. The things were everywhere but now they were completely harmless… but Dutch was no fool, and he made sure to have there be systems monitoring their activity every second of every day.
The world Oriana was born into was so peaceful compared to what was, where Humans and Faunus were no longer at each other's throats, and roads were connecting each town to each Kingdom. With no Grimm, travelling has become far safer than it ever was… it truly was a world at peace. Jaune turned on the radio as they drove, hearing more fun music being played to celebrate the end of such a dark era of Remnant's History.
Oriana looked at the distance, seeing the overgrown ruins of Beacon Academy in the distance, alongside the rusted remnants of destroyed Black Gallows Dreadnaughts that crashed after the Black Queen was uploaded into their systems. They had been cannibalised mostly, but some of them remained, scattered around Remnant in some places. It was illegal to explore them, mostly for your own safety, but that didn't stop spelunkers and their curiosity.
Jaune continued to drive to Vale, passing by a couple other farms, and then they approached the City entrance, entering through the old walls that no longer had a real purpose now that the Grimm were gone. But considering how much money it would cost to tear them down, alongside how long it would take, the New Council decided to just keep them up. Plus, they held historical value to the new generations.
They drove through Vale, seeing all the festivities in the streets, so many people cheering and selling countless pieces of memorabilia. "So, what's the school doing for today? They always like to do something fun for the day, don't they?" Jaune asked her.
"Yeah, I only got like two lessons today. Rest of today they're letting us explore Vale for a bit, so long as we're safe and are back at the school before the end of the day." Oriana said with a smile.
"Oh? You and Misty gonna go see what's out on the town?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah, some of those stores sell some cool stuff. Might see what I can get with my allowance." Oriana said.
"Well, be safe. Lots of people around today. But who knows, you may get to catch one of the fights live and hear your mom commentating with Coco." Jaune said, and Oriana's eyes widened.
"Oh, you're right! I should tell Misty that." Oriana said with a big smile.
Jaune raised his hand for a fist bump, which she happily gave him. He arrived at the school just in time. She opened the door and skipped out of it. "Thanks, dad!" Oriana squeaked as she walked into school. "Love you!" She called.
"Love ya too, kiddo." He replied, driving into the Employee Car Park.
Oriana walked into the school, passing by the many kids who were chatting and on their way to their homerooms. "Hey Ori!" a boy called to her.
"Hey Jax!" she called back as she twirled around, then kept walking through the hallway past the lockers. As she walked past the lockers, suddenly a girl appeared out of thin air, her scales returning to their normal colours. She hugged Oriana tight, making her laugh as she hugged her right back. "Hey Misty!" Oriana strained in Misty's tight grip. Misty released her, then flicked her long purple hair out of her eyes, and the scales on her cheeks changed to a slight pink as she looked at Oriana.
"You excited for today?" Misty asked, fiddling with her long hair with one hand, and clutching her textbook with her other hand.
Oriana smiled at her. "Yeah, my dad was telling me we could catch one of those fights later. My mom will be commentating it and be judging the fighters." She said, that made Misty's big brown eyes widen.
"Really?" she gasped.
"Mhm." Ori responded, still smiling at her.
"Okay. It's a date." Misty squeaked as she walked ahead, Oriana looked away as her cheeks blushed, biting her lip and clenching one hand into a fist before she regained her composure and followed her. "You got History first?" She asked.
"Yeah." She groaned. "Mr Gray. Ugh."
"Uuuugh he suuucks." Misty groaned.
The Deacon
It had been 24 years since the first time he put on this mask, and now it had become his entire identity. The whole world knew who he was.
A long time since he killed those Followers in the desert to save those Nomads.
He stood behind the stage, one leg pressed against the wall, whilst he listened to Amara finishing up her speech. His armour was lesser this time. He had designed a more formal and less threatening version of his armour. This version was more like a suit. It still had some armour in places, but was mostly for formal events like this. But the helmet remained the same, exhaling mechanically, with green mist escaping the vents. His glowing green visors stared down at his hands. They were shaking.
Even now, after twenty-four years, he still found public speaking to be nerve-racking. "Sir?" An assistant said as she approached.
"Hey, how can I help you?" The Deacon asked her politely.
"Just letting you know you're about to go on stage in a minute. President Amara will call you out." The Assistant said, and the Deacon nodded, giving her the thumbs up.
"Thanks for the heads up." He replied, exhaling shakily, before he steadied his breath and stood tall, cracking his neck.
Out front, Amara smiled as she held the podium, calming the cheering crowd down after announcing some fundraisers that were going ahead and other things relating to the festivities. "Now. We have a couple of very special guests for you all today. People who have taken incredible steps in helping build this beautiful world we all live in today. And to nobody do we owe such a great debt of gratitude to, than our first guest. Please give a round of applause to the Founder of the Legion, the CEO for the Schnee Dust Company, and the nameless and enigmatic Hero of Remnant. The Deacon!" Amara cheered, raising her hand up and stepping aside.
The Deacon emerged from the curtain as the massive crowd bellowed with cheers. He held out his hands as he looked at them all, laughing as they all cheered his title. He walked towards the podium, and Amara shook his cybernetic hand with a smile. He stood before and cleared his throat, exhaling through the vents. "Man, when I put on this mask twenty-four years ago, I never would have expected I'd be treated like a rockstar. What the hell?" He chuckled modestly, making the crowd laugh.
He exhaled, then looked at them. "I mean… just look at this. How far we've all come? I remember when things were at their darkest, when Salem had full control over everything. People couldn't walk the streets without being harassed by Black Gallows or Feral Ones. And there were Grimm prowling the streets… sometimes they would just give into their instincts and attack someone who was crying nearby." The Deacon said as he looked around at these streets.
Knowing that he personally never experienced these things… for what he suffered was very different.
"And for a long time these streets weren't safe even after Salem was defeated, for the Grimm still lurked around our world. That, of course, was one of the big reasons I started the Legion. It was only small back then. Just a few people who followed my lead, and we hunted the Grimm and anyone who wouldn't let Salem's rule disappear. It took a long time, but luckily lots of people saw potential in what we wanted… and in time we eventually eradicated the Grimm. The Last Hunt… I remember that day fondly when we got the last Grimm, and saved this world from their presence. It almost didn't feel real… I know a lot of you shared that feeling with me." The Deacon said as he looked at the crowd, seeing many nodding their heads in agreement.
"But now? These streets are safe, and parents can comfortably take their children to events like these. Their kids can actually enjoy the culture of this fine city. The same can be said for so many more out there. And thanks to the efforts of Blake and Yang Belladonna, the Faunus have been coming forward and telling the world how much safer it feels for them and their families." The Deacon said, picking up the microphone and walking around.
"And that's all thanks to you!" A man called out from the audience. The Deacon stopped and shook his head.
"Oh no. This wasn't me… I may have founded the Legion, yes. I bought what remained of the Schnee Dust Company and got it back on its feet in a more ethical manner? Sure. But the real impact? That has been made by every single one of you. You never stopped fighting, none of you. And you all together wanted to build an ideal world. All I did was follow your lead." The Deacon said with pure honesty in his voice.
He stopped and turned, smiling behind the mask. "For example. You may have heard our fine President just mentioned… that there are a couple of guests… I'm one… and there is another. Someone you may have seen before… and the work she and her team in Heimdall's Lab have been carrying out has been extraordinary." The Deacon said as he gestured his hand around.
Curiosity could be heard stirring in the crowd, and a proud smile formed on Amara's face. "So, now it's my turn to announce someone." He said, making the audience and Amara chuckle. "Please, give a round of applause to one of the Head Scientists of Heimdall's Lab, and daughter of Cinder Fall – Amber Fall!" The Deacon revealed, stepping aside and revealing her.
All grown up.
Amber smiled nervously and walked out onto the stage, wearing a beautiful white dress with golden ember-like markings woven around it. Her long blonde hair blew in the wind as she walked out, and the Deacon held out the microphone to her. She accepted it and shakily stood before the vast crowd. "Well… hello everyone." She stammered nervously.
"Man, I'm not good at public speaking. I'm sorry." She giggled nervously, but the crowd cheered her on. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Some of you may already remember me from previous interviews, but for those who don't, I am the head scientist on Medical Advancements. And… a personal project of mine has had a very important breakthrough." She began.
She looked up at the statue of Cinder behind her with a proud smile. "I have been looking into finding a cure for the disease that infected my mother before she gave her life to stop Salem. Noctis Putrida. A terrible disease formed from multiple different causes, but the biggest cause was Dust Exposure, and many Faunus Workers who were forced to work the mines by Jacques Schnee developed this sickness. It's a horrible way to die… and I wanted to make sure that nobody would ever suffer such a horrible fate ever again." Amber explained.
A tear trickled from her eye and she smiled. "And today… thanks to the Deacon's funding… I can proudly announce that we've done it." She revealed and the holographic screen revealed the image of the drug, and even footage of a Faunus worker who was suffering from Noctis Putrida being treated. "And now this drug will be delivered to people in need for free, and now… this horrible disease will never hurt another soul." Amber promised.
The crowd erupted into cheers, and hearing the joy at this announcement broke Amber and she cried with joy. The Deacon affectionately wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, and he handed the microphone back to the President, who was applauding as well.
Amber looked up at Cinder's statue with a smile.
"I hope… you're proud… mom."
Ruby
A long way from Vale…
Night was shrouding the land of Evernight. The land had changed drastically after Salem's death. Without the Grimm's presence around here, plantlife was flourishing. The sound of wildlife was all around her, and she landed on the ground, looking out across the old battlefield. Most of it was now an enormous lake that formed from the epic battle between the Brothers Grimm and the Praetorian Dragon.
Ruby walked forward, with the Relic of Knowledge still dangling from her belt as she promised she would always keep Jinn safe. And in her other hand, was Crescent Rose. Fully rebuilt, now that she let go and moved on from Qrow and accepted the complicated nature of her uncle, she accepted she loved the man she knew, and finally could accept that the real cause of Summer's death was Valravn.
Qrow may have been the blade.
But the one who forced it was Valravn… a fact it took Ruby a long time to come to terms with.
Ruby looked out across Evernight, her large silver eyes gazing at the overgrown destruction, with silver streaks of hair now adorned in her black and red hair. She exhaled and collapsed Crescent Rose and attached it to the magnetic strip across the spine of her outfit. She hopped down from the edge of the cliff and looked around. "Alright… where are you?" Ruby wondered. "Jinn, where exactly am I heading?"
The Spirit in the Lamp formed beside Ruby, and she cast her finger across the land, forming a trail of blue light. "Just follow this convenient line I just made that only you can see, my dear." Jinn said.
"Always the quick helper." Ruby chuckled, walking ahead. As she walked, an Airship slowly soared past the area of Evernight that she was exploring. The ship landed nearby, and she carefully drew Crescent Rose and aimed down its scope, spotting the people who also shouldn't be here. "Treasure Seekers. Looks like we got some bandits on our hands." Ruby said.
"Shouldn't be an issue for you." Jinn assured.
"Heh." Ruby agreed with just a noise. She slid down the slope, then rolled into the bushes. The Treasure Seekers wore old Black Gallows armour. The technology in it no longer worked, but they were able to strip the metal to make for scrapped together plates to protect themselves, and using weapons they looted from raiding Legion Supply Convoys. "Looks like we found some of Dutch's missing weapons." Ruby whispered.
She snuck up behind one of the soldiers, and suddenly jumped up and smashed both her elbows down onto the top of his head, knocking him unconscious, dragging him into the bushes. She continued onwards, then opened her scroll to see how far she was from her target. "The artifact Dutch wants is just over… there." She realised, looking at where she was.
"What is it?" Jinn asked.
"The artifact is where Salem died." She said, then Ruby sighed. "Screw it." She said, transforming Crescent Rose into Scythe form. "Hello boys and girls."
All the Treasure Seekers spun around in fear.
"It's her! The Huntress!" They yelled, immediately opening fire on her.
"The Huntress has a name, y'know?" Ruby suddenly dashed forward, firing an electrical round towards one soldier, electrocuting him and knocking him unconscious, then blasting through a flurry of petals towards three more. She slashed Crescent Rose through the barrels of their weapons, before spinning the scythe around and smashing the blunt end against their heads, knocking all three of them out.
"You're finished!" Another yelled as he aimed his gun at her, only for Ruby to just scoff and toss an electrical grenade into the puddle he was standing on, shocking him until he was knocked out.
The last Treasure Seeker sprinted to the Airship which flew towards him, and then it tried to escape. Ruby suddenly shot up towards the Airship, kicking one of them out of the ship, sending him plummeting down, but she fired a bullet into his jetpack, which blasted just before he hit the ground, stopping the fall from killing him, then she ducked and jumped, swinging off the handles and kicked another Seeker against the wall. The cockpit suddenly opened, and the pilot fired his pistol back at her, only for her to grab the gun and yank it from his hand and punch him in the face with it.
The Airship spiralled out of control, but Ruby grabbed the two unconscious bandits and she burst out of the Airship with them, landing on solid ground as it exploded against the floor behind her. "And not a drop of blood."
"Argh… my nose." The groaning bandit whined, and Ruby looked down to see his nose was bleeding.
"Ah. Spoke too soon." She sighed, before kicking him in the side of the head to keep him unconscious. "Crime doesn't pay, boys."
Ruby walked up to the destroyed remnants of Salem's old home, remembering this spot all too well. She even saw flashing images of that battle, when Cinder gave her life for them all, when they started fighting Salem together… that entire battle… it was one for the history books, that was for certain.
And of course… when Salem died, and Ruby was left with a bittersweet feeling. She saw her body was still there, laying exactly where she fell. When Salem died, nobody wanted to move her body, afraid that she might not have been dead after all. Ruby was the one to go back a few weeks afterwards, only to find her… like this.
The same purple crystals that sealed the Tar Pits seemed to form on her body as well, even though the Relic of Destruction turned her back to her human self after destroying the curse that made her that way… her body hadn't decayed at all. And the crystals made it impossible to move her, due to how impervious to damage they were. So now Salem lies exactly where she fell twenty-five years ago.
And the fact that she looks exactly as she did… it sent a shiver down Ruby's spine.
It really looked like she had died only a few minutes ago, and like she could come back at any second. But Ruby knew it worked, and Salem was gone… it was just always such a conflicting feeling whenever she saw her body.
She expected relief… but she only felt grief when Salem died.
Ruby sighed, closing her eyes before she looked around for what the artifact was that she was here for. She walked past Salem's body, then found the foundations of her old home, and she wiped the dust off what looked like a trapdoor. "Hmm… surprised nobody tried going in here." Ruby said.
"Few people come here, with it being so heavily guarded." Jinn reminded.
Ruby opened the door and dropped inside of it, raising her scroll and using it as a flashlight as she searched for it. "Okay… where're you at?" Ruby mumbled to herself. She continued to search, and then she found it, gasping. "Hello…"
She picked it up, and it was an old book, one with ancient tomes on it. "I have no idea what I'm looking at."
Jinn appeared beside him with her finger tapping her chin. "That is a Tome of Dark Magic. One that explains how it works and how to use the spells." Jinn clarified.
"Like what Thaddeus used?" Ruby asked.
"Exactly. Exactly what Thaddeus used." Jinn answered.
"Well, this is definitely something that needs to be locked away in Heimdall's Lab. Can't risk anyone figuring out how to translate this stuff." Ruby stated, closing the book and stuffing it in her bag. "Alright, thingy secured. Let's get out of here." Ruby shot out of the basement and then she pulled out her scroll, calling in her Airship.
Only for an error popping up.
"Huh?"
Impounded
"Aw shit."
Suddenly, Legion Soldiers appeared out of Active Camoflauge around Ruby, aiming their guns at her. "Ruby Rose! Stand down."
Ruby just sighed and dropped Crescent Rose.
"Dutch sent me here on a secret mission to acquire an artifact. Like every other time." Ruby sighed, sounding completely done with this situation, considering how many times it's happened.
"President Amara specifically denied the request for this mission. Therefore, you are officially trespassing. So I'm gonna have to ask you to come with us. Let the higher ups sort this out, okay?" The soldier asked. They all respected Ruby but also had to follow the chain of command.
Ruby rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Greeeat. Time to see Amara… love seeing her." She remarked sarcastically, going with them willingly.
"Well… that didn't go according to plan." Jinn joked.
"Not. A word."
Author Note - Welcome to the new world of Remnant!
A far more peaceful world in comparison to the world that came before, of course it still has its problems since no world is perfect even after everything has changed. Very excited to explore more of this Post-Salem Remnant. Been wanting to explore this era in Eclipse for so long now.
And talking of characters I've wanted to finally write?
ORIANA
I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She's such a bean and I love her story, and I cannot wait for you all to see the way her story is going to go. And writing all the characters being so much older now is gonna be really fun.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt