RWBY Crimson Timeline

by CrimsonPhoenixRWBY

Some say we're the heroes of our own story. But what if someone could tell it better?

31. Vol9 Lively Crossroads

div id="djs-foo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, we find ourselves in the hidden portal atop the Bazaar, where team RWBY have reunited with an unexpected ally, as Blake was fawning over the Rusted Knight, her 'eagerness' for the handsome hero in the book she loved, suddenly vanished as it turned out that JAUNE ARC was the Rusted Knight!? Blake decided then and there, she was no longer into boys./div
div id="djs-b2s4g" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Team RWBY…Took you long enough", he said, with a deep and gruff voice. Yang blushed as she saw him and barely suppressed the 'rawr'. Way back when in Beacon she had been turned off by this lean and pathetic stick in the mud. But seeing him like this?! Suddenly she understood how Raven and Taiyang became a thing. Having seen how Raven acted to her father, the way she dismissed him and talked down about him, yet probably hadn't faced him since ditching him, suddenly it all made sense as Yang felt a soft attraction towards Jaune. The armor and the pony tail helped. But it was mostly the beard and that soft stroke of white in his messy helmet hair. "Long enough…Jaune how long…what happened?!"/div
div id="djs-298ag" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As Jaune finished explaining, he smiled, confidently. Looking at the four of them with a grin. It was good to have his friends back. SUddenly he laughed. It was stark, harsh and rough, yet also oddly contagious. While they did just leave behind another burned to ashes place, somehow there was a kindled flame in their hearts. Even Ruby and Jaune. "Thanks for the save back there"/div
div id="djs-eg1h8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't mention it…You all look famished. Is that why you were at the market? I know a better place to gather your strength. Though it IS a ways away", he explains as he gently rubs Juniper's neck and nuzzles her head. Yang blushes, jealous. "Who's your friend?"/div
div id="djs-bnlr8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh right…sorry I haven't had a full conversation with someone that doesn't deal in 'purposes' and 'goals'...uhm…team RWBY…Meet Juniper…my friend", in response to this, the Jackalope flaps her ears and gives a friendly nod. She was a clever girl. Next thing, Jaune reached for a saddle bag fastened to her and pulled out a bag of treats. Gave one to Juniper and turned to hold the bag open for the others. "Take them…they grow on 'Food for Thought' Acre. It has another name but…"/div
div id="djs-75dj4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Reaching in the bag, Weiss pulled out what seemed like mini, inch large Scrolls?! She gave a questioning look as the other three pulled out a similar thing. "Yeah they're the best, even if it is a bit weird. Taste like your favorite food and can hold you up when on the road. Mine taste like a sweet and salty buttery cookie, since that's what I usually eat when watching a movie. Essentially, those things are the rather Afteran concept of a 'pun meal'."/div
div id="djs-2vecv" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"After having explained himself, Yang was the first to take a bite. Instantly she felt a warmth spread through her body and gave her strength as she quickly chowed down and smiled. "Ramen!"/div
div id="djs-62a0s" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Intrigued, even curious, Blake and Weiss both tried one. As they also felt the warmth of good food hit them and spread warmth through their body and fighting off some of the tiredness and weariness. Giving them a small boost. And of course Blake's tasted like tuna, whereas Weiss' tasted like blueberry frozen yogurt. Only Ruby left. Who, skeptically but not wanting to be rude, took a bite. She blushed as she tasted the mighty power of strawberries! It had felt like years since she last ate some. A watery smile spread over her lips as she hugged herself and tried for another. But Jaune took the bag away. "No, no more. These things are addictive. And very dangerous. But they can hold us up until we get to my base of operations."/div
div id="djs-ofj0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You have…Jaune…how long have you been here?", Yang wondered, looking at the streak of white in his hair./div
div id="djs-7a3qm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Honestly…I lost count after…after a few years. Trying to keep my sanity in this mad world was more important than keeping times and date", Jaune sighs. He gives them all a look. "You all haven't slept since falling, have you?"/div
div id="djs-b45k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We..haven't but…how did you find us?", Ruby interjects./div
div id="djs-cb0mf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""How are YOU the Rusted Knight?!", Blake, who up until that moment in time had often fantasized about meeting the Rusted Knight, seemed less interested. Having a crush from her own childhood turned out to be none other than Jaune 'Vomit Boy' Arc wasn't a good memory./div
div id="djs-17a43" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""And how did you get so-", Weiss wanted to ask 'rusted', given that last she saw him they were about the same age, geared up in Altas Academy tech and fighting to save lives. Now he was as old looking as some trophies Jacques had in his study. But Yang interjected; "-Attractive!"/div
div id="djs-6838d" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Seriously? Sister? That's your big take away? Ruby rolled her eyes; "Jaune…what happened…after we fell, and to you"/div
div id="djs-ckp0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Heh…guess we have a lot to talk about…come, this way"/div
div id="djs-2ndfo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-2umrc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-q63e" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-9hn29" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""...Two Relics…a stronger Maiden than any we've seen so far and everyone's in danger…", the long walk down the inter connected portal tunnel from the top of the Bazaar towards a different Acre had given Jaune and Yang, who both survived the longest, the ability to compare their notes and fill in the blanks. Aschen had won. Killed those in her way and stole both Relics. She had used the Creation one and destroyed the Inbetween, resulting in the fall of Jaune and Yang. Meanwhile everyone else had no idea what happened, since Ambrosius had taken their treatment of him in a negative way and used the term 'exit in Vacuo' literally: after all, why would you 'enter' via the exit? Having broken through the long trek in artificial light, the young Rose was the first to step into actual daylight, found a rock and sank to her butt. She was distraught and anxious. Nothing had worked. They hadn't achieved anything./div
div id="djs-d4the" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""And with Aschen…the ability to get another", Yang added. Thanks sis, totally didn't need you to clarify that, Ruby looked away./div
div id="djs-2a69o" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""But they don't know where the Beacon Relic is, thanks to Ozpin's clever tricks", Blake added, trying to sound hopeful. It's odd. Blake and Ruby had swapped places, where Ruby had been the hopeful optimist always trying to look at the bright side and Blake was the gloomy emo girl. And here the roles had turned. Cause Ruby could barely manage a smile, let alone optimism./div
div id="djs-ee8g8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Never thought we'd be thankful for Ozpin's trickery…but I guess it works out", Weiss said, nudging Blake as they both smiled. Ruby wanted to vomit. "We lost everyone and the relic"/div
div id="djs-1m0np" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""But we got everyone out safely! Jaune said so!", Blake smiles, yet as Weiss gently squeezes her hand, she shrugs. "We risked their…and my former home…for that Relic…and we failed, but yes, saving lives should come priority"/div
div id="djs-fmbts" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What good is saving people, if the world blows up anyway!", Ruby threw her hands up and then looked down again. What was the point indeed. Why save them? If Salem destroys the world who cares if all the people of Atlas made it to Vacuo. It's all pointless! "Hey..that's how Ironwood thought…you don't mean that"/div
div id="djs-9p7rs" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Yang had meant it comfortingly. Even hugged her sister. But being compared to James, the insane person who wanted to bomb innocent people?! Thanks sis! Ruby kicked dirt and stood up, stomping off as Yang and her friends just glared at her; "What do you know what I mean…you don't care!"/div
div id="djs-5md94" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Alright cut the crap…we need to move before the weather turns, else it'll be even harder to find safety and a place to sleep", Jaune said, his leader instincts kicking in as he petted Juniper and sent her off, scouting ahead. As he watched Ruby tremble and fight back tears as Yang was just looking shocked, he sighed; "there'll be plenty of time to lick your wounds and hash things out. Come on"/div
div id="djs-5g90h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-eltlt" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-ei5ne" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-7m7vm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Where are we going?", Yang bemoaned as they had been marching for a while. She, Weiss and Blake were huddled together behind Jaune and Juniper. Ruby however was off to the side, not lagging behind, but clearly wanting distance between her and her sister. Occasionally Yang would throw her a look, but then Jaune caught her doing that and she stopped. Something about his expression was serious. And he had been here longer than them, he'd know the dangers./div
div id="djs-7neq7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""My base of operations…more like a makeshift mansion I'm sharing…with an ally", Jaune says, rubbing the back of his head as they continued to walk onwards. All in all making good headway, "I still can't believe you made it out of the Crimson Keep all on your own. A maze and a madhouse"/div
div id="djs-6es3g" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well…not on our own…we had help…", Blake turns around and notices that the Cat hasn't been with them. Ever since the Jabberwalker attack. "Oh…I hope they're ok…"/div
div id="djs-2dapo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Who?", Jaune asks, his eyes tracking the storm./div
div id="djs-5q90o" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""That Overly Annoying Curious Cat", Weiss bemoans as she had relished in the silence. Not having a million questions that constantly get sidetracked was good for morale. At least, for Weiss' morale./div
div id="djs-31aq8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""The…cat…", Jaune's voice drops…his anger rising to the surface. A flash of lightning nearby luminates a murderous glare. Masked only by the mirthful leaps as Curious returns from their search. But mostly eyeing Ruby, for selfish reasons./div
div id="djs-eb5bj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh thank goodness I found you! Why is it you always what you're looking for in the very last place you look", just then, Curious finds their eyes on a familiar rusted set of armor, Corcea Mors on his back, the warrior ponytail and the overwhelming sense of purpose. It's all so boring really. "Oh hey Jaune…it HAS been an indeterminate amount of time! How's the gut?"/div
div id="djs-4rm9n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wait…you two know each other?!", Weiss was angry. Not that these two knew one another, but that her peace of mind was gone. Because the cat with an attention span of a gold fish was right here again! She stomped her foot, Ruby, who had gotten closer to the group now that the Cat was back, opted; "well…that makes sense, given the story's-"/div
div id="djs-f6t40" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""PEST!", Jaune draws his broken blade and turns, intended to run the cat through! Yang and Blake manage to hold him back. A furious and angered look on his eyes./div
div id="djs-2gkvl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wow easy there cat slayer…", Yang says in a soothing voice./div
div id="djs-7m0bb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I think there's a misunderstanding…the cat's been helping us", hearing her say that, Old Man Jaune's fury fades a little, throwing Yang and Blake a look. "They can get us all out of here"/div
div id="djs-sdq2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No they can't", at his anger, a flash of lightning appears overhead. Oh no…this is bad! "I can't explain now, but we need to go immediately. The weather is dangerous!"/div
div id="djs-btaj5" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""But your friends want to go to the tree…doesn't that just fill you up with nostalgia…Knight?", the Cat purrs./div
div id="djs-1jdr3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""The tree?! You didn't tell them ANYTHING…did you, snake!", Jaune's fury returns full force, the light slowly turning darker as clouds shroud the surroundings./div
div id="djs-f8n20" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Now that's simply untrue. I told them LOTS of things! A couple anythings and lots of somethings!"/div
div id="djs-s26r" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""The tree is death! Takes your memories, takes your form, absorbs it and spits you back out as something else. Blank slate. "Ascension" they call it. Bogus Suicide is what I call it!"; pointing his sword at the Cat, the four girls slowly turn towards the cat. Siding with Jaune the fastest, Yang growls. "Pretty…CURIOUS…you failed to mention that"/div
div id="djs-fpd5k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh…excellent Pun-manship!", the Cat holds their belly, absolutely tickled by the joke, "but you aren't from here. It works differently on humans…I think"/div
div id="djs-dp97m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh yeah…? Then where is Lewis? Alyx' brother!"/div
div id="djs-fbd35" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-2eec" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-368lp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-9nt5d" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Dammit! Stupid cat! Now we're stuck in it…Ruby…Yang…welcome…to a Punderstorm. A literal weather phenomenon that generates a physical and emotional roadblock since we're now…thanks to that cat…at a literal and figurative crossroads", Jaune explains as he looks at the 'pink bricked' road that twisted and turned like a bowl of wet noodles./div
div id="djs-c2p2q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""How…perfectly stupid for this place…It really is the pits", Yang said before a hole opened beneath her and she dropped into it, screaming in horror as it appeared out of nowhere! Ruby didn't react as she watched her sister appear from above and fall straight on her face. Slamming into the road. "ok…I deserved that…"/div
div id="djs-7rk3k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No figures of speech…this place is literal…", Jaune says, carefully with his own words as he begins walking the road. "Only way out is solve the problem or wait it out..which can take days…so lets get moving.."/div
div id="djs-fmc5s" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Where…are Weiss and Blake?", Ruby asks, wondering about her friends. Not that they'd do the same for her../div
div id="djs-1iogt" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Must have something more important to work out…"/div
div id="djs-f3kki" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-8799j" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-bmqf1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-4p9ns" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""BLAKE!", Weiss holds herself steady on the very clunky and rackety rope bridge she was standing on. Around them was an open expanse of fog, clouds and storming winds. Connecting their rope bridge was a single platform. One that looked steady, safe! Weiss groaned. Why is this place out to test my patience!?/div
div id="djs-79d4h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""WEISS!", Across the expanse, Blake stood in a similar precarious position. Both their bridges were cut out and missing pieces, so they weren't able to get to safety. So much for the safety they had looked for. Jaune wasn't lying, the weather was dangerous indeed. "What do we do?!"/div
div id="djs-2npqo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I can try to summon-", as Weiss tried to focus and generate her Glyph to bring forth a Nevermore or Lancer queen, the wind seemed to pick up harder and literally erased her Glyph. Like ashes blown away after a forest fire. She groaned. "Nope…not gonna happen, this bridge is NOT up to code…what is this anyway?!"/div
div id="djs-f8rrj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I have no idea…nothing like this was in the book…", Weiss rolled her eyes, before smiling. "You know…it's pretty cute how you memorized the book so much. It must have been your favorite story alright"/div
div id="djs-buftk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As Weiss finishes saying those words, a single step of the bridge appears before her. What in the?! SHe slowly feels her foot around the wood. Solid! She takes as step closer. "Wait…how did I just do that?"/div
div id="djs-d9gjl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I don't know what you did, but it'd be a lot safer there, together on the platform!", Blake bemoans. Only for a plank to appear for her as well. Slowly she takes another step forwards. "Hey…that worked for me!"/div
div id="djs-23okg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""OK so it's not just saying things. That would be to easy", Weiss takes a hand from the rope and makes a thinking posture, still shaking as she stands on the bridge./div
div id="djs-cetti" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Agreed…We'll figure this out…You even more", Blake says, blushing./div
div id="djs-8510c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What makes you say that?", Weiss tilts her head./div
div id="djs-bmdg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well…you're smart. Have a very sharp mind. And you look kinda cute when you're pondering", Blake says, her blush deepening a little as two more planks appear. She gasps and smiles! "Hey look! Progress!"/div
div id="djs-5gs61" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You talked about me…is it…", Weiss looks at Blake and at the progress made. She smirks. "Well, since you're complimenting me…I think your cat ears look cute!"/div
div id="djs-7j9ha" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Succes! Another plank appeared. Is it talking about the other?! Weiss ponders a moment longer, before she snaps her fingers! "I think I have it!', to prove it she looks at Blake and smiles warmly, before setting off; "I might not have shown it well, but I've always looked up to you Blake. You helped me come to understand my faults. And as a result you made me a better person. Stronger and wiser. And I am very thankful you stood at my side when we told of my father"/div
div id="djs-9grvl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Three more planks appeared on the bridge as Weiss carefully walked closer. She felt her heart racing. So that's the trick. Complementing one another. This should be easy. Blake's ears twitched. Seemed she had figured it out as well! "It's saying things we never said…to each other!"/div
div id="djs-9os6k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"At that notion Weiss wanted to scoff. It couldn't be that. Could it? Suddenly her confidence vanished as she felt like a criminal under interrogation. She fidgeted with her fingers before she offered Blake the lead. After all, this way she could be sure from the proof, and therefore know what she wanted to admit and what she should keep locked away. Blake looked into the void, ordering her thoughts, before she returned her amber eyes on the ice blue sapphires of Weiss and set off, the attack bypassing Weiss' defenses completely. "I think…you're an extraordinary person. At first you were a pompous entitled girl, you had your reasons and so did I. But you changed, adapted. And faster than I did. You opened your heart, learned from the experiences that shaped you and even risked your life to save Velvet. And later on you saved my life without thinking. You just acted. There's a strength in your heart. A conviction to stand your ground and fight for your ideals and beliefs, even the belief that I am your friend. And that bravery is inspiring!"/div
div id="djs-36dp4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As per the deal, the bridge slowly extended. Except Blake got so many planks she was almost at the platform?! Not fair! Weiss blushed. How was that not fair? She got to safety. Isn't that worth something? She swallowed and watched as Blake giggled at her. "Don't fall behind"/div
div id="djs-5abnh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Cute…", Weiss rolled her eyes at the comment, even if it was a rather adorable jab and a fun one. She then straightened her back and looked at Blake, "I'm glad you eventually gave me a chance, to be your friend…Even if you didn't like me much at the beginning"/div
div id="djs-dv6s9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I was… a little weary of people in general…don't take it personal…", Blake shyly brushes a pluck of hair behind her human ear. Weiss snickers: "you can say annoyed. I know, looking back I was annoyed at my behavior. But you gave me a chance..and I'm very thankful for it"/div
div id="djs-24tkf" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"More platforms appeared, but this wasn't going fast enough for Weiss. She sighed. "Alright, lets speed this up, any other big revelations worth sharing?"/div
div id="djs-5eo83" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"And while she meant it as a joke, kind off, she saw how Blake thought of something, blushing deep with a very warm and inviting smile on her lips. Very…no lets not go that far! As she dismissed the thought, the Sun which has began breaking through the clouds, vanished and the bridge pulled them away further. Weiss grunted as she looked at Blake, who tilted her head. "Did you just…think of something and not say it?!"/div
div id="djs-cfkjp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""That…I mean…I…", Weiss stuttered. Was that what this was about? About the fact she had kissed Blake's hand to throw her dad off, only for a small part of her to like it and potentially kiss more of her? She gulped. Looked Blake dead in the eye. "...I thought about kissing you"/div
div id="djs-s6av" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh…really….miss Schnee…kissing and fancying a Faunus?", Blake teased her playfully, before Weiss gave her a pouting glare, yet her blush spoke volumes. "So what if MAYBE I do…it's not like…"/div
div id="djs-fed94" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"There was a silence. As they looked at one another. Swallowing, Weiss noticed just how dry her mouth had gotten and closed her eyes, trying to center her breathing and get the fear in her mind at bay. Love. Would this be love? SHe had seen how Jacques and Mother had danced this song, but then the Moustached Snake had turned out to be a fraud. I can't expose myself to this vulnerability, that might come back to hurt me. Won't it? "Why can't you say it?"/div
div id="djs-f9gki" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Because…if I do…I…I'll be vulnerable", Weiss blushes, looking at Blake, for once her posture fully breaking, as she saw Blake smiling at her, holding out her hand, a trick Blake had seen her mother do. Warm, kind and inviting. Kali had taught Blake many things, yet it's curious how much she had picked up on 'woo-ing' from her super mom! "Afraid I might hurt you? Run away?"/div
div id="djs-758nu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Off course not! You're a trusted friend. A powerful ally and the strongest fighter. Well no ok, Yang is physically the strongest. But you, Blake, have a strength that I envy. To be free…", Weiss' blush intensified. Was it just that? Being free like Blake? Or was it being free, to pick Blake? All of her!? "Well…why don't you free yourself?"/div
div id="djs-65nkp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Blake…"/div
div id="djs-vka0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Weiss…"/div
div id="djs-8bq2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I love you", Weiss admitted to herself and to Blake what had been driving her and pushing her to defy her name, to be free, to be loved. She accepted her feelings for Blake, the princess of Menagerie, the friend from Beacon. The gorgeous fighter and inspiring lover. Blake likewise accepted that she, despite having had never dreamt of it, accepted the Daughter of the Schnee as her lover. And not just a lover. She took a vow to protect her friends and family. And now that vow extended from a friend, turned lover! Both hugged one another, suddenly appearing before one another on the platform and kissed! Intimately and longingly. Checkmate, race hate!/div
div id="djs-9ussi" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-anl7t" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-am92h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-6oisa" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'd say I'd be insulted you're doubting my word for that of a fairy tale cat…but I guess I'd be a hard pill to swallow…", groaning, the Rusted Jaune says as he pats Juniper, seeking comfort in her as he did for the many years he had been stuck here. Honestly, a friend from Beacon over a bloody liar and a trickster. But what does Jaune care? Stuck here for more than twenty years, what's a few more hours in a Punderstorm? Yang was pretty clearly on his side, Ruby however, was confused. "Yeah sis, we need to stick to Jaune. He's an ally"/div
div id="djs-7sv0p" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'm just…confused…how can the story both be real and not?", for one. And for two, sister, why would I trust your judgment on Jaune. That's not very 'impartial'. As Ruby started walking, passing the water doorways, a single flicker of Summer in her reflection, as Yang and Jaune followed her, humoring her in the question./div
div id="djs-c8rtl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It all happened", as Jaune said the words, in the reflection seeing himself younger, flashing before the image of Aschen smirking at him before going away. Similarly Yang finds herself looking at the reflection of Raven smiling at her, mouthing wordlessly the word 'similar' before Yang walks away with a scowl. Ruby didn't see, as they followed the pink brick road, Yang speaking up, "Guessing Alyx is a liar…"/div
div id="djs-c1tvg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You have no idea…", Jaune's eyes darkened, "I waited for you to fall….after I almost starved to death. Then I ran into the person who helped me survive, the one…we're gonna meet now. He taught me everything about the Ever After, how to get from Acre to Acre, what to eat, where to eat. What to avoid…And after five years, I went back, at the place I fell. Waiting. And when finally people appeared from Remnant, It wasn't you all…"/div
div id="djs-3rdgu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Lemme guess…Alyx and Lewis?", Yang opted. Earning a thumbs up from Jaune who sighed in anger. "Bingo. At first it wasn't obvious. Alyx played the role of defenseless girl well. Too well. She and Lewis just wanted to get home."/div
div id="djs-2k6u1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So you began guiding them?", Yang asks, walking side by side, Ruby feeling like she was added baggage in this lover's talk, "No, not at first. Lewis, the kinder one, insisted I'd help them. But Alyx didn't want it. She distrusted me. I had discovered, thanks to them, that I was the Rusted Knight. Somehow after failing in Atlas, I became the hero in a children's book."/div
div id="djs-7ahr4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So when did you get to help them?", Yang wonders, looking with interest. The Rusted Knight, right here, she was having a blast!/div
div id="djs-d0vth" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I noticed a lot of changes from the book. Alyx and Lewis got to places that weren't in order. The Royal King didn't just snap at Alyx for breaking the rules. She flat out pushed him to attack her and Lewis, not understanding the customs and rules of the King. Sure the King was no Prince, but somehow her actions caused him to snap. I bailed them out of the Keep…where we all met up with…Curious", reaching the Cat, Jaune's face darkens. Recalling the many days spent in their company and wondering just what the heck the reason was behind the changes in the book versus his own observations. Then he sighed, before continuing, "Lewis trusted me, pushed his sister to listen to reason, but she had fallen for the charms of the cat. We broke from the story, visiting places that weren't in the book. I began to wonder if I had changed something. Yet all I learned was to 'never meet your heroes'...as we eventually had a falling out"/div
div id="djs-faoj6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What do you mean?", Ruby asked, causing Yang and Jaune to both look at her with confusion. HAd they forgotten I was here? Ruby's eyes dulled a little, no that couldn't be it, could it?/div
div id="djs-6k8ug" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We argued. She wanted to follow the cat, meeting Herb had changed her somehow. Drove her to fear me and her brother. I don't know what he said to her, but it wasn't right. After a long fight, she tricked me. I let my guard down and drank from the bowl of soup she had made. The Rusted Knight…drank the poison…", Yang gasped as she ran up and hugged Jaune. Ruby flinched. "Jaune…what happened next?"/div
div id="djs-e6p4m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I…don't know. I lay there dying for…Grimm knows how long. Until Juniper came for me. She lifted me up and took me to the Shop. Where I healed…and learned never to drink anything you haven't personally poured…", a grimace passed over his face as he turned to face Ruby and sighed: "so..not exactly my favorite story anymore…"/div
div id="djs-44g2l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wait…how does the Cat fit in all of this?", Ruby said, standing there, feeling rather empty as this confession of Jaune. Sure he'd been poisoned, but he survived. How was any of that the Cat's fault?/div
div id="djs-9csqq" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Because of their role. Unlike the name suggests, the Curious Cat is meant to help the tree. These Afterans…with their purposes, if one loses the way, they appear and either tries to convince you to continue with that purpose, or bring you to the tree, get a new one. The Cat names it healing but ultimately it's manipulative and vile. Their purpose is to feed the tree, keep the Ascension circle going"; Jaune explains as he turns to Ruby's wondering expression. "how can you be sure?"/div
div id="djs-7blh1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Because Alyx and Lewis both accompanied them towards the Tree. And only one of them made it back to Remnant…the Cat isn't out to help you, it never was with Alyx either", Jaune turns away from both and continues to walk, thoughts swirling in his mind like a storm. So consumed by his thoughts, he didn't notice the Cat walking upside down from a different pathway./div
div id="djs-5dl7r" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh…how odd…now you were in the first place I looked", The Cat mirthfully leaps to the floor they were on and smiles, a tooth filled grin as they approach Jaune. Yang instantly stomps forwards and points a finger at the Cat: "Jaune's told us!"/div
div id="djs-77u4e" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Ohhh…", after a moment of silently gawking at Yang, the Cat slapped their forehead with their paw and giggled, "I thought there was more to that story! You're accusing me. Same page now!"/div
div id="djs-1tfki" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You're the ones feeding Afterans to the tree! Why have you been keeping the truth from us?!", Yang hissed, cocking her weapon and ready for a fight! The Cat however, wasn't in the mood and rolled their eyes; "When Afterans get all Wiggly-Piggly, I guide them back to the Tree, YES! But you're not Afterans! I'm not taking you there to Ascend. I'm taking you there to get back home. I'm not keeping the truth at all!"/div
div id="djs-2m1ok" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Then why act like you've never heard of the story?! Jaune clearly-"; Yang set off but was interrupted by the confident smirk of the Cat as they raised a paw in defiance; "Yes while Jaune did tell something, look at that Rusted Knave. He's clearly a few sandberries short of a picnic these days. And even so, as I'm sure Jaune has informed you, the book went massively different from what he and I experienced.", the Cat said, coyly waving away responsibilities of that part of the story. A thing that Ruby caught as she looked at the Cat: "If that's the case…what aren't you telling about when Alyx and Lewis reached the tree?"/div
div id="djs-3l9ju" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I…", had she seen through my ruse? Had she figured out I was trying to wear her down and take her form? No she's too distraught. She probably means 'why I didn't tell them about me killing Alyx' myself. Why would I do that? I'd have to be mad to tell them that! And everyone knows there's only one mad one in this dollhouse! "I don't know what happened…She tricked me. You must remember how that feels Busted Knight, because she poisoned you. Similarly, she put me out of it. When I woke up, I was alone. And the doorway was closed"/div
div id="djs-283p2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Sitting down depressed, drawing and plucking on the heart string was easy, when you were as Curious to try it out once in a while. However, the story the Cat made up met with a bristle from Juniper, her eyes angry and vengeful. Jaune turned to calm her down, but failed to see the real issue, as Cat and Juniper locked eyes, a spark shot between them. A clear one, given that they both knew the Cat was lying./div
div id="djs-bur0v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-c9t6i" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So you just happily omit information and then pretend you're a victim?! Please, you tricked us!", Ruby heard her sister's accusatory tone, but hadn't they done the same? Tricking the Cat to help them find a way home? Curious felt the same way, as they simply leapt up in the air and began strutting about like cats do, tail high and sassy. "Oh like how YOU and your friends have been using me? You all bothered me to help you escape this place, which I don't know why you'd do, Remnant sounds doomed to begin with. Salem has won. Sure the information and stories were fun. But ultimately this taught me that 'Remnant-ians' can't be trusted. All you do is take that which isn't yours and ruin what remains"/div
div id="djs-5rqs4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No wait, that's not-", Ruby tried to step in. This had been the real reason she didn't wanna break ties with the Cat. If Jaune had been in here for so long, he'd have no way out. And the Cat did have a way out! She didn't wanna lose that lifeline! The Cat could see she was close to breaking. Leaving her, would inflict another nasty wound!/div
div id="djs-arjr6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well at least I know…what not to do now…", As the cat turns around and struts off, confidence and pride in their stride, Ruby begins muttering, soft and sad; "I…just wanna go home…"/div
div id="djs-30ljp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thank you for this lesson, Ruby. Rose. Huntress…Why don't you stick by that idiot friend of yours", As soon as the cat finished those words, the 'crossroads' they had been wondering about, Jaune or the Cat, shattered. IN a blinding flash the storm was over and they were back in the field they had started this whole ordeal. Ruby swallowed, this wasn't the ending she had hoped for. Yet as she turned to see why Jaune and Yang weren't doing anything but stand around wasting time, they all saw Blake and Weiss, clearly there, kissing! As Little, once again having slept through everything, woke up and noticed with a squeak, Weiss broke the kiss, going beet red and looked a way, huffing. "What?! Never seen a woman kiss another woman?"/div
div id="djs-62r2b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well…guess that explains all the rejections in Beacon…", As Jaune wanders off, Juniper gives a startled cry before he calms her once more. "don't worry…the cat's gone"/div
div id="djs-brv0l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So now what are we doing?", Ruby asks, raising her hands to the sky. Jaune snickers. "Now we go to the Shop"/div
div id="djs-bgihm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-eijcn" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-9nl51" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-oe56" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"The Shop, as Jaune had put it, was a rather large mansion. Nested smack dab in the middle of a huge forrest, having crossed out of the Red Prince Acre and along the Fields Acre. This was 'Carpenter Acre', the place where everything was a lush forest, with a wide and very powerful river running, while wildlife lived in peace. There were no predators nor was there anyone 'alive', aside from the one living in the Shop. Entering the estate, via a gnarly wooden and iron gate that creaked open with whining metal, the terrain bordered by impressive and intricate wooden fences. And while the wood looked flimsy and not sturdy at all, Jaune assured them all that this was the safest place in the Ever After, because everyone knew who lived here and no one messed with him, given the lively and happy nature of the person that was happily hammering in the cellar. In the middle of the courtyard stood a humongous wood made tree,, like the trees around, except the leaves, bark and roots were all carefully crafted to look like a natural tree./div
div id="djs-45vke" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Further inwards, with a storage room to the right of the tree and a garage to the left, both stuffed to the brim with woodworked stuff, a rocking horse waywardly dangling out the skylight, was the biggest and largest mansion. By size it even overshadowed the Schnee Mansion! SOmething Blake teased Weiss over, earning her a playful elbow. A large hardwood crafted beautiful mansion. Although it wasn't fully to code, as the walls were off kelter while still looking solid. As if the place was made from clay in a very fluent and wavy manner. Four square windows on the left and right side of the building, large pointed roof. A true fairy tale house. Jaune approached the door and swung the knocker on the door, another metal and wood concoction. As a heavy deep echoing sound raced through the door, a voice came from inside. A harsh, heavy accented one. "Who goes there!?"/div
div id="djs-bgjc5" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Carp…it's me…Knight!", Jaune explained. As soon as he said his name, the door swung open and they all walked inside. Now, with the large looking exterior, you'd expect a house like this to have a large open atrium or foyer that had a chandelier or decorative suits of armor, like Ruby had seen in the Schnee mansion. But instead all she could see was a small room that was JUST large enough so Jaune had to hunch over as he walked in. Small, adorable wooden furniture sprinkled all over the space. A wooden doormat, table, chairs, cupboards and closets. A whole town could live here, if Ruby didn't know from Jaune that this place was basically a 'one man operation', or was it a woman? No one knew what the Lively Carpenter looked like. Only that he was sweet. But given that Weiss had expected the Rusted Knight to be handsome, and it turned out just to be Jaune. Well Alyx perhaps had different tastes. But then why poison him?/div
div id="djs-6mrd9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Oh Sir Knight…no Jaune…I promised I'd try your name, not purpose…you were out so long…I already ate. A very frabjous meal! Sticks!", The voice was completely different from before. The first time Carpenter spoke, he sounded angry, deep and cruel. His voice was cold, vile and repulsive to the ears. Voice angry and aggressive. This was a totally different one. A warm, melodious and gentle melody. Jaune smiled as he lead the others through the first room and into a little larger room that split off, into a wooden maze. "Welcome to the Wood Shop"/div
div id="djs-fbk5k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Sticks? The Lively Carpenter eats wood?", Blake ponders as they pass a staircase towards the first floor and find a neat little kitchen and dining hall. Expecting wooden food, they had discovered Beef sticks, chicken sticks, salads. A whole slew of food and drinks! Jaune smiles at that, yet before team RWBY can dig in, he halts them./div
div id="djs-7kkv9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Carp…I have brought in the friends I was looking for…you want to join us?", he bellow back. From below, deep under the house, the melodious voice returns, giddy with energy and eager. "Oh I'd love to my Rusted Knight. Yet I've already eaten and it's bad fortune to quit at the start of an inspiring moment"/div
div id="djs-3pkrr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thanks anyway!"; Jaune roars back, as he looks at his friends, "go ahead, dig in!"/div
div id="djs-7sffs" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-pjja" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-fd2m9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-62k9p" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"During a long dinner, a very welcome change of pace from fighting, listening to the Cat and what not, lots of information was shared. After Jaune had been saved from the poison and Curious, thanks to Juniper, who was out by the stables near the window they were eating from, so Jaune could feed her table food, he and Juniper made their way to the only place he could get help. While in the book the Carpenter had been a sweet aid, in the real 'version' Jaune had only interacted with Carp four times during Alyx' stay. Yet it was Carp that helped Jaune before and after Alyx had entered the Ever After. The armor, while steel, had been crafted by Lively as a thank you for Jaune's heroic defending the Wood Shop from the Banderstanchies. A tiger like monster that had large teeth and loved causing destruction. Having long tongues, like frogs, to capture prey and eat them. Why they were interested in the Lively Carpenter, is something Jaune never found out. Yet they all learned not to mess with Jaune and went to the Volcano Acre to live their lives there./div
div id="djs-41chp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Carpenter, so they learned, was a reclusive figure. Even Jaune hadn't seen them more than two times. Once when he first appeared to help him from starving after landing, the second time after he was poisoned by Alyx. He appeared to have a large wooden hophat, purple jacket combined with a cloak, wooden legs that were carved and shaped from a golden tree; dark ebony wood core and chest that was dressed like an extravagant queen and a face that was replaced with wood. Similar to the Red Prince, yet not toy soldier and more…living wood, as Jaune explained. The biggest and most important thing they learned though, was to not go down into the workshop beneath the mansion. Carpenter wasn't a fighter, but messing with their privacy was a dangerous endeavor. As two Red Soldiers had discovered when they entered there and only came back out as two red cupboards now in use at the guesthall./div
div id="djs-70kk0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Another thing that was important to learn, was that the Carpenter wasn't interested in the goings on of the Ever After. Their purpose was to be lively and work with wood. Yet disturbing them from that task was dangerous. Yet they were also hospitable. Offering RWBY the chance to rest and crash in the guest room along with Jaune. Four new wooden beds had appeared in there since the last time Jaune had spent the night there, which was a fourth night ago. As their bellies grew full and the hour late, Jaune called it a night, but not before offering Ruby a long lost ally. Ruby, who had been doing mediocre at best, occasionally glancing at Blake and Weiss holding hands and giggling like schoolgirls, wasn't paying much attention until Jaune dropped a wooden box before her. "I…have been keeping this for a while now. Was the first thing I found, in Icedom Acre"/div
div id="djs-cerdr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Ruby wanted him to slow down. Yet as he opened the box, Crescent Rose being preserved and perfectly maintained resting inside, all Ruby could think of was the horrors she had faced. The Nevermore that attacked Amity Colosseum, the Nucklavee fighting and beating her and her friends, the Apathy slowly draining their will to live and going to bite Weiss, a whole city attacked by the Leviathan, Atlas falling, Salem smirking at her, Aschen fighting and throwing Weiss over the edge, Yang pushing her off the platform. It took Ruby a second to hear that Jaune had stopped his story and was looking at her puzzled. Blake and Weiss, who were still holding hands, slowly tilting their head as Yang mentioned her name. "I…thank you…Jaune"/div
div id="djs-4s135" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't mention it. Now If you all won't mind, I'll be going to bed now…", as he said that Yang's eyes perked up, yet she didn't ask or say anything as she saw Blake and Weiss throwing her funny looks. Ruby however had another question, still torn between Jaune and the Cat, "what…do you think…happened to Lewis?"/div
div id="djs-8gq1j" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I think…that Alyx sacrificed him…to get out. And wrote him out of the story", Jaune nods at them, muttering a good night before vanishing out the door and slept with Juniper in the stables. As the others made themselves comfortable by the fireplace in the guestroom, Ruby sat alone, looking at her weapon and closed the box, not wanting the responsibility anymore that came with picking Crescent Rose back up. She would never pick up her job as a Huntress ever again, since it made no difference. The Cat was right, Remnant was doomed. Alone, in the shadows of the room, Ruby let her tears free as she slowly sank deeper and deeper away from happiness and joy, her heart and mind becoming darker and more extreme./div
div id="djs-5hl2t" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-2i8af" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-49vpp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-5n47v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"On the tree outside the Lively Carpenter's Work Shop, sat a single brown, pink and white mocking jay, looking around and gathering information. Having tracked down Ruby Rose after she vanished from the Prince's Keep in the Red Acre. As it flapped it's wings and went to inform it's boss and mistress of the whereabouts of Lil Red, a single butterfly fluttered towards the window and peaked at Ruby's quiet, isolated breakdown and smiled. All according to plan…/div