A/N: WARNING! This fragment gets dark. Ye be warned.
As you can see, this little idea was a possible AU for "Far From Home" that I toyed with for some time, but I wanted to see what folks thought of the events here.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one! Getting some more doctors tests and the like today.
So here, have this in the interim while I focus on getting better. Something that may or may not come to be.
"Atlas is falling down...falling down...falling down...
Look and see the city falling down...
...my...fair...lady."
~?
Falling Down
Atlas burned.
Naruto stared up through the window ruined for a long moment, watching it blaze ever brighter in the sky. Ruby watched with him. As they looked on in mute horror, the city began to list to one side, then, ever so slowly, it plummeted toward the winter wastes. Its crash seemed a slow one at first, almost ponderous really. Like a slow star falling from the sky. She heard someone scream behind her. It sounded like Penny. She couldn't be sure, couldn't look away from the slowly falling city.
Until it struck a mountain.
An explosion lit the night. Burned the world white.
Ruby could hear her heart hammering in her chest. No, no, no.
Naruto found his voice first. She wished he hand't. "James...Winter...All those people...
"M-Maybe they're still alive...?"
"You did this. You made your choice." The blond muttered, palming his face. "I made mine...and look what came of it." An awful noise escaped his lips, and it took her a moment to realize he was crying. "Why didn't you listen? We could have avoided all this...we could have save everyone."
His hand came down and Ruby felt her heart break when she saw the dead look in his eyes, the blood on his face. "It wasn't supposed to be this way! We didn't mean-
His fist cracked out and struck her face. An awful crack resonated through the air. She stumbled back, clutching her nose. Blood fountained forth between her fingers. It took her a moment to realize he'd struck. Naruto, who never hit anyone without a good reason.
-it?" he rounded on her. "Bull and shit." when he stepped forward she retreated, unable to bear the baleful look in his eyes. "We believed in you! We trusted in you! All those people! GONE! Because you just had to have stay on your high horse, have your little crusade!
He reared back for another punch.
A glyph shimmered beneath his feet. "We've got him! Take him down!"
Ruby wailed. "Weiss, no! Wait!"
Their "captive" blew out a breathy sigh. "For what its worth...I'm not sorry."
Blue eyes blazed red in the gloom. Scarlet chakra boiled out his back. His fist slammed down, shattered the Glyph holding him. He followed through with the movement...and drove another into Weiss's stomach. She spat blood and crumpled like a house of cards. He punched again, driving her into a wall. She slid down it and didn't rise again.
...you girls don't seem to understand." he straightened, uncaring of the hole in his shoulder. "We're not locked in this room with you. You're locked in here with us."
Ruby raised Crescent Rose, sighting down the scope. She couldn't do it. Couldn't squeeze the trigger. Couldn't commit.
They could.
Naruto growled. "Kill them."
Everything went sideways. A hand shot out in the dark, caught Ruby's scythe by its haft. It snapped it right down the middle. She yelped and threw herself backwards in a cloud of petals; only for Steel to tear through and catch her by the ankle. She squeezed and bones broke when the little Reaper didn't get her aura up in time. She spun, whipped her into Yang, sending the sisters sprawling. Ruby tried to right herself, tried to speak, tried to say something, anything, but there was just so much pain...
"No!"
Blake lunged at her exposed flank. Gambol Shroud swept back for a killing blow. She never made it. Penny intercepted her, caught her by the face, and slammed her down into the bloody floor. Once. Twice. Thrice, until her aura broke and she slumped into silent slumber. Penny didn't stop there. A blade slammed out. Blake went still.
Ruby tried to stand, but her leg failed her. "Penny, why?!"
Blank green eyes turned to face her, burning with flame. "...you are an enemy of Atlas, Ruby. I am sorry. We are no longer friends."
"Bastards!"
Yang righted herself with a furious howl. She shouldn't have. Penny's blades flashed. A bolt of green light struck her sister head on. The last of her aura fizzled and died. Naruto waded through the light and punched a hole through her stomach. She slumped, gurgling, to the floor. Ruby couldn't look away. Couldn't blink. Couldn't breathe. This...this was a dream, right? It had to be a dream...!
The trio turned on her as one, eyes blazing with fury. It wasn't a dream, was it?
A keening sphere ignited in Naruto's right hand. He flung it at her.
Ruby didn't even have time to scream.
A/N: Yup. Bad end. Hope you enjoyed the alternate take on this. Time will tell if RWBY actually does this in Far From Home.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
Have some previews!
Well, just one.
(Preview)
Naruto blinked.
Bright green eyes gazed up at him, her brow writ in concentration. She was going to say it. "Da...
Naruto beamed. "Go on sweetie, say daddy!"
"Da...da...
"Glynda, c'mere! I think she's about say it!
"Da...da...da...
His throat closed. "You can do it! C'mon!"
...damnit!" their daughter chirruped happily, grinning gormlessly .
Glynda hurtled down the stairs and slammed facefirst into a wall. "What did she just say?!"
Qrow cackled and fell off the couch...which then levitated and launched him out the window.
...you do realize he can fly...?"
"I WILL CASTRATE HIM!"
R&R~!