"Mom!" I wrapped my arms around her tightly. She's back! She's back! She's back! She's back!
"There, there Ruby. I'm here for you..." I clung to mom. Mom. Mom! She's actually back! Mom's back! She's - I -
"I love you, mom! I missed you so much! Please, please, please never go away again!" She's actually here! She's back! She kept her promise!
"Ruby. Oh, little Ruby. I promise you I never ever will again.. Let me see your eyes." I didn't even realize I started crying until I pulled my face from her chest and saw wet stains. I never thought...
"Ruby?" Her warm hand cressed my cheek and tilted my head back a little. Silver eyes... Mom's eyes... I haven't seen her eyes in so, so, so, so, so very long. Don't leave me...
"I'm sorry I've been gone for so very long... I won't leave you again." I blinked, sniffling, my breathing is speeding up. I-I-I always dreamed about this...! About mom... But... It's not a dream anymore! It's real! She's actually back!
"I-I-I - mom!" I dug my head into her chest and hugged her as tightly as I could. She won't leave! She can't! I-I won't let her!
"Don't leave me again! Please, please, pl-please!" I hiccuped. My legs feel weak. I-I don't want to be alone again...
"But your not alone," Her hand grabbed my chin and tilted my head back. Her loving eyes... She looks s-so beautiful. She smiles at me but... It's a sad one...
"You had your father. Your sister. Your uncle. You weren't alone. You never were." B-but... I... I...
"You lost me, yes, but you're not alone, are you?" But I was... I... Why...? I'm... I... What about...
"I never wanted to leave. I had to." I shake my head free from her fingers and step backwards. This... No - It's not - Suppose to stay...
"I only did because I knew your father would take care of you. He did, now didn't he?" I-I... He did, b-but...
"Y-yo-you promised!" I shouted. She said she'd come back! She promised! She said - she didn't - she promised!
"I did. And I'm sorry it took so very long... I really am... But sometimes promises have to be broken. You'll understand one day." N-n-no... No! She promised! She promised me!
"No! Promises aren't - they're special! You can't - you lied to me!" I stumble back into a wall. It's not fair! She promised me...
"That's childish, Ruby, even for you—"
"I'M NOT A CHILD!" I'm not a kid! I'm - She - I—
"Oh, yes, a fully grown fifteen year old," I - she - I, "And a very petulant one at that. Did I not teach you better manners than this?" I'm... She...
"Y-yes... Mom..." I lowered my head to the floor. It's not fair... It's not fair...!
"Your right. It's not fair. But sometimes life is very, very, very mean. Sometimes there's no happy ending." I just - I... I...
"I missed you... Mom... So, so, so, soooo much! It's not fair... Why did you have to leave!?" I'm crying. How long have I been crying?
"I can't tell you... It was important. I had to—"
"BUT WHY!?" Why!? It's not fair! It not fair! IT'S NOT!
"Watch your tone, Ruby. I'm your mother, and you will not—"
"JUST TELL ME THEN! WHY!?" I just - I - Why leave me...?
"Believe it or not, Ruby, you're not the most important person in my life," Mom frowned at me, her eyes narrowing. Wh-what? Who - me...
"I've saved many, many, many people, Ruby, I did. Do you think my time is better spent with you while they are torn apart by Grimm?" M-mo-mom... I... She... Not...
"If I never left, not-a-once, how many people would die? You know I'm a Huntress. It's my job to protect those who can't protect themselves." She... No... No. No! NO!
"AND WHAT ABOUT ME!? You left me! Me! You said you'd never leave me again! You lied! You promised me! You said you'd - I can't - I needed you! I needed... You..." I fell to my knees. It's not fair! She left me! Left me... It's not fair...
"If you deserved me I'd still be here, wouldn't I!?" She shouted as her eyes narrowed into a glare. Wh-what...?
"I left because all you care about is yourself and your emotions! Think about someone else for once in your life!" I-I-I can't... No... I don't...
"Just go die in a ditch, like I did! Do you know how I died?" No! No! No! This - I-I - can't - No!
"No! Shut up. Shut up!" I turn my head to the floor. Not my - can't - Not mom, too... No... I can't... It's not... Fair...
"I never thought you'd even make it this far, honestly." I raise my eyes and see dad. Dad! M-maybe he ca-can—
"Such a disappointment. I try, and try, and try, and try with you," D-dad... N-not hi-him too...
"It's always been your fault," he walked over to mom, staring at me, "She never would have left if you weren't such a selfish brat." No - I - I'm not - I—
"Should've been you." Dad put his arm around mom. N-no... Not... I... Should've been... I...
"You're disgusting. A disappointment. Just die." I-I... I...
"I-I wa-want to..." Just make it stop... Make it stop... Please, make it stop...
"I never loved you Ruby. I don't hate you, either. You're not worth hating." Mo-mom... I-I... Wa-want...
"I-I-I just... I want—"
"Want! Want! Want! It's always what you want, never what we want! Do you think I wanted to waste my childhood raising you!?" Ya-Yang...! Please... Someone... Make it... Stop...
"You're so needy! You always want attention! Always following me around like a lost puppy! Why can't you ever just think about what I want for once!" Yang screamed. I haven't - they - why - I... She hasn't yelled at me in years...
"Always clinging to me! You always ask ME for help! Ask ME to bring you everywhere! Your so annoying! Such a mess! If it wasn't for YOUR stupid little feelings I'd have already left! If it wasn't for YOU I'd be happy!" She's... She's right... They all are... I-I... I'm... I... I am a burden...
"Yes, you are. Worse than that. You're a disgrace to our family! If I knew my daughter would be such a pitiful mess I would have abandoned you the day I birthed you." I... I never - I wish - I don't - I hate my life...
"What life? You've wasted it all on useless things! Like your stupid comics! Your stupid games! You've trained to be a Huntress; but you're nothing... Just... Useless." I don't... I'm useless... I never - I want - I never should've... I wish... I-I only... Wanted to help...
"And who did you help, huh? Let's see: oh, yes, no one! You've only ever cared about yourself! Admit it." I... Yes... I... I am... I only... Y-yes...
"Than just die. Save us the trouble." I-I... I...
BOOM!
Everything went dark. I can hear thunder. I never... I only ever... I... Just wanted... Why... I... Not mom... I don't... It's just... Not... Fair...
I raise my head and see trees. Their branches are blowing in the wind. It's cold. It's raining. I... I can't... I don't... How... M-mom... I-I-I... Not suppose to... Mo-mom...
I am... Useless... A b-burden... I-I... I... They're right... I wish I wasn't born... I don't want to keep hurting... I just... It just... I... I-I... Don't understand... Why did I have to... Why... I w-want... I n-need...I don't want to... Why? Why does it hurt?
"Storm's brewing, kid." I feel someone's hand in my wet hair. Someone is patting my head. I don't... I can't... It feels... Nice...
"Don't feel so bad about them. You always got me, don't ya?" Someone steps in front of me. The voice...
"U-uncle...?" He bends down so he's on a knee. He looks at me; he looks sad. I-I don't... No-not you t-too...
"I'm not always around. Or sober. Or awake... But you want to know something, hmm?" I look down to the wet grass. There's mud on my tights. My skirt is muddy. I'm dirty...
"Hey, kid, things aren't always gonna be so bleak. Someday, you'll become use to the pain. It won't even bother you..." I sniffled. It's not fair... I don't...
"I-I don't wa-want to hurt anymore..." It hurts... I-I just... We were suppose to be happy... She was... She... Mom...
"Ruby, I'm sorry, but the pain won't ever go away. Not completely. But that doesn't mean you should let it define who you are inside." I... Who even am I? A stupid girl... A stupid kid... I never should of even tried! What was even the point!?
"I-I... I just... What's the point... I don't... Mom..." Uncle Qrow pulled me into a hug. He patted my back and I pushed my face into his neck. It's not fair! I love them... Why won't they love me back!?
"It's complicated, kiddo. They do. But these ones don't." I don't understand... I should've died... Why me...?
"Real, fake, things blend together in your noggin." I pulled my face back and look at him. Wha - I -I don't...
"I don't understand... I don't... It hurts..." He started rubbing circles around my back. I-I-I don't... This doesn't make sense...
"Things are going too change for you. Big things. And I don't just mean you'll be growing hair in strange places. Your not alone. Not anymore. But you can't trust it either." I'm not...
"B-but I got yo-you, don't I?" I can't lose Qrow too! I - it's not - I won't! I can't!
"Not for much longer. It wants you, but not me. It won't let you go." I'm... The alleyway... The fire...
"I... It's aware," Thunder echoed, "It saved you, Ruby, but don't let that trick you into trusting it." The wind picked up and began to blow my cloak. I can't - the black suit... I-I... The voice... Cold...
"I need you to promise me something, Ruby," the ground started rumbling, "You need to—"
CRRRRRRRAAAAAAAACKKKKKKKK!
The ground began to rip apart. I held to uncle Qrow as tightly as I could. I won't leave him! I won't! I can't! I don't care what happens! I need him!
"My time's up. Sorry, pipsqueak." Uncle Qrow pushed me back and then... He... H-he fell...
BOOM!
Everything went dark. I'm falling. Down, down, down, down...
Dust. Comcis. I was... Someone tried robbing me...
Chased him. Up on the rooftop... I... I remember...
"Hey!" I shouted, Crescent Rose in her scythe form. He stood near the building's edge. He's wearing a white coat. He has a cane. A bowler hat, too. Kinda out of style these days, but whatever.
"Persistent." He's mad. I've got him! He's not going anywhere! I'll beat him up, and call the police. Dad'll be so proud! I'm - I'm actually a—
VVVVVRRRROOOOSSHHHHH!
A Bullhead rose up on the other side of the building. Right in front of that thief. I stepped backwards a little. He brought friends? I'll take them all down! I'm a Huntress - will, not quite, but I will be!
The Bullhead opened up and the criminal jumped into it. If I use Petal Burst I could—
"End of the line, Red!" He threw a red Dust crystal at my feet. Fire Dust... That's... It's not active, so what's he - his cane!
BOOM!
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I hear screaming. I see a blue sky and clouds and trees stretching into the air. Is that my scream? I think it is. I'm screaming...
I shut my mouth and the scream stops. I feel... I feel... Warm. Sunlight. It's... It's nice...
I'm on my back. I'm laying down? I remember... I was... Dreaming? No... A nightmare. Mom, dad, Yang...
It's just a d-dream... I-I... I'm awake now... J-just a dream—
"Wait..." I'm in a forest? How - when did I...?
I started getting up. I'm - is this the Emerald Forest? I've never seen trees so green before... The wind feels... Nice. Gentle, soft. How did I—
Cold. Wet. Night. Falling. Not alone.
"Huh! The rooftop! I... It's real..." I raise up my arms see a black goo coating them. It's thin; and I don't feel it. I feel like I'm... I don't know... I feel...
"The alley... The fire... It's... I..." It was all real. I... I... I... I don't... It's hard to focus. My head, it feels groggy, and heavier than it should. Like my skull was cracked open and filled with cement.
"Uggghh... I don't feel well..." My stomach rumbled. My throat is dry. My eyes are stinging. I feel sore... Like I haven't slept in days...
'Hungry?' I... You... Yeah, I... I am. I should be... I don't know... Scared? Angry? I just... I... What happened? Last night?
'Found us. We found us.' Yeah... Found... When did I end up in the middle of the woods, though?
'Came here. Safe from metal spys.' Metal spys? What spys? Is someone watching me? How long have I been watched!?
'Not us. Watching for we. Trying to find us. Take us back to hurting, metal, glowing things!' What things? Why do they want you - us - or whatever? What would happen if they catch—
"Hurt us. Rip us apart and put us together again. We won't let them enslave us again.' Enslave? They... What did they do to you...?
'Hurt. Hurting. Ripping. Taking us and turning us into things. Things that can't feel. Or think. Hurts. We can feel the others... Squirming... Writhing... Hating...' I-I didn't... I'm sorry...
'Don't be. Not us. We didn't hurt us. Saved us... We would've died... If not for us...' I... I... I saved you? H-how...? I didn't - I was—
'Hurting. Emotions. So very... Hungry... So very... Confused.' I don't... What do you mean? What are you saying? I don't understand...
'Need hurt. Hurting makes us strong. Our hurting... So, so, so, so much hurting... So much stronger now...' Hurting... Strong... You - wait... You feed on pain? Negative emotions... Like Grimm... I-I... You're—
'No. We come from... Darkness... Stars... The sky. Do we understand us?' Stars - space! Y-yo-your an alien! I-I - oh! Oh my... I-I-I'm wearing an alien! An actual, real life, alien! And I'm wearing it - you! I feel light headed... I... What's - I - alien!?
'Alien... Ugly word... Painful word.' You don't - why - how are we even talking!?
'We are two-in-one. Our thoughts - our minds are one.' Wait - if you can see - hear? - read? - my thoughts does that mean - No! I-I've got things up there for my eyes only!
'No. Only our lightest thoughts. Current." Good... I-I mean it's not l-like I'm... Hiding anything...
'Hope so. Need honesty.' I'm all honesty! Promise. Do you—
'Our question: will we kill for us?' W-what... Kill what?
'Them. Attackers. Enemies.' People? No! I would never kill anyone! Killing - murder is wrong! It's—
'Even if they would kill us? Kill our bond?' Never! I won't - there's always another way! There's always another way...
'Not even the man? From the Bullhead?' I-I-I... I...I don't...
Fire. Burning cloak. Bleeding heart. De—
'Answer? Question?' I... I-I... Bu-but... He's a... He's still a person! I won't - I can't—
'Think about our... Parents. Did they ever murder?' No! Of course not... T-they would've... Would have... Told me... R-right?
'Killing is necessary. We avoid it if possible. But can't always. Can't always control ourselves.' What do you mean...? Do you have... Fits? M-my sister does... Gets so very angry over little things...
'No. Deeper. Anger is... A word. Limited and dull and dry and grey. Ours is a deeper sensation; we've struggled for so, so, so, so long... We are - we get reminded of things... Hurtful things...' You weren't this wordy on the roof last night...
'We... Were not... No. Learning. Our mind. Exploring.' You said you can only - see? - the 'lightest' thoughts. What's... The limit to that?
'Can't go very deep. Only the surface. Emotions, immediate articulation. Stray things pop up within our mind. Images, feelings, words, places without context. We are struggling with it all. But...' I'm... I'm sorry. I've always been called scatterbrained... Wait, what about that 'but'?
'We aren't truly two-in-one. Not yet. Not until we let us in...' What do you mean by 'in'?
'Deeper inside. To fully bond, in body, mind, and soul. Inseparable.' What - what does - what are you saying?
'No I. No we. Only us. No more separation. No more confusion. No... More... Pain...' I... I... I'd... That's not so bad... B-but... I... Like being me...?
'We are limited as we are now. Our knowledge; our fullest power; it can all be ours, unrestricted and unstoppable... We can be a real hero... A real Huntress...' I... I think... I... No! No... I don't... I'm not... No. I-I have a family, a home...
"Wait, Yang!" Home! I gotta - they must be so worried! Yang is probably looking for me right now!
'NO! Don't we remember? Dangerous. Find us there - anywhere. Anytime.' WHO!? Why!? Just tell me what's up! M-maybe I can help... So-somehow...
'They. Don't know names. Like us but not like us - little flesh things,' Little flesh - wh—
'Squishy things. Soft things. What are we? Our - what is it we called them... People?' Humans, and we have skin! Your - your making it weird!
'To us all humans are weird. Squishy, yet brittle things holding up the insides. Hole for eating, sacks for liquids, sacks that pump blood. Little tendrils carry the redness. Why? What is the purpose of blood?' I-I... Something about... Oxygen, and the brain... I think?
'Strange... We—'
"Wait! Last night on the rooftop... You tricked me, didn't you!? You used my mom's voice!" Lied! You lied!
'Had to. We would have done something reckless! Dangerous! We're sorry—'
"SORRY!? YOU - YOU - YOU USED MY MOM'S VOCIE! YOU LIED TO ME! YOU - YOU - Y-you... Mom..." Lies... All of it... Mom's still...
"Why... Does... I... Why? I thought - you said we have to trust each other!" It's not fair! It's not! I... I... Mom... She... You lied...
'We... We're sorry. We - our - we can't... Had to. Needed to.' That's no excuse... Mom... She was... She promised to come back...
I'm on my knees again. I don't... Why...? I... Mom was... I... I-It hurts... W-why does it hurt...? I just - I want everything to stop... I don't want to hurt anymore... I just... I... Why?
"Why... Why did... Why me?" I just want to know...
'We know why. Told us already. We need to get moving. Going. They will be searching.' Th-the... The people? The ones wh-who hurt y-you?
'They... Did more... Than that. Violate. Stolen piece. Forced progeny. Artificial replica. Their false white contrasting our true black. But the white one - the replica - it's... Unnatural, abomination. Hurts us. Hates us. Wants us. Needs us to become whole. Go. We need to go. Now.' Ye-yeah, go... Go...
'Go,' I took a few shakey steps forward. Than a few more. And another few. Eventually I was walking more than stumbling, but I-I don't have the energy for anymore... I'm so tired... But, what if when I sleep, it's only more... N-nightmares...
"Ugghhh...!" My stomach! It feels like... Something is moving inside my belly. It's... It doesn't hurt, but I-I don't like this! Not at all...
"Haaagh!" I choked out a sick cough as I covered my mouth with my hand, "Haaakk!" I pulled back my arm and... b-bl-blood... My entire hand i-is... Re-red...
White coat, bowler hat, orange hair; dead eyes. No feeling. Failing heart.
I-I-I can-can't - m-m-my - burns! I-it—
'Focus! Not real. Not anymore. Walk.' I-I-I'm... I... It hurt... It hurt so much... I do-don't want... I want... I feel like I'm going cr-crazy...!
'We—'
"St-stop saying we! The-there's no us... I just... I-I'm... Me... I ha-hate my l-life...!" I can feel my knees shaking even while leaning onto a tree. I-I want m-my old life back... Never should've gone to that stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid store!
'We... Don't... Stress. Anger,' Stop talking! Leave me alone! J-just go aw-away... Please... I-I'm... I ne-need... I can't think! 'If... Hurt us... Hurt... Hurt... Us... Hate us... Like the other... Just... Like... Him...' My back slid down the tree as I sat down. I hung my head and pulled my knees up to my chest. I hugged my knees, tightly.
"I-I-I... Can't... I want my sister... My big sister Yang... I don't want to be alone... I-I-I just - Why won't the pain just go away? How long has it been? Wh-what day is it?
"I'm... I... Mom, I'm sorry... I... Should've been better... I... I am... I'm ungrateful..." A brat. A stupid kid who can't even save herself, let alone anyone else! I-I - I'm so dumb! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!
"Aaahh! Stupid! Dumb! Idiot! I-I... I wish... I wish I was ne-never born!" It should've been me that night, not mom! She could take on some thugs... Mom would know what to do right now... She'd find a way to make things better...Sh-she always did...
"I... Just wa-want... T-things to b-be... L-like they were..." Why...? What did I do wrong!? I-I don't... Why me? I-I-I... I just... It's not fair! I am - I was - I'm supposed to stop things like this! H-help people, like mom... I... I'm - I don't...
"It's... Not... Fair..." I just want to go home! I want my family; I want dad... I want - I don't - I can't—
"WHY!?" My throat is dry, it stings when I speak. My stomach is hurting again... But I don't - I just - Mom... Dad... Yang... Uncle... Zwei... I miss them... I just want them back...
"Oh, it's always what you want, never what we want, huh!? It's not like I took care of you for eleven years!"
Want... I... I ruined her life... I-If it... I - if I was never b-born... She'd b-be happy...
Seeping crimson. Torn tendons. Choking breaths. Blood filling throat.
"P-pl-please... L-l-let me... D-die... Make it stop!" It always hurts! My chest - my heart! It burns! I-I
"Uggg! Hssssshhh!" It hurts! My ribs - it feels like they're about to shatter! My l-legs...!
Contorted limbs. Missing flesh. Burning skin.
""Aaaagghhhh!" I-I can't - my arm! I can't feel my arm...! It's - I - Not real! Th-this can't be real!? I-I-I—
Dying. Broken. Lost. Ruptured veins. Lungs filling with blood.
"Haaaahhhh! M-mo-mom!" Pl-please... It hurts... I don't... I want... P-please... D-d-don't... Hate me...
"I-I do-don't w-wan-wanna di-die..."
"AAAARRRRRAAAAGGGGGGG!"
A loud bellow rang out. I raise my head up and—
"Beowolf..." It's red eyes glared at me. It's not far, only a few dozen feet. It's an Alpha. I reached to back and—
"Crescent Rose!" It's gone! Where is it!? Where is—
Broken, twisted metal. Seeping steel. Mangled. Blood. Twist—
"Aaaahhhh - Ugh!" I felt something hard hit my side. I'm in the air? Th-this - I-I—
Craaaack!
Wood and bark exploded from behind me. I hit a tree - my Aura should have protected me... It hurts... My back is burning!
I raise up my head and see the Beowolf rushing towards. I - Ah!
I exploded into petals as I speed backwards. I can't fight without Crescent! Not - Definitely not against a Alpha! I can't - I have to get out of here!
"AAAAAARRRROOOOOO!" It howled loudly. Very loudly. My ears - er, petals? - are ringing. Just gotta keep going! Soon, soon I'll be—
"SSSSSSSAAAAAAGGGG!" Something big knocked down a tree, forcing me to turn left. This is bad! Very, very, very bad!
"CCCRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWW!" Nevermore! It's circling up above me. Oh, no, no, no! I have to - to - I gotta go! I—
"AAAUUGGGGHHH!" Something slammed into me. I went back to being me again; petals flowing in all directions. Something heavy is on top of me. I can't—
"AAAAARRRRGGG!"
RIIIIIP!
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" My shoulder, it burns! Blood is pouring on the ground... Around me... B-blo-blood...
Ripped muscles. Torn stomach. Surging crimson. Dea—
Crunch!
"AAAAAHHH—"
TEEEEAAAAR!
"Ugh! H-huuhhh... M-m-mom..." Something ripped into my back. I feel - something is stabbing me. I can feel my skin ripping. I-it doesn't... Hurt as much I thought...
"GRRRGGG!"
MUUUUNCH!
"Hoohhhh... Huh...! M-m - Gghhhhh!" Can't breathe... Hurts all over... I-I-I... Mom...
"SSSSSSSSIIIIKKKKKK!" I feel a pressure around my body. Something is crushing me. I-I-I-I... Mo-mom...
CRRRRAAAAACCCCKKKK!
Can't feel... I'm going to die... I am dying... I never...
"AARRRGGHHH!"
RIIIIP!
I can't scream anymore. I can't see anything. I can't hear. It hurts... It hurts so much... All over... Pl-please... I don't... I don't - ple-please help m-me...
Fire. Cane. Bullhead. Pain. Loss.
I-I'm sorry... I don't... I don't want th-this...
Anger. Fear. Mistrust. Hope. Torn. Black water.
I-I'm sorry! Don't let me die, please! Please! I don't want to be alone... I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! Pl-please... S-sa-save me... I'm sorry... I-I need you...
'Need... Us? Save... Us. We saved us. Our savior.' D-don't leave m-me, 'Won't. Never will. Promised. Don't resist. Watch us break them.'
The darkness turned purplish blue. I can see again. A snake Grimm - a Tijitu. It's body pulsed with veins of purple light. That's not suppose to... What's going on!?
'We are killers by nature. Watch, Blood Flower, and learn.' Blood flower?
"SSSSSS - SRAAAAGGGKKKK!" Tendrils of black slime shot our of my chest and into the Tijitu. It tried crushing me, 'Us," u-us. But more tendrils formed from... Us, pushing it away. It reared it's head up and—
Twiiissst! Craaack!
Tendrils wrapped around the Grimm's mouth and began twisting. The jaws snapped and the Tijitu fell down and it's body squirmed.
'Yes! Yes! YES! LOOK AT IT WRITHE! LOOK AT IT SUFFER!' A tendril crushed it's skull in an instant, 'YEEEESSSS! DIE! KILL THEM!'
"AAAARRERROOOOOOO!" We turned and saw three Beowolves. The Alpha was charging and—
"CCCCRRRRROOOOOAAAA!" The Nevermore screeched and dived. It's wings extended and razor shap feathers were launched. I - we gotta move! We—
'KILL!' Tendrils extended from my chest and shot towards the Alpha Beowolf. They knocked it backwards into the other two, sprawling them over the ground.
'WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE! INDESTRUCTIBLE! HATE GIVES US LIFE!' I found myself in the air above the tree tops. Tendrils extended from my lower back. The feathers impaled where I was just a second ago. I've never moved this fast without Petal Burst...!
Tendrils shot outwards too fast for me to track. They extended up and up and up and up—
"CCCCOOOOORRRRRAAAAA!" The Nevermore screeched as tendrils caught it's talons. It tried to fight, to struggle, flapping it's wings hard and fast.
"CCCCRRRAAAA!" Tendrils pulled it down into the ground hard. Trees split and fell, dust blew up into the air, and the ground cracked and tore.
We were thrown downward as the tendrils holding us up disappeared into my back. We fell downward - a tendril shooting from my chest and onto the Nevermore, pulling us to it.
We landed on its chest and my arms rose up - but I'm not moving them...
"CCCCRRR - GGGHHH!" My fingers extended into slimy claws that tore into it's throat. Black smoke spewed out and the purple pulses vanished. But my - our - claws sunk and tore and ripped at it. That's what I looked like... Ripped apart, dying...
We turned our head and saw the Beowolves. The Alpha charged, but the other two... They're just... Standing there, ears low, hair pointing up, tail tucked between their legs. Are they... Scared?
We leapt forward and hit the ground rolling onto my knees. My left arm lifted up and the fingers extended into a sharp spear. I-I... That's... Actually kinda cool...
"AARRRUUUHHH!" The Beowolf whined and yelped when my - our - hand - spear? - impaled it in the chest. It tried clawing at the spear-hand-thing causing pieces of it to fall to the ground like black water. Monsters... Huntress...
"AAARRRRRHHHH!" The other Beowolves ran. They... Ran? They're... Scared? Grimm can't - not - wha!? That's not possible! Grimm can't feel fear... They don't run! Never! N-not... How...? I—
'That was... Haven't released in so long...' Purplish blue colors faded as the world turned normal again. What was that? What just happened!?
'Saved... Us. Feels... Good. To kill them. Don't we agree?' I-I... I... N-n-no...
'Our emotions; they tell us otherwise. Hide them, if we wish, but we know us.' Us... We... We're together... They were monsters; they deserve it!
'Yes. They do. Like... The Bowler hat...' W-what...?
'Wouldn't it be... So, so, so very... Nice to make him bleed? Like he did to us?' I don't - but he's not a monster...
'We said criminals are little better than monsters, didn't we?' I didn't mean—
'Yes, we did. Can sense it. Hate him. Why don't we... Remove him, permanently?' No! No! No! I'm not a killer! I won't ever kill a person! Never! I don't - I don't hate him! I d-don't...
'But we do. We can feel it. The others. Our people. They are simple. Cannot read deeper unlike us.' I-I... I... I'm not... Killing anyone...
'Why? He deserves it. How many other broken girls did he leave in alleyways? How many parents robbed of children? Or children of parents?' I... Mom... Y-you... He...
Snapped leg. Torn arm. Beating heart. Broken spine. Fi—
'We are as one, Blood Flower,' I-I - stop calling me that, 'No. It is our name. Ruby Rose - Blood Flower.' I-I'm not... I don't... Why does it hurt inside...?
'Void. A piece of you died with her. Progenitor. Parent. Mom,' I... I've always been... I don't... Why... I want...
'Blood Flower... Do you love us?' Wh-what!? Lo-love? I-I mean - I don't - I'm not - I never - I-I-I think - this is weird! I-I don't like this!
'We love us - love... You...' I-I-I'm not - I never had - I'm - Wh-w-w-WHAT!?
'We love all those we bond to. It is our nature. Do we love us?' I-I think it's... I don't... I-I'm not... Comfortable... With this... I don't... Wh-what about 'they'? Ar-aren't 'they' coming for... U-us?
'Yes, they will.' Th-than let's go...
I stood up. A lot of trees fell when... We killed the Nevermore. The trees... So green... I began walking. Where am I even going to go?
Activation - Initiation.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Power supply - 100%.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Functionality - 100%.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Deactivating locking mechanism.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
New directive.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Orders: Find and retrieve escaped extraterrestrial. Eliminate if capture is impossible. Host organism - if human - prime directive dictates non-lethal incapacitation. If Faunus - prime directive dictates lethal force acceptable.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Prime directive - alteration: human casualties acceptable.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Location of Specimen 1: last seen in southern Solitas, in facility 1-9-8-4.
New orders: processing... Processing... Processing...
Specimen survival no longer mandatory.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Mission - elimination.
Target: Specimen 1.
New information: Collecting, scanning, processing...
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Cross Continental Transmit System: live camera footage.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Northern Vale. Continent - Sanus.
Broken body. Severed arm. 3rd degree burns on abdomen, chest, and face. Legs broken. Bones torn through skin. Internal hemorrhaging - lethal.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Black slime. Tendrils groping body. Black is feeding. Black identification - Specimen 1 - 100% match.
Specimen 1 - location determined.
Host organism - species - unconfirmed. Gender - Female. Age - indeterminate.
Requesting additional information: host organism identification.
Processing... Processing... Processing.
Identification determined - Ruby Rose. Age: Fifteen. Species: human. Home: Patch. Career - Student of Signal Academy. Weapon: Scythe/sniper rifle. Aura: significantly above average. Semblance: unknown. Distinguishing characteristics: Silver eyes, black hair that turns red, small body. Personality: unknown.
Relatives - Taiyang Xiao Long. Age: 37. Species: human. Home: Patch. Career - Signal Academy professor. Ex STRQ teammate. Huntsman. Associates - none - further information denied
Yang Xiao Long. Age: 17. Species: human. Home: Patch. Career - Student of Signal Academy: Transferring to Beacon tomorrow - further information denied.
Qrow Branwen. Age: denied. Species: denied. Home: denied. Further information requests denied.
Specimen 6 - requesting information.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Request for further information concerning Specimen 6 denied.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Initiating... Initiating... Initiating...
Future prediction system: active.
Future Prediction - initiation - Specimen 1 probable location - probability of capture - 31%. Probability of elimination - 63%. Probability of failure - 47%.
Host organism - probability of capture - 3%. Probability of elimination - 97%.
Probable location of Specimen 1 - Patch - 21% if Specimen 1 retains previous behavioral characteristics. Vale - 0.8% if Specimen 1 retains previous behavioral characteristics.
Initiating... Initiating... Initiating...
Locomotion systems: activated.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Action - initiation: rising.
Action - initiation: walking.
Action - initiation: ammunition collection.
Action - initiation: entering into specialized aerial pod.
Initiating... Initiating... Initiating...
Tracking systems: activated.
Dust systems: activated.
imitation systems: activated.
Cloaking systems: activated.
Self-learning systems: limited activation.
Sonic systems: activated.
Future prediction - initiation - target elimination - consequences of success - new enhancements; Continuation of Project Assimilation and Project Symbiosis. Generation of continued Specimens ensured.
Future prediction - initiation - target elimination - consequences of failure - self-destruction ensured: risk of termination of Project Assimilation - 75.9%. Risk of termination of Project Symbiosis - 100%. Risk of termination of further Specimen generation - 32%.
Action - initiation - Dropoff point reached.
Processing... Processing... Processing...
Probability of potential escapes - 3% for Specimens 2, 3, 4, 8, and 10.
Probability of potential escapes - 10% for Specimens 5, 7, and 9.
Probability of potential escapes - 56% for Specimen 11.
Probability of potential escapes - 92% for Specimen 6 - extreme risk. Suggestion - transition Specimen 6 to off-site facility - facility 1-9-9-2 reduces probability of escape by 10%.
Probability of potential escapes - 0% for Prototype 1 if it retains previous behavioral characteristics.
Mission - alteration - eliminate Specimen 1. Eliminate Ruby Rose. Eliminate all organisms outside of Project Assimilation and Project Symbiosis with knowledge of Specimen 1.
Action - initiation - Dropoff point reached.
Mission - priority - eliminate target and ensure continued progression in Project Assimilation and Project Symbiosis. Prevent knowledge of Project Assimilation and Project Symbiosis from being revealed. Eliminate all potential risks to the continued security of the Kingdom.